Not Here, Not Now
A/N
So this is a joint fic by myself and BethyBoo97 and reviews are very welcome :-).
We don't own the characters or anything Casualty!
It was a couple of weeks before Christmas and Zoe was asleep in front of the TV. It was her day off and she was exhausted.
A knocking on her front door caused her to stir from the peaceful slumber she'd slipped into.
"Really, what now?" she muttered grumpily.
She opened the front door to see Max standing there. "What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
"Erm..." Max didn't know what to say, he'd planned coming but after that his plan had been pretty flawed.
"Well?" Zoe pressed.
"Robyn's kicked me out. She's sick of me not paying the rent, and having different girlfriends each week." He answered.
Zoe rolled her eyes.
"And because I brought this little one back from the pub…" Max opened a box to reveal a tabby kitten, with big blue eyes.
"No, no, no. Nope. I am not having that thing in my house."
"What? Why? She's named after you!" Max protested.
She raised her eyebrows. "Really?" she wasn't at all convinced.
"She is!"
"Yeah right." Zoe muttered.
"I guess you're just going to have to trust me on this one. It's pretty cold out here." Max spoke, exaggerating a shiver as if to prove his point.
"You're making the place look untidy anyway." She told him, moving aside to let him inside her house, the kitten now in his arms and looking terrified.
"Is the big man scaring you?" Zoe spoke to the kitten, removing the little ball of fur from Max's arms and wrapping it tight in her own arms.
"She's beautiful, just like you." Max spoke, barely able to contain the love he felt for the bigger Zoe as he watched the scene in front of him.
"So these multiple girlfriends then?" Zoe questioned as she put the kitten down to explore.
"Ah well..."
"It's fine, we aren't together anymore." Zoe spoke but her face told a completely different story.
"Robyn had the wrong end of the stick, whenever you were back she thought it was a different girl each time and since you left there has only been one girl, and that was only because she looked a bit like you. For the night I could kid myself that you were back in my arms, of course no one could live up to you though."
"Max stop." She spoke softly, wanting to run away at that moment before it all got too serious for her liking. "Where's the kitten?"
"She has a name you know, it's Zoe." Max reminded her.
Zoe sighed and nodded.
"Er..." Max nodded in the direction of Zoe's sofa. "I think she's made herself comfortable for the night."
Zoe turned to see that the kitten snuggling down on the leather sofa.
Zoe sighed. "She looks very sweet, I must admit. But you really can't stay here…" she said.
"Why? Are you afraid that something will happen between us again?" he asked bluntly.
She nodded nervously.
"I promise nothing will happen. Look, I really need somewhere to rest my head for a couple of nights. Please, Zoe?" he begged.
She sighed. "Fine." She stepped aside to let him in.
He put his bags down and looked around expectantly. "So where am I sleeping?" he asked.
"On the sofa. I'll get you some blankets and pillows in a minute." She answered coldly.
"Okay." He seemed fairly happy.
"I'm off to bed." she passed him some takeaway menus and some money. "Have what you want."
"Have you already eating then?" He asked gently.
"No, I'm not hungry though." She told him, picking up the kitten to let the little Zo sleep in her room.
"Sure I can't tempt you with a curry?" He pushed.
"Max..."
"It's just a meal between two friends." He told her and smiled slightly as he heard the faint sound her tummy rumbling.
"Fine." She gave in. "Now you brought me this little one, what do I need to look after her?" She asked, finally realising that she had no idea how to look after a cat.
"I don't know." Max admitted as he reached for Zoe's landline and dialled the number of the local Indian take away. "I do know that's she eaten tonight so she'll be okay until tomorrow and then we could go and buy stuff?" Max spoke as the phone rang.
"We?" Zoe raised an eyebrow at him.
"I thought it'd be easier?" He replied, clearing a space between the blankets for Zoe to sit.
"Fine."
"Do we have to watch this?" Max asked as he was now bored 10 minutes in to the documentary that she had put on.
"My house, my tv, my choice." Zoe pointed out.
"What happened to looking out for your guests?"
"You weren't an invited guest!" she snapped back.
"Calm down." Max petted the little kitten and smiled. "She's sweet, isn't she?" he asked.
"I suppose she's all right." Zoe felt a smile tugging at her lips.
Max saw this. "See!" he said.
"All right, all right, I admit it, she's cute." She said.
"Told you! See Little Zo, Zoe likes you already!" Max tickled the cat under the chin.
"I didn't say that!" Zoe protested weakly.
"So can we change the channel?" Max asked cheekily.
"Fine. This isn't very interesting, anyway." She said.
Max flicked through the channels until he found a James Bond film. Zoe rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. As much as she didn't want it to admit it, she was enjoying his company. Little Zo was sweet as well… if she wasn't so busy, she would consider asking Max if she could keep her.
The takeaway arrived and they ate their dinner in silence, only interrupted by the loud purrs of Little Zo.