Delia stirred as she felt a small pressure on her inner wrist. Blinking the sleep from her eyes Patsy came into focus, her two fingers taking the smaller woman's pulse. Delia tried to sit up to greet her and instantly felt a wave of dizziness wash her vision. Groaning, she sank back down into bed, eyes closed.

Everything hurt. Well, in particular, her lower abdomen and back. Her head was also pounding out the beat of a familiar migraine. The pain in her uterus radiated round to her back and sides, coming in waves, starting at a grumble and erupting into full blown agony. She briefly recalled vomiting earlier, the pain had been so bad. Whilst she was not new to the concept of intense periods, this month so far had been a whole new level of hurt.

Patsy's fingers left her wrist and she felt the back of a cool hand rest on her forehead.

"How are you feeling?" whispered the redhead, as if any loud noise would shatter the brunette like glass.

"Sore." Delia admitted, opening her eyes.

The room was dark thankfully, Patsy had had the good grace to close the curtains and Delia couldn't have been more glad. She had no idea how long she'd been asleep, but her shoulder was very stiff which lead her to believe it had been a while. A glance at the bedside clock told her it was late afternoon.

"Still just cramps sore?"

"Just cramps, yes." Delia mumbled grumpily.

Patsy's face screwed up apologetically. "You don't feel like you have a fever or anything?"

Delia shook her head and immediately regretted it. She winced sharply.

"Headache too?"

"Mhmm."

Patsy cursed under her breath. "I shouldn't have left you alone - what if you'd had a seizure..." she muttered more to herself than to Delia.

"What time is it?" Delia stretched a little, trying to stretch her aching body. Patsy was in focused nurse mode right now and it was worrying her a little.

"It's nearly tea time." Patsy said, "Do you feel like eating something?"

"No, not really," Delia said. The thought of food right now was making her stomach queasy and her head spin. Or perhaps that had just been from moving her head. She couldn't tell anymore.

"How about a cup of tea? We need to give you some energy."

"Okay." She nodded cautiously, her stomach still a couple of miles offshore, but seemingly not completely opposed to that concept. Perhaps just tea would be alright.

Patsy left to prepare it and Delia managed to prop herself up at last. When her head finally stopped spinning she saw some evidence that suggested Patsy had set up base next to her bed. An armchair from the spare room was situated nearby, covered in blankets. It was clear she'd had her own personal watch for today.

Just as the aforementioned redheaded nurse returned with the tea, a new wave of pain was beginning to build. Delia screwed her eyes tight shut, trying hard not to tense her muscles and make it worse.

"Is it hurting again?" Patsy asked.

Delia nodded once sharply.

"Can I have a gentle feel of your tummy?" she asked cautiously.

Delia sighed and pulled up her pyjamas and lay down, allowing Patsy access to her pale stomach. The redhead breathed on her hands and rubbed them together to warm them up before placing them softly on the smaller woman's abdomen.

"Tell me if I'm hurting you," she whispered.

Gentle, yet firm hands worked their way across Delia's tummy. It didn't seem to hurt any more when Patsy pressed down than when she didn't. But then she hit a particularly sensitive spot and Delia let out a hiss, holding her breath.

"It's alright Deels, breathe. Breathe through it." Patsy encouraged and replaced her pyjama top.

Delia very nearly chuckled at that. The sentence reminded of the time not too long ago when Doctor Turner had set her shoulder. Their profession as midwives was clearly coming in handy right about now, even if the cause of her symptoms was nowhere near the same as giving birth.

It bloody well felt like it though. Shame there wasn't even a reward at the end of it.

Before she could help herself Delia began to cry. Perhaps she was just over emotional, the hormones surging through her body - or maybe it was just being fed up of the pain. Even so, the tears came far too easily and with them, great shuddering sobs that wracked her whole body.

"I'm so sorry, Pats." she choked.

"Shh, it's okay." Patsy stroked her hair. "Let it all out, as Trixie would say."

Patsy held the brunette close as she cried, not telling her to 'calm down' or 'stop overreacting' like the voices inside Delia's head. Eventually she gave in trying to stop it all and had a jolly good cry. It actually felt good to let go. Cathartic almost. She should follow her own advice more often she thought dryly.

