Max woke with a banging head to the smell of coffee. When the bed dipped, he asked hoarsely. "Zoe?"

"Robyn." His sister replied, holding out a cup of coffee for him.

Taking a grateful sip, Max squinted towards her. "What happened?"

"You got drunk at some club and couldn't pay so called me to pick you up, then you managed to get the girl Lofty was after in a corner on his birthday."

"… I didn't…" Max left this hanging in the air until Robyn finally took pity on him.

"Mostly you cried, then you started playing the guitar. Zoe showed up and tried to get you to go upstairs to bed, but you were sick down her dress, then tried to show her off to everyone."

Shutting his eyes again, Max asked gingerly, "And then?"

"She cleaned you up, put you to bed and stayed until you were asleep, then I guess she went home. Do you want me to call in sick for you?"

After giving a sigh, Max shook his head and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

…

Zoe was aware of eyes on her. She was painfully aware that everyone who'd been at Lofty's party was wondering if she was going to lay into Max when he arrived.

She knew she loved Max, but she prided herself on being independent and hadn't realised until the night before just how much Max did for her. If she couldn't sleep, he would stay awake and be her sounding board, if she went to work tired he was always there with a coffee and an encouraging word, and when she was angry he would let her rant at him. But she couldn't think what she did for him. The night before was the first time he'd ever let her look after him in any way.

So, other's eyes still on her as she approached the front desk where Max stood reading his schedule for the day, Zoe walked with purpose, stopping beside him. "Morning. How's the head?"

Max gave a grunt in return, not looking at her.

"I got you this. And these." She placed a coffee and some paracetamol in front of him.

When Max still gave no reply, Zoe dropped a kiss to his shoulder and slipped the key to her office into his pocket. "In case you need a nap."

Pleased when she saw a smile pull at his lips, Zoe walked away satisfied- for now.

…

"Hi." Zoe said a short time later when she sat at her desk.

"Hi." Came a muffled reply. "I'm sorry I tried to get you to show your bottom to a group of strangers."

Smiling, Zoe rested back in her seat and shut her eyes. "You've done worse, I've just never had the heart to tell you."

They sat in silence for a while before Max gave a weary sigh. "I should explain…"

As Zoe went to reply, Rita pushed the door open looking harried. "Have you got a minute? I really need to talk to someone."

"Of course. Take a seat." Zoe pushed her seat back up to the desk and felt Max's hand brush her calf as he noiselessly slid her shoes off.

Sitting down gratefully, Rita made a few false starts. "I just…I found out…A few weeks ago, I…"

"Just take a deep breath, Rita."

The nurse took a deep breath in and then slowly released a shaking one. "I'm pregnant."

Under the desk, Max tensed. This was a touchy subject for Zoe, particularly when he was around. On the occasional times he'd interrupted her while she was talking to someone about it, she'd change subject. They'd only twice spoken about it together, and those moments were brief.

"Oh." Was all Zoe offered, her hand flitting to her own middle, then, conscious of who would see her do that, away again.

"It's just some guy I met at a party and I didn't get his phone number or anything, but Robyn said he came in as a patient a few days later, so I thought maybe you could…"

"You know the rules, Rita." Zoe was painfully aware of Max listening to the conversation.

"I know, but…I've wanted this for so long, Zoe, even if I have to do it myself, but maybe he might want it to. I know you're not supposed to, but… I don't know what else to do."

Eager to end the conversation, Zoe sighed. "Leave me his name and I'll see what I can do."

Rita scribbled it down, gave a grateful smile and rushed from the room feeling lighter.