Matthew guided Alice into the hospital with a hand at the small of her back as Anna held on to one of Alice's. Dr. Macmillan waited for them by the desk and she gave them a small smile when they approached.

"Alice," she squeezed his soulmate's shoulder. "Glad you got here alright."

"Where is she?"

"Ariel here can take you to her, it's about time for her next dose of painkillers."

"Do you want us to come with you, sweetheart?" Matthew asked her softly. "Or is this something you need to do on your own first?"

Alice hesitated - he could feel it in the way the hot spot in his inner lip flared up.

"I think… that for this first visit… I should do it alone. It's been so long… I don't know how Cora will react and I don't want you or Anna caught up in the middle in case it goes sour."

"That's alright. I'm sure Anna and I can find something to do. We'll meet up in the park not far from here and go get food when you're done."

"You'll be safe?"

He nodded and kissed her temple, "Go, I'll make sure we don't get into trouble."

"Okay," Alice kissed him softly and knelt down in front of Anna. "Be good for Daddy, my darling girl."

"I will, Mumma," Anna hugged her tight around the neck before Alice stood and followed the nurse down one of the hospital hallways. Matthew knew there was very little that could harm Alice here, but he couldn't help but watch his soulmate leave with a churning in his gut.

"She'll be fine, Lawson," Mac reassured him, "Alice is far tougher than she looks."

"I know, I know… I just worry."

"I'll look after her, go and enjoy the rest of your vacation while you can."

He nodded and smiled as Anna hugged Mac around her waist before taking his hand and they walked from the hospital.

"Where are we going?"

"Well we are going to the park, but I want to stop some place else first."

"Where?"

"A jeweler." Anna looked up at him with a frown that reminded him of Alice, so he smiled and led her over to a small bench outside the hospital. "You know how you asked me a few days ago about a new name?"

"You said not until you and Mumma married."

"Exactly, and instead of me asking your mum to marry me, she asked me."

Anna gasped, "Did you say yes?"

He nodded, "I did, sweetheart, but to make it official, I want to get your mum a ring - so others know that we're engaged."

"And you get that at the jooler?"

"Jeweler, and yes, you can buy rings there, Anna. And I want you to help me pick one out, since she's your mum."

Anna was nodding before he finished his sentence and jumped down from the bench; when he didn't get up, she pulled on his hand, "Daddy, let's go!"

Matthew laughed and got up with a groan as Anna continued to pull on his hand, "It's this way, sweetheart. Now, what do you think Mumma would like?"

She swung their hands as they walked from the hospital - deep in thought while Matthew kept a lookout for jewelry stores on the way to the park. Finally, Anna answered when they stopped at a crosswalk.

"Nothing too much, Mumma doesn't like… big jewels."

"Yeah, she's not a flashy kind of mum," he winked down at her. "Do you think she'd like something like Auntie Jean's ring?"

Anna pondered that, but shook her head as they crossed the street, "Too sparkly, Daddy."

"Alright, minimal amount of sparkle it is."

As he found a likely store, Anna stopped in front of the window - her eyes wide at the amount of "sparklies" on display; Matthew smiled and leaned down to point at the almost garish necklace of diamonds and rubies.

"What do you think, just right for your mum?"

"You're silly, Daddy," the girl giggled.

"Am I? You're right, I am, how about we go in?"

She nodded and Matthew helped her push the door open - a little bell jingling as they entered - and both of them stopped at the sight of all of those glass cases filled with more jewelry than Matthew could ever afford in his lifetime.

A man stepped out from the back with a smile, "How can I help you, sir?"

"Ah…" Matthew walked up to him - Anna grasping the back of his jacket, her head swiveled back and forth as she stared at everything with wide eyes. "I'm looking for an engagement ring."

The man smiled and softly clapped his hands together, "How wonderful. Do you have an idea of style, materials, and price range?"

"Nothing too big, maybe… a solitaire stone or not many? And… let's say a modest price range."

