Quarter to seven. Greta smiled, finally after a decade, she would get to see Max's eyes light up like they used to. It had pained her, watching her only son going through the hell so young. With far too much responsibility on his shoulders by the time he had left school. Max's father had left them before Max was 12, something in which Greta was glad for, she got to raise her son the way she wanted to. She was so proud of the man he had turned into. Proud at how he had taken responsibility for his family, and overcame some terrible parts of his past to become the cheerful Max of today.

Her phone ringing caught her out of her reverie. "I am going to be late I'm afraid, my flight was delayed but I am on my way, really looking forward to having a girly night." The woman on the other line rushed.

Greta laughed, "Oh poor you, don't worry about being late, I'm just getting tipsy waiting for you. Oh, I just had a call from Max, he works in Holby now." Greta heard a sharp intake of breathe. "He is doing well." Greta heard silence on the other end of the phone which began to panic her. "Amelia, I'll see you soon." Hanging up, Greta gritted her teeth, the plan wasn't going as well as she had hoped, but as well as could be expected. Greta ordered another drink and waited for her son and Amelia to turn up.

X

Amelia stepped out of the taxi, her red heels clicking against the pavements of Holby. Everything in her head was screaming to get back into the taxi and get on the first flight out of England. But her heart wouldn't let her go. She had agreed to meet Greta on a whim, after calling her to get the name of a landlord. Greta had been like a mum to her growing up, and Amelia knew she cared about her deeply. It had been three years since she had seen Greta, three years since she had stood on British soil and three years since she'd worn anything resembling the dressy outfit she was wearing tonight.

The complication with tonight was as much as Greta promised a catch up and drinks, Amelia knew she would try and slip Max into conversation at all costs. And Amelia wasn't quite sure she was ready to talk about Max again.

It had been ten years since she'd last seen Max Walker.

Ten years since they'd stood in their flat and screamed at each other until no words remained unsaid. Ten years since she had watched Max fall apart right in front of her, crumpled on the floor as a mere shadow of the man she had fallen in love with. It had been ten years since the last night they cried themselves to sleep, when finally she couldn't take it anymore. Ten years since Amelia walked out and never looked back.

X

Max held Zoe's hand tight as they walked towards the bar, he felt her stiffen, Zoe was nervous, that he could deduce without a fancy medical degree. He was excited to see his Mother, but slightly concerned about why she had asked to see him. They were close, phone calls regularly but his mother rarely ventured back to Holby to visit. Had Robyn had phoned and told her about Zoe? Max couldn't figure out why else his mother had demanded this meeting.

"You ready?" Max shot behind him, smiling at his girlfriend. Squeezing her hand in support.

"As I'll ever be." Zoe smiled back, still unsure but it was far too late to run now. Max kissed Zoe's forehead, a silent gesture of all of the words Zoe wouldn't let him say in public. I love you, I am here for you, you are mine.

X

Max spotted Greta at the bar, holding Zoe's hand tighter as they walked towards her. As he walked up behind Greta, he suddenly felt nervous. Should he have brought Zoe without telling his mum? Max stopped as he noticed Greta flirting with the barman. Greta turned around still laughing. "Max, you're here!" She exclaimed, opening her arms. Max let go of Zoe's hand, and embraced his mother.

"Mum, this is Zoe. Zoe this is my mum, Greta." Max exclaimed, gesturing between the two women, his mum's unusual coldness confusing him.

"Zoe, how lovely to meet you." Greta smiled, although the smile didn't quite meet her eyes. Zoe smiled back, even though she felt like asking the ground to swallow her up. "Max, you didn't tell me you were bringing someone." Greta said with a false smile.

"Let's get a table." Max sighed, he had a feeling this meeting would go exactly as Lofty predicted.