Eventually the tears petered out and Delia felt much better. It hadn't helped her headache at all and she was very grateful when Patsy pressed a glass of cold water to her lips.

"Drink up, you're probably quite dehydrated."

Delia sucked the water and swallowed. It seemed to go down fine so she sipped again. Her throat which had been burning from the bile earlier was instantly eased. Patsy seemed releaved at the progress and smiled in encouragement.

"Have you been here all day?" Delia asked, glancing at the stockpile of blankets and new chair.

Patsy shook her head, "No, I went out for a bit after lunch."

Delia frowned. Patsy was doing that thing where she was avoiding her gaze. A tactic she normally deployed when she was avoiding something.

"Where did you go?" Delia asked casually, trying not to sound too suspicious as she sipped her water.

Patsy bit her bottom lip, a battle clearly going on inside her head. "I went to see your mam."

Of all the things she could have said, Delia had not been expecting that. She almost spat out her mouthful of Welsh spring water all over the covers.

"What? Why!"

"I didn't want us to leave for London tomorrow on a confrontation," Patsy said softly, "I think I managed to make some sort of truce." She took the water glass from Delia and set it somewhere safer.

Delia's eyes widened in surprise. She couldn't deny she was slightly impressed. Patsy must have weaved some impressive magic back there. "What happened?"

Patsy recounted her tale well enough but Delia couldn't help but notice the lack of eye contact from the redhead at certain points. Almost as if she wasn't telling her the whole story.

"Your dad is lovely." She smiled.

Delia grinned. "He is rather." She shifted a little, trying to find a more comfortable position. "And so is mam, when she's in a good mood."

Patsy smiled lopsidedly.

"Thank you for extending the olive branch," Delia whispered, "I really should've been the one to do it. I was the one who overreacted."

"No. No you didn't. Overreact I mean," Patsy said firmly.

Delia smiled. "Thanks Pats, but I really did. And I think these stupid hormones are to blame."

Worry flashed over Patsy's face again.

"I'll be alright." Delia reassured. "It's just a bad one this month that's all," she sighed.

Patsy fidgeted with the duvet. "I also called Dr Turner earlier."

Delia's eyebrows shot up - a look of surprise not too dissimilar to her mother's.

"I was worried about you." Patsy sighed, reaching over to hold Delia's hand gently in her own.

"What did he say?" Delia ventured.

Patsy frowned, "Well, he wants to see you when we get back to London. I told him as much information as I could over the phone, the fact you've been vomiting but you don't seem to have a fever. I think we've ruled out an infection but he does want to have a few more tests. Your abdomen isn't distended which is a good sign. It doesn't look like your local GP is open until Monday. And I figured it would be better seeing someone you know."

"You make it sound like I'm really ill, Pats." Delia's frown matched Patsy's.

The redhead met her gaze steadily. "Deels, whatever this is," she indicated to Delia's tummy, "it's not exactly 'normal' is it?"

Delia shrugged, "I get bad periods all the time Pats. It's normal for me." That was a lie. She had never had one quite this bad before.

"Yes, but it shouldn't be." Patsy fought back. "Not to the point where you're throwing up from the pain. And what if the seizures are somehow related?"

The brunette considered this statement for a moment. She hadn't really the energy to argue with the redhead right now, so decided to concede defeat with a sigh.

"If this was a patient of yours, would you be happy to let them carry on as they were?" Patsy asked kindly.

"No." Delia admitted.

"I don't know if there's something else going on, but I really think you should at least see Doctor Turner."

"Fine." Delia sighed, "I'll go and see him when we get back."

Perhaps Patsy was right, there'd be no harm in going to see him would there. Besides, he might be able to give her some better pain relief, or something else to help ease things. One thing was for sure, she wouldn't be able to nurse properly if she was out of action for a few days every month. That would not do.

"Thank you." Patsy squeezed her hand gently. "Also - about getting back - do you think you'll be able to travel tomorrow?"

As much as it hurt her pride to do so, Delia shook her head. "I don't think so, sorry Pats. Unless I wake up tomorrow and feel much better. I don't want to be sick all over the first class train seats." She suddenly realised the implications of not being able to travel. "What about the lady who owns the house - she's coming back tomorrow afternoon!"

