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Summary:

When a few years into their relationship Bernie is asked to go back to the army and deploy Serena isn't sure how she's going to get through the nine months without her girlfriend. What she doesn't expect is for it to be her girlfriend who has the perfect set of surprises to get her through both the best and the worst days. Canon divergent - Elinor lives (well actually the accident never happens), Raf lives, and Cameron isn't a total ass! The staff of AAU also probably didn't all work on there at the same time in canon but do in this! The fic is already fully written with the first few chapters having already been Beta'd. 27 chapters including the epilogue. Hoping to post every Monday and Friday!

Chapter 1

Open when you get this…

Read on A03

TW: Homophobia Military Homophobia Internalized Homophobia

My work for the @berenaadvent Day 5 prompt “Historical”

Based around the The LGBT Veterans Independent review. Please do heed the homophobia warnings if that may be triggering.

Okay - so maybe this is a slightly stretch at the prompt “Historical” but once the thought was in my head it wouldn’t leave!

———

Serena comes home to fine the house eerily quiet. Bernie has had the day off and had told Serena she was planning to do a few of the DIY jobs that she’d got behind on because it’s July and they’ve spent all of their shared days off outside enjoying the sunshine. It’s not overly late just a little past 7pm and the temperature outside is still pleasant, so she wonders if maybe Bernie is outside, but isn’t convinced as she can’t hear any music playing. Bernie nearly always has music on if she’s tending the garden.

Serena places her shoes on the shoe rack by the front door, doesn’t want to walk through the house with her shoes on especially as she has her garden shoes by the conservatory door. She walks slowly through the house listening for signs of Bernie. Dinner hasn’t been prepped or started, though that in itself isn’t an issue, they are both quite used to eating post 9pm due to their shift patterns. Heads through into the conservatory but knows instantly Bernie isn’t outside due to the presence of her garden shoes on the doormat.

Serena doesn’t panic, there have been times before when she’s come home to a quiet house. Knows it might be a sign that Bernie just needs space, knows that Bernie has been part of things and seen things she will never understand. Knows that sometimes even out of the blue these things can play on her mind. She’ll go and find her girlfriend though, see if it’s space or company she needs and go from there.

She walks back through the house, and heads towards the stairs, it’s only as she approaches the last couple of steps that she can hear the faint sound of the telly coming from their bedroom. Wonders if Bernie has somehow got distracted during the DIY.

She pushes the door open, the shelf Bernie was meant to be putting up is discarded left propped up against the wall, though the brackets have definitely been screwed in. There are tools lay haphazardly on the ground underneath. Shes about to glance at the bed, wonders if Bernie has fallen asleep when the words coming from the TV stop her in her tracks.

The voice is unmistakable as the Prime Minister “The ban on LGBT people serving in our military until the year 2000 was an appalling failure of the British state – decades behind the law of this land.” She feels her own throat tighten at the words, can’t even comprehend the thoughts going through her girlfriend’s head. Wants to move, to say something, anything that might help. But she can only stare at the telly as the clip switches from the Prime Minister to the defence secretary Ben Wallace, can only listen to his words come from the TV screen.

“I am deeply sorry for what happened to you the very tolerance and values of western democracy that we expected you to fight for we denied to you. It was profoundly wrong.” Serena cannot describe the feeling in her chest at the words, the deep-seated heart ache that is so unlike anything she’s ever felt before. Knows the way she’s feeling is only a fraction of how Bernie is feeling. She forces her eyes away from the screen then, forces herself to look at the bed, to her girlfriend sat against the headboard, hunched over with her knees pulled to her chest, body shaking with silent sobs.

Serena walks to the telly, turns it off, walks in big strides over to the bed, slides up to her girlfriend and whispers her name more gently than she thinks she ever has in her life. “Bernie.” There is a pause, maybe for thirty seconds, but then Bernie moves her head, looks up at Serena. The sight before her breaks her heart, Bernie’s eyes red from crying, looking so anguished that Serena feels like her heart shatters.

