finally finished this damn thing! it's a doozy of a chapter, but we're getting closer to resolving the parents plotline! (and closer to the end of this fic). Please enjoy! - Dee

Matthew smiled as he slowly crept from Alice's bed - the woman in question still snuffling away in her sleep - and went to wake Anna quietly.

"Daddy? What is it?" His daughter asked when he shook her awake and held a finger to his lips.

"Today's your mum's birthday, sweetheart, I thought we might surprise her with breakfast."

"Breakfast in bed?"

"Ah…" Matthew tilted his head to the side, not sure if Anna's idea would work or not between the two of them. "Maybe if the tray isn't too big."

"I can carry something, Mumma and Auntie Jean said I'm good at not spilling."

"Think you can carry her tea all the way from the kitchen?"

He grinned at her giggles as she nodded, "Alright, come on, we should get cracking before she wakes up."

With Anna's help, Matthew soon had eggs and pancakes ready for Alice (sprinkled with some chocolate since it was her birthday) and carefully handed Anna a steaming cup of tea.

"Alright, if you can take this to your mum, I'll be right behind with the food."

"Okay, Daddy," Anna took the cup and slowly walked out of the kitchen.

(Matthew had to smile at the furrow of concentration between Anna's brows as she walked - she looked so much like her mother.)

He turned back to the food and quickly put a candle in Alice's pancakes - he'd light it once in the bedroom - before carefully picking it up and following Anna into the bedroom.

"There's food too?" Alice was up, blinking slowly, and sipping at her tea with Anna tucked by her side.

"Of course there's food, sweetheart, we couldn't let you starve," he leaned over and kissed her softly - smiling as she hummed into it. "Happy Birthday, Alice."

"Thank you, my dear Matthew," she smiled when he handed her the plate and lit the lone candle.

"Shall we sing to you?"

"Oh please don't, you know Lucien's going to insist on it tonight at dinner and I'd rather only go through it once."

Matthew laughed and kissed her forehead, "Make a wish then, sweetheart."

Alice closed her eyes and sat for a brief spell before she blew out the candle; Matthew plucked it from her pancakes as Anna hugged her with a birthday wish.

"Thank you, Anna, now, will you help me eat the pancakes?"

"Really?"

"Mm-hm!"

Anna and Alice soon devoured the pancakes and eggs together and their little girl took the empty plate and utensils back to the kitchen in a bid to show she was fully capable, and while she was gone, Alice turned to him.

"Matthew?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you."

"Oh, we're just beginning, sweetheart," he leaned in and kissed her softly. "It's your birthday after all."

"Lucien's planning something, isn't he?"

"A small gathering, maybe."

"That man… I swear. I just wanted dinner!"

Matthew laughed and kissed her again. "You know how he is, Alice. Heard from Cora yet about the baby?"

"No, but she and Peter did think it was going to come soon. I'm also a little worried that our parents have gone away."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"It's suspicious, especially since Peter said Father was still looking for money. I just wish I knew where they were… It doesn't help that we finally announced the engagement and now they've disappeared."

"Have you regretted going public about it, sweetheart?" he caught her left hand and gently rubbed her knuckle - just below the ring.

"No! No, never, Matthew… I don't regret us or finally sharing that news with the world… I'm just scared that somehow they'll find out and come after me. I don't want you or Anna to get hurt."

"Whatever happens, Alice, I'm here for you, and so are so many other people in Ballarat… you're safe here, I won't let him touch you."

Alice smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, "Thank you… I love you, Matthew."

"I love you too, Alice." He kissed her cheek and forehead as Anna came back in and squirmed her way in between them - making Alice laugh in the process.

"Now, birthday girl, what shall we do today?"

She scrunched up her nose at the title, but the smile stayed, "Finish unpacking our home, and then maybe we can get a head start on the garden before dinner with the Blakes."

"You're supposed to pick something fun," Matthew teased her - grinning when she stuck out her tongue.

"It is fun, to me at least, and I want to be settled in here… it's been long enough."

