Caloundra, Queensland

16 May 1942

A shadow fell over him and the latest letter from Alice - which with the blazing sun in the sky (an unusually warm May this year, it seemed) got his attention; Matthew frowned (most of the boys knew not to bother him when he was reading, book or letters it didn't matter) as he tried to figure out who'd interrupted him.

"Going blind already, Matty?"

"Bloody hell," he stood and embraced the one and only Christopher Beazley in a fierce hug. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"I enlisted."

That struck Matthew as odd, as just a month and a half ago Christopher told him that he didn't want to leave Ballarat for the war; offering him a seat, Matthew watched his old friend in silence. Christopher didn't meet his eyes, instead, he looked down at the photos Alice had included in her last letter.

"What happened?" Matthew finally asked him.

His friend sighed, "A lot… God, so much it feels like. Things have been a little…"

"Tense?"

"Yeah," Christopher cracked a smile. "Things have been a little tense between me and Jean for a while now, maybe even before the damn war started… we didn't get a great start off to our marriage anyways, and add to that some not so great years on the farm… home has kind of been a powder keg."

"What set it off?"

Again, Christopher sighed, "My own damn pride."

"Really?"

"Yeah… Jean hasn't been happy for some time. I mean, I know she loves me and the boys, but this wasn't the life she wanted for herself; Jean wanted to see the world and I… didn't. She didn't push, but I could tell she just wanted more from me, from our marriage, from our life. When more and more men from Ballarat were leaving and enlisting Jean asked me if I didn't want to enlist because I didn't want to leave Ballarat."

"Which is what you told me."

"I know. I know that, but…"

"What?"

Christopher let out a frustrated noise as he scrubbed his face with his hands, "I don't know, it just… hit differently."

"Why, because it was Jean asking you?"

"This is where my pride might have gotten out of hand."

"Christ, Chris…"

"I know… I know. I just… it sounded like she looked down on me because I didn't want to enlist."

"Chris-"

"I know. God, I know. I just… It made me so damn mad that I went out and enlisted to prove her wrong."

"Christopher. If you die, she'll think it was her fault!"

"I know!"

Matthew stared at his friend - who still avoided his gaze.

"You're an idiot, you know that?"

That got him a strained laugh, "I know."

"How'd Jean and the boys take it?"

"Not well, and I don't know how to fix it."

"Live and get back to her."

Christopher glared at him even as Matthew smiled.

"You could also write to her, Chris."

"Would she even open them?"

Nudging his friend, Matthew waited until he looked up at him.

"Jean loves you, Christopher. She can be stubborn, but so can you. Don't let a fight be the last thing you potentially say to each other."

That got him another sigh, "I suppose you're right… where would I even begin?"

"Grovel."

"Matty."

He laughed, glad that Christopher joined in that time.

"No, seriously, just… tell her what you want to tell her, sometimes it's easier to put it in writing than saying it face to face. Photos also make things easier."

"Yeah, I can see," Christopher nodded to the photos Alice gave him - the bright shining faces of the Collins children and Rose beaming up at them. "We don't have a camera though, nor do I think Jean can splurge for professional pictures."

Looking down at the photos, Matthew smiled as a thought popped into his mind.

"I've got an idea, and I think it might work."

Caloundra, Queensland

18 May 1942

My Alice,

If practice is what you want, practice you'll receive, though unfortunately, they'll be in the form of letters. But if my girlfriend wants kisses then kisses she'll receive.

I'm glad I didn't overstep your boundaries, and that you took that chance on me, sweetheart; having something to fight for in this war - something tangibly important to me other than for Queen and country - makes it a little easier to bear the distance between me and home. And we'll try for dates as much as we can, sweetheart, especially if I get another chance to come home in the future.

I'm glad Edith is doing well! She seemed the type to flourish in a chaotic setting, and hopefully, I won't have a need to run into her during the war, but knowing that she's got your high opinion in the medical field makes me feel better about someone like her looking after the troops.

Beth seems a hoot, almost like you've got a mini-me running around after you. Well, maybe a couple of ducklings if you've got the Collinses and my niece running after you. How's it feel to be a mama duck?

I'm glad Vera kept it light - both for my pride and my sanity, but I can't make up my mind whether or not it was a good idea to put you crafty ladies together. I may come to regret introducing you two.

(Thank you, for the confidence in my dating technique.)

Yes, I guess I've always been protective - I wouldn't have to if Vera or Lucien could stay out of trouble, but oddly enough telling those two to not do something has them running to do it, almost as if they do it out of spite. I don't mind telling you, sweetheart; I did have trouble with McAvoy growing up, he had a problem with me and usually solved it with his fists. It happened quite a lot, even after Lucien was sent off to boarding school, and Vera was usually the one I turned to - Mum was too stressed, and my father was a brute of a man so that would have sailed like a lead balloon. I finally stood up to McAvoy one day, and unfortunately for me, it was the day he brought a knife to a fistfight; Vera was furious with me, but I came out of it needing only a few stitches and an easily mended shirt. I think Mum knew, but she didn't say much, I was leaving for the police academy in a few weeks anyway, and Dad died a few years after that.

I'm also here, should you decide to tell me about growing up in Sydney, but no pressure on you at all.

It's not weird to want to meet Mum, she'll likely welcome you instantly into the Lawsons much like Vera apparently has already. Speaking of photos, I have a favor to ask of you.

I ran into an old friend recently (it was very unexpected, I never thought he'd enlist), and while he left home in a bit of a… blaze, he still misses his family very fiercely. I told him you've gotten into photography, and Christopher found your photos of the children to be quite good and lamented the fact that he and his wife didn't get photos before he left. I know it's a lot to ask of you, but if I cleared it with Mum, would you do me and Christopher Beazley a huge favor and go to Ballarat to get photos of his wife and sons for him? I don't know what your schedule looks like, so if it's in the way of school and classes, Christopher completely understands. I wanted to ask because he's in a different division and brigade, so I don't know how soon he'll get shipped out since they're starting to be shipped around the Pacific with the other Commonwealth and American troops on the islands.

I'll make it up to you, sweetheart, if you choose to do this, and let me know how much the trip costs, I'll get Mum to reimburse you for it all.

Yours,

Matthew XXX (kisses for the lady, as asked)