“Cuddle?” Serena offers it as a question, knows Bernie may still want more space. Waits until Bernie nods before opening her arms. Bernie nestles against her, in a way that’s somewhat unusual for them, more often than not it’s Bernie holding her when they cuddle. Bernie settles her cheek against her chest, and Serena brings her arms around her tightly. Holds her close, rubs her hand gently up and down her arm. Doesn’t say anything else, knows from the time they’ve been together that Bernie will speak once she’s found the right words.

“Thank you,” is the first thing Bernie says, still not totally used to a partner who has her own best interests truly at heart. Shifts so that she can look as Serena as she talks, but instead connects their hands, her own way of grounding herself.

“I’ve known something like this was coming, ever since the report was commissioned. I’d known we’d get some big statement, but I didn’t except it to hit me so hard.” Bernie runs her thumb over Serena’s knuckles as she speaks, reminds herself that this is Serena that this conversation is okay, that Serena will never judge her for anything she has to say.

“I knew even before I was gay that I was destined to join the army. My brother, who should have been the one to join, had a form of childhood epilepsy that despite growing out of as a teen disqualified him from joining for safety reasons. We realised this when he was 16, I’d have been 12. I remember overhearing a conversation between my dad and granddad about the importance of the Wolfe family name carrying on, knew then and there that it was going to be me that carried that burden.” She can see the imagine vividly in her head, sat on their stairs of their house, leaning against the wall as her dad and grandad spoke. “I told them a few days later that I was going to join when I was old enough and I’ll never forget the pride in their eyes” and she can see it even now, can’t help but wonder if that pride would be the same now. She’d made it to major, a rank above them both, but would they be proud knowing that despite the fact she was a major that she’s also gay. She shakes her head gently can’t let that thought come into her mind now.

“As I got older the used to tell me stories, of the things they done, of the people they’d worked with. They made it sound glamorous in a way. Talked to me about what I wanted to do, it was a tradition that the Wolfe’s always entered as officers, and in the end, I decided it was medicine that I wanted to do. Of course, as time passed, I realised that I had feelings for women, knew that it wasn’t even really accepted in society and that it definitely wasn’t accepted in the military. But I pushed it aside knew I had a duty to my family, and that came above my own feeling. The army paid for my medical training, on the agreement that I served for at least 10 years, and I agreed because it took so much pressure off the family.” She feels Serena squeeze her hand as she’s speaking a silent sign that she’s listen that Bernie can keep talking.

“It wasn’t until I first attended officer training that I realised just how unwelcome the true me was there. I was dating Marcus by this point, we’d met at med school, but I knew deep down it wasn’t the real me. We were made to read through reams of paperwork, so we knew what we were signing up for, so we realised we had minimum service terms and such like. I’d always known people like me weren’t welcome in the military but having it written in front of my eyes in black and white was another matter. I can see see the image of the writing on the crisp white paper as if it was yesterday. ‘Any person subject to military law who is guilty of disgraceful conduct of a cruel, indecent or unnatural kind shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.’ I was literally facing being found guilty of a criminal offence, if I so much as let my cover slip, it’s the reason I agreed to marry Marcus, I loved him, just not in the way he deserved, and it was the best protection for me. I’ll never not feel guilty for that, it isn’t what he deserved.

She pauses then, a big sigh coming from her lips, Serena places her hand gently under her chin, makes her look at her. “You did what you had to darling, no one can blame you for that. I know he was hurt when he first realised but I’m sure even Marcus understands deep down. Bernie nods minutely, not convinced totally understands that Marcus probably hate her and that her kids don’t think much better of her.

“I hate myself sometimes for staying, for allowing myself to enjoy being part of an institution that would have criminalised the real me. But I did love it, the army, it quickly became part of who I was. I built a big web of lies that at times even I believed. I rose through the ranks, and I convinced myself that that made it okay, that I’d earned respect despite everything. I lost friends though, a couple of good friends. I still remember as clearly as if it were yesterday the day Officer Cadet Richardson was accused of being homosexual, he’d always spoken about Jamie, but everyone though they were a woman, and of course Richardson, Paul, had never corrected them. You have to realise at this time there were literally teams within the army employed to basically witch hunt any gay people they could, and somehow, they found out, that Jamie was in fact a man. They pulled him out of bed in the middle of the night, read his letters in front of us all, made them seem disgusting by reiterating over and over again that they’d been written by a man. They took him away that night and I never saw him again; we’d been friends since the first day of officer training, and we were a week away from commissioning. That was one of the days I hated myself most for staying, I was Married to Marcus by this point, and I couldn’t afford not to, couldn’t afford for that to be me. But it ate me upside every day that I was willing to be so loyal to an organisation that literally destroyed the lives of people like me brave enough to be their true selves.” Tears are shining in her eyes now, can see the way Paul looked at her as he was dragged away, as if pleading with her to help him, and all she’d done is look away, not wanting to risk looking like she felt sorry for him for risk of outing herself, even with her giant web of lies. She’s quiet for a while now, wonders what the future ended up holding for Paul, if him and Jamie managed to stay together despite everything else.