"Shh, it's alright," Patsy said calmly. "I'll sort something out."

Delia bit her lip and nodded just as a fresh wave of pain overtook her. She slammed her eyes shut and felt Patsy move away. About to protest, she opened her eyes a crack to see the taller woman popping two painkillers out of the pill packet.

"Here, Doctor Turner said you could up your dose for the next couple of days." She handed Delia the medicine.

Delia swallowed the pills without complaint, glugging down a considerable amount of water with them. Such was her enthusiasm, she started choking. Patsy bent her forward and gave her a firm slap but all it did was cause more pain to radiate up her back.

"Ow." Delia coughed.

Patsy winced, "Sorry old thing."

The coughing subsided as the water finally found its way down the correct tubes into Delia's stomach. The next few moments were spent waiting for the painkillers to kick in.

"Do you want me to rub your back?" Patsy asked tentatively.

Delia smiled. "Yes please."

With Patsy's hand rubbing soothing circles on her lower back and the painkillers finally beginning to set to work, Delia's eyes felt heavy once again.

"Try and drink some tea before you go back to sleep." Patsy encouraged, holding out the now tepid cup.

Delia took it and attempted to drink a little. It helped the liquid was no longer scalding hot, it seemed to slip down easily, even if her stomach complained a little at the intrusion. She managed to polish off half a mug before admitting defeat. Fortunately Patsy didn't push her to consume any more of the stuff.

"Well done." Patsy smiled.

Delia grunted and was finally allowed to lie back down again. Her back muscles were screaming a little less loudly than before as she straightened the awkward curve in her spine.

Sleep finally came and with it no more pain - the medicine doing it's work.

Apart from a few emergency toilet trips in the middle of the night, Delia slept pretty well. After the third trip she gently requested for Patsy not to assist her - the poor redhead also needed rest after all - she'd had quite the taxing day too.

Sunday dawned with an overcast sky and muggy temperature. Their bedroom was airless and stuffy so the first thing Patsy did upon waking (other than checking on Delia of course and making she took her morning medication) was to open the window. The brunette stirred only briefly to swallow her pills before falling right back asleep again.

It was gone lunchtime (according to the bedside clock) when Delia finally woke again. Her migrane had improved greatly and was now just a dull headache. The increased dose in painkillers seemed to be keeping the worst of her cramps at bay and allowed for her muscles to relax. As such, she woke feeling quite rested. However, there was still a residual lingering tiredness that would not seem to shift.

Feeling much better than the previous day, Delia called for Patsy. The redhead poked her head round the door, clearly happy to see the brunette in such high spirits.

"Hello, you. How are you feeling?" Pats smiled widely.

"Better... I think." Delia's dimples made a tentative appearance.

Only when she stood up to troop to the bathroom did she suddenly get hit with a wave of dizziness.

"Oh no no no..." Patsy grabbed her safely before she managed to topple over. "I've got you."

Gently she eased the smaller woman back into a sitting position on the bed. Delia had already put her head between her legs to try and increase blood flow to her brain. It was helpful having two nurses in the room sometimes.

She felt Patsy take her radial pulse again. The redhead frowned. It did feel quite high, Delia thought as she listened to her heart pounding rapidly in her ears. Her blood pressure was probably through the floor too. That's probably what she got for not eating properly the day before. As if reading her mind Patsy offered a solution.

"I'm going to help you to the bathroom and back - then I'm going to make us some toast. Just plain toast and butter, maybe some jam on the side, if you feel up for it."

Delia nodded. Her stomach growled in appreciation of the idea. Well, that was progress at least. And the water had seemed to help her headache.

With surprising speed, Delia managed to wolf down the offered toast and jam, even going so far as to lick the crumbs off her fingers. Patsy watched from her seat looking rather impressed.

"Better?" she winked.

"Much." Delia affirmed, the toast already giving her a much needed energy boost.

Just as Patsy collected the plates and headed downstairs again, there was a rap on their front door. Delia frowned - was it the owner of the house back early? Panic rose in her chest. They'd not had a chance to clean the place and it had been blatantly obvious they'd been sharing a bed. The plan had been to ruffle the bed in the spare room for appearances sake before leaving. Perhaps Patsy had remembered? The brunette strained her ears, trying to hear what was happening downstairs.