"Of course, sir," he led Matthew and Anna over to one particular cabinet and pulled out several for him to look at. Most were solitaire diamonds, a few three-stoned rings in the mix, and metals ranging from traditional gold to more expensive platinum; Matthew waved away most of the gemstone rings - he had a feeling that Alice would appreciate something versatile, and he wanted to spoil her with a diamond ring. Anna watched them for a bit as the salesman went over the details of all the rings, but he could see her getting antsy out of the corner of his eye.

"Anna, you can go look around the store if you're getting bored," he told her quietly while the man went and looked for more selections. "Just be careful around all the glass, alright?"

"Okay, Daddy," she nodded and wandered quietly around the store.

Matthew kept an eye on her while he narrowed the rings down to three top choices; she was rooted in one spot - staring into a case of necklaces and lockets (thankfully not pressing her nose up against the glass, but she was very close) and Matthew had to smile. Maybe he could spoil his little girl too.

"One moment, please," he told the salesman. "I'd like to get her input on this too."

"Of course, sir, let me know if I can help with whatever she's admiring over there. She's such a well-mannered girl."

"Thank you," he smiled and joined Anna at the other case. "What's caught your eye, sweetheart?"

Anna pointed at a small gold locket - oval, etched with rolling sea waves - and Matthew noted there was a slightly larger matching one next to it.

"Oh, that's very pretty, Anna. Do you like it?"

She nodded and looked up at him, "For Mumma?"

"Well…" Matthew tilted his head to the side, "I was actually thinking for you."

"Me?"

"Mm-hm," he smiled as her eyes grew wide, "and look, there's a matching one for Mumma."

"There is!" Anna smiled up at him. "Can we get them both?"

"Certainly, we'll say it's an early birthday present for you and your mum," he pressed a kiss to the top of Anna's head when she hugged him.

"Thank you, Daddy."

"You're very welcome, sweetheart, and now I need your help. I've gotten the rings down to three possible choices, will you help me pick the right one?"

She nodded enthusiastically and practically skipped back over to where the salesman was waiting; Anna stood next to him - going up on her tiptoes to see over the top of the glass case.

"What do you think, sweetheart? Think your mum would like any of these?"

Anna chewed on her lower lip - reminding Matthew of Alice - as she considered the three choices.

"That one," she pointed to the simplest of all of them - a small gold ring with three diamonds around the same size, the middle one slightly larger than the other two shouldering it, and round where the other two were rectangular. It was simple and elegant, and perfect for Alice. "I think that one."

"A perfect choice, if I do say so myself, Miss," the salesman smiled. "Do you agree, sir?"

"Yeah," Matthew smiled and nodded, "that's the one."

"Congratulations. I'll package this up for you and ring you up at the counter."

"Thank you, and could we add these two lockets in the total? The matching pair with waves on them."

The man nodded after Anna excitedly pointed them out to him; Matthew helped her put on the smaller one as the other locket and ring were boxed and the total tallied. It was a little more than Matthew expected to spend, but he had a pretty cushion of savings between some of his pension and living with the Blakes these last few months. As he filled out a check to the jewelry store, a sharp pain flared up in his right shoulder - lessening to a dull ache as he frowned and rubbed at it. He hadn't hit his shoulder, so something must have happened with Alice; when he didn't feel anything else, Matthew figured she might have run into a door jamb or something, and noted to ask her about it when they met up at the park.

"Thank you," he took the small ring box and the larger one for the locket from the salesman and pocketed both. "Alright, Miss Anna, let's go wait for your mum in the park."

"Do you think she'll like the locket and ring, Daddy?" Anna asked when they walked out of the store.

"I think she will, but let's keep that ring a fun secret from your mum for now, alright?"

She giggled and nodded, "I like secrets!"

"They can be fun, can't they?" he squeezed her hand. "Now let's see if the park has any new flowers before your mum joins us, sweetheart."

"Yes!"

