Chapter Two
Home At Last
The journey from Hong Kong had been painful. Not just physically to her heaving stomach but mentally too. Put-together-Patsy was no more. She'd left that woman behind. What remained was a hollow shell of the once perfect façade. Once her father had drawn his last breath, in fact even before that point she knew she had to go back. He needed her yes, but in his final days he didn't know her from the scullery maid. It was then the pang of missing Delia hit hardest. She managed to switch into nurse mode with her father and put all feelings to one side as she dealt with the practicalities of his illness. The part she was good at, where she felt safe. But after there was no more caring to be done she'd felt hopeless. Wondering around the large house aimlessly, unable to stop thinking of a small welsh woman with the most beautiful blue eyes. It was then she decided as soon as her Father had passed she'd get the next boat back to Britain. She had thought it would take a few weeks to get his affairs in order but she couldn't wait a few weeks. Nine months away from poplar, away from Delia, had been a special kind of agony for the redhead. And even though she was not an expectant mother, she sympathised.
And so the day after the funeral she'd boarded the first ship to Southampton. People were surprised to see her leave so soon, but she fobbed them off with excuses of "limited amount of leave" from her job.
As she watched Hong Kong disappear past the distant horizon she realised with a lurch that she'd lost everyone. Barely thirty years old and all her surviving relatives were gone. Patsy was not one for grieving. she'd barely come to terms with her mother and sister - always thinking it was better to bury things, especially painful feelings in the hope they'd eventually go away. She'd busied herself the only way she knew how - assisting a pregnant mother onboard.
The mother was roughly 8 months gone and had been struggling in her male-centric cabin. A British sailor had met her in Hong Kong and decided to bring her home to England with her. A kind enough gesture but the woman spoke no english. Although Patsy didn't have her midwifery kit she was more than used to the concept of improvising. They day before the boat docked the mother went into labour. Patsy had delivery her beautiful baby daughter just as the boat entered English waters.
Disembarking of the vessel she left for London via train. The train ride a welcome change for her stomach from the sickly motions of a boat. She watched the familiar English countryside pass blearily through her window, streaks of rain mixed with snow revealing the winter season. And that was the thing, time moved on, even when she wasn't there - just because she had been in another country on another continent didn't mean life paused for everyone feared Hong Kong would suck her in and want to keep her. But she came to find it never had the draw of home that poplar had.
And Poplar had magnetically drawn her home. Or rather Delia. Delia drew her home. Home was being with Delia. She'd spent many many nights thinking about her. Trying to figure out her own insecurities, trying to analyse everything. But the more she tried to work it out the more of a mess inside her head it had become.
The day her father died everything had suddenly become clear - like all the smog in London had lifted over night and she could breathe easily for the first time in her entire life. Delia was the only person in her life that she had left. And she was in danger of losing that which mattered most to her. The façades, the angry outbursts, the worrying what other people might think - it had all hurt Delia. The Welshwoman had remained so stoic through everything, her letters to Hong Kong were full of love but hidden in such a way that a prying eye wouldn't be able to tell the true emotion. And she did it for Patsy. Had Delia had her way she'd be declaring her undying love every other sentence along with her plans of spending the rest of her days with Patsy. The though which had once made her quake now filled her with a warmth that was strange and unfamiliar. She vowed in that moment, no more hiding. No more looking over her shoulder on nights she knew they were alone. No more petty arguments. She'd tell her love anything. She'd tell her everything. Everything she'd been afraid to say in the past because she'd just been too scared to break that wall down.
As Patsy rounded the corner, her solitary suitcase in hand she spotted the etherial merry-go-round in the square outside Nonnatus House. Everyone had gathered to watch the lights and sounds with a childlike wonder on their faces. But through the crowd Patsy found her as if her eyes knew exactly where to go. She stopped dead in her tracks. This was not a time she'd welcome a warm embrace and welcome from Trixie and Barbara. There was only one person she needed right now.
Delia caught her eye and stared. Patsy raised a hand to wave.
