(a/n – so this fic is nearly over and I really hope that you feel like you've been on holiday with Bernie and Serena to Clatterford. Thanks to everyone who has left lovely comments etc.)

Chapter 8: Friday

When Susie was sat at the breakfast table the following morning, Serena and Bernie didn't even pretend to be surprised. Caroline looked a little sheepish, and smiled secretively at Bernie. Susie, for her part, kept glancing to Serena who smiled kindly back at her. They ate their porridge and toast contentedly, happy to bask in the silence. Aside from the occasional scrape of a knife as it spread raspberry jam onto toast, the kitchen was completely void of noise. Eventually, once all the crockery and food was cleared away, Caroline cleared her throat to break the silence.

"I'm not sure if you have worked out that, um, Susie stayed the night. With me, in my room." Serena raised an eyebrow and Bernie covered her mouth when she snorted.

"Oh we realised," Serena's tone of voice implied that she and Bernie had heard rather a lot of Caroline and Susie's activities the evening previously. Bernie thought that it was a good job that Caroline rarely had visitors if the two were going to be so vocal every time they got intimate. Susie blushed at the insinuations while Caroline stared intently at her china tea service, but Serena laughed it off. "Don't worry, we're pleased for you, honestly. You make an excellent couple, you're both very well suited to one another. It's just scary taking that initial leap into previously untested territory isn't it? Or that's how it was for me anyway." Serena sent a knowing smile in Bernie's direction, Kiev now a topic they could broach much more easily and with less pain that they could when Bernie had first returned from her infamous running away from all of life's responsibilities in Holby City secondment.

"Thank you." Caroline's smile was completely genuine as she gazed fondly at Susie. Bernie couldn't help but wonder if the way she felt watching them was how others felt when she found herself lost in Serena's eyes whilst they were in the company of others. Like she was intruding upon a private moment meant only for the two people wrapped so strongly up in it you could almost see the bond between them.

Caroline and Susie went out soon after breakfast, being rather vague about their destination when Bernie and Serena asked as to where they were going. Once the door was closed behind them Serena raised a knowing eyebrow at Bernie.

"If they're anything like we were during the first few days of you returning from Ukraine with a bottle of duty free wine they are definitely going to Susie's house for some of the action they've both been longing after for far too long." Bernie barked out a laugh and nodded in agreement, her mind wandering to just how much intimacy she had shared with Serena never-seen-the-point-of-just-one Campbell during the first two weeks after her return. She became so absorbed in her thoughts that her eyes went glassy and Serena leaned up to whisper sultrily in her ear to break her out of it.

"If you like when we get back to Holby City we can try for a repeat of those two weeks. Or the weeks we met up whilst I was on my sabbatical after Elinor's-" her voice trailed off and Bernie rubbed her arms soothingly.

"Don't worry, in your own time. I'm happy as we are. Though I am looking forward to when we have the house to ourselves again with no mothers of my ex-colleagues in the room next door. You're absolutely gorgeous when you have no inhibitions on your volume control, Serena Campbell."

"Mmm. As are you, Berenice. As are you."

Given the fact that Caroline had left with Susie, Bernie and Serena found themselves left to their own devices for their final day in Clatterford. At first they considered visiting one of their new friends made via the Women's Guild, but in the end decided that they would spend the time revelling in one another's company instead. They strolled hand in hand around the village and surrounding countryside, snuggling up to one another in the chilly breeze. As they ascended one of the hills, they caught sight of Tash and Spike with Raph and Ash in one of the fields below them, dashing about with ribbons and sticks looking like they hadn't got a care in the world. Spike was wearing a Royal Mail uniform and had an empty postal bag beside a bicycle in the field. Serena smiled and made a comment about how the role suited him well, though she would never have guessed he was a postman. Bernie agreed with her partner. Bernie and Serena were both completely content to spent hours doing nothing in one another's company, a reprieve from the hectic lives they would be going back to.

"I'm surprised Henrik hasn't called us at all this week," Serena mused as they looked across the fields in the opposite direction to the valley below, where a herd of sheep were grazing contentedly upon the lush green grass.

"Mmm," Bernie made a noise of agreement in the back of her throat, "it does rather appear that Holby City has been kind enough to not need us for a week. I can only assume that as soon as we are back fate will ensure that we don't get a proper rest for a month. And we'll likely owe Ric favours for the rest of time." Serena chuckled and leaned into Bernie as they observed the views. The ex-army medic pointed to another dwelling a few miles away.

"Do you reckon that's that village Eileen nearly had a coronary over?"

"Hole?" Serena hummed. "Most likely. I wonder why she's so jealous of another tiny village a mile or two over from here?"

