A/N Thanks to perpetualpathology, NiamhMcGrady-fanpage and guest for your reviews, you're so kind! It helps me to keep writing knowing you enjoy the story, so thank you!
'Morning' Arthur smiled at his girlfriend who's eyes flickered awake to the buzzing of their alarm and a small but tired smile appeared on her face.
'Morning' she yawned as she sat herself up. 'Oh, now you're resting' Zosia sighed, looking down talking to her bump, and gently stroking it. The baby had kept waking her up in the night by kicking and moving around, and although she'd managed a few hours sleep, she definitely wasn't as energetic as she would have liked ahead of a 12 hour shift where a number of those hours were going to be observing and assisting in theatre. However, there was one part of the day she was rather looking forward to- the 20 week scan.
'Monkey keep you awake again?' Arthur asked, grabbing his trousers and shirt off the floor. Zosia nodded yawning and then Arthur realised he was actually running late.
'Oh god I'm supposed to be at an MDT meeting soon, I promised Mr Levy I'd come in early to help prepare!' he panicked as he quickly threw on some clothes, careful to grab his own and not Zosia's by mistake!
'Oh god, go, go, but you remember about the scan at 11?' She reminded him.
'Yeah sure, right, gotta go' he rushed as he kissed her and ran out of the flat, still putting his shirt on, and she was sure he had his shoes on the wrong feet. She just hoped he was paying enough attention to remember the scan...I don't know how he could forget, he's as excited as me and I've been pestering him with day by day, hour by hour countdowns for days she laughed to herself as she hauled herself out of bed and started to get ready
As the clock drew closer to 11am, Zosia was becoming increasingly agitated and impatient. She kept checking her phone, pager, even asking her colleagues whether they had seen Arthur. Colette had the unfortunate task of informing her that she'd just seen Sacha and Arthur go into theatre. WHAT?!
'Colette, it's our 20 week scan in 15 minutes! I can't believe he's forgotten!'
'Oh Zosh, it's ok, I can go and get him?' Colette offered, putting a reassuring hand on the young woman's shoulder.
Zosia shook her head an turned around abruptly to hide the fact that her eyes were welling up with tears and her face was getting red with anger. 'No, don't bother. I'm used to this from dads' she muttered storming off into the locker room.
Even though Zosia wasn't alone, for Colette had taken it upon herself to accompany her to the scan, with every second that passed, Zosia was saddened. She was petrified of history repeating itself, and although she had convinced herself that Arthur wasn't Guy, the fact that he wasn't there waiting with her right now spoke volumes, no matter how much her hormones were wreaking havoc with her emotions.
'I'm sure he's just innocently forgotten Zosh' Colette tried to comfort, but it was no use. Cuh...
'I don't care, he promised he'd be here, end of' she snapped. Colette recoiled and then slowly put her hand on hers to comfort her. Zosia looked down and calmed down and then a tear feel down her cheek. Colette noticed this and put her arm over her shoulder, pulling her in.
'Would you like to come in Zosia?' Mr T smiled before realising that she was crying. 'Are you ok?'
He asked, kneeling down in front of her, concerned. Zosia nodded and stood up.
'I'm fine. Shall we just get on with it?' She sniffed, wandering into the office.
'So if you'd like to pop up onto the bed' he smiled as Zosia sat on the bed and swung her legs round. Colette took a seat in the chair next to her, and held her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She lay back and lifted her scrub top, and Mr T squeezed the cold gel onto her bump.
'Head, spine and heart all look good...kidneys and stomach too, can you see there?' Mr T smiled as he pointed to the screen. Zosia and Colette smiled, and then Mr T turned back to the screen.
'Your placenta is a tiny bit low so we'll monitor that, but I believe we can continue with a normal scan...now, would you like to know the sex?'
Zosia looked at Colette. 'Its up to you, sweetheart' she smiled. Zosia thought for a second and then nodded.
'I would say...and I'm about 80% sure here...that baby March is a boy'
Zosia welled up and smiled. 'A boy?' Mr T nodded and Colette squeezed her hand. 'I'm going to have a son' she wept with joy and Colette hugged her.
'Arthur will be thrilled' she smiled, and Zosia's face fell slightly. Oh yes, Arthur- I wonder if he's remembered now?
Zosia went back down to Keller with Colette, and although Zosia was over the moon that her baby was healthy, she was still annoyed with Arthur. 'Are you going to tell Arthur?' Colette asked as they went into the locker room. Zosia shook her head. 'But-'
'No. I'll tell him once he remembers and apologises.' She replied, sternly as she posted her new scan picture up in her locker and smoothed her had over her bump.
'And if you see him on shift?'
'I don't want to see him' she snapped. 'I can get on alternate theatre lists, go in with dad or something.' Colette wasn't convinced but she knew that she needed to support her decision.
'Ok...would you like a lift back to the flat later?' She asked, and Zosia nodded. The rest of the shift passed quickly, and Zosia had managed to spend the day with Guy in theatre. That evening, Colette drove Zosia back to the flat as arranged and as soon as Arthur saw Zosia's thundery face when she arrived home, he suddenly remembered what day it was.
'Oh god, the scan! Zosia, I'm-' Arthur out his hand on her shoulder and she quickly and violently shook him off before turning around.
'Get your hands off of me!' She shouted. Dom stood up and he backed away along with Colette.
'Zosia, I have no excuses, but I am sorry, I'm so so sorry'
'Is this how it's going to be?!' Zosia snapped. Arthur looked blank, so she elaborated. 'Is our son going to have to fight for your attention over your work?'. Tears were welling up in her eyes and she was so upset, she couldn't think straight. 'I thought you were different, I thought you'd care enough to remember!'
'Our what?' Arthur stuttered. He could have sworn she said 'son'.
'If you'd bothered to come to the scan, you would have found out that we're having a boy' she calmed down slightly but the tears started flowing. She sat down on the sofa and gently stroked her bump and then she felt something, and it wasn't a good something. Meanwhile, Arthur was grovelling.
'I'm so, so sorry, I-' Arthur began but then he was distracted by Zosia who let out a gasp, doubled over slightly, and Arthur saw instantly that the young woman looked terrified, and like a child when they lose a parent in a supermarket.
'I think something's wrong...' Her voice barely above a whisper out of fear and emotion, her voice wavering.