Her heart raced when Delia began to close the gap between them and Patsy thought inexplicably of the time where Delia had stood under the same bridge all those months ago. She probably looked a right sight. Hollowed out and exhausted, as if the weight of the world was bearing down on her shoulders. Gone was her impeccable poised appearance. Her jacket hung limply on her tall frame and the hems of her slacks were uneven and tattered. There had been plenty of time to repair them on the voyage home and yet she found she no longer cared about the unraveling of thread. The colour had all but drained from her pale face, leaving obvious marks of hastily applied rouge on her tall cheekbones.
Delia's face was a picture of sadness and, Patsy released with a jolt, anger. She grabbed the taller woman's hand and let her to a nook in the wall outside a shopfront.
Delia wanted to speak but she found herself unable to suck the cold night air into her lungs. She stood waiting for Patsy to talk, her mouth tight lipped to stop it from shaking. Her eyes sought answers, a million questions asked as they locked with their blue twins.
"I got on the boat the day after his funeral." Patsy's voice was husky as if she'd forgotten how to use it.
Delia broke. "I didn't know. I didn't know you were coming back."
"I did. I always did." The redhead dropped the last of her tight resolve. "And wherever I go next… you're coming with me."
And with that she grasped a handful of Delia's coat and pulled her forward, crushing her lips against hers. Electricity ran between them as Delia stroked her cheek with one hand, pulling her closer into her. Patsy's hand flailed slightly as she adjusted her grip on the brunette. She felt her knees begin to buckle as they broke apart and opened their eyes.
Delia was dumbfounded. Patience Mount had kissed her, in full public view without batting an eyelid, without checking behind her - not just a peck that could be described away as a friendly kiss but something that screamed of yearning, of want, of passion - of love.
There were so many questions to be asked and answers to be had from both of them. But from the darkness of each other's eyes they knew those could wait. Wordlessly, Delia picked up Patsy's suitcase as they headed back towards the merry-go-round. Patsy shoved her hands nonchalantly inside her travelling coat as if nothing more out of the ordinary had happened than her petting the stray cat across the street.
"Let's take the side door." Delia's dimples appeared.
Patsy smiled. She was finally home.
The plan became rather futile - it turned out Patsy's hair was a ginger beacon that shone throughout the square and like moths to a flame she became bombarded by a flurry of midwives and nuns.
"Patsy! You're back!" Trixie almost bowled the tall woman over as she engulfed her in a bone crushing hug.
Phyllis smiled broadly, catching Delia's eye. "Welcome back Patsy, you've been sorely missed!"
Delia hovered a short distance from the jubilations. She had hoped they would manage to rest before all the reconciliations but Patsy was getting swamped with welcomes and hugs. Although her face was suitably alight with gratitude, Delia could tell all she wanted was solitude to gather herself. It had been an emotional journey, physically and mentally for her, this could all wait until morning.
She attempted to interrupt proceedings but Barbara was already showing off her new ring and gushing about how sad it was that Patsy had just missed the ceremony. Phyllis seemed to spot her intentions however and barked over the raucous.
"Patsy you look exhausted, I suggest a cup of tea for our weary traveller." She looked at Delia pointedly. "Perhaps young Nurse Busby can assist you."
Delia smiled gratefully at Phyllis. It was dark and could have easily been a trick of the carousel lights but she swore she saw the wise woman wink at her.
Patsy accepted graciously and bid her farewells to everybody, reassuring them she'd see them the following day and regale them with her tales.
Delia picked up her suitcase and the two trudged up the main steps, and allowed the heavy wooden doors to close behind them, instantly reducing the jovial noise outside to a faint murmur. Patsy's eyes closed as she breathed in the somewhat stale air. Nonnatus House always had an aroma similar to those really old vintage bookshops - a warm comforting scent steeped in history and reflection. Delia watched her girlfriend intently, reaching for her arm and giving it a slight squeeze.
"Welcome home Pats." she whispered.
She raised her hand from her arm and stroked the side of her face gently. Patsy was deep in thought but the touch of Delia's warm hand on her almost frostbitten cheek woke her from her reverie.
"What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking about how I could really do with a nice hot steaming bath right now." Patsy's lopsided grin was back, but with less gusto that it usually had.
In the light of the hall Delia could finally see her lover's face clearly. Her eyes were dark rimmed, sunken from tiredness and stress, their usual bright azure seemed less saturated than before. Her facial features, although normally pronounced were almost chiseled, the colour faded from her usually full cheeks and in its place a hastily applied layer of rouge. Once plump lips were dry and chapped, missing their signature blood red lipstick. There was something about her whole demeanour that just seemed older.
