Zoe sat on the couch, staring at the TV blankly. She could feel the lips teasing her neck, her head tilting obligingly to allow him more access; her mind was in overdrive, Nick had called her today, three times. She had ignored every single call, holding her thumb over the accept button until the tears built up behind her eyes.

"Max" she murmured as his had moved to unbutton her shirt, her hand closed around his wrist as she pushed his hand away "not just now" she whispered, feeling the tears building up again.

"You ok?" He whispered, kneeling down in front of her on the couch, she had been like this the past week that had been 'seeing' each other again, they had never really been dating in the first place but he didn't want to push for for a label when she was so fragile. She had told Max all about what happened the first time around with Nick, the baby, the wedding, Yvonne. She felt betrayed, rejected and hurt all over again; she'd cried in his arms for hours and told him about the so called love of her life, it seemed to him that he didn't treat her very well for them being in a relationship and now, now he was trying to worm his way back into her life for the third time.

"Not really" she whispered, her eyes focused more on his chest that meeting his face "he called again today" she told him, she hadn't felt this comfortable with someone in a long time – it seemed Nick was the only person she'd ever trusted this much and he kept building her hopes up and tearing them all down again.

"What did he want?" He questioned her, slightly worried that he was going to lose her all over again. He knew he could never compare to the famous Nick Jordan but he cared about her and was there for her when she needed him, and that's more than he could say for Mr Jordan.

"No idea" Zoe shook her head, wiping the tears from her eyes "I never answered the phone" she smiled at him, looking him dead in the eye; she felt terrible for leaving him from Nick, he was so genuine and he was definitely there for her when she needed him. It didn't bother her that Max was a porter, that he didn't earn what Nick did and couldn't treat her to the things that Nick had done in the past. She knew if it was going to work she'd have to stop comparing Max to Nick, they were totally separate people and completely different in personality. She stood up, brushing down her skirt and taking Max's hand "shall we go to bed?" She smiled, tugging on his hand and leading him to her bedroom.

"Brilliant idea" he replied, smacking her bum as she walked up stairs in front of him.

.

"Happy Birthday" Max whispered as he slid up behind Zoe at reception that morning, they were still keeping their relationship a secret much to his bemusement. "I've got a present for you" he told her, groping her bum as he stretched passed her to grab his next transfer card.

"Oh yeah?" Zoe turned around pressing her body up against his briefly before sliding out of his way "is it something dirty?" She whispered biting down on her lip gently and raising an eyebrow. She couldn't remember being in such a good mood for a long time, it had been almost four months since Nick had left and he called her most days but she was beginning to move on, focusing on her relationship with Max the one positive thing in her life.

"No, not quite" Max laughed "you'll need to see when you get home" he smiled, turning around and walking away leaving her to wonder about her birthday surprise.

Her shift passed without much drama, her birthday remained a well hidden secret between her and Max, she hadn't even wanted him to know but he'd seen the first birthday card that arrived last week from her sister in Australia. "So, what's this present then?" Zoe asked as they made their way from the hospital, together.

"I told you, you'll need yo wait until you get home" he whispered, leaning in to kiss her, pushing her body back against her car "I'll see you later" he smiled against her lips taking a step back and walking away from her.

"You're not coming with me?" She called after him, totally confused. She looked around to make sure no one had seen their kiss or heard her shouting on him.

"Nope" Max replied vaguely, leaving Zoe feeling slightly hurt and alone in the dark car park.

Zoe pulled into the driveway of her apartment, having no clue what had just happened in the car park with Max. She kicked off her shoes in the living room and made her way through the bedroom. "How on earth did you get in here?" She asked, sucking in her breath as she took in the candles and the man in the suit sitting on her bed with a bunch of flowers.

"You shouldn't leave your key under that mat, for a consultant you're not the most practical of people are you?" He grinned "now I've booked reservations for eight, go and get changed" he nodded his head to the dress hanging on her wardrobe.

"Oh Max" she gasped, running her hand over the silky material "you shouldn't have, it must have cost you a fortune"

"Yeah, well" Max grinned sheepishly "you're most definitely worth it"

.

"I think dinner was the wrong thing" Max gasped as Zoe emerged from getting ready "you look beautiful" he whispered, standing up to kiss her. He wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her more soundly "close your eyes" he whispered in her ear. He pulled the box out of his pocket and secured the silver pendant around her neck.

"It's beautiful" Zoe whispered looking down at the tiny silver elephant that now nestled in the hollow of her throat, her favourite animal; she wasn't even sure she remembered telling Max this. "Thank you so much, for everything" she whispered, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him "shall we go for dinner?" She asked, linking her arm into his.

Max nodded and lead her from the apartment, stunned as he opened the door to find someone already stood on the other side; he knew whom it was immediately.

"Zoe" Nick gasped as he looked her up and down, taking in her curvaceous figure in the silk tea dress that Max had bought for her. "You look amazing" he smiled, his head turned to Max and he frowned "I didn't realise you'd be busy, I came to talk" he told her, looking with a slight pleading in his eyes.

"I don't know why you came back here Nick" Zoe growled, trying to keep her voice level "but I don't want to see you, and I have plans tonight – Max is taking me out for my birthday" she dismissed him, felling slightly upset that he had forgotten her birthday.

"Shit Zo, I'm so sorry" he replied, trying to think of a way to make it up to her on the spot "let me take you somewhere, you two could always rearrange right?" He looked Max up and down.

"No" Zoe replied, turning to bypass Nick and dragging Max along with her "you'd better be gone by the time I get home" she called over her shoulder.

"I'm proud of how you acted back there" Max whispered as they climbed into to back of the taxi, he leant over to kiss her, running his hand lightly through her hair "happy birthday princess" he smiled, squeezing her hand lightly.