Title: After the honeymoon 1/2
Fandom: The Doctor Blake Mysteries
Author: Ceindreadh
Characters: Matthew, Lucien, Jean, Alice
Rating: 15
Spoilers: Set after the telemovie Family Portrait
Summary: After the honeymoon it's time to return to 'normal' life
Word count: ~ 1,500
Disclaimer. I don't own the characters, I'm only borrowing them, and no copyright infringement is intended.
"Oh, and welcome back, by the way," Matthew called out as he followed Lucien down the hallway. He felt guilty about interrupting the happy couple and dragging Lucien away, but the job came first.
Matthew had been at home on a rare afternoon off and had planned to welcome his friends back. But a call had come in from the station, a prisoner after doing himself some damage. He had just been changing into his uniform when he heard the front door open. "Well, that'll save some time," he'd thought as he knotted his tie.
Under other circumstances, Matthew might have found some amusement in making Lucien jump, but this was serious business. A prisoner had been hurt on his watch, and even if his men weren't at fault, there was going to be some amount of paperwork to deal with. He smiled involuntarily as Lucien doubled back towards the kitchen and Jean.
"Yes," said Lucien, a few hours later. "In the end, it was all pretty much a storm in a teacup." He sniffed the tea in his cup before sipping it appreciatively. "Ah, there is nothing like a good cup of tea in the comfort of your own home. I've missed this," he added.
"So, what had happened at the station?" asked Jean. "Matthew looked so serious when you left here."
"It was that new Constable, Parsons," said Lucien, "Ned's replacement." Lucien's smile faltered at the memory, but he pulled himself together. "They had a man in the cells, brought in on a charge of disturbing the peace and left to sober up. He'd been shouting half the night and then suddenly quietened down. Parsons checked on him, couldn't find a pulse so he panicked and phoned Matthew, who was supposed to be on a day off."
"But weren't Danny or Bill there?" asked Jean, automatically topping up Lucien's cup.
"Bill was out on a call, Danny was taking a dunny break. Matthew was just about to head down to the station when we arrived. By the time we got there, Danny had checked on the prisoner and managed to find a pulse."
"Those first aid classes he took as a boy scout, must have sunk in," said Jean, smiling.
"Well, as you can imagine, Matthew wasn't too happy for either of us to be called away from our time off and I'm afraid Parsons likely felt about two inches tall by the time Matthew was finished. But we did have a good laugh about it, once Parsons was out of earshot. And then Matthew sent me home. Said that I shouldn't miss out on the last day of my honeymoon!" Lucien looked at Jean with a smile that even after four months had the capacity to make her blush.
"Stop that," she ordered him. "You may have the rest of the day off, but I still have the dinner to see to."
Lucien's face fell a little, "But Matthew said that Mrs. Hall had left a stew in the fridge for us."
Although Matthew had gruffly insisted prior to the wedding that he could take care of himself, Lucien had insisted on retaining a housekeeper for the duration of the honeymoon, not just to keep up with the cleaning and laundry duties, but also to ensure that Matthew would be looked after properly while he and Jean were away. "Come on Matthew," Lucien had finally said, "I know you're perfectly capable, but well, you know how Jean worries about you. For her peace of mind if nothing else."
Jean patted Lucien gently on the cheek, "Yes, I saw it there and I am grateful not to have to start into cooking immediately. But we have to have a dessert as well."
"I know what I'd like for dessert," said Lucien. He caught Jean's hand and trapped it against his cheek for a few seconds, before turning his head and kissing her gently on the inside of her wrist.
Jean swallowed, hard, before continuing in a mock demure voice, "Well that will sort out your dessert, but we still have to feed Matthew!"
Lucien blew a raspberry against her wrist before letting go. "Speaking of Matthew and feeding people. He said that since Mrs Hall is so generous with her portions, that there'd be enough for four. He asked if we'd mind if Alice came over for dinner as well."
"Of course I don't mind," said Jean, warmly. "It'll be lovely to catch up with them both. Find out what's been happening in Ballarat these last few months." She caught the look on Lucien's face. "What?" Smiling coyly at him, she stroked his hand, "I'm sure Alice won't stay too late, and Matthew always retires early on a work night."
"Mmm," said Lucien, appreciatively. "But no, I was just thinking about Matthew, and Alice, the way he mentioned her name. He was being very deliberately casual about it. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they have some news for us tonight." He sat back in his chair, a smug expression on his face.
"You don't mean?"
Lucien nodded, "I have a feeling that ours might not be the only wedding bells ringing this year."
"Well don't tease him about it," warned Jean. "If they have something to tell us, let them tell us in their own time. After all, you could be wrong."
"Yes," said Lucien, "But I don't think I am." He saw the look on Jean's face and held up his hands in mock surrender. "All right, I promise. I won't tease Matthew, I won't try and drag it out of them. I'll wait until they're ready to tell us."
True to his word, Lucien didn't say anything about his suspicions. Unsurprisingly, the conversation revolved mainly about the places he and Jean had been to over the previous few months.
Mrs Hall's stew, while not a patch on Jean's, in Lucien's opinion, was nonetheless tasty and filling and as Matthew had said, she had been exceedingly generous with her portions. "Might have to ask Jean to let out my uniform," he'd said as Jean was dishing up. Alice's smile and glance at Matthew had only added to Lucien's suspicions about their relationship, but as promised, he'd held his tongue.
It wasn't until after the meal, while they were waiting for the tea to brew that he finally couldn't resist.
"And then we went to London, and met up with Mattie," Lucien said.
"How is she?" asked Alice, "It feels like an age since she left Ballarat."
"She's loving it over there," said Jean. "She sends her regards to you both." As she spoke, Jean lifted the teapot and started pouring.
"Yes," said Lucien, "But listen, I've been talking most of the evening."
"No change there," muttered Matthew as he reached for the sugar bowl.
"Very funny," said Lucien, "But enough about Jean and myself. Do tell us what's been happening in Ballarat these past few months. I want to catch up on all the news." Lucien carefully avoided looking at Jean, but he could tell from the way she settled the teapot on the stand that she would be having words with him later.
"Well," said Matthew, glancing at Alice before looking back at Lucien. "We do actually have some news to tell you."
Lucien watched with delight as Matthew reached his hand out to Alice, who took it with an ease that bore testament to much practice. "Don't tell me," said Lucien, a wide smile on his face, "You've only gone and gotten engaged!"
"Not exactly," said Matthew, his face beaming with pride. "We, eh, we got married in Melbourne last month."
Lucien's jaw dropped, and he stared at Matthew. There was silence around the table for a few seconds before Jean spoke up. "Matthew, surely you're teasing us," she glanced at Lucien and then back at her friends, "You didn't really…did you?"
Alice nodded, and with her free hand, she reached for a chain around her neck, pulling it to reveal a gold band. "We did," she said, smiling.
"Well congratulations," said Jean, firmly. "That's wonderful news, isn't it Lucien. Lucien?" Jean discreetly nudged him with her foot and gave him a 'you will behave properly with our guests' look.
"What? Oh yes." Lucien pulled himself together, "Forgive me, Alice, Matthew. That is indeed wonderful news, I just…" he hesitated momentarily before continuing, "Well I just supposed, not that I'd really thought about it that much, I'd sort of envisaged myself as returning the favour and being your best man, one day."
"And I'd have been proud to ask you," said Matthew. He cleared his throat before continuing, "But well, there was a rather pressing reason why we couldn't wait for you to come home…" He squeezed Alice's hand and gave a half nod to her.
"I'm pregnant," said Alice.
To be concluded
