A/N I know that Gateways didn't go women only until 1967 but it was mainly a lesbian club for many years before that so I took dramatic licence and moved the policy forward a few years.

1963

Patsy looked at Delia, "Deels before, you know, you said you wanted to dance with me, properly, a foxtrot or even a tango, that sort of thing. You also said that there must be somewhere we could do it?"

"Well, did I? I'd really like that, the space here is a bit limited though..." Delia's Welsh accent always got Patsy.

Delia still hadn't recovered her memory. She had simply fallen in love with Patsy again. Her mam had tried to involve her with local boys in Pembroke but she had always understood that Patsy had been significant to her before so she had invited her down to Pembroke several times and eventually had announced to her mam that she was moving back to London. Delia started nursing training again. At first Delia had had to stay in the Nurses Home but after a while Patsy had found them a flat and they had moved in together.

"Well I've found out about this place in Chelsea, its called Gateways, it's a private club, women only..." Patsy was almost out of breath by the time she finished.

"Women only? What good is that? Most women want men around."

"But for women like us it is perfect, don't you see?"

"Ohh! There are other women like us then? I thought we were unique, freaks even..."

Patsy smiled, "Seems not. Anyway I've enquired regarding membership. And, I've joined. Fancy giving it a try?"

Delia's face lit up like a lantern. "Yes!" her head nodded vigorously.

The next time they had the same day off was a Wednesday. So they planned to spend Tuesday evening at the club.

Patsy had had some difficulty as Trixie had wanted her to go to a local dance, but she had managed to get out of it without raising Trixie's suspicions, or so she thought.

"Barbs, what do you suppose Patsy is doing tonight instead of being with us?" Trixie asked when she and Barbara were sat down between dances, Barbara with a Tizer, Trixie with an orange juice.

"I don't know but whatever it is she's excited about it. That girl's been practicaly walking on air all day."

Trixie made a slightly sour face as she sipped her orange, "Will I ever get used to having this without vodka! Do you suppose she's got some secret fellow tucked away somewhere?"

"Have you ever seen her with one? She never seems that interested..."

"Oh come on darling! We're all interested!" Trixie was glancing around the room as she said this.

Meanwhile Patsy and Delia were boarding a bus outside Sloane Square tube station.

"Two to Bartram Street please, oh and could you let us know when we get there?" Patsy asked the conductor. He gave Patsy the tickets and said he would let them know when the stop approached.

A little while later: "Bartram Street." said the conductor as he rang the bell.

Patsy and Delia got off and walked a little way.

"Now if I remember correctly the door is down this road on the left."

"Oh been here before then..." Delia teased.

"When I joined! Not been here properly with a girl though."

"Glad to hear it!"

Patsy found the green door and knocked. It opened onto a staircase leading down. When they got to the bottom of the stairs Patsy showed her membership card to a woman with very short hair dressed in a pair of corduroy trousers and a plain cotton top. Delia was signed in as Patsy's guest and they passed through a set of double doors.

Inside was a bar, tables, and seating. Music was playing but it wasn't immediately obvious where from.

Patsy got them gin and tonics while Delia found somewhere to sit. It was still quite early so the place was a long way from full.

The opening bars of 'Peggy Sue' played but instead of Buddy Holly's voice was a female singer.

"There's a dance floor round there, so drink up." said Patsy when she returned with the drinks.

"That isn't Buddy Holly."

At the next table was a single women dressed in trousers and a man's shirt. She turned to Delia, "That's my Anne's voice, I'm Peggy!"

Peggy reached over to shake hands with Delia and Patsy.

"Oh, a live band?" asked Delia

"Yes, is it your first time here?" Peggy asked them.

"Yes, it is." answered Patsy.

"Well you're in for a treat, Dusty's turned up. She's going to sing on her own, apparently the rumours of a solo single are true!"

"Dusty? You don't mean Dusty Springfield?" Delia was excited, she loved the Springfields.

"I certainly do!" replied Anne.

Just then Peggy Sue finished and there was a short break during which another woman joined them who was introduced as Anne.

Anne and Peggy kissed.

"Dusty's going to do a number, some new song she wants to try out, says it is called 'I Only Want to be with You.' Interesting title for her in a room full of dykes!" Anne laughed at her own joke.

The opening bars of "I Only Want to be with You!" sounded, Delia glanced at Patsy, Patsy nodded and they got up leaving their drinks on the table. They headed for the dance floor.

Meanwhile in Poplar.

Barbara and Trixie were sitting waiting to be asked to dance by some man, any man, again.

"Well I hope Patsy's having better luck than we are!" Trixie practically yelled at Barbara.

"I wonder where she is..." Just then a man walked over to them so they stopped talking.

A few hours later in Chelsea.

The song had finished and somehow Dalia had ended up with her hands on Patsy's waist. Delia pulled Patsy in for a kiss.

"Well, a couple of baby dykes have found their way here!" The comment was from a woman in her mid-forties dressed in a man's suit, her hair up under a bowler hat.

"Sorry?" said Patsy.

Anne had heard the commotion and rushed over.

"Don't mind Jan, she thinks everyone should be butch or femme. And only butches should go out with femmes and vice versa."

"Butches? Femmes? Whatever do you mean?"asked Delia.