Charlie stuck his head into Connie's room, finding her and Rita curled up asleep in each other's arms. He grinned broadly, slipping back out again.

"How are they doing?" Tess asked handing him a coffee.

"Curled up fast asleep. It's finally over though Tess."

"Yeah, they've moved his body from in front of the hospital. Hannsen's issuing a statement later."

"How's he going to explain this one?"

"No idea. It should be interesting though."

Charlie put his arm around Tess' shoulder and they walked into his office, smiling softly at the knowledge that their friends were safe.


Rita yawned, waking up to the sight of her girlfriend. She smiled as the brunette stirred.

"Hey gorgeous." she whispered as Connie grinned at her.

"Creep. What do you want?"

"Nothing! I'm allowed to think you're beautiful!" she replied with mock indignation.

"Hmm. You're very shifty Freeman."

Rita giggled and snuggled closer to her. She sighed happily as the smell of Connie's shampoo filled her nostrils.

"I could stay here forever y'know?"

"Me too. I love you Rita."

"I love you too Con."


Grace streched and rolled onto her side, phone gripped in her hand as she started catching up on her Snapchat. Zoe poked her head around the door.

"Boo."

"Zoeeee! You scared me!" Grace pouted.

"That's what you get for scaring me!"

"What? When?"

"When you disappeared. I was really worried about you."

"Oh. Sorry Zoe."

"It's alright sweetheart. Grace, there's something I need to tell you."/

Zoe winced internally. Connie had asked her to tell Grace about Sam, too afraid to do it herself.

"What is it?"

"It's your dad. He came to Holby to suprise you when you were missing and… he was murdered Grace."

Tears formed at the corner of the young girls eyes and began to flow down her cheeks.

"B-but… why?"

"Because some people are incredibly messed up Grace."

Grace buried her face in the consultant's shoulder as she sobbed heavily. Zoe put her arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug, rocking her gently. She silently cursed Mark. No nine year old should ever have to be told this.

A small knock sounded at the door.

"Come in." Zoe called, pulling away and handing Grace a tissue. A youn man in his late twenties walked in, a soft, sad smile on his face.

"Hey Gracie." he said, a New York accent passing his lips.

"Kieron?"

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Zoe asked cautiously. Kieron stuck out his hand.

"Kieron Patel. Sam's son, Grace's half-brother."

"Oh right! Sorry, I hadn't realised. I'm Zoe Hanna, ED consultant and a friend of Connie's."

"Nice to meet you."

Kieron sat next to Grace on the bed and pulled her into a hug. The little girl began to cry again, burrowing her head into his chest. Zoe smiled softly and excused herself from the room.

Max met her outside. "Hey, how'd it go?"

"Oh Max, it was awful. She's been through so much in just two days."

"Hey come here, it's okay."

Nax put his arms around her, "There was nothing you could have done."

"But what if there was? Did I miss something when Sam was brought into resus?"

"Don't think like that Zo. You did your best."

Zoe sighed and rested her head on Max's chest.

"I hate this."

"Yeah, but it's over now. Mark's gone."

Zoe lifted her head up and looked up at Max.

"What?"

"You haven't heard? He jumped from the roof."

"Oh my God…"

"Rita tried to talk him out of it but…"

"So, that's it? Just like that?"

"I guess so yeah."

Zoe stood there shocked, not quite daring to believe it. Max slipped his hand in hers and gently lead her downstairs.

"Come on. Coffee break."


"Lofty? Earth to Lofty?"

"Huh, what?"

He looked at Robyn with mild confusion, not realisin he'd zoned out.

"Sorry, what do you need?"

"Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.

"It's just… Mark."

"Why don't you take a break? It must have been quite a shock."

"No, I'm fine." he gave her a small smile and patted her arm gratefully, "Thanks anyway."

Lofty decided to busy himself in his work, making a mental note to check up on Rita later.

"Hey, you okay?"

Lofty spun round coming face to face with the blonde.

"Rita! Yeah I'm fine, how about you?"

She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, snuffling quietly.

"I'll be fine, still in shock I guess. I-I just wanted to say thanks."

"What for?"

"For being there for me. You're a good mate Lofty."

She stood on her tiptoes and planted a small kiss on his cheek. Lofty blushed furiously.

