When Dylan saw what was going on, he called out to her, but she couldn't hear him over the noise of the traffic. Ruby's eyes were firmly on Dervla and Dylan was just contemplating whether he'd risk letting the dog off the leash to run for Ruby when a woman suddenly appeared and grabbed the girl.

Ruby looked up at the woman who had taken hold of her with wide eyes as she frowned down at her. "What do you think you're doing? You could have been killed, you silly, silly girl!"

A moment later, a breathless Zoe appeared behind them. "Ruby! What were you thinking?! You know you're not supposed to cross a road without an adult!"

Ruby looked up at her mother and burst into tears. "I wasn't going to! I was just going to wait for Dervla!"

"Dervla?" The woman asked, finally letting go of the Ruby, who raced to Zoe and wrapped her arms around her.

Zoe finally focused on the woman in front of her and was dismayed to find it was Greta.

"Zoe, I am so sorry. Is she okay?" Dylan asked as he approached, and Ruby wriggled away from her mother's hand to run and hug Dervla as she continued to cry.

Zoe looked after Ruby silently for a moment. She wanted to comfort her and ached to stop her tears, but she needed to know she couldn't run off. Max was usually the one who did this, and Zoe wasn't quite sure what to do. "She's fine."

Dylan looked between Zoe and Greta before looking down at Ruby. "Right, well, I'll take her inside and find Max."

Zoe nodded. "Thanks, Dylan." She watched in silence as he tried to persuade Ruby to come with him and then picked her up to carry her inside before Zoe finally turned back to the woman in front of her.

"I think it's very irresponsible to let your daughter go running off like that." Greta finally offered into the silence.

"You know what I think is irresponsible? Telling a 5 year old that you have no interest in being her grandmother because she's adopted!" Zoe snapped.

"I beg your pardon? Don't speak to me like that!" Greta put a shocked hand to her chest.

"She told me, Greta. The first time she only overheard you telling someone, but to say it to her face when you know how much she struggles with the idea that we're not her 'real' parents? That is a low blow, even for you. I'm used to your snide remarks against me, but how DARE you take out your own issues on my daughter?"

"She's not your daughter, though, is she? Max has always had plans for a proper family, and-"

"Ruby is more like family to Max and I than you will ever be. I haven't told Max what you said, because I don't want to upset him, but rest assured if you come into this party right now, and if you keep insisting on upsetting my daughter, I will tell him. You'd lose him for good." Zoe spoke in a low voice, and once she'd finished she turned on her heel and made her way back into the building.


"This is ridiculously cool, Lofty. How did you manage it?!" Max looked around the large room, filled with all the things he loved. There was bowling, pinball machines, a DJ section, a food section, a bar and he even spotted an Xbox.

"A mate of mine brought this place a couple of years ago and he's been setting it up. Zoe said it had to be kid friendly, and I figured what's more kid friendly than Max's hobbies."

"Gee, thanks mate." Max reached out and patted Lofty's shoulder.

"Sorry to disturb, but, ah-" Dylan appeared beside them with Ruby still clinging to him and he stood uncomfortably.

"What happened? Where's Zoe?" Max asked as he took pity on Dylan and reached out for Ruby. She moved to her father's arms and hid her face.

"She was going to run across the road by herself to get to Dervla."

"I wasn't! I was just going to wait for her!" Ruby repeated.

Max sighed and twisted himself so Ruby had to look up at him, hair hanging over her tearstained face. "…You promise you weren't going to run across by yourself?"

Ruby nodded.

Max hesitated and then nodded. "Okay, I believe you, but make sure in future you don't go running off without telling me or Zoe first."

Ruby nodded again and rested her head back on his shoulder, still worried about seeing Greta again. When Max squatted down and placed her feet on the ground, she tried to lift herself into his arms again.

"Come on, Rubes. Don't you want to play? Daniel is here, and he said he has a present for you."

Ruby shook her head, still trying to latch onto him again.

"Where's Zoe?" Max asked as he looked up at Dylan.

"Ah, still outside, I think." He was unsure whether he should mention Greta, for he'd seen Zoe's expression and he wasn't quite sure that Greta would get away from the conversation alive.

"Hey Ruby, I've just started a bowling game with Robyn, but I've forgotten how to bowl! I don't suppose you could remind me?" Lofty asked as he moved down to her level.

