Chapter 7

A few months later. Zoe's pregnancy is clearer now although she still tries to hide it and focus on her work. I have tried to fast forward a little as I really want to get to a happier place so I hope you enjoy. Whenever you see this " ~ " it is to indicate that the two things are happening at the same time. I'm sorry it's such a long chapter.

"Morning." Zoe smiles towards Noel and Louise as she walks through the reception unbuttoning her navy coat.

"Dr. Hanna." Smiles Noel in greeting.

Louise nudges his arm with her elbow and corrects him, "Dr. Walker you mean."

"Zoe, have you got a minute?" asks Connie as she sweeps past and continues on to the office they share.

Zoe rolls her eyes and lets out a small giggle at Louise's previous comment as she pumps her handbag back up to her shoulder having barely managed to rest it on the desk and follows Connie's lead.

"What's up?"

"Uhm, could you close the door?"

Zoe's cheery look drops slightly as she pushes the door to without taking her focus off Connie. The concern deepens and Zoe begins to move closer, as Connie finishes putting the last few files into her cabinet, laying her coat and handbag neatly on her own desk. She takes her seat and leans forward in preparation for anything Connie says next.

"I just wanted to check in with you," starts Connie with a smile, "How is everything going? I assume you're…both well." She looks down towards Zoe's protruding baby bump and raises her eyebrows.

Zoe lets out a sigh of relief and smiles back at her colleague, "For a second I thought it was something serious," she jokes, "We're both fine." The realisation that she has just referred to her unborn child in front of Connie is a little awkward for Zoe but, in an odd way, she finally feels as though everything is going right in her life; the inner joy beams through her eyes and un-quivering smile.

"Good. I'm glad. Now, I don't want you working yourself too hard today – it's going to be busy today and I don't particularly want 'delivering a baby' to add to my list so I'd like for you to do the very minimum." Connie stands up and heads towards the door, picking up her stethoscope as she goes and smiles back at Zoe.

"But…" Zoe begins to defend herself however Connie raises her hand to interrupt.

"Nope. You're going to stay here and do some filing or something, I'm sure we can manage just fine."

Zoe smiles and nods unwilling to question this unusual side of Connie – a side she had rarely seen unless Grace, her own daughter, were there.

It's a couple of hours later and Sophia has arrived to give Zoe and extra hand. As she steps into Zoe's office she notices that she has fallen asleep on the sofa and so, not wanting to wake her, continues through to her desk and finishes off some of Zoe's work.

After a few moments Zoe's eyes start to flutter as she hears the tapping of the keyboard against Sophia's nails.

"Hello." She sleepily croaks.

Sophia looks over to her and smiles, "Connie gave me call asking to come in and help you. Go back to sleep."

"No, no I'm awake now." Zoe sits up fully and stretches her arms up and out, "How long have you been here?" she continues.

"Oh not long," replies Sophia still typing away.

Zoe yawns and rests her chin on her hands blinking hard and forcing herself to wake up even more just as Connie walks in.

"Sophia I was wondering if I might have a word?"

Sophia looks towards Zoe desperate for reassurance and Zoe lifts her head smiling and nodding before winking at Connie.

"Yeah sure," Sophia gets up from her chair and follows Connie out of the room as Max almost bumps into them. "Hi," smiles Sophia.

"Is Zoe in there?" Max bluntly asks directing this more towards Connie without even a glance at Sophia.

"Yes she is, go ahead." Connie steps out of the way as he enters the office and closes the door behind him. Sophia, who's eyes have followed him, looks on in shock and concern.

"Ah," she starts as she notices the confused looks sprawled across Connie's face, "He's been a bit off with me for about a week, it's fine I'm sure it's just nerves." She smiles almost having to convince herself and continues to follow Connie.

Back in Zoe and Connie's office, Max has taken the seat next to Zoe and has rested his hand on her stomach and she has placed her hand over his. The both smile at each other but Zoe notices there's something up.

"What?" she asks. Max sits up and takes his hand away from hers.

"So it's a deal?" asks Connie extending her hand to Sophia's.

"It's a deal." Smiles Sophia shaking Connie's hand and attaching her own name badge to her cardigan.

"Great. You can start right away! Could you take these back to my office and just put them on my desk? I have a meeting to rush off to."

"Of course." Sophia takes the stack of clean white papers from the Resus desk and through the doors to the office.

She stops outside able to hear Max and Zoe's conversation through the door that Max had left slightly ajar. She leans in closer after hearing her name and rests there for a while.

"I just don't see why she is still living with us."

"What?! Max, she means a lot to me you know that and, I thought, she started to mean something to you too." Zoe stands pacing up and down truly hurt by what Max has been saying.

"She did but you and our baby mean everything. She can't stay with us forever – the baby will need its own room and for that to happen, she has to go."

"I'm not hearing this!" Zoe places a hand on her forehead and closes her eyes tightly.

"Zoe. We haven't got very long left until the baby arrives…"

"I do know that Max!" exclaims Zoe getting even more stressed and anxious.

"Okay. So what happens when it does? We can't just up and move – it doesn't work like that when you have a baby and I want us to be our own little family." He places his hands on Zoe's waist and she rests her head onto his chest taking a deep breath.

"Fine." Zoe gives in, "I'll talk to her."

"Besides," starts Max, "You've got to admit it has been a little awkward having the daughter of your dead ex-partner around for so long." He almost laughs as if he were joking in an attempt to make Zoe feel better.

Zoe lifts her head and looks up at him in absolute disgust and anger. Outside, Sophia has stood up straight and her eyes burn with the filling tears of anger. Without giving Zoe chance to fight back, she bursts in with the papers, slams them onto Connie's desk and just stares at the both of them who are clearly unaware that she has heard everything as they stare back in complete shock. A single tear falls from Sophia's eye and runs down the side of her cheek and she notices that the same has happened on Zoe's face.

"Oh God…No Sophia," starts Zoe as Sophia shakes her head and runs out of the office and in the direction of reception, "Sophia! Wait!" Zoe calls desperately after her and tries to follow but Max grabs her arm.

"Just give her some time to cool off."

Zoe simply stares at him snatching her arm back and heading out of the door.