Chapter 10

I apologise for how late this is and for the length but this deserved to go out with a bang. Thank you for all your lovely reviews and I would really love to hear any suggestions you guys have for a new fic altogether or for a continuation of this story. All my love, G xx

It's a few weeks later and the ED is unusually quiet for a Saturday evening; Sophia heads into the office she now shares with Connie and places a cup of coffee on her side of the desk.

"Sophia, are you busy?" asks Charlie who has followed her in.

"Not at all," she smiles, "why, what's up?"

"I just thought you could give me a hand with some of my filing from yesterday?"

"Of course. Give me two minutes and I'll be right over." She packs her things back into her handbag and picks up her coffee before heading towards Charlie's office with him.

"Heard anything more about Zoe lately?" Charlie's desk is completely clear and it becomes obvious to Sophia that he has a much bigger plan in mind.

"Uhm, no I haven't. Last I heard she's doing fine – she and Max seem to be getting along better too according to Robyn."

"Ah right okay." He smiles back at her whilst taking a seat and offering the spare one to Sophia.

"So what exactly do you need me for?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright – that's all. Oh and to congratulate you on starting your training. Your Dad would be so proud."

Sophia lets out a giggle and she nods back to Charlie's beaming smile, "Thank you. And I'm fine – really. It's just taken a bit of getting used to that's all but I think I've found my feet."

"Good. I believe you're assisting Connie today?"

"I am," Sophia smiles, "and that's probably where I should be now. I'll see you later?"

"Absolutely." Grins Charlie as Sophia heads back through reception and in the direction of Resus.

"Ah, Sophia, how nice of you to join us," Connie half jokes as she finishes pulling on her gloves.

"Sorry Mrs Beauchamp, Charlie needed help with some filing. I guess he knows it's a talent of mine," Sophia giggles.

"I see. Right can we do ABC's, full bloods and arrange a CT for James here?"

"On it." Comes Sophia's reply as she picks up the phone to call CT.

A little while later, as the patient is moved from Resus to an admittance ward, Connie looks across to Sophia and smiles. They both peel of their rubber gloves and throw them in the bin before leaving Resus and slowly walking to the staff room.

"You did really well in there," nods Connie with a smile, "you have a keen eye for detail and your bedside manner is impeccable. Well done you."

"Thank you," smiles Sophia allowing Connie to enter the staffroom first.

"Now, why don't you go and have a break – you deserve it."

Connie's kind heartedness is still something Sophia is having to get used to but, not wanting to cause much of a fuss, she does as she's told and returns to their office pulling out a book on training to be a doctor. After about twenty minutes, Noel bursts through the office door desperately trying to catch his breath. Sophia's eyes immediately lift from her book and she jumps slightly with the sound of the door slamming the wall behind it.

"What the –"

"Sophia, it's Zoe," Noel interrupts, "she's just been brought in. She's with Connie and Dylan in Resus – they told me to come and get you."

"What? Right, okay. Thanks Noel now please sit down before you give yourself a heart attack." Sophia helps him sit down on the sofa and hands him a bottle of water from her bag, "Here, drink this. I've got to go." Sophia races out of the room while Noel shrugs slightly, opens the top of the bottle and starts glugging the entire thing with one hand pressed against his chest.

Reaching the doors of Resus, Sophia stops dead with one hand placed on the door. She takes a step back and slowly lowers her hand as she watches Connie pull the baby from Zoe and place it on her chest. It's the first time in weeks that Sophia has seen Zoe and, seeing how happy she looks, decides to wait outside of Resus half terrified but half desperate to go in. A single tear rolls from her eye and falls into the corner of her smile as a hand drops onto her shoulder. She jumps slightly and turns her head to see Dylan standing behind her with the same expression and same tear falling.

"You can go in there you know," he says nodding towards the window. Sophia looks back into the room and shakes her head.

"No." she whispers, "I can't – it's not my place."

"She will want to see you."

"She'll want to see you more, Dylan. Go on. Go."