"Maybe," Bernie's eyes had a mischievous twinkle about them and she was smirking. "Maybe they tried to steal her Official Chairwoman of The Village of Clatterford Women's Guild regalia." She managed to keep her face straight until she looked into Serena's eyes, when they both collapsed into giggles. Serena wiped tears from her eyes.

"Or, or." She tried to bite down on her lip to stop the laughter that was still bubbling forth from inside her. "Or they managed to get a talk about Premier Inn rather than 'The Travel Lodge' as they call it!" Bernie honked with laughter and Serena felt more carefree and light than she had in years, clinging onto her partner as her body shook with laughter and tears of amusement slid down her cheeks and onto her silken scarf. They continued making up suggestions as to what the village of Hole may have done to become such an arch nemesis of Eileen, each suggestion more and more ludicrous than the last. In the end they reached the stage where Hole had its own underground mafia of ex-women's guild officials from up and down the country, who had retired there in order to live in a hole in the ground surrounding Hole where they planned out their combined lifelong ambition of bringing about the downfall of the Clatterford Women's Guild chairwoman. Eileen had managed to hear of their scheme and so had forbidden anybody from mentioning the place or even travelling to it for fear of them being recruited into the web of criminal activity made entirely of knitting needles and orthopaedic mattresses. Acknowledging that they had become borderline hysterical and that in the interests of calming themselves down and not getting sunstroke they should probably get off the top of a hill as the midday sun beat down upon them, Bernie and Serena helped one another up (ignoring the cracking of their bones as they did so) and debated about what they would do next.

They headed back down to the village to enjoy a pub lunch in The Fountain, which they found surprisingly empty given that it was lunchtime on a bright and sunny day. Shrugging to themselves, they decided to enjoy the quick service and quiet atmosphere of the pub by flirting shamelessly over their food and drink. Serena especially was very appreciative of the nice Shiraz which they had behind the bar. Bernie, for her part, was just happy to see Serena looking so happy.

They arrived back at Caroline's house in the middle of the afternoon, and found that the woman was still out. Serena raised an eyebrow at the silent household.

"Well it's good to see we're not the only two mid-life Sapphics with good stamina."

"Ha! It must be the horse riding." Bernie responded.

"Mmmm, yes. You do realise I am very tempted to try and find you some riding lessons or at least a stables in Holby City when we get back there don't you? And then I can buy you a whole array of glorious jodhpurs to cover your glorious rear end in my darling." Serena's voice had gone very low and Bernie squeezed her thighs together at the sound of it. She bit her lip and looked at Serena.

"Are my running clothes no longer enough for you, Ms Campbell? Should I throw out all my lycra and the tight fitting crop tops I have to wear a hoodie over whenever I compete in the Holby City Hospital half marathon?" Her tone was teasing and light and Serena laughed huskily at it.

"The same marathon you always beat everyone at while I look on smugly because I get to take my sweaty and competitive mess of a partner back home and to bed? No no no, Berenice. You're keeping all your running attire. Horse riding can just be an extra hobby for you so I can gaze at your magnificence and athleticism from the side lines." She winked and patted her partner's bottom in emphasis before returning to the task at hand while Caroline was still absent. They set about packing their laundry and other assorted items into their cases so that they could leave early the next morning in order to return to Holby City in time for Jason's return from his Aberdeen summer camp job.

A couple of hours later Caroline returned and smiled at them.

"Hello, I bumped into Eileen on the high street and she's very keen for you to come to our Guild meeting this evening. You don't need to do a talk though, just sit as guests." Bernie and Serena looked at one another. They had planned on an easy last night in at the end of their stay but they felt it would be rude to ignore an invite from their newest friends.

"Oh okay then Caroline," Bernie nodded.

"I suppose it would be nice to see everyone one more time before we leave," Serena agreed. Caroline smiled a little mysteriously.

"Excellent. We shall walk down in half an hour or so then."

They ambled down the country lanes to the village hall in the centre of the village in a relaxed state. Both Bernie and Serena felt better for their week long escape to the country. Sometimes, they realised, it was difficult to realise just how stressful working full time in the National Health Service is until you manage to get away from it all for a short period of time. When they arrived at their destination, Caroline gestured for them to go into the hall first. They were not expecting to enter to the sight and sound of the entire Women's Guild of Clatterford cheering them surrounded by a large spread of food and bunting. Eileen stepped forward looking smug, her homemade Guild regalia (the very homemade Guild regalia Bernie and Serena had spent the morning making fun of, so much so that at the sight of it they had to bury their faces in one another's necks to prevent themselves from giggling like school children) jangling round her neck.

