So this is a bit longer than usual, for no other reason that it just ended up this way. I did try to expand on their date, but every time I tried, it just didn't read right at all, so this is the compromise I've settled with. Hope it doesn't read as too much of a compromise to you and you enjoy! I have a bit more a structured plan going forward and hope to have the next couple of chapters up over the weekend.

Split shifts didn't make for Serena's favourite days. It was stupid, but she hated either spending the early part of her shift without a familiar blonde presence, or having to watch her go home early and leave her to endure the rest of her shift alone. It did have the perk, however, of granting her a free morning to plan what she hoped would be a rather enjoyable date. After the blonde had taken her to dinner, she had been trying to think of something a little different she could book for the two of them. Something they would both enjoy and which would get them away from Holby for a while.

Hence, she was currently waiting on a reply back from a lovely little country hotel that offered private wine tastings, and hopefully with a little cajoling, would pack a picnic lunch for them to enjoy in the grounds.

Pushing open the doors to AAU, she gave a small nod to Fletch and Morven on the way to the office she shared with a certain army medic. She chuckled as she heard scrabbling as she pushed open the door, catching Bernie in her desperate dash to tidy up her wrappers and empty coffee cups. Since spending the day following her surprise flat warming tidying up the effects of her human hurricane, the woman had made a conscious effort to keep their shared space a little tidier. It didn't always work, and Serena would still often find her files beneath discarded coffee to-go cups, littered with the remnants of a hob nob or two, but she appreciated the effort none the less. "Afternoon.""

Throwing herself back in her chair, it wheeling itself back with the force of her action and the bin by her desk still teetering at having been filled forcefully and at speed, Bernie greeted her with wide grin. "Hey!"

"How are things here?" she asked, shedding her coat and hanging it on the back of the door.

"Surprisingly quiet," replied Bernie. "I even got some paperwork done."

"Without me here to babysit you while you finish your homework? Well, colour me impressed," smirked Serena. She paused on her way to her desk, dropping a fleeting kiss to the blonde's cheek. Settling in her chair, her eyes moved from the blonde to the bunch of red and yellow tulips adorning her desk. "Any idea where these came from?" She looked up to where the younger woman was studiously staring at the open file in front of her, clearly pretending not to have heard her. "Bernie?"

Looking up, Bernie shook her head. "Must have been a patient."

"You're a terrible liar," smiled Serena. "Thank you," she added in a softer tone.

In buying the flowers, the so called macho army medic had hoped to be far more suave in her delivery of them. She should have known better given her track record. Still, the smile on Serena's face had been what she was aiming for, so she considered it a success nonetheless. She wasn't sure when exactly she had started wanting to please the brunette, to do little things that made her smile, but she did know she wasn't going to stop any time soon, not when that smile made her heart flutter each and every time.

"I'm starting to think that you went to ninja school and weren't in the army at all!" exclaimed Serena as she startled when an ever more familiar pair of arms wrapped loosely around her waist and a very particular perfume invaded her senses. Hidden behind the computer screen of the nurse's desk, she allowed her own hands to cover the blonde's, giving a gentle squeeze. She shivered at the deep chuckle that came from the younger woman in response. "I swear I'm going to make you wear a bell! Still, while you're here." She gestured to the screen in front of her and the latest scan and blood results for her patient. "Symptoms include but not limited to pelvic pain, lower back pain, fatigue, intense pain during intercourse and painful bowl movements."

"My first instinct would be endometriosis," suggested Bernie, subconsciously resting her head on the brunette's, her eyes taking in the results on the screen in front of her.

Serena nodded. "My thoughts too. I'll have a word with her, explain I'm sending her up to obs and gyny, let them do the laparoscopy and confirm."

Across the room, Fletch gave Morven a gentle nudge, nodding in the direction of the pair. "If you haven't got a bet on those two getting together I'd get it in now. You might even be too late."

"I told you before, I'm not betting!" she objected. "If they're together, they're together and I hope they're happy."

Fletch shook his head. "You big sap. We all want them to be happy, but I'd still be getting a bet in if I were you. You'd be surprised at how many people are getting involved. There's some pretty decent cash in it, and we have front row seats and all the inside scoop."

Serena sighed as the office door swung open, expecting some new pending disaster, which of course timed itself perfectly with her taking her lunch. She was pleasantly surprised, therefore, when Bernie appeared in the doorway. "I thought your shift ended an half an hour ago."

"It did," commented the blonde, ignoring the implication she should no longer be there. She settled herself on the sofa next to brunette.

Smiling, the older woman chose not to comment. "I was actually hoping to catch you before you left."

"Oh?"

