This chapter and the next were originally one but I decided to split it else I'd never get this part published at the rate I'm editing atm (work just wipes me out).

Sister Bernadette's eyes flicked open slowly. A quick glance at her clock, barely visible in the half light of a barely begun dawn, told her that Sister Julienne would be by in a few minutes to collect her for lauds. As the rest of her senses woke she realised the major issue her sisters imminent arrival would present. Curled up against her side, head over her heart and her hands in her own, was Trixie. She smiled as she remembered the night before. Her future had seemed so unclear back then -was her calling to be a nun or a lay nurse? Would she ever feel like a future with a man could make her happy? Now she knew that she wanted to be with Trixie whatever it took. Even if they didn't work out then at least she knew that it was with a woman she wanted to have by her side for the rest of her life. She still loved God but no longer was he enough to full her heart, now that she had kissed Trixie the final piece of it had slid into place.

'Trixie? Sweetheart you need to wake up.' She slid up her hand to brush away a tendril of hair from the blondes face. Trixie's eyes dragged open with a groan.

'Hmm what?'

'Sister Julienne is going to be here in a minute. You need to hide or we will have some awkward questions to answer.'

'Of course. What time is it?' Sitting upright their hands slid together.

'4.'

'In the morning? You're a bloody maniac.'

'I'm a nun. Please, I need to get changed too so you can hide in the wardrobe. It's not large but so long as the door is closed enough that it won't arouse her suspicions we'll be okay.'

'Can I get a good morning kiss first?'

'Of course.'

'Murgh morning breath.'

'Pot kettle black. I should be free around midday, I think we need to talk don't you? It's nothing bad, at least I hope it be so?'

'Are you certain? About this? Us?'

'I couldn't be more certain.'

'Okay. To the wardrobe I go.'

—

'Hello.' Shelagh crept up behind Trixie as the blonde walked down the street towards the dockyard.

'Hi.'

'Let's take a walk.' They wandered in silence for several minutes until they were safely ensconced in an abandoned alleyway.

'Sis-Shelagh? Are you alright? I'm sorry I stayed the night, I did mean to go back to my own bed before the others got home but you were just too warm. Do you regret what we did last night? I shouldn't have been so forward I'm sorry. I understand if you want to tell the nuns or a policeman.' If her words hadn't shocked Shelagh then her demeanour certainly would have done. Gone was the confident woman she had known for so many years, in her place was a frightened and uncertain young woman. She took Trixie's hands in her own.

'What? No Trixie I don't want to tattle on you. Far from it in fact. I need to know where we stand though before I say anything. Are you gay or were you just comforting me last night? If you are then how do you actually feel toward me? Was last night a one off or do you want to take it further?'

'I'm not gay, I like women and men both. I must admit to being somewhat disheartened that you think me the kind of girl to kiss someone a lot and then spend the night in their arms if I was only to comfort them. That I would do that with anyone else I knew? I'm not as easy as everyone may think of me.'

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Of course you're not like that-I know everyone jokes about it but we all know you just have a big heart. I just needed to know where I stand in your eyes.'

'I like you sister-Shelagh. I really like you. Like like you. I would like it if we could explore the possibilities open to us, I want to take this further, but I would understand if you felt differently. I know us together is supposedly sinful and it's somewhat illegal but last night I slept happier than I have done in many years. I didn't realise until after Jenny and Chummy arrived that my feelings for you had changed from when I first met you. The friendship I had with them was so different from how I felt whenever you walked into a room or smiled at me. I want to be with you Shelagh, I want you to be my girlfriend and to be by my side for all our days. I know this is a lot to handle.'

'I want that too.' They grinned at each other.

'I'm glad but this is such a drastic departure from how your life is currently that I think you should think it over for a while. I don't want you to regret this in years to come.'

'I won't but that's a good idea. We should both make sure this is what we want and then discuss how to proceed after that.'

'Alright. I should go, Sister Evangelina wanted to talk to me, I daren't wonder what for.'

'Okay.' Trixie leant forwards and kissed sister Bernadette lightly on the cheek. 'I'll see you at dinner Shelagh.'