Sorry it's taken so long to update - I've been waiting to get to this scene, got a little carried away ;) hopefully it's worth it, please do let me know!
After their attempt at secrecy had backfired on them, Patrick and Shelagh decided a private walk was probably well over due, but the following few days were to be a flurry of activity for the lovers. Jenny Lee had promised not to tell about the near-kiss she had witnessed, but there was such a smirk on her face when they arrived back at Nonnatus that soon the game was soon up. When they got in Fred's shoulder needed seeing to, but as Patrick made his separate way he gave Shelagh's hand a squeeze, and kissed her briefly on the cheek. He knew as well as anybody the poor woman was going to be pounced on as soon as the nurses saw Jenny's poorly-concealed excitement; there was no point hiding their closeness now. It felt strange being able to touch her in public, and it scared him slightly. It felt like in this house of nuns God was looking down upon his every move, and Shelagh was right, she had only been a week out of the habit. He was most apprehensive about how Sister Evangelina would take their news, and felt rather guilty as he strode off to tend to Fred in the boiler room - Shelagh would have to tell the disapproving nun alone.
As it was, there was such a communal flap over the engagement that, even if she had wanted to pass comment, Sister Evangelina would not have been heard. And Sister Julienne made a point of gushing joyfully over a relieved Shelagh to reinforce her approval, her serene features radiating exaltation, and her hand clasped her cross in a fever of thanksgiving to God for showing her dear Shelagh the true path to happiness and devotion. When Doctor Turner came in some minutes later, he was met with an expectant silence and the distinct sound of scandalised giggles being suppressed. 'Poor man' thought Shelagh watching fondly as his eyes flickered nervously under his dark eyebrows. It took all the strength she could muster to cross over to her fiancé and take his arm supportively. Then all of a sudden someone started to clap, and everyone joined in, the couple acknowledging the applause with baffled grins and looks at each other that shared a private astonishment. "I've got to go home to Timothy." Patrick escaped; Shelagh had to remain and be fussed over long into the night. When she finally got to bed, her mind was racing, and she was sure her heartbeat had still not returned to normal after that world-stopping moment when he had nearly kissed her.
As she lay in bed she mentally re-played that moment when Patrick bent his head towards her, but her imagination failed her as soon as she got to the point where Jenny's entrance had stopped their lips from meeting. Somehow she just couldn't imagine what kissing him would be like, and her whole being cried out to be taught. Patrick was also kept awake by the tantalising closeness they had been to a kiss. It was painful to think of how much he had wanted that kiss, and cursed Nurse Lee for coming in when she did, although he knew it wasn't her fault. He would ask Shelagh to walk with him in the park, which was well out of the hub of Poplar. Hopefully they could have a moment's privacy there.
Patrick arrived at the park the following afternoon fifteen minutes after the time they had arranged. He spotted Shelagh standing just inside the gates, looking breathtaking in a coral coloured blouse that made her sapphire eyes twinkle more than he ever imagined they could. He wondered if in time he would ever be able to see her without his stomach doing somersaults. She was standing with her shoes in her hand, stockinged feet placed demurely together on the concrete path. Her face lit up when she saw Patrick jog to meet her. "Sorry I'm late," he smiled bashfully, his brow furrowed in concern. Shelagh wanted to reach out and smooth it with her fingers, but restrained herself.
"I thought you'd developed cold feet already," she teased, transferring her shoes from one hand to the other to take his arm.
"No, but you actually might in a minute," he pointed out. It had been raining earlier on, and the path was spotted with lingering puddles.
"It's fine, the ground's perfectly dry now," she explained, "I just can't seem to get used to these high heels. I used to wear them all the time once, now they just give me blisters. I hope you're not ashamed by my unladylike behaviour." They set off, avoiding the puddles, but otherwise too wrapped up in their closeness to notice their surroundings.
"I could never be ashamed of having you on my arm, shoes or no shoes," he replied tenderly. "I wouldn't be surprised if you were ashamed of me though." She stopped in her tracks and turned to face him, eyes ablaze.
"Whatever do you mean?" she questioned.
"Well, you saw the Nonnatus lot yesterday. They were laughing at me. I'm old and worn out and you're young and beautiful." Shelagh silenced him with one stern breath, although her heart leapt to hear him say those last words. He had never explicitly told her she was beautiful before. Patrick sighed, defeated without her even saying anything. The power of her gaze was enough to tell him she loved him with the whole of her heart.
"And I have the worst taste in ties," he finished, meekly. She laughed her melodious laugh -
"That one's true." They continued to walk, only this time, emboldened by Shelagh's reassurance, he held her hand, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world. "Seriously, though, the others just need some time to get used to it, after all, we've both been their colleagues for years. Just imagine if Fred and Sister Evangelina suddenly announced they were engaged, that's not too dissimilar." Patrick burst out laughing at this preposterous thought, and shook his head at Shelagh's unassuming wit; was there no aspect to his fiancée's personality that wasn't absolutely marvellous?
Having been lucky thus far, there came a point where the path was completely submerged in water, and Shelagh held back, anxious about ruining her stockings, which had been leant to her by Cynthia until she had time to go into town to buy some of her own. "I've probably done them enough damage as it is," she frowned. "I should probably take them off."
"If somebody were to see that they'd definitely get the wrong idea," remarked Patrick with his best poker face. "Now you're blushing," he added, his face cracking into his adorable lopsided smile. She averted her gaze to her feet. "There's only one thing for it-" Suddenly Shelagh found his arms around her and she was being carried across the flood. Their eyes did not leave each other's the whole way; Patrick got his ankles splashed and didn't even notice when the icy water seeped into his socks. He was helplessly lost in Shelagh, and she in him. At the other side he gently let her down, but kept her gathered to him, his hands determinedly on her hips. She pursed her lips subconsciously in trepidation, then before she knew it his mouth was against hers and she leant back in his arms with a soft moan of surprise. She dropped her shoes. He broke away, not wanting to rush her, but as soon as he did so, Shelagh discovered to stop was the last thing she wanted. She wanted his lips upon hers again, and she tugged pleadingly at his jacket. He obliged in a whirlwind of feeling, deepening the kiss, moving to graze his lips across her jaw line, and back to hover over hers. "I love you Shelagh," he whispered. Shelagh could not make her brain work properly to formulate words, so she replied in the only way she could: with a kiss so urgent and hungry she surprised even herself.
When they finally broke away they were both flushed and out of breath. They walked silently back to his car, and held hands all the way back to Nonnatus, just as they had done that first day when he had found her wandering in the mist. To think of how far they had come in such a short space of time. When he pulled up outside the convent, Patrick pulled Shelagh to him and kissed her lingeringly on the mouth. "Doctor Turner!" she gasped, "You'd better let me go, Sister Evangelina's probably posted herself at a window, making sure you bring me home. You'll confirm her suspicions that you're up to no good." Patrick, while kissing her again, said something that sounded suspiciously like 'to hell with Sister Evangelina', which Shelagh decided to ignore. She was enjoying herself far too much.
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