Turnadette Family Fanfiction - The Alphabetical Turners
J is for Julienne!
Ever since Shelagh had arrived at Nonnatus House on her first day as a postulant on July 1st 1948 she had seen Sister Julienne as more of a motherly figure than that of a superior one, considering the Sister had taken her immediately under her wing and made sure that she felt safe and content with the other residents of the house. It hadn't taken Shelagh and Sister Julienne long to build a strong bond with one another, the two of them confiding in and comforting one another as a mother and daughter would. That was why nobody, aside from Nurse Crane, was shocked when Shelagh had asked Sister Julienne to be her midwife when the time came for her baby to arrive. Sister Julienne knew more about Shelagh than anybody else ever could, aside from Patrick, perhaps, which was why Shelagh felt so safe and secure as she was held protectively in the arms of the woman that used to be one of her fellow Sisters. 'That's it, Shelagh, breathe your way through it.' Sister Julienne's voice was warm and comforting as she held her waist in her hands, Shelagh bracing herself upon her shoulders as she breathed deeply through the agonizing contraction that felt as though it was tearing her insides open. 'You're doing brilliantly, good girl.'
Shelagh's warm brown hair was clinging to the perimeters of her face where the sweat was beading upon her skin as she trembled through the agony, her eyes tightly closed as she sucked softly on her lower lip and her nails dug into Sister Julienne's shoulders. She wasn't scared, of course, because she knew exactly what her body was trying to tell her through the pain, knowing that it wouldn't be long until she'd be a Mummy and would be able to cradle her baby in her arms. The thought of being able to kiss her newborn's tiny face and hands was her motivation to keep pressing on. 'I can't believe I used to dream of this!' She groaned as she fell against Sister Julienne's shoulder and the elder woman rubbed her spine soothingly as she nuzzled into her hair, Shelagh feeling her warm breath against her skin as she sighed. 'It's like a nightmare!' The ache of the contraction soon began to wear off as she nuzzled into the side of Sister Julienne's neck and felt her begin to stroke her hair soothingly, her eyes fluttering closed as she felt the sister begin to sway slowly with her in her arms. 'I always dreamed I'd have my mother beside me if I were to have a child.' She admitted. 'Having her rub my back and tell me that things were okay.'
Sister Julienne remained quiet for a moment as she felt Shelagh snuggle further against her and she tightened her arms around her waist as she pressed her cheek to the sweaty skin of her forehead. 'You do have a mother beside you.' She spoke softly into her ear as she stroked her cheek warmly and a small smile formed upon her lips, her thumb brushing against the soft skin that rested below her thumb. 'Ever since you arrived as a postulant all those years ago, I knew that there was something different about you. I felt more of an urge to keep you safe than I did with the other postulants and you always had such a sunny disposition that it was impossible for anyone not to love you.' Shelagh giggled sleepily as she cuddled further against the Sister and smiled when she felt her nuzzle the tip of her nose against the soft skin of her hairline. 'When you told me that you were leaving to marry Doctor Turner, I was selfish towards you and I know it hurt you when I became distant, and for that I am so sorry. I shouldn't have had such a selfish attitude; it was just because I felt as though I was losing you. I was losing one of the most important people in my life.' Shelagh pulled away slowly from her shoulder, then, furrowing her brow.
A pain traveled up the length of her spine and she whimpered softly as her eyes fell closed, her breath slow and controlled until the deep throbbing passed by. 'You could never lose me, Sister, not after you'd gone to so much trouble to shape me into the woman I am today. Choosing between the religious life and my desire to marry Patrick was the hardest decision I had ever made, because I loved being a Sister and I loved the family that I was a part of. My love for Patrick proved to be stronger than my desire to remain a Sister, though, and I knew that I couldn't fight the feelings that I was experiencing toward him any longer. I never intended to hurt you or anybody else by leaving, and I was in the wrong for avoiding you and the Sisters for so long after I and Patrick became engaged, so I feel like I should apologize to you.' Sister Julienne tucked a strand of sweat-soaked hair back behind Shelagh's ear, hearing the laboured breathing coming from her as she continued on. 'It was wrong of me to be that way, and I'm sorry.' Shelagh's hold tightened upon her shoulders as another contraction began to build up, her legs almost giving way below her from the intensity of the pain as she gasped gently. 'I'll be glad when this is over.'
'You're doing better than you think you are.' Sister Julienne sighed as she reached for the gas and air when Shelagh cried out gently and she held it over her nose and mouth, protectively cradling the back of her head as she encouraged her to take deep and slow breaths as she groaned loudly into the mask. 'I think it'll be time for you to push soon, so as soon as this pain's over I'll give you a dose of pethidine so that we can get you settled on the bed. If your waters haven't broken by then, I'll have to do it myself.' Shelagh nodded through deep and long groans of discomfort as she continued to take in the gas, a soft whimper escaping her as she leaned into the comfort of Sister Julienne's chest. 'That's a good girl, use all of the contraction.' The Sister praised as Shelagh finally let out a loud groan and rested her forehead upon her shoulder, her nails biting into the warm skin at the back of Sister Julienne's hand as she continued to hold it. 'There we go.' Julienne soothed as she brought Shelagh's head to lay upon her shoulder, Shelagh keeping hold of the mask as she breathed with it and allowed her eyes to flutter closed as she settled into Sister Julienne's warmth. 'We're getting there now, Shelagh, I promise.' She soothed softly.