Ruby glanced at him and then up at Max before she gave a reluctant nod and took Lofty's hand.

Max gave his friend a smile and then headed towards the front door.


When Greta left, Zoe moved to sit on the steps in front of the building and let out a long sigh. What she would love right now was several days holed up at home with only Max and Ruby, and instead she kept having to deal with things and people.

"Did you know that Lofty has even organised a fairy floss machine?!"

Zoe looked up and smiled at Max as he sat beside her. "Do you like it all?"

"It is amazing. Just like you."

"It was Lofty who organised it, not me."

"Well…Lofty is amazing then, but I somehow don't think he'd appreciate the kiss I was just planning on giving you."

"I suppose you'd better give me the kiss then."

"If you're sure." As Max smiled, his lips brushed Zoe's and she edged closer to capture his lips properly, lifting a hand his face.

"I love you." She whispered to him as their lips parted and their foreheads rested together.

"You know, there's one of those grab machines in there. If you're lucky I might win you a soft toy."

"Now how could I resist an offer like that!" Zoe allowed Max to pull her up and slip his arm around her waist.

"Are you okay?" He now said gently into her ear.

"Perfect." Zoe smiled up at him, but the smile faltered when she rested her head against his shoulder as they entered the hall in front of them.

Max dropped a kiss to her head and then whispered in her ear. "For the record, I quite like you as well."


A couple of hours later, Zoe sat down and surveyed the room. Ruby was now racing around with the other children and laughing, and everyone else was gathered in small groups to play the games that were set out, all with a smile on their face. She thought back to a few years ago when she'd only had 1 or 2 proper friends, but now she'd class almost everyone in this room as a good friend and this made her smile.

As her eyes flitted over everyone once more, she suddenly realised she couldn't see Max anywhere. Turning slightly, she glanced towards the door, thinking perhaps he'd gone out for some air. Instead, she found him resting against the door watching her.

When Zoe finally looked his way, Max tilted his head to the open door and then motioned for her to follow him as he turned and walked out.

With a frown, Zoe followed him. "What-" She began as she stepped out into the dying afternoon sun.

"I found a cupboard." Max opened the side door with a grin.

"And?" Zoe asked, folding her arms with a smile.

"Come on, for old times sake."

"We had sex in a cupboard about 2 weeks ago, Max."

"What can I say. Time flies when you're having fun. Come on." Max took Zoe's hand and pulled her into the cupboard.


"Have you seen Max anywhere?" Lofty asked Rita with a frown.

"Not for a while. Why?"

"I was going to start the speeches, but I can't find him anywhere."

"Speeches for a birthday?" Rita asked with a frown as she sipped her wine.

"I need to redeem myself after the speech I gave at the wedding."

"I'll help you look. I think I saw him heading outside a while ago, maybe he's still out there." Rita stood.


Max and Zoe were in the cupboard a lot longer than he'd planned. Once he'd finally convinced Zoe her dress was too restrictive and needed to come off, Max proceeded to kiss almost everywhere on Zoe's body to remind her how much he loved every single piece of her.

When they heard Lofty call for Max somewhere close by, Zoe was in the middle of wriggling into her dress and batting Max's hands away from the small rounding of her belly that he'd just noticed.

They both froze and looked towards the door, neither remembering if they'd locked it.

"Did you try the toilets?" Rita suddenly asked Lofty.

"No. Good idea!"

As Lofty rushed back inside, Rita walked over the cupboard door and gave it a gentle knock. "Everyone dressed?"

A moment later, Max opened the door with a sheepish grin on his face.

Without a word, Rita pointed down at the small pile of expensive black lace that had somehow made its way over to the door to poke under it.

Max watched Rita disappear inside before he bent to pick up Zoe's underwear and shut the door. "…5 years, and that's the first time we've been caught. Pretty good odds."

Giving a slight smile, Zoe pulled her underwear on and then turned to look at her makeup in the cracked mirror that rested against the wall. "You go out and I'll come inside in a minute."

"I thought I was the one who just came ins-"

"Finish that joke and this is the last time we have sex in a cupboard. "Zoe warned.

"You say that every time."

As Max left, Zoe couldn't stop the smile pulling at her lips. Taking in her flushed cheeks and slightly messy hair, Zoe decided she didn't much mind cupboard dalliances after all.