Zoe looked around at the view from the hotel balcony.

'Is this what I've come to' she thought to herself.

It was a great view, she even took a selfie to send to Max who was working that day, however she couldn't believe that this is where she was staying.

'I'm 40 years old living part time on a boat and part time out of a hotel room!'

It had never bothered her before living with Dylan, it wasn't meant to be a permanent arrangement but now she was with Max it was far from ideal. Dylan wasn't overjoyed with the pair of them being on the boat but was willing to put up with it as Zoe had been a great friend to him over the years, not that he would say that out loud.

The hotel had been a last resort when they had nowhere else to go, Robyn was trying to get with Lofty at Max's place so that was out of bounds, Max also felt a bit uncomfortable taking Zoe back to his house, he knew she didn't mind too much but he didn't want to have to be constantly be surrounded by two nurses who would know the ins and outs of their relationship.

Zoe was bored, she missed Max. She smiled at the thought of him. How she'd try not to fall for him and yet he'd worn her down. All the time she'd been away in Africa she'd try to put him at the back of her mind, she knew how he felt about her, he'd told her he loved her outside the pub where they'd first kissed.

She had tried not to get involved with him when she returned to Holby, he was young, he was a porter which as she was a consultant a relationship was unheard of. The fact he was a porter didn't bother Zoe, it was what other people thought the reason she wanted to keep the relationship a secret. She sighed, Dylan had been right and she was wrong to want to keep it a secret, she hadn't thought at the time about what Max was feeling and how it may have come across that she was embarrassed by him. Zoe knew Max would have forgotten now it was out in the open, he was so laid back he never let anything bother him for long, but she still felt guilty about not telling people straight away, she wanted to let him know she was serious about them being together.

Zoe decided to have a soak in the bath and then do some research on houses. She wouldn't tell Max what she was doing as it would be a surprise, she longed to have her own place again and having Max there would make it perfect she thought as she ran the bath making sure she took another selfie to tease Max.

Max's phone vibrated in his pocket as he was taking a patient to X-ray.

'Here we go again' he smiled to himself, he knew the message was from Zoe and he knew it'd be another selfie, not that he minded of course, he'd just rather be with her than at the hospital!

He was in cubicles when Rita called him over, 'Max, can you take this young lady to X-ray please?'

'Of course my dear, anything for you!'he chirped.

'Ooh someone's happy!' said the young patient, Amy was 19 and had fallen over playing netball and had a possible ankle fracture.

'His girlfriend' Rita had said 'she's off work today and I'm guessing by the amount of times Max has checked his phone, he's getting quite a few messages from her!'

'Here, look, this is the view from our hotel' Max showed Rita and Amy.

'Why are you in a hotel Max?' asked Rita.

'Long story, possible hook ups, dogs, toothbrushes and ladyshaves, although not all at the same time you understand'

'Right...!' Rita replied not sure she wanted to hear anymore 'Off to X-ray then, I'll see you when you get back Amy, Max will take care of you'.

Max was pushing Amy in the wheelchair when she said 'So Max, this girlfriend of yours, she's very pretty for an older woman!'

'Oi, less of the old thank you, what's age when you love somebody?' Max responded.

'What does she do this older girlfriend of yours?' Amy had asked.

'She's a doctor in the ED'

This had caused Amy to laugh out loud, 'wow, impressive!'

'I know it's unconventional and yes, I probably am punching above my weight but none of that matters to

me, I love Zoe for her, not what she does or how much she earns and I'm sure that's the same for her'.

'I'm sure it is' said Amy 'after all, you are pretty hot for a porter!'

'Er, yeah thanks' Max stumbled, 'right my lady, here we are' he said as they pulled up outside X-ray, 'I'll wait for you here as you're the only one waiting to go in'.

'My lucky day!' said Amy winking at him, he smiled, 'what?' said Amy.

'Nothing, you just reminded me of Zoe' said Max, she was always giving him one of her cute winks.

'She's a very lucky woman, with someone as handsome as you' Amy said to him.

Max didn't know what to say, all these years he'd flirted with girls and now there was one blatantly flirting with him and it didn't even cross his mind to respond, Zoe really had done something to him.

'Amy Jackson please' called the radiographer, Max pushed her over to the lady and sat in the empty waiting room thankful for the interruption. His phone vibrated again, this time a picture of Zoe in the bath with a bottle of champagne with the caption 'this is what you could be doing!'

'Argh!' Max groaned, he sent a text back to Zoe 'You know how to make me suffer don't you! Don't worry, I'll get my own back...xx'

His phone went off again 'We'll see about that Mr Walker!xx'

He looked at the clock, 6.30pm, he was leaving at 7pm, it couldn't come quick enough, he knew Zoe was picking him up and he couldn't wait to get back to her.

Amy was being wheeled out of the room and Max went to get her, 'back to cubicles then' he said, 'and then I'm off for the day!'

'Oh that's a shame, I was hoping I might get to know you a bit more' Amy was trying her luck and she knew it, she was so used to guys falling at her feet but this one, and he was gorgeous, just wouldn't budge.

'Amy, look..' Max started.

'I know, I know,' she smiled 'it was worth a try, I could always give you my number in case it all goes wrong!'.

The girl had front which Max admired, she was like he had been when he was younger.

'Right I'm off' Max said as Rita walked back in the cubicle, 'good luck with the ankle'

'Thanks gorgeous' laughed Amy

Rita laughed 'you're popular' she said to Max.

'Yeah well there's only one woman for me now and she'll be waiting right outside'.

'Aww, young love isn't it sickening!' Rita joked. Max smiled and walked away, he went to get changed before saying his goodbyes in the staff room.

'Laters campers!'

'Night Max' said Ethan, Lily and Cal, 'enjoy you're evening! I'm sure you will with the delightful Dr Hanna!' shouted Cal after him. Max smiled and walked away, she was his Dr Hanna and that's all that mattered.

'Hey, gorgeous,' he heard that silky voice of Zoe's as he walked out of the ED. She was stood outside having a cigarette whilst she waited for him.

'Do you know, that's the second time I've been called that today!' Max grinned.

'Oh yeah' said Zoe, 'someone been after my porter?!'

'Jealous are we?' Max teased

'Not at all, besides she wouldn't have the surprise I have for you' Zoe teased back.

'Surprises Dr Hanna, I like the sound of that! What might that be?' Max asked.

'All will be revealed, Zoe said as she put out her cigarette and walked towards the car, she turned round to Max 'are you coming then, Mary-Jane?'