I’ll be serving as Rockbird’s locum today in her “Hiatus Production Pic Challenge.” Hopefully, she’ll get some much-needed rest after we’ve run her ragged creating multiple fics this last day or so…

This itty bitty thing is set earlier the morning of the fan-favorite scene, “Hello, Nurse!”

Mornings were always their special time together, from the first day of their marriage. A time away from the rest of the world, they both woke early enough to steal moments that strengthened their intimacy. Fortunately, as Shelagh couldn’t bear to put Angela in the small box room they’d set aside for a nursery, the baby slept quite deeply, and their early conversations left her undisturbed. Unfortunately, Angela didn’t sleep as deeply as Patrick would have liked.

“I can’t believe how quickly the time’s gone, it’s like summer’s just rolled right past me! And now there’s so much to do before school begins, I’m not sure how I’ll get it all done.”  Shelagh sighed as she gently caressed the forearm wrapped around her.

“What needs to be done still? You’ve bought Tim’s uniform, he has a new bookbag, I should think he’s all set.”

Shelagh rolled her eyes in frustration. “Really, Patrick. I sometimes think you married me just to take care of all the little things you never think of!” Sitting up, she threw the covers back.

Smart enough to know when he’d talked himself into a corner with his wife, Patrick pulled her back towards him. “Now that’s silly. If I never thought of the little things before, why would I marry you to take care of them?” His nose nudged at her ear and he whispered, “I married you for entirely different reasons, sweetheart, that have very little to do with errands and school uniforms. I can prove it to you if you like.”

Shelagh giggled. “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about, Patrick.”

Patrick growled lightly and proceeded to show his wife exactly what he did mean. But with a precocious baby in a cot not three feet away, mornings were not what they once were, and Shelagh soon put a reluctant stop to his lesson.

“She’ll be awake any minute, I’m afraid.” She sighed quietly as her fingers toyed with his hair, tousled and messy from a night’s sleep.

Patrick smiled, his eyes locked with hers. “If we’re very quiet?” he cajoled.

A deep, throaty laugh rose up between them and Shelagh responded, “You always say that, but we never are.” She pulled his face to hers for one last kiss, then sat up.

Patrick was unwilling to let the subject drop completely. “How about my lunch break? We could meet back here?”

Looking down at her husband, Shelagh shook her head. “That’s not what I intended when I insisted on you taking a break each day. You’re meant to be resting and having a decent meal.”

“I can’t think of anything better to help me relax midday, Shelagh,” he teased, a crooked smile on his face.

“You really are incorrigible, you know that? There’s no need to smirk at me like that, Patrick. Even if I wanted to,” she ignored his huff of disbelief, “we can’t today. Timothy needs a haircut desperately, and as it is, I’m not sure I can manage that. The surgery is booked for the morning, and there will be piles of paperwork to file before I head over to the clinic. I can’t see how I’ll get Timothy to the barber, plus feed Angela and do all that.”

Patrick knew when he’d been beaten. Shelagh’s schedule was an intimidating thing, and he knew any major disruption to it would lead to even more time apart.

“I’ll take Timothy to his haircut, then. He can meet me at the maternity hospital and we’ll run get that managed. We can stop for lunch, too, so there’ll be no need for you to pack one for me.”

“Patrick, I thought we’d decided you’d cut back on greasy food?”

“Shelagh,” he warned. “One thing at a time?”

Conceding his point, she rose from the bed to check on the baby. Like a jack-in-the-box, Angela popped awake, reaching to be freed from her cot, and Shelagh lifted her up for a snuggle. “Good morning, Angel girl. Take care of Daddy whilst Mummy gets ready for the day?”

Patrick joined his wife and reached out for their daughter. “You know, I think I’ll get a haircut today as well. Two birds and all that,” Patrick informed Shelagh as he let Angela pat at his cheeks.

Shelagh stood suddenly from the drawer she was rifling through. “A haircut?”

“It’s not so unusual, Shelagh. It’s been over a month since my last.” By now, Angela was pulling at his ears.

Shelagh sat down on the bed beside them. “I know, but I’ve grown to like your hair a bit longer, dearest.”

Something in her voice made Patrick’s eyes fly to hers. “You do?” he asked huskily.

Shelagh blushed and looked away.

“Shelagh…” Patrick’s voice coaxed a response. His hair was a source of frustration to him, for once it grew beyond a certain length, it had a way of flopping into his eyes. But if longer hair had the effect he was beginning to suspect it had on his wife, it was a small price to pay. Especially if he heard her tell him so.

Shelagh took a breath and pushed on bravely. “And no Brylcreem, if you please, Patrick,” she stood up and turned to the door. “I’d prefer not to get my hands sticky with it tonight.”