"Go on. I'll make you some tea and meet you upstairs in a bit."
Leaning in she placed a chaste kiss on a pale cheek.
As the water simmered to the boil Delia added two spoonfuls of sugar to a faded china cup. Her mind was whirring like the inner workings of a clock. A thousand small gears turning trying to process what had just happened.
Half an hour ago she had been wondering if this was it, if she was destined never to see her love again and now she was upstairs having a bath. A delayed shock began to settle in as she felt her hands shake, unable to replace the lid of the sugar container. This was so sudden, so unplanned. And then for Patsy to kiss her in the middle of the street. Her shaking fingers ghosted her lips. It had not been a chaste kiss either. Delia tried to ignore the pulling of her mind towards the many times she had imagined their reunion; lying awake in the dark, alone in her bed, her mind and imagination wondering-
The water boiled over, startling Delia as she grappled for the pan, burning her hand on the scolding liquid in the process. She yelped, quickly running it under the cold tap. The pain seemed to ground her back into a harsher reality. They would need to talk, that was for sure. She couldn't let Patsy just sidle back into her life without discussing how much she'd hurt her. There were wounds to be healed in their relationship, but they would be addressed with time.
With a sudden trepidation Delia knocked on the bathroom door, tea tray in hand.
"Pats? It's Delia."
"Come in!" came the muffled reply.
Delia balanced the tray with one hand and managed to open the old heavy door with the other, closing it behind her with a loud thunk which echoed off the tiles.
Her eyes fell immediately on the redhead and it was everything she could do to not drop the tray. The room was lit by just a few candles. In the soft light she could see the reflection of Patsy's pale skin. She was laid out in the porcelain white tub, knees pulled up slightly, her height not allowing her to stretch out completely. Her head flung back, eyes closed, hair undone and cascading over the back of the tub. Steam was rising from her exposed skin, hot water almost filling the bath completely. Delia was staring, but she couldn't help herself. The vision before her was like something from a dream.
She steered herself, pulling some courage together.
"Your tea madam!" she said, almost too jovially, sauntering over towards Patsy. Why were her hips swaying? She berated herself internally. "You don't have to have it now but, it might get cold if you leave it too long." she swore her voice was at least one octave higher than usual.
Patsy just accepted the tea graciously, sitting up in the tub slightly and sipping it slowly, trying not to spill any liquid from the full cup.
"God I've missed tea. It's the small things." she smiled.
"They don't have tea in Hong Kong?"
"Not Typhoo."
Delia giggled. "I gave you two sugars. Figured you might need the energy."
"Whatever for?" Patsy asked, her face a picture of innocence. Eyeing her steadily from behind the cup, her eyes flicked to Delia's lips for a brief second.
More and more convinced she was turning the shade of an actual beetroot, Delia decided to steer the conversation onto safer grounds.
Halfway through a particularly amusing anecdote about Fred Patsy reached out and held Delia's hand, her thumb rubbing small circles, bringing her rambling to a sudden halt. There was silence apart from the slow dripping of bath water on the floor from Patsy's outstretched arm. Suddenly aware her breathing had become very shallow, Delia met the older woman's eyes.
"Deels, as amusing as Fred is, I couldn't care less about him right now." Patsy's voice was low, very low.
Delia swallowed hard. Throat suddenly dry, brain unable to form words. "Pats- " her voice broke.
"I've missed you." the redhead whispered, bring her hand up to lovingly stroke the curve of Delia's neck.
The touch was electrifying. Delia felt her nerve endings come alive, a spark she had not felt in nine long months suddenly reignited. Her eyes closed involuntarily as she revelled in the touch.
"Could you pass me my towel? This bath is getting cold and maybe we should go somewhere more... comfortable?"
The Welsh woman's hands were shaking again as she held out the towel. As Patsy rose from the bath, she noticed just how much her bones were jutting out from under her skin. She had definitely lost weight and was looking very thin, almost unhealthily so. Wrapping the taller woman in the towel Delia held on for a moment longer, head buried in her back, breathing in the smell of soap and bleach.
