Bonnie Sveen Fan, everyone does need a Robyn in their lives! Do you know where I can get one? I preferred her before she got so friendly with Louise, but she's still lovely really. I don't think Ethan likes it when Cal makes him beg. Can you imagine how much Cal would enjoy it? Thank you for your review.

Tanith Panic, thank you for your review. I think I'd be proud to look messy after spending the break with Ethan, but I would be worried about Connie's reaction! David and Rita doesn't sound impossible - they'd treat each other well, I think. Lily usually is right, but she doesn't always say it in the best possible way.

Max couldn't help smiling a little bit as he walked into the room, Taylor on his arm. There were definitely heads turning; eyes widening; several glances in Zoe's direction. It wasn't as strong a reaction as when he'd kissed Zoe in reception in front of half the staff, but he could tell they were impressed.

It helped a little bit. Even though he was on a date with a stunningly gorgeous F3 from St James', he'd so much rather be on a date with a gorgeous consultant from Holby. And he didn't mean Dylan.

Or Ash, Elle or Connie.

"It looks amazing, Cal!" said Taylor enthusiastically.

Yes, and that was the other problem. Max still hadn't quite got around to telling her about the name issue. He'd thought about telling her his mates called him Max because he always did his job to the max - but he really wasn't sure Taylor would go for that. She didn't seem to like a lot of Max's jokes.

He saw Iain coming towards him. "Cal, my man!" He raised his hand so Max could high-five him. "Hi, you must be Taylor. Cal's told me so much about you. I'm Dr Iain Dean, one of the consultants."

Taylor looked him up and down. "It's very nice to meet you, Dr Dean."

"Call me Iain." Iain winked

"Only if you call me Taylor."

Cal frowned. He hated it when his girlfriends pretended to flirt with his mates.

"It would be my pleasure, Taylor."

"Perhaps we could have a dance or two later, Iain?" suggested Taylor with a smile.

"Yeah, maybe we could swap partners," said Iain. "I'll dance with you, Louise can dance with Cal… um, no, I mean Louise can dance with Max." He clapped Max on the shoulder. "And Cal here can dance with Zoe. You know. Zoe the paramedic."

"Paramedic?" said Taylor, wrinkling her nose in slight distaste.

That was yet another problem. Taylor was a bit of a snob. That was why Max had lied.

"Iain, have you seen Cal?" Zoe was coming towards him.

Max groaned inwardly. I'm in trouble now.

Iain looked like he really wasn't sure what to say.

Zoe's face dropped slightly when she saw Max. She turned and looked Taylor up and down. She was pretty. Younger than Zoe too. "Hi. You must be Taylor. I'm Zoe."

Taylor gave her a haughty nod. "Hi. You must be the paramedic."

Zoe stared at her in shock. "Excuse me?"

"Dr Dean told me there was a paramedic called Zoe," said Taylor patronisingly. "I'm assuming that's you."

"Dr Dean, is it?!" said Zoe. She looked at Max. "And who's this? Our new clinical lead?"

Taylor looked slightly surprised. "Yes. This is Dr Knight. Don't the paramedics know who the clinical lead is?"

Zoe glared at her. "Okay. Let's get this straight. First off, I'm not a paramedic. I'm Dr Zoe Hanna, consultant. 'Dr' Dean is the only paramedic around here. And as for this 'gentleman', he's not Dr Knight. He's Max Walker the porter."

"Oh dear. Jealousy is such an ugly emotion, isn't it?" said Taylor. "Did Dr Knight turn you down? Well, I don't blame him."

"You keep telling yourself that, love," said Zoe. "You'll know the truth before the end of the night. You have noticed that neither of them has denied it? And by the way, you're welcome to him." She turned to Iain. "Shall we go? I have a feeling Taylor and 'Dr Knight' have a lot to talk about."

Taylor watched Zoe and Iain go, a frown on her face. "It's not true, is it, Cal? You are a doctor, aren't you?"

"Hey, Max!" A hand landed on Max's shoulder. This was followed by a whistle. "And hey, beautiful! I'm Dr Caleb Knight, but you can call me Cal."

The next second, Max's cheek was ringing from Taylor's slap.

She stepped in front of him to shake Cal's hand. "I'm Dr Ashbie, but you can call me Taylor. I'm an F3 at St James', currently studying for my MCEM."

"Well, anytime you need help with some studying, just give me a call," said Cal.

Taylor held out her phone. "That will be very difficult if you don't give me your number."

Max slunk away, his hand over his cheek.

Ethan made his way nervously over to Noel, who was sorting out a playlist for the dancing later. "Hey, Noel."

Noel turned and smiled at him. "Ethan! Glad you could make it. Have you seen Honey?"