"Yes…" Serena paused, lifting her salad box as Bernie proceeded to shuffle until she was lying down on the sofa, her legs dangling over the arm and her head resting in the brunette's lap.

"My back's playing up," mumbled the blonde upon seeing the raised eyebrow and questioning looked being aimed at her.

With a shake of her head, Serena set her lunch down on the arm of the sofa next to her, considering it rather rude to rest it on the younger woman's shoulder. "Yes, I wanted to ask what you were doing this Saturday." She gazed down at Bernie, her hand falling naturally to toy with the tousled blonde curls. By the smile that bloomed on the so called 'macho' medic's face, Serena thought it safe to assume that this was perhaps what she had been hoping for. Who knew the Major was a snuggler? "I know you have the day off, and while I didn't want to impose, I thought you might like to join me for a little wine tasting."

Bernie grinned. "Are you taking me on a date?"

"Yes," replied Serena without hesitation. It seemed that everything she did with Bernie was done without hesitation. There was something that just felt so natural about being with her, touching her. She had never been an overly tactile person. In the bedroom, yes. Teasing touches, of course, but non sexual contact had never really been something she had done. Not in her wilder, younger days and certainly not with Edward or Robbie. No, with them snuggling had never really been on the menu, and if she was honest, never something she had sought or felt she had missed. And yet here she was spending her lunch break curled up with her best friend, basking in the quiet contentment that came from simply being close and touching her.

Bernie caught Serena's free hand, placing a gentle kiss to her wrist. "A wine tasting sounds lovely."

"Then it's a date. I'll come by yours around twelve and we can leave from there."

"Is that all the details I'm getting?" asked the blonde, absent mindedly tracing her index finger along Serena's knuckles before turning her hand over in her own and tracing her dextrous fingers.

"There's wine and we taste it," said the brunette. "What more details do you need?"

Thanks to Jason and his including her date in his timetable, Serena found herself drawing up outside of Bernie's flat at precisely noon. She had, however, booked the taxi for half past, knowing the blonde would probably be running late. Her suspicions were confirmed when the blonde's harassed voice came over the entry system.

"Give me four minutes, tops and I'll be right down!"

Chuckling, Serena held down the button to respond. "Relax, the taxi isn't booked until half past. And while I'm happy to bask in the sunshine out here, it would be nice if you could buzz me in." Pushing the door open at the harsh sound of the entry buzzer, she took her time ambling over to the lift. She used the short ride up to double check her outfit. Given the weather, which was bright, and fortunately not as suffocating as it previously had been, she had opted for a pair of cropped linen cut offs and a light sleeveless blouse. A wide brimmed sun hat, bright scarf and heels completed the ensemble. She had debated over the heels, but had decided they would put her at the perfect height to steal a kiss whenever she saw fit without having to go on tiptoe.

Stepping out of the lift, she smiled on seeing Bernie's door left open for her, enjoying the simple fact that the blonde felt comfortable enough to let her wander in. "Bernie?"

"Two minutes, I promise!" Came the muffled response through the bedroom door.

"No rush," reassured the brunette, letting her eyes wander around the space. It had changed since she had been here last. Bernie had added a few more pieces of furniture, including a rather plush looking snuggle chair and a bookcase filled to bursting with well thumbed volumes. She crossed the room, tracing her fingers across the spines of books as she read the titles, surprised to find a number of classics and volumes of poetry. Admittedly, she never had the blonde down as having the attention span for reading anything that wasn't an article out of medical journal. Lost in her thoughts, she jumped when arms settled around her waist and a face buried itself in her neck, as appeared to be becoming the blonde's habit. "How do you feel about tap shoes?"

"Not much of a dancer," came the reply.

She could feel the younger woman's grin against her skin as she nuzzled her scarf aside. Spinning in the loose embrace, she smiled as she took in the woman in front of her, tucking a stray curl behind her ear. "Then you're just going to have to stomp, or give me a six foot warning."

"You're just jealous of my ninja skills," chuckled Bernie with a playful waggle of her eyebrows.

"I'm just trying to make sure I don't have a heart attack any time soon!" She rolled her eyes at the puppy dog eyes being directed at her. "You're lucky you're cute."

"Cute?" Repeated the army medic. "First adorable and now cute? What happened to me being macho?"

Bopping the taller woman playfully on the nose, Serena chuckled. "That was before I realised how much of a big softy you really are."

Eyebrows raised in challenge, Bernie scoffed. "Well if I've gone soft I'm blaming you!"

The older woman merely shrugged. If that was to be held as her worst crime, she would take it.

Serena swiped Bernie's bag from the back of the taxi as they pulled up outside of the hotel, knowing the blonde would try and pay. "You, out. This is my turn to treat you."

