*Hi, you may want to make sure you got to read yesterday's chapter. For some reason it was offline most of the day even though I had posted it. I did fix it eventually (thank you for letting me know). xx

** This next one may be a bit of a slog to get through, I'm sorry but it is a fundamental chapter.. you kind of need to get to the end of it... That is all,,, thanks again for reading this... :o) xxxx

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Max had missed a weekend home again. With the second weekend fast approaching he honestly couldn't see anyway of making that one either. He still had a project to get done that was worth 20% of his mark which he'd some how forgotten about. Not to mention his exams were starting this coming week. Even Dave and the girls had cut back their pub time some what with their exams coming up. He knew at this point Zoe was firmly on board after all he only had 2 1/2 weeks left.

Come Thursday evening he realized he'd have to make the call, no point letting her know last minute.

"Hey babe, how are you feeling?"

"Huge Max, I'm feeling huge." Zoe said with an audible sigh.

"Is there anyway you can come up on Saturday? Bring Serenna? There's no way I can get home, it's ridiculous."

"Max, really?" She said with sadness not anger.

"Really, can you come up? We could go out for dinner, I know it's a huge ask I need to see you and Serenna. I'm missing you both like crazy but I seem to have missed a fucking assignment and now I'm totally screwed I should be revising but now I've got to get this done on top of it."

"I'd love to see you Max, even if only for an hour. I don't think we will be able to come up though Serenna's got a cold. She's just miserable with it."

"I'm so sorry I can't be around to help you more. How are you feeling though you're okay?"

"I'm okay." She said not too convincingly. "Call on the weekend if you can to talk to Serenna, you know she loves speaking to you."

"I will. I love you no matter how big you get, you know that don't you."

"Thanks Max, I really need to hear you say that right now. I've been having a bit of a pity party tonight, I don't think I was ever this big with Serenna even at 9 months."

"You're beautiful not another word about it, you hear?"

"Yes, try not to stress out with the work Max just do what you can. We love you."

...

Friday for Zoe at work was exhausting, she needed the weekend badly. Just as she thought she was through the worst of her shift Connie called for a meeting with her and Tess. Usual bullshit cost cutting brainstorming that never came to fruition no matter what.

Toward the end of the meeting for some reason the conversation switched to Zoe's personal life thanks to Connie.

"So Zoe, Max all done with his course yet? We are expecting him back shortly I believe." Connie started flicking through her diary.

"No not yet, he's still got 2 weeks."

"Right."

"You'll be seeing him tomorrow Zoe?" Tess said kindly seeing the exhaustion written all over Zoe's face.

"No Tess, he's not been home a couple of weekends. So much work, now revision I don't think I'll see him now until he's finished."

Connie gave Zoe a look and raised her eyebrows.

"What was that look for Connie?" Zoe snapped.

"Well, Zoe what are you now 25 months pregnant? This has to be the longest pregnancy in history you look like you're about to pop."

"7 months, Connie. I'm 7 months you know I found out really early, trust me you don't think I'm aware of how long it seems."

"Well I'm not surprised Max isn't coming home. You know what they say."

"No, no I don't believe I do but you're obviously dying to enlighten me."

Tess jumped in at this point. "Connie, don't..."

"Oh right, well whatever it is I can't wait to hear it." Zoe was letting Connie get to her, the way Connie always did.

"Well it's like an unwritten rule isn't it. They always fuck around when you're pregnant." Connie announced proudly.

"Zoe take no notice." Tess said quickly.

"Connie, no disrespect but you know nothing about Max or our relationship."

"I know he's a young man and you're ..."

"Go on say it, older! So Tess, you think he's fucking around too?"

"Of course I don't Zoe but it does happen especially... "

"I don't believe I'm even sitting around here listening to this." Zoe promptly opened her bag and swiped her things off her desk into it with haste.

"If I were you Zoe, I'd be on my way up there without a second thought, see what's really going on." Connie nodded at her knowingly.

"I can take Serenna, Zoe." Tess added.

"You're serious! Tess I can't believe you are going along with this." Zoe got up feeling dizzy, steadying herself with the desk. All her emotions suddenly getting the better of her, how she was feeling about herself. The fact Max really hadn't been there at all these past couple of months.

Trying to hold it in, she broke down into tears.

"Oh Zoe, Connie I hope you're happy." Tess got up to comfort Zoe.

"You'll take Serenna?"

"Of course I will."

"Now?"

"Sure, let's go and get her. Come on, it's all going to be fine. You'll see. I really don't think you should be driving up to Birmingham in this state."

"I would." Connie said as she looked back while leaving the office.

Having taken Serenna round to Tess's for the night. Zoe started feeling a little stupid for what she was about to do, if nothing else though she wanted to go and prove Connie wrong. Spending an impromptu night with Max wouldn't be so bad either. Connie's words kept going round and round in her head. Why would she say that? Zoe just couldn't shake Connie's little speech out of her mind.

Max was her world, not that she would ever admit to it...

...

Max had his evening class totally unaware of the goings on back in Holby and the fact that Zoe was on her way up to see him that very moment.

7.30pm as Max's class had just finished, Zoe was just turning into the college.

A few minutes later Max made his way up to his room, fumbling for his keys. Finally unlocking the door he searched for the light switch...

"I've been waiting for you Max."

There completely naked lying on her front propping herself up by her elbows was Mel.

"Mel, for fucks sake get dressed. You really are doing yourself no favours."

"Come on Max, it can be our little secret."

"If you knew my gorgeous wife and kids you would be completely ashamed right now."

"Kids? I thought you just had the one kid. Anyway never mind them now, we only have 2 weeks left Max I thought I'd make it easy for you. You know you want me." She turned toward him to reveal everything to him.

As Max went to turn away, there in the doorway was Zoe...