"Yes, I have." Ethan had actually spent a good ten minutes pretending not to stare at Honey before he'd finally found the courage to approach Noel. She looked so beautiful. "I was just wondering… I don't have a partner for the dance contest yet."

"And you want to dance with me?!" Noel had never looked more horrified.

"No, of course not!" said Ethan, appalled by what he'd done. Imagine if Honey's dad had said yes? What would he have done then? "I mean... um... I was wondering... and it's perfectly all right if you say no… and if you do say no, I promise I won't bother her or even talk to her ever again… unless her job requires her to make me a cup of coffee, in which case it would be terribly rude not to say thank you, but I won't say anything else... but may I please have your permission to ask Honey to be my partner for the dance contest?"

"Ethan, this is 2016, not 1816," said Noel. "It's up to Honey, not me." He smiled. "Why don't you ask her now?"

"Oh, um, I really don't know… she looks ever so busy," said Ethan.

"Not right now she's not," said Noel.

"Isn't she?" said Ethan, rather surprised. Then he saw that Noel was looking over his shoulder. "Oh my goodness. Are you saying… is Honey… she's right behind me, isn't she?"

"Yeah," said Noel.

Ethan turned slowly to face her. "Honey… I was wondering… if you would do me the great kindness to consider…"

"Yeah," said Honey, and smiled at him. "Why not? I haven't got a partner and I'm sure you're a great dancer."

"Oh gosh," said Ethan. He'd thought Honey agreeing to dance with him would be the happiest moment of his life, but he had a horrible feeling Honey was going to be very disappointed. "Thank you, Honey. I... I'll do my very best."

Lofty could tell Robyn was worried. He wasn't sure anyone else would know: they'd just see the beautiful smile on her face and think she was having a great time, but Lofty could tell something wasn't right.

He could sense it. Feel it. See the tiny little clues that only he and Max knew her well enough to notice.

He put his arm around her. "Robyn, what is it?"

Robyn turned to face him. Her smile grew wider. "Nothing's wrong, Lofty. I'm really looking forward to the party."

"I can tell you're worried," said Lofty gently. "Please, Robyn. I know you don't want to worry me, but you don't ever have to hide anything from me."

"Not even your birthday presents?" said Robyn with an awkward laugh,

Lofty smiled. "You can make an exception for presents."

Robyn hesitated. "Well… I am quite worried about Alicia. She's really ill and it will be horrible for her, sitting at home and knowing we're all here."

"Yes, it is a shame she couldn't make it," said Lofty, though he couldn't help thinking Alicia wouldn't have enjoyed it. Not when Cal was with Zoe. Though he was actually talking to Max's date now.

"Do you think she'd like it if I video-called her and showed her how amazing it looks?" said Robyn. "Or would that make her feel worse?"

"I think it might make her feel worse," admitted Lofty. Especially if Cal was in shot. He reached up to play with one of the strands of hair hanging by Robyn's face. "Robyn, I know you're really worried about Alicia. It's natural to worry about your friends when they're ill and I'm worried about her too. But that's not what's worrying you the most, is it?"

"No," admitted Robyn.

Rita wasn't enjoying herself. Iain seemed to be having a great time with Louise now he'd finally stopped gawping at Max's date (who was now possibly Cal's date: it was worse than pass the parcel with those two – especially as it was Cal who ended up with all the prizes) and David didn't seem to be here.

She couldn't blame him, of course. She'd broken his heart and she felt terrible. But what else could she have done? She was in love with Freddy and the only feelings she had for David were friendship and respect.

She also felt guilty because she'd decided not to wear the brooch Freddy had sent. It was asking for trouble. Everyone would want to know where she'd got it from and she'd had to listen to them bad-mouthing him again.

But for some reason, it was the sight of Iain and Louise that bothered her the most.

Rita got to her feet and walked around the room, nodding and smiling at anyone who caught her eye but making no attempt to stop and talk. She kept on walking until she was close to the place where Iain and Louise were sitting.

"You could always send them to my PO Box," Iain told Louise.

Louise gave an exclamation of disbelief. "You've got a PO Box? Aren't they really expensive?"

"Yeah, they are a bit. I haven't had it for long," said Iain. "I needed it for a prank I'm playing."

"Oh, what prank?" asked Louise eagerly.

Iain hesitated. "I'm afraid I can't really tell you. Not till the prank's over. Sorry, but you know how word gets around in the ED."

Louise went into one of her aggressive stances. "Are you saying I don't know how to keep a secret?"

"Of course I'm not saying that!" said Iain. "But the thing about having a secret is it's hard not telling just one person you really trust. And then you might find out you don't really trust them at all."

"Okay, just tell me the kind of prank you were playing," said Louise. "That's not saying anything at all."