A few days passed before Serena heard from Elinor, but this was usual. The fact that Elinor had agreed to meet that week for lunch was a surprise. Admittedly she had used a bit of leverage in her favour, offering to meet Elinor at the hospital for lunch and then they could discuss her uni project and the chances of her filming on the ward.

The day they were meeting Serena was on an early shift and Bernie started a few hours after. The plan was Serena would finish at 3pm and meet Elinor for lunch then they would meet Ric to discuss Elinor's presence at the hospital to do some filming.

Bernie could tell that Serena was anxious, but was not quite sure how to help. Serena was dressed, ready and pacing. Bernie sat on the sofa watching and waiting for a moment to interject.

Serena passed by the sofa and Bernie caught her hand, "Rena, come sit, for a minute." She pulled Serena towards her and she lands on her lap.

"It will be fine love, I promise. Elinor loves you dearly and yes she is a bit stubborn, like her mother, but she has agreed to meet you."

Serena nodded in agreement.

"Don't tie yourself in knots, OK, what happens, happens; we will get through it, hopefully with Ellie on board."

Serena planted a kiss on Bernie's lips. "Once more unto the breach…" Serena sighed as she pulled herself up to go to work.

"Don't worry, I will be there soon and you know where I am when you meet with Ellie, OK."

"OK" Serena liked Bernie talking the helm, looking out for her, bringing sense to her chaos.

At that Serena made for the door knowing if she looked back even once she would stumble. Best foot forward Campbell!

The day went swiftly, by the time Bernie was on the ward, AAU was in full swing and they were but ships that passed in the night, as it were.

About 10 minutes before the end of shift Serena was finishing off some paperwork and Bernie came in. Bernie had not really glanced at the time after coming out of theatre but thought it must be near Serena's clocking off time. She entered the office and saw Serena, looking nervous.

"Serena."

Serena looked up, sighed and threw her hands up in exasperation, "Why am I so wound up, nervous. I know it's stupid Bern but…" She couldn't finish the sentence because even she didn't know.

As Serena looked ready to just heap on the floor and give up Bernie swept in to hold her. "It will be fine, you will be fine, Ellie will be fine."

Serena looked up as if to query, "Please, don't get into a state, Ellie is coming to meet you willingly" Bernie reflected on her relationship with Charlotte and only hoped that she might be as accommodating as Elinor.

"I am only a call, page, text, email away if you need me."

Serena nodded as she picked up her bag and coat to head down to Pulses, "How do I look?"

Bernie chuckled, "It's hardly fair to ask me, I think you are strikingly gorgeous."

"Pah" Serena exclaimed as she brushed past Bernie in a seductive way and went the door to face the world, and her daughter.

Serena called Elinor's phone, it went to answer phone, "Darling, I am in pulses, I've got us a table window side. Come to me, we can order food when you arrive."

She sat nursing a coffee for 25 minutes, she did not contact Elinor again for fear of being full on and pushing her away, she waited patiently. A text came through from Bernie.

"Hope you and Ellie have a good chat, catch up with you later. B x"

Serena wanted to reply but she knew Bernie would panic if she thought Serena had been stood up. She would blame herself. She would be down in a shot.

A few minutes later she saw the figure of her daughter sweep through the café, "Mum! Sorry. Nightmare! Uni ran over, bloody parking nightmare. I'm here now though."

Serena smiled warmly, "That's Ok darling, what do you want?"

Ellie sat and looked at the menu card. "Ooooh caramel latte and a cheese and ham toastie please."

"Coming up!"

Serena returned to the table with drinks and sat opposite Elinor wondering whether she should speak first. "Glad you came darling?"

Elinor smiled, "Me too Mum, sorry I lost it the other day. I just don't want to see you hurt."

"I know Ellie. To be fair when I told Bernie about what you said, she actually agreed with you."

Ellie looked at her mum, "Really?"

"Really, she set me straight. She said you had a point, she had treated me terribly and I didn't deserve it. She said she would need to show me, and you, that she could treat me right… I actually think she said she would treat me like royalty." They both laughed as the food arrived.

"Wow." Elinor pulled a face behind her toastie. "Still think it's all a bit… whirlwind and I am still shocked that you are…. Well… you know, gay. But I'll keep an open mind regards Bernie. I know Serena Campbell doesn't always have the best tastes in men… or women, but you seem different about her."

"That's all I can ask Ellie, just give her a chance. She has promised she has changed since leaving and she wants to treat me well and so far she has."

"I'm sure." Elinor said in a cheeky tone.

Serena gave her a look, Elinor knew exactly what it meant. "Sorry Mum." She laughed.

"No seriously, she has been brilliant. She is fab with Jason, they got on like a house on fire the second they met, and it was her who encouraged him getting a job and worked me around."

"You weren't together then were you?"

"No, no, not at all. In fact, we disagreed over it."

"So when did you know then, sorry if I'm being nosey but surely you didn't wake up one day as a gay!"

"Elinor!"

"What Mum. I'm curious."

"Not sure really, because I didn't really know what the feelings I was feeling were. But I knew there was something there after Fletch's stabbing."

Elinor listened intently as Serena opened up to her and she could tell her mother was absolutely smitten and a little part of her wanted to meet this Bernie to get the measure of her.

"Anyway when did you tell Bernie about our row, I bet you called her slagging me off the second the door closed?" Elinor said in a swift change of subject, having learned enough about feelings.

"No, I text her to said we had argued and you had left and I didn't know what to do."

"And?"

"And, she didn't reply for ages."

"Oh… that's reassuring Mum."

"But, when she did reply I said I wish she was here so we could talk, and then she called me as she was outside."

"OMG, it's like a teenage romance."

"Mmmm, indeed." Serena smirked.

Just then Serena's phone went off. It was Ric. Serena held her hand up to tell Elinor she had to answer. "Oh hello Ric. On our way."

As she put the phone down she saw a message from Bernie so she send a quick thumbs up emoji.

"Right lady, we have an audience with Mr Griffin; and whatever you do, follow my lead and don't push your luck."

They left Pulses and Elinor linked arms with Serena as they headed to the lift.