Max's View

I gripped Esmie's hand tightly with my own as she snored gently on the hospital bed. I wiped a stray tear from my cheek at my own anger with myself for not being there when she woke up. I let my eyes skitter over the patch of hair that was slowly growing back over her healed stitches and flinched at just how big it was. Her hair was always so beautiful, truly reflective of her. I hated myself for not realising what she was having to go through. It was okay now though, Amy was locked up for at least 3 years and Izzi had a whole network of support behind her, me, the lads and an entire fanbase.

Sadly, Michelle and I had split due to the strain this had put on us, until I was sure Esmie would be okay I couldn't focus on anything else, I didn't blame Michelle for leaving when I told her to and not looking back, thousands would have done the same. Three months of me pretty much living in the hospital and refusing to dedicate myself to anything else affected a lot of my relationships with the lads and fans included. Which is why it frustrated me so much to have missed her waking up.

Then again, I'm glad Nathan was the one to be there too, he'd grown very fond of her while she'd been asleep, everyone had really but there seemed to be something special between them two.

She suddenly stirred like she'd fallen in her dream and her body had shook her awake.

"Max?"

"Hey kid, I'm here" I smiled back at her.

"Where is Nath?"

"He's just in the waiting room"

"Can you get him? I need to talk to him"

"Sure, I'll wait outside if you need me just shout"

"Okay" She nodded.

I slowly left my seat by her bed and called Nathan in, he jumped at the loudness of my voice through the otherwise empty waiting room. He gave me a nervous smile and went in to Izzi's room, clicking the door shut behind him.

I hid to the left of the little window so I could watch them and make sure nothing would happen to upset her. They spoke for a good half hour, Izzi's face scrunching as she tried to make sense of what was real and what she's dreamt. As far as I knew, they had actually kissed in the Ambulance on the way to the hospital which was probably where she got the whole idea of them being together from. I knew Nathan always had a small crush on her but was with Amy and too scared to pursue who he really wanted and break up with her. Turns out he was just as scared of Amy as Esmie was sometimes.

I was about to grab a coffee from the nearby machine when the atmosphere seemed to change in her room, Nath leant down and gently kissed her lips, for the first time in three months I saw her whole body relax and a smile grow across her mouth. As happy as I was for her, for both of them I didn't think them diving in head first the way they were was such a good idea.

"Okay Nath, I think that's enough now." I mumbled, clearing my throat as I entered the room.

"Sorry" He stammered, bumbling out of the room clumsily.

"That's going to take some getting used to" I laughed.

"I've had 3 months to adapt to the idea to be fair" Esmie grinned back.

"I still find that so odd" I admitted.

"I know. I guess it's not the most normal of circumstances but hey, if it works and we're both happy, why not?"

"You're right"  I shrugged, sitting beside her and taking her hand.

"Do you remember that nursery rhyme you used to do when our parents were arguing?"

"Of course" I grinned, sitting in the space she'd made to sit beside her. I turned her palm up and traced it in a circle; "Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear, one step, two step, tickle you under there" I teased, gently tickling under her chin.

She laughed and let her head tilt back. "I love you Max"

"Love you too, Izz"

Feedback please :) I might post another part at somepoint if people want it x