A/N: Sorry for the wait for this chapter, I know I left the last one on a cliffhanger but I just wanted to make sure this chapter was perfect before putting it out there. I hope you like it!

"Oh my god," Belle's face went stark white so quickly that Ruby was scared that she was going to pass out. "We've been found out, we're going to be thrown out," Belle whispered, her voice thin and shrill.

"Belle calm down, we don't know for sure what's going to happen-" Ruby tried to sooth but she was just as scared as Belle was.

"Calm down? You're telling me to calm down when we have been found out? We live in a convent for fuck's sake Ruby, what we have is forbidden here. If word gets out to the community? We'll be run out of town," new tears pricked at Belle's eyes. Ruby reached up to wipe the tears from Belle's eyes but Belle recoiled from her touch.

"Belle…" Ruby whispered she could feel her heart breaking.

"Let's face it, Ruby, ever since we have gotten together we've hit roadblock after roadblock. Is this all we can have together? Staying hidden and in the shadows constantly looking over our shoulders for fear that we might be found out?"

"Belle what are you saying?" Ruby asked, tears welling in her eyes.

"I'm saying that maybe we aren't such a good idea anymore; that us being together has caused us more heartache than we can bare," Belle said looking towards the floor and avoiding Ruby's eyes.

"Belle please, don't do this. We can get through this, just please don't give up on us. I love you, and I don't want to lose you and what we have together," Ruby pleaded.

"I love you too," Belle whispered, "But what do we even have together?"

"We have love, isn't that enough?"

"I don't know."

Ruby didn't know what to say, she could feel everything falling apart around her and slipping right through her fingers. Belle still wouldn't look at her, instead, her eyes were trained on the table in front of her, piled high with books.

"If that's what you think, then I can't change your mind. But just know that I'm not giving up hope for us," Ruby said before walking out of the study and back to her room. She looked at their beds still pushed together and something in her broke, she sat down as sobs wracked her body. Pulling Belle's pillow to her chest, muffling the sound of her sobs in it as Belle's scent flooded her senses. She fell asleep curled around Belle's pillow after she pushed the beds apart.

"Mrs. Collins, I can see you now," Belle said, looking up from her clipboard and smiling warmly at a heavily pregnant woman sitting in the waiting area.

"Oh," Mrs. Collins said looking down at her bump, "That's all right dear, I need to use the lav. You go onto the next person," her smile was tight and insincere with her hand protectively over her baby bump.

"I can wait for you, it's all right," Belle tried to save face.

"Oh no no no, I'll just wait and see the next one," Mrs. Collins insisted. Belle nodded before turning around to get a new clipboard.

"I wouldn't want to risk it, not with her you know?" the woman next to Mrs. Collins said in a hushed voice. Belle stopped in her tracks, a hard lump forming in her throat.

"I'd rather be safe than sorry, that's for sure," Mrs. Collins answered.

"Belle, are you alright?" Emma asked, pulling Belle out of her stupor.

"I'm- I'm fine, thanks for asking Emma," Belle said breathlessly, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Look, I can take Mrs. Collins but if you need a break, there's some glassware in the back room that needs sterilizing," Emma put a comforting hand on Belle's shoulder while frowning in the direction of Mrs. Collins and the women sitting next to her.

"Thank you," Belle nodded before rushing towards the back room. Ruby watched as Belle hurried off; feeling the need to go to her but not wanting to overstep the boundaries Belle had already set down.

"Oi, we've got a delivery to attend to," Granny's gruff voice punctured Ruby's thoughts.

"Oh um right, let's go then," Ruby stuttered not quite sure where to look or what to do with her hands. She gathered her equipment and followed Granny down to their bikes, determined to talk only about the birth and only the birth.

"All right, Mrs. Van Winkle how are we doing today?" Ruby asked as she and Granny walked into the small flat.

"Didn't even think this one would come today until I stood up and my water broke all over my kitchen floor," Mrs. Van Winkle groaned as a contraction began. "Jeanne watch the little ones please; make sure they're occupied," she gritted out to her teenaged daughter.

"You'd be surprised how often that happens especially once women are on their fifth pregnancy," Granny said as she guided Mrs. Van Winkle to her bedroom in order to get her ready for labor. Ruby stripped the bed linens and began preparing everything she and Granny would need for the birth as Granny coached Mrs. Van Winkle through her contractions and began to examine her.

"Looks like you're already 5 centimeters dilated, how long would you say you've had contractions dear?" Granny asked.

"It's hard to tell, I thought it was just those Braxton Hicks things you've told me about before and wrote it off. I think they started last night maybe?" Mrs. Van Winkle explained. Granny put her fetoscope to Mrs. Van Winkle's stomach and listened, a frown creased her eyebrows and she repositioned the fetoscope to a higher positioned and listened.

"Is everything all right?" Mrs. Van Winkle asked looking nervous for the first time since Granny and Ruby had arrived there.

"It would appear that the baby is presenting in a breech position," Granny explained.

"You're not fully dilated, we can still move you to Hospital if you would feel more comfortable there," Ruby suggested.

"No, I'm comfortable here in my own bed where I've had all my others," Mrs. Van Winkle said fiercely.

"Well you're in luck then, Nurse Lucas is our best midwife when it comes to breech births," Granny said. Ruby felt her heart skip but didn't want to dwell too much on Granny's words; she instead jumped into Granny's place.

