"Matthew!" Lucien skidded to a halt in the hospital corridor, "what happened?"

"We went out to the garages, where the race cars are maintained ..."

"Race cars?" Lucien scratched his head.

"Yeah, the Red Australia; one of the mechanics was murdered and Alice, er, Dr Harvey, wanted to see what they did, don't ask, she's taken lessons from you," he scowled, "some idiot came tearing out of one of the garages and straight at us, I tried to push her out of the way, but he caught her, sent her flying over his bonnet, shit, Blake, the bone ..." Matthew went pale at the memory of the open fracture, "... she made me tie my tie round her leg to stop the blood."

Lucien had no idea what he meant about the Red Australia, but it wasn't of any import at this moment, he waved at a passing nurse, "I want Dr Harvey's x-rays and notes, now!" He strode into Alice's room and lifted the chart from the bottom of the bed.

"Right, so we have a pulse?"

"Apparently, but they say it took too long. She was conscious throughout, gave instructions to pull – jeez, Blake ..."

Lucien knew she would have been in phenomenal pain but would not like being out of control and this would have been the only way for her to cope with the injury.

"Dr Blake," a nurse handed him the files.

"Thank you, and prep a theatre, please." He opened the file and quickly read through the notes, "ah, shattered head of tibia and patella, muscle damage, arterial bleeding, no pulse until in ER ..." he lifted the sheet and removed the temporary bandage that covered the wound. He winced, but didn't touch it without gloves.

"Matthew, this is bad, even if I can save her leg, she'll have a permanent limp, probably need a cane and there will be scarring ..."

"Do your best, Blake, she asked for you, asked me to call you ..."

"Well, I best prove her faith in me, then," Lucien patted his friend's shoulder, "I'll just get prepared for theatre and she can come down."

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The theatre nurse had never seen anything like it, nor had the orthopaedic surgeon, tiny pieces of bone that were viable were joined with surgical wire, the larger pieces of the tibia were plated together like a jigsaw, the torn muscle was stitched in together and Lucien used an electric wire to test for sensitivity before repairing the venous damage and closing the wound. He had no idea how much feeling or movement she would have but the limb was warm, and when he tickled her foot her toes wriggled, there was hope.

He pulled his surgical cap off and slumped against the wall.

"Dr Blake?" the theatre nurse waited for further instructions.

"Twenty four hours sedation," he sighed, "one hourly obs ..."

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Matthew had been pacing the hospital corridors while Alice was in theatre. All the while Lucien had been taking time to go and see Jean he had been getting to know the acerbic pathologist and they had grown to like each other, to respect each other's position and were quite close when the accident happened. To see her is so much pain, see the damage to her leg had made him so angry that when they found the team manager who was driving the car Charlie and Bill had to keep him out of the interview room until he had calmed down enough to conduct an interview.

"Blake!" he watched the gurney being wheeled into the side room, "how ..."

"Well, the leg is still there, I've done my best to repair as much of the damage as I can, but only time will tell. She's going to have a long recovery, need physio ... you like her, don't you?"

"Er, well you're away so often ..." he blushed, "she's got quite the sense of humour, y'know; and she's clever – she can be good company."

"Come," Blake opened the room door, "sit with me and tell me what happened."

So they sat together either side of Alice and Matthew told how they had gone out to see if Alice could work out how the young race car driver had died. They were poking around a work space when they heard movement in an office and went to investigate.

"He climbed out of the window, we saw his feet, so we went round to the front of the garages – we heard an engine rev but before you could say Jack Robinson the car was upon us. I tried to push her out of the way, she did me but he must'a swerved towards her and hit her. I heard the bone snap – it was deliberate, how could he not see her?" He leant against the bed absent-mindedly stroking Alice's arm, "he didn't kill the lad, it was the senior driver, didn't want his thunder stolen by a youngster. Bloody stupid; the lad idolised him, wanted to follow him ... people are stupid, Blake."

"Yeah, sometimes," Lucien agreed and looked up as a nurse entered with two cups of tea and sandwiches.

"I heard you flew in from Adelaide, doctor," she smiled, "and the Superintendant hasn't left the hospital unless his men call him away, so ..."

"Thank you, nurse, that's decent of you."

"So," Matthew took a bite of the sandwich, chewed and swallowed, "how's Jean?"

"She's well, thank you, we got married."