"Unpacking and gardening it is," he kissed her forehead, and then Anna's before Alice shooed them both up to get dressed and ready for the day.

The gathering (Lucien called it a party, but it wasn't like any party Alice had been to) was in full swing when the telephone rang; as Jean was busy serving up cake, Alice herself answered it.

"Blake Residence."

"Hi, I was wondering if Alice Harvey was there?" The now familiar voice of her brother-in-law came down the line and Alice had to smile.

"Peter, this is Alice."

"Oh!" He laughed, "Good, I'm glad I caught you."

"Everything alright?"

"Yes! I'm calling to wish you a happy birthday from me and the rest of the Rogerses, and to tell you that Cora and I have some news; you're officially an aunt again!"

"She had the baby?" Alice grinned as she clutched at the phone. "How are they? How's Cora and the baby?"

"Both are fine, Cora's exhausted and so's the little one after causing so much fuss getting here. She wanted me to tell you first, but it's a girl and we're naming her after you."

"What? You're serious?"

"Absolutely! Alice Catherine Rogers, since she shares your birthday and also since you've come back into Cora's life."

"I… I don't know what to say."

She was, in all truth, nearly speechless, and didn't stop the tears that sprung up (nor the warm feeling in her chest) as Peter continued to gush on about the newest Rogers child to her; she was an aunt again, and they'd named the baby after her… Alice hoped she'd be a good role model for the girl.

"Thank you, Peter, I couldn't have asked for a better gift, you and Cora truly delivered."

Her brother-in-law laughed, "Cora did the delivering, I paced outside the door in between contractions. Happy birthday again, we'll come and visit once Little Alice and Cora are up to it."

"Please do, I'd like to see both of them."

"We'll call once Cora's out of the hospital and go from there."

"Sounds good, I might actually have properly moved into my house by then," she grinned at his laughter and it stayed after they'd exchanged goodbyes and hung up.

"Everything alright, sweetheart?" Matthew asked her as he offered a slice of the cake.

"I'm an aunt again, Matthew," Alice blinked back her tears (or tried to), "they've named her after me."

He put the slice of cake down and pulled her into a tight hug, "Oh, that's wonderful news, Alice! When are they bringing the little one up for a visit?"

"Once Cora's recovered we're going to discuss a good time… do you think I'll do a good job? As an aunt, I mean."

"Of course," he nudged her chin with his knuckles and gently brushed away her tears. "You've done so well with Anna, and a younger tyke will just take some practice getting used to… and you want to know the best thing about being an aunt or uncle?"

"What?"

"You get to give them back when you're tired of them."

Alice threw her head back and laughed as Matthew kissed her cheek, "You're terrible."

"That I am. How about we go tell the rest of our friends and enjoy both your birthday and that of Little Alice?"

"As long as there are no long speeches from Lucien," she smiled at their mutual friend's noise of outrage from the other room - proving his tendency to eavesdrop - and brought the cake with her as Matthew pulled her back towards the gathering in the parlor.

It was a nice day out - the sun shone down upon her head and for the first time in a long time, Imogen actually felt warm; her "information hunts" were going relatively well, she'd found out very little about Alice, but she was enjoying the little bit of freedom afforded her while out and about.

George was getting impatient, the hospital was giving him the run-around (no doubt unwilling to give out information on one of their employees), and so Imogen tried to avoid the hotel room as much as possible before her imposed curfew; currently, she was resting in the local botanical gardens - watching the various groups of children and family play in the late spring sunlight with a wistful smile.

A flash of blonde in the corner of her eye caught her attention and Imogen was startled to see her long-lost daughter walk into the park - hand in hand with a small blonde girl. Her heart leapt into her throat and Imogen wanted to move - to give Alice her privacy, to avoid being seen - but found her feet frozen in the spot. The choice was taken out of her hand soon after when the two of them disappeared around the bend, but not before Imogen caught the girl asking a question.

"Mumma, can we play hide and seek?"