"T-thanks. Y-you're erm… you're welcome." he stammered, as Rita laughed at him.

"Ah Rita, there you are."

"Hi Tess, what's up?"

"Your test results are back."

Rita quickly said goodbye to a still blushing Lofty and lead Tess into the empty HDC.

"Well?"

"There are no STIs present…"

"But?"

"You're pregnant."

Rita sat on the bed, running her hand through her hair.

"Are… are you sure?"

Tess nodded and sat down next to her.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I need to talk to Connie. Oh God Tess…"

Rita buried her face in her hands. The older nurse slipped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.

"It'll be okay."


"I wondered where you'd got to!" Connie grinned as Rita slipped back inside the room. The blonde smiled softly, sitting next to her on the bed. She took her hand in hers.

"We need to talk."

"Uh oh that doesn't sound good."

"Connie… I'm pregnant."

"… What? How?"

"You did finish med school right?"

"Mark?"

Rita nodded, "What do we do?"

Connie squoze her hand reassuringly.

"What do you want to do?"

"I'm not sure. I want kids but… not like this. Besides, you have Grace, do you really want another one?"

"Hey. Look at me."

Rita looked up at Connie, fear apparent in her large brown eyes.

"If it's yours, then I'd always say yes. It all depends on you, and wheter you want to go through with it."

"I think I do…"

"You don't have to make any decisions now. Why don't you sleep on it?"

"Okay. Are you sure you'd be okay with this?"

"Yes."

"Right well, they want to keep you and Grace in overnight for observation but if all goes well you can go home tomorrow."

"Ugh, do I have to stay?"

"You know the rules for a head injury Con."

A knock sounded at the door and a young male stuck his head around the door.

"Sorry, umm are you Connie Beauchamp?"

"Yes, who are you?"

The young man smiled broadly. Something about him seemed vaguely familiar but Connie couldn't quite place it.

"I'm Kieron. Kieron Patel."

"Sam's son! I thought I recognised you! Come in."

"Thanks, I don't mean to intrude."

"It's no problem. What brings you here?"

Kieron arched his eyebrow slightly.

"Oh right, Sam's funeral. Sorry, it's been a long couple of days."

"No worries. Are you going to introduce me or…"

"Right yes. Kieron this is Rita Freeman, my girlfriend. Reets this Kieron, Sam's son."

"Nice to meet you." Rita stuck out her hand and Kieron shook it, smiling warmly.

"Yeah, you too."

The three of them sat and talked, happily chatting about current affairs, all other matters forgotten.


Rita awoke that morning in her own bed. She smiled softly, resting a hand on her stomach. She'd decided. Quickly darting around her room she changed and grabbed a piece of toast on her way out.

She pulled up outside the hospital and signed in at reception before heading up to see Connie.

"Well someone slept well!" Connie commented as the blonde lept onto the bed next to her.

"I've made a decision."

"And?"

"… If you're still up for it, I want to keep it."

Connie beamed and pulled Rita into a deep and passionate kiss.

"Does that answer your question?"

"Yeah…"

Rita grinned back and kissed her forehead.

"Right, I have a shift to work, but I'll see you later yeah."

"Don't leave me!"

"I have to, you'll cope."

Connie pouted, batting her eyelashes.

"No. I'll see you during my lunch break yeah?"

With that, she got up, giving her one last kiss before leaving her to the four walls of her room. Connie huffed, picking up her phone. This was going to be really boring.


"Oh my God I feel so fat." Rita groaned.

It had been four months since Mark's death and life had got back to normal. After several heated conversations with Audrey, it had been agreed that Grace would live with her mother and Rita would move in with them.

Grace was ecsatic at the prospect of a younger brother or sister, and Rita was now looking very pregnant.

"Aw poor baby." Connie cooed, grinning at the blonde who responed by poking out her tounge.

"Yeah well, she's not wrong is she Zo? She looks fat." Max teased, ducking behind his girlfriend as Rita went to hit him with the patient files in her hand.

"Oi, I'm pregnant not deaf!"

The blonde headed through to cubicles, shaking her head. Connie waited until she was out of earshot before turning to Louise.

"I need you to do something for me Louise."

"What's in it for me?"

"Free drinks at the bar for a week?"

"Done. What is it?"

"Can you clear the reception area for me in twenty minutes?"

