Hollyoaks - Mercedes McQueen and Joe Roscoe will hit the rocks shortly before their stillbirth tragedy.

Heavily-pregnant Mercedes confides in her half-brother John Paul about how she hasn't felt her baby move since the previous day.

Doctors will then confirm that Mercedes's baby boy has died and she has to prepare to be induced to give birth.

However, prior to receiving the tragic news, Mercedes's relationship with Joe will run into trouble when he learns that she has been unfaithful to him already.

Mercedes faces temptation from her former flame Lockie Campbell. She kisses Lockie before running back to Joe after Lockie offends her.

When a furious Lockie tells Joe what they got up to, Mercedes attempts to cover her tracks by saying that she spent the day with John Paul but a hurt Joe refuses to forgive her, insisting that they are over.

Mercedes is quick to retaliate by lying to Joe that he isn't actually the father of her baby after all, but when she later confides in John Paul about her pregnancy fears, it's clear that she needs Joe more than ever.

As Mercedes reels in the aftermath of the devastating news that her baby has died, she realises that she needs Joe's support and plans to reassure him that he is her son's father.

However, after Mercedes goes to find Joe, she is devastated to find out that he decided to leave the village in the wake of their earlier argument. 

After walking through the maternity ward, Mercedes admits to the doctor that she can't do this alone and Nana, Theresa and John Paul are left to comfort her when she breaks down in their arms.

Mercedes will then face the most difficult time of her life as she says a final goodbye to her son in hospital and decides to name him Gabriel.

As her family all rally around to support her, will Joe return to support a grief-stricken Mercedes, or will the tragedy serve to tear them further apart?

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