#patrickturner

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.

Patrick found himself unable to hold back the deep sigh of contentment that escaped him as he lay quietly beside his wife and she slept soundly in his arms, her head cushioned upon his chest as her arm was draped over his abdomen and her leg was tangled with his beneath the quilt. As he ran his palm over the curve of her side and brought the fingers of his free hand through her deep brown hair, he thought of how the two of them had lay in the exact same position on the first morning of their honeymoon. Shelagh had been so content to just cuddle against his chest as the sunlight had come in through the drapes that hung in the windows of their hotel room, her head buried beneath his chin as he had pressed countless kisses to her crown and she had slept so peacefully in his embrace. Patrick'd thought that Shelagh couldn't ever be more beautiful in his eyes than she'd been that first morning, but now he knew that he'd never stop noticing things about his perfect wife which only made her so more appealing in his eyes.

Pressing a lingering kiss to her crown as he held her slightly closer to him, he breathed in her scent through her hair and allowed his eyes to flutter closed as he smiled. 'My gorgeous girl.' He murmured softly into her light brown tresses and brushed his thumb against her hip beneath the covers. She stirred momentarily with a gentle hum of contentment before she allowed her fingertips to caress the warm skin of his side and settled back into her peaceful slumber. It wasn't long until a perfect gurgle came from the cot on Shelagh's side of the bed and Patrick felt his heart swell with love for the perfect little boy settled in it, his lips pressing to the side of his wife's head before he carefully removed his arms from around her and slipped out from beneath the warmth of the covers. As he made his way around to Teddy's cot, a small smile formed upon his lips as he knew that he already had everything that he could ever want in life. An occupation that supported his family, a loving and supportive wife and his three perfect children.

'There's my boy.' His voice was gentle when he finally allowed his gaze to fall upon the perfect baby that he had somehow helped to create, his six-month-old son blessing him with a smile that allowed him a peek at his first tiny tooth. Patrick remembered how he had found Shelagh sitting up with Edward in her arms over the course of several nights as he sucked on an ice cold flannel, the cool material taking the pain off as she rocked back and forth with their son in her arms and she hummed gently into his hair. Even though she had been exhausted until it finally broke through the surface, she still couldn't keep her excitement to herself when the tooth finally did show. Now, she found their beautiful little boy so much more adorable whenever he granted her a look at his tooth. 'Edward Turner, you are growing up far too quickly for Daddy's liking, and I want it to stop this instant.' He teased with a loving chuckle as he leaned in to cradle his son in his arms, nothing but love in his warm brown eyes when Teddy snuggled close.

He was just like his Mummy. Stealing his father's warmth.

As Patrick cast a glance back to his bed, he couldn't help but smile as Shelagh had now shifted to his pillow and her nose was buried into the material as she slept soundly. Oh, how he loved her. The creak of the bedroom door was what made Patrick draw his eyes away from the perfection that was his wife, a gentle chuckle escaping him as he watched a sleepy Angela padding into the room whilst she rubbed her eyes slowly and she held to her teddy's paw. Wordlessly, Patrick sat down on the edge of the bed and sat Teddy upon one knee as he brought his little girl to sit on his other, allowing her to cuddle up to him. 'Morning, Daddy.' Her light voice was muffled against the warm skin of his chest as he brushed his fingers through her soft blonde hair, his lips pressing to the crown of her head as he held her protectively by the waist. It occurred to Patrick, that whilst Angela had grown up to have the exact same personality as her mother, she had also grown up to have her mother's trait of disliking early mornings. Not that he'd ever minded, though, when it meant that he could shower his little angel with kisses and hold her close to him as she woke up at her own pace. 'Did I wake Teddy?' She asked gently as she looked up at him.