Dylan enters the room with a sigh and heads over to Zoe and Max. After shaking Max's hand he congratulates Zoe with a kiss on her forehead and begins talking to her. Zoe then turns her attention to Sophia who still stands staring at the door. She smiles and waves her hand, beckoning Sophia into the room. Sophia straightens up and shakes her head with a slight smile before turning and walking away. Zoe's face drops and Max places a hand onto her head before bringing his lips to meet it as Zoe closes her eyes tightly to stop any more tears from falling.

"It's a girl." Announces Dylan who has let himself into Sophia's office. Sophia simply looks up at him and smiles with a slight nod.

"Thanks." replies Sophia clearing her throat.

Dylan who had started to turn to leave stops half way and turns back, "Look, it's probably not my place to say –"

"Then don't say it."

"It's probably not my place to say," repeats Dylan completely ignoring Sophia, "but I think you should go and see her. Talk to her."

"I can't Dylan. It's clearer now more than ever that they don't need me anymore. I can't just waltz back in there after everything that's happened can I? I have to let them live their own lives as a family."

"Fine. Fine. Have it your way," he starts, "but the only way to get everything back on track is to try – to start again. Trust me, she wants to see you." Dylan leaves the room as swiftly as he entered but doesn't close the door.

Sophia sighs knowing that everything Dylan has just said is right and places her hands over her head before making the decision to go and see Zoe. She snaps up out of her chair, places her own stethoscope around her neck to act as a comfort for her and makes her way up to the maternity unit. As she reaches Zoe's door, she sees that she is asleep and begins to turn away until she hears the door open. Max stands there and smiles as Sophia turns back around.

"Hey," he whispers silently bringing the door to a close.

"Hi," replies Sophia, "Congratulations."

"Thanks." He smiles, "Hey, Soph?"

"Mhmm?"

"I'm just about to head down to the cafeteria would you mind sitting with them until I'm back? I don't really want to leave them."

"Are you sure?"

Max nods with a smile, reopens the door and waits for Sophia to enter before closing it again and heading towards the staircase. As Sophia enters she walks towards the little cot, folds her arms and stares at the tiny bundle of pink blankets while Max looks on and smiles. She notices that the baby is wrapped in the blanket she gave Zoe and Max as a gift and is wearing the little outfit she bought along with it. Sophia starts stroking the baby's hand unaware that Zoe has started to stir.

"Hey," she whispers with a smile.

"Oh. Hi. Uhm, Max said it was okay for me to be in here but I can go if you want." Sophia rambles.

Zoe shakes her head "No please stay."

Sophia walks over to her and smiles. "How are you feeling?" she asks.

"Honestly? I feel awful," she laughs, "that was horrendous. But it was the best thing I've ever done."

Sophia giggles along slightly before nodding and clarifying, "But you're okay? I mean you're both okay?"

"Yeah. We're perfect. Well almost."

Sophia looks back at Zoe confused and tilts her head to one side. Max re – enters the room and stands by the side of Zoe.

"Soph, we really want you to come back and live with us. Please? Letting you go like that was the worst thing I could ever have done and I promise I will never let that happen again. We are a family now. The four of us and I want it to stay like that."

"But Max – " Sophia starts shaking her head.

"Was an idiot," he interjects, "I've already spoken to Robyn and Lofty and they're going to bring your stuff back round tonight."

"Well it looks like I don't have a choice," winks Sophia, "but only if you're both really okay with it."

Both Max and Zoe nod their heads and Sophia runs to them holding in an embrace before Zoe pulls sharply away.

"What is it?" asks Sophia desperately worried that something has gone wrong.

"You've got a stethoscope?" asks Zoe.

"Yeah, I uhm, I'm in training. I'm going to be a doctor." Smiles Sophia as she heads out of the room to go and get her things.

Zoe looks on at her with her eyes glazed with pride and admiration, "I knew we called her Sophia for a reason," she starts looking over at the baby, "if our daughter is half the person you are, we'll be the proudest parents in the world." Zoe whispers as Sophia leaves the room and bumps into Charlie who has been watching all along.

"To new beginnings, hey?" he smiles at Sophia and gives a cheeky wink.

Sophia laughs and rolls her eyes as they both walk downstairs towards reception, "To new beginnings indeed."