The next morning, Mathew woke first. He looked at Alice lying there next to him and couldn't help himself: he reached over and pulled her into his arms, kissed her cheek and held her tight. Alice woke up to the feeling of Matthew holding onto her tightly and kissing her cheek. She turned around in his arms and saw tears in his eyes. She reached up to wipe the tears from his eyes before they fell. Half asleep, she moved up to kiss each one of Matthews eyelids, finally settling with a soft kiss to his lips. "Matthew, are you ok? What is it?" Matthew looked at the woman in front of him and kissed her lips again but with much more force than before. "Matthew? What's wrong?" Matthew looked at her and said "nothing. Nothing is wrong Alice. In these last few months, I hoped that when the Blakes were on their honeymoon, that we would become closer; working together, maybe having some meals together. I'm not going to lie and say that I hadn't thought of more but, this…this what we have? I can't believe that I have found you and that you want me too. It makes me so happy but I'm so sorry that you've been through all of what you have been through. There's nothing I can do to change that, but will you let me change your future? Let me be part of your future in whatever way you want me?" Alice had tears in her eyes and leaned over to softly kiss his lips. She couldn't say anything more than "yes, yes Matthew. I want you to be part of my future, if you'll let me do the same for you." Matthew held her close and kissed the top of her head. "We need to get up love. Time for work. I'd love to spend the day here, but we've got work to do and cases to solve." They got out of bed, got washed and dressed and met in the kitchen for breakfast, before heading out to the car. "Am I to be blessed with Charlie's presence again in the morgue today?" Matthew smiled and said "yes, there's no way I'm leaving you alone at the minute. Not until we've got this case wrapped up." As they got out of the car at the police station, Matthew leaned over and kissed Alice on the lips, not bothering who saw them. When he did this, Alice flinched a little and Matthew said "I'm sorry. I didn't think." Alice looked back at him and said "no. Please don't apologise. It was just a little unexpected." Alice took Matthew's hand and said "if you are ready for this, I am too. You just need to be patient with me. I know you will be; you already are." Matthew kept Alice's hand and walked into the station. He knew the boys would look at him and Alice, and would have something to say but, he would deal with that. As long as Alice was ok with it, he would do whatever he could to keep her safe and happy.
As expected, the boys all looked up when Matthew and Alice walked in hand in hand. Matthew pulled the seat out for Alice and asked Charlie to go to the morgue with Alice when he was ready. Charlie looked up and said, "I've got a few calls to make then I've got my paperwork ready to go to the morgue." He looked to Alice and said "Don't worry Doc, I'm not going to be a permanent fixture. Just until this case is over!" Charlie cheekily winked at Alice and Matthew said "Eh? Did you just wink at Dr Harvey?" Charlie looked embarrassed and then looked to the rest of the men in the bullpen before he leaned in and almost whispered "don't worry boss; I won't try and steal your girl!" This made both Alice and Matthew smile at the same time. Nothing more was said.
When Charlie had finished what he needed to do, he said "Doc? You ready?" Alice got up off the chair and walked around to Matthew's side of the desk. He was deep in thought reading something on his desk, when Alice leaned down and kissed his cheek. Matthew looked up and Alice said, "was that ok?". Matthew took her hand and kissed her knuckle and said "anytime, sweetheart. Any time." Charlie and Alice left to start the day in the morgue.
The morning passed quietly and around mid-morning, Charlie got up and made them a cuppa and sat the coffee on Alice's desk. Alice looked up and thanked Charlie for the drink and before she continued with her work, she saw that Charlie wanted to say something more. "Is there something else, Charlie?"
