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.

Just as she was applying her lipgloss, the doorbell rang.

'Maxwell David Valentine,' she said mock sternly. 'What have I told you about arriving so early for our...'

As she opened the door, she glimpsed her brother Fin's face. 'Dates,' she said, finishing her sentence.

'You look beautiful Eri,' said Fin, noticing the outfit. 'And you've got candles lit. Bad time?'

'Sort of,' she replied.

'Anyone I know?' he asked.

'Well,' she replied, interrupted by Max's entrance in the doorway, dressed in a smart shirt and trousers.

'Ah,' replied Fin, looking at both of them. 'Care to tell me what's going on?'

'Both of you, come in,' said Erin, shutting the door. 'Well Fin, you're the first to know. Max and I are together...'

'Together?' he asked. 'I thought you were temporarily forgetting about relationships and focusing on your recovery...' His voice had a brotherly sternness about it.

'It's not what you think,' said Max helplessly, tightening his grip on the bottle of wine in his hand.

'Really?' asked Fin haphazardly.

'Yes,' declared Erin boldly, her features softening as she thought of a gentle way to break the news to Fin. 'Fin, look, this isn't some ill-advised fling, Max and I could be the real deal! He was Alex's father Fin, I owe it to he or she's memory to get to know their father more. And I've found an equal there Fin. He treats me far better than Jay ever did! He goes to AA meetings with me everyday, he hugs me when I have to talk about my past and it upsets me. He makes me feel better. He pulls me out of the gutter and away from the nearest vodka bottle when I'm down. He keeps me eating when that's the last thing I wanted to do, he holds back my hair when I'm puking my guts up down the nearest toilet and he wipes my tears away! You cannot tell me that Jay would ever have been there like that for me...'

'No,' said Fin quietly, bowing his head in shame for being so harsh.

'No, exactly,' said Erin more confidently, beginning to enjoy her rediscovered assertion. 'Jay would have made his excuses for not coming to the AA meetings, he'd joke about my past and upset me even more. He'd hurt my feelings when I was down so I'd want to drink even more than I did at first. He'd shun all responsibility of making sure I eat because 'it's my life' and he can't even cook toast. He'd gag and be sick himself if I was sick and he'd keep me at arm's length until I went back to 'normal'. He wouldn't wipe my tears away, he'd be causing them, and you know it Fin. It hurts me that you'd challenge something you know nothing about, especially when it is as real as this. You have Cassie, and she's the perfect woman for you; you have Tilly and Leo, you're going to have another baby soon. You have your happiness, so can you take a step back while I look for mine?'

The tears pricked Fin's eyes as he realised that Erin was growing up at a faster rate than ever before, and was beginning to feel comfortable in her own skin. The new Erin was no longer a caterpillar, she was in the cocoon stage; getting ready to blossom into a beautiful butterfly, to fly away and find her happiness...without him to pick up the pieces.

'Eri,' he said, hugging her close. 'I always said I'd look after you, even if you couldn't look after yourself. And I always said that I'd be there for you when you need me. It's obvious that you're doing okay now, with Max to help you. So I'll step back, because that's what you want. Know that I'm so proud of you for coming this far, and I'm really happy for you and Max. The two of you are certainly a better match than you and Jay were.'

'To say the least,' replied Erin. 'It means a lot to me that you approve of Max, you know?'

'I know,' said Fin.

'I just want to say Fin,' said Max sincerely. 'I won't mess Erin around like Jay did, I promise. She's a very special woman, and she deserves everything beautiful and precious in the world. I'm going to do everything in my power to give her that, and to be there for her as she recovers.'

'Thank you Max,' said Fin, shaking his hand. 'It really means a lot to me. Look after her for me, yeah?'

'Of course,' replied Max.

'I should go now,' said Fin. 'I just came to check up on Eri, and she's clearly fine. Enjoy your date, what's left of it...'

'Thanks Fin,' said Max.

'I guess I'll be going,' said Fin as he left. 'Bye.'

'Bye,' chorused Erin and Max as the door shut behind Fin.

'We definitely cannot do what I had planned tonight, that emotional heaviness has ruined it...' said Erin.

'You don't need sex to be happy and satisfied in a relationship,' said Max. 'Although it is a good bonus. How about we just eat dinner and cuddle up on the sofa to watch a film?'

'Can it be a scary one?' asked Erin eagerly.

'Why?' asked Max. 'You hate scary films.'

'But I can snuggle into you when I'm scared,' she replied with an air of vulnerability to her.

'Darling, you can do that anytime,' he replied. 'Not just when the film's scary.'