Call the Midwife - FF 100, 50/100

Universe - Canon

Series 2 spoilers - None/Future

The Very Stuff of Life

Prompt: Team Mates

"Give her to me."

"Darling, you got in two hours ago in the dead of night... you're going to be up again at the crack of dawn," the exhausted Scottish voice sighed over the scream of the six week old baby. "Go and get some sleep."

"Give her to me."

There were not many times that Patrick could over rule Shelagh in their own home, but that night, she conceded. The past six weeks had been the happiest of her life... but for some reason that night, Bethan was not playing. Not at all.

"Shhh, shhh," Patrick made nonsense noises as his wife passed their daughter over to him. "It's ok, my little one," he whispered as he cradled her.

Shelagh took the opportunity to sit down on the sofa. She loved being a mother. More than anything. But it was exhausting... it was the hardest work she had ever done in her life.

"How do you do that?" she asked once Patrick had settled their daughter and sat by her side.

"Practice... try to remember this is my second time around this particular block..." he reminded her as she put his hand through his arm and put her head on his shoulder.

"I just - " Shelagh broke off.

"What?" normally, Patrick might leave it if she wanted to keep her consul. That was up to her. As much as the two of them were passionately in love, he respected the fact there were certain parts of herself she would reveal only when she was good and ready. But this did not seem the appropriate tiome to do so. She was vulnerable, at that moment more than ever. As a new mother, she needed him. "Talk to me."

"I don't think I'm very good at this-s," she admitted as she swallowed a thump in her thrown.

She had been so excited when she had learnt she was pregnant: she had been even happier when she had her baby girl. It had seemed like the perfect addition to their family. But in all her years of being a midwife, she had never realised how hard and unrelenting motherhood was.

"You are a fantastic mother."

"I am exhausted all the time."

"You are patient and loving all of the time," he reminded her as he put his lips to her forehead. "You are gentle all the time."

"I just don't - I could not bear it if I let the three of you down."

"That's not possible," Patrick stated simply. The two of them looked at one another. "We are in this together, you, I, Bethan and Timothy. We're a family, a team... she adores you, you know?" he smiled down on his daughter. "You had a rough day, you're both tired. Tomorrow will be better." he promised.

Nodding, Shelagh shut her eyes. "I love you so much," she admitted as she soaked up his reassurances.

"And I love you, my darling, darling wife."

Words: 495

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