Changed Your Life...Well Nearly

He pulled the duvet back a little, just enough to be able to see slightly over the top of it. The light was blinding in comparison to the darkness that was part of the land of sleep. Reaching his hand out sleepily, what he had already guessed was confirmed. Zoe was not next to him, not that he was surprised. She spent a lot of time awake now a days instead of sleeping, Max continually put this down to stress, especially as she was back in charge of the ED whilst Connie was suspended with the police investigation.

Max rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and got out of bed, he looked at the alarm clock which read 6:30am, another early morning where he wondered if Zoe was down stairs or already at work. He made his way downstairs to find it completely in darkness, he turned on the light and saw a note left on the table, he picked up the note and read
"I didn't want to wake you, but I had to make an early start and I've already left for work, see you when you get here love you, love Zoe xx"

He moved around their new flat with ease as he made himself a slice of toast and a cup of coffee. They'd only been living together a couple of weeks, apart from Zoe's stress levels and the lack of time together, everything was blissful. As he sat at the breakfast bar eating as he watched people walking about outside through the massive glass windows, he couldn't help but hope that Connie got back to work soon so that he could have a proper discussion with Zoe. Ever since the ball he had been desperate to discuss what else she'd done whilst under the influence of alcohol, the thing that he had kept to himself.

He walked over to the sink and washed up his cup and plate, he slipped his coat on and headed outside. He would be at work early but he wanted to check on Zoe and see how she was doing because he was worried about her, her stress levels were hitting the roof and it didn't help that Guy Self was adding to that pressure, he was pretty sure Guy has got it in for Zoe since the ball and this was payback. He reached the entrance of the ED and stepped inside, it was quiet which was good. Zoe wouldn't be stressed yet. He headed to her office and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Came his partner's voice from the other side of the door. Immediately he stepped inside, a mug of her favourite coffee in his hand and a bar of chocolate to keep her sugar levels up. "You don't need to knock Max if the blinds are up." She reminded him as she stood up from her desk and walked around to him. Taking the goods from him she placed them down on her desk. "You can definitely come again if you're going to bring me stuff." She told him before she kissed him.
"We need to talk Zo." Max told her as she returned to her chair as her phone pinged at her to alert her to yet another email coming through.
"That sounds ominous. What do you want to talk about?" Zoe asked.
Max was about to answer when her Blackberry rung "I'm sorry Max it's Guy and I really got to take this call, can we have this chat later, maybe lunchtime?"
"Sure I will catch you later." Max spoke but Zoe didn't hear him because she was deep in conversation with Guy. He made his way to his cupboard and he couldn't help but think of all the fun times him and Zoe had here, he was hoping they be able to get back to them times pretty soon but I wasn't looking good. Connie has been charged with Alfred murder and even some of the staff were beginning to think she was guilty.

The day seemed to be going quickly, at some point the ED had got busy meaning that all hands were needed. With only a couple of hours until the end of his shift, he decided that maybe it was time for a break. As he walked through the ED he spotted Zoe talking to Dylan at the nurses' station.
"Have you had a break yet Zo?" He asked, she looked exhausted, the bags around her eyes were becoming too dark for even make up to conceal.
"No, I don't have time for a break." Zoe insisted.
"Go Zoe, the ED will not fall apart if you take a half an hour break." Dylan pointed out bluntly.
"Okay." Zoe turned back to Max and took his hand, letting him lead her back towards his cupboard where there was no work for Zoe to stress over.

Max opened the door and they both stepped inside, Max locking the door after him.
"I see your interior designer hasn't done much to the place since I was last here" Zoe joked.
She made her way to chair and literally collapsed on it, Max moved to the table and sat on the edge of it and pulled Zoe's chair closer to him, and he took both of her hands and put them in his to warm them up.
"That feels so good, I think this is the first time I've sat down since this morning I've never felt so old." Zoe moaned.
"Zoe you're not old, you're the most beautiful brightest woman I know and that the reason I love you" he leaned in and kissed her.
"You best stop kissing me, you know what happened last time we were here, and I just don't have the time or the energy for anything at the moment."
"Zoe listen to me, you are doing an amazing job while Connie is away, and she be back any day now" He told her.
"Come on Max do you really believe that? They've charged her with his murder, it's going to take a miracle for the charges to be dropped against her."

"Miracles do happen, how do you think I got to be with someone like you?"
"Through constantly wearing me down."
"Like I say, a miracle. Stand up a minute." Max told her and then watched as she sleepily stood up. Max took her chair and for a moment she glared at him until he gently pulled her back down. She settled herself on top of him with her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I love you Max." Zoe spoke, yawning quietly as she did.
"I love you too." He replied. "I'm worried about you baby, you're so stressed."
"I'm okay." Zoe insisted.
"Who are you trying to convince, me or yourself?"
"I've taken tomorrow off to do paperwork in bed. Anyway Max, what was it that you wanted to talk about?"
"Do you remember the ball?" Max asked gently.
"We've already established that I don't, I'm certainly paying for it now with Guy though." She sighed.
"So you don't remember what else happened?" He pushed slightly.
"Oh god, there's more?"

"Yes there's more, I didn't want to say anything to you, I was hoping you would remember" he told her.
"I think I've blocked most of that night from my memory, was it good or bad what I did or say?" Zoe asked him
"Well it depends on your point, for me I think it's good, but might think it's bad if I tell you."
"Oh god what did I say?" Zoe asked.
"Well you asked me to marry you Zo" he informed her.
For a moment Zoe looked dumbfounded he could see her processing it in her mind, she looked at him and he knew she remembered. It was moment before either of them said anything and the quiet was killing him.
"Zoe don't freak out, you were drunk it doesn't matter if you didn't mean it" he said quietly but secretly he knew that he would be gutted if Zoe didn't mean it because he wanted nothing more than for Zoe be his wife. Zoe was about to answer when a knock came on the door, it was Robyn
"Max is Zoe in there, we need her!" Robyn spoke. Zoe got up from Max's knee and headed to the door, excellent timing Robyn he thought.

Hi, this is the first chapter of a joint fic with my friend Michaela ( Michaela_jayne1) we wrote alternate bits. There will be another chapter at some point, enjoy and please leave a review.

Beth x