PROMPT:Imagine your OTP going to Prom (or a dance or some sort of formal event) and Person A being very excited about it. For whatever reason, something bad happens at the event (could be a wardrobe malfunction or a bad encounter with someone or the event generally not being as nice as they hoped) and they end up going home early and quite upset. Later on, Person B puts on some music and Person A and Person B dance in their living room.


"Do we have to?" Zoe replied with a sigh, desperately trying to dress their restless six month old daughter who they'd recently adopted. "Darcy, stop wriggling". Today they were attending Max's mother's wedding and Zoe couldn't have been dreading it more.

Max choose to ignore her, holding his arms out for the little girl in an attempt to put on her tights. "You're a wiggle-bum today aren't you?" Max cooed, placing a kiss on her cheek as Zoe dressed her. "You're going to look beautiful, you'll steal all the attention at Grandma's wedding!"

"Max, hold her still!" Zoe snapped, placing a bow to the little girl's hair. When Zoe attempted to stand in order to go to the kitchen, Max stopped her with a hand on her hip.

"Zo," he supplied, pulling her into a hug with Darcy still on his hip. Zoe tensed. "It's going to be okay," he told her softly. Zoe gave a sigh as she relaxed into his arms. It was the first time they were going to introduce Darcy to the majority of Max's family and Zoe was nervous. Scared of being judged for having to adopt instead of being able to conceive naturally. This coupled with the fact that Zoe and Max's mother didn't get along meant that Zoe was nervous to say the least.

"I know," Zoe replied gently. "I need to get this little one fed and then finish getting ready," she told him, gesturing to her pyjamas. Max gave a smile, keeping hold of Darcy although Zoe held her arms out for her.

"I'll feed Darcy, you go and get ready," Max told her with a smile. Zoe looked unsure but Max nodded, pointing towards the bedroom.

"If you dare get anything on that dress!" Zoe called and she walked into the bedroom. Max gave a laugh before pulling a bib out of one of the kitchen drawers.

"We'll be okay won't we Darcy?" Max cooed, placing her in her high-chair. The little girl let out an amused gurgle. "And Daddy is going to introduce you to everyone because he is so proud of you". Darcy kicked her legs and Max wasn't sure whether she was happy to be spending time with him or excited because he had placed a bowl of porridge in front of her. In all honesty, Max was excited. He rarely got to see his entire family altogether and he was more than excited to show off his beautiful wife and daughter to those closest to him. "Shall we put some music on whilst we get ready?" Max asked the little girl. She gave a smile but when he put her favourite nursery rhymes on the iPad, her smile grew into a loud giggle and soon Max found that he was laughing along with her.

...

In the bedroom, Zoe had thrown six outfits onto the floor and was trying on another three in frustration. Nothing looked right and all she could see were the tired bags under her eyes where they were still getting used to having a baby in the house. She noticed the way the weight hung around her abdomen, a consequence of grabbing snacks around playing and feeding her new daughter. She was just about settled on a navy dress when she noticed the sick stain down it from when Darcy had thrown up on her last week. She ripped it off with a heavy sigh, desperately wishing she could sink back into bed and not move all day.

Once Darcy had finished eating and instead began throwing her food, Max quickly cleaned her hands and pulled her from the high-chair. "Shall we go and see what your mummy is wearing?"

As she always did at the word mummy, Darcy began wriggling in Max's arms with a gummy smile.

When Max stopped in the bedroom doorway, he found Zoe with a full face of make up lying back in bed with only a slip on and her eyes tightly shut. Max paused for a moment and then quietly put Darcy in the cot that rested beside the door for when they were too tired to take her back to the nursery. Putting a hand on his lips, which made Darcy smile, Max then approached the bed.

Zoe jumped when the bed dipped, and when her eyes flew open she found Max hovering over her with a grin. Before she could speak, he placed a firm kiss on her lips.

"You are the most gorgeous woman in the world."

Hearing the honesty in Max's voice, Zoe gave a slight smile but shook her head. "I'm not. I can't find anything to wear that your mother will approve of."

"You know what I think you should wear?"

"I'm not going in just a bra, Max." Zoe said dryly.

Grinning again, Max dropped a kiss to her forehead. "The dress you wore for our engagement party. When I saw you in that, I fell in love with you all over again."

"But I'm too-" Zoe began, but was cut off by Max.

"Too beautiful? If you're worried you'll outshine my mother, then you're right to worry, but even if you weighed 500 kilos and wore a dress made out of paper towel, I'd still be so proud that you're mine and I'd still think you were the most beautiful woman on the planet."

Zoe wrinkled her nose, but was still pleased by his words. "Leave the room, you being in here always makes dressing ten times harder."