"I'm so glad you're home." she whispered, tears beginning to prickle at the corners of her eyes.
They entered Delia's room silently out of habit, avoiding all the squeaky floorboards despite knowing they were completely alone in the house.
Delia took a sharp intake of breath. They were alone. For quite possibly the first time since they had sat on that threadbare blanket and toasted to their future in that cold rundown flat before everything had come undone. That seemed like an eternity ago. She shivered, not from the chill of the room but from her last memory of Patsy as she'd cycled away.
Patsy moved closer until they were almost touching. The Welsh woman's skin buzzed with anticipation for the her touch. She was surprised there wasn't a low humming sound from the conductive surface that was just longing for the circuit to be completed. Bending down Patsy brushed her lips against Delia's. In that moment all the oxygen was sucked from the room as both women gasped simultaneously. The second kiss was no where near as measured. Their mouths clashed together, hard. Teeth knocking together but they didn't care. Delia felt Patsy's tongue seeking entrance and allowed her mouth to part slightly. My god, she'd missed this. Placing a hand on the taller woman's waist, Delia pulled her impossibly closer, deepening the kiss, both tongues sliding and swiping with pent up desire. Their kissing soon became frenzied, a sense of urgency apparent.
Patsy's hand had made its way from Delia's left cheek to her back and had began making quick work of the zip on her dress. Delia moaned into her mouth. The red head was never this forthcoming but as long fingers worked their way under her dress and traced the straps of her brassier she found it incredibly alluring.
"Delia... I ... I need... -" Patsy gasped between kisses.
The lack of contact had taken it's toll on both women. At some point all that control had to come crashing down.
"Pats, wait - "
Delia pulled back, her face flushed, lips swollen, dress falling off her shoulders and stray wisps of hair falling from her tousled bun. Instant concern flashed over the tall midwife's features as she withdrew contact.
"Is everything alright? I'm sorry - would you rather we didn't?"
"No! I mean, Yes." Delia gathered herself. "Everything's fine Pats. I want to keep going but - maybe we should lock the door first? I know we're alone but I'd rather not chance the possibility of a stray nun finding us like this." she finished sheepishly.
"That sounds like my line." Patsy broke into a broad grin then padded over to the oak door, sliding the rickety bolt home.
Delia meanwhile completed the tall woman's previous intentions and slid out of her navy silk dress. Patsy's eyes roamed all over the newly exposed skin. Together they managed to rid Delia of all her undergarments with record speed. Now was not the time for slow romantic reunions.
Patsy removed Delia's hair from its tight bun, letting it fall down the smaller woman's shoulders and brushing away soft strands from her eyes. She hovered her lips an inch from Delia's left ear and whispered softly. "I want you Delia Busby."
Delia shivered, not just from the hot breath that was making goosebumps erupt all over her skin. The time away in Hong Kong had only made to sharpen Patsy's clear cut glass accent. Her voice did unimaginable things to Delia's insides, a warm desire shot from her chest to the apex of her legs causing her to whimper. She needed contact. Now.
As if she could read her lover's thoughts the redhead crashed heir lips together again in a searing kiss full of yearning and want; echoing the almost animal need radiating between the two women. Delia bit down gently on her lover's bottom lip and both women groaned quietly. They may have been alone but old habits died hard and the need to be silent was still a necessity, albeit processed though hazy minds.
Patsy's hands began to move from Delia's hair, running up down her back, ghosting over dips and curves before scraping her nails gently over the exposed skin. Delia gasped, her who body shuddering, her nerve endings on fire. She began reaching for Patsy's towel, now the only barrier between them. It fell to the floor and finally skin met skin as they pressed their bodies together, revelling in the fullness of the contact they had been denied for so long. Delia's brain all but short circuited from the feeling of Patsy's warm soft breasts pressed against her own. The sensation did nothing but increase the rapid need pooling in her groin and from her lover's sighs she was clearly not alone in that predicament.
Lips never parting they managed to dance backwards awkwardly before Patsy's long legs hit the bed and she sat down, pulling the smaller woman onto her lap. Delia's thighs clamped around Patsy's hips, effectively pinning her to the bed as her mouth slid from those perfectly full lips and began an agonisingly slow descent, pepping a trail of small wet hot kisses from the redheads neck down and then along her pronounced collarbone.