"You did?" Matthew gasped, his eyes wide with surprise, "she took you on? Jeez, she's a brave woman."

"Braver than you think," he agreed, "we may have to bring Amelia up. Christopher and Ruby had her because they thought Jean wanted to be a grandmother, they overheard a conversation at the wedding so went ahead and had a baby they weren't ready for. Ruby's gone back to work, needs the adult company she says, babies don't make good conversation."

"Bloody hell," Matthew hummed. "So, she'll be coming back?"

"Too right. Christopher and Ruby expected her to stay until Amelia started school but weren't prepared to pay her a wage, so she would never be able to pay off her loan, she'd run out of money eventually ..."

"Why don't they get a nanny, then?" Matthew considered Christopher's attitude thoughtless, that he was penny-pinching, "I mean surely a Lieutenant ..."

"Pay's not brilliant, but yeah, we suggested that, but they refuse to spend that money on Amelia, they want it for themselves. Ruby wanted to know how she was supposed to be able to buy new things, nice dresses for base dances ..."

"Can't Jean teach her to sew, I'm guessing Ruby doesn't ..."

"She says she can't go to a base dance in a homemade dress, I think Jean was insulted."

"I would be, if I were her, she always looks good. So, this marriage – kinda sudden ..."

"Why do you think I've been going over to Adelaide? I was courting her, sure the wedding was a bit sudden but things being the way they were we decided to get a licence and set a date. There was a cancelation and we were offered it, so we got rings, Jean got a dress – Matthew she looked radiant - and the registrar found two witnesses, we'll have a celebration here, soon."

"That's why you were at Jean's then, I did wonder, but knowing her ... the hotel you usually stay at said you weren't there so I took a chance on ringing her ..."

"Yeah, well, we were going to try and work out what to do about Amelia, with Chris and Ruby, we had, or rather Jean did, a row with them when they found out we were married, it was in the paper – they came round and it all got rather heated. That's when we found out they'd heard the conversation between Jean and Ruby's mum, but she lives in Perth and runs her own business ..."

"And Jean always picks up the mess we men make," Matthew muttered.

"Yes, she does. I don't know when she will come back, she got me a seat on the plane and told me to come ... to fix Alice."

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In Adelaide Jean had had a sleepless night; she worried about Alice, about what she was going to do about Amelia. She would have to go and see Christopher, again, talk it through then see about going home.

She spent the day packing with Amelia crawling around her; they went out for a walk that felt strange without Lucien, had a light lunch and then headed over to the base house before dinner. During the walk they had passed the agents that had leased the bungalow to her and she told them she would be vacating it by the weekend. The evening would be the best time to speak to her son and daughter in law, make the decisions that would affect both her future and Amelia's. Within the next couple of days she would be heading back to Ballarat, to Lucien and their friends.

The discussion with Christopher and Ruby did not go well and she came away saddened and with the rest of Amelia's things stowed under the pram. She fed Amelia, had her own meal though she wasn't hungry, and prepared food for the journey back to Ballarat. She would go by train, the pram could go in the guard's van with her luggage, she would have to leave the cot.

Lucien rang her after she had put Amelia to bed. He told her how Alice was, how sorry he was that he was apart from her ...

"No, don't be, Alice needed you," she sighed, "we are fine and we will be back with you tomorrow evening."

"Both of you?"

"Aha," she sniffed, "we're coming by train, you knew it would happen, Lucien ..."

"I had hoped they would come to their senses, but yes, we will raise her to be good and kind – we can't ask any more than that, can we?"

"No, we can't ..." they spent time talking about all that had happened at home, how he had told Mattie and Charlie about their marriage and Amelia. "I'll see about getting a cot, I take it you are not lugging that on the train?"

"No, I shall have to leave it."

"I love you, Jean," Lucien signed off.

"I love you, too. Go home, get some sleep," she smiled, "Alice will need you when she wakes up, give her and Matthew my love."

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"Jean is going to need your help, Mattie, and yours Charlie," they sat together in the living room, "with Amelia." Lucien had told the two lodgers what had happened in Adelaide and how Jean was bringing Amelia to live with them.

"Well," Mattie frowned, "aside from the effect on Jean, the emotional effect, there is a cot to be found for Amelia and a room to put it in."

"The room next to the studio," Lucien stood up, "I think Jean and I should use the studio as our room, it is large and there is room for a bed. One of the side rooms could be ..."

