"It's a boy Zo!" Max exclaimed as Dr Thompson passed the baby to him.
He held him up to show Zoe.
"Happy Birthday little man." She whispered. "He's here." She looked at Max.
"He is, he's perfect." Max replied.
"Ok Zoe, we're just going to take the young man to special care, with him being premature we want to make sure we're giving him the best start. Max, you can go with him if you like whilst we stitch Zoe up?" Dr Thompson said.
Max looked at Zoe who agreed.
"I'll be there as soon as I can." She said.
Once Zoe was out of theatre and in recovery they nurses made her eat something before she was transferred to the maternity ward. She would have her own room and some privacy.
"I just want to see my son." Zoe had protested.
"You will," the nurse had replied, "you'll be no good to him if you're passing out though."
Zoe gave in reluctant before being told she was being moved to the ward.
"Max will meet you there." Dr Thompson came to check on her before she was moved. "Congratulations again."
"Thank you so much Derwood, we couldn't have done it without you."
"Just doing my job!" He kissed her on the cheek before leaving, the nurses came to move her to her room.
Zoe was exhausted, what a day, it soon got better when she entered her room to see Max sitting their with their son.
"Max, what are you doing here?" Zoe asked in disbelief.
"Well, they sent him back from special care, they said he was perfectly healthy and he should be with his mummy." Max explained.
Max walked towards her and handed her the baby.
"Max he's perfect, I can't believe how much I love him already. He has your nose!" Zoe said.
"Poor kid!" Max joked.
"Shall we get him weighed?" The nurse asked. "We've been waiting for you." She said to Zoe.
The nurse took the baby and placed him on the scales. "Six pounds two ounces."
"Is that good?" Max asked.
"That's a lovely weight for an early baby." The nurse told him.
"Do you want to try feeding him?" The nurse asked Zoe.
"Is that ok?" Zoe replied.
"Of course, we'll try and make you as comfortable as possible first, not easy when you've had major surgery." The nurse said.
Zoe was made comfortable and the baby was brought to her chest, he began feeding straight away.
"You're a natural Zo!" Max said, "I knew you would be."
"I'll leave you to it, press the buzzer if you need anything." The nurse said and left the room.
The three of them were alone for fifteen minutes before there was a knock on the door. Robyn and Lofty came in with a huge 'Its a Boy' balloon.
" ... I can't even speak." Robyn said with tears in her eyes.
"Robyn, meet your nephew, baby, meet Auntie Robyn." Robyn took the baby, she was mesmerised.
"Does he have a name?" She asked.
"The name!" Zoe remembered. "Max pass me my purse please, I put mine in there."
"Lofty, will you read the names out? We need to choose between the two?" Max asked.
Lofty took both pieces of paper and unfolded them, he began to laugh.
"What's funny?" Max asked.
"You've got the same one!" Lofty told them.
"Noah?!" Max and Zoe said in unison.
They looked at each other and smiled.
"Noah Richard Walker." Zoe stated.
"Perfect." Max said as he kissed her.
Zoe had been kept in hospital for three days after the birth, after what seemed like a month she and Noah were to be discharged. She was relieved, she just wanted to get home with her new family. She had proven to be a terrible patient, she was also going stir crazy. Her mum had been to visit, she was overwhelmed by her grandson and the dedication to her late husband as well as Tess and Charlie, the rest of the ED had sent cards and presents, they hadn't wanted to push themselves on the new parents.
"Are we ready Walkers?!" Max had arrived to take them both home. He kissed Zoe and took his son into his arms. "I missed you both last night, it was weird."
"Aw, we missed you too didn't we Noah!" Zoe cooed over her baby.
"Let's get out of here Max, I can't take anymore!" Zoe told him.
"Sure thing boss, I've got the car seat here for mini me." Max said.
"The car! Is forgotten about that!" Zoe said.
"It's ok, I've arranged a hire car until we get the insurance sorted, we don't have to think about that right now." Max told her.
"You really do think of everything don't you?" Zoe asked.
"Well, anything for an easy life!" Max joked.
"It's about to get a little bit harder when we get this little man home!" Zoe laughed.
"Come on then, shall we get you home?" Max asked.
"Actually, there's somewhere I thought we could stop by first?" Zoe said.
"The ED?" Max asked, Zoe nodded. "Can't tear you away from that place! Ok,but as soon as we leave you are not coming back until your maternity leave is over, do you understand?"
"Yes sir!" Zoe saluted.
"Are you ok walking?" Max asked, aware of Zoe's surgery.
"I'll be fine, don't worry, just a bit sore." she replied.
"I'll take care of you now princess." Max told her.
He held her hand as they made their way towards the lifts, car seat in the other hand with the baby fast asleep.
As they got to the ED, a few of the staff were gathered around the nurses station, Max and Zoe could over hear Robyn talking about her new nephew, showing them
pictures on her phone.
"Aw, he's adorable!" Rita was saying, "I can't wait to have a cuddle!"
"No time like the present Rita." a voice said, Rita turned around.
"Zoe! Oh my word, how are you?"
"Oh you know, bit battered and bruised but all worth it." Zoe replied pointing at the baby.
"Ladies and gents, if I may, I'd like to introduce the youngest member of the ED, Mr Noah Walker." Max said proudly as he lifted him out of the car seat, "Rita?" He asked handing her the baby.
"Ooh yes please! I love that baby smell!"
Max put his arm around Zoe's shoulder as Noah was passed about, ten minutes later he decided they should leave, he could see Zoe was worn out, he'd let her get some sleep as soon as they got home.
"Ok folks, I think it's time we were leaving, the missus has had quite a few days, I think we'll go live in a bubble for a few days!" Max told
his colleagues.
"Well it was lovely to see you all," Rita said, "take care and we will see you soon!"
"You can count on it! Bye guys." Zoe waved.
They said their goodbyes and walked through reception, people offering their congratulations. Max had parked in Zoe's spot so they didn't have far to walk, he secured the car seat before helping Zoe get in.
"Thanks Max. Let's get out of here, let's go be a family!" Zoe told him
as she fastened her seat belt, she looked around at Noah and smiled, she couldn't have dreamt it any better.
The End.