"Ladies, ladies. We just wanted to say thank you for being so lovely during your time in Clatterford. You gave us an interesting talk and saved the life of the husband of one of our members, alongside other things. You've allowed our humble little Women's Guild to embrace diverse times which makes the Big Wheel keep on turning." Serena wondered if Eileen realised she had just accidentally referenced a popular song. Bernie pondered if the lyrics were from a song by the Spice Girls. Eileen continued. "So it only seemed right that we celebrate your friendship with us and your close relationship with one another" - she blushed a little and the two doctors wondered if Eileen had ever needed to address a same sex couple before, and thought likely she hadn't - "in the way we do best: with a traditional English Women's Guild tea party!" The Guild clapped and cheered and Bernie and Serena grinned at one another then smiled at the women around them.

"Thank you, that's really very touching," Bernie thanked them as Serena shook Eileen's hand. They both noticed that Caroline had sneaked round the side of the room to the back of the group where Susie had been waiting, and now had her arm surreptitiously draped around the other woman's waist. Susie looked like all her Christmases had come at once.

They were offered first pick of the buffet, and they loaded up two paper plates to share. Bernie selected a range of sandwiches, cheeses and sausage rolls while Serena gathered slices of cake and pieces of fruit and some chocolate. Together they sat at a table and ate sweet and savoury off the two plates. Caroline and Susie came and sat next to them, looking thrilled at seemingly nothing.

"You two seem pleased with yourselves, and I can't think why since we now know you spent the day setting up here with the rest of the Women's Guild rather than alone with one another at Susie's house." Serena winked at them. Susie beamed at Caroline.

"We are thinking of moving in with one another." Caroline announced and Bernie swallowed her sausage roll before replying.

"Well you know what they say about women moving fast…"

"It just seems more practical since we both live alone anyway. My house is the obvious choice, and it all seems relatively simple. I don't mind Susie's pussy being under my roof and that would have been the only real issue." Serena, by now used to Caroline's mishaps with words, turned to a flushed looking Susie.

"I take it you have a cat? Because I doubt she would mind your other pussy being in the same room as her." Susie nodded, looking relieved and a tiny bit embarrassed at Serena's quick assessment of Caroline's meaning.

Rosie bounded over with a large block of cheese in her hand. She curtsied before them and presented the dairy product to them looking unbelievably proud.

"Cheese for thanksgiving and luck and matrimony." She smiled widely and Bernie and Serena looked at one another, eyes a little wide. "Enjoy it your highnessessesses."

"Thank you Rosie, we shall share it with my nephew Jason, he loves cheese." Serena smiled kindly at her, internally wondering how they were going to transport a block of cheese back to Holby City without it going sour and smelling the car out. Caroline, seeming to read her thoughts, leaned over and made an offer that they could take one of her cool bags home with them. They smiled gratefully at their new friend.

Their buffet eating was once more interrupted by the arrival of Sal's daughter in law Yasmeen and her digital camera. When she entered, Eileen called everyone to attention and had them gather in the centre of the room surrounding Bernie and Serena. They were all sternly instructed to smile at the camera and Rosie loudly shouted the word cheese, which got everyone smiling. Eileen seemed far too smug about the thought of putting the photos online to try and outcompete the activities which the neighbouring village of Hole's Women's Guild got up to. As the crowed to herself Serena shared an amused look with Bernie. Perhaps they would never know just why Eileen was so desperate to be better than Hole. They also questioned whether they were really good enough to outcompete another village. Two middle aged female surgeons who happen to be in a relationship didn't appear to be all that fascinating to them. They doubted that they would ever have many fans jealous of the Clatterford Women's Guild for being able to meet them. But if the thought kept Eileen happy they were willing to let her run with it.

Kate came and sat next to Serena after the photos had been taken, and patted her on the knee gently. Serena looked a little awkward and laced her fingers with Bernie's to keep her strong. She could sense another sympathetic chat coming along.

"Soooo…. How are you doing?" Kate asked in her meant to be sympathetic but actually borderline patronising voice. Serena smiled at her.

"Good, thank you. This holiday has really helped me to relax and unwind." Kate nodded then turned to Bernie.

"And what about you? Do you ever get sad? I imagine being an ex-soldier would mean you are acquainted with the cycle of grief?" Bernie stiffened slightly before responding politely.

"On the whole I am fine with it. Being a doctor probably helps me to come to terms with it a bit better."

"Hmmmm, yes. I can see that might be the case. But if you ever need any help with grief or coping or, or, or computers or anything at all that I can do for you then please call me. I also know a good vicar if you ever needed one of those at all." Tittering, she slipped a folded piece of paper across to them. "It's been a pleasure meeting you both." She giggled to herself and the couple shared a look before promising that if they ever wanted help with any of those things they would not hesitate to call Kate.

