"I couldn't write at all to begin with" she starts without any prompting from me. I don't know what to ask her so I'm glad she's taken the lead. "Not for the first month. But after that I sent three letters. My mother sent them."

My eyes widen and my heart sinks as I realise Delia's mother has been stopping our communication.

"Or maybe she didn't" Delia face falls as she realises the same.

"Well I would have answered if I got them. You know I would have answered" the last statement probably wasn't necessary but I add it anyway.

Delia nods silently, a smile forming at the edge of her lips. My heart is in my throat again as another realisation occurs to me.

"Does she suspect?" The words hitch in my breath not wanting anyone else to hear.

"She thinks you're my friend from training school." Delia reassures.

"And the lady she helps at Cubs" the bitterness I feel at that label come through in my words, not meaning to be aimed at Delia.

"I promise you that's all she thinks" her eyes are soft and sympathetic as she speaks.

As my heart is beginning to return to its correct location in my body Delia tells me her mother doesn't want her to come back to London and I feel my heart being ripped out of my body though my chest. My nurse head comes to attention:

"Why not, if you're well enough"

Delia explains that in her mothers mind she'll never be well enough. I'm disliking this woman more and more. Delia takes a breath before telling me about her appointment at the London with the neuro chap and the rehabilitation people. They'll tell her if and when she can go back to work, which could be months. Her shoulders sink and her eyes drop to the table and I can tell she's fighting back tears.

I reach out without thinking and place my hand over hers. Immediately I feel a spark as I rub my thumb over her fingers.

"You look tired" she's almost the same Delia from before but there's something not quite there.

"I lose my train of thought sometimes."

"Better than losing you." She blushes and looks down at her lap.

She tells me of their plans for the next few days. Christmas in Hornsey with her aunt then back to Wales. I smile as she speaks, our conversations so comfortable yet so fractured at the same time. How she was straight on the bus to Poplar when her parents left for their Welsh carol service.

"I'll be on the bus back to Hornsey soon"

Nine little words to make me feel sick once more.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to say to that." I half snap, half sigh. What she says next breaks me even further.

"You're supposed to say, don't disappear again. You're supposed to say meet me again, write to me. Don't break the thread." She pauses trying to catch my eye. I glance up. "Let's pick up all the broken pieces. Let's pick up where we were." the words hang in the air for a moment, the most powerful and emotional words I've heard.

"Can't I just say come back?" It's not the most eloquent thing I've ever said but it's all my brain can produce while trying to process what Delia's just said.

"Yes" she grins and I softly smile back. She lifts her wrist and glances at her watch. "I'd better be going, otherwise I'll miss my bus."

She starts to pull on her coats. I'm desperately trying to come up with a plan to keep her in Poplar from now. Something that will mean she doesn't have to go back to her parents now. Doesn't have to leave me. But there's nothing. She senses my hesitation and reaches for my hand.

"Pats" her voice is soft "we've done the hardest part, a few more weeks and I'll be back for good. And we'll be together I promise."

We walk out to the bus slowly, so close together there's only a hair breadth between us. I'm desperately wanting to grab her hand and pull her close to me but somehow stop myself. He turns to face me as the bus arrives.

"Keep warm" she smiles and she removed her scarf and wraps it round my neck.

"I will" I smile back and she turns to jumps on the bus. "Telephone when you've seen the doctor"

"Yes" she swirls around the pole at the back of the bus and grins as it begins to pull away.

I can't stop smiling as she takes another piece of my heart away with her, back to Hornsey. This time I get to take a piece of her with me too and I pull the scarf around me, breathing in her beautiful scent.

I turn to go back to Nonnatus feeling the happiest I've felt in a long time. I tiptoe up the stairs when I get in and creep into mine and Trixie's room. She's already asleep as I quietly change and climbs in the covers.

"Have a good evening?" She asks, sleep covering her voice.

"Yes thank you, the best" I reply as I hold Delia's scarf close to my face as I fall asleep.