Alice woke with a grunt as Baby Lawson kicked her side. Letting out a sigh, she peered at the clock in the lavender pre-dawn light and sat up slowly.
"I used to have a good sleep schedule before you came along, you know," she whispered to her belly - laughing silently when her unborn child kicked underneath her hand.
Pushing herself up off the bed, Alice left her husband snoring away as she pulled on her discarded nightgown (her cheeks warmed at the reason why it'd been discarded) and a light bathrobe. The trip to the toilet was short and Alice found herself detouring to the kitchen to hopefully grab a biscuit on her way back to bed; the tin was empty (unfortunately) so she got herself a glass of water instead.
She sipped at it idly - loitering in the comforting stillness of the house as she watched outside get brighter with each passing moment. With the house full of guests on top of the usual occupants, Alice was starting to feel a little overwhelmed; so she sought out moments of solitude where she could - as solitary as she could get with Baby Lawson in tow, Alice mused.
"Can't sleep?"
"Bloody hell," she swore and turned to face Frank, who stood in the doorway.
"You'll have to watch that mouth around the little one soon," he teased.
Alice frowned, "You shouldn't sneak up on people."
He shrugged and nodded, "That's true. I came down for a glass of water, seems you had the same idea."
"The biscuit tin was empty."
That got her a laugh and Alice smiled into her cup. The former Ballarat superintendent pulled down his own glass and filled it at the sink. "Are you doing alright, Alice?"
She nodded, leaning back against the counter next to the sink, "It's been an eventful few months, but it's been good so far."
"Not what you expected, though, right?"
"No," she hummed, "but I'm learning to take it in stride."
"I never expected to see you with a child on the way."
Alice chuckled, "It was a surprise, believe me."
"I do," Frank grinned. "Marriage I could see for you, if the right person connected with you, but not a baby."
She hummed again and took a long drink of her water; Frank leaned over and nudged her arm gently with his elbow and waited until she looked up.
"I've also been proven wrong," he teased softly, his brown eyes as warm as they always had been. "And you, Alice Harvey, did always like to prove people wrong."
"Stop it, you'll make me cry," Alice nudged him back as he laughed. "I… thank you, Frank."
"You're welcome, Alice. He makes you happy, anyone who knows you can see that. And you'll do great with the kid."
"That's still up for debate," Alice smiled, "but I'm working on it."
"The baby might have been a surprise for both you and Lawson, but it won't go unloved by either of you, that's for sure."
Caught between wanting to cry (damned hormones) and change the subject, Alice simply cleared her throat and finished off her water, "Thank you, Frank."
He squeezed her shoulder with a smile as she heard Matthew shuffle in the hallway.
"Everything alright in here?" her husband asked - still blinking the sleep from his eyes as he scratched the back of his head.
Alice nodded and joined Matthew in the doorway as Frank straightened.
"I should get back," he smiled at both of them and sidled past - leaving the Lawsons alone in the quiet kitchen.
Matthew leaned in and kissed Alice's forehead as she wrapped an arm around his back. "Baby Lawson wake you?"
"Your child doing somersaults in my belly does make it hard to sleep."
"My child? Why is the baby always mine whenever they misbehave?"
Alice giggled and kissed his cheek, "Just because."
He shook his head with a smile and softly kissed her, "Did you sleep well besides that?"
"Mm-hm," she nodded. "What time do you have to go in today?"
"Not 'til about mid morning, why?"
Alice kissed him and trailed her fingers along his jaw and down his neck, "Think we can get away with a bit of a lie-in and you… distract me from baby names again?"
"Still troubling you?" He chuckled richly and pulled her in for another kiss. "It'd be my pleasure, sweetheart."
Alice fretted with the neckline of her dress in the vanity mirror. 'Maybe a cardigan would help,' she thought.
"You can't even see them, sweetheart," Matthew teased as he leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Not that you really minded me leaving them on you this morning."
Her cheeks burned as she remembered the feel of his mouth and hands on her skin just a few hours before - her lipstick luckily hid where she'd bit down on her lower lip to prevent too much noise while the rest of house slept.
Matthew laughed, "You got me just as good, Alice. This collar is already uncomfortable."
"I just gave you a little reminder, that's all, Matthew," She smirked and stood to tie his uniform tie for him - pulling him down for a kiss once she was done.
"I never need a reminder of you, sweetheart, but they're nice to have," he leaned down and kissed her again.
Alice sighed into the kiss and Matthew wrapped his arms around her as far as he could. She loved these moments, she loved him, and Alice never got tired of kissing him. Certainly not when he kissed her in such a way that she shivered in his arms and heat flooded her veins when he dragged his tongue along her bottom lip - his kisses a reminder from last night and this morning, as well as a promise of "later".
A rapid series of knocks on their bedroom door jarred them both back to the present as Jean's voice drifted through, "Breakfast is ready!"
Alice drew back with a giggle as Matthew answered the door. "We'll be there in a moment, Jean."
"It's still warm, not to worry, Matthew. But I do have to say that red is not really your color," Jean teased as Matthew's cheeks soon matched the shade of lipstick smeared on his lips.
"Thank you, Jean," he wiped his mouth as their friend left them - her laughter carrying down the hallway. "Serves me right for kissing you after you'd put on makeup for the day."
