Prompt 41: "What if I told you I've been in love with you since we were kids?"

Summary: Patrick and Shelagh have a conversation after Trixie and Christopher's wedding.

A/N: Let me tell you, this prompt has been mocking me for months because of the fricken 17-year age gap…

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Even though Patrick had teased her about packing an extra handkerchief, Shelagh was extremely grateful she'd done so. From the moment Trixie began her walk down the aisle, Shelagh hadn't been able to stem the steady stream of tears. It had taken so long for Trixie and Christopher to reconcile after she'd fallen back into alcohol and Shelagh had been there for her every step of the way - from the tear filled conversation about how Christopher would never want her back, to the fearful talk about premarital sex, to the pure joy when Trixie had shown her her sparkling new engagement ring. Now, Trixie looked radiant, and the look of coming home that graced her face brought Shelagh happily back to her own wedding day six years prior. Two babies, countless obstacles, and endless amounts of love later, Shelagh still felt perfectly at home and she couldn't be happier to see her dear friend find that same bliss.

Long after the newlyweds had left on their honeymoon and Tim had taken Angela and Teddy home, Shelagh and Patrick walked hand in hand in the warm summer night.

"I hate to say it, darling, but we should probably head home soon." Patrick reluctantly suggested. He chuckled as Shelagh lightly groaned beside him. It had been ages since they'd had a night to themselves and the lingering magic of the wedding still hung warmly over them.

"Tim's more than capable of taking care of them for a little while longer." she smiled playfully. He pulled her into the crook of his arm and let his hand hold her against him.

"Who would've thought the day would come when Shelagh Turner would want time away from her children?" he teased. She smiled and rolled her eyes. A couple of years ago, his words might have offended her and she'd already be knees deep in assurances that she loved their children, but they'd come a long way since then. She'd learned to take herself less seriously and he'd learned the intricacies of how far he could push and what topics were strictly off limits.

"I won't deny that the wedding put other things on my mind." she admitted shyly.

"Oh?" he asked knowingly. "Like honeymoons and hotels?" He stopped and spun her into him, kissing her fully on the lips. She hummed blissfully into his mouth and let herself indulge in more of a public display than she would normally allow him.

"Partly," she whispered mischievously as she peppered his face with kisses, "but their vows also made me wonder about something."

Patrick wracked his brain, the beautiful vows he'd heard earlier suddenly meaningless with Shelagh in his arms. "Their vows?" he asked.

"Yes, well," she paused, suddenly unsure if she should ask, but hopelessly curious, "Trixie and Christopher both mentioned that despite everything, deep down, they knew they loved each other just after their first outing…"

"...and?" Patrick urged. He had a good idea of where she was going, but he didn't want to presume.

"And, it just made me curious...do you know when you fell in love with me?" she asked it quietly and honestly he wasn't surprised. They'd talked about many hard topics over the years, but they'd always side-stepped actually talking about the development of their feelings. He supposed on some level, they were both afraid of their answers given their unorthodox history. They rarely got side-eyed glances any more, but there was still the occasional sneer towards their marriage and he knew Shelagh was still somewhat sensitive because of it.

"What if I told you I've been in love with you since we were kids?" he asked jokingly and obviously trying to avoid a serious answer. She laughed.

"Then I think I'd have a few more questions for you...as would Constable Noakes." she teased back.

"Cheeky." he chided with a grin.

"You started it, Cliff Richards." she quipped back and he rolled his eyes and kissed her forehead. "You're avoiding the question, Patrick." He sighed.

"I know, I'm sorry." he paused again. "I'm just not sure I have the romantic answer you're looking for."

"I'm not looking for a romantic answer, dearest, I'm just curious." she explained.

"Do you know when you fell in love?" he asked. She opened her mouth to answer, but then closed it, suddenly ashamed. "It's alright, Shelagh, we don't have to talk about it."

"I feel like it's something we should be able to tell each other, though." she replied sadly. She knew it was silly, but she felt as though every couple knew the moment they fell in love and she wanted to have that moment - the trouble was, she knew exactly what that moment was, she just didn't know if he would think it strange or inappropriate. "You're being ridiculous. You're married." she chided herself.

"I do know the answer, you know." he admitted. She looked at him expectantly. "I just don't know if I can tell you."

"I understand." she replied honestly. She really did.

The air hung heavy between them as they made their way back home.

Teddy and Angela were asleep by the time they arrived and if Tim noticed his parents acting strangely, he didn't say anything. Shelagh and Patrick were both grateful for that.

They readied themselves for bed in silence, both desperate to tell the other, but both afraid. It wasn't until hours later, after tossing and turning, that Shelagh caved. Turning to her husband, who she knew was just as awake, she quietly whispered:

"I fell in love with you during the first case we ever worked." she felt Patrick's breathing speed up, but he didn't respond or turn away, so she elaborated. "It was about a month after we first met. Mrs. Grossman's baby-"

"-was transverse." he continued. "I was called in, but I was exhausted and struggling; it was just after Tim was born-"

"-so I told you I could do it-"

"-and you did." he finished. "You saved mother and baby when I wasn't sure I could…" he paused. "I fell in love with you that day as well."

"You did?" Shelagh asked with wide eyes. "But Marianne?"

"I didn't know I'd fallen in love with you." Patrick explained quietly, thoughtfully. "I didn't love Marianne less, I didn't have any desire to leave her or to betray her, I didn't have a name for what I was feeling, but I just...I just knew. I dreamt about you that night." Shelagh's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "Not like that!" he quickly corrected. "I just dreamt about us working together again. It was...so peaceful...like we'd been fit together. I didn't want to tell you, I didn't want you to be conflicted about Marianne."

"It's okay." Shelagh assured. "I didn't want to tell you either. I didn't want you to think I was waiting for my chance, or anything as horrid as that."

"I would never think that, love." he promised. "I know you well enough to know you would never wish for that."

"I just remember leaving that day knowing that I would pray every night for your happiness. I didn't know why I cared so much for you, but I knew I'd never seen someone look so intelligent, and compassionate. I wanted to know that someone was looking out for you as dedicatedly as you looked out for all of Poplar. I know that sounds silly."

"It's not silly, Shelagh." he whispered with a caress against her face. "And I'm glad you told me."

"I'm glad you told me too, Patrick." she whispered lovingly.

"In a way, I really have loved you since we were kids." he teased. "You might be younger than me, but we were both so young and naive back then, we might as well have been children."

"Well, we're certainly not children anymore." Shelagh murmured as she pulled at his pajama top to roll him on top of her.

"Certainly not." he grinned as he lowered his lips to his.

It didn't matter when he'd fallen in love with her. He would be in love with her until his dying breath.

41 down, 9 to go! Single digits! Hope you enjoy!