"... turned into a bathroom?" Charlie raised his eyebrows.

"Great idea, Charlie," Mattie smiled, "but not now, that will be for when things are settled a little, first a cot, shopping to fill the cupboards – Mrs Toohey will be in in the morning we'll have to get her to help us. Jean will be back tomorrow so we don't have much time."

"Right, well, can you deal with Mrs Toohey, Mattie," Lucien started to pace around the room, "give her a shopping list for whatever you think we need, Charlie can you help me shift some furniture? We'll have to do it now, if that's ok, I need to be at the hospital in the morning to see to Alice."

"Will she be ok, doc?" Charlie asked, "only the Boss seemed worried."

"She will, I hope, Charlie, though she will never run a mile, may have a limp and scarring, and I might just remind you that Dr Harvey will probably not welcome sympathy or too much help, so ..."

"Gotcha," he touched his forehead, "now, about this furniture ..."

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"Well, Nurse O'Brien," Mrs Toohey huffed as she scanned the shopping list Mattie had written, "this is a lot."

"Much of it you can ask to have delivered, Jean does have large orders delivered. The formula is for her granddaughter ..." Mattie carried on washing the breakfast pots, "now, Jean is due back today, late afternoon and we have much to do."

"Right," Mrs Toohey picked up her handbag.

"There's money on the side, Mrs Toohey, for the groceries, Dr Blake left it before he went off to the hospital." Mattie watched her pick up the envelope and smiled. Poor woman, she really didn't know what had hit her when she arrived that morning to find Charlie and Mattie already finished with breakfast and a list of instructions as to what needed doing that day. Mattie was going to tout round her patients that had babies, or young children to see if anyone had a cot they could borrow for Amelia, and a high chair. Lucien would be at the hospital for most of the morning but was going to collect Jean from the station and bring her and Amelia home in the afternoon. In light of Mrs Toohey's cooking not being anything like Jean's Charlie had volunteered to do a roast, Mattie would do the vegetables and the only dessert she could do – a peach cobbler.

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Jean decided to catch an early train, she was an early riser and everything had been packed the previous evening. She had washed and dried all Amelia's nappies and purchased disposable ones for the journey – she wasn't sure about them but the idea of a bag of dirty nappies to carry on the train and back up to the house was probably a step too far. Disposables would do.

Breakfast over, the pots washed and put away she pushed the heavy pram past the agents and slipped the key in an envelope through the door with a short note. She carried on to the station, bought a first class ticket, had the guard stow the pram in the guard's van and settled in a compartment with Amelia. She had kept an old blanket that she could put on the floor so the baby could crawl around and the basket of the things she would need for the eight hour trip. It was going to be a long day.

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Lucien slipped on a pair of surgical gloves and removed the dressing from Alice's wound. It was clean and dry, just what he wanted. There was a little swelling which was to be expected and quite a bit of bruising, all of which would start to fade in the next week. He had it redressed and told the nurse that Dr Harvey could be allowed to wake as long as she was monitored.

"Call me as soon as she starts to stir, the tube needs to be removed as soon as we are sure she is aware of things."

He went away to call Matthew and write up his notes.

"It's going to take time, Matthew," he sighed down the phone, "but the wound looks good. Why don't you call round at afternoon visiting, I shall be collecting Jean around then and I'll give permission for you to stay as long as Alice will allow you to. Depending on how much pain relief she needs she may not be up to much talking."

"As long as she is ok, Blake," Matthew grunted from his desk in the station, "I'll bring her some stuff, eh? Cordial?"

"Sounds good, I'm sure she'll appreciate it."

"She'd probably appreciate a large whisky more."

"Sorry, not with the pain meds she's on," Lucien laughed.

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Mrs Toohey brought what she could of the shopping back to the house and put it away.

"Oh, good," Mattie appeared in the kitchen, "would you mind giving me a hand sorting out the baby's room? It needs a good dust and vacuum, the cot has arrived so I am going to make that up."

"Do you have the right linen? I mean these new sets will need washing first."

"The patient I borrowed it off has lent me a set, but yes, perhaps put that lot through the machine while we deal with the room."

As they cleaned, Mrs Toohey watched the young nurse organise and sort how the room should be set. She was quite impressed with her as up to now she had considered the girl flighty.

