Matthew scrubbed at his face - trying to rid himself of the exhaustion that had settled in his joints, shoulders, and behind his eyes as he took a break from looking at the papers in front of him.

His financial books lay spread out on the dining room table - Alice's next to them (he'd asked her to look them over, and once he explained it was for figuring out the house budget, she gave them to him) with various advertisements for houses on the market next to those. Both of them were fairly frugal, squirreling away different amounts into savings throughout their lives; Matthew's had taken a dent after his accident and sudden loss of a job (Melbourne had taken their sweet time giving him retirement even after he'd sold his old home and gone to live with Vera and Mum), and both he and Alice used more of their own for the small wedding even with Dr. Mac and Miss Fisher's generosity.

He couldn't pinpoint his sudden worry over money - maybe it was the fact that he could actually feel his unborn child moving and it all seemed so imminent, or the fact that they were trying to buy a new home with what they wanted and within their budget. Maybe, just maybe, it was the rising worry that he'd end up like his own father if he couldn't provide for his family.

Matthew shrugged off that worry with a jerk of his shoulders and ran a hand through his hair as he carefully tallied up how much both he and Alice had in the bank, and how much they still had yet to save for the house and the impending arrival of their child.

"Take a break, Matthew," Jean sat down caddy corner to him and placed a fresh cup of tea next to him. "You've been at it for hours - on your day off, I might add."

He sighed and threw down his pencil, "I think I'll see these numbers when I go to sleep tonight."

The teacup rattled slightly on its saucer as she pushed it towards him and Matthew took the hint with a wry smile. Blowing gently on the steaming cup, Matthew felt the muscles in his shoulders start to relax at the first sip of tea.

Maybe he needed to take more breaks - if he was this happy about a cup of tea.

(A bloody good cup of tea, but still)

"What's got you so worried about your finances?"

He looked up to see Jean's raised eyebrow and hesitated on voicing his doubts about him as a father, but then again, this was Jean Beazley Blake - she knew a thing or two about financial woes and burdens of the heart.

"I just… it's finding a house, making sure we're prepared, and not working ourselves to the bone trying to provide for the baby. I… I grew up without much and I don't want our kid to have to experience that, and I know Alice doesn't either."

"You know that Lucien and I will always be here to help and that you and Alice can stay here as long as you need, Matthew."

"I do, I do, Jean, it's just… we'll eventually have to find our own place."

"Is it just the money that's worrying you or…?"

Matthew sighed, "I'm… not sure I'll be a good father for the kid… I'm worried that I'll end up like my own."

"Everyone worries they'll end up like their parents," Jean covered his hand with hers. "Matthew, you are the kindest man I know - yes even more than Lucien," she winked when he gave her an incredulous look.

"You come across gruff, but you are so gentle with the families of victims, with widows and children… I've seen how you interact with Rose and Alice and that's just a tiny sliver of your large capacity for kindness and love. So your father was an arse, he gambled heavily and had a hairpin trigger on his anger depending on how good or bad it was going… but, Matthew, you are nothing like him. You've actively worked to be a better person than him all your life. You already love this baby so much and that's just going to magnify once they arrive."

"But… what about when they get older, when they start crawling and moving and walking? Am I…?"

He motioned to his leg and his friend nodded in understanding.

"Going to be able to keep up? Certainly."

"What if they want to do sports?"

Jean smiled, "You're already going to introduce them to cricket, Matthew, and maybe they'll just want to watch it like you do. Your child might not even like sports. It'll be a bridge to cross when you come to it."

"I just… aren't fathers supposed to do that with their kids? Play sports?"

"You could always teach Alice," she shrugged - smiling at his light chuckle. "There's so much more to being a father and a parent than running around the yard playing footie, Matthew. You're going to teach them so much about gardening and cooking, history and mystery novels; they're going to know more trivia facts than anyone else before they turn old enough to go to school."

Matthew laughed softly, "I suppose… between me and Alice, this kid is going to know so much."

"And be loved," Jean squeezed his hand as Alice appeared in the doorway. "Now, go take a break from looking over all of this and relax with your wife - who just got off a long early shift at the hospital."

Alice gave him a tired smile and small wave when he turned around to see her leaning against the doorway. He returned the smile - the familiar warm feeling blooming in his chest at the sight of her (one he hoped wouldn't go away).

"Go, go!" Jean shooed him with a smile. "You've both got the afternoon, take it and relax. I'll let you know when dinner is ready."

"Thank you, Jean," Matthew squeezed her hand and stood with a faint groan.

Alice echoed the gratitude and gently guided him to their bedroom. She pulled out sleepwear for both of them and then wordlessly led him into the bathroom.

"I could use a bath," she explained when she caught Matthew's curious look. "And you could benefit from it too, dearest."

He pulled her towards him - gently breathing in the odd mix of antiseptic from the hospital and the peonies from her perfume. Pressing a kiss to her forehead, Matthew nodded, "Alright… what?" he asked when Alice giggled.

