The morning was a still one, unbroken by any of the usual noises of far off traffic, the hum of the neighbours car as he drove to work. It was so still that Zoe found herself sitting up in bed just to listen to it.

Eventually she heard the soft creak of the landing walkway, Max was awake, as he usually was before her. He was dressed, and it took her a moment to realise that he was dressed for work. The maroon t-shirt almost transporting her back in time.

She stretched back against the headboard, holding a hand across her eyes, letting it drop whilst she relaxed back into the pillows.

"Morning."

He winked as he spoke, setting a cup of coffee down on the bedside table next to her and leaning toward her, kissing her on the lips, pausing, savouring it for a moment before pulling away.

"Morning..."

She replied, stifling a yawn and reaching for the mug which she set in a dip in the duvet that covered her lap, holding it with both hands to warm them.

There was a frost again, she could see the tell-tale white designs on outside of the windows.

"Ready?"

He asked, smiling, arcing an eyebrow over the rim of his own mug as he raised it to his lips.

She exhaled, folding her fingers against the sides of the mug to warm the backs of her hands.

"No..."

She smiled at him, he looked so much like he used to all of a sudden.

"What about us?"

She asked, watching him shrug.

"What about us?"

He asked.

"Are we telling people?"

She took another sip of her drink as she spoke, he raised a hand and rubbed at the stubble on his chin.

"If It comes up? I suppose...we don't need to make a big thing of it..."

He paused, looking down at the coffee he held.

"They'll find out anyway when you start getting bigger."

He added, glancing towards her, winking again.

She smiled stiffly in response, setting her half drunk cup back on the bedside table.

"I suppose we'd better get going then. I'm not sure Connie would approve of us being late on our first day back."

She began pushing the covers from on top of her, the cold air rushing in between the sheets making her shiver. All to aware of Max's eyes upon her as she began to dress, preparing herself for whatever the day may bring.

The hospital was framed against a darkening grey sky, turned brown at the edges with the threat of snow. The first this year.

They moved in through the double doors together, side by side, upper arms touching as they walked. A few people looked up from what they were doing. Both Charlie and Tess were at reception in time to greet them.

Tess, ignoring Max's presence reached out for Zoe, placing her hands on her forearms and squeezing them gently. She looked genuinely happy, to see her.

"How are you?!"

She asked.

"It's so good to see you."

She added, letting her hands fall and looking to Charlie who nodded his agreement.

"I haven't been away that long!"

Zoe feigned a half laugh. She heard the sharp crack of Connie's heels before she saW her, rounding the corner, glancing out before turning back on her heel and moving back along out of sight.

Zoe glanced to Tess, questioniing.

"She's in one of her moods..."

Charlie spoke before tess could, touching a finger to his lips to indicate that it was probably best to just ihnore it.

"Ah..."

She murmured, glancing again to where Connie had been.

"I should probably catch her up..."

She pressed her fingers into Max's arm.

"You'll be ok?"

She asked, looking up at him. He smiled slowly.

"I know what I'm doing."

He winked, instictively leaning in to kiss her, catching himself as he did so, both of them seeming to start away from each other.

There was a taught pause, Zoe could feel Tess tense beside her, could feel the eyes of whoever happened to be passing by on them.

She stepped forward, and without further thought placed a soft kiss against his lips, and as if being awoken from a spell he relaxed, fumbling for something to say.

She pushed a finger against his lips as his cheeks flushed.

"I'll see you later."

She whispered, letting her finger falll from his mouth, just grazing his chest on the way.

"Right...yes..."

He cleared his throat, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand.

"See you later..."

He murmured, turning to Noel who stood at reception, eyes so wide at what he had just seen that Max could see the whites of his eyes all around the dark brown Iris.

More later and/or tomorrow x A meeting with Connie, the first day at work and the first scan coming up! xxx