She looked around, she had tried to clean the living room a bit before the arrival of her daughter and her stand in family for a while. Connie had debated just going before they arrived and leaving a note and a spare key but it just wasn't practical and no matter what Grace thought of her at that moment, she needed to show her baby that she loved her more than words could explain. From outside the window she could see Zoe's car pull up and Grace impatiently waiting for Max to get out and move his seat forward for her to climb out, she looked fine as she ran up to the door, leaving Connie to wonder if she'd been that bad a mother that her daughter wasn't affected by her departure.

"Hello baby." Connie spoke opening the door and watching as Grace bounced in, taking her hand and walking through to the living room, leaving the door open for Zoe and Max.

"Do you have to go mum?" Grace asked softly, as she sat on her mother's lap, neither moving even slightly as Zoe and her porter boyfriend walked in.

"Yes baby, sometimes everything gets a bit stressful and you just need a break. Zoe and Max will look after you princess and I'll just be the other end of a phone."

"Promise you'll answer?" Grace asked, mindful of times when her mum had been too busy for her.

"I promise, now why don't you run upstairs and pack some things. I've left you an iTunes voucher too so you can get some more things on your iPad. I'll be up in a minute to help you, I just need to talk to Zoe."

"I can help you if you want?" Max asked, sensing that Connie need to confide in his partner and not him.

"Okay." Connie replied as Grace ran off with Max in tow.

"Are you okay?" Zoe asked, perching on the end of the sofa as Connie stood in front of her glancing at the pictures on the wall.

"What do you think? I'm at a point where I can't be any sort of mother to her." Connie snapped. "Sorry, I just don't know how I got to this point."

"Happens to the best of us." Zoe offered in the way of an explanation only to receive a sarcastic laugh from the other woman.

"Yeah right. Anyway, I need you to do me a favour."

"What?"

Make it the best Christmas for Gracie, I've left her presents in the cupboard and I'll leave you a key to get them. I figured you probably didn't have a tree or decorations either and she loves them so I've left them too."

"Of course Connie." Zoe spoke, easily granting her favour.

"I'm not finished yet. Here's £1,000, I know it's a lot but if she mentions anything else she wants in the run up to Christmas then please buy it for her and put it under the tree, the money is also for her food and anything else she may need while I'm away."

"Connie you really don't need to give me money, I have more than I could ever need." Zoe replied, wary of taking the envelope that Connie held out.

"She's my daughter, the only thing I can do right now is provide for her, please don't take that away from me." Connie almost begged, a smile slightly pulling at the corners of her lips as Zoe took the envelope. "I better go and help her."

Max came down the stairs minutes later and sat beside Zoe.
"Is Grace okay?" Zoe asked.

"She's being a bit grumpy with Connie, that's only to be expected though." Max replied, "We're going to basically be a little family for a while." Max beamed.

"You do realise she isn't our child though."

"Of course I do, she's the daughter of an ice queen."

"Max!" Zoe warned.

"So what's this box?" Max asked, changing the subject.

"It's Christmas decorations and a tree to put up in our house." Zoe replied, watching as Max smiled at how easily she'd slipped into calling it their house.

"How about we order in a takeaway tonight and watch a film or something with Gracie?"

"Sounds great." Zoe replied, gently leaning over and placing a gentle kiss on his lips.