"Okay, Mrs. Van Winkle I'm going to need you to change positions," Ruby instructed.

"What? I can't move," Mrs. Van Winkle said.

"We'll help you, I know it's a rotten situation but believe me, this will help ensure that the baby is delivered safely," Ruby explained.

"She's right, come on dear we'll help you get into the right position," Granny said, supporting Mrs. Van Winkle as she and Ruby helped get her into a sitting position with her bottom nearly off the bed.

"Good this is good," Ruby whispered to herself, "Okay Mrs. Van Winkle I'm sure you want to give a mighty push as this next contraction comes but this baby needs to come very slowly. So pant, just pant for me," Ruby demonstrated just to make the message clear. "Little push now," Ruby got into position between Mrs. van Winkle's knees as saw the little bottom of the baby pushing its way out of the birth canal. "Okay stop," Ruby commanded, "You're doing brilliantly. Little push, little push and stop."

Mrs. Van Winkle fell back against Granny as the contraction ended, "Good job dear," she whispered into her ear.

"Bravo, the baby's bottom is now delivered. Now I need you to stay extremely still as I hook my fingers over her legs and bring them into the world, breathe very gently," Ruby instructed focusing on delicately birthing the baby's legs and being mindful of the cord.

"Here Nurse Lucas, so the baby doesn't get cold," Granny handed her a clean towel to wrap the baby's body in.

"Thank you, now keep holding still as I gently loosen my grasp on the baby and let them hang," Ruby said. Mrs. Van Winkle looked as if Ruby was mad but didn't move a muscle as Ruby gently eased her hand from the baby and carefully let it hang for just a moment.

"You're nearly there," Granny whispered, patting the woman on the shoulder comfortingly.

Ruby could tell another contraction was coming, "Now Mrs. Van Winkle push." Mrs. Van Winkle gave a guttural yell as she pushed the baby's head into the world, Ruby gently turned the baby as it eased out of the canal and Granny gently encouraged her until the baby's cries filled the room. Mrs. Van Winkle slumped against Granny in exhaustion.

"It's a girl!" Ruby smiled as she more securely wrapped the newborn in the towel and put her in her mother's waiting arms. Winkle smiled down at her new daughter as Ruby cut the cord. Once the placenta had been born and Granny made sure the baby, now named Lucy, had latched properly and begun to nurse, Ruby and Granny made their way back to Antioch House.

"I meant what I said in there," Granny spoke up as they locked up their bicycles.

"What?"

"I meant it when I said that you are the best when it comes to breech births," Granny said firmly. "And Nurse French is one of the most well-read midwives we've had in years. It would be a disservice to the community if you two were to ever leave."

"Neither of us wants to leave," Ruby said, catching onto what Granny was saying. "But we understand if we couldn't live in Antioch House anymore."

"Nurse Lucas why on earth would you and Nurse French not be allowed to live in Antioch House?"

"Because of what you saw-"

"What I saw was two people who clearly love each other."

"But you're a nun and the Bible says-"

"My dear I know exactly what the Bible says," Granny said sternly, "But I think some people focus too closely on individual scriptures and forget the overall message of it."

"So we can stay here?"

"So long as my stubborn arse lives here, there will always be a home here for you and Nurse French," Granny smiled warmly at Ruby. Before she could stop herself Ruby threw her arms around Granny, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Thank you," she sniffled into the old woman's habit.

"Now go, tell her," Granny said, "And be happy." Ruby nodded and sprinted into Antioch House and up to her and Belle's room, finding Belle sitting on her bed reading a file.

"Thank god you're here, I have something I wanted to talk to you about," Ruby said sitting next to Belle. "What's this?" she asked gesturing to the file in Belle's hands.

"It's the post mortem file from Philip Thompson," Belle said.

"What does it say?" Ruby asked her excitement fading.

"That he had a lung defect, nothing that I nor anyone could have seen when he was born. It wasn't my fault."

"You see? I knew it wasn't," Ruby smiled wide. "How's the family taking it?"

"They're relieved that at least they have an answer to what happened, but I don't know how you could ever bounce back from that," Belle whispered.

"I think they can with time, I mean look at Granny. She's dealt with everything from cholera outbreaks to air raids but she's still here. She's had to have seen some of the worst that can happen in these conditions but she's just as stubborn as ever."

Belle chuckled but it seemed she realized how closely she and Ruby were sitting and scooted back, "You've talked to Granny?"

"Yeah we had a delivery together and actually she told me that she accepts us and that we'll always have a place here if we want it," Ruby said. "Do you?"

"Do I what?"

"Want to stay here with me?"

Belle's eyes finally connected with Ruby's for the first time since Granny found them together, "I would love that."

They pushed their beds back together that night.

Post A/N: So the conversation between Ruby and Granny was in my head for MONTHS and it felt so good to get it out onto the page. Also as for updates, up until now all of the chapters had been pre-written. As I'm sure you've noticed if you've been subscribed for a while, updates have been slowing down since I now have to write and send off chapters to my beta. So while I'm not updating every week, I'm definitely not abandoning this story. I'll try my hardest to have 2 updates a month but I can't make any strong promises especially since Secret Santas are coming up.

And remember reviews fuel the muse!