Chapter 7-An Explanation

A/N

Slight trigger warning for this chapter. I apologize for the amount of speech in this chapter! It's just so you have a full explanation of Rebecca's story, I hope it's okay :-)

Reviews welcome,

Laura xxx

"Do you want a hug?" Zoe held her arms out. Rebecca nodded and sniffed. "Yes please."

Zoe held Rebecca gently. "Sorry f I'm a rubbish hugger, Max is so much better! He gives the best hugs" Zoe smiled in spite of herself.

Eventually, after a few more tears, Rebecca broke away from Zoe.

"Do you want to go and take her down to X-ray?" Zoe asked gently.

Rebecca's eyes lit up. "Really?" she smiled.

"Of course. She's your daughter." Zoe answered.

Rebecca and Zoe took Danielle down to X-ray.

"So… how? Why?" Zoe had a lot of questions, but then regretted opening her mouth. "Er, I'm sorry. I don't want to invade your privacy." She apologized.

"No, it's okay." Rebecca took a deep breath and began to speak.

"So, 13 years ago I'd just finished my training and was working in a hospital in London. I was young and stupid, and I had no idea what a relationship, or love, was." Rebecca paused for breath.

"I met this man, he was one of the senior doctors in the hospital. His name was Robert Blackett, and he was married with three children, and we had an affair. I fell pregnant with Danielle and told him. He called me a slut, that I'd slept with many men whilst I had been with him and that he hated me. He beat me up." She closed her eyes and swallowed.

"My parent are very strict Catholics, I told them what had happened and they blamed me. Turns out Robert had informed them what had happened, his version of events anyway. They kicked me out. I stayed at a friends' house for the duration of my pregnancy. Thanks to Robert, almost all of my friends, the staff at the hospital had turned their backs on me. So I left." She continued.

"My parents contacted me a few weeks before my due date and told me to give Danielle up otherwise they would break all contact with me. I didn't want to lose them, I didn't want to give Danielle up either. One of my friends decided to take her in for me and then I could still see her. She died in a car crash, I then looked after Danielle for a few weeks." A tear dropped down Rebecca's cheek but then she carried on.

"My parents found out and called social services and they took Danielle away from me. The people who adopted her are friends of my parents." She finished.

"Ah.. so if they see you, they won't be too happy, right?" Zoe clarified.

"Yep. I know her older adoptive sister though, she's called Sarah. Ian and I originally planned to try and meet Danielle on her 15th Birthday, but I believe that could change now…" Rebecca replied.

"You are so, so lucky to have not one, but two lovely children. You should tell her who you are." Zoe told Rebecca.

"Okay. When Sarah gets here, I think I'll have a chat to her about things…" Rebecca mused.

"You definitely should." Zoe smiled encouragingly.

"Did you go back to work after you gave Danielle away?" Zoe asked.

"Yeah, but Robert had spread some nasty rumours about me and it was difficult, I was treated like dirt. I kept at it though, and made some friends. I met Ian, he became my best friend, the rest is history." Rebecca answered.

Danielle came out of the X-ray room.

"Hello, how are you doing?" Rebecca asked Danielle.

"I'm alright. How long is it till my results are back?" Danielle asked.

"About an hour, I guess. Would you like something to eat now?" Zoe asked.

"Yes!" came the happy answer.