"Christ Deels..." Patsy managed, her voice surpassing husky and sounding straight up hoarse.
Her hips bucked helplessly against Delia initiating a brief but torturous contact that elicited quiet moans from both women.
"I can't believe how much I've missed you..." she was silenced as Delia placed a finger over those perfect lips, cutting her off mid-sentence.
"Shh. Don't speak."
Delia's hand found Patsy's breast just as her mouth closed on the pulse point at her neck. The place Delia knew drove her completely wild. She revelled in how soft Patsy was, despite having battled the elements on board a ship for the past month, the tall midwife's skin was silky smooth.
Delia's hand came to rest, rolling a perfect coral nipple between her thumb and pointer finger. She felt it harden instantly as Patsy let out a hiss, her head falling backward. Repeating the motion she closed her lips around the other nipple, sucking and then biting very gently while massaging the other breast reverently. Patsy stiffened under her and Delia allowed herself a pleased smile. After nine long months, to know she still had this effect on the redhead was exhilarating.
Patsy's hands were now raking down Delia's back, cupping and squeezing whatever they could find along the way. Delia grabbed her lover's arms and with a swift movement guided them both to lie down on the bed, tongues and legs entangled together. Straddling the tall woman, Delia took a moment to behold the wonder that was before her.
Patsy's still damp red hair was strewn over the contrasting white pillow in a beautiful fan. Her eyes were hooded and the deepest darkest blue Delia had ever seen. Her red lips slightly parted, swollen from the frantic kissing. Breasts rising and falling with ragged breaths, nipples still erect and shining in the dim light. In that moment Delia didn't think she'd ever seen something or someone so beautiful.
Noticing the pause in their movements, Patsy reached out to cup Delia's cheek, her eyes searching, offering so much reassurance and love that Delia felt tears begin to threaten to fall once again. There were no words needed in that moment. She hid any onset of emotion with another heated kiss. Delia jammed a solid thigh between Patsy's legs and gasped at the wet heat it found. Patsy's eyes rolled back into her head as she ground against the Welsh woman, desperate for friction.
Withdrawing her thigh Delia began pepping kisses all over Patsy's torso. She felt her lover's hands put gentle pressure on her head, encouraging her lower and lower. Trailing her tongue lightly over Patsy's abdomen she inhaled the heady smell of the redhead's arousal. She herself to sit between Patsy's legs, allowing herself one more glance towards her face. Blue eyes met blue and Delia closed the gap, lightly kissing the crop of light curls.
Finally she closed her mouth around the swollen nub and gently, ever so gently sucked once, twice. Patsy groaned as her head fell back into the pillow, one hand on Delia's hair, the other jammed in her mouth. Her hips raised, trying to increase the contact but Delia steadied them with her hand all whilst keeping a gentle pressure with her mouth.
"Deels." gasped Patsy through her fist.
Delia hummed, the vibrations causing Patsy's hips to buck again. Slowly she began to increase the pace, still focused on the bundle of nerves that most needed her attention. Gentle flicks turned into longer, lapping motions as she began to flatten her tongue, humming to increase the sensations for her girlfriend. Patsy's grip on her head had become vice-like, the tall woman's breaths coming in short sharp gasps. Delia's attempts to still her hips were abandoned as she focused on the task at hand. She could feel the insistent, growing heat in her groin but clenched her thighs together, trying to dispel her own desires for the moment.
"Delia... " Patsy whined.
Delia stilled her motions briefly and looked up doe-eyed at the redhead.
"More... I need... you...inside..."
Her words were disjointed but Delia knew exactly what was asking for. Rising up, she lay beside her, propped up on one elbow, kissing Patsy with a fervour. Her hand trailed down Patsy's abdomen and fingers dipped into the same slick wetness that her mouth had left only moments ago. Patsy grunted into the kiss, her hips bucking against Delia's hand, demanding more. Deciding to finally give in to the torture Delia slowly slipped two fingers inside Patsy's warmth.
"Oh..." Patsy groaned loudly as her walls clamped down on the brunette's digits.