"Well you've got fifteen minutes before we need to leave." Max told her, swooping in for another kiss before he left the room.

...

"Can you sort my tie and then I'll put Darcy in the car?" Max asked. Zoe gave a nod through a last minute mouthful of toast, standing to fasten her husband's tie. He leant forward to place a kiss on her cheek before taking Darcy from her arms.

"I'll just make sure we've got everything, lock up and follow you down," Zoe replied, beginning to fuss around Darcy's pram. Max gave a nod, cooing at his daughter as he carried her down to the car.

When they arrived at the wedding Zoe was instantly overwhelmed with people fussing over Darcy. She instantly tensed which distressed the little girl who gave a cry. Wherever Zoe seemed to look there were people who wanted to coo over her daughter.

"Let me see her," one of Max's Auntie's seemed to demand.

Another reminded Zoe "she's so cute".

Zoe was overwhelmed and whilst she tried to stay calm, Darcy was doing anything but and began to get restless. Zoe was about to announce they needed to go home when she felt a comforting hand around her waist. Max dropped a kiss to the side of her head.

"Okay, okay. Give them some space," Max teased. His family instantly departed and Zoe felt herself give an outward sigh of relief. "I know they are beautiful but they'll be here all day," he added making sure all of his cousins had backed away. Darcy gave a gurgled, sensing the way her mother's shoulders had dropped. "Let's get you both inside," Max whispered, noticing the way the clouds were beginning to darken. He lead them into the registry office only stopping briefly to say hello to certain members of his family.

Max was meant to be walking his mother down the aisle but she was no where to be seen so he settled on focusing Zoe and Darcy.

"Now, Robyn will be somewhere," Max told her softly. "And Robyn will have brought Lofty, so I'll make sure they sit next to you," he added with a smile. "Robyn will fend off all the family and you know Darcy is endlessly fascinated by Lofty's hair so if she starts to get wriggly, pass her to him."

Zoe just gave a smile.

"I'll just be at the front, okay?" Max continued, dropping a kiss to Darcy's head. Zoe gave an unsure nod. "There's Sean, I should probably go and say hello," he mused, looking at the man his mother was just about to marry. Zoe gave him an encouraging nod despite the fact she desperately didn't want Max to leave her side.

"We'll be fine," Zoe replied softly, although she was barely convincing herself. "If he is anything like you were on our wedding day, he'll need a pep talk," Zoe teased.

Max gave a laugh. "Said the girl who told me she couldn't marry me ten minutes before the wedding was due to start!" he teased, dropping a kiss to her head. Zoe gave a giggle. "Love you, I'll be back before the start of the ceremony," Zoe gave a nod as Max bent down to Darcy. "Behave yourself little one, god forbid anyone make a noise during Grandma's wedding. She will already be annoyed that you and mummy are upstaging her with your beauty!"

The ceremony went much more smoothly than their own had, and Darcy kept quiet the whole time, her eyes on her father who kept glancing their way. Max was used to Zoe being confident, but since they'd adopted Darcy she was so unsure of herself in this new roll, and he was surprised he'd even managed to get her out of the house that morning.

When they went to take photos, Greta insisted she only wanted family members in them, so Max went to get Zoe and Darcy, but Greta caught his arm. "MY family members only."

Max clenched his jaw, but it was his mother's day and he didn't want to ruin it, so he just stood beside her and smiled at the photographers.

...

"Wow." Was Lofty's first comment when they reached the reception.

"Trust Greta to have gone over the top." Robyn mumbled, looking at all the crystal and chandeliers.

Zoe had travelled to the reception with the pair, as Greta had insisted she needed Max with her, but Max had assured Zoe he'd be right behind them, and as if on cue when Darcy began to ready herself for a cry, Max suddenly appeared. She watched him over Zoe's shoulder and gave a delighted giggle when he finally reached them and slid an arm around Zoe's waist.

"Remind me why we came?" Max mumbled into Zoe's ear, but his grumpiness was short lived as he then added cheekily, "Well, aside from seeing you in this dress."

"Because she's your mother," Zoe replied quietly. Anger bubbled in her stomach for she had just seen the seating plan. Max was sat on the top table with his family and mother whilst Zoe and Darcy, who hadn't even been mentioned, were sitting on the opposite side of the room.

"Where are we sat?" Max asked, noting the way Darcy wriggled and wanting to get her sat down and eating before she began to grow restless.

"You're over there," Zoe replied, poining to the top table. Max frowned.

"And where are you?" He asked curiously.

Zoe pointed the the table furthest away, near the door which came with a draft not fit for a small baby. "There," she replied, tears threatening to spill. Max couldn't held the way his jaw dropped open in shock.