Anna swung their hands again as they walked into the park - Matthew telling her all about the flowers and plants he knew when she pointed them out; eventually they settled on a bench and watched the people around them in the park - making up stories and scenarios as they sat (Anna's always more imaginative than his).

"Mumma!" the girl jumped down from the bench as Alice walked towards them some time later - her thundercloud of a frown melting into a smile as Anna hugged her around the waist. "Mumma, why are you wet?"

"I'm wet? I hadn't noticed, how silly of me, right?" Alice kissed Anna's cheek as she picked up her daughter. "What are you and Daddy up to?"

"People watching!"

"That sounds like lots of fun. What's this?"

Matthew smiled as Alice peered Anna's locket to get a better look at it, and he cleared his throat as he pulled out the bigger box.

"It's for you."

"For me?" Alice took the box after she set Anna back down on her feet. "What for?"

He shrugged, "I can't spoil my girls?"

"I thought the vacation was us getting spoiled."

"And now I'm spoiling you more, sweetheart."

She leaned down and kissed him softly before sitting next to him on the bench, "Want to help me open it, Anna?"

Their daughter nodded and pulled back the top of the box as her mother gasped at the locket inside.

"Oh, Matthew… it's beautiful."

"We match, Mumma!"

Matthew slipped an arm around Alice's shoulders as he pressed a kiss to her cheek, "Anna picked them out, and I thought my girls should have something special."

"Thank you, dearest," she smiled at him and he was surprised to see tears gathering in her eyes. "We'll have to find some photos to put in them, hm, Anna? That way you always have me and Daddy with you."

"Can we?"

"When we get back home, I'll look into it."

"Okay, Mumma."

"Can you help me put it on, Matthew?"

"Of course," he gently took the locket from her grasp and clasped it around her neck - kissing her cheek when he finished. "Hungry yet, or do you want to stay here for a bit?"

She bit her lower lip, "I don't… maybe pick up some fish and chips and go to Wardlow? I'm a little tired."

"Of course, sweetheart," he kissed Alice's cheek again - feeling the way it trembled slightly under his lips, as though she were fighting everything within her not to cry. "C'mon, let's get the food and go get a nap or see what's next in our book adventure."

Anna chattered away to her mum as they walked out of the park and got plenty of fish and chips to share on the way back to Wardlow; Alice's hand was tight in Matthew's as they walked, and he made a note to see how everything had gone down once they were back in their guest room, but for now both of them enjoyed Anna's enthusiasm.

"Mumma, can we go to the museum tomorrow?"

"Why not?" Alice smiled down at her daughter as they entered Wardlow through the back door.

"Al, is that you?" Phryne's voice called out from the front lounge.

"Kitchen, Phryne!"

Their host entered the room with a smile and joined them on the fish and chips - listening intently to Anna regaling their day to her, but Matthew noticed how Phryne kept watching Alice; Alice sat silent next to him, picking at the fish and chips, but not really eating, and she wouldn't look up at any of them. The pensive frown on her face worried him, and he reached out to lay a hand on her shoulder.

Alice flinched away from him and stood up, "I'm… I'm tired and I think I'll turn in for a nap before dinner."

"You're sure, Al?"

She nodded and smiled when Anna came around to hug her; leaving the kitchen without a glance back, Alice's footsteps echoed in the silence left behind.

"Matthew," Phryne's voice had him looking to the woman in question as they heard Alice go upstairs. "Go on."

"What?"

"Go after her, man!" she shooed him towards the door. "Miss Anna and I will find plenty of things to do down here."

"You're alright with that, Anna?"

"Yes, Daddy," Anna came around the table to hug him too, "Mumma's not herself."

"I know," he kissed her forehead, "we'll be back down for dinner, or I'll let you know if we will."

Matthew slowly walked over to the stairs and made his way up to the bedroom he shared with Alice; he paused outside their door, but when he didn't hear any crying, he softly knocked. Opening it when she didn't answer, Matthew smiled at the sight of his soulmate staring down at her new locket as she sat on the bed - her thumb absentmindedly rubbing the shiny gold cover; he closed the door behind him and walked over to her side. When she didn't flinch away from him again, Matthew took it as a good sign and shifted closer to her; Alice silently leaned against him, and he slipped an arm around her waist.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"What for?"