"I think we have some time for that, my dear girl," she heard her daughter answer, "but a quick game, okay? We still have to go see your father."

"Then you can seek first!"

Imogen smiled at Alice's laughter - she hadn't heard it in such a long time, certainly not in the months leading up to her running away from George - but her daughter agreed and Imogen could barely make out her counting. The little blonde girl came tearing around the corner - eyes wide and bright as she hunted for a good hiding spot - when she tripped and fell.

Panic filled Imogen, similar to the times when Alice or Cora fell as young children, and she found herself hurrying over to the girl - who had sat back on the ground staring at her scraped hands.

"Are you alright?" she asked her softly.

"I think so," the girl replied in such a way that reminded Imogen of Alice that she had to smile.

"Does it hurt?"

"A little."

"Why don't we get you cleaned up a little before your mum comes to find you?"

She took out her handkerchief and gently dabbed at the girl's hands before she caught sight of her bleeding knee.

"Oh dear, you're sure it only hurts a little?"

The girl nodded and opened her mouth to say something when they heard Alice's raised voice.

"Ready or not, here I come!"

Imogen's daughter rounded the corner and hurried over when she realized Anna was hurt, "Anna! What happened?"

"I fell, Mumma."

"Was it the shoelaces again?" Alice asked as she opened her purse and pulled out some gauze.

"I think so," Anna giggled as she moved her feet so they could see the untied shoelaces.

"Maybe we better search for buckled shoes for you."

"No, Mumma, I can do it!"

Imogen caught sight of the fond (if exasperated) smile on her daughter's face and her heart clenched in her chest once again.

"Thank you, for-" Alice stopped short when their eyes met and she wrapped her arms firmly around Anna - the gauze forgotten on the ground. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting," Imogen said quietly, "I was sitting and saw your girl fall."

She reached out to run a hand over Anna's short blonde curls (the same way she did with Cora's children), and flinched when Alice shook her head.

"Don't touch her!" Her daughter said as she pulled the girl further away from Imogen.

"Alic-"

"No, I want nothing to do with you, and I want you to stay far away from my daughter. I don't know what brought you to Ballarat, but you should leave."

She wasn't at all surprised to see the tears in Alice's eyes as her daughter hurriedly got up from the ground with Anna in her arms (the girl still had Imogen's handkerchief clutched in one hand).

"Alice," Imogen tried again as Alice bent down and got her purse while the tears began to fall. "I-"

"Please leave," Alice cut her off again - clearly only holding it together by a thread - and shifted Anna in her arms. "Just… Mum, just go."

And with that, Alice turned on her heel and all but ran away - Little Anna watched Imogen over her mother's shoulder and quietly waved goodbye; with her own tears starting, Imogen waved back with a smile.

It could have gone worse, she supposed, and she wished she could get George to respect their daughter's wishes (both of their daughters), but he was not a force to be reckoned with lightly. Wiping her tears away and brushing off her knees as she stood, Imogen wondered how she'd hide this interaction from George… he didn't need to know there was a child in the mix… it was the least she could do for Alice.

Alice didn't know if she was running to get away from her mother or from the fears that instantly awakened the second their eyes met; if Imogen Harvey was here, then there was no doubt that George was somewhere in the vicinity, and Alice had no wish to repeat their last meeting.

They were here, how could they be here? Did Cora tell them? Was it the engagement announcement? How could it have gotten out of Ballarat? Was it a cruel twist of fate? How? How? How?

Suddenly she wasn't Dr. Alice Harvey, but that scared - terrified - girl who ran from home with the clothes on her back and her father's latest lashes still stinging and bleeding every time she moved; Alice knew that time hadn't softened him one bit from Cora's stories, and for all her fire when it came to standing up for others, Alice couldn't summon the same fight against her father - the innate fear that had been beaten into her was too great. Clutching her daughter in her arms, she ran into the bustling police station as tears streamed down her face and Anna shifted uncomfortably in her tight hold.

