Ruth sat at the table. The exhaustion from the day must have been written all over her face. The nurses chuckled and set a plate of cookies in front of her. To which Ruth became lively again. "There are cookies in here? Had I known the day would have been a lot easier to deal with! How do you all deal with everything that is happening and that needs to get done!" The other nurses laughed at her American vernacular.

"We do keep a stock of biscuits for the little ones, and some digestives for the mothers." Trixie had answered between giggles. "And to answer your question, you get used to it. There is a system and we are all kept in line."

"I don't think we got a chance to meet earlier. I'm Shelagh Turner." Ruth liked her Scottish brogue, in fact she loved all the accents she heard. Well she thought, they really weren't accents. She had the accent here.

"Ruth. Ruth Talbot. It was a pleasure to watch all of you in motion today. You are all so capable! It was like watching a well-oiled machine." Ruth took Shelagh's outstretched one.

"What brings to Poplar?" Shelagh continued.

"I answered an ad. Nontanus house, that Sister Julienne had placed an advertisement in a paper I happened to pick up."

Shelagh smiled a knowing smile. "I knew that part. I'm close with all those who live at Nonnatus House. I was wondering what made you decide to answer that add."

Ruth stopped. She didn't know what had drawn her. Why she needed it. All she knew was that she needed a change. She looked down at her fingers. Twisting them together, hoping that they would give her an actual answer. That her brain would somehow process what she needed to get across. Ruth started out slowly. "I'm not sure why, honestly." She was still looking down and looked up. The face she saw was encouraging. "A change of scene? I've always wanted to travel, to see England. This seemed like an opportunity." That wasn't all of it, but most. They were going to have to know her longer. Ruth was going to have to trust them before she would open up completely.

"Well we're glad to have you. Thank you for helping where you could today. I know that later you will teach one of the Mother and baby classes. Teddy and I will be there, so I hope that having a friendly face and knowing a name will help you."

"Teddy is your child then?" Ruth asked "How many do you have?"

"Oh you'll meet the entire Turner clan eventually." Trixie cut in.

"My husband Dr. Turner and I have 3 and are fostering a little girl from China. Teddy is our youngest. There is Mae and Angela, and Timothy." As if on you que Patrick walked in.

"Oh!" Revelation lit Ruth's face. "You two are married."

Everyone shared a laugh then. "What you mean you missed the flirtations looks between the two of them today?"

Shelagh blushed at Trixie's words. "Well I mean, yes, it wasn't that obivious I guess."

"Alright that's enough talk about me." Patrick said good naturedly. "I only came in here to see if my wife was ready to go. It looks as though I've walked in on something good." He rinsed out his cup he'd been holding.

"Yes I think that's if for the night. Let's wash up and head home." Shelagh had said.

"It was lovely to meet you. Both of you."

"We should be heading back to Nonnotus House as well." Val said.

Everyone busied themselves with washing up and putting the biscuits and dishes away before heading out the doors with some goodnights.

"So what do you think of your first day on the job?" Trixie asked as they all headed to the bicycles.

Hopping on Ruth said, "Busy, but wonderful. I can't wait to really start and join all of you in the marvelous work you all do."

With that Ruth started peddling down the streets of Poplar.