The first sensation she felt upon waking up was a dull ache in her back and neck - an unfortunate side effect to being far too tall for the settee she was currently led across - the second was the chill on her feet which were hanging over the edge of the arm, quite uncovered by the blanket. She glanced across the living room to the clock and noticed the time read six am. Patsy yawned tiredly before sitting up, startling as she spotted Shelagh sat quietly at the small table. It was obvious that the Doctor's wife was deep in prayer and Patsy had the courtesy to wait until she was finished.

"Good Morning Patsy." Shelagh murmured raising her head, "I hope you got some sleep."

"A little." Patsy smiled, wrapping the blanket tighter around herself.

"I'm going to make a start on the breakfast. I'd prepare yourself for the madness about to ensue. I also suggest using the bathroom to save yourself from the fight to be first."

Patsy smirked slightly, "I think I'll heed your advice. I should be out of your hair sooner rather than later."

"Patsy, that isn't what I meant." Shelagh began but the red-head shook her head.

"I know it isn't and you and Dr Turner have been most kind but I need to accept what's happened and move forward. I'm going to go look at getting myself some lodgings later today. I can't stay here indefinitely."

"You can stay here as long as you require… that's if your back can stand that settee."

"As charming as it is, it is on the short side when one is on the taller side."

"Tell me about it." Both women turned with matching smirks upon their faces as a dishevelled Patrick entered.

"I should get dressed." Patsy said standing and walking out of the room. She got the sense the couple wanted a few moments of peace before their children descended upon them but she couldn't help but overhear their conversation or the pang of pain as she was reminded of all the things she could never have.

"Good Morning Mrs Turner."

"Good Morning Dr Turner."

"It's been a while since I woke up without you by my side." He murmured, "I missed you."

"Patrick, how can you possibly miss me? You were asleep and I've only been down here."

"I miss you the minute you walk out of the room."

"Sweet-talker."

"I missed watching you finish your prayers, I missed the way your eyes open and turn towards me, I missed my morning kiss."

"Well, I'm sure we can rectify that last one."

Patsy tried desperately to block out their domesticity. What she'd give to live their live with Delia. To wake up with one another each day. To share a morning kiss each and every morning and a goodnight kiss each and every night. Suddenly, all of that seemed further away than ever before.

—

Trixie sighed as she took one last look in the mirror. Today was her day off and by rights she ought to have been having a well deserved lie in, yet here she was, dressed with pristine make up ready for breakfast. The blonde midwife had been unable to rest at all and after leaving Delia's room in the early hours, she'd tossed and turned all night. Whilst she didn't regret her words or actions the night before, she did wonder how serious Sister Julienne had been about her position at Nonnatus House. The older Nun, usually so understanding, had had no qualms in throwing Patsy out onto the street with nothing but the clothes on her back - what was to say she wouldn't treat her the same way?

A knock at the door broke her musings and she smiled as Barbara walked in. The younger Nurse was quiet, standing awkwardly her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find the words to talk to Trixie.

"Barbara?" Trixie asked, bored of waiting for the girl to finally speak up. She quickly picked up a note off her bed and folded it, tucking it away safely in her drawer.

"Is she really that way?" Barbara asked in a hurry, her voice quiet and unsure.

"Yes." The blonde midwife rolled her eyes before turning to Barbara.

"How?

"How?" Trixie repeated, "She just is."

"It's not because she was-"

"Because she was what Barbara?"

"In those camps?"

"No." Trixie growled, "Must you always be so naive Barbara?" Trixie knew she was being harsh and felt the slightest pang of guilt at the flash of hurt that spread across her friend's face.

"I just… I didn't know women could… well feel that way about other women. I knew men could and… Trixie I… I don't know what to think. Patsy is so lovely and she's been nothing but kind to me and I just… I don't know how I'm supposed to feel or what I'm supposed to do. The Church says homosexuality is a sin."

"Barbara I don't think the question is whether you agree with homosexuality or not, although to my mind there is no sin if no one is hurt, but whether or not you still wish to be friends with Patsy."

"But Tom-"

"Buggar Tom. This is about you Babs, not him. You said Patsy is lovely, that she had been nothing but kind to you since you arrived. Can you truly turn your back on her for feelings beyond her control?"

"But it's wrong - isn't it? Why would the Church say-"

"Mrs Turner hasn't turned her back on her has she?" Trixie asked relenting slightly. Barbara was after all a Vicar's daughter and going out with a clergyman. While the young woman was understanding, Trixie did realise she needed to process everything and her harshness was being counter-productive.

"No but what has that to do with it?"

"You know Shelagh used to be Sister Bernadette?"

"Of course but she isn't now!"

"But that faith doesn't just leave you. She's a devoted Christian who understands the workings and teachings of the Church in a way not even you do. Ask yourself this Babs, if Shelagh accepts Patsy, then why shouldn't we? Did the Bible not teach us to love?" The younger Nurse looked deep in thought and Trixie knew she was winning the battle. "Go see her Babs."