She began to move slowly, letting the tall woman adjust to the sensation but Patsy's hips had other ideas. They rocked violently as Delia steadied them and began to set a slow, deep rhythm. Patsy's hand was roaming all over Delia's sides, coming to rest on her hand and deftly trying to increase its pace. As Delia obliged, she felt Patsy's other wandering hand stroke up her inner thigh and come to rest on her patch of dark curls.
Delia's eyes fluttered at the contact, her concentration and hand movements momentarily lapsing as Patsy's fingers met her own wetness.
"Christ Deels..." Patsy exclaimed between pants.
Despite their position, Delia blushed slightly. She hadn't realised the extent of her own desire until now. Patsy brought her other hand to Delia's face, cupping it and lovingly stroking the smaller woman's cheek with her thumb.
"Together?" she whispered.
Delia nodded.
She groaned loudly as two of Patsy's long fingers slid into her, filling her completely. They stayed completely still for a moment, revelling in the sensation of a complete physical connection to each other. Then desire took over and the movements began again, this time in perfect sync to each other.
Their slow movements quickly increased in pace and before very long Delia felt a coil building low in her abdomen. Her hips bucked against Patsy's hand, her own hand reaching with a thumb to rub tight circles on the small bundle of nerves causing the redhead to gasp and grind against her harder. When the taller woman's hand mirrored hers, rubbing gentle circle patterns Delia moaned softly. A tingling sensation began to spread from her legs, all up her body as both women gasped desperately for air, their movements becoming more and more frenzied.
They were building together. They were together. It was in that moment the realisation dawned completely on Delia. Patsy was home, the long empty nights of waiting were over, she could finally let go and love with all she had. Patsy's fingers thrust and then curled inside her and Delia felt herself reach the top. The dam broke. A whiplash of pleasure jolted through her entire body as her back arched and her lungs expelled a loud guttural groan. White hot light exploded behind her eyes and every single nerve ending in her body sparked and fizzled with an invisible electricity. Patsy was there with her, as with a few final thrusts of her fingers she too reached the point of ultimate pleasure, crying out, the shockwaves travelling through both of their bodies in unison. Muscles clenched as the aftershock rolled over each of them, both panting hard, fighting for air, trying to relieve their oxygen starved brains.
The haze settled but neither woman moved. They remained connected, not wanting to part. Delia rested her forehead against Patsy's and kissed her mouth, slowly. Trying to show her just how much love she was feeling in that current moment. Tears pricked again but this time Delia did nothing to stop them from falling. The tidal-wave of emotions had been set loose and relief expelled through salty liquid.
Slowly they eased apart. Instantly feeling empty, they wrapped their arms around each other, holding on for dear life. The tears were flowing freely now between both women. Great shuddering sobs turned to small sniffs and finally petered out completely. Exhaustion overtook them and they drifted off into sleep, contained within each other's embrace.
"Dai, wait!"
"Keep up Delia, there's a perfect one just over this river."
"I'm trying. Your legs are too long."
Dai laughed heartily, his unbroken alto voice echoing off the surrounding hillsides.
Delia huffed as she finally caught up with her gangly friend. Her knee was scraped and bloody, no doubt her mam would have a few choice words upon her return about ruining another dress. Delia didn't understand why she didn't just let her wear trousers or shorts like the other boys. Skirts and dresses always got in the way of anything vaguely outdoorsy.
"There!" he said eagerly, pointing at the tall spruce tree from which a crude rope swing hung, suspended above the river.
They exchanged a gleeful glance.
"Race you."
Without waiting for her friend, Delia splashed her way across the stream. The water getting in her shoes but she didn't mind. It made her socks make a satisfying squelch noise when she reached the other side.
"Not fair, you had a head start." Dai whined, bringing up the rear.
"Five seconds for every leg shorter than yours. It's only fair Dai Llewellyn."
Delia hoisted herself up onto the rope swing with surprising ease for a 9 year old.
"I can see farmer Ferguson's new lambs from here."
Dai craned his neck. "What are they doing?"
"Jumping." said Delia, matter of factly.
"Bet they can't jump as high as I can push you." He said.
Delia barely had time to grasp the coarse rope before Dai had pushed her, hard. She let out a cry of joy, the wind soared through her hair, battering her flushed cheeks. She felt like she was flying, like the pilots that flew those planes overhead.
