The rumbling of Delia's stomach curtailed their activities later that evening. Much later. Long after Patsy was satisfied that she had explored every plane and facet of Delia's lithe body. Long after they'd lost count. Long after Patsy had investigated the Welsh woman's two tattoos.

That had been an unexpectedly appealing shock. The first one was obvious, a stylised Welsh dragon in red and white and green in the centre of Delia's back. It was captivating, moving subtly as Delia's muscles bunched and flexed. Constantly on alert. On guard.

The second Patsy only discovered as they lay tangled together, catching their breath. Patsy had collapsed behind Delia, one arm draped over the smaller woman's hip. Lips pressed to the back of her neck. As Delia shifted, stretched out fatigued muscles, Patsy's eye caught a shape behind her ear. Carefully collected dair hair into a makeshift ponytail and pushed it to the side. There, behind Delia's ear, done in shades of blue, was a delicate semi colon.

It caused Patsy's heart to constrict. Compelled her to wrap her arms around Delia and just squeeze and never want to let go. Knowing that her precious girl had been in such a low place.

Until Delia had grumbled in frustration and broken the embrace. Pinned Patsy's arms above her head and kissed her until she remembered that Delia was here in her life (and in her bed) and it was only the future that mattered.

It was gone seven before they could no longer ignore the protestations of Delia's digestive system. The gurgles had gotten progressively louder and more insistent, until finally they both dissolved into laughter after one enormous growl that Patsy had felt more than heard as she rested her head on well defined abdominal muscles.

They tugged their clothes back on, rummaging in the kitchen for something quick to prepare for supper. Almost burned the chicken as they got caught up in each other. Delia had Patsy backed against the kitchen cabinets, one hand up her shirt and the other down her pants, Patsy almost incoherent with pleasure. The smaller woman pulled away abruptly with a soft curse, much to Patsy's consternation. Flipped the chicken out from under the grill and swore again when the blackened edges were revealed.

"I thought I could smell something burning. Sorry."

"I wasn't aware of anything except you."

Irritated blue softened, an involuntary smile curved Delia's lips.

Patsy studied the chicken critically, tried to ignore the lingering edge of her ardour. "I think it's salvageable. That'll serve us right for getting… distracted in the middle of cooking."

Their meal, when they sat down to it, was a little lacklustre. Delia simply shrugged. "It's fuel. I'm too hungry to care right now."

"I care." Mournful. "Next time I'm going to cook you a really nice meal. I promise."

"I'm looking forward to it." A pause. "Breakfast is my favourite meal of the day, by the way."

Patsy feigned scandalised outrage, but the cheeky twinkle in Delia's eyes nearly undid her.

"It'll have to be another time though. I'm on earlys again tomorrow." Regretful. "I should probably head home soon."

"Oh. Of course."

"Pats…"

"I understand, Deels, I really do. I just… I wish you didn't need to go."

"Me too."

Patsy's phone beeped at her some time not long after Delia left. She'd been moping just a little, wallowing in the silent emptiness of the flat. Indulging in the anticlimactic hollow that inevitably followed a momentous event.

And oh had it been momentous.

Heart soaring, she checked her messages. Only to fumble in confusion when the text was from Lucy.

Hello Patsy. I was wondering if we could meet up tomorrow, if you have any free time. I have a few more things of yours to pass on. And I'd like to talk to you.

In the space of fifty words or less her good mood turned evanescent, dissipating into a knot of worry. And guilt, acrid on the back of her tongue.

I'm on the afternoon shift tomorrow. I can see you before midday.

Immediately texted Trixie. Who called thirty seconds later.

"Are you alright Patsy?"

"Not really."

"You didn't need to agree to see her, you know? It would have been perfectly okay for you to say it was too soon."

"I know. But I've been talking to Louise about letting go of some of this guilt, and the best way to do that is to actually see Lucy and that she's okay. Well, as okay as the circumstances allow."

Trixie made a noncommittal noise.

"And I would have been prepared, I would have jumped at the opportunity normally. It just caught me off guard." A pause. "Such terrible timing."

"Why?" Sharp. "What happened?"

Thought about all the ways that she could begin to explain how things had changed with Delia, and got stuck.

"Delia." Hoped her tone conveyed everything Trixie needed to know.

"Oh?" A pause. "Oh…" Knowing. "So you two…?"

"Mmm hmm."

"And it was..?"

"Oh yes."

"Patience Mount you dark horse!" Trixie's delighted chuckle felt barely constrained by the phone speaker. Patsy suddenly wished her best friend was there so she could see the wicked smile accompanying that laugh.

"I'm just… I was feeling so good about things. And now I just feel sick."

"Listen to me. You'll be fine sweetie." Confident. "Go and listen to what Lucy has to say. Get some closure. And then you're free to move on with Delia." A pause. "However you choose to do so."

