Thank you for the great reviews yesterday.. Loved them! :D Sorry if this chapter is a bit hit and miss it was hard to write. x

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...continued.

Taking a bottle of wine they hadn't finished out of the fridge, Zoe poured herself a glass.

"I understand this has probably been really stressful for you, I do. You're working later though, just keep in mind." He eyed her glass.

"Yes Mum." As she knocked the whole lot back in one.

"I'm not who you need Max, you were wrong." Playing with the rim of her glass, she looked up at him. "You do not need some 100 year old, 99.9% infertile... drunk!" As she poured herself another 1/4 glass and promptly slugged it back. "To be honest, I don't want or need you either. I don't appreciate the headache, it's like having another child. Another child I did not ask for."

"That's a bit harsh."

"Max this isn't some bullshit fairy-tale, I'm already entirely over it." Zoe did not see Serenna had at some point entered the kitchen. "You need to leave Max. I don't want you living here, not even in the spare room."

"Daddy?" Serenna piped up. Her lip quivered and a tear fell from her cheek.

Max knew exactly what he'd done, announcing that he'd wanted her to face one of her biggest fears, to try for another baby. He also knew Zoe would not back down, he understood she meant non of what she was saying but that didn't matter. Serenna now standing in the middle of it, he had to do what Zoe wanted.

Picking Serenna up. "Daddy has to leave now. Mummy's got a bit of a headache and needs some peace and quiet. How about I pick you up tomorrow and take you to the park would you like that?" Max glanced in Zoe's direction because she had better not say anything about him taking their daughter out. Zoe nodded but Max saw her falter as she wiped a tear away.

Having got his things together, Max discovered Zoe and Serenna cuddled up on the couch watching Finding Nemo. "Good choice." He bent down to give Serenna a kiss, he brushed Zoe's cheek the same but moved gently past her lips... "bye Zoe." He whispered.

Hearing the door shut, Zoe got up and watched him walk down the road. Her heart-breaking, her whole body convulsed as she sobbed.

"I'll be right back Serenna, she managed."

...

For two weeks Max had made sure to visit Serenna and take her to the park at least every other day, he wanted Zoe to know he wasn't going to be far. If she would just break down her fortress and let him back into her life.

The following weekend, Max made a last minute decision to take Serenna to the zoo. They had the best time, Max cherished every moment with his daughter. Once he got to the door to return Serenna, Max noticed Zoe had been drinking, she wasn't hammered but it was only 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

"Look Mamma, a giraffe!" Serenna waved her new stuffy that plainly had Holby Zoo written on it.

"You took her to the zoo?"

"Yes it was very last minute, I would have asked you too but it wasn't until we were near the train station on our way into town that I thought of it, it's only one stop away. No hard feelings I hope?"

"No, no feelings at all Max."

"Right." Max turned to leave. "You know, you can be a real bitch."

"So what are you still doing here?" She shut the door on him, not wanting it to be like this.. but she just couldn't help herself.

...

It had been about a month since he had left, when Max received a rare phone-call from Zoe.

"Max?"

"Yes, what do you want?"

"Where are you?"

"I'm just leaving work now, why? Is Serenna okay, do you need me to collect her or something?"

"No she's at the babysitter until 6.30pm. I need you to come by the house as soon as you can, let yourself in. You still have your key?"

"Yes, what's going on?"

"Just hurry yeah."

She sounded like she was in pain, Max jumped into a taxi and got to the house rushing up the path to open the door...