Chapter Text
“Delia-“
She was shushed by a tenderly placed finger to her lips. The apology that had been about to pour out caught in her love’s hand. She smiled, puckering her lips and kissing the finger before slowly removing it, twining their fingers together.
“Don’t apologise Pats.”
“But we had plans. It’s our first wedding anniversary and I wanted to treat you. Instead, here we are covered in amniotic fluid.” Patsy whined.
“I’m exactly where I want to be.” Delia replied, her thumb rubbing over Patsy’s knuckles.
“What? In a sweaty locker room?”
“With you, you fool.” Delia sighed, rolling her eyes. “I don’t need fancy restaurants and swanky bars - just you.”
Patsy swore she felt her heart skip a beat. It scared her sometimes, how Delia could still have the same devastating effect on her after all these years. She’d expected the urgency and heat of their early relationship to fizzle into a slow, comfortable simmer but instead that red hot desire had remained and instead of being replaced by love and comfort had stuck around and complimented it. She smiled at her wife. Wife. She still couldn’t believe she got to call Delia that precious title.
“We could still go out?”
Delia’s voice broke Patsy from her reverie.
“To town?” Patsy asked hesitantly. Truth be told after a gruelling shift and an emergency C-Section that had extended that shift by over three hours she didn’t much fancy the evening on the tiles she had originally planned.
“I was thinking maybe we could go to The Gun?” Delia suggested as she untied her scrubs. “It’s close to home and we’ll be able to hear ourselves think and actually have a conversation.”
The Gun was their regular Sunday afternoon haunt. The Gastro pub was located just by the Docks and therefore within walking distance of their home. It was on a jaunt there that Delia had worked up the courage to finally ask Patsy if they could get a flat together. It seemed rather fitting for them to return on their anniversary.
“Perfect.” Patsy beamed as she pulled her scrubs off, “Although I daresay I could use a shower. I look-“
“Absolutely beautiful.” Delia intercepted as she picked up Patsy’s engagement and wedding rings and slipped them onto her finger.
“We’re going to have to get you down to the Specsavers, Busby.” Patsy said with a lopsided grin, returning the favour and placing Delia’s own set of rings lovingly onto her left hand.
“Busby-Mount if you please.”
“That doesn’t have the same ring to it. I miss calling you Busby.” Patsy moved towards her wife and grabbed her hips, “But I must admit, I do love calling you Mrs Busby-Mount more.”
“Good as I intend to keep it that way for the rest of my life.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Right, come on! We need to get moving.” Delia demanded, patting the red-head’s arm. “I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving.” Patsy deadpanned, releasing the shorter woman and grabbing her bag.
Delia simply stuck her tongue out as she too picked up her bag and closed her locker. She smiled as Patsy outstretched her hand, taking it. As they left the locker room they almost collided with an exhausted looking Trixie and Phyllis.
“I didn’t expect to see you two tonight?” Trixie frowned, “Aren’t you meant to be up West?”
“Emergency C Section.” Delia explained.
“How utterly romantic.” Trixie teased, “Patience Mount, you really know how to show a girl a good time don’t you?”
“It’s not my fault!” Patsy defended as her best friend smirked, “Anyway, I’ve had no complaints.”
“Patsy!” Delia gasped, her cheeks colouring. Usually she was the one who made all the wise cracks and slightly inappropriate comments. There was something extremely naughty (and incredibly attractive) about it on the rare occasions when Patsy delivered one.
“You’ll have a complaint if you don’t get a move on.” Phyllis interrupted the conversation sternly yet with a practised ease. “You should be out celebrating your love not lingering in hospital corridors. Be gone both of you! Enjoy your anniversary!”
Feeling, as they often did by Phyllis, suitably told off the pair said their sheepish goodbyes before making a speedy getaway only to be stopped at the front entrance by Chummy who was rocking her son Freddie on her hip.
“Hello! Aren’t you two meant to be out celebrating?” She asked.
“Yes.” Patsy sighed.
“Pat-see!”
Freddie was wriggling to reach Patsy, his arms outstretched and grin wide. Patsy dropped Delia’s hand and immediately took him from Chummy who chuckled. Freddie knew and loved all the people she worked with and would often want to be held by one of them. Tonight, it seemed it was Patsy’s turn.
“Hello Master Noakes.” Patsy murmured, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Freddie’s response was to giggle and pull at her hair which in turn caused Patsy to grin widely, one hand rising to gently remove her fiery locks from his fist.
“Careful, that’s the little tikes new game.” Chummy warned to Patsy who was seemingly too involved with the youngster to really pay any heed. The tall woman turned to Delia who was watching her wife with shining eyes, her mind evidently far away, “I say, old bean, what has the pair of you leaving so late?”
“What? Oh, emergency caescerean. We’re just heading to The Gun. I think we’re both too exhausted for a night painting the tiles.” Delia chuckled.
“I don’t think I’ve painted the town red since I had young Sir.” Chummy admitted, “One can’t say one misses it though.”
“Got everything you need at home?” Delia suggested.
“Absolutely. You’ll probably think me boring but there’s truly nothing better than sitting home with my two boys - that’s if the old boy actually picks one up on time!”
Delia turned to Patsy and took in the image. She had evidently decided to partake in Freddie’s little game of pulling and releasing her hair. As he went to grab a lock again, she grabbed his hand pretending to eat it which in turn had the boy laughing and giggling and trying again the minute she released it. Delia felt a warmth flood her as she watched the interaction between the pair and before she knew it her mind was drifting. Images of a future she longed for suddenly concrete. She felt herself smile.
“I don’t think you boring at all.” Delia murmured, her eyes still on Patsy who was still in her own world with the little boy, “It sounds perfect.”
Chummy smirked knowingly as she looked down at Delia gazing at Patsy and she wondered just how long it would be before the pair had news to share of their own.