Matthew, Lucien, Charlie, and Hobart were in a deep discussion about their latest case when she burst in (Ned hot on her heels, trying to tell her the Superintendent was busy), and with one look at her soulmate, Alice felt that last bit of her control snap. Sobs tore from her throat as Matthew hurried over to her; she couldn't even get the words out to explain as she practically hyperventilated where she stood. Anna calmly told the men all that had happened as she held tight to her mother.

"Thank you, Anna," he kissed Anna's forehead.

"Will Mumma be okay?"

"Yeah, why don't we let Uncle Lucien look at your hands, hm?"

"Okay, Daddy."

"Sweetheart, Alice," Matthew smoothed a hand over Alice's hair when she wouldn't let go of Anna. "It's just Lucien, he's going to look at Anna's scrapes, okay?"

His words permeated her spinning panic - that irrational fear that it wasn't Lucien taking Anna, but her father - and she loosened her hold on her daughter so her best friend could take her when it was clear Matthew was right.

"Come here," Matthew pulled her into his hold and began moving away from the bullpen.

"Anna-!"

"Will be perfectly fine with Lucien and our best officers, sweetheart," Matthew kissed her forehead. "Alice, let's get you somewhere quiet."

This time she didn't fight, and with another kiss, Matthew led her to an unused interrogation room; he pulled her into his arms once the door and blinds closed behind them.

"Let it all out, sweetheart."

So she did.

Matthew rocked Alice back and forth gently as she sobbed in his arms. He'd never seen her like this before - the closest he came to it was probably the night after his accident when she'd been scared of losing him, but this was almost hysterical.

Anna said a woman they ran into at the park caused all of this.

"She looked like Mumma," the girl said, and it became clear that Alice's mother was in town. If she was here, then Alice's father was too, or not far behind - Matthew had no clue how long they'd been here.

'I won't let him touch her,' he promised himself as he soothed the woman in his arms. 'If he does, there will be hell to pay.'

After some time, Alice's grip on the back of his jacket loosened and her sobs had died into hoarse whines and he felt the echo stinging in his own throat; he didn't let go of her, however, and pressed a kiss to her temple.

"Feel better?"

"Not really," she whispered, "but thank you."

"Anytime, sweetheart. I didn't think you wanted to do this in front of the men."

"Oh, don't remind me," she buried her face in the front of his uniform jacket. "It'll be all over town by tonight."

"You've nothing to be ashamed of, Alice," Matthew kissed her temple again.

"Then why do I still feel like I should?"

"Fear," he gently tilted up her chin with a soft smile, "and old habits, sweetheart."

"You and your way with words," Alice lowered her eyes even as she smiled. "I… Matthew, I'm scared."

"I know, and I am too… we'll figure it out."

"Together."

He smiled, "Yeah, together. C'mon, let's go see how Anna's doing, and then I'll have Lucien drive you over to Jean while I talk with Hobart and Charlie about some extra patrols around the hospital and our home. Think you're alright with staying at the Blakes tonight?"

"I am… I just… how did they find out where I was? And now Mum knows I have Anna an-"

"Alice," he interrupted her gently, "it'll be fine, we'll figure it all out."

"You don't think Cora told them, do you?"

"No, I don't, do you?"

She shook her head, "No, she wouldn't… not after meeting Anna and you… but she did just have a baby and maybe… I don't know, maybe Father threatened her and Peter?"

"I'll ask once you and Anna leave… are you ready to go back out?"

Alice nodded - letting Matthew gently clean her face with his handkerchief (she tried her best to do the same to his uniform jacket, it would need to be laundered with her make up ending up all over his shoulder) - and clung to his hand as they left the interrogation room. Anna sat on Hobart's desk, playing with a bouncy ball from their lost and found; her hands were freshly bandaged, as was her knee, and Matthew had to smile at the firm double knots in Anna's shoelaces (no doubt done by Charlie, the same way he'd taken care of his brothers) to prevent any other falls in the near future.

Smiling as Alice went over to see how Anna was faring, Matthew returned to the huddle of men a short distance away.

