"Just remember she's had surgery, I need you to keep calm and not get her agitated, ok? she comes first as a patient." Zoe told Max as she led him into Resus.

Max agreed.

"Diane?" Zoe asked. "I've got someone here to see you."

Diane looked up to see her son. "Max, oh Max..." Tears streamed down her face. "I'm so so sorry, for everything.

"Hey." Max said taking her hand.

"I'll leave you too it." Zoe said.

"Wait," Diane called. "Thank you Dr Hanna, for helping me."

"Just doing my job." Zoe replied.

"I know but you didn't have to, not after this morning, I'm sorry to you too." Diane said.

Zoe gave her a nod,"I'll be back soon." She knew this wasn't about her now, Max had to sort things with his mum, she would have to put to the back of her mind the comments Diane had made about Max.

"Been playing the big I am then Mum?" Max asked.

"Something like that." Diane smiled at her son, she'd missed him. She knew she was holding onto their falling out avoid the fact, it hurt less.

"Max, I'm so sorry, I've been a terrible mum, I should have stood by you when you needed me, I guess that's why I did what I did today. I needed to help somebody as I'd let you down so badly when you needed my help."

"Mum, don't. I treated you just as badly, I should have talked to you, maybe then I wouldn't have gone off the rails." Max told her.

"Oh, my boy, I love you. I don't want to waste anymore time, I've realised that today when I thought I was a gonner. Seeing you with Dr Hanna, I've missed so much in these past five years."

"That's for sure. I'm doing something with my life now Mum, what I do matters, I met this amazing woman and she makes me a better person, I've never known anything like it." Max told his mum.

Diane smiled, this was her son and she was proud. He'd turned his life around, he'd been involved with the wrong crowd, couldn't get a job, borrowed money from the wrong people and stolen from his mum to pay them back. She knew Max was ashamed of that part of his life and that had made him who he was today. Robyn had never known the full story and it would remain that way.

"So, Dr Hanna eh?" Diane asked. "Strong independent woman like her, what's she doing with you?"

Max laughed. "I ask myself that same question every day, I remind myself how lucky I am she's with me."

"Now you listen to me Max, she may be a doctor and earn a lot more money than you but take that out of the equation, you're two people, it doesn't matter what you do or how you perceive your status or whatever, If you love each other which she clearly does, she's got a mouth on her hasn't she?! You should never believe that you aren't equal because you absolutely are."

"Wow, you'd get on well you two!" Max said. "And Zoe is obviously lucky to wake up to this handsome face every morning!"

Diane laughed, this is what she'd dreamt of for her son, his happiness.

Zoe came back into the room.

"How you doing?" She asked Diane.

"Bit sore but I'll be back at Bingo in no time!" Diane replied.

Zoe laughed, this must be where Max gets it from.

"We've got a bed for you upstairs now so the porters will take you up.

Max I've agreed that you can go up and stay with her as long as you need." She told them.

"Thanks Zo, I'm just going to grab my jacket, I'll be back in a second mum." Max told her and got up.

Diane looked at Zoe. "He's besotted with you, please don't hurt him." She told her.

Zoe nodded and spoke. "There's no chance of that. And if you hurt him again, it'll be the last time you see him."

Diane nodded, they both smiled, they had a mutual understanding, both protecting the man they both loved.

"Right, let's go shall we?" Max asked as he came through the doors, "Robyn is going to pop up when she finishes."

"Take care Diane, I'll see you soon," Zoe said, "shall I put you down for the wedding?"

Diane smiled. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."