"What do you want me to do? Shove them all in cupboards?"

"Please Louise it's important!"

"Right fine. I'll see what I can do."

"Thanks."

Louise just raised her eyebrows, beginning to organise the crowd of people in the reception area and ushering them upstairs. Zoe turned to Connie, eyebrows raised quizzically.

"What are you planning?"

"Watch and see."

Connie nipped behind reception and plugged in the stereo. She pulled a CD from her handbag amd placed it in the machine, selecting the right track before turning to Noel.

"When I give you the nod press play."

"Okaaay."

Zoe watched in amusmant as the clinical lead rummaged in her bag again.

"Zoe will you go and get Rita? Tell her it's urgent."

"Only if you tell me what you're up to."

Connie rolled her eyes and beckoned Zoe over.


"Rita? Connie needs you into reception urgently."

"I was there ten minutes ago!"

Zoe threw up her hands defensively, trying hard to hide her excitement.

"Ugh, fine, though I swear if this is about maternity leave again I'm goin' to STRANGLE her!"

Zoe waited until Rita was near the doors before turning to the rest of the team.

"You're going to want to see this." she said beckoning to them to follow her. They shared confused and bemused looks following Zoe.


"Okay, I know I'm irresistable but I've been gone ten minute-"

She trailed off, looking around in wonder at the empty reception area.

"So the emergency is you managed to lose EVERY patient in the ED?"

Connie nodded at Noel and 'Lovely Rita' by The Beatles began to play as she swept Rita into her arms and began to dance with her.

"The Beatles. Really?"

"Hey, give me some credit for my ingenius song choice."

"What's going on Con? You've been really weird all day."

"Look behind the desk." she whispered. Rita frowned slightly, turning her back to Connie. The doors on the other side of reception creaked slightly as they opened and the staff peered round.

"I can't see anythin-"

Rita turned round and her jaw dropped. Connie was down on one knee, holding a small black box in one hand. Noel's eyes bulged as Zoe grinned, lookin back at the rest of the staff who watched on in shock.

"What're you-" Rita started, stopping when Connie opened the box and revealed the sparkling ring.

"Rita. We've been through a lot lately, a journey that would have destroyed most relationship. Yet here we are, after everything becoming mothers. I love you more than anything in the world and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life when anyone else. Rita, will you marry me?"

Tears were trailing down the cheeks of both women as Rita stared at the ring in her hand. The staff waited with baited breath as the seconds dragged onwards.

"Yes, yes I will." A grin spread across her face as Connie slipped the ring onto her finger. Zoe cheered and rushed forward to congratulate the couple, followed by everyone else, pausing as they entered a deep and passionate kiss.

"For God's sake you have the rest of your lives for that, put her down!" she cried, giggling as they broke apart blushing.

They disappeared in a crowd of congratulating friends. Charlie gave Connie a large hug.

"I have to say, I never saw that one coming."

"I love her Charlie, I want this for us."

"Well I'm very pleased for you both. You deserve this after the months you've had."

"Thanks Charlie."

Dixie pulled Rita into a tight embrace grinning madly.

"Ey, Sister Rita Beauchamp has a nice ring to it!"

"Hey if anything it'll be Mrs Connie Freeman!" Rita laughed, still not quite daring to belive it herself.

"Good luck with that one mate!"

"Will you be my maid of honour Dix?"

"Are you serious?"

"Deadly."

"Oh Rita I'd love to!"

They entered another hug, giggling madly.

"Right, as wonderful as this is, we still have to work, so come on."

Connie swiftly resumed her role as clinical lead, unable to keep herself from smiling. The staff groaned as they returned to work, leaving Rita and Connie in reception. Connie pulled her close and kissed her head.

"Are you happy Mrs Beauchamp?" Connie whispered.

"I am Mrs Freeman." Rita whispered back, giggling as Connie scoffed at her.

"No chance."

"Double-barreled?"

"What Freeman-Beauchamp? Bit of a mouthful isn't it?"

"Yeah okay. What about the little one?"

"Freeman. After their birth mother. It's only fair."

"This is really happening isn't it?"

"Yeah, things are finally perfect."


There you go! Thank you to everyone who has reviewed this I really need the support that you give me, and all I ask is that you give it to every shoelace out there! Do you guys want the spin offs? Catch you later!