Hi lovelies! Sorry it's been a while – I've had University assignments coming out of my ears! After having a bad week, I've finally been able to come up with this little sequel. I hope you guys enjoy and, as always, reviews are most welcome!

G xx

Chapter 1

It's been around three weeks since Nick's funeral and is the first day back at the ED for Zoe after sticking to her promise and taking some time off to look after Sophia properly. Max and Zoe have decided to try and continue with their relationship following on from the end of 'By the Seaside'.

As the sun splits through the half opened blinds of Sophia's bedroom, a single ray forms across her eyelids. She begins to blink desperately in order for her eyes to adjust to the new light of the summer morning. She wriggles around her bed, kicking the clean white duvet up and down before releasing a huge sigh.

"I guess I'd better get up." She says to herself as she sits up and slides off the bed. She takes her dressing gown from the hook on the back of the door but stops half way through fastening the silk ribbon around her front. Her eyes squint with concentration and she presses her ear gently on the back of the bedroom door as she hears the dragging of bowls against the marbled kitchen counters and quiet laughter followed by the sound of the apartment's front door closing.

Cautious of what she might find, Sophia walks down the corridor and around the corner to the kitchen where Zoe stands, leaning against the worktops with her head in her hands.

"Are you okay?" Sophia asks, worried that Zoe may have made the same mistake she did on the night before her wedding but, as Zoe looks up towards her, Sophia sees the paleness painted across Zoe's face and realises it's something else.

"Morning," starts Zoe, clearly startled by Sophia's voice, "you're up early aren't you?"

"Yeah, it's too bright to sleep."

"Breakfast?" asks Zoe turning away from Sophia's obvious curiosity as she throws a crumpled collection of tissues into the bin.

"Uhm, I'm fine thanks," replies Sophia, "Zoe, are you alright?" she repeats desperate to know what's wrong.

"Me? Yeah of course I am. I think I must be coming down with a cold or something – that's all." Zoe smiles in an attempt to cover her own back but she knows Sophia won't buy her little act for long.

Sophia takes a seat at the breakfast bar as Max walks in with two coffees and places them in front of Sophia.

"Max!" Sophia exclaims, half excited to see him but half wondering why he couldn't see that there was something clearly wrong with Zoe.

"Morning you." He smiles, "I thought teenagers were supposed to stay in bed until lunch, not be up at half seven in the morning."

"I bet you would be if you had the chance, wouldn't you?" replies Zoe sarcastically – that was enough to convince Max that she was okay.

"Well yeah, but that's not going to happen is it?" he laughs, "Ready to go Mrs Walker?"

"Ready to go Mr Walker." Zoe smiles as she grabs her handbag, her coffee and heads for the door with Max.

"Wait," pleads Sophia

"What's up?" asks Max.

"I, uhm, I need to talk to you Zoe." She glares into Zoe's eyes, not wanting her to leave until she tells her what's wrong.

Max, who notices the look Sophia is giving to Zoe, jumps in "Right. Yeah, well I'll uhm … I'll be in the car."

Zoe looks at him confused and then looks back towards Sophia, "I'm sure you can just say it now, can't you?"

"It's … girl stuff." She whispers, thinking on her feet for a good enough reason to keep Zoe in the apartment and Max out.

"Exactly," begins Max as he slowly makes his way to the door, "so like I said … I'll be in the car."

Max leaves and Zoe turns to Sophia to return her glare however she soon deflates and almost collapses onto the chair opposite.

"Right…" starts Sophia before Zoe interrupts

"Oh what's this? Some kind of teenage ultimatum? Because I really can't deal with this today Soph."

"Look! If you're not going to tell me what's wrong and Max, for whatever reason, can't know, then I guess I'll just have to come into work with you and keep an eye on you myself. Go and wait with Max in the car while I get changed – I'll be five minutes."

Zoe, shocked by the sternness and determination in Sophia's voice, is left speechless and sat upright. As Sophia heads back to her room Zoe yells "But what about Connie?"

A few minutes pass and Sophia re-appears fully dressed and searching for everything that needs to be in her bag - Zoe stares at her, quite impressed.

"What about Connie? If she says anything, I'll just tell her I came in to help you with some filing or something. Now would you please go and wait in the car while I get the last few bits?"

Zoe doesn't say anything but simply looks towards the bin before leaving. As the door clicks shut, Sophia races to the bin, opens it and begins rummaging through the tissues.

"I knew you were hiding something." She says to herself as she pulls out an empty syringe and needle. Quickly, she wraps it back up in the tissue and throws it in the bin as if nothing had happened. She shakes her head in disappointment and disbelief as she leaves the apartment and locks the door behind her.

*Don't worry, Zoe hasn't been taking a leaf out of Louis' book – she is not on drugs (of those kind anyway)*