It was late evening, the sun was just setting over the horizon, and the first stars had begun to waken, the moon casting a faint light over the city. There were very few people around, a few tired and harassed looking workers returning home, and the odd dedicated drinker making his way to the next bar, but the streets were predominantly populated by darkness. She made her way through the streets, looking very out of place with her fancy dress and sky high shoes clicking on the pavements, weaving their way through the rubbish that littered her way. The warm evening required no coat, and so the few who passed could see her in all her beauty: the simple, figure-hugging dress accompanied by diamonds in her ears and round her neck that challenged the stars in their shining beauty, and a secret smile dancing across her face. Finally she turned in at a tiny door tucked between two huge bars that dwarfed the restaurant she entered now. She knew where she was going, making her way straight to a table where a man sat with his back to her. Sitting down, she smiled at him softly, and brushed the hair out of her eyes.

He had been waiting for a good ten minutes, but hadn't ordered a drink. His sharp suit and swept back hair showed that he had put effort into his appearance, and his constant nervous checking of his watch and inability to sit still suggested he was waiting for someone. The waiters who had been circling the table had already started a bet that he was going to be stood up. But the cynical amongst them were proved wrong.

At her arrival, his face lit up, although he tried to downplay his joy by coughing gently, and he looked her up and down, obviously impressed.

"Zoe, you look- incredible"

She smirked and tilted her head to one side. She knew she looked good. "You too. Nice suit."

He grinned and brushed his sleeve almost nervously. "It's bespoke."

Zoe laughed and rolled her eyes at the memory. "I wouldn't have expected anything else from you, Nick. How are things?"

"It's good to be back. Holby is definitely a world away from Michigan, I tell you."

"I can't imagine why you've swapped the bright lights of America for the flickering bulbs of Holby." He seemed reluctant to give her clues, and so she probed deeper, "why have you come back, Nick?"

"I think you know why." His eyes searched hers, seeking something. She looked to the table, averting her eyes from the emotion in his.

I tell myself it don't mean a thing,
And what we got, got no hold on me,
But when you're not there,
I just crumble.

The waiter came to the table, interrupting any kind of moment they had shared, and took their order. When they were alone again, Zoe seemed keen on keeping the conversation light.

"So what groundbreaking things did you do in Michigan?"

He sighed. Although he was obviously reluctant to let the moment slide, he was also not unenthusiastic about discussing his considerable medical achievements.

As she listened to him, she took in every inch of his face. He was so eager to talk about his work and so devoted to his profession. It was this dedication that had initially attracted her to him. She remembered how she used to watch him work, watch the way he seemed to come alive when he was performing complicated procedures, and the pride he'd take in success. She enjoyed her work, but he lived for his. She had missed working with him. Missed seeing his face every day, hearing his voice…

But no. She couldn't let herself think of him like this anymore. She could lose herself in these thoughts, but there was a high chance she'd never find her way back again if she did.

"Oh alright, Nick. That's enough of the ego. Forgot how easy you find it to talk about yourself. Aren't you going to ask how I am?"

He chuckled. "How is life under the reign of Queen Connie?"

"Survivable. Not the same, though, not without you there. Any plans of a return?"
He shifted in his chair. "That depends. I'm only sticking around here if I've got something to stick around for."

The tone had changed. It was obvious that Nick wasn't going to let this go. He wasn't going to let her go. He reached out and took her hand which was resting on the table, stroking the back of it with his thumb gently. Searching her face for some sign of hope, he squeezed her fingers, his eyes pleading. "I've come back for you, Zoe. I don't care about Michigan or Holby or Clinical Lead. I care about you."

Although her face was full of mixed feelings; guilt, longing, reluctance, desire, she made no attempt to remove her hand from his. "Nick, you need to know, there's someone else- I'm with someone else right now."

"Don't seem to remember it being a problem last time," he quipped daringly.

Pulling her hand out of his hold, and with a frown on her face, "don't make me out to be some kind of- scarlet woman-"

"Scarlet woman? Jesus, Zoe!"

"I'm serious, Nick. I never wanted to be the sort of woman who cheats on people."

"I just have that effect on you, do I?"

Rolling her eyes at his arrogance, but keeping her hands on the table, she said nothing.

His heart felt like it was bursting. He had come back specifically to be with her, to touch her, to hold her, but he could feel that she was slipping away from him yet again. Reaching out again, he took hers, this time in both of his. "Zoe. I've come back to be with you. I love you."

Again, she pulled her hand out of his grip, "you think you can just come back, ring me up and get me in bed? I hear next to nothing from you for months, and you expect me to come running back? Give me some credit, Nick!"

"Zoe, that's not what I meant at all, I know you're not- I know you've not had it easy. But we, we've always had this- something, haven't we? Always had this connection. I know what you're thinking, and vice versa. These past few months in Michigan have been great, but there's been something missing from my life. You've been missing from my life, Zoe."

She sighed, "yes, but we've tried this before, Nick, so many times, and it's never worked, and I always seem to get hurt. I don't think I can go there again. I'm with Max now, it's not going to happen."

His frustration showed on his face, "Max? Who's Max?"

"He's a porter at the hospital, Nick, but does it really matter?"

"A porter? A porter? Not your usual type, is he?"

She winced, then grimaced in anger, shocked that he could be so hurtful, "and what is my type? Rich doctors? Arrogant, self-righteous bastards who think I owe them something? Max may not be a high-flier, but he doesn't presume things about me. And he definitely doesn't treat me like I'm cheap. A meal and a bottle of wine to get me into bed with you!? Fuck that, Nick."

She stood up angrily with her last words, picked up her bag and stormed out the restaurant.

I tell myself I don't care that much,
But I feel like I'd die till I feel your touch,
Only love,
Only love can hurt like this.

Shocked at her outburst, and already feeling guilty for his words, Nick followed her, shouting an apology to the waiters who were trying to stop him from leaving. At the door, he looked both ways, before he saw her storming round the corner, and he made after her at a run. It didn't take long for him to catch up with her; her shoes weren't exactly made for a quick getaway.

"Zoe, please, ZOE!" he grabbed her arm to stop her from going any further, "Zoe, I'm sorry, I didn't mean that." He took her by the arms, looking at her face in the moonlight. She was looking up at him, anger and hurt on her face, and tiny tears at the corners of her eyes. The moon graced her face, outlining her bone structure and subtle make up, and making her look like she was bathed in some sort of ethereal light. "I don't think you're cheap. You're the strongest, most intelligent, sexiest woman I've ever met, I've come back because I need you."

She tried to wriggle out of his grip yet again, but her heart wasn't really in it anymore. Their relationship had always been fiery, love and hate mixed together in almost equal measures, and she didn't have the energy to fight it anymore. He brought one hand up to cup her face, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb. "I love you, Zoe."

And then he leaned down and he kissed her.

Onlylove can hurt like this,
Must have been a deadly kiss,
Only love can hurt like this.