"I'll talk to her," Max promised, trying to keep the anger from his voice. Zoe gave a heavy sigh.

"We both know there's no point," she replied sadly. "I'm just going to feed Darcy and then I think I'll take her home. We're clearly not wanted here. You stay and have fun though," she continued, attempting to force a smile.

"Zo?" Max called but Zoe was already walking towards her seat with Darcy where a precariously lay high-chair sat. Zoe sighed as she sat down and fussed around Darcy. Greta hadn't bothered to visit the child since they'd adopted her and couldn't even be bothered to meet her despite the fact they'd been less then five feet away from each other all day.

"You've got a silly grandmother have't you?" Zoe cooed, placing a bib around her daughter's neck. "But it's okay because Mummy loves you so you don't need to worry about silly Greta, okay?"

Darcy gave a giggle, more excited about the prospect of lunch than anything else. Max was hot on their heels and suddenly appeared beside them once more.

"Mum won't change it," Max sighed, scuffing his shoe along the floor in frustration.

"I know," Zoe replied simply. "It's fine, we'll only be ten minutes and then we'll be leaving, won't we sweetheart?" She added, aiming her question at Darcy who gave a delighted squeal.

Max gave a frustrated sigh, because he was unsure what to do. They rarely saw his mother nowadays, and he'd been sure she had put Zoe and Darcy on the wedding guest list because she wanted to bury the hatchet, but it was clearly only to ignore them as usual. "..I'm supposed to dance with her after their first dance..."

"It's fine." Zoe offered again, eyes on Darcy still.

"Zo, I-" max began

"It's fine." Zoe replied again, sharper this time.

Giving a defeated sigh, Max slunk away head lowered and hands shoved in his pockets.

..

Ten minutes later as Max tried to extract himself from a conversation without being noticed so he could say goodbye, Greta grabbed his arm. "Speech time! Come on."

Max looked desperately towards Zoe's retreating back, because he knew she was angry with him, though he wasn't sure what he could do to better the situation.

"Max! Hurry up, you're first." Greta urged, pulling Max in the opposite direction.

"No Mum!" Max suddenly snapped, trying to rush towards Zoe but Greta held him back. She forced a smile.

"Oh, I didn't realise Zoe and Darcy had actually come," she lied.

Max frowned. "Yes you did, we've talked about it."

Greta shook her head, her fake smile growing. "There must have been a mix up, of course I didn't know. I want to meet little Darcy," she insisted, realising that without doing so Max was going to leave along with his wife and daughter. "Let's delay the speeches and go and get them," she added, tugging on Max's hand. He rolled his eyes but followed her anyway.

Zoe was halfway to the car when she heard Greta's high-pitched voice that had always grated on her.

"Zoe darling!" She called. Zoe was about to turn round and snap when she felt Max's familiar hand on her hip.

"Please stay!" He begged. "At least for a while. Mum wants to meet Darcy," he was out of breath from running after her. Zoe turned and looked between Max and Greta who had now caught up.

Greta looked critically at the little girl that wriggled in her mother's arms. She attempted to force a smile but Zoe could see the strain on her face.

"Hello cutie," Greta offered. Zoe cringed but passed Darcy to her anyway, hoping the little girl wouldn't throw up her dinner on her grandmother's wedding dress.

"Come back inside," Max offered softly, tugging on Zoe's hand. "At least just for an hour and then we'll go?"

As Zoe opened her mouth to reply, Darcy did exactly what Zoe had hoped she wouldn't. She was sick on Greta's dress. If it wasn't for Max's quick movement, Darcy would have hit the ground because as soon as she vomited, Greta's hold on her released.

Both Greta and Darcy burst into tears as Zoe grabbed Darcy and pulled her roughly from Max's arms, giving him a glare before turning on her heel and marching towards the car, leaving Max beside Greta.

"She's ruined my wedding dress! Do you have any idea how expensive this was?!" Greta cried. When she saw Max's focus was on Zoe, she grabbed his arm. "Max, LOOK what she's done!"

Max looked back at his mother, then at Zoe's retreating back before finally backing away from his mother. Into her hands he pushed a cloth he kept in his pocket for Darcy. "I'm sorry."

"Max!" Greta cried as he took a few steps towards Zoe.

"No. I have tried. I have tried so hard, and I wanted today to be special for you, but I can't do this anymore." He turned, jogging after his family.

Zoe carefully strapped Darcy into her car seat, surprised when Max flew past her and fell into the drivers seat. She frowned, looking back for Greta who was stomping back into the reception. Darcy gave a whimper as Zoe cleaned the sick from around her mouth with a tissue before kissing the top of her head.