The sunlight was fading but golden rays filtered through the clouds, bathing the valley in a beautiful light. The only sound the far off bleating of sheep and the laughter of the two children.
Dai pushed her again, harder this time. Her stomach dropped for a second as she felt the rope go slack but the swing held and she flew again, laughing from the adrenaline rush. She was soaring higher and higher with each push.
Suddenly the rope snapped and she was falling... falling...
Delia awoke as she hit cold hard wood, the dream vanishing around her, remnants of the Welsh countryside and Dai's panicked voice still hazy in her peripheral. Grumbling she shook her head trying to ground herself back in the present.
It was still pitch black outside. Subconsciously she checked herself, nothing broken, head seemed fine, everything was alright apart from the fact she was on the floor and not in her bed. A whimper came from the bed and she startled.
It all came flooding back like ice through her veins. Patsy was home, she was back, she was in her bed, they had - well last night had been, but wait, why was she on the floor?
The whimper came again, louder this time. Delia pulled herself up, wincing slightly, there'd be a bruised elbow in the morning. From the little light that came from the streetlamp outside their window she could see the sleeping form of the redhead. Patsy was taking up the whole single bed, tangled in the linen sheets, clearly having just ejected Delia from her own mattress.
Then Patsy murmured something that made Delia's blood run cold.
"Mum..."
Delia scanned the scene again. Patsy's knuckles were white, clasped tight around the sheets. She jolted violently in her sleep, pulling a hand to her chest and began breathing rapidly.
"No... please. Watashi o kizutsukenaide!" she pleaded with an invisible person.
Delia's eyes filled with tears. She had no idea what the taller woman was saying but it sounded like Japanese. Patsy had not had a nightmare since Nursing School. They had never talked about the night Delia had come barging into Patsy's room when she'd heard the screaming, put her arms around the tall woman and calmed her till they both slept soundly.
"Patsy..." she whispered tentatively, reaching out a shaking hand to stroke the fiery red hair.
The touch seemed to do nothing but aggravate the situation. Patsy's long limbs folded together as she collapsed into the foetal position and began shaking.
Delia hesitated, unsure of what to do. Just then Patsy sat bolt upright, her eyes wide and her mouth open and began to scream. Delia jumped up, held her gently by the shoulders and locked eyes with the terrified blue.
"Patsy. You're alright. It's me, it's Delia. You're in London. You're safe." she tried to keep her voice steady and calm.
Patsy's scream petered out and she drew a shuddering breath before collapsing forward onto Delia, her body wracked with sobs. Delia held her tightly, one hand on her back, the other stroking her hair.
"Shh, you're alright, everything's alright." she kept repeating.
A small knock at the door made her look up quickly. It opened a crack and the concerned face of Phyllis appeared. The older woman was in uniform, clearly on call and had heard the commotion. She surveyed the scene; both woman in the center of the bed surrounded by a mess of bedsheets. Delia thanked her lucky stars they had got back into their pyjamas.
She looked at Delia questioningly.
Delia mouthed silently "Nightmare." but did not move from her position, kneeling in front of the distressed woman.
"Is there anything I can do?" Phyllis whispered kindly.
Delia shook her head. "We'll be okay, thank you."
Phyllis nodded and closed the door quietly behind her.
Patsy's breathing had evened out, but her body was still shaking uncontrollably in Delia's arms. The Welshwoman glanced at the bedside table. The luminous hands of a small clock read four o'clock. She shivered. They needed to get under the covers.
Gently laying Patsy down, Delia tucked her messy hair behind her and reached for the discarded duvet, pulling it over them both before wrapping her arms around her lover again. The momentary loss of contact was enough for Patsy to whimper again.
"Shhh Cariad. I'm here."
Delia pressed her body heat to the shivering woman, trying to transfer as much warmth, love and safety as she could.
"Delia..." came a shaky voice.
"Rwy'n dy garu di."
Patsy's breathing became slower and more steady. She had stopped shaking, just the occasional twitch jumped from her settling limbs. Satisfied her girlfriend was in no more immediate distress Delia allowed herself to relax. Her eyelids quickly became heavy and she drifted off into an uneven sleep, Patsy still wrapped in the safety of her embrace.