“How long did it take to change?” Serena asks gently, she’d know the military were behind in their acceptance, but she never realised quite how deep it had run. It stopped being a criminal offence in the army in 1994, scary thought when you think all our children were born by then. But it didn’t become allowed until much later still. Every time there was a new act we were forced to agree to it, it’s one of the few times we could get out of our service outside our usual terms, I remember considering it when the 1995 act was given to me, but by this point I’d got a husband and two children, I’d go far too much to lose, so I was the opposite of brave because it was safer and I knew what to expect.

“Again, I can still see the writing as if it’s right under my face. The act stated amongst other things that ‘homosexuality isn’t compatible with securing the aims of the armed forces, because it undermines the order and discipline necessary for military effectiveness’. It went on to talk about how there was no other job like the military, and well as much I can concur with that that I cannot agree with the reasons they then gave as to why being a homosexual soldier was so wrong. They talked about the close proximity that soldiers live in. That they have no choice but to share same sex living quarters, as if implying the awful stereotype that gay people will want to try and sleep with everyone of the same sex. The worst part of it was the comment about the percentage of under 18s in the army, as if being homosexual made soldiers more likely to try and pray on the younger soldiers, stereotypes that within mainstream society were settling but in the army were being written into legislation that made my true self and the true self of so many others incompatible with jobs we’d literally risked our lives to do, in more ways than one.”

Serena can hear the shame in Bernie’s voice can’t help but put her arm around her and pull her close. Bernie rests her head against her shoulder and continues to speak, Serena knows now she’d opened this very deep seated can of worms that she needs to get it all out.

“I lost a few more friends in the coming years, friends who by every admission of the word are so much braver than I’ll ever be. They were tired of living a lie, wanted to be able to be their true selves, risked losing everything to do so. Something I despite over twenty-five years in the army wasn’t brave enough to do. Alex is notwithstanding in all of this because that was such a closely guarded secret because it was totally not allowed due to our ranks, without taking into the fact I was also married.” Bernie lets the feeling of Serena arm rubbing gently at her side give her the strength to keep speaking, some of the things coming from her lips are things she’s hidden in the depths of her soul for as long as she can remember. They are thoughts and feelings that have plagued her being for year but that she’s never shared with anyone before. She’s got better at sharing her emotions since leaving the army, got better and not hiding behind Great British reserve, especially with Serena. But laying herself so bare is still deeply uncomfortable for her, not because she doesn’t trust Serena but because her mind screams at her that what’s she’s doing and saying is wrong.

“It didn’t change for the better until the millennium, when it was finally allowed. But even then, it wasn’t right. The military has such a deep-rooted hatred of homosexuality that people who were out still faced marginalisation and judgement. They got looked over for promotion and such like. Once again, I could have been brave then, the children were older, but by this point I’d hidden my true self for so long I wasn’t even sure who that was anymore. I of course did what I could, made sure that as an officer of considerable rank that I helped the soldiers who were out and proud as much as possible. I Cut off homophobic comments, ensured soldiers under me got a fair go at promotions, but I still don’t feel like it was enough. Can you imagine how moral boosting it would have been for them people if I’d have been brave enough. What it would have meant to have a highly ranked officer be out and proud. But I couldn’t, I’d got to the point where I hated that part of myself, where I’d have done anything to change it, to really be able to love marcus. I’d have given anything to forget that I looked at woman and saw something innately beautiful.” The tears trickle down her cheeks slowly then, she’s not that woman anymore. Not the woman who hated the fact that she’s gay, she’s out and proud and loves Serena more than life itself. But sometimes the self-hatred she used to have for herself, that comes with years of repressing who you are to the point that you believe it is wrong yourself, is enough to overwhelm her.