It seemed like a bizarre wedding line-up of sorts, or a weird convention panel at one of the comic cons Jason had been to with Alan and showed them photos of. Bernie and Serena appeared to be the star attraction who people waited their turn to come and address and spout good things about. Eileen was, of course, the most flamboyant, heading their way alongside Queenie and Pauline who made polite small talk as Eileen gushed on about the virtues of the health service and the British armed forces. It seemed, to Eileen, a great shame that she had somehow managed to go the entire week forgetting to mention her dear old daddy's medals to Bernie, who she assumed would know everything about them. Bernie was courteous and chatted with Eileen about her father's bravery whilst Pauline asked Serena if she'd ever stayed in 'the travel lodge' where she occasionally took a night watch shift. Serena said she didn't believe she had, though she had stayed in many hotels for medical conferences throughout her career. Queenie was excitedly asking Serena if she knew of all of the fun clubs her daughter was part of (since Gaye had now returned back home). Serena admitted that she was aware of Pride, but was not on a Sapphic dating app because she was more than happy with Bernie. Queenie nodded and seemed satisfied with the answers she had been given. Eileen, having exhausted Bernie's military history general knowledge (Bernie really wished Jason had been there to answer some of the more in depth questions), turned and kissed Serena on both cheeks, telling her she should consider joining her local Women's Guild as soon as she was back in Holby, or otherwise return to Clatterford in the future to another Guild event – Eileen seemed especially keen for Bernie and Serena to attend a 'famous' Victoriana tea party (and seemed oblivious to the groans and eye rolls two thirds of the Guild gave at the mention of the event).

Finally, Bernie and Serena made their way over to where Sal and Tip were sneakily sharing a hip flask of something Bernie suspected was a little stronger than the elderflower cordial Eileen had on the buffet. Serena held out her hand and took the flask, having a hearty swig before raising her eyebrows and coughing a little.

"What's in there?!"

"Sal and Spikey are trying to brew their own organic craft ale in my shed so I helped myself to some."

Bernie took a swig herself and placed her hand over her mouth,

"I say! I've filled tanks up with stuff weaker than that!" Sal and Tip laughed at her exclamation as Serena looked at her fondly.

"Yes, I'm not sure that'll be flying off shelves or be a popular order at The Fountain anytime soon," Tip acknowledged. "I'll stick with the good stuff from Ireland for now." Sal nudged her.

"I'm not sure anything would make you give up Guinness for good!"

"True. The Irish just know how to make good booze." They all agreed at that, though Serena put in a good word for Shiraz from the south of France, memories of her sabbatical filling her mind.

Bernie and Serena spoke some more with Sal and Tip, Tip especially thanking them for helping Colin when he was in trouble. Bernie offered some advice for the best ways to keep Colin's wounds sterile and healing nicely on the farm, while Serena offered Sal some recommendations for recent articles in community medicine which she thought the woman might be interested in. Eventually, as things quietened down, they all headed out of the village hall and to the pub, where, as the evening drew on, Bernie and Serena bid their goodbyes to their newfound friends. At the insistence of all of the woman (and James, Tash and Spike who were all in the pub too), they both agreed that in the future they would return to Clatterford and see them all again.

Upon arriving back at the house they had been calling their holiday home for a week, the two doctors were reluctant to go to bed and admit that their week away was nearly at its end. They sat out on Caroline's back patio for a while, snuggled up to one another and watching the sun go down on their holiday in Clatterford. As restful as their holiday may have been, they were both ready to once again embrace the hectic nature of life at Holby City Hospital. They doubted they could cope forever in the sleepy stillness of a village like Clatterford. Bernie especially was getting restless, and needed some action to keep her going on a day to day basis.

Early the next morning, the alarm on Serena's phone jolted them awake and they smiled sleepily to one another as they stretched in bed. They lazily dragged themselves from under the covers and dressed. Upon making their way downstairs, they were surprised to find Caroline and Susie in the kitchen with a full cooked English breakfast waiting for the two surgeons. In answer to the surprise written across the faces of her guests, Caroline spoke.

"We just wanted to thank you for everything." Susie nodded.

"We may never have admitted how dear we were to one another without both of your help."

"No problem," Serena smiled at them both.

"And thanks for a cooked breakfast before we drive home, that's very thoughtful," Bernie added before tucking into her sausages and bacon with gusto.

When Bernie and Serena finally began their drive back to Holby City, it was with stomachs full of food and hearts full of happiness. They were ready to return to their everyday lives refreshed and renewed by the community of Clatterford.

To Be Continued…