Rolling her eyes, the taller woman nonetheless complied, clambering out of the vehicle and giving the brunette a rather fine view of her rear in what were really very nicely fitting skinny jeans.

Taking in the rolling grounds of the hotel, Bernie couldn't help but feel slightly underdressed in her jeans. While she hadn't exactly been expecting Wetherspoons, she hadn't expected somewhere quite so grand. She found that her worries fell away, however, when she felt Serena's hand tuck itself in her back pocket as she silently began to lead them towards the entrance.

"You look ridiculous in that hat," chuckled Serena from where she lay on their picnic blanket, her head resting on Bernie's crossed legs as the woman smiled down at her. They had made short work of the delicious contents of the picnic basket and, finding that they had time before the wine tasting was to start, had allowed themselves to relax. Safe in the knowledge that they didn't have anywhere else to be, and for a while at least, had no other responsibilities and no one else to please but themselves.

"It's not about looking good, it's about acting as your human parasol to make sure you don't burn!"

The brunette snorted. "I never burn. It's you I'm worried about."

"Me, who has spent months in deserts in the middle of war zones?" laughed the blonde. "I may be pale now, but believe me, my skin can handle worse than this!"

Serena found she couldn't really argue with that. "Good. Not sure the lobster look would suit you, anyway." She reached up and yanked the brim of her hat down until it covered the blonde's face.

"Oh very mature," scoffed the blonde as she pulled it back up, fingers immediately seeking the soft skin of Serena's neck in hopes of finding a ticklish spot in retaliation. She couldn't have hoped for better as the brunette let out a shriek of laughter, sitting bolt upright almost immediately to try and evade the younger woman. "Ticklish, are we?" The scowl that was turned on her could have soured milk, but her only response was to grin, opening her arms back up. "Come back. I promise I'll stop." For now, she added silently, filing away the older woman's ticklishness for a later date.

Growling in disbelief, Serena nonetheless scooted backwards until she could sit with her back against the blonde's front, resting her arms on top of the younger woman's.

"Are you happy?" Bernie asked, nuzzling the brunette's neck, inhaling the scent of her now familiar perfume. "With us. With there being an us?"

Feeling the body behind her own tense as she waited for the answer, Serena let her fingers gently stroke the blonde's forearms. "Yes." She twisted slightly to meet the army medic's eyes. "You?"

"Yes. Very," added Bernie with a smile that was suddenly very shy. "I like what we have, how we are with each other, that nothing feels forced. I did want to apologise though."

"Whatever for?"

The younger woman hesitated for a few moments. "For being, well, like this with you at work," she finally said out loud, her arms tightening slightly around Serena's waist to emphasise her point. "I never thought about it until I got home. I didn't even realise I was doing it at the time. You probably don't want the rumours. I will try to reign myself in at work. I really will."

"Oh to hell with the rumours," smiled Serena. "It's been a while since anyone gossiped about me. Besides, it's been quite the revelation to discover you're a snuggler. And that I apparently am too." She felt rather than heard the blonde's laugh.

"You don't mind?"

Serena shrugged. "I guess not. When I stepped down from that deputy CEO post, I did it to focus on what was important to me. I still every much intend on doing that. It doesn't bother you, does it?"

"It's no worse than what was going about before," signed the blonde.

"Very true," admitted the older woman. To say the rumour mill had been harsh on the blonde before would be an understatement. She'd like to think that any current rumours regarding the blonde and herself were a definite improvement. "I don't know how it feels for you, but for me, I don't know where the line is for us, in or out of work. I'm not altogether sure we have a line. But maybe, we can do this like we do everyone else. Muddle though, make an effort to be open and honest with each other and try to let each other know if it's too much." Serena was pretty sure that short of the blonde mounting her on the nurse's station she wouldn't be saying things were too much in terms of their displaying their affection in public, but she would let things play out one step at a time, and continue to enjoy the tender unfolding of their relationship and each new revelation it brought.

Placing small kisses against the older woman's neck, Bernie smiled. She had no idea where their boundaries lay. She did, however, know what she enjoyed the solid weight of the woman in her arms, and that for the first time in a long time, she didn't want to run. She didn't feel like she was chasing a fleeting moment, or like she had some dirty secret she was too scared to tell. No, she thought. This felt like it was only the start of something. And could be the start of something wonderful. "Shall we go and drink to muddling through?" she asked with a smirk, placing a final kiss to the sensitive skin just below Serena's ear.

"Sounds marvellous," grinned the brunette. "I must admit, even with my human parasol I am feeling quite parched."