"I thought Jean was just going to help her daughter in law out for a few months," she unplugged the vacuum satisfied the floor was dust free.

"Yeah, well it turns out Ruby isn't able to care for a child and Christopher is a serving soldier so the best thing is for Jean and Lucien to raise Amelia for now and see what happens in the long run."

"So Ruby is not well?"

"Er, no, not really," Mattie didn't think it was for her to tell Mrs Toohey that Ruby and Christopher didn't want the baby, she didn't know if she would gossip, but she supposed Ruby's attitude could constitute a mental illness – maybe.

"Sad."

"Yeah," Mattie hummed, "it is."

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At first Amelia was happy to roll around the floor, nobody else had joined them in the compartment, but she soon got bored. There was only so much Jean could carry in the basket and so she had only been able to bring a small set of teething rings, a toy lamb than she could turn around in her hands and cuddle and a rattle.

She sat her on her knee and let her look out of the window and sang to her, she tickled her and blew raspberries on her tummy when she changed her nappy and played silly games with her until, at last she dozed off. At lunchtime she took her to the buffet car and asked them if they'd mind letting her have some hot water to heat Amelia's milk up; she bought herself a sandwich and hoped that Lucien would have arranged a decent meal for when she got home. He was forgetful, when he had something other than the house and it's workings to think about, but perhaps Mattie and Charlie would see to that. Alice would be taking up most of his time, it sounded awful and she felt for the woman she almost thought of as a friend. Alice didn't judge her for living with an eligible single male, not that he was single anymore, but she had just accepted that that was how it was at Mycroft Avenue – she would have to invite her to dinner when she was able to get around, and Matthew, she thought there was something there, for him to ring and ask Lucien to come back and see to the injury.

"I think you'll like Auntie Alice," she murmured to Amelia, "and Uncle Matthew," though she had no idea what Alice felt about children.

With a full tummy and a clean nappy Amelia fell asleep after her lunch which left Jean staring out of the window with the child in her arms hoping she had done the right thing, marrying Lucien, leaving her ungrateful son and his wife and taking their baby with her. On the second thing she didn't think she had any choice, really, Ruby would not look after her daughter, and Christopher held on to every penny he earned – that might be a product of his upbringing, watching his mother count every ha'-penny she had before going out to buy what she couldn't grow or make herself.

As the train drew out of the last station before her stop she gathered up the blanket and the basket and headed along to the guard's van where she would put Amelia in the pram and the guard had promised to help her get off the train. She had already given him a substantial tip for this service so she had every reason so believed he would be there to help her lift the loaded pram down.

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"Best head off, Blake," Matthew huffed, "pick up Jean ..."

"Yeah, why don't you stop by one evening?"

"When she's settled."

"And you, Alice," he smiled at his patient, "when you're out of here, she'll expect you over for dinner, and if you need anything send her a message."

"She'll have enough to do," Alice sighed.

"That's as maybe," he agreed, "but I do know she will want to help. So, if you need anything, please ask, I'll pass the message on."

Alice knew he meant things like toiletries, nightwear and really she would like to have her own things while she had to lie in a hospital bed.

"Thank you, for everything, Lucien," she grunted.

"Do you need anything?" He didn't want her to be in pain unnecessarily.

"No, I'm ok, it hurts, but I don't want any more pain meds, just yet."

"Alright, but have some, so you can sleep, you hear me?" he teased.

She waved weakly in agreement and watched him leave.

"Thank you, Matthew," she reached out for his hand, "for asking Lucien to come. I trust him to do what is best and what is right."

"Hey," he squeezed the hand, "I kinda like having you around, and, yeah, I agree, if it was me with this I'd want him to operate too."

"Tell me what's going on with Jean." It would take her mind off the pain and she wanted to know if Jean needed anything she could offer.

"Well," he shifted his chair into a better position to look at her and hold her hand, "when I called the hotel he wasn't there, so I called Jean and he answered, turned out he married her and was at her house ..."

"... if he's now her husband where else would he be?"

"Ok, yeah, but I didn't know that, I believe it was a quick wedding, there was a cancellation so they took it. Jean found out that Amelia was born because Christopher and Ruby overheard her talking to Ruby's mother at their wedding, about kids and what they were like and who the first one would take after, but they weren't in a hurry to be grandmothers; now Jean is literally left holding the baby."

