***A/N: This is my first CTM fanfic. Be kind and review!***

Chapter 1

"Really, are you sure?"

"Yes, I saw her with my own eyes. She walked right in, normal clothes and everything."

"She must be feeling better, but where is her habit?"

"Well," said Mrs Williams, the nosiest woman in all of Poplar, "I heard she left the order."

"Why would she do that? She always seemed so steady in her faith." Mrs Honey, a young first-time mum had always looked up to Sister Bernadette.

"Come on, Molly, I know your young but why do you think? She disappears for months on end then returns without her habit. I wouldn't be surprised if the order kicked her out, if you know what I mean?"

"No, surely not," Molly said, disbelievingly. "Sister Bernadette wouldn't do something like that."

"You're right," Mrs Mathers, the other side of the room piped up. "I saw her just before she left, she was so sick and pale."

"So, some women get ill, especially with their first," Mrs Williams but in.

"And," Mrs Mathers continued, ignoring her snide comment, "She was very thin. TB. I heard the nurses talking about it. I don't know why she gave up her habit, but I know it's not for the reason you think." Mrs Williams, snorted, clearly not believing her, or just wilfully not.

Patrick Turner stood by the door, he didn't usually listen to the gossip the mothers in the maternity home share, he wasn't ever interested. However, this particular piece of gossip was holding his attention like nothing did.

She was back, he couldn't believe it. He wanted nothing more than to storm in that room, unsure if he wanted to interrogate the women for more information or yell at them for the aspersions they were casting on the poor young woman who had recently filled his every waking (and sleeping) moment. It took all his willpower to stop himself from dropping everything, storming over to Nonnatus House and sweeping her in his arms. He knew that would not go down well, especially with the Sisters.

She was back. Why didn't she tell him? Did she not receive his letters? Or did she receive them and not feel the same? Questions swirled around his brain, none were accompanied with an answer and he knew the only person who could answer them was currently hiding away surrounded by a bunch of nuns.

Sister Julienne stood in the doorway of Sister Bernadette's, now Shelagh, room. Her eyes were trained on the young woman lying in the bed. It was so good to have her home, there was a time when she worried she would ever see her again, especially after their talk at the sanatorium. When Shelagh told her, she would go to Chichester, Sister Julienne worried that she would never come back, especially when she decided to renounce her vows. Now, she was home, sleeping soundly in her bed. The TB had taken the glow from her cheeks and she was a lot thinner than her usual petite frame. Sister Monica Joan, she knew, would rectify that.

Sister Julienne still had question, questions on her former Sister could answer, yet a suspicion had been growing in the back of her mind since Shelagh had been admitted to St. Anne's. Nothing had been confirmed to her, but the look on Dr Turners face had been hard to ignore while she had been away, Sister Julienne originally thought it was because he missed her like all the others. However, as the weeks passed she could see it was more than that. She had a suspicion the doctor missed the little nun just as much as she did. When she saw the letters, she knew the suspicion wasn't just that of an overprotective mother. For, in all intents and purposes, she was Shelagh's mother. She would never have read the letters but seeing them and seeing the return address had settled something in Sister Julienne's mind.

The only questions that remained were, how does he really feel, and does Shelagh feel the same? If her response to Sister Julienne's suggestion Dr Turner look in on her every few weeks or so, to see how she was recovering, was any indication; the doctor was defiantly one of the reason Sister Bernadette had left them and Shelagh had returned. She also had a feeling it was one of the reason why she had been so withdrawn the last few months before her illness.

Sister Julienne shook her head, there was no point trying to work it out now, for now her daughter had returned and only God knew where she would go next. Yet, there was a pain in her chest at the thought of the local GP waltzing in and stealing this precious girl away. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, she thought. Dr Turner was a fine man, honourable, caring and gentle. She couldn't want anything more for her Shelagh, she would need to find out more before she had any more of those thoughts. Maybe she could arrange for an accidental meeting of the two of them, after all it wouldn't be long until her finds out she's here. The gossip in Poplar was fast and Sister Julienne was certain Dr Turner would know before the weeks out.