"Trix…"

"No, my point is you'll be able to let go and really focus on enjoying your future with Delia, without this cloud of guilt hanging over you."

"I'm so worried."

"I know. You wouldn't be Patsy Mount without a mountain of worries weighing you down. But think about it this way. If you don't go, you'll always be wondering what it was that Lucy had to say. You won't get any sort of closure whatsoever, and you'll regret it. But if you do go, it'll be a tiny investment of your time. If it goes badly you never need see her again. But potentially you'll get to talk and sort out your differences. You'll be able to at least get rid of that guilt. Because I know it's there and I know it's getting in the way of your time with Delia."

"You're right."

"Of course I am sweetie."

"Thanks Trixie."

"Any time. Now go to bed and sleep. You'll handle it better if you're well rested."

Sometimes her best friend knew her too well.

Patsy walked into the cafe at precisely 11am the next morning. Glanced around and spotted Lucy at a corner table, clutching a cup of tea and sporting a nervous expression that rivalled Patsy's own. Saw the involuntary smile that crossed Lucy's face upon observing Patsy - that fell and was immediately masked.

It made Patsy's heart ache.

A deep breath, and Patsy walked to the table. Businesslike.

"Hello Lucy."

"Patsy."

"You're looking well." And Lucy was. She'd retained some of the tan acquired on her trip to the Caribbean, had lost the haunted, shell shocked appearance of their last interaction.

"Thank you. So are you."

She certainly didn't feel it. Her stomach roiled, anxiety about how this was going to turn out reaching a fevered crescendo in her abdomen. Took a deep breath and pulled out the chair opposite Lucy. Folded her hands neatly in front of her to prevent them from shaking.

"So what did you want to talk about?"

"Straight to the point, nothing's changed."

"Neither of us want to dwell on small talk Lucy."

"I know. But we could at least have a cup of tea together." Before Patsy could protest Lucy was up and out of her seat, had made her way to the counter.

Patsy sat and breathed deeply. Long cleansing breaths to quell the unease in her belly. To firm her resolve.

Thought about Lucy, and how she usually hated to prevaricate. Wondered what the other woman had to say that she felt it necessary to delay.

"Tea's on its way."

"Thank you."

"Look, I realise this is really awkward. Thank you, for agreeing to meet me."

"Lucy…"

"Please Patsy, just let me speak. This is hard enough already."

Patsy kept silent. Gestured for the other woman to continue.

"I really… I really just need to apologise. I behaved abominably last time we saw each other. Like an absolute child. That wasn't okay and I'm sorry."

"This really isn't necessary Lucy."

"It is."

They paused for a moment as the server delivered the tea. Murmured thanks.

"Apologies are really not required. It was a horrible situation and you were entitled to…" A pause. "To not be rational about it."

"That's a polite way of describing how I behaved."

"You were hurt. I hurt you. And you were lashing out. It was completely understandable."

"It might have been understandable but it was still appalling. I treated your belongings with contempt and I think I even broke some things."

"They weren't important."

"That hardly matters. I'm sorry, and I hope you'll forgive me."

"There's nothing to forgive."

"Patsy, please."

And Patsy finally cottoned on that this was as much about Lucy's healing as it was about closure.

"I forgive you Lucy."

"Thank you."

They sipped their tea in silence. Allowing this new accord to settle.

"Lucy…"

"I forgive you too, you know?"

"You do?"

"It took me a while to come to terms with it. To really hear what you said. But you were right. You need to follow your heart, and I need to find someone who is free to give me theirs."

"I'm so sorry."

"No, like you said. No more apologies needed." A pause. "I just wish you'd been more self aware. That you'd come to this realisation sooner."

"So do I! I never wanted to hurt you."

"I know."

Another moment of silence. But this one felt lighter. More tranquil.

"So I have a couple more of your books. And a photo that I found in the back of the bookshelf." Lucy passed over a small bundle, wrapped in a Tesco bag.

Patsy opened it, picked up the picture. Her heart clenched as she stared at it. It was the two of them, sitting on a bench at Brighton. Patsy had an arm thrown over Lucy's shoulder, and Lucy had threaded her arms around Patsy's waist. They were both grinning into the camera. At Trixie, Patsy remembered.

"Luce…"

"It's a lovely photo. I had a copy made. So that we could both have something to remember the good times."

"It is a lovely picture." Stared at it a moment longer before smiling at the woman opposite. Tentative.

"I wish you every happiness Patsy, I really do."

"Same to you. I hope you find someone who can… I just want you to be happy."

"Thank you."

Lucy stood up. Reached across the table to clasp Patsy's hand. Fleeting.

"Goodbye Patsy."

"Goodbye Lucy."