It had been the first time that Irene Noakes had seen her son since their return from Ramsgate and the incessant questions had been almost like an aerial bombardment as they fell to his ears. The second he entered the door of his parent's house it had started. He really shouldn't have expected any different. He knew his mother would be fishing for details of their honeymoon and he was not far wrong.

"Did you have a lovely time?"

"Yes Mum". It was a rather marvellous time to be honest, Mum. Could have stayed there longer if we didn't have to come back to work.

"Was the weather nice?"

"Not really...It rained quite a bit." It had rained quite a lot. Buckets of it, to be frank and Ramsgate was not a pretty sight when it was throwing it down.

"How's Camilla?"

"She's wonderful, Mum". More than wonderful. She's perfection to be honest.

"How was the guest house? Big room?"

"It did us..." It wasn't big enough to swing a cat, but the bed was just fine, thanks.

"Is she happy?"

"I think so.." I hope so.

"Did you behave yourself?"

"MUM!"

His father had been sitting behind a newspaper dropping the occasional smirk at his son, and Peter was thankful they had been interrupted by his parent's neighbour knocking on the door as his mother's cross-questioning of him about the honeymoon was becoming a touch uncomfortable. He had left with an invitation fresh from his mother's lips and almost bolted back to Empson Street for some peace. Peter hadn't seen anyone on the four flights up but he didn't fancy his Landlady prying either so trotted up them at speed to his, no, their attics. Scraping the key in the lock, the radio was on and his wife was in the kitchen.

"Mum wants to take you out for tea" Peter announced, almost the moment he stepped over the threshold, hearing her pottering about and the kettle go on at his presence. That was the invitation that he had carried home and to be frank, he wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible so pleasantries almost went out of the window. He had not asked why his mother wanted Camilla's presence and to be truthful, didn't think to ask why either. He only knew his wife would be reticent.

"What?" Chummy asked. He was standing in the sitting room, she was in the kitchen and had only half heard him say something about 'tea' and 'going out' under the whistle of the kettle.

"Mum" he repeated arriving in the kitchen and leaning on the door frame. "She wants to take you out for tea…"

Chummy frowned and turned to him, patting her wet hands dry with a tea towel. "Us; surely?" She was confused that the invitation seemed to only extend to one. She would have expected Peter to be there too - he was her son after all. No-one ever invited her out for tea on her own, except Mater and that was something Chummy had no desire to think about at this moment in time.

"No…" Peter responded, unbuttoning his coat. "Just you. Dad's been told to take me to the pub to 'get rid of me' for the afternoon one day this weekend so you can go, but you can say 'no'. She won't hold it against you if you say you've got to work or something". He knew she wouldn't - of all things his mother was not like that.

Chummy was curious as to why Irene wanted her attention alone but it would be beyond impolite to refuse her new mother-in-law's request even if Peter had just handed her an easy excuse on a proverbial plate. She was hesitant as to why she had been singled out though. It was a bit odd if she was being honest, but then again she was far from used to being part of a family like this. Well, any family at all really, but she had to ask the question. "Why?" In truth Peter had no idea and had to offer his best guess.

"To get to know her daughter in law I suppose" Peter replied, walking out again and hanging up his coat on the back of the bedroom door. He could see she was disconcerted as he walked back to take a seat on the settee. She followed him and sat down beside him, curious. "She said Saturday is probably best" he continued. "She'll be rushing around after Church on Sunday otherwise but I think she just wants to spend some time with you". Peter shuffled in his seat, glad to take the weight off today. "What have you been up to all day then?" he asked putting an arm round her shoulders; glad of the rest. She wasn't back at work for a few days yet but he had been tramping the streets as usual. He could see she had been busy; that was too obvious. The attics were positively shining. If it was the one thing she was good at; it was cleaning. It was almost therapeutic. "There's surfaces over there I haven't seen for years!"

"Well, one does wonder if one got a tad carried away but we want to leave it nice for whoever moves in afterwards", she began, knowing she would feel guilty if they left the place a mess. "I went to see the married quarters too. Just the outside". Staring up at the outside of the building, up to the fourth floor where she knew they were going to be, a smile had crept onto her lips. Home.

"I spoke to the Inspector about that. It'll be ready in a couple of weeks apparently". Peter was looking forward to a fresh start, even though these attics had done him well these last few years; it was time for a change and now was a good a time as any.

"That's good" she replied, but he could see something in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, wondering if something had happened today that he was yet to know about. It had not passed him by that she would have time on her hands today to ruminate. She wasn't used to landladies who were rolling drunk by noon or that strange chap directly below who only ever seemed to go out at night. She wasn't used to time on her hands.

Chummy sighed. "Things have changed so much, haven't they?" she asked, so conscious of all these bonds Peter seemed to have around him. She didn't think to be envious - it was not in her nature - but it had not passed her by how close he was to his family and friends and had been for years.

"They have. But they've changed for the better surely?" Peter responded, slightly wary but asking the question all the same.

"Yes…yes of course" she replied hastily, knowing he was right underneath it all. He'd started to see behind that smile already but she had spent a lot of hours on her own today with him at work and the girls all away at Nonnatus too as they worked. She had no real friends otherwise away from work and him and whilst his landlady - sober it seemed - had popped her head in, that was about it. Maybe when they moved with all the other officer's wives around, she may find someone to talk to. Maybe then she would not have to hesitate in accepting an invitation for tea or question a simple act of friendship and could forge new relationships beyond Nonnatus and him.

"Where does your Mum want to go?" Chummy asked, needing to change the subject. Maybe if she made plans she might feel better about the whole prospect.

Peter shrugged his shoulders. "No idea. She just told me to tell you and she would come here to get you about three and I've got to go and meet dad because he can't do the walk". Chummy just smiled and nodded and settled back to into a waiting arm over her shoulders. "Mum will just want to have a nice afternoon out and pass on some good old Noakes pearls of wisdom I imagine" Peter began, pressing his lips to the side of her head.

"Are there any?" she asked cheekily, raising both eyebrows to make a point.

"Hey!" Peter replied, gently pushing her arm with his free hand in protest. "I'll have you know that some of the things Mum comes out with do make you think once in a while. Admittedly it's usually at Dad's or my expense but still…"

Chummy smiled. She liked the fact his parents just seemed to get on so well together. Well that the whole family got on so well too. She felt his arm tighten around her neck and a kiss to her cheek. She had missed him today, feeling utterly embarrassed for some unknown reason, but it was the truth. She had cleaned, gone out to see the new flat, bought a few bits and bobs from the market for supper but by four o'clock she was at a loss watching the clock until half past five feeling quite alone. Chummy didn't have many people to long after in her life nor anyone to do that for her either but now it seemed she had to accept that in Irene Noakes, she might just have someone to look after her; ask about her or just want to meet her for tea.

For Peter, it had felt strange being back at work after almost two weeks off where his life had changed irrevocably. He almost felt like a new Constable Noakes was walking the streets of Poplar with a different view on the world and a host of fresh responsibilities to come. "I missed you today", he said quietly. He had, genuinely, in those moments where the Station had fallen still or when he was on the beat down by the canal with only the water for company, missed her voice, her presence. He was perhaps just more confident at expressing his thoughts.

Not that she was going to say it, but she still didn't feel she was worthy of a single one of those words. She turned slightly towards him and put her arm across his middle, settling her head on his shoulder, just comfy enough for now.

She'd worry about her mother in law tomorrow, and probably Thursday, Friday and indeed Saturday too.