"I can't think of anyone better to raise a child," she hummed, "but why didn't they talk to Jean and ..."

"Amelia, that's who the baby is named after, both of them," Matthew supplied.

"Right, Amelia, and perhaps," she shrugged, "I dunno, laugh off the idea of babies so soon."

Matthew shrugged, he had no idea, all he knew was that Jean and Lucien had got married, that the reason Blake had been taking time to go to Adelaide was so he could court Jean, and that there had been a conflict of interests leading to Jean being left, as he said, holding the baby.

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"There you go, missus," the guard held out his hand to Jean, "and the little one's still sound asleep."

"Thank you, and yes, I suppose even six months old get bored," she smiled, "but we're home now, and ..." she looked over the station, "there' my husband. Again, thank you for your help." He touched his cap and watched as she waved and started to push the pram towards a man waving back at her.

"Jean," Lucien wrapped his arms around her and kissed her firmly, "you're back, how was your journey, are you tired?"

"Lucien," she breathed, "Oh god I have missed you. The journey was long, Amelia got a bit bored and restless but all in all it wasn't too bad. How's Alice?"

"In pain, but the leg is saved. It's going to take time to heal and for her to be able to walk comfortably. It was a hell of a mess." He fell into step beside her and put his hand over hers on the handle of the pram.

"Does she need anything?"

"See, I knew that would be your reaction, I even told Alice if she needed anything she was to ask. She's worried you'll be too busy with Amelia, though, to help her. I thought maybe toiletries, but perhaps I should ask Mattie?"

"No, I'll pop over and see her and see if she needs her own things. I just need to get things sorted at home for Amelia, we need so many things."

"Don't worry about a thing," he stopped at the car, "will the pram dismantle enough to get it in the car?"

"Yes, the body comes off and the frame folds up," she started to show him how and very soon they were driving along the familiar streets of Ballarat, passing the Colonist's Club and the Art Gallery, the Police Station and shops Jean was looking forward to going into again.

"You said I wasn't to worry, about the things we need for Amelia," she hummed as they passed Cec having a crafty cigarette outside the club.

"Mattie borrowed a cot and high chair from one of her patients that no longer needs them, we cleared out the room next to the studio for her and Charlie helped me put a bed in the studio for us, our own space. Mrs Toohey has been helping, following Mattie's instructions and I was wondering if we should ask her to stay on to help you with the house, at least for a while." He swung the car into the drive.

"Hm, well, I know you have had issues with her cooking so perhaps she could help, maybe with the cleaning and the laundry a couple of times a week. I want to get back to cooking for you all ... I didn't feel as if Christopher and Ruby were bothered what I fed them." She frowned, neither her son nor her daughter in law ever commented or complimented her on the meals she set out for them, she missed that.

"Well we always appreciate your cooking, Jean, but Charlie said he'd do a roast tonight, and Mattie suggested a peach cobbler, it's the only dessert she can make, apparently."

"I taught her how," Jean smiled, "Oh Lucien, it is good to be home."

He held out his hand to her as she stepped out of the car, "Welcome home, Mrs Blake." She gave him one of her sunniest smiles, things were going to be very different from now on, but with him by her side she was sure it would all be fine.

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"I hear a car," Charlie closed the oven door, "that must be them."

"I'll get it," Mattie grinned and headed up the hallway to open the door, "Jean," she opened her arms to give her landlady a huge hug, "how lovely to have you back, and this must be Amelia, what a little sweetie."

"Hello Mattie," Jean sighed into her shoulder, "you don't know how glad I am to be back home."

"Come on, Charlie's got a roast on, the kettle's on so I think perhaps tea?"

Jean let her lead her down to the kitchen and pull out a chair for her.

"Do you think Amelia will come to me?" Mattie held out her arms.

Jean passed the baby over to her, kissing her head and telling her this was Auntie Mattie and she'd be alright with her. Amelia seemed reasonably content so Jean took off her coat and took the welcome cup of tea Charlie offered her.

"Charlie?" Lucien peered round the kitchen door, "care to give me a hand with Jean's things?"

"Sure thing, Doc," he grinned, "be right there."

"I suppose Lucien's told you everything," Jean watched the young man leave.

"Enough for us to know that you need some help and some room to come to terms with what's happened." Mattie nodded, "Mrs Toohey thinks Ruby is not well and that is why you have Amelia – I didn't think you'd want her to know they have ... er ..."