Patrick was sitting in his office, his eyes unfocused on the piece of paper before him. It had been 2 days since he overheard the conversation in the maternity ward and he still didn't know what to do. He was almost wishing for an epidemic, or for something to happened, just so he had an excuse to go over there.

He couldn't just pop in, people would wonder why. The only time her every went to the nun's and nurses home was when he needed to discuss something work related, he couldn't change that now without drawing suspicion. Patrick was still trying to formulate a plan when there was a knock on the door.

"Enter." Nurse Franklin walked in her blond hair bobbing around her head.

"Sorry to bother you, Doctor."

"That's ok, Nurse Franklin, how can I help?"

"Actually, I have a message from Sister Julienne." Patrick sat up a little straighter, focusing all his attention on the blond nurse before him. "She has said that, if you needed too, you can use our autoclave when you finish here. She wasn't sure if your one had been fixed yet." He didn't need to use it, the one at the surgery had been fixed for a few days now, yet he couldn't pass up the opportunity of a legitimate excuse to go to Nonnatus House.

"Thank you, Nurse Franklin. I think I might take her up on that. I'll pop over this evening after my rounds."

"Splendid, I'll let her know." There was something telling in the smile she shot the doctor, maybe he wasn't as casual as he thought when he replied.

It took all of Patrick's concentration to get through the rest of the day. The thought of seeing her for the first time since he diagnosed her constantly crept into his mind, distracting him form the patients he was attending. At the end of the day, he nearly ran to his car desperate to get to Nonnatus before she went to bed. He knew she would still be quite weak and was terrified if he was any later he would miss her.

Patrick slammed the door shut and was about to start the engine when movement caught his eye. Timothy was sat in the passenger seat, grinning at him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. Timothy was supposed to be at Jack Smith's for the evening.

"Jack isn't feeling well, Mrs Smith didn't want me to catch anything, so she dropped me off here," he replied, shrugging off any other comment Patrick might have made. "Are we going home?"

"No," Patrick replied slowly, "I need to go to Nonnatus for a bit. Would you like me to drop you home first?" Part of him wished he would say no, it would mean getting there a lot quicker. Yet Patrick knew if Timothy was with him it would be harder to see Sister Bernadette alone.

"I'll come, the nun's always have cake," the young boy replied, smiling at the thought. Patrick drove, probably faster than he would normally, if Timothy noticed, he didn't say anything. Before her knew it, they were parked in front of Nonnatus House. He wasn't sure if he was ready for this, yet he knew he would regret it if he didn't at least try. Sister Julienne answered the door and smiled at him. Was it his imagination, or was that smile a little forced?

"Good evening, Doctor. And Timothy," she added as she caught sight of the boy.

"Good evening, Sister. Nurse Franklin said that I would be able to use your autoclave this evening. My instruments need washing, and Timothy couldn't pass up the opportunity of cake."

"Of course, there might be some cake left in the kitchen Timothy. Do you know the way?"

"Yes," Timothy piped and ran to the direction of the kitchen. Sister Julienne stood back to allow Patrick to enter and shut the door behind him.

"If you want to go on through Doctor, I'm sure someone will be there who can help you." Sister Julienne caught his eye before he moved on, seemingly searching for something. Patrick felt like a young boy being questioned by his sweetheart's mother. Whatever she was looking for, she must have found it as, with a hand to his arm, she walked away without another word.

Patrick's heartbeat increased, bouncing against his chest as he stepped toward the clinical room. When he reached the door, he couldn't move. Standing before him, dressed in a simple blue dress coming just below her knees and light green cardigan was Sister Bernadette. He knew it was her, even without her face turned to him, no one else in Nonnatus had the elegance she had. Even when doing an everyday chore like cleaning medical instruments.

Her movements stilled, and he knew she was aware of his presence. Still he didn't say anything, he didn't know if his voice would even work at that moment. Slowly, she turned, eyes cast down as if she was putting of meeting his. When they did his breath left him in a rush. If he thought her beautiful in her habit, it was nothing compare to what he thought of her without it. There was no other way to say it; Sister Bernadette was drop dead gorgeous.