Extreme Takeover, Holby Edition

Their parents ran the hospital during their life, and now that they're older, it's their turn.

Pairings are Jac/Joseph, Maddy/Linden, Connie/Sam, Diane/Ric and Chrissie/Olly.

The Family Gathering...Part 1

Connie had arranged to meet up with her and Sam's old friends an hour or so before the kids would show up, so that they could have a quiet catch up. It had been so long since she'd seen them, and they had a lot to talk about. Impending grandparent-hood, their charity work, the irresponsibility of some of their children, adoption, general problems and how their retirement was going.

Diane and Ric arrived first with a knock on the door.

Opening the door to greet them, Sam found himself looking at not just Diane and Ric, but Scarlett, Rose, Megan, Liam and Scott, Taylor's children.

'I can explain everything,' said Diane honestly.

'No problem, come in,' said Sam, helping to move Ric's wheelchair in.

'Don't put your knees out Sam,' said Ric with a hearty laugh.

'Ric,' said Sam. 'You are 91, and yet your humour doesn't improve with age.'

'Ahh, trust me,' replied Ric. 'I know all of the wheelchair related humour in the world.'

'I don't doubt that for a second,' said Sam as he wheeled Ric into the living room, where Connie greeted everyone with a warm hug.

'You've brought the grandchildren!' exclaimed Connie. 'Does Taylor know?'

'No, it's a surprise for him,' said Ric. 'Diane thought that she would talk to Teri, Georgina and Paula and get a day with them. And my wife's reasoning skills shone through, because here they are.'

'It wasn't that hard,' admitted Diane. 'They just aren't too keen on Taylor. But they love their ex mother in law.'

'They're not too keen on me, that's for sure,' said Ric.

'Not everyone can love you Ric,' said Connie. 'Simply marvel at you. You were how old when Jayden was born?'

'Hmm, hard one. He's 28 now, I'm 91, so I must've been....63? Wow, I am old!' remarked Ric.

Sitting down, Connie said, 'Megan, Rose, Liam, Scott, Scarlett, us oldies are going to talk for a while, so would you like to go and say hello to the animals? Lexie's missed you, and the rabbit babies are in the hutch.'

'Yeah,' exclaimed the kids, leaving the room.

'That was easy,' said Diane.

'Why do you think we got animals?' asked Sam. 'Perfect grandchildren distraction.'

'I like the way you think,' said Ric as the doorbell rang again.

'I'll get it,' said Sam, opening the door to Jac and Joseph.

'Lord and Lady Byrne,' remarked Sam, bowing in mockery.

'I hate having this title,' said Joseph.

'Hell, I wouldn't complain,' said Sam. 'Come in, come in. Ric and Diane are here, and they brought Taylor's kids as a surprise.'

'Isn't that sweet?' replied Jac. 'It's been ages since he's seen all of them together.'

'Lady Byrne, I could never have imagined you having a heart, yet I see the evidence in front of me,' said Sam cheekily.

'People change, whilst you don't,' replied Jac with a smile.

Everyone came in and sat down. As soon as they sat down, the doorbell rang again.

'I'll get it,' said Connie, going to the door. Opening it, she welcomed in Maddy and Linden.

'Just Oliver and Chrissie to come now,' said Connie as Maddy and Linden came and sat down.

Going to the kitchen, Connie went and made up some drinks for everyone. As she brought them in on a tray, Chrissie and Oliver had arrived.

Hugging them both, she said, 'It's been such a long time. We have so much to catch up on.'

Everyone else in the living room agreed.

'So...' said Sam. 'I bet you're enjoying being grandparents Chrissie and Olly.'

'Oh God,' said Chrissie. 'So much! All of our friends were having grandchildren and raving about it, their children were having children young, and all we had was Serena, who had trouble conceiving, and Callie and Max, who aren't interested at all. But we're blessed to have little Ash.'

'I can't wait to teach him football!' said Olly.

'Olly,' said Ric. 'You do realise how old you are, right?'

Bowing his head, Olly nodded.

'Thought so,' said Connie, laughing. 'It won't be long and Jac, Joseph, Sam and I will have a new grandchild!'

'I know!' exclaimed Jac. 'It's so exciting. My little Harry is settling down! He and Adi make a charming couple.'

'Adi's been through a lot,' admitted Connie. 'I blame myself for not being there for her.'

'It wasn't your fault,' said Sam, holding his wife's hand. 'It is in Adi's nature to be a bit too loving and trusting. But she learnt her lesson, and now she's happy.'

'And that's good,' said Joseph. 'Grandchild number 8 on the way.'

'Gosh, is it really that many?' asked Connie. 'We have 4 with one on the way.'

'We have Juliet's 4, Tristan, Cameron, Liliana and Charlotte, Chris and Grace's 2, Katie and Michael, then Adi and Harry's Isla and unborn Kai,' said Joseph.

'It pleases us greatly that both of you and Harry count Isla as your own,' said Sam. 'It means a lot to us, Adi and Isla.'

'Why wouldn't we?' asked Jac. 'Harry and Adi are married now, Adi is a Byrne now, and Isla is part of Adi, so she's family too.'

'We are all our own little family,' said Maddy. 'It's great, our children have married their closest friends in our group. Like Fin and Cassie, they were best friends at nursery school, and here they are now, with children of their own. It's surreal to think it.'

'It is,' agreed Linden. 'Also how our children have turned out to be is surreal. How they seem to be the perfect middle between their parents, although there are exceptions.'

In unison, everyone said, 'Taylor, Mason, Olivia, Max and Erin.'

Chuckling, Linden said, 'Okay, there are quite a few exceptions.'

'Mason is so alike to Sam it is unbelievable,' said Connie. 'He even has Brady, who he doesn't see, just like Sam didn't see Keiron.'

The others nodded their head.

'Max is exactly like I used to be,' admitted Olly.

'I have to agree with that,' said Chrissie. 'He has the charm, the slight arrogance, the ambition, even being the older twin thing like Olly had with Penny.'

Everyone nodded their head once more.

'Olivia is a lot like the old Jac,' said Joseph. 'Very career driven.'

'But a lot more extreme,' said Jac. 'She never liked the idea of children, she made consultant a lot faster than I did, and as Mason put it before 'she'd even screw her own father to rise up the ranks.'

'Hmmm,' said Joseph. 'I spoke to her about that. I told her, drop names, fine, but never go that far.'

'As if she would,' said Jac. 'Not even Olivia is that disturbing. Mason's symbolism of her ambition is however.'

'I take no responsibility for that humour,' said Connie. 'Blame Sam.'

'The woman has a point,' admitted Sam. 'I might've encouraged it a tad too much.'

'I think I may have done that with Erin,' said Maddy. 'I encouraged her to have a good time in life, but she's becoming too much like I was. She drinks far too much when she goes out.'

'She'll see sense eventually,' said Linden, squeezing his wife's hand. 'She might even find religion.'

'I wouldn't count on it,' said Maddy. 'Fin's religious to a point, be happy with that. I don't think you'll convert Erin from atheism.'

'I'll try,' said Linden.

'Last but not least, Taylor,' said Ric. 'He's me.'

'I am not arguing with that,' said Diane. 'Married 4 times, divorced 4 times, 5 children, 1 of whom he sees when he wants, just like Ric did with Jess.'

'I didn't encourage him,' said Ric. 'I'm sure of it. Maybe some things just run in the genes.'

As Ric finished his sentence, the doorbell rang.

'That'll be the kids,' said Connie. 'Don't tell them about this conversation.'