There were murmured voices, one lower than the other. So there was a man? She couldn't make out a word of what they were saying. Feeling more and more confused, Delia tried to get up and out of bed, immediately regretting the decision and flopping back down again as a bolt of pain shot through her. The voices were growing louder - two pairs of footsteps coming up the stairs, onto the landing.

"Deels, are you decent?" called Patsy from behind the closed door of the bedroom.

"Yes," Delia called back.

The door creaked open and in walked Patsy with Huw in tow.

"Tad?" Delia exclaimed, "what are you doing here?"

Her dad smiled, "A little birdie told me you weren't feeling too great. Not only that you're about to be kicked out this lovely holiday home this afternoon. We can't have that now can we, bach? So I've come to rescue you of course."

Delia's mouth hung open. Her eyes flicked between her father and Patsy.

"Wha... what do you mean?" she stuttered.

Patsy smiled and backed out the room, muttering something about getting them both some tea. Huw perched on the side of her bed.

"Well, I came round to see how you were doing. Patsy told me yesterday you weren't feeling too well. And she told me just now about your... predicament as far as accomodation goes. And well, forgive me for assuming but I think the solution is more than obvious. You two should stay with us until you're better and able to travel."

Ignoring the pain, Delia flung her arms around her dad tightly. The wind got knocked out of him and he laughed, patting her gently on the shoulder. She pulled back slightly, worry etched on her features.

"What about mam?"

"Let me deal with your mam, bach. You just focus on feeling better."

And so, that afternoon, after Patsy had cleaned the house within an inch of its life (including changing all the sheets) they left the keys where they'd found them, under the begonia bush and made their way to the Busby house. Mr Busby thankfully had a small car, so he took both girls and their luggage the short distance across Tenby. The little ford struggled with the weight of three people and luggage going up hills, but made it there safely. Not before they'd stopped at the chip shop on the way to get Delia a small portion of chips. Bad food was better than no food after all.

Huw helped carry all their luggage upstairs into Delia's old room which had since been converted into the spare bedroom. Her brother's room was packed full of storage boxes and products from the draper's shop, but Delia assured her worried dad they would be completely fine sharing the double bed, besides, her illness was not exactly infectious.

Meanwhile, tight-lipped Enid had watched the entire thing unfold without so much as lifting a finger to help. It was clear there was a riot going on inside her head but she did nothing to let it show. Her last act of defiance seemed to be her refusal to help. Delia knew although her mam was a force to be reckoned with, her dad did know how to stand up for himself. Huw had obviously put his foot down this time it seemed and his word was final. Patsy and Delia were staying.

As Sunday night drew in, Delia flopped into the rickety double bed in her old room. Her mam had bought it when she'd left for London, meaning to turn the bedroom into a spare room for family and friends. After her accident, Delia had taken up residence there for the few months she'd been home. Not much had changed since then as far as decor, she observed. But an awful lot had changed inside her.

She heard Patsy in the upstairs bathroom, brushing her teeth. It was rather surreal if she were being honest. Just knowing Patsy of all people was here in her house about to join her in her bed. Her mam had shot them a look of daggers as they'd said goodnight. She'd even tried her best during dinner to offer up a 'very comfortable sofa' for Patsy. But Delia (and Huw for that matter) were having none of it.

"What if Delia has a turn in the night? Patsy won't be able to help if she's down here!"

Delia didn't really think her tad had much of an idea or concept of what their relationship actually was and (thankfully) he didn't seem to want to ask. She was glad in a way that he was accepting without prying. Unlike her mam, her dad always seemed to respect her privacy when it came to personal matters. To him it was probably quite clear. They cared about each other, they loved each other, they were happy around each other - so who was he to deny them that? If only everyone could see it the same way, she sighed.

The sun had inched below the horizon as the two women lay in bed together at the end of the day. Patsy's fingers intertwined with Delia's and she held them up, trying to study them in the dim light. It was still warm and stuffy, so much so the pair had neglected their duvet, leaving it at the bottom of the bed and favouring a thin over sheet instead. Even Patsy's plaid pyjamas were too much and the redhead decided to only wear the top half. It did fall to her knees anyway allowing for some modesty. Delia rolled up her sleeves and cuffs, fashioning some sort of summer attire that made Patsy giggle.