She feels Serena thumb gently wiping at her face, knows that she won’t comment on it will just be here to listen for now, until its clear she’s finished.

“I kept that stance for the rest of my career getting promoted through the ranks. I was deployed overseas on multiple occasions include to Iraq and Afghanistan, ended up being promoted to Major, each year things seemed to get slightly better for the soldiers who were out, but I always tried to be the best ally I could even if I still wasn’t out. You know the rest of it from there, my affair with Alex, how it all would have stayed a secret had I not been blown back to reality.”

And Serena does know about that part well, they’ve discussed Alex and the affair in detail. It was clear a few months into their relationship that Serena’s biggest insecurity was that, while she trusted and trusts Bernie that the pain and suffering Edward had put her through, we’re definitely made more present by the knowledge that Bernie had too had an affair. Bernie had opened her heart to Serena, admit in a way that could confuse some that it was like she was a different person. She doesn’t excuse her affair, but she could explain it in some way. That it was like she had two separate personalities the one who was married to Marcus, had two children and would keep their sexuality hidden forever. And this second one who was made to come alive by Alex, that she didn’t do it to hurt Marcus or the kids but because she needed to feel something after so long of hating herself. That in some ways it worked but in others it made her hate herself more as she wasn’t that kind of person.

“You know as well as anyone that if it hadn’t had been for the IED and Alex, that I’d probably still be married to Marcus and still burying that part of me. Though it seems we’ve digressed from the initial point of this conversation.”

Serena’s answer is instantaneous, “But we haven’t though.” Serena says gently, and Bernie’s face is enough for Serena’s thoughts to be confirmed, that she herself needs to step in now and help her girlfriend understand.

“Everything you’ve just told me has led to us being here now.” Serena squeezes Bernie’s hand tightly then because there is no one else she could imagine a future with. “But that doesn’t make it okay, and I don’t mean what you did, I’ve already said you did what you had to. But it doesn’t make it okay that you had to. Does that make sense?” Bernie shakes her head gently, and Serena is so glad their relationship is built upon trust and honestly, that it’s allowing them to have this conversation.

“From what you’ve said to me today, I get why you behaved and acted the way you did for so long. I get why you hid the real you. You were forced so wrongly to do what you did; you made a choice to make your father and grandfather proud, but in doing so you were given no choice but to hide who you truly are. By the time you did have a chance to be honest about any of it, you’d been forced for too long to lie about it that it was too late. The damage had already been done. You’d already been forced to be something and somebody you were never destined to be. You should never have been put in that position and no one who hasn’t been in that position will ever understand what the mental torture of that did to you.”

“But it’s partially my fault, I chose to join, and I chose to stay. I can’t complain not when my colleagues were literally stripped of their medals, tortured and criminalised for it. That I at least got a choice to see it through to the end.”

“But that’s the point I’m making, it should never have been a choice the way it was. You shouldn’t have been made to choose between your true self and making your dad and grandfather proud, in continuing the Wolfe family name. Those two things shouldn’t have been mutually exclusive. The fact you were made to hide yourself to the point we both know you hated yourself is wrong. I think right now in your head you think that this apology for all the historic hurt that has been caused doesn’t include you. That because despite everything you managed to stay in the army to become a renowned front line trauma surgeon and medic. I think you don’t think you deserve this apology. I don’t think that you understand that while your colleagues and friends went through their own traumas with their sexuality being discovered that you went through your own kind of emotional trauma. The constant worry of being found out, either by the army or Marcus or the kids. The fact that you took on board so much of what was said to you that you literally hated yourself for being gay, something that you know as well as I do, you have absolutely no control over tells me that you deserve this apology just as much as anyone else. That you were hurt by the historic ban and far from thinking you aren’t brave you should know just how bloody brave you were, you are, be here where you are right now.”

Tagging! I am asking  that you please add the following TWO tags to your post! This is to allow for masterposts to be created.

