Matthew turned around to see Alice cuddled into his side, sleeping soundly. He wondered what time it was but had left his watch in his own room. He lay there for 10 minutes, bringing himself around and basking in the fact that he was lying in bed with Alice and that she was safe. As he lay there, he could hear Jean and Lucien in the kitchen, but he couldn't make out a word they were saying. Matthew moved, leaned over Alice to see if she had left her watch on the bedside table but then he remembered that it had been broken in the assault. He made a mental note to buy her a new one, Christmas wasn't that far off and it would be something special he could buy for her.
Alice, moved beside him, tried to stretch and winced at the pain she had caused herself. Matthew touched her face and said,

"Alice, you alright? Need some painkillers? I never heard you move at all last night, did you get up at all?" Alice shook her head and cuddled back into the warmth of Matthew.

"Not ready to talk yet?" he smiled.

Alice shook her head again. They lay there in silence until Matthew's stomach rumbled loudly. Alice chuckled and said, "any idea what time it is? I don't have a clock in here."

"I left my watch in my room. I'll nip to the toilet and check. Do you want me to help you to the bathroom or should I get Jean to give you a hand?"

"Please don't be offended Matthew but I'd rather you got Jean to help me."

Matthew came back to Alice's room and said, "you're never going to believe this but it's 10.45 am!"

Alice was sitting up and put her hand over her mouth and said "no! I've never slept that long in my life. No wonder we are hungry!"
Jean knocked on the door, came in and helped Alice into her dressing gown and out to the bathroom.

"Clearly sleeping with Matthew was good for you. Have you ever slept that long Alice?"

"Jean! I never slept with Matthew. We shared the bed. I'm sorry but he said you mentioned that it was ok. I didn't want to be alone."

"Alice, you're in no fit state for any of that. I'm not angry with you Alice. I just meant that…I'm happy for both of you. You both deserve to be happy. Come on, I'll make you and Matthew something to eat, you must be starving."

Jean made bacon and scrambled egg with buttered toast, she placed it on the table as Matthew brought over two mugs of tea. Lucien and Jean joined them at the table as they ate. They talked about the goings on in Ballaratt and when Matthew and Alice were done, Matthew cleaned up.

"Do you want to have a bath now, Alice?" Jean asked.

"Please."

"I'll get everything sorted if you go and get some clothes and I'll meet you in the bathroom."

Later that afternoon, Alice took a nap; the pain, the painkillers and the healing process were tiring her out. Matthew stuck his head around her door just to check on her. She had fallen asleep on top of the bed, so he found a woollen blanket and pulled it over her sleeping form. As he left her room, he walked into Lucien.

"Alice still sleeping?"

"Yeah. Was just checking on her."

"Good man, Matthew."

At that the phone rang and Matthew picked it up; he looked over to Lucien and said, "it's for you." Lucien was needed down at the cells to check out an arrestee, so he told Matthew and said that he'd ask Jean to drop him off as she said she had a few errands to run in town.

"We'll kill two birds and all that!"

When Jean and Lucien left, Matthew took a cup of tea into the living room and sat on the sofa just thinking about what had happened. He heard a noise behind him and as he turned to look in the doorway, he saw Alice stood there rubbing her eye.

"Alright love?"

"Is Jean around? I need to use the bathroom."

"Jean and Lucien are out."

Matthew put his cup down on the coffee table and got up from the sofa.

"Come on, I'll help you."

As Matthew reached Alice, she reached out to touch his arm and said, "no. I can't allow it. I…Matthew, I don't want you to have to help me to the bathroom, I…you'll never be able to look at me the same way again."

Matthew took Alice's hand that was holding his arm. "Alice, if you had had to look after me when I had the accident, would you have looked at me differently if you'd had to take me to the bathroom?"

"No! Of course not Matthew but I'm a doctor."

"I'll tell you what, I'll keep my eyes closed." Matthew chuckled to lighten the mood. "Let's go. It's me or you're going to have to help yourself and you might end up weeing on your dress or your underwear and well…" He looked at Alice and saw disappointment on her face.

"I'm sorry love. I was only trying to lighten the situation. Let's go."

When Jean and Lucien returned, they found Alice leaning against Matthew on the sofa; Matthew was reading a book as Alice listened.

"Hello folks, we're back!" called Lucien.

Alice moved up off of Matthew's shoulder and tried to get up from the sofa. Lucien saw that she was struggling a little and gave her his hand and he helped her up.

"I might go and see Jean, leave you boys alone."

Matthew and Lucien talked about the men currently sitting in the cells at Ballaratt police station and how they had been involved in a brawl, how one of them had taken a whack to his face and that was why Lucien was called out. Lucien explained that he patched him up and left Charlie and Ned to deal with him.

"Sit down Alice. I'm just going to prepare for dinner. Pork chops tonight." Alice looked up at Jean then back down at her arm

"Don't worry Alice, I'll make sure I cut yours up for you, make it easier for you with one hand." Jean touched her right shoulder and asked if she wanted a cup of tea.

"No thanks, Jean. I've had enough tea; Matthew must have made me 3 cups when you and Lucien were out." Alice chuckled. Alice sat in silence as Jean worked around the kitchen.

"Everything alright Alice?" Jean asked.

"I…Matthew had to take me to the bathroom."

"Oh, Alice I'm sorry."

"He was…it was fine. Matthew was a gentleman, but I didn't want him to. Jean?" Jean walked over and took the chair opposite Alice, at the table. Jean looked at Alice and motioned for her to continue her story.

"I…think that I am in love with Matthew. I know he is in love with me. I know it sounds strange, but I don't want to put him off of me. I've never loved anyone before, and I don't want to…I don't want him to leave." Alice began to cry and at this, Jean moved round the table and pulled Alice into an embrace.

"Matthew is going nowhere Alice. I've been friends with Matthew Lawson for a very long time and he is very loyal. Look at him and Lucien; they've been friends since they were children and are still friends now. If Matthew loves you, and I know he does, he's not going to get scared off by taking you to the toilet."

Alice continued to cry into Jean as she hugged her to her.

"I'm so sorry Jean, I didn't expect to be this worn out so quickly. I feel so teary and I'm so annoyed at myself."

Jean kissed the top of Alice's head and told her not to be too tough on herself and went back to making dinner.

"Can I set the table?"

"Yes, but just be careful Alice. If you need help, just ask me."

They all settled into the living room after dinner and talked away the evening, Jean knitting, and for the first time in forever, Alice felt like this could be a home that she could love. She yawned and Matthew looked down a her and said, "bedtime?" Alice replied "please."
That night and for the next 3 weeks, Matthew slept in bed next to Alice.