A/N: (Feel free to skip my useless rambling) Okay, this chapter was hard to write, I gotta tell you guys. I must've rewrote it fifty-billion times. That's why it was up late, I just wasn't happy with it. But I think I am now. Mostly fluff, a little bit of meaningful sniffle!fic.

I also want to inform you guys that next week, there may possibly be only one update (on Monday), I leave on Tuesday to visit my family, and they actually don't have internet, so if I don't make it to an internet cafe or something, I won't be able to upload anything until I get back on the following Wednesday.

Anyway, cheers, and enjoy!

20

For Always

Matt sat on his couch, hours after the call, still holding his cell. He knew Alex had an important press conference to go to. He also knew that going to a press conference with a sick child was no fun. The woman was stressed enough without having to worry about Salome. So, he decided he was going to help her out if she needed it. Which she probably did. He opened his phone and brought up his keypad, dialing Alex's number.

"Hey, Matt, what's up?" Her voice was breathless and tight through the phone, but even like that, her voice still caused a daft grin to spread across his face.

"Hey, is Salamander sick?"

"She's running a temperature, sore, tired… nothing I wouldn't expect." Alex replied, "Why?"

"You still planning on going to that press conference?"

"Can't miss it."

Matt nodded into his phone. His mind was made up. He got up and started pulling on his coat. "Alright then, I'll be right over there."

"-Matt, you don't have to-"

He interrupted her as he grabbed a season of WHO off the shelf, "Shh, it's fine. You can't possibly bring Salome to the press conference," he replied back. "Just get ready for the conference, Kingston, I'll be right over."

He snatched his keys from their place and hopped in the car. He could only think of how much this reminded him of the time when he'd looked after Alex. Salome was like Alex, only smaller, and younger, and not-mum. He chuckled at that.

He decided he might as well pick her up a few things before he arrived. If he remembered correctly then Alex had an hour or so before he had to be there. He rushed into the store to pick up some chicken noodle soup. He grabbed a can or two for them and then, on his way to the check-out, spotted something that Salome would absolutely adore.

Now, Salome had told him of her love for elephants. To be exact, big, squishy, plush ones. She had a small one that was the size of a small teddy bear, but she hadn't gotten a big one. She was hoping that Alex would get her one for her twelfth birthday, or Christmas, or something. So, a grin spread on Matt's face as he stopped, staring at the biggest, squishy, plush elephant he'd ever seen.

It was the size of a large pillow, shaped more like a gray ball than anything else with little, stubby round legs sticking out from the bottom and a head that was much too small for its body and eyes that were much too big for its head. Ignoring the strange looks from passersby, Matt pulled it off the shelf, tucked it under his arm, and walked up to the cashier.

He placed the items down, and the woman eyed him oddly. "You have kids?" she asked him with a slight chuckle.

Matt laughed and shook his head, "No."

Her eyebrows raised to phenomenal heights. Matt blinked and then gestured to the elephant, "It's for my… um… friend's daughter."

"Ah. Would this friend be female?" She asked him curiously as she accepted his credit card, ran it through, and then handed it back to him.

Matt couldn't think why that would be any of her business, but he saw no harm in answering her. "Yes?"

A smile spread across her face as she handed him the plastic bag with the items in it, "Would this female friend be married?"

"No?" He blinked at her in confusion.

She simply grinned at him smugly, "Happy future marriage, then."

Matt didn't really know how to respond, so he settled for simply chuckling and nodding to her before walking out. Seriously the oddest run-in with a cashier he'd ever had. He stuck the elephant and soup in the back before hopping back in his car and driving off to Alex's flat.

He drove up, parked, grabbed the bag out of his car, and then ran up the stairs to Alex's flat. Alex opened the door just as he was about to knock. She was just putting some earrings in. "Hey… you know you could just walk in- what on earth is in the bag?"

He chuckled, "Stuff for Salome."

Alex blinked at him and shook her head, "You know you don't have to come over and watch her for me…"

He smiled down at her, tapping her nose before stepping past her, "I want to."

Walking into the living room, he spotted Salome laying on the couch, curled up under an afghan, but still awake. He smiled at her and sat down on the edge of the couch, "Hey, Salamander."

Salome perked up immediately, sitting up to throw her arms around his neck, "Matty! You came!"

"Course I did, I promised, didn't I?" He chuckled softly and hugged her back.

"Did you bring some episodes of WHO?" She asked excitedly. Her voice was a bit throaty and it almost sounded like she was losing it, but she still had a bit of her energetic self left.

He nodded, "Yep, I brought most of Donna and Ten's."

She squeaked softly, probably trying to squeal, "Brilliant!"

