Alternative Zoe and Greta meeting, with a face from Max's past. Feel like Max's story deserves some more attention, even if it is only in my imagination. I haven't written fanfiction in over 4 years, but hopefully it will improve with time and practice!
"Yes Mum, seven o'clock," Max smiled into the phone, "Yeah, see you there." Filled with excitement, Max walked up behind his girlfriend and wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Not here Max!" Zoe grumbled, laughing. Their relationship had been a secret up until last week, where Zoe's very public display of affection alerted all of their workmates to their closet relationship.
Max withdrew and held his hands up in joke surrender. "How about we go out tonight?" he smiled his famous Max grin.
"Oh, that would be nice, I know this fantastic Italian restaurant in Holby—" Max cut her off.
"Well I actually already made plans, The Seven Oaks, seven o'clock," Zoe looked at him strangely, wondering what he was upto, "with my mum." Zoe breathed deeply, this sounded like her idea of hell, there was no way Max's mum would approve of their relationship.
"Max, I'm no good with parents." Zoe sighed. She could see in Max's eyes how much this meant to him, and the last thing Zoe wanted to do was hurt him.
"Zoe, please, for me, I know she will love you, because I love you, more than anything in the world." Max pleaded, following Zoe around the nurses station. "Come on, I promise it will be fun."
Zoe raised her eyebrows, "I'll hold you to that Mr Walker, now go do some work," Zoe smiled and turned on her heel, walking towards cubicles, trying to figure out a way to get out of tonight's plans.
Lofty jogged to catch up with Max, who was in the staffroom getting changed. "Pub?" he questioned like an excited puppy.
"Sorry, Zoe's meeting my mum tonight." Max smiled, while lofty let out a deep laugh.
"Zoe, and your mum? You think that's a good idea?" Lofty questioned, concerned for his best friend or just missing his drinking buddy.
"They are going to have to meet at some point, may as well be tonight!" Lofty raised his eyebrows and patted Max on the shoulder. Mouthing 'Good Luck' and leaving the staffroom.
Max held his head in his hands. As much as he loved his Mum, he could appreciate how she had always intimidated Max's friends. Greta only wanted what was best for Max, and always didn't mean to cause offense, or that's what she'd always said after the fact.
Zoe stood in the doorway to Connie's office, watching her battle through paperwork effortlessly. Zoe shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Something I can help you with Dr Hanna?"
"I was just checking you didn't need any help tonight, I noticed you were on a double shift, and with Dylan being away…" Zoe trailed off, knowing full well her offer of help is out of character and is most likely to be met with a scoff my Connie.
"Dr Hanna, your porter has already asked me to make sure you have no work ties this evening." Zoe sighed in annoyance. Where did Max get off interfering in her life, or maybe he just knew her far too well. "May I offer you some advice?" Zoe raised her eyebrows and scoffed. "I'm going to take that as a yes, nothing worth having comes easy Zoe, without sacrifices or risk. Sometimes you need to do things you don't want to do to contribute to others happiness." Connie focussed back on her paperwork, as if a silent indication that the conversation was over. The one thing Zoe liked about working with Connie, was how impersonal she was. And as much as Zoe wanted to offer to shove her impromptu advice somewhere uncalled for, Zoe did the mature thing and stormed out.
Sitting down at the nurse's station, Zoe thought about what Connie had said. As much as she used to despise the other woman, she couldn't help but see a softer side to the clinical lead. She supposed meeting Max's mother might not be as unbearable as she imagined it to be. Max was important to her, and if this was important to Max, then it was worth it.
"Hey, you ready?" Max's soft voice broke Zoe out of her thoughts, smiling at her boyfriend, Zoe nodded, smiling.
"I'm just going to grab my coat, meet me at the car?" Zoe said, walking towards the staffroom. Opening her locker, a shiny lighter caught her eye. The lighter Max had given her for her birthday, and then used to 'refuel' their fire. Sometimes Zoe thought if Max hadn't been saying those things to her, she would laugh at how cheesy they were. But nothing mattered when she was with Max, he made her feel like a mature woman and a giddy teenager all at the same time.
On the other side of Holby, Greta sat at the bar, nursing her gin and tonic, waiting for her plan to come to fruition. Greta was very proud of her only son. Max had always been the complete opposite to his father, kind, thoughtful, was never afraid of his own emotions. He had been through a lot in the past 10 years, but their recent conversations had led her to believe he was truly happy and settled in Holby. The time had come, Greta thought, for a reconciliation she had been waiting for.