Chapter 24! Hope you like it! Thanks for all the reviews so far, they are really appreciated. I don't own casualty or any of the characters (apart from Jess she is my creation). Sorry for the long gap, I have my GCSE science coming up soon and have been revising for that most of the time so had no time to update!

Chapter 24

Zoe.

The weekend went well, Jess and Ella got on so well and Ella fitted in with us in everyway possible way. It was great to see her so happy.

Monday.

Monday. Lou's funeral. I was dreading this day from the moment I had heard she had died. I had got Jess a new dress and Ash had found a suit, but I had nothing I could wear. I didn't want to wear the same dress I had worn for my aunt Liz's funeral and didn't have another black dress.

"What am I going to wear?" I sighed, sitting in front of my wardrobe in dismay. My entire wardrobe was scattered across the floor and the room was a tip.

"Zoe, you've had weeks to plan for this. You've done everything from the ceremony to the letters of notice. Why didn't you think about what you were wearing, isn't that always a girls first priority?" Ash said.

"I forgot. I've been so busy, with Jess, the funeral. I didn't think about myself." I replied.

"Why don't you give Tess and Sam a call? They could come round and help you find something couldn't they? They are your best friends after all." He suggested.

"Yes, pass me my phone will you?" I exclaimed pointing to the cluttered dressing table.

"Here. Now I'll get Jess ready."

"Thank you so much. I'll make it up to you tonight." I said with a glint in my eye.

"Sounds like a great offer." I said retreating back down the stairs to get Jess.

I quickly text Tess and Sam. They weren't working today which they had organized on purpose so that they could be there if I needed them to be. I don't know what I would have done with out them.

Tess arrived almost as soon as I had sent the text, she lived just round the corner, Sam arrived shortly after with Tom who went off with Ash to help do something or other. Jess came and sat in my room with Tess platting her long brown hair and putting some moisturizer on her telling her it was make up. Jess was having a great time. Sam had brought over a few of her dresses which I was trying on with no success.

"None of these fit me. You're so tiny Sam, how do you stay so thin?" I moaned.

"You're not fat Zoe, here try this." She said passing me a black dress that looked larger than the last one.

I put it on and luckily it fitted.

"Thanks, that's great." I said hugging her and Tess.

"No problem. Do you mind if me and Tom come with you?" Sam asked.

"Don't feel as if you have to, only come if you really want to." I said, secretly hoping they would come.

"Honestly, we want to." Sam smiled.

"Me too." Tess said, as she tied the final band in Jess's platted hair.

"Really, thanks guys." I said smiling at them. "Wow Jess, your hair looks great." I said as she jumped off Tess's lap and came running up to me.

"Zoe, are you ready yet? We need to get going." Ash called up the stairs.

"Coming." I called and grabbed a bag and Jess's hand.

Sam and Tess grabbed their stuff and we all went down the stairs.

We met Ash and Tom outside the house and I locked up.

Outside there was a car waiting for us. The hearse.

Ash grabbed my hand as Sam took Jess towards the car.

"It will be alright. Trust me. We will get through this." He whispered into my ear, kissing me on the cheek.

I just nodded.

The service was lovely and afterwards everyone came back to Ash's and mine. Our house was large and we all fitted in easily. Ella showed up midway and I felt sorry for her as she was the victim of my parents questions. They wanted to know all about my life and everyone who was in it and it annoyed me so much.

It was nearly 6 : 30 by the time most people had left and Ella had taken Jess to the park for a play whilst Ash and I cleared up. My parents were staying the night so had gone to set their room up and make the bed, which in the nightmare of clothing, I had not managed, much to their disappointment. I made Jess a buffet tea with whatever was left over from the food that the caterers had supplied and Ash called Ella to bring Jess back.

After Jess had had her tea Ash and I took her up for a bath.

"Do you mind if Ella stays tonight?" Ash asked me as I was washing Jess' hair.

"Of course I don't. She is welcome whenever. You don't have to ask me." I replied.

"Thanks Zoe."

"Don't thank me. She's your daughter Ash, part of our family. Just like Jess is my niece."

"I love you so much, you know!" he said lifting some bubbles out of the bath and putting them on my head.

"Hey! I love you too!" I said as I caught him unaware and used the shower hose to soak him.

"Zoe!" he exclaimed as Jess joined in and soon we were all soaked and the bath was empty of bubbles.

We sat laughing for a few minutes.

"Right, time for bed misses!" I said grabbing a towel off the rack and lifting jess out of the bath.

"Ok," Jess said, exhausted after the days events.

I was snuggling her down under her covers after throwing on some dry clothes and putting Jess in her pyjamas, ready to read a story.

"Zoe," Jess said.

"Yes baby, what is it?"

"I miss mummy." She whispered.

I didn't know what to say. This was the first time I had heard her admit this and I was shocked.

"We all do darling, I know its hard, but you will always have her in you heart, and she will always love you." I said.

"Ella calls Ash dad, is he my dad and are you my new mum?" she asked.

"Ash is Ella's dad, that's why she calls him that. As for me and Ash, no we are not your mummy and daddy but we are very similar to them, we love you and care for you just like you were are little girl but we will never be your real mummy and daddy." I explained.

"But I can't see my mummy anymore and daddy doesn't want me." She said.

"Of course your daddy wants you, he just decided that you would be better off with Ash and I to love and care for you."

"Then why did he say that he didn't want anything more to do with me?" she asked me.

"When did he say that?"

"When he came the other day and you were shouting at each other by the door."

"He loves you very much darling, but he has made some bad choices and that was one of them."

"Can I go and see mummy?"

"You can see where she is buried, you will always be able to see her there sweetheart."

"But can I go and visit her in heaven?"

"No sweetie, that's a place where you go when your time here is over." I explained, not sure what to say having never been a religious person myself.

"But I want to see her."

"Sorry Jess, you cant. But if you ever need a hug or a cuddle from your mum then come to me and I'll give you one instead."

"So you are like my mummy."

"Yes, I am like her. But I will never be her."

"Ok." She answered before closing her eyes and yawning.

"Night, night Jess, love you!" I whispered in her ear.

"Love you too, mummy Zoe." And she fell asleep.

Ok, here you are. Let me know what you think by leaving a review! I will update ASAP but I am making no promises that it will be soon!