And it was like this they lay now, content together, Patsy's thumb lightly stroking the soft flesh of Delia's hand. The brunette let out a contented sigh. Her pain had gotten a lot better over the past few hours and some of the brain fog had definitely lifted.

"I'm sorry, Pats," she whispered into the darkness.

"What for?" came a gentle reply.

"For ruining the end of a perfect holiday," Delia sighed.

Patsy turned, trying to find Delia's eyes in the dark. "Don't be ridiculous, Deels. You haven't ruined anything. I've loved every moment, just being with you. And if it means we get an extra day in this wonderful country, well, I'm not complaining."

Under cover of darkness Delia allowed herself a smile. Bless Patsy for being a complete and utter Phyllis-Crane-worthy brick at times of crisis and hardship. God, she loved this woman. Unable to think of a suitable response to the wonderful statement she'd just heard, Delia just closed the distance, lips searching for skin. Her mouth found the softness of a cheek and from there she managed to navigate a trail of kisses to Patsy's full lips.

Patsy seemed more than eager to respond and soon they were kissing deeply and passionately on Delia's bed. Delia's hands were all over the taller woman. She felt a sudden need to touch her everywhere, all at once. The redhead stifled a whimper when Delia grasped her waist frimly, pulling their bodies flush.

Breaking the kiss for air Patsy huffed indignantly.

"What's wrong?" Delia whispered.

"Well... I mean we can't exactly..." Patsy whispered back, "It's just... you know."

"I can't, no." Delia replied, "but you can..."

"I was more referring to the fact that we are in your parent's house and they are sleeping literally across the hall from us." Patsy cleared her throat, trying to make Delia see.

"So?" Delia nibbled a sweet spot on Patsy neck.

Patsy gasped as teeth grazed her skin. "So," she repeated, "what if they hear us? Your mum will surely have a heart-attack."

"Then you'll just have to be super quiet won't you." Delia whispered as seductively as she could into Patsy's left ear.

"Hrrmmmph." Patsy moaned frustratedly into the pillow, "this is so unfair."

"No it's not." Delia protested, just as her thigh ground upwards and made contact with a rather sensitive spot of Patsy's anatomy.

She felt the redhead all but melt backwards into the bed, the resistance leaving her completely as her hips rose to meet her.

"But I mean... We don't have to if you don't want to." Delia offered, removing the thigh and rolled over so her back faced the worked up taller woman, a smirk playing on her lips.

Patsy groaned quietly at the lack of contact. "Don't be ridiculous, Deels!" she hissed, "please..."

Delia flipped back around, her expression very mischievous. "Please what?"

"I want you mouth on me." Patsy's breathing was rather ragged.

The Welshwoman gulped. Patsy had never been this forward before in her requests, normally they were completely silent during their love making, apart from the odd instruction (sometimes in Welsh) and more often or not they acted on instinct. This had been the first time Patsy had specifically asked for something. It was strangely exhilarating.

"Okay." Delia's voice was hoarse.

She dipped her head under the sheet, taking time to kiss gently down pale thighs. Hearing Patsy's breath hitch above her, she pushed her hips slightly. Taking the hint, Patsy adjusted herself so she was half sitting against the headboard, knees bent. There were some advantages to this hot weather, Delia mused as she took in the long expanse of her lover's bare, pyjamaless legs, following them upwards with kisses and caresses.

Gently, she placed a hand on both Patsy's knees and spread her legs before reaching down and unbuttoning her pyjama top. The fabric fell open and Delia could just about make out the roundness of her breasts in the dim light of the bedroom. Despite sight being a little obscured in the dark, her other senses seemed to be heightened. She was now hyper aware of any little sound the redhead made, every tiny breath, sigh and mumble. Patsy trying to control her volume was rather amusing.

Wanting to tease for a little while longer, she reached out and lightly ran her fingertips over Patsy's exposed breasts. She felt the taller woman suck in a lungful of air as she rolled a nipple between her fingers. It hardened instantly and despite the humid temperature, goosebumps were spreading over Patsy's tummy and down her legs. Deciding that was probably enough torture for now, Delia readjusted herself lower until she could smell the headyness of her actual destination. Kissing lightly, she followed the curve of an inner thigh upwards until she could feel a heat radiating onto her cheek. Inhaling deeply, the scent of Patsy filled her nostrils and she sighed heavily. Her breath tickling the already sensitive skin underneath her, making Patsy twitch helplessly.

