A/N: Hey everyone. This is just a little piece inspired by Mr J's return to Casualty last week and the fact that the writers still haven't addressed the whole Zoe and the baby thing from the end of last series.

All typos and other such mistakes are mine. Mr Jordan is unfortunately not; he and everything else you recognise are all the BBC's.

Hope you enjoy.

He waltzes back into the place in his shoes that are still annoyingly loud and starts acting like he owns the place.

This would all be well and good if he were sticking around and could rein in Ruth Winters from her budding dictatorship over the E.D. but said doctor let slip (although probably deliberately) in resus that Nick was already looking for surgical posts.

Zoe wasn't sure what pissed her off more – the way he strode back in as his old self or that he never told them from the off he wasn't planning on sticking around.

She hoped that she'd got her disappointment in him across when they spoke briefly after he'd glared Ruth out of his sight. Making some off-hand remark it was Zoe's eyes that really conveyed her feelings and no doubt the feelings of everyone else when they finally found out. That final look as she walked out of resus killed her a little inside; it had changed from his 'please don't start this now' stare to one she'd never really seen before.

It played on her mind throughout the rest of the shift; when she was treating minor things in cubicles she found her mind drifting away to thoughts of him. Maybe those feelings from before that she had spent so long trying to put into a box were creeping back out again. She vowed she would try and speak to him soon to try and find out exactly what's going on with him.

Meanwhile, Nick found himself in a similar predicament. He sat in his office with the blinds drawn and his desk lamp providing just enough light for pondering. He knew that there would still be some tension and awkwardness with Zoe after the fallout of events not long passed but he wasn't expecting it to affect him in such a way. The more Nick thought about things the more he came to the conclusion that there must have been a pretty damn good reason why Zoe had behaved the way she did, why she'd lied to him but then kept the lie alive instead of telling him sooner. He doubted he'd be satisfied until he heard the story all the way through straight from the horse's mouth.

And then there was that look of disappointment she'd left him with when Ruth so tactfully blurted out about him looking for surgical posts. Thinking about it now, Nick wasn't sure whether he was ready to let the E.D. go like that. He certainly didn't approve of Ruth's approach. Nick conceded that he hadn't been the most popular when he first stepped into the picture but he could never recall having a mutiny brewing in the ranks. He added getting Zoe's opinion of the whole thing to his list of other things he needed to talk to her about.

Sighing, he resigned himself to the fact that he couldn't sit in his office and brood all day. Leaving the place in its current position he set out to see if he could find Zoe.

Weaving through the E.D was never an issue for Nick; in fact he'd go as far as to say he had it down to an art form. An abstract form perhaps, but art none the less. He spotted the woman he was looking for entering discharge details for one of the patients in cubicles into the computer. He wondered over to her side. She looked up, sensing someone looking at her.

"Problem Mr Jordan?" Zoe's tone was defensive.

"Not as such, Doctor Hanna. I was just wondering if you could come and see me in my office when you have a moment," Nick said smoothly.

She eyed him curiously before relenting, "Sure. I've got a break in about…" Zoe craned to see the clock but Nick presented his arm so she could read his wristwatch. She pushed up the fabric of his jacket and shirt further so she could see the face. "…fifteen minutes."

Realising her hand was still touching his skin keeping things from covering the watch, she pulled back rather sharply and clutched her hand to her body with a strange expression on her face. Nick feigned indifference.

"Alright, I'll see you later then." He smiled and left her too her next fifteen minutes of work.

"Okay," she said quietly to his retreating back.

Zoe spent the next eleven minutes pondering why exactly he wanted to see her and then three and a half minutes staring at the clock before she decided the time was near enough and headed to Nick's office.

As she approached his office she noticed that the blinds were all drawn but there were faint rays of light escaping underneath the door. Shrugging to herself she knocked twice on the door and opened it without invitation.

Nick looked up at the sound before beckoning her in with a wave of his hand. Zoe entered and closed the door behind her with a soft click. Edging into the room a little, she stayed standing up.

"You wanted to see me, Nick?"

He got up from behind his desk and headed for the sofa. He sat down and gestured for her to do the same.

"Yeah. I believe we have some things to discuss."

"Okay."

"I have to be honest with you; this has been playing on my mind since I spoke to you in resus this morning." She inclined her head and he continued, "I came back here and I started thinking about things. I realised we hadn't spoken about things from before."

"I don't think this is such a good idea," Zoe said sounding panicked.

He grabbed her hands in his and looked at her intensely, "Yes it is Zoe. There had to be a reason for why you did what you did and I realised I never gave you the chance to explain."

A tear rolled down Zoe's cheek and she wiped it away before it could drop off the end of her chin. She took a steady breath and began.

"There's one crucial event that I never ever told you about Nick." His frown became deeper but not once did he ever go to pull his hands away from hers, instead he began to stroke his thumbs across the backs of them. "A about a year and a half ago, I was told I couldn't have children." More tears cascaded down her cheeks but she didn't care now.

There is was, that moment of realisation erupting in Nick Jordan's head.

"When you mentioned about kids I should have said something straight away but I guess I was scared about what you'd say. It's not something I find easy to talk about."

She'd used the exact words he'd used when they spoke about why he'd not told her about the brain tumour. He understood her feelings straight away.

"When I started getting ill, it was the fertility drugs, not a baby. These drugs were supposed to give me a better chance of conceiving but all they did was dig me a deeper hole. Then with the test coming up negative … you presumed it was positive and I can't blame you for that Nick. I should have just come out with it. I even went for that scan because I wanted so badly for there to be a baby I thought all of my wishing and hoping could make it real."