'No, my lovely.' He reassured her as he brushed his thumb against the curve of her side through her nightgown and she leaned against his chest, watching her with pride when she stroked her brother's warm cheek with the backs of her fingers. Something that she had seen her mother do when she was settling him down for one of his naps. 'He woke up just before you came in. Why don't you see if he'll go to you for a cuddle, hmm? Then I can try and wake Mummy up so that she can get Edward ready for our beach day?' She nodded excitedly before slipping from her father's lap and allowing him to place Teddy down in her lap. He had never doubted that Angela would make an incredible big sister, but she had definitely exceeded any expectations he might have had. She had taken on a much more gentle nature since her little brother had arrived, and she always managed to stop him crying by playing peek-a-boo with him like Shelagh used to do with her. Despite only being four years of age, she seemed to be turning into a magnificent big sister. Once Patrick was content that Teddy was safe with Angela, he stood up from the bed and made his way around to his own side before kneeling down beside his wife.

She looked so different when her glasses weren't perched upon the bridge of her nose and she wasn't wearing any makeup, her hair tussled from the lengthy kissing sessions that the two of them managed to always find themselves in once the children were all asleep in their own beds. She was still exceptionally beautiful in his eyes, though. She could never be anything but. Allowing his fingers to slide a soft strand of brown hair back behind her ear, he pressed his lips to the warm skin of her brow. Something that he knew would cause her to stir, considering she was rather sensitive there. Once she released a gentle hum, he began to trail his kisses down the bridge of her nose before planting a softer one upon the tip of it and stroking her jaw lovingly. 'Shelagh, my love.' He whispered gently before brushing his lips against her philtrum in advance to covering her mouth with his own. He only had to move his lips once over her own before she started to respond, her breath warm as she hummed against his mouth.

When he pulled back from her lips and stroked the backs of his fingers down the side of her face, her eyes fluttered open and she allowed a sleepy smile to accentuate her features before she took his hand and laced her fingers with his own. 'Good morning.' She whispered as her eyes were half-lidded and he brushed his thumb across her knuckles, a loving smile upon his own lips as he kept his warm gaze on her. He remained quiet as she began to leave an individual kiss upon each one of his knuckles, each graze of her lips against his skin making him fall more in love with the beautiful woman he had married. It wasn't long until she finally noticed that her two youngest children were settled on the edge of the bed, Angela smiling over at her when she realized that she was finally awake. 'Good morning, my sweet boy.' Shelagh giggled as Teddy wriggled out of his sister's arms and hurriedly crawled over to his mother, a beaming smile upon his lips as his light blue eyes glistened. 'Is somebody waiting for their feed?'

Teddy snuggled against his mother's chest once she had brought him slowly into her lap and her fingers combed slowly through his dark hair, his gentle coo against the silky fabric of her nightgown making her press a tender kiss to his crown. 'Angela, darling, come and have a cuddle.' She extended her hand to the beautiful little girl that had stolen her heart from the second that Patrick had quietly eased her into her arms several years ago. The beautiful blonde haired toddler shifted upon the quilt until her mother was able to wrap her arm around her shoulders, a smile forming upon her lips when a tender kiss was pressed to her forehead. 'Mmm, I think we should spend the day down at the beach today and buy some ice creams. What do you think, angel girl, would Edward enjoy that? And Tim?' Angela nodded. 'Well why don't you go and see if you can wake Timothy up whilst Teddy has his breakfast, and then we can all get ready to go out?' Angela didn't need any more coaxing before she slid from the mattress.

'If I've said it once then I've said it a thousand times, Mrs. Turner, you are the most perfect mother in the entire world.' Patrick nuzzled his face into the side of his wife's neck, stealing several warm kisses.

And he meant every word.

                                               - CTM -

It was a short time later when Shelagh and Patrick were sat beside one another on a picnic blanket that they had set down a safe distance away from the ocean, gentle giggles leaving them as they kept an eye on Angela and Timothy whilst the two of them paddled at the edge of the ocean. Angela looked so incredibly sweet in the new swimsuit that Shelagh had purchased for her before the family had left for their holiday, her soft blonde hair tied back in a bun since she had been complaining about it getting into her face because of the breeze from the sea. As Shelagh gazed down at the perfect little boy whom was quite happy to lay in her arms, she knew that her entire world was based around the three beautiful children that never failed to amaze her. Along with the incredible man that she was leaning against, of course. Patrick always made her feel like she would be able to do anything as long as she tried hard enough, which was one of the things she loved most about him. Why she was proud to be his spouse.

