A Beginning - a Patsy/Delia Call The Midwife fanfic

Chapter 5

When she awoke the next morning, Delia was all smiles. With nothing planned until the afternoon, she'd had a bit of a lie-in. Inhaling deeply, she slowly stretched, a growl rumbling in her chest. Finally sighing in satisfaction, she tossed off the covers, humming happily as she gathered her robe bathroom items before heading off for a shower.

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Returning, squeaky-clean and wrapped in her robe, Delia began pulling clothes out for the day. Still humming tunelessly, she noticed a small pink flower had been placed on her pillow beside a folded note. For a long moment she simply stared before hesitantly reaching out to pick up the delicate flower, bringing it to her nose and inhaling the soft, sweet scent. Looking down at the note resting on her pillow, she swallowed a lump of anxiety, afraid it was it a “last night was a colossal mistake” note. Of course, there was a pretty little flower, but it could be a conciliatory flower.

"Oh for Heaven's sake, Busby. You're being ridiculous." She took a deep breath and snatched up the folded piece of paper. The handwriting was as elegant and graceful as the author herself.
 
Good morning D,
Very sorry I missed you.
I hoped you might see a movie 
with me tonight?
If so, meet me in front
of the dorm at 6:30.
I hope you have a wonderful day.
Yours,
~P
 
Delia sat on her bed and ran a finger across each letter, imagining she could feel a connection with the writer. She had a sense of contentment.
 
"Well..." she said to her empty room and sniffed the flower again, "looks as though I am seeing a movie tonight."
 

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Delia stood in the middle of her room chewing a thumbnail, staring at her bed covered with outfits. She held one up to herself and peered at her reflection, trying to imagine if Patsy would like her in it. Laying it down to pick up another.

She finally narrowed it down to two options, a purple and a teal. Tapping her chin with a finger, she rolled her eyes. You're being absurd. 
 
The teal...no wait, the purple...no, the teal. Definitely the teal.
 
With the decision made, she tidied up and began dressing; taking great care with every article of clothing she put on, with her hair, her makeup and the perfume she dabbed lightly behind each ear. Pausing a moment, she bit her lip and placed a swipe along the modest bit of décolletage she showed. Embarrassed at herself, she giggled and slipped her shoes on, taking a moment for a final inspection of herself, fussing with her outfit. 
 
"I should have picked the purple," she huffed and shrugged before heading out.
 
Walking down the hall, Delia could hardly breathe, and felt foolish for it. It was only Patsy, after all, and it was only a movie. 
 
Although this felt so much more than only a movie. This was a date. A date. A Date. A DATE. The words echoing through her mind. 
 
How had this happened? 
 
Who knows how these things ever happened for anyone? But she and Patsy HAD found each other. And this was most definitely a date.
 
So, she took a deep breath and pushed through the door where she saw Patsy standing on the sidewalk, watching the sky. Delia paused a moment to observe the statuesque blonde in a pressed white button up with her collar pulled high, and blue and white plaid trousers that looked phenomenal on her long legs.
 
The sound of the heavy door banging shut behind Delia turned Patsy's head. Smiling eagerly at each other, Patsy began to speak but stopped when she spied the door opening over Delia's shoulder to release several more young women to the outside. Instead, Patsy guided Delia toward the bus stop.
 
A high pitched, nasally voice called out behind them and Delia groaned softly. Plastering on a charming smile, Delia turned. "Grace, hello. Have you met my friend Patsy yet?"
 
Grace held out her hand, which Patsy politely shook. "No, I have not. Patsy, nice to meet you. So, where are you gals off to this evening?"
 
Patsy let Delia take the lead. 
 
"Seeing a movie."
 
"Fun! You look lovely, Delia. Don't you think so, Patsy?"
 
Delia glanced at Patsy with a nervous half-smile: nervous about how Patsy would handle this moment, and nervous to find out what she really did think. But Patsy just smiled, blue eyes dancing.
 
"Yes, Grace, she really does look absolutely beautiful. Teal suits you, Deels."
 
Delia returned the affectionate smile, feeling her ears heating up and her heart swelling.
 
"So Delia, who are you dolled up for? Is there someone special?"
 
Delia tried with all her might to keep her eyes from wandering back to Patsy. “Actually, yes. A tall, smooth talking blonde with blue eyes I could drown in."
 
Grace was grinning ear-to-ear. "You sound downright smitten!"
 
Delia's pulse was racing. "I am, Grace. I really am." Losing the struggle, she cast a side-eye glance to Patsy whose gaze was focused intently on the sidewalk.
 
Grace leaned in conspiratorially, "have you kissed yet?"
 