"I couldn't possibly-"

"Go see her and see she's still the same Patsy who held your hair back when you were being sick on your first night, the same Patsy who made up a story about green crisps to cover for you in the morning, the same Patsy who thinks thumping the television is a foolproof way of fixing the aerial. Now come along, we'll be late for breakfast."

—

Delia ignored the low rumble of her stomach as she trudged through the streets of Poplar. A part of her wished she hadn't skipped breakfast but at the time she hadn't been able to face neither the food nor the people around the table - she just wanted to see Patsy. She'd left a quick note for Trixie apologising for not waiting and then dashed out. Many of the residents offered her a nod and a smile, a few greeted her with 'Good Morning Nurse!' and some simply said 'Day Off?' - she answered each shortly but kindly wrapping her coat further around herself in the hope it would offer some invisibility.

"Nurse Busby!"

She looked up and noticed the ever taller Timothy Turner waving at her.

"Morning Tim."

"Mum told me to keep an eye out for you on my way for the bus." Timothy smiled jovially, his youth keeping him innocently in the dark, "She told me to tell you that she's got something that belongs to you… Did you leave something at clinic?"

"I… yes, my scarf." Delia caught herself quickly. Thank God for the Tuner's in all this she thought, and to Shelagh for giving her the opening to go over.

"Oh well, she's got it… Anyway I better dash… hopefully when I get home someone will finally tell me why Akela stayed with us last night."

"Oh…"

"Bye Nurse Busby!" Timothy shouted as he dashed for his bus. Delia let out a sigh, relieved that he'd seen his bus approaching and made a run for it. She wasn't sure she could have faced any more of his questions when she didn't know the answers for herself but now, as she faced the home of the Turners and knocked, she was about to find out.

—

The tension around the breakfast table at Nonnatus House that morning could have been cut with a knife. Nobody spoke - or at least if they did, they soon quietened down. Trixie was scowling into her porridge, pausing her eating periodically to shoot deathly stares at Sister Julienne. Barbara had attempted conversation three separate times but was now nibbling away at her toast, obviously uncomfortable with the atmosphere and deep in thought after her conversation with Trixie earlier. Both Sisters Mary Cynthia and Winifred had kept themselves to themselves although both for the very different reasons - even Sister Monica Joan was uncharacteristically quiet - her eyes falling often to the empty chairs of Patsy and Delia - a sad sigh escaping her lips. Nurse Crane was out attending a birth - it seemed she was keeping herself busy - unwilling to involve herself in the politics of the household.

Sister Julienne for her part had been eating the same piece of toast for a good five minutes - her mind elsewhere. She could feel Trixie's unforgiving eyes upon her and she could sense the tension around the table - and Delia's absence hadn't gone unnoticed either. Her eyes felt heavy and she could almost feeling the sagging below them - a result of a night of tossing and turning and questioning. As she forced the last bit of toast down, she sighed, applying her armour and looking up with a confidence she almost certainly didn't feel.

"Nurse Franklin. I'd appreciate it if you would come and see me in my office this morning."

"It's my day off." Trixie replied. Sister Julienne was reminded of when she and Trixie had had words about her Keep-Fit class but this was much more serious and there was, for all of them, much more at stake.

"It's not optional Nurse Franklin. I want to see you in my office."

"I'm going to see Patsy." Defiant and loyal - as always.

"My office Nurse Franklin - in five minutes." Sister Julienne barked before leaving - she needed those five minutes to prepare herself.

—

Delia waited nervously on the Turner's doorstep, relieved when it was Shelagh who answered the door and not anyone else. She smiled nervously at the older woman - suddenly feeling exposed.

"Hello Delia." Shelagh smiled as she opened the door and welcomed the Welsh Nurse in. "Did Timothy run into you?"

"Yes. Thank you for giving me the opening to come over Mrs Turner." Delia smiled, she halted in the hallway, not quite ready to face the red-head she loved so much. "How is she?" She asked quietly.

"I… I don't know." Shelagh replied honestly fiddling with the belt of her uniform, "She seems so unflappable, almost cold to it all but… I think she's struggling… I think…" The older midwife paused for a moment before taking Delia's hand, "I think she needs you. I need to get off but make yourself at home."

Delia watched as the Scot dashed off. Taking one deep breath she walked steadily forward until she was stood in the doorway of the Turner's front room. She felt her breath catch in her throat as she watched her love, only just visible through the kitchen hatch, washing dishes with her head bowed. Delia walked further into the room - the need to hold Patsy all consuming.

"Pats?"

A/N - Apologies if this seems a bit like a filler. I want to try and show as many of the inhabitants reacting to Patsy's outing as possible and follow through with their coming to terms with it. Thanks for all the reviews - they spur me on immensely! I'll try and post the next chapter soon where I promise Patsy and Delia will finally see each other properly! x