"Well, now that we are full of delicious pudding," Lucien glanced at Jean who was beaming "shall we adjourn to the comfortable chairs of the lounge room? There's a warm fire, and a full liquor cabinet" He raised his eyebrows

"You all go right ahead, I'll join you in a moment, I'll just clear the table and start the washing up" Jean called as they all rose from their seats. She began to collect bowls.

'No, you go and enjoy yourself Auntie Jean, I'll clear the table." Danny offered

"And I'll help" Mattie chimed in. "for old times sakes" she smiled at Danny.

"Looks like we're starting the dishes then" Rose looked at Charlie.

"Looks like it." He grimaced sarcastically

Rose threw a napkin at him. "You wash, I'll dry" She led the way toward the kitchen as Charlie joined her

Jean smiled appreciatively after them as Lucien's arm enveloped her shoulders. She slipped her hand around his thick waist. "Thank you" she mouthed at Mattie and Danny, as she walked toward the lounge with her arm around the man she loved.

Matthew looked at Alice and offered her his arm, who regarded it cautiously. Then with the tiniest hint of a smile, she linked her hand around his elbow and they followed Lucien and Jean to the Lounge room.

As Mattie cleared the table she observed the interaction and she smiled to herself. They were a good match, If a little strange, But maybe that's why they seemed so perfect together. Her mind wandered to Rose. She sighed.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Danny interrupted

She snapped back to reality "What?"

"That was a really big sigh"

"Did I sigh?"

"Yup, What's the problem"

"You, You're my problem" she joked as she scraped the scraps on to a plate, smiling at him.

"C'mon Mattie, I know you better than that, somethings bugging you."

"If you must know I'm having trouble adjusting to the fluff on the bottom half of your face" she joked sarcastically as she rubbed the back of her hand over the dark beard Danny sported.

Danny persisted "if you tell me, I can tell you the gossip I just heard"

"Danny!'

"What?! I'm your friend! I deserve to know what's got you all riled up!" he paused and dropped his voice. "and you really want to know what Charlie just told me" he smirked.

"Danny that's not fair!"

"Take it or leave it Mattie." He picked up the plates. "Last chance, I'm walking towards the kitchen"

Mattie quickly thought about it. She'd have to tell him at some stage.

"Alright!" Mattie relented, and he returned to place to dishes on the table. She paused unsure of where to start. "You're my friend right?

"Of course!"

"And whatever I say, do you promise to not judge me or freak out?'

Danny scrunched his face. "Wow, this is serious."

Mattie sat back down in her chair. "I, uh, don't know quite how to say this to you."

Danny sat in the chair next to her and rested his arm on the back of her chair. "Hey, whatever it is, Just come right out and say it."

Mattie took a deep breath as she rubbed her face. "I, uh…. Well when I was away…" she cleared her throat and started again. "While I was in London, I met a lot of people." She looked at him "London is nothing like Ballarat where everyone knows everyone's business, and there are a lot of….. very different people living there." She looked away "different people who have… alternative lifestyles"

"Mattie…." Danny started

"I'm not ashamed of who I am, It's just… here, it may not be so freely acceptable" She looked at him square in the eye and took a deep breath "I'm a lesbian, Danny."

Danny looked at her serious face and burst out laughing

"Danny!" she jumped out of the chair "I shouldn't have told you." Tears streamed down her face "I thought you'd understand! I never thought you'd make fun of me like this"

Danny grabbed her hands and held them in his "I do understand Mattie! More than you know!" he grabbed her face in his hands and made her look at him. "I'm laughing because its almost my story since I've been in Melbourne."

Mattie looked at him not understanding.

"Mattie, I'm bisexual" he admitted with a shy smile.

"What?"

"Since I've been in Melbourne I've discovered, well… that I'm attracted to both men and women." He stated matter of factly. He let go of her face and ran his fingers through his hair sheepishly. "I'm sorry I laughed. It was just such a familiar story."

Mattie smiled at him through her tears. Finally. Someone here who would understand, someone to talk to. She flung her arms around his neck "Oh Danny!" She burst in to tears again as his arms snaked around her back and held her in a bear hug.

The lightning flashed outside the kitchen window

"It's looking pretty wild out there" Charlie remarked

"Crazy" Rose agreed

Charlie thought "Rose, can I ask you a personal question?"

'Oh Lord', Rose thought to herself, 'Here it comes. Why did she break up with him…' "Sure"

Charlie faltered "What do you think of Danny?"

Rose was stunned, this wasn't what she'd expected "Well I hardly know him. We only met tonight. And as you were sitting next to him through dinner I think you probably got to know him better than I did"

Charlie persisted "But do you think he's handsome?"

Rose stared at him "Well he's certainly pretty. And he's got a cute beard." she looked puzzled "Charlie where are you going with this, Why are you asking?"

"Mmm? Oh no reason."

"I'm not about to ask him out on a date if that's what you're worried about." She smirked at him "He's not really my type, I prefer my men a bit more ruggedly handsome" she reached for him out of habit

Charlie knocked her hand away. "Rose, stop! We can't keep doing this on again off again thing! We've just decided not to pursue this relationship! I can't keep up!" he stared at her. "Look, We're either together or we aren't!"

Rose dropped her hand and there was silence in the kitchen but for the rain outside and the occasional rumble of thunder. "Sorry" she mumbled. "Force of habit" The silence became unbearable. "I'll go see what's holding up the dishes" she walked away, not meeting his eyes. How could she have been so stupid. She was thinking on this when she walked in to the dining room to witness Danny and Mattie embracing tightly. Great. Just what she needed. She backed away feeling more alone than ever.

Outside a huge roll of thunder rumbled loudly.