Berena Advent 2018

Berena Advent: [daily prompt] (without the brackets)

If you want to add additional tags go right ahead, but we’re hoping to make it easier to find the fics to reblog this way. If you think we’ve missed reblogging your fic or art (or you’re just excited!) please drop us a link in the submit box and I’ll make sure your fic gets reblogged to the blog!

Title: “Take My Seat”

Summary: Number 8 of 100 ways to say I love you.

Rating: G

Word Count: 1027

Part 1, Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

Bernie winces as the train jolts slightly to the right. She’s got her hand on the back of Serena’s seat so she doesn’t fall, but that doesn’t mean the jarring doesn’t hurt her already sensitive back. 

She and Serena had spent a wonderful weekend in London, Serena’s idea, for a bit of time to themselves and also to allow them to complete their Christmas shopping for their children: Jason (not officially, but he’s basically like their child in so many ways), Greta and Guinevere. Guinevere was easy as the four-year-old was very vocal about exactly what she wanted. Choosing for the others had been a nightmare though, with both Serena and Bernie swearing blind that children close to thirty were so much harder to satisfy than the teenagers they used to have to buy for. 

They’d travelled down on the train since neither of them fancied the long drive, especially at this time of year. They’d splurged on the lush five star hotel, allowing themselves the luxury of a swim in the morning. Significant looks were exchanged when the receptionist had pointed out the possibility, both taken back to a time six years before when Serena had said the exactly same words to Bernie. They certainly had never expected to be in a similar situation again, having been together almost as long. 

They’d spent almost all of Saturday wandering around the Winter Wonderland. Bernie managed to find a few small items for Charlotte. It had been a few years since she’d had the chance, but she is so thankful that her daughter was talking to her again so she never took a single second they spent together for granted. They get each of their families personalised tree decorations, stockings above a miniature fireplaces: three stockings for Jason, Greta and Guinevere, and two for Cameron and Morven, though they are tempted to three for the latter since it likely won’t be long until Cameron and Morven have their own little bundle. Charlotte actually gets the most, four stockings; since Bernie and Serena know they won’t hear the end of it if each of the dogs doesn’t get its own stocking. 

Knowing they shouldn’t have, maybe they ended up in the ice bar, but Serena had twisted her arm, desperate to try a Shiraz in such circumstances. There are still so many times Bernie finds it impossible to say no to Serena. 

They had dinner and enjoyed the theatre, although it’s not something Bernie had done many times before, her army days never really giving her the time. Maybe Bernie spends a lot of the time starting at Serena but she’s beautiful, the way her eyes light up as they follow the action on the stage. 

On Sunday they finish shopping even though it’s even colder than they expected and doesn’t get above freezing all day. Bernie has to ask for them to take an extra break, back aching and in the need to just warm up. Serena ends up offering a gentle massage over her coat, then pulls some of Bernie’s prescription codeine out of her bag, always the more organised of the two. Bernie took them and proceeded to forget about her back pain as they continue around the shops in London.

They’d grabbed an early dinner before heading to the station for their train that had been timed to ensure they are home before 9pm since they both had to work the next day. They’d arrived fifteen minutes early only to find that their train is delayed, thankfully only by thirty minutes, but it allows them time to grab a coffee. However, as they were sat in the small coffee shop on the platform, the crackly announcement came over the tannoy that the train was completely cancelled which is what lead to their current situation. 

The only available train was totally packed. They’d managed to grab a single seat, taking it rather than trying in vain to look for any more and, Bernie being Bernie, had, of course, offered it to Serena. 

She winces again as the train jolts to a stop; too busy in her musings to realise they were nearing a station. She glances out the window noticing they are at Swindon, still around fifty minutes until they get home. She just hopes she can hold out until then. She’s so busy staring out of the window that she doesn’t notice Serena looking up at her from the book she’s been reading. Her face forms a grimace against her will as the train pulls out of the station. Although she knows it’s an expected side effect of the IED, it’s been a while since her back has played up this bad, and that doesn’t mean it doesn’t sometimes come at the worst possible times. 