X

Amelia walked along the river front, she was now over half an hour late to meet Greta, but she couldn't bring herself to care. Life had been much easier back in Africa, her time had been spent helping others, and fighting for a better world. Amelia couldn't believe how selfish every thought she had since she had arrived back in the UK. And selfish was the one thing Amelia never wanted to be. The last thing Max had said to her was how selfish she was, and the memory still stung as if it were yesterday.

X

"So Zoe, when did you qualify? Must have been very difficult." Greta remarked

"Yes it was," Zoe smiled, sipping her drink. Smiling curtly she continued, "You're trying to ask how old I am."

"Yes but I was trying not to be rude." Greta smiled, not even trying to hide her distaste for Max's new girlfriend.

"I'm forty."

"I'm forty eight." Greta exclaimed, though joy was not the intended emotion. Max held Zoe's hand in support, this was exactly what Zoe had been afraid of happening.

The door to the pub opened and a tall blonde walked in, searching for someone. Max took a swig of his beer and attempted once again, to start a normal conversation between the three of them. "Oh Mum, you should've seen what Robyn did the other night…" Max started, only to be cut off by his mum.

"Amelia, over here!" Max's head shot round as Greta gestured to the blonde. Their eyes locked in a terrifying thrash of emotions. Amelia walked towards the table, unable to form words.4

"Amy?" Max breathed heavily, unable to believe the woman in front of him was in fact who he thought it was. Various emotions rushing through, unable to choose which one. Anger, confusion, happiness even.

"Max, I am so sorry, I didn't know you were…" Amelia gushed, tears brimming in her eyes, until realisation dawned. "Oh my god Greta, you cannot play with our lives as if we are children anymore!"

"You set this up Mum?!" Max shouted, people were beginning to look around the pub. Greta stepped back, this was not the reunion she was hoping for.

"I am so sorry Max…" Amelia held his gaze before turning on her heel and rushing out.

"Look Max, I heard from Amy last week, and I thought it would be good for you to see each other again, I did not mean to upset either of you, and you have to believe me. I only want what's best for the two of you." Greta pleaded, holding Max's arms, forcing him to look at her. "How was I to know you were going to bring a date?"

Max pulled away, grabbing his jacket and Zoes hand. "I am so angry right now Mum. I am a grown man, the sooner you start treating me like one the better." Max stormed out of the pub, Zoe hot on his heels, leaving Greta to her own thoughts.

X

"Max, I am so sorry this wasn't the night you were hoping for. Let's head home and I'll make it up to you." Zoe murmured into his ear while they were walking home.

"No, I am sorry, can you get a taxi back to the flat? I need some time to think." He kissed her on the forehead and led her towards the taxi rank.

"Max come home and talk about it." Zoe pleaded, wishing Max would open up. "Please Max, I have told you about my past—"

Max cut her off, "this isn't tit for tat Zoe, and you can't compare sharing your relationship history to this… This is something I need to deal with on my own. Just leave it alright." Max slammed the taxi door and walked away. Leaving Zoe watching through the back window of the taxi as he walked away. Zoe bit back the tears, feeling further away from Max than ever, the exact opposite to what she had hoped tonight would bring.

X

Max sat on the ground, holding his head in his hands, the tears flowing freely onto the grass. After holding the pain at bay for years, all of those feelings had rushed up to the surface as soon as he seen Amelia. Her return made him feel like a child again, unable to control his own emotions or actions. All of his hard work the past few years had all came crashing down. Max wanted to scream, kick something, run, go anywhere but here. How his Mum could be so flippant about his feelings made him angry. She had lived through that period of his life with him, felt the pain with him of losing the two most important people in his life. Held him when Amy left him, alone, dealing with the remnants of their broken life. Max couldn't breathe, the sobs wracking his body.

Amelia watched from ten feet away, trying to hold back her tears. It hurt to know how much pain she had caused Max by coming home. Hurting him was the last thing Amy wanted to do. The rain started to fall on the graveyard but neither of them moved, both filled with guilt, pain and regret over the life they once lived.