Chapter 11

Zoe was now 12 weeks, or 3 months, pregnant. Her bump was now obvious, everyone in the hospital knew that she and Max were expecting.

It was going to be a busy day for the Walker family-in the morning they were going to work at the hospital and Mia was going to be at the crèche, then Zoe had a scan at noon, which Ruhma was going to carry out. Then, Max Zoe, and Mia were going to Michelle's for tea, it was then that Zoe was going to announce that she was pregnant.

Zoe and Max made their way into work, Mia walking next to her mum, holding her hand.

"I'll drop Mia off, can you tell Serena that I'll be a few minutes?" Said Zoe.

"Okay." Replied Max, crouching down to Mia's level. "You be a good girl today, okay? I'll see you later."

"Okay." The little girl nodded. "Am I coming to see the babies?"

The porter looked up at Zoe. She nodded.

"Yeah, you are." Max said with a smile. He gave his daughter a hug. "See you later, I love you."

"I love you too." Amelia smiled.

With that, Zoe with Mia to drop her off at the crèche and Max went to AAU.

Zoe dropped her daughter off at the crèche, and then made her way to AAU. She got changed into her scrubs and made her way out onto the ward.

"Ah, Zoe." Serena greeted her. "Max told me where you were, it's quite all right."

"Serena." Smiled Zoe. "Thank you. What have we got?"

"RTC from the ED coming in. Let's go."

A while later...

"Are you alright, Zoe?" Serena asked later on when the pair were in theatre.

"I suppose." The consultant replied. "Scalpel please." She asked the nurse next to her.

"What's up? I know you, you've been quiet all morning. Usually you'd tell me the latest on what your daughter's been up to, or what mishap Max has got himself into. Instead you've been withdrawn."

Zoe sighed, and met Serena's eyes. "Today I'm having a scan for the first time. And I'm going to tell my mum that I'm pregnant."

"Oh, I see." Said the other woman sympathetically. "I'm sure that your babies will be fine, Zoe. And as for your mum, I'm sure that she'll be thrilled."

"Yeah, Max is going to tell his mum as well. I hope that they will be."

"Well, whatever happens we're all here for you."

"I know, thank you."

A few hours later...

"Ready?" Ruhma asked Zoe, Max, and Mia. She was going to be Zoe's midwife, and along with Diana, was going to carry out the scan.

"Yeah, I think so. Mia?" Said Zoe.

"Yeah!" The little girl grinned.

"Max?"

"I suppose so." The porter chuckled, taking Zoe's hand.

Ruhma picked Mia up so she wouldn't get lost in the crowds of the hospital and they made their way to the antenatal wing.

Mia clung to her Godmother- the hospital was very busy, people were rushing up and down the corridors.

"It's okay." Ruhma rubbed Mia's back. "I've got you."

"Ah, here we are." Zoe said a couple of minutes later as the group got to the antenatal wing. They checked in and sat down in the waiting room.

Mia wriggled off Ruhma's lap and clambered onto Zoe's . "Are you alright Mummy?" she asked.

"Yes thank you." Zoe beamed. "Well done for being so brave whilst we were on our way here. There was lots of people around yet you didn't look scared."

"Thank you, I was a bit." Mia admitted. "Is it long till we see the babies?"

"Not long." Zoe promised.

"Zoe, Max, Ruhma." Diana greeted them a few minutes later. "Hello."

Zoe stood up, closely followed by Max and Ruhma. "Diana, hello." She smiled at her obstetrician.

"Hi, how are you?" Diana asked.

"I'm alright thank you."

"Good good. And who's this?" Diana smiled at Mia, who was cuddled up in Zoe's arms and gazing up at the unfamiliar woman with interest.

"This is Mia." Zoe smiled proudly. "She's been looking forward to seeing the babies all day."

"Have you now?" Diana chuckled as they made their way into the side room.

"Right Zoe, you know the drill. Pop up onto the couch for me and pull your top up please." Said Diana.

"Okey doke." Replied Zoe. "Mia, sit on Daddy's knee please. Ruhma's going to be busy now." She said, handing her bag to Max and getting up onto the couch.

Mia wriggled out of her Godmother's arms and walked over to Max. "Are we seeing the babies now?"

"Yes, Miss Impatient!" Ruhma chuckled, pulling the scan machine over to Zoe whilst Diana got Zoe's patient notes up on the computer.

Mia sat on her Dad's knee and gazed at the screen of the scanner expectantly.

"At your last appointment you said that you were suffering with back pains-has that cleared up?" Diana asked.

"Yes thank you-the hormones are raging at the moment though, I get emotional at every little thing." Zoe chuckled.

"The other day she had such a go at one of the F1s on our ward that the poor woman nearly cried." Ruhma chuckled. "She apologised afterwards, though."

"Oh dear." Diana chuckled. "Are you feeling alright in yourself?"

"Yeah, I think that everything's okay, my morning sickness has thankfully cleared up. I keep worrying that things will go wrong, what with my previous fertility problems..." Zoe sighed. Max reached his free hand out to his wife and took her hand, squeezing it gently.

Zoe squeezed his hand back, and smiled. "I love you." She mouthed to him.

"I love you too." He mouthed back.

"Zoe, you and your babies will be okay." Ruhma reassured her friend. "Your pregnancy has been fine so far, that's a great indicator that your triplets will be fine as the first three months are vital."

"Okay." Zoe nodded.

"Now, this will be cold." The midwife warned Zoe as she prepared to put some gel on the consultant's tummy.

"Okay." Zoe nodded as Ruhma put the gel on. She winced at the cold substance came into contact with her skin- it was freezing!

"Mia, look at the screen." Max said to his daughter. "You should be able to see the babies in a minute."

They all gazed at the scan screen expectantly.

A lump rose in Zoe's throat as the image of the triplets cleared. A steady "da dum, da dum" was booming out-their heartbeats.

"That's amazing." Max breathed, holding Zoe's hand tight.

"I agree." Zoe said, wiping her eyes with her free hand so she wouldn't cry. "Mia, look. They're your little brothers or sisters."

"Wow!" Said Amelia.

Ruhma moved the scanner around in order to get a better look.

"Well, I'm happy to say that the triplets are developing absolutely perfectly." Diana smiled.

"I agree." Ruhma smiled. "Congratulations."

"Thank you." Smiled Zoe, feeling like she was going to burst with happiness.