"Doc? I know it's not for me to say but, it's nice that you and the boss have found each other. He's been much happier this last few months and now I know it's you who's been doing that. I'm happy for you two." Alice's face went bright red with embarrassment. She wasn't used to this, but she just looked at Charlie and said, "thank you". She got on with her work and he with his. Just about lunchtime, the phone rang, and Alice moved from the microscope to answer it. "Morgue. Dr Harvey speaking". Charlie looked up from his work and saw that Alice's face had turned sheet white. He mouthed "it's him, isn't it?" Alice nodded. Alice took note of the place for the meet and agreed to be there, with the report and evidence that had been demanded. When the call was over, Alice slumped down into her chair and just sat there for a minute, trying to bring her thoughts together. Charlie looked at her and said "Doc, it's going to be alright. We'll make sure you're safe. The boss would make our lives hell if anything was to happen to you!" he laughed to try to lighten the mood in the room. Before Alice could lift the phone to call Matthew, he walked through the door with lunch for the three of them. Charlie declined the lunch and said he had a few things to do. Alice knew that he was just giving Alice and Matthew some time together, Alice handed Charlie a sandwich and apple from the picnic basket before he left. "Thanks Doc. I'll be back in an hour."
Alice told Matthew about the call as they ate their lunch. He held her hand in his when they had finished lunch and tidied up. "Alice? Sweetheart? You can change your mind if you want to?" Alice looked at him and said "no. I want this to be over as much as you do. We need to do this. Let's make a plan!" She winked at him and Matthew laughed. "You'll need to work on that wink, love. It was a bit wonky" Alice poked him in the ribs and released an "ouch!" and they both started to laugh. Matthew and Alice talked through a potential plan and said he'd call Melbourne when he got back to the station. Charlie arrived and Matthew kissed Alice on the cheek before heading for the door. Charlie said "boss? Where's my kiss?" Matthew walked out the door without responding and Alice had to hide her laugh as she sat back at the microscope.
At the end of the working day, Charlie and Alice walked back to the station. Matthew looked up when they entered and got up and pulled a chair next to his for Alice. He kissed her cheek, leaned in and whispered, "alright love?" Alice blushed and said "yes Matthew, I'm fine. You?" He just smiled and said, "better now." Matthew turned to Alice and said "I've got a few things I need to do before we head home for the night. Would you mind staying here with me for an hour?" Alice took off her jacket, pulled a book out of her bag and settled herself in the chair until Matthew was finished with what he had to do.
Matthew eventually looked over to Alice and he could see her eyelids drooping and her head bobbing. He smiled, stood up from his desk and said, "let's go, shall we?" Alice looked up at Matthew, put the book (that had fallen to floor at some point) back into her bag, and pulled her jacket back on. Wordlessly, Matthew took Alice's hand, said their goodnights and went out to the car. Matthew opened the passenger side door and helped Alice in and closed the door before getting into his side of the car. Alice closed her eyes and allowed the motion of the car to lull her back to sleep.
Matthew woke Alice when they arrived at Mycroft Avenue. Alice looked at Matthew and yawned. "Matthew, I am actually going to have to go back to my house at some point. I am washing the few clothes that we picked up the other day." Matthew looked at her and said, "would you like to go back there now? We could drive over and spend the night there instead?" Alice went to open the door and said, "not tonight, Matthew. I'm so tired I could go to bed right now." Matthew got out of the car and followed Alice to the door where he unlocked it, and they both went in. Both Alice and Matthew went into his bedroom and Matthew removed his uniform as Alice started to remove her clothes from the day. "Matthew? Is it wrong to want to get washed and put our pyjamas on? I know it's just after 7 but…" Matthew reached over the bed for Alice's hand and looked at her as he said, "let's do it. No one but you and I will know."
They both made their way to the kitchen and Alice looked at Matthew and said, "shall I make us some toast and cheese? I don't think I could face much more." Matthew took a seat at the table and said, "sounds lovely. Do you want a hand?" Alice turned to him and said, "let me do this one. I'm sure I can manage this one." She smiled and leaned down to kiss the top of his head and started to prepare their meal. Alice turned to ask Matthew if he wanted tea and he responded so she moved to boil the kettle for their drinks. Alice placed the toast and cheese and cups of tea on the table and sat down. "Matthew, can we talk about the plan tomorrow? I'm so tired tonight that I just want to eat and go to bed." Matthew leaned over, kissed the side of her head and said, "of course, sweetheart. No rush." Matthew did the dishes and tidied the things away and they both got up and headed out of the kitchen. "Matthew, would you be upset with me if I went to bed now?" Matthew looked at Alice and said, "no sweetheart. You do what you need to do. Do you mind if I read for a while before joining you?" Alice looked at him, shook her head and kissed him lightly on the lips before heading to Matthew's room.