"Aunty Serena, you're meant to spit the wine out at a wine tasting!" Chastised Jason as Serena patiently tried to answer his questions. It was a new thing he did now, asking about her day. Out of habit, it was something she had always asked him, never having questioned it until the day he had turned around and asked why she always did it, even when they had spent the day working together in the hospital. Having told him it was merely the polite thing to do, he had instantly adopted the habit. Albeit rather than the question being a passing pleasantry, it often became something of an inquisition.

Ignoring Bernie giggling at the other end of the settee, Serena pushed on. "Yes, I know Jason, but after a while it did seem like such an awful waste, simply spitting out all that lovely wine. And we weren't driving so it was safe to have a few glasses." A few was a very loose term for the number of glasses of wine they had consumed. But then, there had only been a very small amount in each of the glasses, so really, it was probably no more than they usually drank on any given trip to Albie's.

"But you couldn't even walk out of the hotel!"

Deciding it might be time to step in and save the brunette, Bernie finally piped up. "Now that really wasn't your Aunt's fault, Jason. You see, the wine tasting was in a lovely little annex to the hotel and the path was quite uneven. Me having to carry her was much more to do with her shoes than her not being able to walk." And perhaps just a little to do with showing her just how much my time spent in the gym pays off!

Jason shook his head. "I still don't understand why you were such unstable shoes. Especially when you always complain about how uncomfortable they are!" And with that, he stood. "I'm going to play my video games upstairs now. I'll be back down for dinner."

"Well, sometimes a girl likes to look nice, Jason," Serena tried to explain to deaf ears as he passed her on her way out of the room.

"You do look very nice," said Bernie quietly, when they were. "Always do, in my opinion."

The brunette chuckled. "Just wait till you see me the morning after the night before with a hangover. You'll change your mind then."

The blonde somehow doubted this, her heart speeding at the thought of waking up next to the beautiful woman. As usual, her thoughts from here, assisted by the wine, began to wander.

"I don't suppose you'd like to stay for dinner?" asked Serena. "It's nothing special. Saturday is now pizza night, so it's nothing special but..."

"You had me at pizza," grinned Bernie, bringing her mind firmly back to the present moment.

"I thought I might," laughed the older woman. "Now don't be disappointed when it's not the grease oozing through the box variety you usually have delivered to the hospital."

"There are other varieties?" Joked the blonde, getting an eye roll for her effort.

The hour was late when the pair finally got around to saying goodnight, neither quite wanting to bring an end to their day together. Leaning against the doorframe as they waited for Bernie's taxi, the shorter woman wasted no time in pulling the blonde to her and bringing their lips together. Yes, they had had the full day to enjoy each other's company and exchange lazy kisses at leisure, but now, with their parting imminent, Serena found she simply needed more.

She grinned into the kiss as Bernie's hands came to rest on the wall either side of her head, content to allow herself to be pinned in place. Although she hadn't yet seen what lay beneath the Major's clothes, she was willing to bet her house on there being some nicely defined abs under there. Letting her fingers tease up the blonde's sides, she finally brought them up to wrap around her neck, pleased when the younger woman took the hint and deepened the kiss.

It was all too easy for Bernie to lose herself in Serena's kiss, and forget entirely where she was or that the rest of the world existed. Still, even she was surprised by her own boldness when without thinking, she let her arms slide to cup the brunette's rather pleasing rear, and lift her until, with a surprised squeak, she wrapped her legs around the blonde's waist.

Grinning into the kiss, the army medic adjusted her balance until she had the older woman pinned firmly between the wall and her body, enjoying the feel of her curves pressed closely against her. The moment was completely spoilt, however, by the loud honking of a taxi horn behind them. Jumping, Bernie stepped back, keeping enough wits about her to ensure that she kept Serena in her arms. With a sigh, she gently let the brunette slide down her front and regain her feet, fighting to ignore the urge to tell the taxi to get lost and continue where they had left off.

"Well," breathed Serena, smoothing down her clothes as she stepped back. "That was..."

Bernie chuckled in response. "Yeah. It was."

"Well Cinderella," smirked the brunette. "I do believe your carriage awaits." Not trusting herself if she reconnected their lips, Serena pressed a kiss to Bernie's cheek. "Goodnight."

"It certainly is," beamed the blonde. "I'll pick you up in the morning. I might even be on time."

Serena shook her head as she watched the younger woman retreat down her path, knowing she would more likely see a unicorn that Berenice Wolfe outside her door on time in the morning. Only closing the door when the taxi was long out of sight, she leant against the closed door, breathing deeply to try and calm herself. Letting out a chuckle, she finally conceded that she had only won their arm wrestle because the blonde had let her. Heading to bed, she found it was not altogether a displeasing thought.