"You're okay angel," Zoe told her softly. "Let's get you home, okay?" At this Darcy seemed to perk up and relaxed back into her travel seat, suddenly feeling tired.

Zoe silently climbed into the car next to Max who pulled out of the car park. They managed to make it to the main road before Zoe cleared her throat, unsure of what to say.

"You didn't need to do that," she told him softly. Although she was very grateful he had.

"I did," Max replied, his eyes remaining focused on the road. "Why can't she understand that you and Darcy are my life now. She can't ignore your existence?" He asked, his hand hit the steering wheel. Zoe remained silent.

"She's never liked me," Zoe pointed out after a long silence. "And when she found out I couldn't have children it was just the nail in the coffin."

"You don't need punishing for it," Max replied, frustrated. "Darcy is as much her granddaughter now than she is our daughter."

Zoe scoffed, remembering the time the adoption agency had spoken to Greta and she outright stated that she wanted nothing to do with a child that wasn't hers by blood. It had taken weeks for Max and Zoe to persuade the adoption agency that Darcy should still be theirs.

When Max hit the steering wheel again and yelled at someone driving past them, Zoe finally put a hand on his arm. "Pull over."

"I'm fine." Max said through clenched teeth.

"Pull over! I don't want to be in a car with you if you're going to drive in this state." Zoe said sharply.

After a few more metres, Max parked the car with a squeal of tyres. Zoe took a deep breath and then looked towards her husband again, now feeling guilty for being angry with him. She hadn't been able to see how much Greta was already working him up, and now she was worried she'd made the situation even worse for him.

When Max kept his hands on the wheel, his knuckles white, Zoe reached out, running a hand down her arm to his hand, much like he'd done the morning before their wedding. As her hand rested over his, she leant across to drop a kiss to his cheek. "I love you."

Max let out a sigh, but his fingers only slightly loosened. So rarely had she seen him upset, Zoe was unsure how to calm him, so just tried when he always used on her. Moving a little, she dropped another kiss to the corner of his mouth and then murmured softly in his ear, "Remember the day we got married and you brought me a curly wurly and then you were worried it wasn't a proper gift? I got my proper gift. I got you, I got alcohol and I got chocolate, my 3 favourite things."

"Isn't Darcy a favourite thing?" Max asked.

Relieved that he was listening, Zoe dropped another kiss. "Well, she's still earning her stripes."

Max gave a slight smile, resting his head against his seat. "Sorry."

Zoe shrugged because she'd already forgiven him.

"Do you want me to drive home?" She asked. Max shook his head. "Are you sure you won't drive like a lunatic?" She added with a giggle. Darcy let out a laugh from the back seat as if she'd understood her parents and it caused Max to laugh along with her.

"Well aren't you a little ray of sunshine," he teased, turning back to Darcy who gave an excited kick of her legs. She squeezed the cuddly toy in her hands with a grin. "Do you want to go home and cuddle up?" He asked. Darcy let out a squeal. "How did we get so lucky with you, hey?"

Max looked at Zoe who gave a smile, for she was thinking exactly the same thing.

When they arrived home Max settled on the sofa with Darcy on his chest. They'd instantly fallen asleep and Zoe had taken great pleasure in cuddling up next to them.

Max woke hours later to the sound of music. He opened his eyes to find Darcy staring intently at him with a grin on her face. He dropped a kiss to her forehead before scanning the living room for Zoe. He found her lighting candles at the coffee table.

"This is all very romantic," Max smiled. Zoe looked across, giving him a smile.

"I thought if we couldn't go to the reception, the reception could come to us," she teased. "Fancy a dance Mr Walker?" She asked, extending a hand out to him. It didn't matter than he'd just woken up or that Zoe was in her pyjamas because the moment couldn't have been more perfect. Max gave a lopsided grin and stood, Darcy still on his hip. He took Zoe's hand and pulled her into him, their little girl between them.

Darcy wrapped one arm around Zoe, resting her head against Zoe as her other hand still gripped Max tightly.

"I love you, Dr Walker." Max said, kissing Zoe gently as he wrapped his free arm around Zoe. "And for the record, I think you in your pyjamas is the most beautiful I've ever seen you."

Zoe smiled, shutting her eyes and resting her head against her husbands chest. After a moment, she lifted her head with tears in her eyes. "I got so lucky with you two."

"You also got saddled with my mother." Max reminded her.

"You know what? I would taken on a hundred Greta's every day if we could have this moment every night." Zoe replied, kissing Max gently.

Though he deepened the kiss, a small hand suddenly moved between them as Darcy gave a delighted giggle, clapping her hands when both her parents laughed.

"Me too." Max finally replied, grinning at his wife.