“Bernie, darling, take my seat,” Serena says and Bernie looks down in time to see her rising out of the seat so she doesn’t have the chance to argue. “You should have told me your back was playing up and I would have told you to take the seat. You don’t always have to be so chivalrous.” Bernie smiles as Serena places a gentle kiss against her cheek, neither of them having any reservations about showing their affection for each other, people’s opinions be damned. 

And for once she doesn’t argue, knowing that if she doesn’t sit down she will not be in state to go into surgery the next day. She sits down and it’s not long before she feels Serena’s fingers against her back, massaging gently against the tender spot, 6 years having given her the knack of hitting just the right place. Her hand stays there for the rest of the journey home, gently trying to work out the pain, and Bernie is so thankful for such an amazing partner. 

I can’t believe how close we are to the start of this now 😀

I have set up a collection on A03 incase anyone wants to add their work to that as they post. 

Tagging! Please use.

Berena Advent 2018

Berena Advent: [daily prompt] (without the brackets)

Title: “It Reminded Me Of You.” (AO3) Summary: Number 2 of 100 ways to say I love you. Rating: G Word Count: 445

Part 1 - Tumblr    AO3

Notes: It has been a long time since I have written fanfiction of any kind, but I saw a post about this on here and decided to try and write all 100 for our girls.

2. “It reminded me of you.”

Bernie arrives at Holby slightly early, dropping by Pulses to pick up two coffees, strong and hot. She swipes herself into AAU and walks to the office, hoping to surprise Serena when she arrives.

It’s been a long week and they’ve been on alternate shifts and opposite days off all week. They haven’t seen each other for more than ten minutes for days, so who can blame her if she wants to catch five minutes with her girlfriend before the start of their shifts? It isn’t like they haven’t kissed in the office before.

However, Bernie’s plans seem to have failed as she walks into the office and sees Serena already standing there. She recovers quickly and walks over to place a kiss against Serena’s lips. “I brought you coffee, thought you might appreciate it at this time in the morning.”

It’s only when she bends down to place the coffee on Serena’s desk—there’s no point handing it to her it’s too hot to drink—that she notices the cuddly wolf that definitely wasn’t there yesterday.

‘What in the hell is THAT?” she asks Serena, horrified. Serena is definitely not one for cuddly toys, especially on her desk.

“I got it at the zoo yesterday when I took the Fletchings. I’d been promising them for weeks,” Serena explains as if that answers the question. For Bernie, it definitely doesn’t.

She steps back towards Serena who has now sat in one of the visitor chairs and she sits in the other. Bernie takes hold of her girlfriend’s hand, just because she can. “Yes, I do remember about the zoo, you wanted me to come, but while you were busy buying hideous fluffy toys, I was here working a double shift. Still doesn’t answer the question though, Campbell, what in the hell is it??”

It is silent for a second too long, and Bernie looks at Serena’s face, noticing that she looks, if possible, slightly shy and wonders what Serena isn’t telling her. Just as Bernie is expecting not to get an answer and is about to give up by starting on the mountain of paperwork on her desk, Serena answers her. “I missed you, I know how much you had wanted to come, and it reminded me of you.” 

Title: “I Saved A Piece For You”

Summary: Number 9 of 100 ways to say I love you.

Rating: G

Word Count: 1208

Part 1, Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Serena has been in meetings all day. Bernie knows Serena hates days like this, days where she can’t actually be with her patients. Bernie knows that despite the fact Serena loves her job, she’d much rather be on the ward with her patients than rubbing shoulders with the board.

Bernie herself is more than able to cope with running the ward while Serena is busy and has managed to strike a good balance between seeing to patients and actually completing her own paperwork. Over the time she has spent working on AAU she has come to learn which of the doctors and which of their recurrent locums work well on what cases. She knows which of the F2s are able to cope with the pressure of the trauma bay, with her by their side, of course.

Bernie walks out onto the ward to check on her post op splenectomy patient. She is doing well, if a little sore, so Bernie orders an increase in her pain relief before heading into the staff room. She’d hoped to wait for Serena before celebrating Lou’s birthday but the ward is quiet and Lou’s shift finishes in half an hour and Bernie knows she is desperate to get home.

The rest of the staff follows at her request and by the time Lou walks in, the candles on the cake are already lit. They sing a very out-of-tune “Happy Birthday” before they hand Lou her card and present. She thanks them all enthusiastically and Bernie tells her to slip out a few minutes early but to come back for some cake on her way out of the door.

