Apologies for missing last weeks update- I was at the seaside with my family where The Syndicate was filmed :D I love Scarborough.

Anyway, hope you enjoy this update and review would be lovely! -Sophie x


"So Connie, are you seeing anyone?" Madelyn asked, sitting in the armchair by the tv, cupping her warm mug of tea. Connie was sat opposite her on the sofa, laptop on her knee. She looked up when the woman spoke, and she shrugged vaguely.

"It's complicated. I'm actually engaged, but… it's just complicated." She repeated, sighing. "He keeps flirting with other women. It's happened to me before and never ended well so we're on a break until he realises how much of an idiot he's being."

Madelyn pulled a face.

"Who is he?"

"He's called Caleb Knight, he works with me in the ED. Registrar, training to be a consultant."

Her sister's eyes brightened.

"Oooh. Fancy." She winked. Connie just rolled her eyes.

"He has commitment issues and lives with his younger brother in a flat. Hardly fancy."

Her phone bleeped and she picked it up, frowning when she read the message.

"Speak of the devil." She muttered, reading the text out loud. "Connie I'm really sorry for what I've done, I just wasn't used to being in a serious relationship. But now I've realised what I've done and I can't apologise enough. I love you and I want to get things sorted- please don't ignore this. Cal xx"

"He seems pretty sincere." Madelyn sipped at her tea, watching her sister over the rim. "You should meet and sort things through."

"I've given him chances and he's blown every one!" She exclaimed, "Why should I give him more?"

"Because he cares about you, and you do too otherwise you wouldn't have given him those chances. If you have dad's stubbornness then you wouldn't have stood for any stupidity. Go and meet for a coffee."

Connie paused, thinking for a few minutes. She did want to sort things, of course she did- but she was sick to death of giving people chance after chance after chance. She checked her watch and found it was nearly half past 2.

"I can't, Grace and Louisa will be coming home from school soon." She muttered, playing with a string of cotton from her dress. Madelyn just sighed dramatically.

"What am I, invisible? I'll keep an eye on them, not that they need anyone. GO!"

"Alright, alright." The clinical lead knew she wouldn't win; evidently her sister had inherited the family stubbornness too. She sent Cal a text to meet her at the local café in 15 minutes before setting off walking. The sun shone, breaking through the clouds and Connie let the warm rays fall on her face as she walked. She got to the café and ordered a black coffee before sitting back in her seat, waiting for the door to open and her fiancée to walk in.

This happened just as the brunette was sipping at the last dregs of her drink. The bell tinkled and Cal walked in, looking round anxiously before laying eyes on Connie, who looked away. He darted round the other chairs and tables and sat down opposite her.

"Please please forgive me Connie, I can't beg you enough." He pleaded, eyes trying to catch hers. However she kept her gaze trained on the handle of her now near-cold mug.

"You're late." Was all she said. The doctor checked his watch and groaned.

"Oh god. I was trying to fix the toaster at home, Ethan had a fit when he couldn't have his cheese on toast last night-"

Connie's eyes snapped up and she glared at him.

"Excuses excuses, it's all I ever get from you." She hissed. "Why couldn't you just admit you were late?"

"Because I wasn't I got caught up-"

"-you may well have been fixing your goddamn toaster but you were still late!"

Cal just put his head in his hands before running his hands through his hair. "Connie-"

"-don't you Connie me. I only came here because my sister wouldn't stop nagging at me. I think she wants to meet you. Only god knows why."

"Wait, you have a sister?" He looked confused and she sighed.

"Long story. Before we get to that one I want this one ended- I need you to look straight into my eyes and promise me you won't go round flirting with other women. Promise me, Cal, because this has happened to me too many times before."

He moved forwards and went to take her hands in his, but she moved them away. He looked at the table for a second before looking into her eyes. They were the same eyes he had fallen in love with, only he found them more icy than usual.

"Connie. I promise, I swear on my own brother's life," The clinical lead half scoffed as she glanced towards the window. Cal sighed and waited for her gaze to move back to him.

"Fine, I swear on my own life, that you'll be the only object of my affections. I promise, because you've always been the one, ever since you started in the ED. That evening at the restaurant, I meant everything I said. Please give me another chance."

Despite her appearance seeming annoyed, he noticed her eyes soften and stature falter.

"Please?"

She looked him up and down, and noticed how his hands were ever so slightly shaking, his shoulders slumped and he bit his lip.

Connie thought for a minute, taking in everything he'd said. She weighed everything up, taking into account Louisa and Grace's feelings towards him too, and took a deep, wavery breath before nodding.

"Fine. Fine. But this is your last chance Cal. Anymore idiocy and that's it."

His face broke into a wide smile.

"Thank you. Thank you so, so much."

She nodded, also now smiling.

20 minutes later and they reached Connie's house. Connie let them in and went into the living room, finding Louisa, Grace and Madelyn setting up monopoly on the coffee table.

"Last time I played this with uncle Charlie and Auntie Tess I won." Grace boasted before realising who was stood at the door. The two girls got up to give their mother a hug, and their eyes brightened when they noticed Cal stood behind her.

"Cal! I missed you!" The younger girl beamed, going and wrapping her arms around his waist. Louisa eyed him wearily, and waited until he went to make some drinks before speaking to him.

"Are you back for good now?" She asked, crossing her arms and leaning against the kitchen counter. He nodded, aware of her feelings towards him after the party at Zoe's house. "But I'll be a good boy, I promise."

The teenager raised an eyebrow sceptically, but she nodded.

"Fine. We're going to play Monopoly, what piece do you want to be?"

"The dog. I'm always the dog."

"Well, about that…" She trailed off, and Cal turned around with a face of mock horror.

"You have not lost the dog." He said slowly, and the girl pulled a face.

"Sorry. The thimble's free?"

He shook his head and threw the spoon in the sink.

"Disgraceful. But that'll have to do I suppose."

Louisa nodded, and was just about to go join the rest of her family when she turned around.

"Cal? I'm glad you're back." She smiled, and the man nodded, matching her face.

"Thanks." He picked up the mugs and followed the girl through to the living room.