It was a short time later when Shelagh was settled against the pillows of her bed and Sister Julienne was sat in front of her after she had managed to break her waters, the newspaper now in the waste paper bin beside her vanity as the contractions came much closer together. 'I want Patrick.' Shelagh whimpered as her head fell back against the pillows after another long contraction had come and gone, the tears falling quickly down her cheeks as her chest rose and fell heavily. 'I need him to hold my hand, Sister, please.' The pain and fear was clear in Shelagh's eyes when Sister Julienne looked into them with a kind smile, the elder woman standing from the bed in order to make her way over to the door and allow Patrick to enter with a tender smile towards the woman that had completely stolen his heart. Shelagh burst into tears as he got onto the bed beside her and pulled her to his chest for a cuddle, her face burying into his shirt as she sobbed through the discomfort. 'I'm sorry.' She whimpered. 'I tried.'
'Don't you dare apologize to me.' He growled gently into her ear as he held her close and Sister Julienne sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, Shelagh trembling in his arms as he left warm kisses across her cheeks and over her face. 'You have been so brave all afternoon, and I'm here now. You can do this, my darling, I promise.' She nodded shakily as she pulled away from his chest and gripped the warm fabric of his shirt in her hand, his hand settled upon her hip. 'Do you have any idea how much I want to kiss you, right now?' His voice was rough and gentle so that only Shelagh would be able to hear him. 'How much I want to brush my fingers through your hair as I press my lips to yours?' She gasped softly as she pressed her forehead into his chest, allowing him to bring her gaze back up to his with a sigh. 'Come here, beautiful.' He drew her close by the chin until he was able to take her lower lip into his mouth and kiss her warmly, not even caring that Sister Julienne was sat on the end of the bed, her hand resting upon his torso through his shirt as they kissed slowly and he ran his hand along the curve of her back. 'Are you ready now?' Shelagh nodded before sitting up and allowing him to settle behind her.
'Alright.' Sister Julienne smiled as she carefully moved Shelagh into the position that she required. 'Let's have this baby.'
She couldn't stop her own tears from falling down her cheeks as she watched Shelagh cradle her son close to her chest later that evening, the young woman sobbing gently as her husband nuzzled into her hair with a beaming smile upon his lips. Sister Julienne knew how deeply Shelagh had longed for a baby of her own since leaving the order to become Patrick's wife, and she had prayed for a miracle for the two of them every evening, her heart swelling with love for Shelagh when she had announced that she was expecting a baby after she had returned from South Africa. She felt extremely honoured that she had been the one to deliver Edward Patrick Turner that evening, knowing that Shelagh was going to make an incredible mother with all of the love inside her, and she knew that she'd never adored Shelagh more than she did in that moment. Seeing her sob with happiness as her husband held she and their son in his arms, made Sister Julienne's emotions run wild. She had never seen her so joyful and happy.
Shelagh drew her eyes away from her son a few moments later and gazed over at the elder woman with tears sparkling in her gentle blue irises, a tearful smile upon her lips. 'Thank you.' She whispered as she felt Patrick nuzzle his face against her neck, Edward grizzling softly in her arms from the cold before she covered him slightly further with the soft blanket he was wrapped up in. 'I wouldn't have gotten through all of that without you by my side, and I'll never be able to thank you enough for being so patient with me.' Sister Julienne reached out to stroke Shelagh's cheek lovingly, smiling when she nuzzled into her palm. Shelagh turned to her husband with a small smile upon her lips a few moments later, Patrick nodding silently with a kiss to her warm temple. 'We were wondering...' Shelagh began while she settled back against her husband's chest, her gaze meeting with that of Sister Julienne's once again. 'Hoping,' She giggled sweetly. 'That you would do us the honour of being Godmother to Edward, Sister.'
Sister Julienne's mouth almost fell open as she processed Shelagh's words.
'You've always been like a mother to me, and Patrick and I couldn't imagine having another woman as Godmother to Edward.' Shelagh admitted as she stroked her thumb against the warm skin of his arm.
'What...' Sister Julienne began as her heart pounded slightly. 'What about Granny Parker?'
'She's already Angela's Godmother, Sister, and we wanted to do something to show you how thankful we are for all the help you've provided us with.' Patrick smiled as he stroked Shelagh's hair soothingly.
'Please, Sister?' Shelagh smiled. 'It would mean the world to us.'
'If you really mean it, then of course I will.' Sister Julienne's voice was choked with tears. 'It would be an honour.'
And oh, what an honour it was.
Author's Note: Thank you all for being so patient whilst I went through writer's block, and thank you all for reading this chapter! It may not be the best, but at least it's now complete! I would be so grateful if you would leave me a review and tell me what you thought! Next Chapter: K is for Kiss! (Pure Turnadette fluffiness to come!)