"Your stubble is itchy and kind of tickles."

He wrapped an arm around her and playfully rubbed his chin along her neck until Alice squirmed in his arms - her laughter echoing in the bathroom and he smiled.

"Stop!" Alice squealed and ducked out of his grasp with a grin. "Matthew Lawson, you are a silly man."

"I'm your silly man, sweetheart," Matthew grinned as Alice stepped back into his embrace - Baby Lawson bumping gently against his hand.

"Indeed you are," Alice leaned up and kissed him softly. "Let me get the bath started and once we're both settled, I'll help you shave."

He chuckled against her lips, "Deal."

She put their sleepwear to the side - for after the bath - and turned the on the water. As she finagled with the knobs to get the right temperature, Matthew watched her with a smile while he toed out of his shoes and prepped the shaving cream for later. Alice joined him when she was satisfied with the water and had stopped up the tub. The gentle scent of lavender hung in the air from the bath salts Alice added and each piece of their discarded clothing went into the hamper by the door while they traded gentle, fleeting kisses; Matthew's skin warmed beneath Alice's hands as she traced idle designs across his arms. (He returned the favor when he gently pulled her stockings down her legs - smirking when she squirmed under his touch.)

Easing into the tub with a groan, Matthew leaned back and closed his eyes as the heat from the bath relaxed his stressed muscles. A slight splash made him crack one eye open to watch Alice settle back against him with a satisfied sigh.

Wrapping his arms around her, he pressed a kiss to her shoulder, "Long shift?"

"Tedious," Alice hummed. "Lots of paperwork, no interesting incidents… just another day. I'm glad to be home and - barring a new case - happy that I don't have to go in until Monday."

He held her tighter, "You deserve a break, sweetheart."

"So do you," Alice threaded her fingers through his - smiling when he kissed her cheek. "We haven't had a bath like this since the honeymoon."

"I am not repeating that particular one while in Jean's house."

She chuckled, "I just meant sharing the bathtub, Matthew. Besides, this tub isn't big enough for the bath you're thinking of."

"Taken that into consideration, have you? Devious woman," Matthew kissed her cheek again as she laughed.

"Have you heard from Hazel lately?" he asked.

She shook her head, "Not in the past few days. She drops by the hospital sometimes though... did you ever find out who was abusing her?"

"No, we treaded carefully around the questions to her father - Harold, I forgot he was an old friend from school. He's a good man, and I didn't get a bad feeling from him, but it could be an act since it's been years. He moved away after school, married someone in Sydney. They divorced after having his eldest - Archie - he got custody of his son and later married Hazel's mum."

"What about her mother?"

"Died a few years back - embolism."

"That young?"

"Yes, it was quite sudden and natural causes. Harry moved Archie and Hazel back here - following the work, and he works a lot to care for them."

"A tough life." Alice sighed, "I wish I knew who is abusing Hazel, it's got to be someone in her family or someone close to it."

"She might tell you soon, sweetheart; she's still reaffirming to herself that you're a safe person to turn to."

"I know, it's only been a few weeks since we met. I just... I don't want her to hurt anymore - no child should."

Matthew kissed her shoulder, "We'll find them, sweetheart. I swear it."

"Thank you, Matthew."

He kissed her shoulder again and held her close.

Alice gingerly rose up on her knees and turned around to face him after a few minutes - careful to not put weight on his right leg as she settled back down in his lap. Her fingers were light against his face as she traced the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes and the lines around his mouth. She leaned forward and kissed him - humming into it when Matthew swiped his tongue across her bottom lip.

"Lie back, Matthew," Alice pressed a kiss to his lips. "The scruff has got to go."

He grinned, "I always wondered what I'd look like with a beard, maybe one like Lucien's."

Alice - who had reached for the prepared shaving cream next to the tub - collapsed against him in a fit of giggles.

"I'm sorry," she wiped away tears of laughter - her body still shaking with silent giggles. "I'm sorry, Matthew, but that mental picture was just too funny."

Alice's giggles were infectious and he joined in once he really thought about himself with a beard; his hands smoothed over her sides and the bump as they laughed together - his grin widening as he felt the baby dance beneath his fingers.

"Thank goodness for regulations, hm?"

Alice nodded with a smile, "Yes. I like my superintendent clean-shaven, thank you very much. So, lean back and let me work in peace."

"As you wish, sweetheart."

Pulling Alice down for a short kiss, Matthew leaned back against the tub as she painstakingly applied the shaving cream to his face and neck. The bathroom was quiet save for the faint sound of the water whenever he or Alice shifted and as Alice slowly rid him of his facial hair, Matthew felt himself relaxing even further.

It reminded him of their honeymoon - almost two months ago at this point - where many an afternoon during the week ended up in the bath and intimate moments such as Alice shaving his face happened. She wielded the razor with the same precise manner in which she wielded a scalpel - completely at ease with both - and he smiled when she started humming softly to herself as she worked.

