They neared the hospital. They slowed, the car pulling to a halt at the lights.

"Just stop over there for a second."

Max gestured to the lay by opposite, just on the other side of the lights.

"Why?"

She asked, barely having time to question before the lights changed to green and she had to pull away again, only to pull directly into the lay by. She stopped the car.

"Why?"

She asked again, and watched as he unclipped his seat belt and opened his side door. They were only seconds from the hospital. They could see the car park from where they were.

"What are you doing?!"

She asked, and he leaned into her and kissed her quickly.

"Number ten."

He said.

"Because I won't make you do anything before you're ready."

And with that he opened the door and stepped out into the cold.

"Max...?"

She called after him, he paused, one hand on the door.

"You don't have to keep counting..."

She said, and he smiled slowly.

"But number eleven's a good one."

He said and began to close the door, but she called his name again before he'd quite closed it. He leant against the car, leaning down to her.

"I love you."

She said, so quietly, her breath billowing white as it left her lips.

"I know."

He whispered, and winked quickly before stepping back, his shoes crunching on the ice beneath his feet.

He closed the door, watching her smile, watching her remember that night when their roles had been reversed.

She waited for a moment, allowing him a head start. She watched him as he went, head bowed against the wind, hands pushed into his pockets as he followed the path along to the crossing.

She smiled to herself, she couldn't quite contain the bubble of excitement that she felt. She was his.

When she could no longer see him she pulled out of the lay by and back onto the road, following the path he had taken, if she glanced to her right she could see his footsteps in the faint scattering of snow.

She paused at the crossing where a family crossed pushing a double push chair. She wondered if Max wanted children... as soon as she'd thought the thought she pushed it firmly from her mind.

They passed by safely and she pulled off again and into the hospital car park, into her space next to Connie's car.

She stepped out, glanced towards the entrance, just catching the quick flash of him disappearing through the double doors of the ED.

She locked the car and followed him in, the over head heating made her shiver as she passed through the entrance and into reception.

"Dr Hanna!"

She raised a hand to Noel who greeted her from a distance. Louise leant over the counter to her.

"Have you seen who's back?"

She asked, and nodded to the opposite end of reception where Max stood, speaking to an elderly porter she didn't recognise.

Max caught her eye over the other man's shoulder, smiled quickly and looked back at him, nodding, their conversation coming to an end.

"You're back then?"

Louise asked as the man Max had been speaking to shuffled off in the direction of the staff room and Max stretched himself over the reception desk to reach for a box of name tags.

"I'm back."

He confirmed, placing the box on the desk and sifting through them.

"That was quick."

Zoe murmured, and all three looked up at her.

"What was quick?"

Asked Noel.

Zoe faltered and looked to Max.

"Yeah..."

He raised a hand to rub the back of his neck.

"Stacking shelves and sitting at a check out wasn't really my thing."

He said, attempting a change of subject.

Louise raised an eyebrow.

"Shame."

She murmured and began stacking a pile of papers and Max fished out the name badge that read his name and slipped his hand along the edge of reception as he made his way over to Zoe.

"Nice to be wanted."

He said loudly, glancing back to Louise who rolled her eyes.

"It is a shame."

Zoe said quietly as they began to move off together, through the doors into the ED.

"Why's that?"

Max asked, holding the door open for her.

"I was looking forward to having you check me out next time I visited Tesco."

She said, and moved off ahead of him.

More soon! Thank you for the lovely comments and reviews. I was planning on finishing this story when Max gets to the number 12. I've had so many nice messages asking me to continue...I'm not really sure where I would take the story if I did continue (and requests?!) I will have a think about it :) xxx