"Flinching away from you… leaving abruptly, it was rude."

"You're allowed to feel, sweetheart," he kissed her temple. "You're human just like me."

"Sometimes I wish I weren't," she sniffled. "This locket really is beautiful, Matthew."

"Just like you," he smiled as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Want to talk about what's bothering you?"

Alice sighed and turned the locket over in her hands again and again, "As you can gather… it wasn't a good visit."

"What happened?"

"Cora… Cora got angry at me. 'How dare you walk back into my life as though nothing happened.' I… I tried to tell her that I wanted to wait for her that night I left our parent's house, but she just wouldn't listen. And that's when she threw the water jug at me."

"I'd wondered what happened with your shoulder."

"I didn't want you to get hurt."

"Part of the bond, Alice, I feel your pain."

"I wouldn't blame you for leaving."

"Hey," he squeezed her side and waited for her to look up at him, "I'm not going anywhere, sweetheart."

"Everything's a mess; my sister doesn't want to see me, I feel like I'm going to cry whenever someone looks at me wrong, and people are talking about us and about me as Anna's mother, I'm surprised you haven't already-"

"Sweetheart," Matthew tilted her chin up with his hand - his thumb caressing her cheek. "I'm not going anywhere. I'm yours, and you're mine; you asked me to marry you, to stay with you in our future home… I'm never going to leave unless you physically throw me out in annoyance."

Tears flowed down her cheeks, but she gave him a trembling smile at his attempted joke.

"I love you, Alice, I'm bonded to you by fate… and by choice, and there's no one else I ever want to consider. And I'm willing to prove it to you."

Matthew reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring box - smiling as he heard Alice's gasp; opening it and holding it up so she could see, Matthew cleared his throat. "I know you already asked, but I'd like a shot at it too, sweetheart."

Her hands covered her mouth as more tears flowed down her cheeks, but she nodded.

"Alice, will you marry me, and let me spoil you in every way I can think of? Will you let me help you raise our daughter into a wonderful young woman? Will you let me wreak havoc on your backyard garden and snore in your ear every morning?"

She let out a watery laugh, even as he continued, "Will you let me kiss you every chance I get? Will you let me occasionally be a grump when I get sick, but know I still love you with all my heart? Will you let me get a television so we can watch the quiz shows from the comfort of our own home, and not get annoyed when I shout out the answers? But most importantly… will you let me be the best husband I can be for you, and the best father for Anna?"

"Yes," Alice whispered, sniffling through her laughter and tears at all of his questions. "Yes, to all of it, my dearest Matthew."

He carefully took her shaking hand and slid the ring on it before he pulled her in for a kiss, "I love you."

"I love you too, Matthew… I'm sorry I ever suggested you leave."

"You're human, just like me, Alice; I know it's your way of trying to protect me, but from now on we work through things together. We share our burdens, like the bond shows us to," he kissed the scars on her palms as she nodded.

"Okay," Alice nodded again, "okay, I promise, Matthew. I… I guess I was reverting to my old ways, not wanting you to get hurt."

"Sounds like you and Cora are the ones hurting, sweetheart," Matthew kissed her palm again. "Are you going to try again?"

"I don't know."

"Why don't we take a day and then see if she's up for visitors again? You did promise Anna the museum tomorrow."

That cracked a smile on his fiance's face and she nodded, "I can do that."

"Good," Matthew kissed her and took the locket from her hands - putting it back around her neck where it belonged. "Absolutely gorgeous."

"The locket?"

"No, you, sweetheart."

She grinned and kissed him, "Charmer."

"That's me, and I plan on doing this everyday, so get used to it."

"Might need some extra practice at that, my dear Matthew, would you help me?"

"Of course," he kissed her and pulled her close - his shoulder twinging as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Still tired? We can nap before dinner."