"Disowned her? Given her up?" Jean grimaced, "but thank you, for not telling her Amelia isn't wanted by her parents."

"Not for me to say," Mattie shrugged. "Now, tell me about the wedding."

"Very quick, quite sweet in a way, and a bit like we'd eloped," Jean gave a little smile, "Lucien wants us to have a celebration here as soon as we can, he wants people to see the dress ..."

"... he said you looked radiant. So you didn't wear your funerals and serious occasions suit?"

Jean shook her head, "No I went and bought a new dress, in cream satin and lace," she stuck her chin out defiantly, "Lucien gave me his wallet and told me to treat myself – so I did."

"Good for you," Mattie slapped the table, "about time you had a treat. What did you do with this little mite?"

"Oh, she came with us, of course," Jean grinned, "new navy blue dress, she looked lovely, then Lucien bought champagne and food for a picnic in the garden and that was our wedding feast, it was lovely, really, just the three of us."

"Sounds perfectly charming," the nurse nodded.

"You know Mattie, that is what it was, charming."

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Things seemed to happen around her, the cases were put in the appropriate rooms, the pram was reassembled and put by the front door, and the dinner was set out all without her lifting a finger. While it was a nice change Jean was actually looking forward to taking back control of the house but for a few hours she would let everybody else look after here. All she had to do was to give Amelia her dinner; the baby wasn't sure about the high chair but as stubborn as she was her grandmother was more so and won the battle to have here stay and eat her dinner sitting correctly instead of on Jean's lap. She was bathed, changed and put into her new cot with the lamb she had been playing with on the train. She seemed to settle but Jean did wonder if she would wake them in the small hours, still, for now she seemed content.

Dinner was lovely, Jean pushed her plate out of her way and sighed contentedly. "Lovely though it was, Charlie," she grinned, "I shan't get used to it though any help in the kitchen is always welcome."

"Any time, Mrs Bea ... er Mrs Blake," he blushed.

"Charlie, why don't you call me 'Jean'," she laughed, "Mattie does."

"I don't know, Mrs Blake," he shrugged, "I've always been brought up to respect my elders ..."

"Cheek!" she threw a stray pea at him, "go on, I give you formal permission to call me by my given name."

"Best do as she asks," Lucien howled with laughter, "don't want this to turn into a food fight," he launched another pea at the officer.

"Lucien!"

"You started it," he grabbed her hand and kissed it.

"Children," Mattie sighed and rolled her eyes.

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With the pots washed and put away, Lucien headed over to the hospital for a last check on Alice before she settled down for the night. Charlie and Mattie sat with Jean drinking their usual evening drinks and talking about how things would move forward, now.

"I want to go on as normal," Jean swirled a whisky round in her glass, "taking into account Amelia of course. Lucien is still going to give me a salary for the reception duties – he said I was his partner in the surgery – so I don't see anything changing."

"What about Mrs Toohey?" Charlie asked, wondering if the woman was now out of a job.

"Lucien suggested she be asked if she would like to come in and help, with the housework and the laundry, I want to cook for you, I enjoy it ..."

"... we enjoy eating it," Mattie butted in.

"... so I hear," Jean smiled, "so given that you seem to have some issues with her culinary ability I thought his idea was sensible. Of course she may consider this beneath her, but we won't throw her out without knowing she has somewhere else to go."

"Sounds fair," Charlie nodded.

"I think so."

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Lucien reappeared with something of a spring in his step.

"I take it Alice is recovering well," Jean handed him a drink and sat down beside him on the couch.

"Well, Alice being Alice," he took a mouthful of whisky, "she insists she will be fine in her own flat, which I had to remind her is two flights of stairs up and no lift, she will be on crutches for some time as well as physio ..."

"That flat is not going to be any good then, is it?" Jean looked at him, "she needs a ground floor flat, or a bungalow or she will be stuck up there until one of us goes to collect her for appointments, I shall go and see her tomorrow. How long are you making her stay in hospital?"

"A week, at least," he smirked.

"Right, well she'll want her own toiletries and night things ..."

"I have her keys for that very purpose," he dangled the key-ring in front of her, "will you take Amelia to see her?"

"Of course."

