Zoe regarded thoroughly Martin's reflective countenance, wanting to try and bring back some of that positive energy that he had.
"How's..." she searched her head for the name of Martin's sister, "Sophie?" She asked, convinced she got it right.
"She's good." He replied, which was more of a guess than a definite answer, he truthfully had no idea how Sophie was.
"And.. didn't she just have a baby?"
"Yep." He replied, not interested by this topic, she was really trying to get to him.
"W-what's your best memory of Martha?"
"What are you trying to get at?" Asked Martin, narrowing his eyes at her.
"You." She Replied,
"Well it's not working very well is it?" He told her, making eye contact and laughing slightly. "I'm okay, Zoë."
She rubbed his shoulder, "I'm worried about you."
"I'm worried about you too, so we're even." He responded before taking her hand slightly and gently caressing it before had to change gear.
"So... I declined the job offer in America." She announced to him, however it gained a large response from everyone who had been eavesdropping.
"What?!" Martin ejaculated, almost losing control of the van.
"Yeah... got another one in Swansea... as a second music teacher in a school called Rustrike High."
Martin's mouth dropped completely as the students in the back quaked with excitement.
"I can't believe this." He exclaimed,
"We're gonna be partners in crime!" Giggled Zoë, making Martin almost want to cry with this unbelievable sensation of happiness. I've got a reason to live! I've got a reason to keep going! He nearly wanted to scream out his thoughts. A future swirled before his eyes.. a future with her and with a baby. A future with a family.. and for some odd reason, the words 'in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer,' seemed to ring in his ear.. thinking of what they, in only two weeks, had been through. And all of a sudden he wanted to marry her, he wanted to tell her how he loved her and he wanted to spend the rest of his life her.

He just carried on driving, and at the next red traffic light, he leaned over and wrapped his arms around Zoe's torso, briefly kissing her cheek as she smiled and rubbed his back before he turned back and carried on driving, feeling so urgently in love with her. He felt such a need for her, he just wanted to keep touching her, to keep holding her hand always. He knew that it must have been a sacrifice, giving up a potentially life-changing career in Manhattan -or wherever it was- but to take a mid-pay, little job like this.. it meant a lot to him.
"Did Bronagh offer it to you?" He asked her,
"She did, Yeah." Zoë Replied, feeling exactly the same way as Martin.
"I h-haven't spoken to her in a while." He soliloquised, but feeling ever distracted by Zoe.
"I keep in contact with her." She Replied,
"Really?" He asked her, genuinely surprised.
"Well she hardly wanted to call you daily after snogging you." Laughed Zoe.
"Are you sure you haven't taken my job instead of partnering with it?" Asked Martin,
"Well, Bronagh's retiring, so she won't have to deal with you anymore."
"Is she?" He responded, "oh well.. she was quite a character."
"She was indeed." Agreed Zoë as Martin pulled into the auditorium car park, feeling nervous himself and wondering how the kids who would actually be playing here felt.
When he found an accessible parking space, Martin turned off the engine and turned his seat around to look at the band who were starting to open the doors.
"Stop!" He ordered, "I wanna talk to you guys."
Everyone returned to their seats and looked over at him.
"Right.. when you go in there it's gonna be pretty scary- I'm not gonna lie." He began, "but you've got this guys, you've been doing this for half a decade. Just enjoy it." He encouraged.
"You got dis!" Zoë exclaimed, making the young stars laugh.
"Come on let's go!" Said Martin, opening up the door and climbing out, and opening the boot to help carry in the instruments.
"I wasn't anxious before he said that." Whispered Ollie to Ryan.
"Yeah I'm shitting myself." Ryan responded, making Ollie laugh a little before patting his back and grabbing his guitar.
Zoe walked up beside Martin, rubbing his back,
"Are you seriously staying?" He asked her,
"Course I am." She told him, "couldn't just leave you."
"No. Promise me you didn't decline that job because of me." He replied,
"Nah, it's because of this little guy." She said, pointing at her stomach, "I wanted my babe to have a daddy."
Martin wrapped his arm around her neck and pulled her closer, kissing her forehead, and whispering, "I love you."
Zoe looked into his eyes, knowing he meant it, and murmured back, "I love you too."

They entered the arena, security guards were patrolling around, and were shown the stage.
All seven of them were breath taken at the size of the arena.
"Oh my god..." breathed Cloda, shivering and taking a shaking step back, "oh god.."
Zoe put her hands on her shoulders, "it's alright." She soothed, "you're gonna be amazing."
"B-but I have to sing in front of those people... I- I-"
"And you're gonna wow them." Said Martin.
Natasha walked up from one of the dressing rooms,
"Hey guys!" She greeted, hugging each one of them.
"You guys excited?" She asked them all,
"Nervous." Said Ryan.
"Nervous, excited, same thing right?" She told them, "Come on guys let's get you all ready."
Martin caught a glimpse of their smiles returning as they followed Natasha into a dressing room.
Martin looked to Zoe and took her hand, "wanna get a coffee?"
"I'd like that." She responded, walking back outside with Martin, feeling safe.