Alice was awoken the next morning by a knock on her door and Matthew sticking his head round the door and asking if she wanted tea and some breakfast. "Do you have coffee at all?", "of course we do. Would you like some scrambled egg and toast with it? I'm making some for myself". Alice looked t Matthew as she sat up in bed. HE was already washed and wearing his work trousers, shirt, socks and slippers. She didn't miss the fact that she was still in bed wearing his pyjamas. "That would be lovely. Thank you". "It won't be long" he said. "You get ready and I'll get the breakfast sorted. I've left a clean towel in the bathroom for you. Just come down when you are ready". Alice waited until Matthew had left, went to the bathroom and got washed and dressed. She prided herself in being clean and tidy but today, she'd be going to work in yesterday's underwear and clothes and unbrushed teeth. Oh, the shame. The good thing was, no one would notice and, if she could get her work done quickly in the morning, she might be able to nip to the chemist for a toothbrush at lunchtime. It's not like the bodies in the fridge would notice she was essentially doing some walk of shame. Breakfast was lovely; Matthew could definitely cook, and she had enjoyed the whole dinner and breakfast. As she sat there in the Blake's kitchen, with her hands wrapped around her mug of coffee, Alice thought about what life would be like if she and Matthew were married. Waking up in his arms after a night of making love and being surrounded by his warmth. Matthew had been talking to her and she hadn't noticed. He gently touched her shoulder "Alice, you're miles away. Would you like any more coffee or anything else to eat?" Alice turned bright pink from the tip of ear nose to the top of her ears. She was thinking about life with Matthew and had been caught out. At least he had no idea what she was thinking about, that was a saving grace.
As Matthew tidied up the kitchen after making breakfast for him and Alice, he though how nice it was to share breakfast with her, this domesticity was appealing. Not with anyone, just with Alice. He spent many a meal at the exact same table. He ate with the Blake's, with Rose and Charlie and Alice but it was especially nice to sit here alone with Alice. She was so lovely, even in yesterday's clothes and unwashed hair. HE could get used to this. He was asking her about her day but noticed that she was mile away and not paying one bit of attention to him. He gently touched her shoulder and noticed the blush that went all over her face. He wasn't quite sure what she was thinking about, but he selfishly hoped it was him. They went to their separate cars and headed to work.
The next few days were busy for both of them and they saw little of each other, except in the passing. Alice found herself occasionally staring into space thinking of Matthew and chided herself for being so foolish. She had to keep telling herself to get back to work. Matthew was similarly distracted but with the cases piling up and the paperwork backlog, he had plenty to keep him occupied. It wasn't until the Thursday that things seemed to calm a bit and Matthew thought of reasons to go to the morgue just to chat with Alice. He had to think of a bona fide reason to go there and not just "hi, I was just passing" because, who just passes by a morgue?
He received an invitation, with a plus one, from Edward Tyneman for the Friday night for a cocktail party to kick off Tyneman's re-election. Ordinarily, Matthew would not have attended but he saw this as the perfect opportunity to go and speak to Alice. As he walked up to the morgue, he could hear a very light humming from the other end of the door. The closer he got, the more he realised it was coming from the other side of the door and it was Alice. He had never heard her singing or humming while she worked but she never failed to surprise him. As he gently knocked on the door and peeked inside, he caught Alice, scalpel in hand part way through an autopsy. When she looked up, she saw Matthew looking at her and she said "oh, hello. Haven't seen you for a while. Everything ok?" Matthew looked at her in awe. She really was so beautiful, especially when she was concentrating hard and that little crease appeared between her eyebrows. He wanted to kiss her there, but he wouldn't. "Was that you I heard humming away as you worked?" She looked embarrassed and said "no…I don't think so." Matthew laughed gently and said, "it was definitely you Alice, the alternatives are not worth thinking about!" he said as he looked to the body of an elderly lady lying on the slab in front of them. Alice smiled but could feel her face warm at the thought that she had been humming and worse, that she had been caught. Matthew laughed again and said "don't be embarrassed, it was only me who heard, and I'll keep your secret" he said with a wink. "What can I do for you Chief Inspector?" "Actually" Matthew said, "I have a proposition for you". Alice looked at Matthew half in wonder and half in excitement. "Yes?" she said. "I have been invited to Tyneman's re-election cocktail party tomorrow night and as much as I hate these do's, I need to show my face for a bit. Would you like to come with me?" Alice wasn't expecting that. Out in public? With Matthew? What was he thinking? Was he thinking at all? What would people think? Would that start the gossips? All of this was running through her head, and Matthew realised that his questions would require much though from Alice but not this much. When the silence lasted a while and Matthew had received not reply her said "Alice, it's just a drink. I'll be there, you'll be there and maybe afterwards, we could go and get some dinner? We don't need to stay that long." Alice looked at him, not realising that she had yet to say anything. "Matthew?" she looked at her shoes and was too scared to look him in the eye. "People will talk, Matthew. You don't want people to think that we are friends. It won't be good for you." Matthew's heart was breaking. All he wanted to do was spend some time with her, and all she was thinking was the shame she brings on him by associating himself with her. Matthew stepped round to the other side of the morgue table. Slice had a pair of tweezers in her right hand and a kidney dish in the other. As he stepped a little closer, into Alice's personal space, he touched her shoulder gently and said "Alice? Look at me." Alice raised her head to look at him. What she saw was understanding and no embarrassment. "Alice, listen to me, and listen very carefully. I don't care what anyone says about me. If they are talking about me, then they are not talking about someone else." He laughed quietly at this. "You work in the morgue and do some work for the police station: you help Lucien out and that means we work together. You are smart and funny and pretty and I don't see what the problem is. I don't understand why you think people will be at all bothered if we are out in public together." Alice looked at him and as she did, she thought of how nice it was for someone to say such things and how nice it was that it was Matthew who was saying it. She was holding back tears as she said "Matthew, people think I am strange. I am strange. I'm not good around people I don't know and really, I'm not that fond of people anyway. People will talk; they'll wonder why, of all the people you could have asked to go with you, you chose me. I don't want people to think badly of you. I truly appreciate you asking me, I really do but I don't think it is a very good idea." With that, Alice, tried to continue with the autopsy but felt that her hand was shaking. She sat the tweezers and the dish on the bench and took off her gloves. She was trying hard not to cry and so she distracted herself by washing her hands. Matthew walked up behind her and leaned closer and said "Alice, I know you are scared but we're just having a drink in a group of people. If people don't see you out and about normally, of course they will talk, but the more you go out in the public, the less people will talk. I am not ashamed to be seen with you. I never will be. I would rather spend time with you than at a cocktail party but if you don't go to these things, you'll never improve on those social skills of yours!" Alice looked at Matthew and smiled at his last comment. "Alice, I won't leave you. We'll go, have a drink, do the minimum amount of mingling and leave. I promise fish and chips on the way home. How does that sound?" Alice looked at him again and knew what he was saying was the truth. He wouldn't hurt her intentionally and he seemed to genuinely want to spend time with her. "if you're sure?" she said. "Of course, I am. Shall I meet you at yours at 6.30 tomorrow? We can take a taxi there, if that's ok with you? I'll sort it out and see you tomorrow?" Alice looked at him and nodded gently. "Shall I take that as a yes then Alice?" Alice smiled at him and said "yes". As he was leaving, Alice turned quickly and said, "what should I wear?". Matthew just looked at her and said "whatever you like. You always look lovely." That didn't answer her question, but Alice was too shocked by his response to reply. "See you tomorrow, Alice" he said, as he walked out of the morgue.