"The Harveys are in town, gentlemen," he cut straight to it. "If the two of you are alright with it - and if we can pull in some other volunteers - I'd like to put a few extra patrols around the hospital and Dr. Harvey's house. I… I can't authorize overtime for this, since it's a personal matter and no crime has actually been committed… yet."

Sergeants Hobart and Davis exchanged looks and both nodded.

"We'll gladly do it, Boss," Charlie answered.

"And I know who else to ask," Hobart also spoke up. "If it helps keep the Doc and your girl safe, there's plenty here who'd volunteer at the drop of a hat."

The thought warmed his heart, "Good… I'll get Alice to give you a description of both her parents, as best as she can remember, and thank you for doing this."

"Of course, Boss."

"Daddy, can we go home?" Anna piped up from his side and he smiled down at her as the huddle broke up and Hobart and Charlie left to go round up some volunteers to work out the patrol schedule.

"You're going to swing by the house with your mum and Uncle Lucien before going to see Auntie Jean, sweetheart," Matthew bent down and kissed her forehead. "I still have to stay here and work a little longer."

"Okay, bye, Daddy, I love you."

"I love you too," he held her close as she hugged his leg, and then Alice when she came near.

"Thank you," was all she said.

"I won't let him touch you, Alice, I promise."

Alice kissed his cheek with a faint smile, "Just… hurry home."

"I will."

With a soft kiss, Alice gathered Anna up in her arms and Lucien led her from the station with a hand on her back; they'd be safe with the Blakes, and it would give Matthew a little time to set up the extra patrols, notify the hospital, and maybe start figuring out where the Harveys were holed up. But first he had another important phone call to make.

"Superintendent Lawson of Ballarat Police for Peter Rogers if he's there, please," he told the person who answered the call. "Tell him it's urgent."

Charlie was just pulling up to the front of the hospital when he saw Dr. Harvey stalk out of the doors with an older man not far behind her; the man matched the description she'd given him and Bill the other day and it would seem their luck in scaring away George Harvey with the extra patrols had run out.

"Don't you walk away from me!" he heard the man shout as Charlie got out of the car and hurried towards them.

"I can and I will!"

"You will not!" the man grabbed Dr. Harvey's arm and wrenched her back towards him.

Dr. Harvey yanked her arm from his hold and turned her iciest glare on him (Charlie had only seen it used a few times), "Don't touch me! I'm not that little girl anymore; I'm not afraid of you."

"You aren't?" her father pulled himself up to his fullest height and smirked at the way Dr. Harvey flinched a little. "I should have put you in the ground when I had the chance."

"That's enough," Charlie butted in and physically put himself between Dr. Harvey and this man. "Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"Why? We're just talking."

"Leave, sir, or I'll make you leave," he didn't back down.

George Harvey glared at him, and then at Dr. Harvey behind him. "Fine, have it your way, copper. This isn't the end of this, my girl."

"I'm not your girl, I never have been. Come near me or my family again and I'll throw you out myself," Dr. Harvey practically snarled.

She didn't fully relax until her father was gone from view, and Charlie steadied her when she swayed a little.

"Thank you, Charlie… I'm sorry you had to see that."

"No need to apologize, Doc, we just want to see you and Miss Anna safe. Are you alright, or would you like a lift home?"

"I need to pick up Anna from school, but thank you, Charlie."

"I can accompany you, if you'd like."

"No, it's alright, I don't think he'll do anything else today."

"Doc, please… I'll follow in the patrol car and hopefully that'll prevent him from following you and Miss Anna home."

Dr. Harvey sighed and rubbed her forehead with a shaking hand, but eventually she nodded, "Alright. Would you like some tea at the house? Anna's quite proud of our latest batch of shortbread."

Charlie smiled and nodded, "I'd like that, Doc."

He dropped her off at her car and followed from a distance as she drove up to Ballarat West and then to her house - keeping an eye out for George Harvey the whole time. The man didn't show his face again that afternoon, but Charlie couldn't help feeling that this was only the beginning.