Lucien was happy to see the old Jean emerging from the one he was worried about in Adelaide. Good friends, helpful people, appreciative lodgers around her, this was where she belonged. He was certain she would have Alice eating out of her hand in no time and settled somewhere she would be able to access everything she needed.

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"I don't understand it," Jean smiled and ran her toes down Lucien's leg, "she raises the roof when she's with her parents, but with us she sleeps through the night and wakes up and plays with her toy or chews her sheet until I go to her."

"She knows she is loved," he rolled over and took her in his arms, "and that means she feels safe. Now, as she is not going to disturb us ..."

Jean giggled, they had come to bed after Mattie and Charlie had decided they should leave them to their own devices the previous evening. Lucien had been worried she was too tired to do anything but sleep; however sleep was the last thing on Jean's mind and they had made love as if their lives depended on it. The bedclothes were mostly on the floor, there was just enough to cover them for modesty's sake but as Jean raised herself above her husband the last cover slid off and there she was for him to see, beautiful, slender, intoxicating.

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Jean hummed along to herself as she fried bacon and eggs for the household while Lucien fed Amelia some cereal. She had tried again not to be put into the high chair but Jean wasn't having any of it, and laughed as the baby pouted and wriggled.

"Oh no you don't young lady," she laughed, "this is where big girls sit to have their food, you'll soon be banging the tray with a wooden spoon for attention."

"I can't believe it's six months since you left, Jean," Lucien wiped a splodge of porridge off Amelia's nose, "time doesn't half fly."

"It does," she smiled and plated up his breakfast, "who knew then that we'd be man and wife – so much has happened."

"Most of it good, love," he put the bowl down, out of Amelia's reach, "I suppose there'll always be bumps along the road ..."

"... we'll survive, Lucien."

"Yeah," he nodded.

"Well, what a picture of domestic bliss," Mattie laughed as she came into the kitchen, alerted by the smell of properly cooked bacon and eggs, "I didn't hear a peep out of her last night, did she go through?"

"Of course, would she dare do otherwise for her grandmother?" Lucien laughed.

"Unlikely," Charlie agreed as he joined them.

They sat round the table discussing their plans for the day. Amelia was given a piece of toast to gum as Mattie said she would be on her rounds but home for lunch, Charlie was on duty that day and Lucien was going to see Alice and any other patients that needed his advice.

"I'll come with you to see Alice, then," Jean poured some tea, "you could take me to her flat to collect her things first."

"Ok, do you want to put the pram in the car, or shall I bring you home?"

"Pram in the car, I'll go shopping after seeing her, and then walk home."

"Best wait for Mrs Toohey," Mattie reminded them she would be over to see what Jean wanted of her now she had returned.

"Of course," Jean nodded, "I'll bathe Amelia and get her ready for a walk out, Lucien do you think I could get a seat for the car for her, sitting her in the pram body isn't practical unless you are dropping me in town."

"Sounds like a good idea," he wiped his plate with the last of his toast. "Ah, I think I hear Mrs Toohey, unless it's Matthew hoping there's some breakfast left," he laughed, but it was Mrs Toohey at the door, who, uncertain as to her position in the household had decided against using the key she had been given and knocked politely at the door.

"Evelyn," Jean held out her hands, "good morning, how are you?"

"I'm very well, Jean," she answered, primly, "it's good to have you back."

"Thank you, and I know you have heard that Lucien and I are married and my granddaughter has joined us."

"Yes, Nurse O'Brien said her mother was unwell?"

"Sadly, yes, but we will care for Amelia as if she were our own," Jean smiled, "but as to you. Please sit down and we shall talk."

"Shall I bath Amelia while you talk to Mrs Toohey?" Mattie lifted the child out of the high chair.

"Please Mattie, she likes her bath and loves to splash," Jean nodded.

"Duly noted."

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Mattie brought a clean and beautifully dressed baby girl into the kitchen as Jean finished explaining to Mrs Toohey that she understood that she may be looking for a more permanent position, or one with more responsibility, but she would appreciate it if she would give serious consideration to the duties she wanted someone to carry out for her.

"With the extra laundry and my continuing as Lucien's receptionist and secretary, it would take a load off my shoulders."

"Of course, but, ahem," Mrs Toohey shifted in her seat, "I don't know anything about babies, my husband and I weren't blessed, so ..."

"Oh, don't worry, Amelia is mine and Lucien's responsibility, Nurse O'Brien is also more than capable of caring for a child so you don't have to do anything with her if it makes you uncomfortable."

