They spent the next week going to work and coming back to Alice's house in the evening. They had a few call outs for the Chief Superintendent and the Police Surgeon but fortunately the work didn't drag them out of bed through the night. The station had started calling Alice when they were looking for Matthew but nothing more was said about it and both Alice and Matthew were happy about it.

Alice was finishing the dishes as Matthew was wiping the table. "Would you like to do anything specific for New Years eve darling?" Alice clapped a hand over her mouth and realised what she had just said. She felt herself stiffen, not quite believing what she had just said aloud.

Matthew set down the cloth, wrapped his arms around Alice from behind and kissed her neck, waiting for her to relax in his arms.

"Darling? Is that it? I like it Alice…In fact(kiss)…I (kiss)…love it (kiss)."

Alice turned in his arms and pulled him closer to her, so she was resting her head on his shoulder, trying not to look at him.

Matthew reached up to place his finger under Alice's chin, making her look at him and he leaned down for a kiss.

"It's ok to call me some endearment or other. You don't need to feel uncomfortable about it…ok? Call me it again…please?"

Alice looked him in the eyes and whispered, "darling." Matthew kissed her with wild abandon, but they were interrupted by the telephone.

"Damn!" Alice exclaimed. She cleared her throat before picking up the receiver and said to Matthew, "body recovered at Lake Wendouree. They want both of us."

Alice looked over as Matthew said he was just going to change into his uniform and Alice called back, "it's probably a suicide, at this time of year. Maybe we won't be too long."

Alice grabbed her bag and looked over at Matthew, "we could just take the one car? I know it's a bit like adding fuel to the fire, but I'm not bothered if you're not?"

Matthew never answered, just walked out of the house and opened the passenger's side door.

It turned out that Alice was right, and they were back in Alice's house, two hours later. As they walked through the door, Alice dumped her medical bag on the floor and she looked at them she saw that they were both covered in dirt and lake water.

Matthew saw that Alice looked rather despondent, took one of her hands and said, "how's about we add some statistical weight to the shower experiment?!"

"Yes please."

By the time they emerged from the bathroom, it was just after 11 pm and Alice sat Matthew on the sofa and told him to wait there. She collected a bottle of fizz that she had bought for the occasion. They switched the TV on, watching the festivities, waiting for midnight and for the new year to begin. Alice was leaning on Matthew's chest, lying between his legs and she heard the TV announcer say it was just ten minutes until midnight; Alice moved, poured them both a glass of bubbles and handed one to Matthew.

"Matthew, you really have made my festive season. I'm glad I stopped being so stubborn and we spent Christmas and this last week together. Long may it continue." She leaned in and kissed his gently at first, but Matthew pulled her in close to him and deepened the kiss. He pulled back to look at her and said, "me too sweetheart. Me too. Now…" he leaned over picked up both of their glasses and as he did, they heard the countdown from 10 on the TV. As the TV bells chimed in the new year, Alice and Mathew clinked their glasses with Matthew saying, "I love you Alice Harvey, happy new year."

"Happy new year…darling." She smiled into another kiss. They finished their drinks, leaving the empty glasses on the coffee table, switched the TV off and made their way to bed.