Nick was still deeply hurt by how Zoe had handled the whole situation but he couldn't say he entirely blamed her for it. He knew how hard it could be having a terrible secret and when people found out someone always got hurt.

He then did something that earlier in the day he wasn't sure he'd be able to do after hearing Zoe's account; he forgave her. He felt it inside him, a new perspective on the whole thing becoming clear and the simple fact of still being in love with her bursting through.

"It's okay, Zo. It's alright, I promise." He moved so he could lie on the sofa and pulled her onto him so he could cradle her.

"I'm so sorry Nick. I only ever wanted to make you happy," she whispered into his neck, tears still coming thick and fast.

His arms tightened around her and rubbed up and down her back soothingly. "I know," he said softly, "this time we can try together though, hmm? No more secrets."

He felt her nod her head, then settle it properly under his chin where the faint smell of her shampoo drifted to his nose and made him smile.

The conversation about him leaving was now not an issue. He'd tell Henry he wasn't interested in moving anymore and ask if he could kindly tell Ruth to stick it before he went to human resources and asked if she could be transferred out of his department for being a total cow.

Looking up at his watch he noted Zoe should probably be getting back to work but the place would be relatively quiet now and if Ruth came a knocking he'd send her rudely on her way. The woman who was now asleep on him was in no fit state to carry on working tonight.

Snuggling closer he joined Zoe in the land of nod.

Roughly an hour passed before the inevitable knocking was heard. He didn't answer but wasn't entirely surprised to see that Ruth barged in without being asked. It was one privilege she hadn't earned so Nick was even more pissed off than he would have been.

He couldn't help but grin inwardly though at Ruth's expression when she saw who he was sharing the sofa with.

"Any particular reason you barged in here, Ruth? Or did you just come to stand and gawp?" Nick kept his voice to a level he hoped wouldn't wake Zoe although he happened to know she woke up at the slightest thing anyway.

"Doctor Hanna was due back on shift half an hour ago. I came to see if you knew where she was."

"Obviously I do, seen as she's here."

"I can see that now Mr Jordan."

"Well then, you can also see that she's in no fit state to finish her shift. That's my professional opinion, not my personal one in case you were thinking of protesting. I'd also appreciate you keeping your voice to a dull roar. She's a light sleeper."

"Well you should know," Ruth said, her words laced with venom.

He knew Zoe was awake now, he felt her heart speed up and the slightest movements she made trying to keep herself from laughing at the display she could now hear.

"I know very well indeed thank you Doctor Winters," Nick said with a grin.

She stood there with her mouth agape not knowing how to formulate a reply to this personal turn in conversation. Nick was glad she'd retreated and given up arguing. She would never have won anyway… especially if she'd continued her back handed insults.

"Considering you're now a doctor short perhaps you should get back to the E.D and get stuck in, eh Doctor Winters?"

"I'm expecting the hours to be made up. There'll be a note made about this incident."

"No there won't. Zoe and I will split the hours owed and do them when it's convenient. Now, get out of my office."

She shot him a look that any other man would have probably quaked under, instead Nick just laughed knowing Ruth would be fuming even more as she stormed back to the E.D.

"You enjoyed that too much," said Zoe with her voice thick with sleep.

"She needs bringing down a peg or two anyway. I'm guessing we'll be the perfect team to do just that, with some help from the others of course," Nick replied.

"I dread to think what you're planning but I like your style."

He laughed. "Right, I think you should be getting home and as luck would have it so should I."

"Anyone else would think you'd had this all planned out, Mr Jordan."

"I am rather organised aren't I, Doctor Hanna?"

She raised her eyebrow at him then cracked and started giggling. The comedy continued as they tried to get up from the sofa; Zoe ended up on the floor with Nick trying not to squash her. It was impossible to guess how they had managed such a feat.

"Not as graceful as I'd originally thought possible, but hey, beggars can't be choosers." Nick rolled off her and got to his feet. Zoe stayed where she was.

"Shut up and help me," she said staring up at him.

Extending his hand down she grabbed it and heaved herself up like she was a dead weight making it more difficult for him than it should have.

"Oh thanks Zoe, I didn't really need that shoulder anyway."

She scrunched her face up at him, "Are you trying to say I'm heavy?"

"I'm not that brave, Zoe."

"Good answer."

He smiled at her, sent her off to collect her things and gathered everything he needed into his briefcase. He snuggled into his coat when he put it on not realising how cold his office really was. Zoe appeared at the door.

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah." He flicked off the lights and made sure the door locked behind him.

Nick took hold of Zoe's hand as they walked and lead her to where his driver was waiting for them. Nick opened the door for her, then moved round to the other side so he could get in. Zoe cuddled into his side and drifted back to sleep.

"Zoe," he whispered, nudging her gently.

"Mmm?"

"We're home. Come on, let's get you upstairs."

He opened his door and got out. Nick was surprised to see her following him, crawling along the seat and then getting out his side. Saying goodnight to his driver, he wrapped an arm around Zoe's shoulders and they wondered upstairs to his apartment.

They settled down on the sofa eventually with a glass of wine and a bar of chocolate.

Now they began to build their future. Third time lucky.

A/N: I'm not entirely sure if I should turn this into a multi-chaper thing or leave it as a one-shot. Opinions would be great.

Thanks for reading!