I am very sorry that it has taken me a while to update. I am currently in the grips of the dreaded exams and everything is a little hectic and stressful. However, I absolutely intend to keep updating as frequently as possible, and writing also provides a nice bit of respite from revision! Good luck to anybody else taking their exams, and to the lucky people who have already done them, well done for surviving!

Delia quietly made her way back into the room, holding the record player in her arms. Patsy was knelt on the edge of the bed speaking encouragingly to Mrs Gates, and holding her hand tightly. The groans of pain had become more frequent, but Delia was relieved to see Mrs Gates' face appear slightly more focused and alert, with Patsy's voice seeming to help keep her conscious. She could not help but stand and admire Patsy for a moment; she was so attentive and caring, and despite the long night, she had not left her patient's side once.

"I've got it, Pats,"

Patsy looked up and grinned.

"Wonderful! Shift my instruments over and set it down on the bedside table. Have you got a record to put on?"

A rumble of thunder brought on a terrified whimper from Mrs Gates, and Delia hurried to pull the record from the sleeve. When it came free, she saw the name, and could not help but smile. Placing it down, she set the table turning and lowered the needle onto the vinyl. It crackled briefly and then a voice broke through, drowning out the storm.

"Angel face, angel face,"

Patsy looked up in amazement at Delia.

"This song…"

"I know," Delia nodded, biting her lip, "It's been a while since I've heard it,"

Mrs Gates shifted, visibly responding to the sound of the music. It seemed to have a calming effect upon her, and the hard line of her mouth softened. Her shoulders relaxed and she released her grip on the quilt.

"I'm hoping that the relief of stress will ease the pain too," Patsy said, pulling on her rubber gloves, "Tension in the muscles makes the birth far more difficult and painful. I've just checked the baby's heartrate. It's still strong, but her distress is clearly affecting them,"

Delia knew that Patsy knew that she was aware of that information already, but she did not interrupt her, knowing full well that this was Patsy's way of staying calm and in control. Hearing it all said aloud reinforced her certainty that she was doing everything right.

"My baby?" Mrs Gates mumbled.

Patsy turned, her face lighting up in delight. This was the first coherent word that they had heard from Mrs Gates since they had arrived.

"Baby's on the way," Delia interjected quickly, "Any minute now. Just follow what Nurse Mount says,"

"I just need gentle pushes, and then one last big one, Mary,"

Then there was a rush and a wail and…

"It's a beautiful boy,"

A little, beautiful cry sang out from the bed. It was the sound of a new life drawing his first lungful of air in and screaming his arrival to all those around. Patsy swiftly cut the cord, wrapped him up, and placed him in the new mother's outstretched arms. On hearing the cries, Derick Gates charged into the room, his face ecstatic.

"Did I 'ear right? A lil' boy?"

"You certainly did. A very handsome fellow indeed. Congratulations,"

"I can't believe it. My son… Thank you. You saved 'er and you saved 'im. I don't know what I would've done without you both,"

The whirring of the record sounded as the song came to a close, but as Delia went to put it back to the start, Patsy stopped her and shut the lid.

"You needn't bother," she whispered, "Look outside,"

Delia did, and saw with a start that the rain had stopped and the pale glow of a sunrise was just peeking over the roof tops and chimneys.

"It's morning?"

"Almost,"

Mr Gates was ushered out again as Patsy dealt with the placenta delivery and tidied away her instruments. Mother and baby were now sound asleep; the tiny child held tightly in his mother's arms, his little hands twitching as he slept.

Patsy turned to smile at Delia and share the moment of post-birth bliss with her, but when she looked, she saw Delia curled up on the armchair, eyes closed, and breathing soft. She looked so exquisitely angelic that Patsy's chest ached with pure adoration. Taking her cloak, which had been drying in front of the fire, she tucked it around her sleeping form so that she was more comfortable. Careful not to wake her, she kissed the top of her head and left the room.

Derick was waiting for her downstairs.

"Tea?"

"Thank you,"

He passed her a mug and stood at the sink staring out into the street, shaking his head in wonder.

"I'm a father," he murmured, "I can't believe it. I keep trying to work out what it was that I did to deserve to be a father to something so perfect,"

Patsy thought of Delia asleep upstairs and understood exactly what he meant.

"I suppose it's God," Derick concluded, "He works in mysterious ways, that's what they say, ain't it?"

"Yes," Patsy smiled to herself, "He certainly does,"

A creak on the stairs behind them prompted them to turn around. Delia was stood there, the hem of her uniform slightly creased and her eyes misty from sleep. She had their medical bags in her hands.

"I've brought our things down," she said, suppressing a yawn.

Patsy thanked her and turned to Derick.

"I'll be back tomorrow to check everything over and I'll be on daily visits for a while and then weekly visits until everything is sorted. At the present time, it seems that all is in order so I'll let you all settle down to your new family life. In future, if your wife does experience similar distress, don't hesitate to call Doctor Turner out,"

"Thank you, both of you, I'm so grateful,"

He shook their hands once over, and then burst into laughter and shook them again.

"I'm the 'appiest man in the world," he beamed.

Patsy and Delia stepped out into the early morning sunshine and stared around in wonder. The storm had blown over and left the skies bright and blue. A seagull screeched overhead and the hubbub from the docks could just be heard.

"Extraordinary,"

"It's been quite a night," Delia chuckled as they set off.

"It certainly has. I'm so thankful that you came with me, Deels. I do not know what I would have done without you,"

"Nonsense, you would have been fine. You're a wonderful midwife, Patience Mount,"

Rays of light glinted off the windows and sparkled in the pools of rainwater. The red bricks of the buildings gleamed, for it seemed that the storm had given Poplar a sort of spring clean. Algae had been rinsed from the cobbles and grime had been lifted from the stonework. It seemed that today was dawning more brightly than ever before.

They reached the docks, and stood for a moment to appreciate the golden sun climbing up from the horizon, breathing warmth into the heart of London. Fishermen and dockworkers milled about around them, yet they stood still, allowing the rest of the world to continue without them. Finally, Delia looked over.

"I had a lot of time to think last night, Patsy,"

Patsy glanced sideways at her. The breeze was tugging at Delia's dark brown locks, teasing them out of her hair grips and blowing wispy strands across her face. Instinctively Patsy leant over to brush them out of her eyes.

"I thought about what Trixie said, and what you said… and what I said too,"

Staring out over the water, Patsy felt her eyes burning, but she could not tell if it was with the wind or tears.

"And?"

"And I realised that it doesn't matter. Last night reminded me what does matter, and about who matters. I don't care if Trixie knows about us. Good God, Patsy, I wouldn't care if all of London knew. I'd stand on the roof tops and scream it if I could. I'd scream that I love you to every last person in this city until my lungs gave out. You mean more to me than anyone else, and I just want to know that you trust me. We can't keep secrets from each other, especially not when we are each other's greatest secrets,"

Patsy blinked and took a deep, shuddery breath.

"I know. Delia, I love you, and I never meant to hurt you. I was afraid and confused and I wanted you to know, but I was scared that you might want to leave. I…"

Tenderly, Delia placed her hand over Patsy's, feeling the heat of her skin and the soft throb of her heartbeat.

"I'd never leave you, Patsy. All these other complications… we can work them out in our own time. Right now, I just want you,"

"Good, because you're all I have ever wanted, Delia Busby,"

Delia flashed Patsy a grin, her eyes glittering with mischief and her cheeks glowing with happiness. It was moments like these that Patsy wished she could freeze time and capture Delia like that forever. She looked so divine, bathed in the morning light, hair a little ruffled from the night before; it was true what Mr Gates had said: God really did work in mysterious ways.