For everyone who is waiting for Series 4 with baited breath

'Timothy can you sit down with me a moment?' Patrick asked as he stuck his head into his son's bedroom.
'Is everything okay Dad?' Timothy frowned following his father through to the living room.
'Of course it is. There's just something I wanted to talk to you about. Something rather important that will affect both of us very much.'
'Is it about Sister Bernadette?' Timothy asked barely looking up from his knees.
'I'm sorry?'
Jack said he saw you and Sister Bernadette holding hands outside Auntie Emily's house. Except she didn't look like Sister Bernadette. He didn't think it was her at first, but he recognised her voice. He thinks you're courting her.'
'Well yes then. It is about me and Sister Bernadette. She's called Shelagh now though.'
'So it's true?' Timothy's face lit up. 'Sister Bernadette has left being a nun? And you're dating her?'
'I am. What would you think about that?' Patrick asked nervously. More than anyone he knew how much his boy has missed the nun. The response to her letter only days ago was proof enough of that fact. The same grin that had covered his face then was back in even greater force now. Patrick dared to hope.
'I think it's smashing! Does this mean she can take me to the zoo when you're busy? And cook for us sometimes? Will she be here more often? Do you think she could help me draw and paint better? She's awfully good. And do you think she'd help me with my maths homework? No offence Dad but you're a bit rubbish helping me.' Tim bounced excitedly in his seat on the settee. Patrick smiled wryly.
'Thanks I'm sure son. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to help you and take you to the zoo though the latter will have to wait until she's fully recovered. She's still unwell.' He regretted his words as soon as he saw the boys face drop.
'I thought she was better?! You said she would be getting better! That's why she went to the sana-sani-that hospital! Did she come home because she's going to die? Did she want to die at home like Mummy did? Please don't let her die Dad! I love Sister Berna-Shelagh.' Tim's eyes filled with tears, fear flooding them. Patrick could cut his tongue out for such thoughtless words. He drew his boy into his arms. He had never been an overly demonstrative parent, that had always been Marie's role but ever since her death he had made more of an effort and it had become easier to openly hold the boy.
'No no no Tim! She's not going to die! I promise you. She's just a bit weak as a result of the treatment she received. She tires easier so elaborate trips up west are a bit beyond her at the moment. She's completely recovered from the tuberculosis. She's not going to die.'
'But she'll still be able to take me at some point won't she? She'll be completely better soon?' Tim asked sniffing into his father's neck.
'Yes. If you'd like I'll try make it so the three of us can go together sometime.' Tim pulled back and nodded smiling. All traces of the threat of tears gone from his face.
'So is she your girlfriend now? You're too old to have a girlfriend Dad. You're so much older than her.' Patrick rolled his eyes. This was only the first of many times he would hear that claim he knew. He gathered himself up to continue the conversation into life changing territory.
'What if I had a wife instead then?'
Pardon?' Timothy's jaw dropped.
'Tim you know I will always love your mother. I could never replace her for us nor would I want to. But I've fallen deeply in love with Shelagh and she has too with me, it's part of the reason she left the Order- so we could be together. She loves me but more importantly she loves you too. She's missed you dreadfully and she told me personally how much she loves you. I want to ask her to marry me Tim. I want her to be my wife and your stepmother. She won't be replacing your mother for either of us. That wouldn't be fair on her or Mummy. But I believe that the three of us could be so very happy together as a family. It'll be different but wonderful.'
'You're going to marry Sister Bernadette?' Tim was gobsmacked. This was more than he had ever dared dream about.
'Shelagh and I'm going to ask her. It's up to her to accept. Tim?' Patrick frowned as tears began pouring down his son's face in earnest this time. 'Tim? I won't ask her if you're not okay with this. Is that it? Do you not want her to marry me?' Tim shook his head, his breath catching on a sob. 'What's wrong then?'
'I'd have a Mum again?' Tim's voice was barely audible and Patrick had to strain to hear it. His heart swelled with the hope in Tim's voice.
'A stepmother yes and perhaps more further down the line.'
'I'd have a Mum! She'll actually be my Mum.' Tim flew into his father's arms again sobbing into his wrapped his arms tightly around the shaking boy, drawing him into his lap. His heart broke. Tim had been so strong these past two years, too strong in retrospect. Evidently he had been bottling up his feelings, hiding them from his father. Yet another thing among many that he'd inherited from his mother. Never had Patrick imagined that Timothy would be so desperate for a mother figure. If only he hadn't have withdrawn from Emily so much perhaps this would never have happened. Perhaps he should have started dating sooner…no…he had been mourning Marie and then had fallen for Shelagh. That was how things were supposed to have worked their way out.

'Oh Tim I'm so sorry. I never realised you still wanted your mother so much.' Tim pulled back and wiped away the tears and snot from his face with the sleeve. Normally Patrick would have rebuked him-it was neither gentlemanly nor useful for the already lagging laundry pile but given the circumstances he was tempted to act likewise with his free flowing tears.

'I do miss her Dad. Every day. But it's not that. I've had this dream for over 5 months that Sister Bernadette would be my mother, that she would make me hot chocolate and tuck me in bed and patch up my grazes with a kiss, that she'd be here every day when I came home from school and everything. They got worse after she was ill. She's really going to be my Mum?'

'I hope so son. I really hope so. Come on. I think we deserve a treat-how does Fish and Chips sound?'
'Sounds good.'
'Then let us eat. And I need to find out about where to get a ring. And work out just how we're going to do this.'

I make no promises but I'm fairly certain you know what the next chapter will probably contain.

Reviews appreciated xxx