Delia stumbled over the question, her mouth opening and closing in momentary panic, not at all certain how to handle this. Adding to her discomfort, she could feel Patsy’s eyes watching her. She finally decided to go with the truth. A version of it anyway. "Uhm, well yes, actually. And it was...amazing. No, that doesn't even begin to adequately describe it. Grace, it was...breathtaking." 
 
Patsy snorted and started coughing, waving a hand to indicate she was fine.
 
"Well, Delia, he sounds perfect. And if he has a brother, or even a distant cousin, remember that I’m available. Anyway, have a good evening you two."
 
"You too, Grace."
 
Back on their way to the bus stop, Delia was grinning. "That felt good."
 
"You did seem to be having a bit of fun with her."
 
Delia stopped in her tracks, reaching out to take the taller woman's arm but pulled back. 
 
"Pats, it was only the truth, and it felt good to share it...no matter what her assumptions are."
 
Patsy bit her bottom lip as she watched the bus pull up to the stop. "And the bit about the kiss?"
 
Delia smirked at her. "Yes, that too. Although I didn't tell her what it did to me. How it turned my legs to rubber and how I can't stop thinking about you."
 
Most of the people had filed onto the bus so they halted their conversation, taking their places at the end of the line. Patsy leaned over Delia's shoulder and whispered, "rubber, hey?"
 
Delia scolded Patsy over her shoulder, "behave," although she couldn't help but grin as she found a pair of empty seats.
 
They made small talk, discussing their days. Sticking to safe, innocent topics while their shoulders, hips and thighs pushed and moved together, triggering far from innocent thoughts. When Patsy reached over Delia's head to pull the cord signaling their stop she whispered in Delia's ear, "you smell incredible" causing Delia's heart to skip.
 
Inside the practically empty movie theatre, Patsy touched Delia's lower back briefly, guiding her into the back row. Settling into their seats, Patsy closely watching Delia cross her legs and adjust her skirt.
 
Catching Patsy staring at her legs gave Delia a heated, giddy feeling which she chased by reaching down to her ankle, slowly dragging her finger tips up her calf until they disappeared beneath the fabric of her skirt. Her heart flip-flopped when Patsy visibly swallowed.
 
"Patsy." She whispered, trying to get the other woman's attention.
 
"Hmm?" Diverted, Patsy brought her eyes up to see Delia smirking at her. "What?"
 
Delia chuckled and shook her head, "nothing."
 
Patsy gave her a sheepish smile before glancing around them and rubbing her palms briskly over her thighs. "I've been a nervous wreck all day, you know. Completely distracted."
 
"Oh? Why?"
 
The intensity with which Delia looked at Patsy both embarrassed and emboldened her. "You." She whispered it, almost a strangled sound. She cleared her throat and tried again. "You. I couldn't stop thinking about...last night. My hands would shake and I was utterly clumsy. I received quite a stern lecture from the head matron because of you."
 
Delia couldn't stop the smile, or the blush, that formed.
 
"Also," Patsy continued shyly, "I wasn't sure you would be free this evening, or if you'd had...second thoughts..." she lowered her voice even more, "about this." She waved a hand between them.
 
"There isn't much that could have kept me away tonight, Pats." 
 
Patsy's eyes fairly glowed with such warmth and emotion that Delia's hands twitched to reach out and touch Patsy's face, to pull her close, to taste her lips again. But a cough nearby broke the spell and they both looked away.
 
Further conversation was halted when the lights dimmed and the film began. They naturally gravitated toward each other in the darkness, sharing the armrest between them, hands brushing in what would seem friendly contact to any outside observer but felt far from friendly to the two of them.
 
They sat for some time, watching the film, when Delia felt Patsy's little finger hook across her own, caressing it. She desperately wanted to lay her head on Patsy's shoulder, kiss her neck, feel Patsy's arm curl around her. But holding pinkies would have to do. It was such a small thing, but it meant everything to Delia; it was exciting and comforting and daring and promising.
 
Focusing on the film was becoming increasingly difficult: sitting close but not close enough, inhaling the other's scent. Both women found themselves restless and squirming in their seats, crossing and uncrossing their legs.
 
Delia heard a noise off to her left that drew her attention. Her glance in that direction turned into watching a couple make out. She squeezed Patsy's finger to get her attention. 
 
Patsy followed Delia's gaze and they both watched for a long, jealous moment, before focusing on each other; the space between them thick with desire.
 
Delia leaned in and whispered very softly, "do you want to go back to my room?"
 
Patsy released a rush of air. "Yes."
 
Delia grinned. "Now?"
 
The blonde got up from her seat, moving toward the aisle.