"But what about surgery?"

"She can sleep in the pram in the garden on fine days, or nap in her cot on wet days, we shall see how it works for all of us." Jean smiled, she was under no illusion that things could be tricky with a small baby in the house and a full surgery but this was her own independence, she didn't want to be tied to Lucien for every penny, it had been years since that had been how she managed.

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"No, definitely not," Jean huffed to herself as she looked round Alice's small flat, "there is no way she can manage those stairs with crutches." She found the toiletries she was looking for and nightwear in the bedroom. Everything was neat and terribly tidy; the dressing table was laid out with almost clinical precision she noticed as she lifted the hairbrush and comb, cosmetics and perfume.

As she locked up the flat and went towards the stairs a small child with a ball shot past her, nearly knocking into her; if she had been Alice on crutches she would have been down and injured again. Not to mention if it happened on the stairs, no, some other accommodation would have to be found.

"If it was you, or me," Lucien sighed as he listened to his wife tell what she ahd found in the flats, "it would be fine. A doctor and nurse on hand and a small loo and washbasin in the guest room ..."

"Of course!" Jean slapped her forehead, "why didn't I think of it? She can stay with us, and if we get the new bathroom sorted quickly she will be able to shower."

"Jean, it's much too much work for you, you have Amelia and the surgery ..." Lucien dismissed the idea, "and she won't let you do that."

"It will be fine, Lucien, I have Mrs Toohey to help with the cleaning and laundry, and if she doesn't want the position then I'm sure I can find someone who would like a few hours a day. No, Alice shall convalesce with us ..."

"What if she refuses?"

"Threaten her with longer in hospital or the home down the street." Jean smirked.

"You've made up your mind, haven't you?" He pulled into the hospital car park.

"Yes."

"Oh Jean," he lifted her hand and kissed it, "what am I going to do with you?"

"Oh, I'm sure you'll come up with something," she winked.

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"Well, Alice," Lucien threw his gloves away and washed his hands, "that's coming along nicely, and sister tells me you aren't having much in the way of pain relief; now, is that because you don't need it or don't want it?"

"I don't need it," Alice scowled, "it hurts, of course it does, but it's not unbearable."

"Hmm," he folded his arms and looked down at her, "you don't have to be brave, you know."

"I am not being brave!" she shifted in the bed but was not able to hide a wince as she moved the injured leg. "Now, when are you going to let me go home?"

"Not until you are using a stick and not crutches ..."

"That's going to be months!" she shrieked.

"Certainly a couple," he agreed, "and that flat of yours is not safe for someone on crutches."

"I will be fine," she huffed and glared at him.

"Well, you have two, no three, choices, one: you come and stay with us. The guest room has its own loo and washbasin and we are having a bathroom put in next to the studio that you could use; two: you could go to the home down the road with the physio-terrorist there, or three you can stay here."

"None of those are options," she narrowed her eyes, "and what is Jean going to say if you land me on her, eh?"

"That? Oh that was her idea," he grinned, "when she went to pick up your things; she was nearly knocked over by a small boy playing with a ball and she's quite steady on her pins. If you were knocked over and, perish the thought, fell down the stairs you wouldn't survive, so ... what's it to be?"

"Jean has enough work to do," she grumbled.

"Jean is asking Mrs Toohey to come in and help with the cleaning and the laundry, she says it's no worse than having you drop by for dinner, she's already decided – you are coming to stay with us."

While knowing that Lucien was right on all counts she didn't like being backed into a corner, it frightened her, but she too didn't see that she had much option, really.

"Well, I suppose if Jean insists ..." she pouted like a small child, Lucien turned away until he had wiped the grin off his face.

"See, nobody can resist Jean, if she says 'jump' we ask 'how high?' She'll be pleased, though. She's just outside, waiting to come in and see you so you can tell her yourself." He thought he wouldn't add she had Amelia with her, he had a feeling it would bother her, not knowing how she felt about small children.

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"You can go in now," Lucien stepped out of the room and grinned at Jean. "I've worn her down with the threats you made about the home and hospital, she's agreed but she pouted like a small child."

"Lucien," she hissed, "I don't suppose you told her I had Amelia with me?"

"Nope, I thought you could surprise her." He kissed her cheek and opened the door for her, "visitors for you, Dr Harvey."