Chapter Nine
"How do they do it pats? Cora and Trixie, how do they act so close in public without anyone batting an eye?" Patsy shrugged as they watched Trixie and Cora dancing together, Cora swinging her around with a practiced trust.
"Well Cora is a doctor and the people of Poplar love her, and she and Trixie have been friends for most of their lives, but above all that they don't care enough about what others think to let it stop them." Delia nodded,
Patsy was hovering, with Trixie on call and in the wake of the fire she was hovering around concerned, "Patsy I'm quite alright, besides, Cora will come and get me once she finishes at the surgery."
And she was right it didn't take long for Cora to make her way through Nonnatus house practically tackling her when she finally saw Trixie.
"Oh I have missed you my love." Trixie giggled as she enjoyed the weight of Cora's body atop of hers,
"And I missed you, now shouldn't we be going home?" Cora smirked shaking her head,
"We have at least an hour, I saw Pasty on my way back, she looked upset so I sent her to look after her favourite niece and great-nieces." Trixie giggled lightly,
"Aunt Pasty, and she was the first one to gain the moniker, I don't think anybody bet on that." Cora dug her hand into her pocket pulling out a few notes and coins,
"I did."
After thoroughly christening Trixie's bed, ;) and driving home the pair entered the house to find Patsy holding back tears as she sat on the sofa nursing a glass of whiskey.
"Why don't you go up darling? I can deal with this." Trixie nodded pressing a soft kiss to Cora's lips,
"Of course."
She poured herself a glass before sitting on the sofa, "Argument with, the Mrs?"
Patsy nodded, "About marriage, I asked Delia if she wanted to get married and she said yes... she wants to marry me, but we can't Cora."
Cora nodded, "Well not legally yet, but that doesn't mean the sentiment isn't there, Trixie is my wife in every way but law, I've proposed and that's what actually matters Pats, admitting to someone that you love them so much that you want to spend the rest of your life with them, that's what matters not the price of paper that comes with it. Now come on your staying the night and I have some pyjama's that will fit you."
"Doctor Cora, what about you? About fathers in the delivery room?" Cora nodded, bouncing little Lena on her lap, while Trixie held Natalie,
"I think if the father is willing to be there he should be allowed to, it's a big moment for both parents and it's not as if there's anything that's exposed that hasn't been seen before or they wouldn't be in that situation in the first place." Trixie had to choke back a laugh as Alex groaned.
"Do you not enjoy when I talk about Doctor things Alex?" Alex grumbled,
"You know I don't." The table all looked slightly perplexed before Cora smiled at them,
"Alex is a fainter and a prude when it comes to talking about the biology of things."
It's an awful thing how so many good moments can turn bad so quickly.
"Come on Patsy, you're with us, until I know for certain that you'll be okay on your own." Patsy shook her head but that soon just became her crying into Cora's chest,
"I can't Cora, what if- what if she never remembers me." Cora let out a small sigh,
"Then you remember her, for the both of you, you remember every good time and every bad moment, because for as long as you do that she will be a part of you as you will be a part of her."
"Cora, can you take me to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting?" Cora nodded immediately grabbing her and Trixie's jackets.
"Of course, my love whatever you need."
The next few weeks it became common place for Trixie to fall asleep before Cora got home when she was at the house, and not Nonnatus house, and for Cora to come home to cuddle piles of Trixie, Patsy and Alex in the master bedroom, with the twins in two cradles at either side of the bed.
"Cora?" Cora smiled at Trixie pressing a short kiss to her forehead and then Alex and just to include everyone Patsy last.
And as much as she would deny it Patsy enjoyed these moments, short moments of vulnerability where she was surrounded by love.
"Hiya love, I think I need to buy us a bigger bed if this is going to become a regular thing.
And it did, but not in the way that it had been.
11am Alexandra has a nightmare and climbs in with Patsy who has become a sort of a safety blanket for the teen.
Midnight, Alex needs more and drags herself and Patsy out of bed and in with Trixie and Cora.
1 am Cora no longer has any duvet, or any space on the bed.
2 am there's a loud thump and Cora is no longer on the bed.
3 am Cora is now in Alex's bed.
3:12 am Lena and Nat are crying in their cribs because they are hungry.
6 am Cora is now making breakfast for everyone.
This became a regular occurrence to the point where Cora became annoyed if they came in at 24 minutes past midnight or five minutes past to join them, and again she became annoyed if she still had a bit of the duvet at one am.
That was until she relented and finally bought another bed, fixing them together.
"Cora what are you doing?" Cora glanced up at the sight of Trixie and Patsy both stood in the doorway, their frowns and confusion coaxing a small laugh.
"Building a bigger bed, what does it look like?" Patsy had to swallow her laugh, as Trixie spoke,
"Yes I understand that but why?" Cora cocked a brow,
"Well because the bruises on my arse aren't healing considering I'm forced out of bed every night, because there's not enough room for all four of us."