Matt suddenly remembered his bag, "Ah! And for you-" he pulled out the giant elephant, his grin widening as he watched Salome's face light up.

She took the massive thing and hugged it tightly, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome." He chuckled and ruffled her hair.

"Mum! Look what Matty got me!" She held the item up in the air so Alex could see as she walked in.

Alex smiled and glanced gratefully at Matt, "That's fantastic, Salome." She walked over and kissed Salome's forehead, "Alright, I'm off, I'll see you in a few hours, okay?"

"'kay." Salome nodded and reached up to hug her, and Alex hugged her back tightly.

Matt ruffled Salome's hair, "I'll be right back, I'm going to see your mum to the door, alright?"

Salome nodded and smiled at him, "Snog her while you're at it, okay?"

He laughed as he got up, "Yes ma'am."

Alex grabbed her bag and he walked with her to the door. She stopped before leaving turning to face him. His breath caught. They were only inches apart again.

"Matt, are you sure you're okay with this?" She asked him quietly, "You don't have to watch her for me, I can bring her, or get Karen or-"

He stopped her by taking the liberty of taking her hand, his thumb rubbing up and down her throbbing pulse. "It's okay, Alex. I promise it is. Just go, relax. I've got this and I don't mind in the least."

He watched her as she bit her lip, felt her long, clever fingers wrap around his wrist, "I'm sorry though, I feel like I'm ruining your day… you call if anything, okay?" She whispered, looking up at him with those infuriatingly captivating green-blue eyes.

He squeezed her and smiled down at her and nodded, "Everything'll be fine, trust me."

She swallowed, "I do."

His smile turned a bit cheeky, "Do I get a kiss goodbye too?"

That drew a good-natured huff and a chuckle out of her, and she whacked his arm, lightening the mood. "You, sir, are the biggest flirt."

"Not as big as you, you could probably flirt with a fish." Matt countered, smiling fondly down at her.

Alex raised a brow and nodded, "Granted. Bless, alright…" His heart began to pound in his ears as Alex leaned up and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Bye, and thanks."

"You're welcome," Matt breathed, giving her hand one last reassuring squeeze, "Have fun."

Alex snorted again, "Right. Bye, Matt." She gave him a wave and then walked out the door.

He shut it behind her, cheek still warm and tingly from her lips, "Bye, Kingston."

Matt walked back over to the couch and sat down next to Salome, "Alright, which one?"

"Mm… the Unicorn and the Wasp." Salome mumbled as she scooted over and burrowed herself under Matt's arm, curling up.

Matt leaned forward and popped the correct disk in and selected the episode. "Tell me if you get hungry, ok? I've got some soup for you."

Salome nodded. Her previous energy from his arrival was seemingly drained. The poor kid felt quite warm to the touch, Matt noticed. The hours would pass by quickly, he thought absentmindedly as he began to run his long, ridiculous fingers through Salome's hair comfortingly. He hoped she would sleep. Sleep was always good when one got sick. He also prayed that Alex would be able to relax and not worry about them. She worried far too much than was good for her. Matt simply hoped he could relieve some of that stress. She shouldn't have to be handling all of this on her own. Raising a kid was hard enough with two people, let alone by yourself while you were a co-star of the most popular TV show in the UK.

"Matt?" Salome whispered after a few minutes over the sounds of Donna being attacked by a giant wasp.

"Yeah?"

"Do you love my mum?"

Matt's thought process stopped in its tracks. Why on earth was she asking him that? "Yes. Why?"

"Like- love, love her?"

"You mean do I want her to be my girlfriend or something?" He asked, wondering where on earth this was going and why Salome was asking him such an odd question for a kid her age.

"No, like, do you wanna marry her for always?"

Matt blinked, "Why the 'for always', Salamander?"

"Because not everybody does." She replied back quietly, "Some people just wanna marry her for some of the time and then they decide they're done and she gets hurt, and I don't like that. And if you just wanna marry her for some of the time then I don't want you to."

It was like a punch in the gut. Matt took a deep breath and gulped. Yes. If he was honest, he did want to marry Alex. He didn't want anybody else to hurt her either. She deserved better than him… but he didn't care. He loved her, and he wanted to be with her for the rest of his life.

"So do you wanna marry her for always?" Salome asked again.

Matt swallowed and nodded, running a hand through Salome's hair gently, "Yes, Salome. I do."

She nodded and curled up tighter against him. "Good, I want you to marry her for always too."

In a few minutes, Salome was conked out, asleep in his arms. Matt took a deep breath and turned off the episode of WHO, gathered her up in his arms, and carried her back to bed.