"One more push Zoe and you'll get to meet your baby" the midwife said urging Zoe on.
Zoe was alone. During what is supposed to be the happiest day of your entire life and she was facing it all on her own. 9 months ago Dr Zoe Hanna had it all; she was engaged and was all set to move in with her fiancé, until one stupid night out had crushed it all. A stupid one night stand. When Zoe had told her fiancé she was pregnant he was full of nothing but doubt, he had fertility problems and knew for fact that he could never become a father, and from that day forwards everything in Zoe's life had changed. She was left alone a single, pregnant mother ready to face a life of motherhood by herself. She was scared, petrified and most of all, she was jealous. Jealous that her child's father was happily engaged to the woman of his dreams and the children he'd always longed for.
"I can't do it" Zoe screamed as a team of midwifes continued to tell her push.
"Yes you can Zoe, come on one more push" The midwife begged. And with that her baby was born.
"Well done, you have a little girl" the midwife congratulated.
"Why isn't she crying?" Zoe questioned, becoming more and more concerned. "What's wrong with my baby" Zoe cried as she realised that something wasn't right.
A few minutes later a tiny cry filled the room. Zoe let out a huge sigh of realise.
"Can I see her?" She asked, trying to get view of her baby whom was surrounded by so many nurses.
"I'm afraid not" the midwife went over and explained "Your daughter is very premature Zoe; she needs to be taken to Intensive care straight away"
"What wrong with her? What are her chances?" She questioned "Please don't lie to me I'm a doctor I know that something is seriously wrong"
"It's too early to say, once they've got her settled in ICU we'll take you down and they'll explain everything to you. Is there anyone I can call?"
"No, no one"
"Don't worry she's in safe hands know" The midwife reassured her.
A few hours later and Zoe was taken down to ICU to meet her precious little girl for the first time.
A nurse pushed Zoe over in a wheelchair to the incubator where her daughter lay. As she set eyes on her for the first time a tear streamed down Zoe's cheek "She's so tiny"
"Would you like to touch her?" The nurse asked.
Zoe smiled. "Please"
The nurse opended the door into the baby's incubator and Zoe carefully placed her hand in, touching her babies soft delicate skin for the first time, wrapping her fingers around her tiny girl's hand and as she did so.
"Hello Phoebe"
"I hear a Congratulations is in order Dr Hanna"
Zoe knew that voice from anywhere, it was hard not to. She spun round to see Nick walking towards her "Nick what are you doing here?" She questioned.
"I heard what happened; I came to see how you were doing" He kissed her cheek as he approached her but Zoe turned her head slightly.
Zoe wasn't welcoming at all, she was tired, exhausted, worried about her daughter's life and Nick Jordan was certainly the last person she wanted to be speaking to now, "Well you can see how I'm doing"
"Ah, a little girl, hey, looks just like you" Nick smiled sitting down next to her.
"Really I don't think so"
"How's she doing?"
"Well, she's stable, for now"
"She'll be alright you know Zo" "If she's anything like her mother I know for fact she's a fighter"
Zoe smiled a little and Nick could see that.
"What have you called her then?" He asked, breaking the silence that had began to surround them.
"Phoebe" She smiled, turning to face Nick.
"Phoebe. What a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl" He smiled, watching Zoe's daughter as she lay in front of them. "Yvonne had the baby today too"
"Really?" "Congratulations, what you have?"
"A boy, Oliver" He beamed. Nick had always longed for a son, and Zoe knew that.
"Finally got the son you always wished for then"
He smiled "Yeah"
"How are they?"
"They're both well thanks"
Nick stayed with Zoe for a good half an hour; he knew she needed support right now. Deep down he knew he still had feelings for her.
Nick stood up, placing his hand on Zoe's shoulder "Listen Zo, I'm going to have to go now, Maisie is dying to meet her little brother, but if you need anything you know I'm just a phone call away and if you need a break later I can always come and sit with her if you don't want her to be alone"
Zoe smiled and Nick kissed her on her forehead, walking over to the opposite side of Phoebe's incubator.
"See you later Phoebe, you hurry up and get better, I'll be needing your mummy back at work soon" He winked at Zoe, as he whispered to the baby, leaning over her incubator "between you and me, she's a pretty good doctor"
Zoe grinned. Nick always did have a way with words. He could always make her smile, even on a day like this.
Nick began to walk out.
"Nick" Zoe called "Thank you, it means a lot"