'You honestly look incredible.' His gentle voice brought her out of her thoughts a few moments later as she sensed him shift closer to her upon the blanket, his hand coming to rest upon her lower back with a loving smile as she allowed her head to settle back against his shoulder. 'You are the most beautiful woman on this entire beach, Shelagh Turner, not that I've even needed to look at another one in order to know that. I wouldn't be able to do half of the things that I can if I didn't have you, my darling, and I can't explain how much I love you.' She giggled sweetly as she continued to cradle their son close to her chest, her thumb brushing against the warm skin of his leg when she tilted her head back to meet her husband's lips with her own in a lingering kiss. 'I can't believe you have been mine for four years.'

'It's been incredible.' She sighed before leaning in to catch him in a long and sweet kiss as he wound his arm slowly around her waist, their foreheads touching once they pulled apart for breath. 'I love you, Patrick Turner.' She breathed as she ran her hand along his torso and he trailed kisses along the expanse of her forehead and hairline, his thumb brushing against the softness of her stomach as he smiled.

'I love you too, Shelagh Turner.' He hummed into her ear before stroking their son's hair with the palm of his hand. 'And our three perfect children.'

                                                       - CTM -

The sun was setting slowly over the ocean later that evening as Shelagh and Patrick walked slowly along the edge of it and the beach was completely deserted, their fingers laced between them as her silky hair blew softly in the breeze and her head rested upon his upper arm. It had taken him a while to convince her that they could trust Timothy to babysit the children for an hour or so in the hotel room if he took her out for a sunset walk, but she had finally given into his insisting when he had promised that it would be the only time they did it. Even though she knew that was an empty promise. 'Come here.' A gentle sigh escaped her when her husband murmured against her hairline as he pressed his lips to it in a tender kiss, his hand releasing hers before he wound his arm around her waist and drew her closer. 'I don't think there's a better way on earth to watch the sunset than holding you against my chest, my gorgeous girl, I swear that.' He admitted as he set his chin down lovingly upon the crown of her head.

'The last time you said that to me was when we were stood together on the beach in South Africa last year.' She smiled as she allowed her arm to slide around his lower back, remembering how she'd been warm in his arms even though the breeze from the ocean had been rather chilly when they were in Cape Town. The same day that she had started to experience the symptoms of pregnancy. 'That was also the first time that you had ever kissed me properly in front of the others, which I must admit was extremely daring of you, Doctor Turner.' She smiled lovingly up at him, her blue eyes sparkling beautifully.

'Mmm, I think I ought to kiss you again.' He stopped her a few moments later before wrapping his arms around her middle and drawing her flush against his chest, her hands coming to rest upon his upper arms as she gazed up at him and nothing but love could be seen in her eyes. 'Just to remember what it was like.' He dipped his head and caught her in a long and tender kiss, then, Shelagh lightly gripping the fabric of his shirt as she hummed into his mouth and he drew her closer, still. His fingers stroked slowly through her light brown hair as her hands moved to cup the sides of his neck warmly, her thumb brushing against the warm skin at one side as her palm caressed the other. 'I love you so much.' He panted gently when they allowed the tips of their noses to graze, his hands settled upon her lower back.

'I love you too.' She whispered whilst she ran her hands slowly along the front of his chest and they gazed deeply into one another's eyes, her cheeks flushed slightly. 'Now kiss me again.'

She placed her hand upon the back of his neck then, bringing him down into a softer kiss than they had shared just moments before, his hands roaming slowly over the spine of his one true love.

Of his soulmate.

                                                      - CTM -