"Stop smiling," Alice tutted.

"I can't help it, you make me smile."

He heard her scoff, followed by a small peck of a kiss to his mouth after she finished with his upper lip.

God, he loved his wife and her little acts of affection.

Alice finished and softly rinsed his face of the excess shaving cream, "All done."

Rubbing his newly-shaven jaw, Matthew smiled and pulled her down for a kiss, "Thank you, sweetheart."

"You're very welcome," Alice kissed him back, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as she leaned her forehead against his.

"We should get out soon," Matthew whispered as he smoothed his hands up and down Alice's back. "You're starting to prune."

She sighed heavily and Matthew chuckled.

"I suppose you're right. I'm ready for a nap."

"Oh that sounds really good," he pressed his face against her neck, leaving a trail of kisses up to her jaw.

Alice shook her head with a smile and kissed him - her hands cupping his jaw. "We should get out - the water's cooling off."

"Mm, yep."

With one last kiss, Alice sat up and unplugged the tub. Matthew's hands steadied her as she carefully stepped out of the tub and toweled off; Alice reached back for his hands to help him get out after she wrapped the towel around herself.

(Matthew smiled when the baby's bump peeked out from the towel - at twenty-three weeks, it was definitely more pronounced.)

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder as he dried off and pulled on his pajamas. Alice smiled at him before she pulled her light cotton nightgown over her head - newly purchased to fit the swell of her belly as she'd outgrown her regular ones (and Matthew's spare pajama top).

The ends of Alice's hair curled in the leftover steam as they dried and Matthew thought it looked endearingly cute - Alice probably would say that she needed a haircut. With a kiss to the side of her head, Matthew led his wife back to their bedroom (momentarily getting sidetracked by the kitchen where Alice picked up a bit of Jean's shortbread before they continued). He turned down the bed as Alice ate the shortbread with a happy little hum.

"You're adorable," Matthew pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Cravings aside, Jean makes damn good shortbread."

He laughed and slipped under the covers, Alice not far behind - sighing contentedly when he wrapped an arm around her waist. Smoothing a hand over her belly, Matthew smiled against the back of Alice's shoulder when the baby gently kicked.

She let out a faint grunt, "They always do this right when I want to sleep."

"Settle down, Baby Lawson," he rubbed her belly - feeling Alice shake slightly with silent laughter. "Your mum needs some rest."

"You're just going to rile them up doing that - they like your voice."

"Isn't that what you like me doing? Riling you up?" he kissed her neck with a laugh even as she half-heartedly swatted at his hand.

She turned in his arms - slowly and carefully to accommodate the baby- and kissed him softly.

"Matthew?"

"Yeah?"

"You know you're going to be a good father, right? That there's no one else I'd want to do this with other than you?"

Matthew blinked back tears - his mind whirling at the sudden change in conversation (and tone of the room); sucking in a deep breath, he smoothed a hand over Alice's side.

"I… I…" he sighed in frustration - struggling to find the words that fit his cycling thoughts and fears.

She cupped his face with her hands - thumbs softly caressing his cheeks. "I know you have your worries, about being good enough, dearest."

"I do, I'm afraid of… who I might become after the baby gets here. I don't… I don't want them to grow resentful of me like I did my old man growing up."

Alice's fingers carded through his hair and rested her forehead against his, "You're a good man, Matthew Lawson."

"A good man doesn't always make a good father."

"True, but it's a step in the right direction. You make me feel safe, dearest, and I know our child will feel the same way - not resentful. You're kind and thoughtful, you're patient - more patient with people than anyone else I know - and you strive to make the world a better place. There's no one in this whole world I'd rather raise a child with, and I'm glad that I get to do that with you. I don't know how to be a parent, and neither do you, but… I suppose that's part of the adventure we get to go on."

He sniffed as Alice wiped away his tears, "Bloody hell, Alice."

"Did I say too much?" she bit her lip.

Matthew was shaking his head before she even finished her question and kissed her, "No, no, sweetheart… you said just enough. You're right, we both have fears about parenthood, but we're in this together - for better or worse."

"For better or worse," Alice smiled when he brushed his lips against hers.

Baby Lawson chose at that moment to kick his hand and Matthew chuckled, "I think the baby agrees too."

She hummed in agreement as she ran her fingers through his hair. Matthew shifted so he could get closer to the baby - pressing a kiss to her belly through her nightgown.

"How big are they now?" he asked quietly.

"I think… Lucien said about the size of a large mango."

"Look at you go!" Matthew told the baby, grinning when Alice laughed. "We can't wait to meet you, Baby Lawson, but… don't come too quickly just yet, Mum and Dad still have some things to figure out first."

"We'll get there."

"We will," he agreed and pulled himself up level with Alice. Kissing her softly, he smiled, "Together."