Alice made herself a coffee and Matthew a tea, she turned around when she heard his familiar walk and cane combination and as she did, she saw Matthew in her dark green kimono style dressing gown Lucien had brought her back from one of his trips to China.

She handed Matthew his tea and as he took it from her, Alice wrapped her arms around Matthew's waist and said, "you know superintendent? That colour and style really suits you!" she ran her hands up and down his back, cupping his backside and as she leaned in to kiss his chest in the V-shape the dressing gown had left, she said, "you're not wearing anything under that robe, are you Superintendent?"

"Stating the obvious there, Dr Harvey, stating the obvious." He sat his tea on the table and pulled Alice in for another long and sensuous kiss.

"I'm not sure my pyjama party idea was a good one."

Matthew looked over at Alice and questioned why not.

"At this rate we'll never get anything done if we can't keep our hands off of each other!" She threw an apron at Matthew and said, "right Lawson, it's time for a cooking lesson and best make it quick because I had a very wanton police officer in my bed and now, I'm famished!"

They enjoyed the pancakes and fruit they prepared and sorted the turkey. It was only a small one since it was just the two of them, but it was later than they had planned to have the bird in the oven. They peeled the spuds and prepared a few carrots and sprouts and Alice brought a cooking tray from the fridge, "I made some stuffing. I followed the recipe in the book but I'm not sure if it's right?"

Matthew limped over and took the tray from her, eyed the stuffing and gave it a sniff, "looks and smells like it should so, I say we pop it in the oven."

Alice looked at Matthew warily, "you don't want to know what I put in it? You don't want to check?"

Alice cooking is just chemistry and you're great at that. If you followed the recipe then I trust you." He could see the uncertainty on her face, so he leaned down to kiss her to try and ease her worries. "I'm sure it'll be amazing, sweetheart."

Alice's face changed colour to beetroot in two seconds flat and Matthew saw this.

"What's wrong? You're blushing Alice."

"No one's ever called me sweetheart before."

"You don't like it?"

"No, no I do. I do like it." She leaned up to kiss him and said, "thank you Matthew."

She turned back to placing the carrots, sprouts and spuds onto the stove top. When she had finished, Matthew turned her around and pulled her into his arms, "Alice, you don't have to thank me; I'll call you it every day if you want me to?" he raised an eyebrow in a question.

She snuggled into him for a cuddle and they stood there in the middle of her kitchen silently.

It was Alice who moved first and said, "I need a wash."

Matthew pulled her back in to his arms and kissed the top of her head and said, "we could save on water and just have one shower?"

Alice turned around and said, "yes. One shower each. If we're quick, we won't use that much water."

Matthew realised Alice hadn't fully understood what he was insinuating so he explained, "Alice…I meant one shower…together…" He gave her a knowing look and suddenly saw her cheeks turn red again. She now understood what he meant.

"But we can't Matthew…I mean…I've never…I wouldn't know how…what about your leg? There's nothing to hold onto."

"Alice…sweetheart…I can hold onto you." He leaned in to kiss her again and said, "we're both smart people, I'm sure we could figure it out between us!" He winked and said, "you love an experiment Alice…let's test out a new hypothesis!"

"Alice took his hand and replied, "I don't think we've fully risk assessed this Matthew…" she looked over and saw that he looked disappointed so she turned, looked at him and said, "well…I suppose it is an experiment and I am trying to do more things that scare me."

"No need to be scared, I'll be right there with you. Come on, let's get this experiment on the go!"

Forty minutes later, they emerged from the bathroom and Alice commented, "I'd say that was a rather successful experiment!"

Matthew leaned in for one more kiss and said, "yes, but as you always tell me Dr Harvey, you have to repeat the experiment over and over again to make sure that they are statistically relevant. I'm certain we'll need to try it a few more times so that the science is on our side!"

"Oh Matthew, you are such a tease. Now let's get your pyjamas and my nightdress on; we've got a Christmas dinner picnic to sort out."

At 5.30 pm, Alice brought their plates filled with turkey and stuffing, spuds, carrots and sprouts into the living room. Matthew had made some gravy and poured it all over their plates, telling Alice that that was one of the best parts about Christmas dinner. Alice had already taken their wine glasses and filled a bowl with ice to hold the rest of the bottle on the floor beside them. She had also brought through cutlery and napkins.

Alice sat both her and Matthew's dinner onto the small coffee table that she had moved out of the way for their picnic. She helped Matthew lower himself onto a cushion Alice had set out for him end even had one for under his leg.

"I brought us a tray for our laps. I thought it might be easier."

She handed Matthew the tray and then his plate, then got up and switched the LP player on with the Christmas songs they had listened to the previous evening. Alice sat down next to Matthew, sorted her tray and plate and turned around to clink her wine glass with Matthew's.

"Merry Christmas Matthew."

"Merry Christmas sweetheart." Alice blushed profusely and Matthew just smiled and tucked into his dinner.