Hey guys! So sorry for the wait again! I've had my GCSE exams but am all done now so should update more frequently! I'm not sure that the timeline works but I'm just going to go with it! Here! Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 27

Zoe.

The weeks flew by, I found Sharice a school to go to, Ella had her boyfriend round and moved all her things in properly, Jess was getting on really well and was enjoying having another sister to play with, Ash and I had booked to go away for a long weekend in a few weeks and my parents had agreed to babysit for us. They were coming over again this evening to meet Sharice and make the final arrangements.

Ash and I had now been together for 6 months but it felt a lot longer. My parents had finally accepted that Ash was going to be around for the long term and were starting to finally be nice to him.

Linda had sent me an email a week ago saying she was coming back to Holby for a weekend and wanted to stay with me. She was arriving that afternoon.

With Ella, Sharice and Jess all living at our house there was only one spare room now compared to the 3 I had the last time she had visited. It reminded me of how much my life had changed over the last 6 months since she left. Mostly for the best but not all.

I had got together with Ash, the Lou died and Jess came to live full time with us. Then Ella joined our family, the Sharice. My life was so different now. I spent my evenings watching movies at home not in a club drinking, I had stopped smoking, reduced the amount I drank and was working normal hours that could fit around school pickups and drop offs. I had changed. I was healthier, happier and most importantly was enjoying my life.

I loved Ash, had a fantastic family, and work was good to, my friends were great, especially Tess and Sam.

I realised that I was happy. Finally. And this made me happier.

"Hey, Zoe!" My thoughts interrupted I turned to see who had said my name.

"Linda!" I exclaimed as I saw who was standing in my office doorway. "You're not supposed to be here until I finish my shift!"

"I got an early train! How are you!"

"I'm great! What about you! From our conversations on the phone you sounded happier, what's been going on?"

"I am, a lot has changed since you left!" I smiled giving her a hug.

"Zoe, your needed in cubicles." Rita called from the door.

"Coming Rita," I called, "I've got to go, you can stay in here or go to the staff room or café, whatever, I'll be back asap!" I picked up my stethoscope and rushed out to cubicles.

My shift ended up going on for an extra half an hour and Ash had to rush off to pick the kids up from school. Linda and I headed off home after I handed over to the night shift.

"So Zoe, tell me what's been happening." Linda said as we got into my car.

"Well, since you left, my sister dies and Jess came to live with me, Ash and I got together and his daughter Ella now lives with us as does Sharice, a girl I was going to adopt years ago." I explained.

"Wow, so you've been busy." She laughed.

"Yeah, I've got my own little family now." I smiled.

"Its great to see you so happy, Zo."

"Thanks, so what have you been up to?"

"Well, the kids stayed with me for 4 months until I saw Denise fit to have them back, she went to rehab and she's done really well, no relapses yet so I decided it was a good time for a weekend away."

"Wow that's great, how about you, have you met someone?"

"No, not really, I have a great friend up there but nothing more."

"Ah! The friend zone! Always a bad place to be put!"

"Tell me! But no, to be honest I'd rather have him as a friend than not have him at all so…"

"Ok, well here we are, you can meet the girls now!"

Walking up to the house I could hear laughing and screaming coming from inside.

"Sounds like fun in there!" Linda exclaimed.

"Definitely!"

"Hello!" I called out as I entered.

"In the kitchen Zo!" Ash replied.

"Zo? That's my nickname for you!" Linda smiled.

"Oh sush you!" I laughed as we entered the kitchen.

I was immediately grabbed by Jess and dragged into the playroom leaving Linda and Ash in the kitchen together.

In the playroom I discovered the girls had built a blanket fortress and were hiding in it watching a movie together.

"Hi girls, my friend Linda just arrived, can you come say hi at some point, ill see you for dinner soon!" I laughed.

Going back into the kitchen I found Linda and Ash sitting at the breakfast bar with a glass of wine each.

"Good to see you getting on!" I smiled and gave Ash a kiss, sitting next to Linda Ash gave me a glass of my own.

"Yeah, Ash was just telling me about how you and him got together, I mean I knew your side of the story but Lou and Jess showing up like that and him with no clothes! Zoe, I cant believe that you hadn't told me!"

"Well, we haven't talked on the phone for ages! We are in dire need of this catch up!"

So we just talked and talked for hours, Ash joined in too but wanted us to have our girl time so gave us a wide berth. I ordered pizza for dinner, neither Ash nor I could be bothered to cook and Ella was busy watching a movie with the girls so it was just easier.

By the time Linda and I had stopped talking it was 11 and I was so tired after being up since 5 that morning. I showed her, her room and left her to it. Jess and Sharice were already asleep and Ella was just in her room talking to her boyfriend, Jake, on the phone.

Ash and I stayed up chatting for a bit then fell asleep cuddled up in bed. It had been a great but exhausting day.

Sorry, not much happened, did you like Linda coming back? Next chapter up soon! R&R!