Chapter 4

I'm 16 weeks pregnant now, and extremely tired and grumpy to go with it. On the plus side, Max and I went to view the house that I spotted couple of weeks ago, and we're now in the process of buying it- luckily it's going to be pretty fast.

Max is back at the hotel today, it's his day off. In AAU we've been rushed off our feet, I've barely had time to do some patient notes.

"Are you alright, Zoe?" Serena asks me. I'm sat at the nurses' station with my eyes closed, trying to get five minutes' rest.

"Yeah." I reply, opening my eyes. "I should go to the ED sometime..."

"Pardon?" my colleague enquires.

"Max's sister works there, she doesn't know that she's going to be an auntie yet- she doesn't even know that I'm back in the country... I suppose that the whole ED should know."

"You're rambling." Serena informs me. "But yes, you should tell them. Just..."

"Just what?" I ask.

"Just don't get caught up in it again-the Emergency Department. Remember, you've moved on now. You've settled down with Max, you're happy."

I nod-I get what she's saying. I moved away from the ED because I wasn't happy there anymore. I thought that I could be happy in America-I was wrong. Now I have a life in Holby, a job on AAU which I love-I can't let the ED impact that.

"Okay." I nod. "I've got a break coming up..."

"Then go." She advises. "Good luck."

"Thank you, I think that I'll need it."

A while later...

I make my way along the corridor to the ED, my heart pounding with nerves.

I open the door and take it all in- staff rushing around, the constant business of it all. It's so fast paced-AAU is a little slower which is exactly what I need.

A few nurses are staring at me-my bump isn't that obvious under the grey hoodie that I'm wearing but you can tell that I'm pregnant.

"Doctor Hanna!" Says Ethan, walking up to me. "It's lovely to see you, and congratulations." He beams, nodding to my bump.

"It's Doctor Walker now." I reply, showing him my left hand. "Thank you. And same to you, how've you been?"

We catch up for a few minutes, then Ethan is paged to Resus.

"Zoe!" Says a voice-I turn round to see Connie.

"Hello." I smile to my colleague-taller than me in her heels, businesslike-dressed in a smart white shirt and black trousers, holding a few patient files, her hair up in a bun.

"What're you doing back? And I see that you're expecting, congratulations. It's good to see you."

"Thank you. It's nice to see you too. Well, it's a long story..."

"I've got a few minutes. My office?"

"Okay." I smile.

10 minutes later...

"So you and Max are back together then? And you're working on the Acute Assessment Unit?" Connie asks me, taking a sip of coffee. We're sat on the sofa in her office, having a catch up.

"Yes on both counts. Max and I... We talked things through, we're finally happy. Obviously, it wouldn't' have been possible if it wasn't for this one." I beam, rubbing my bump.

"I'm so pleased that it's worked out so well for you and Max-you're meant to be. How far along are you?" Says the other woman.

"Four months. Thank you." I smile. "Speaking of matters of the heart... How are you and Jacob?"

She smiles. "We're back together, Grace has accepted the situation. We're happy now." She says-it's obvious that she's overjoyed.

I grin. "I'm very happy for you-you deserve to be happy, Connie."

"As do you. I have to get on now- call me sometime, we'll go out for a drink sometime." She says, standing up.

"I'd like that." I reply, standing up also.

She places a hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad you're back, even though we're not working together anymore. I missed you, my friend."

I smile. "I missed you too Connie. America just wasn't the same without the click of your heels."

She smiles, and we share a hug. We've been through a lot together, and we have a strong bond- a strong friendship. We know each other well, we've seen each other at our best and our worst.

I pull away from her. "Is Robyn in today? She doesn't know that Max and I are back together, let alone that I'm pregnant..."

"Yeah, she is. Good luck."

"Thank you, I think that I'll need it."

Connie and I go our separate ways. I make my way through the ED, looking for Max's sister.

"Zoe." A voice whom I recognise as Robyn's says.

"Hello." I turn to face her.

Her eyes widen as she sees my bump. "You're pregnant? And you're back?"

"Yes. Max and I are back together, I'm 4 months along. I'm never going to hurt him again Robyn, I promise."

"I wondered where he's been going. So I'm going to be an auntie then?"

"Yeah, you are." I smile softly, and take another step towards her. I hold my hand out. "Peace?"

"Yeah, peace." She says, shaking my hand.

I pull her into a hug. "I'm sure that you are going to be a fantastic auntie."

"Thank you." She beams. "Come and visit me soon, yeah?"

"I will. I'm currently staying at the Dorbank, but Max and I are looking to buy a house. You could come and visit."

"I'd like that."

With that, we go our separate ways-Robyn to cubicles and myself back to AAU.

"How did it go?" Serena asks as I make my way back onto the ward.

"Very well, thank you."

"Good good. Now, we're due in theatre."

A few hours later...

It's the end of shift, I've got changed out of my scrubs into a comfortable pair of jeans and a turtleneck jumper.

As I get my favourite navy coat on my phone buzzes, indicating a text.

It's from Max. It reads: "I'm at the hospital, at the spot where it all began-I heard about Robyn by the way-well done for not getting your head bitten off. Your loving husband xxx."

I frown. Where did what all begin?

I text my husband back. "Where what all began? And thank you, she's lovely underneath! Your loving wife ;) xxx"

Another text comes through as I'm putting my bag over my arm.

"What d'you think-us of course! Hurry up, I've got a curlywurly with your name on it! M xxxx."

I frown, and then realise what he means. Where we began-the bench where he left me that empty match box, the bench near to where we rekindled the flame.

I make my way back down the corridor to the ED, through the Emergency Department, and then out into the fresh September air.

I spot Max sitting at the bench, with a smile I make my way towards him.

He grins as he spots me. "Hello Spiderman, Peanut."

"Mary Jane." I reply, sitting down next to him. "I love you."

"I love you too." He smiles, giving me a kiss. "How have you and Peanut been?"

"Okay, thank you. I'm tired out." I yawn, laying my head on his shoulder and cuddling close to him.

He wraps an arm around me. "I hear that you spoke to Robyn, she texted me. She's none too happy about me keeping us a secret, but it's outweighed by the fact that she's going to be an auntie."

I chuckle. "Good good. I spoke to Connie too, we're going out for a drink sometime. A none alcoholic one for me, obviously."

"Obviously. Robyn wants to tell our mum about Peanut..."

I close my eyes. Greta, of course, will be overjoyed to hear that she's going to be a Granny. "Okay..."

"I told her to keep quiet, just for a few more weeks." Says my husband, placing a hand on my bump. "Let's just enjoy the peace a few more weeks."

"Definitely." I agree, kissing him.