The Surrogate

A positive start

Tuesday 22nd November. Switzerland.

The plane touches down in Zürich with Holly looking out of the window, feeling some trepidation.

This is it, this is what her recovery has been all about. Now is the time to start proving herself not only to Seb, Emilia and Imogen but also to herself.

With everyone belted in, the private jet makes its way along the runway, slowing down as it goes before taking a turn off towards a smaller terminal building used mainly for such planes as theirs.

All the while she stares out the window, watching other planes go by.

Seated opposite her and with Emilia held securely in his arms, Seb can see how she's feeling without her having to say a word and it's making him anxious too. Has he made the right decision in giving Holly this second chance? Was it the right idea to let her come and stay for a couple of weeks?

Then he thinks back to the chances she's given him; to the time when he'd first kissed her - he'd been fuelled by his lust for her and the champagne they'd both been drinking and subsequently thought he'd blown his chance to become a parent after she'd fled back to the UK. Then there's his request that they try to conceive naturally, although she'd kind of freaked out she'd then agreed to it and luckily she'd fallen pregnant. Because of this, he feels like he owes her this chance, even after what she did.

Sensing him looking at her, she goes from staring out the window and settles her gaze on him, smiling softly at the sight of Emilia in his arms. He'd been holding her quite snuggly whilst they'd landed and she hasn't made a single noise of complaint. It just goes to show how much she loves being in Seb's arms. Their bond really is something special to behold. Soon, Holly hopes to have formed her own bond with Emilia, one that's just as strong as the bond she shares with her father.

"You'll be fine," Seb says quietly to her now the noise from the planes engines has died down enough.

She nods and gives him a sincere, "thank you," he seems to be showing some faith in her already and that helps her confidence.

It's been a tense flight, having left Abu Dhabi with Seb's family onboard. The disapproving and suspicious looks shes been getting from his parents have made her feel like she's under a microscope. She hasn't said anything about it to them though, she can hardly blame them for not being happy to see her and they're naturally going to be protective of Seb and Emilia.

As the plane comes to a stop, everyone undoes their safety belts and there's quiet chatter between Fabian, Heike and Norbert that she doesn't understand.

"It's ok," Seb leans forward as much as he can, wanting to reassure her further, "they're driving home from here, it'll just be you, Emilia and me heading back to mine."

That's a relief and it makes her relax. She can handle being with Seb over the next couple of weeks but to be under what feels like the scrutiny of his family... she knows that she'd have found that incredibly difficult to deal with.

As everyone gets up from their seats and starts putting coats and jackets on, she holds her arms out, wanting to take Emilia as she knows Seb will want to help everyone with their luggage once they're in the reclaim hall but before she can say anything, Emilia is quickly taken out of his arms by Heike.

Luckily this is noticed by him and he shoots her an apologetic look but allows his mother to keep hold of the baby as she won't see Emilia for few weeks after today.

It takes another fifteen minutes or so before the door is opened, allowing them to disembark the plane and it feels like a relief as Heike, Norbert, Fabian and Stefanie go on ahead of her. At least now she won't feel like she's being watched every minute of the day.