Alice giggled softly and pushed him down on the bed - slowly straddling his lap as she kissed him, "I don't want a nap."

"I'm certainly not complaining, we'll just have to be quiet so our curious girl doesn't come investigating."

"I can be quiet, can you?" she teased him as she unbuttoned his shirt.

He muffled her laughter with a kiss as he flipped them so Alice was beneath him on the bed, and not much conversation passed between them after that.

Alice woke to the sound of Matthew snoring, and the sound of his heartbeat under her ear; blinking away the lingering sleep, she rubbed at her eyes and smiled when she felt the new ring on her finger. Admiring it in the dim light, Alice thought Matthew had done a good job finding her ring; she didn't usually wear a lot of jewelry, but this ring and the locket she'd wear until they fell apart - knowing that both pieces had been picked with her in mind.

Nuzzling further against Matthew, Alice smiled when she saw a few of the marks she'd left on his chest and shoulders. She certainly hadn't planned on having sex today, but she always enjoyed it with Matthew, particularly when they teased each other during it.

"Good memories, sweetheart?" his voice rumbled beneath her ear and Alice could feel his faint laughter when her cheeks burned.

"You're getting smug."

"I think we both have good reasons to be smug."

Alice's cheeks burned further when one particular teasing exchange came to mind.

Matthew had rolled her again underneath him - preventing her from continuing her exploration of his neck and chest with her mouth and fingers - and paused to let them both get comfortable on the bed.

"Are you sure this will be alright for your knee?"

Matthew leaned down and caught her lips in a messy kiss, "How about I be the judge of that, sweetheart?"

She grinned and opened her mouth to say something only to get interrupted when he thrust into her and she sucked in a ragged gasp; Alice swatted at his arse when she saw the smug grin he currently wore, but as he thrust again, all coherent thought left her.

"That's true," Alice kissed his chest and propped herself up on her elbow - smiling at the still sleepy look in his eyes. "I think we missed dinner, Matthew."

"I think we did too, and I'm surprised no one came in to check on us."

She shrugged, "Maybe they did when we were asleep, but right now I'm famished."

He laughed and trailed his hand up and down her bare back, "I think I can find you something in the kitchen, but we'll have to get up and get dressed for that."

"I'm alright with that, but maybe pajamas so we can come back and sleep before a full day at the museum with Miss Anna."

Matthew laughed again and both of them got up from the bed; donning pajamas and robes, Alice smiled as they crept downstairs and entered the kitchen. He leaned down and kissed her softly as she sat at the table before Matthew pulled out a hodgepodge of food to cook.

"How about omelets for dinner, sweetheart?"

"Sounds perfect, but leave enough for breakfast in the morning."

"Phryne's got a stockpile of eggs, we'll be fine. Can you cut up ham, cheese, and tomatoes?"

"And mushrooms?"

"Yeah, and mushrooms."

Kissing him softly, Alice joined him near the stove to cut up their toppings and soon two omelets were done and ready to eat; soft footsteps behind them as they sat at the table made both of them look. She smiled at Anna rubbing at her eyes - the ever faithful Goose hanging from one hand.

"Need something, Anna?"

"Thirsty."

"I'll get it," Matthew got up and poured a small glass of milk for Anna as the girl climbed into Alice's lap.

"Sleep well, my darling girl?" Alice kissed her forehead.

Anna nodded, "You missed dinner, Mumma, Miss Phryne said not to bother you, so she read me the story."

"Oh? That must have been a treat."

Her daughter giggled and nodded, "I think she wanted to continue the story more than I did, Mumma. Were you and Daddy very tired?"

"Yeah," she kissed Anna's forehead again. "We're having our dinner now, but in the morning we'll go to the museum like you wanted."

"Okay!"

Anna stayed in her lap as she drank her milk, and Matthew and Alice ate their omelets - occasionally feeding bites to their daughter. As she looked between her fiance and her daughter, Alice couldn't remember feeling more content than she was at this moment.