Bernie doesn’t expect the cake to last long, but she knows it’s one of Serena’s guilty pleasures since they always get the same cake for every staff member and Serena has admitted more than once that she looks forward to birthdays for this reason. Bernie knows if she lets the AAU family get hold of it there will be none left when Serena does finally appear back on AAU.

“Fletch, I think I hear a buzzer ringing. Will you go check on it?” she says quickly, trying to cutting him off at the pass as he makes a b-line for the cake. She instead cuts the first few slices, including one for Lou to take home and a small one for herself since it’s been a busy shift and she can’t say the sugar won’t be appreciated. Finally she cuts an extra large slice for Serena, placing it on a plate along with her own before walking out of the staff room and to their office.

Fletch catches her halfway across the ward, starting to say, “There was no buzzer going,” but then he catches sight of the plate in her hand. “Serena,” he says with a laugh. Bernie just nods before carrying on towards their office.

She herself ends up eating her piece to help her through the rest of the paperwork pile on her desk; she really does despise the paperwork. She is just opening the final patient file when the door to their office opens, knowing it’s Serena by the fact there was no knock.

“Hi, you. They finally set you free.”

“Hi, yourself, but, yes, belong to AAU again until next time.” Bernie chuckles, since next time won’t be too long away. She turns her eyes back to the paperwork, knowing there are a few Serena has to attend to herself so there is no point in packing up to go home.

“I guess I missed Lou’s little celebration,” Serena says once she’s sat down opposite Bernie. Bernie finishes typing a sentence onto the computer before replying. “Yes, I’m sorry, her shift was close to over and the ward was quiet.”

Serena sighs and Bernie knows exactly why but can’t help but drag it out just a little longer. “Of all days, I could have just done with a slice of that cake after today.”

“You know what the lads are like, can’t leave food anywhere near them and expect it to be around two minutes later.” Bernie has to keep her eyes fixed on her computer screen as she speaks, as her smile would give her away otherwise.

“Yes, that’s true, but please remind me of this next time either of them ask for a day off.” Bernie risks glancing up and sees Serena rub her hand over her forehead, and knowing it means Serena has a headache, she can’t bring herself to carry on with the teasing any more.

“Well, it’s a good job I saved a piece for you then, isn’t it?” She opens her desk draw to pull out the plate and fork and slides it over to Serena. Bernie watches Serena as her eyes slide down towards the cake, pulling it towards her and taking a rather large piece onto the fork. Their eyes meet just as Serena finishes the first forkful of cake.

“Have I told you how wonderful you are?” Serena asks, a large smile lighting up her eyes.

“Maybe not recently,” Bernie responds cheekily, own eyes sparking with happiness.

“Well, Berenice Griselda Wolfe, you are bloody wonderful, and I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you.”

Bernie doesn’t know either, but she does know that she is thankful to whatever entity put the two of them together and knows that she will cherish her cake-loving girlfriend for as long as she lives. just a little longer. “Of all the days, I could have just done with a slice of that cake after today.”

“Yes you know what the lads are like, can’t leave food anywhere near them and expect it to be around two minutes later.” Bernie has to keep her eyes fixed on her computer screen as she speaks, know that her smile would give her away otherwise.

“Yes, that is true but please remind me of this next time either of them ask for a day off.” Bernie risks glancing up and Serena rubs her hand over her forehead, knows that it means Serena has a headache and can’t bring herself to carry with the teasing any more.

“Well, it’s a good job I saved a piece for you, then isn’t it.” She opens her desk draw pull out the plate and fork and sliding it over the Serena.  isn’t it.” She opens her desk draw pull out the plate and fork and sliding it over the Serena. Bernie watches Serena as her eyes slide down towards the cake, pulling it towards her and taking a rather large piece onto the fork. Their eyes meet just as Serena finishes the first forkful of cake.

“Have I told you how wonderful you are,” Serena says, large smile lighting up her eyes.

“Maybe not recently,” Bernie responds cheekily, own eyes sparking with happiness.

“Well Berenice Griselda Wolfe, you are bloody wonderful, and I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you.”