"Delia, if you don't start doing something productive, I swear to god..." Patsy's strained whisper came from above.

Trying hard not to chuckle to herself, Delia nuzzled the small thatch of light curls with the tip of her nose. Sighing one last time she ran a gentle tongue up Patsy's opening. It was immediately clear she needn't have bothered with such intense foreplay. The redhead whimpered above her, hands reaching to grasp her brown locks, securing her head in place.

"Ohhh, fuck!" Patsy gasped.

Delia did chuckle at that. The fact the redhead was now borrowing her more vulgar vernacular was actually quite a turn on. Especially in that cut glass accent. Feeling herself swoon even more, Delia tried to focus her mind on a much more productive task. Gently, she teased her tongue through Patsy's folds, lapping up the moisture that pooled there. She was rather enjoying the languid pace of exploration, but Patsy wasn't.

There was a tug on her hair as the taller woman made her desires known. Knowing the longer they prolonged this, the likelier they were to be caught, Delia decided to up her pace. Her tongue stiffened as she applied a more steady pressure, focusing on Patsy's clitoris. Building a rhythm Patsy enjoyed was now becoming second nature to the brunette and slowly but surely she felt the woman beneath her begin to climb.

Wrapping an arm around Patsy's thigh, Delia secured herself better, just as a tall leg hooked over her shoulder. The redhead's legs were squeezing tighter, in rhythm with the smaller woman's ministrations. For a heart stopping moment Delia heard the bed creak loudly, a mattress spring giving way. She halted all movement quickly, trying to aurally assess the damage.

All she got though was a despondent moan from above. "Deels! Don't you dare stop now!"

"Not so nice is it, to be teased?" Delia took a moment to enjoy the role reversal.

"No…" Patsy choked.

Delia giggled softly, before returning to much more pressing matters, She sucked gently at the warm, swollen nub and flicked her tongue a few more times. Patsy's breath was becoming more and more ragged as she drew closer and closer towards the edge. An occasional tiny 'oh!' escaped her, but for the most part she managed to remain pretty quiet. The mattress suddenly creaked again and for a split second Delia questioned whether initiating this had perhaps been the smartest idea, but then Patsy moaned encouragingly, her hips bumping of their own accord and all such thoughts disappeared.

With a few more tight circles, Delia finally pushed Patsy over the edge. There was a small cry as the redhead attempted to muffle the sound of her climax using the back of her hand. Her body convulsed as she came, hard. Warm liquid gushed over Delia's chin and the thighs around her peripheral shook almost uncontrollably. The brunette slowed her tongue and set a more meandering pace as she cleaned up the remnants of her lover's arousal, letting her down gently from her high. Patsy really did taste amazing, she noted as she licked her lips before shuffling up the bed to join her winded partner.

"Gosh Deels, you are getting awfully good at that," Patsy panted, "I'm just sorry I can't return the favour."

Delia grinned, feeling more than a little pleased with herself. "Consider it a thank you for looking after me so well these past few days." And payback for the shower episode, she thought.

Patsy smiled lopsidedly back. "Taking of which, you look like you're feeling much better." She nudged Delia playfully.

"I am actually." Delia admitted, snuggling in tightly beside the taller woman. "I told you I'd be okay."

"Mmmm." Patsy murmured sleepily, her body becoming heavy. "Well, all in all, I don't think that was too bad an end to our holiday do you?"

"All things considered, I think you're right Nurse Mount." Delia giggled, turning around so she became the small spoon.

Patsy's arms wrapped around her and she fell into the safe cocoon of her love. The pain in her head a tummy were still present, but they felt more like a distant memory. They should bottle and prescribe doses of Patsy, she thought mussily as her brain started to disconnect for sleep. Mind you, that would be no fun. Besides, she wasn't really up for sharing her amazing girlfriend (no, wife) around.

"Love you Deels," came a final sleepy whisper.

Delia smiled. "Love you too Pats."