Alice laughed and gave him a quick kiss - wiping away the faint trace of lipstick before she returned to the vanity to touch up her makeup. Once everything was to her satisfaction, she slipped her hand in Matthew's and they headed towards the kitchen.
Peggy could hear her sister's laughter before she saw her that morning. The Lawsons entered the kitchen hand in hand, grins on their faces and Alice's cheeks pink as Matthew leaned over and kissed the side of her head. Mrs. Blake put plates in front of both of them - Matthew leaning over to whisper something in Alice's ear that made her sister turn crimson and swat at him as he gave her a cup of tea.
Eyeing the smug look on Matthew's face, Peggy could imagine just what made Alice blush.
Breakfast at the Blakes was just as warm (and chaotic) as her own home; conversation passed just as easily as the different dishes - laughter as frequent as the lingering yawns. Dr. Blake sat at the head of the table - the center of attention and conversation (which was about the latest investigation in Ballarat, he and her sister traded theories over eggs and toast while Mrs. Blake attempted to change the subject to something less "gloomy".)
Part way through, the phone rang and Mrs. Blake answered it with a bright, "Blake Residence!"
As Mrs. Blake conversed with the person on the other end for some time, her husband turned the conversation to their plans for the day at the festival.
"Oh, it's lovely," he smiled.
"Oh, yeah, it's lovely so long as you don't end up dead," Matthew muttered - grinning when Alice nudged him under the table.
At Frank and Peggy's confused looks, Lucien elaborated, "One of the judges was… ah, murdered a few years back- unrelated to the festival, thankfully."
"Lucien," his wife chided as she hung up the phone. "Must every conversation at the table be about some murder or another?"
"Sorry, my darling," he grinned as the rest of the table laughed. "Who was that, a patient?"
"Mr. Jones, actually. He's dropping Hazel off a little sooner than expected, but I told him it'd be fine."
"Good."
Peggy was just cajoling her daughter into having a bit more breakfast when there was a knock at the front door. Lucien stood and answered - greeting the latest arrivals with his boisterous self.
"Alice!" A girl about Bernice's age entered the kitchen with a large smile - immediately hurrying to hug her sister as the girl's father stood in the doorway.
Peggy's sister hugged the girl back and tucked a bit of the girl's hair behind her ear, "Good morning, Hazel."
"Good morning," Hazel's smile widened. Hazel's father - Mr. Jones - took a bundle of toast and an apple from Jean with a grateful smile.
"Thank you, Mrs. Blake, I know this is all unexpected."
"Hazel is always welcome here," Jean smiled. "We'll look after her as long as needed."
"Hazel, be good today."
The girl nodded and hugged her father before he left; she returned to Alice's side and Alice smiled. "Hazel, would you like to meet some very important people?"
She nodded and they went around the table with their introductions; Bernice and Hazel hit off right away - chattering brightly about their homes, school, and other things as Jean put a full plate in front of Hazel.
"When are we going to the festival?" she asked Mrs. Blake.
"As soon as you eat and you decide how you want your hair," Jean replied. "And it'll be you, the Waltons, Frank, and Alice. Lucien and Matthew have work, and I have council business to attend to, otherwise we'd all come."
"It won't be as much fun, but it'll still be fun I think," Hazel grinned and Peggy saw Alice exchange fond smiles with Jean as the girl turned to her breakfast. She finished just as Lucien went to get his medical bag from the study and Matthew stood with a slight groan.
"We might be home by dinner, Jean, but it'll depend on how generous the criminals are feeling today," he leaned on his cane and the back of his chair.
"I'll make sure there's enough, Matthew."
"Thank you. I'll try to keep him out of trouble," Matthew grinned as Jean laughed. He leaned down and softly kissed Alice near the corner of her mouth, "Have fun today, sweetheart, rest when you need to."
"Of course," Alice patted his cheek with a smile. "You stay safe, and stay patient with Lucien's antics."
That got a chuckle out of him (and Frank), and he kissed her softly as Lucien came back in to say his goodbyes to all of them - Matthew limping down the hallway and returning with his uniform jacket and hat by the time Lucien was done.
Hazel hugged both men goodbye and walked around to Alice's side once more. "Alice?"
"Yes, Hazel?"
"Could you help me with my hair?"
"I'm a bit out of practice with it, but I'm sure I still remember how to braid hair," Alice smiled.
Hazel smiled back and hugged her, "Thank you!"
"You know where my room is?" When the girl nodded, Alice continued, "On the vanity table is my brush, go and get it and then I'll do your hair before we go."
"No running!" Jean called over her shoulder as Hazel took off down the hall.
"Sorry, Jean," Hazel apologized as she came back with a hairbrush in her hand.
"I haven't done this in years," Alice muttered as she scooted her chair back so Hazel could stand between her legs.
"Decades even," Peggy smiled as her sister chuckled. "You know who used to do my hair when I was about your age, Hazel?"
"Who?"
"Alice. She always made sure my plaits and ribbons were the best looking ones for school. I missed them so much when we were separated."
Alice leaned over and squeezed her hand briefly before she resumed brushing Hazel's long brown hair. Slowly, she wove the strands into two polished plaits over her shoulders - the ends finished with the bright blue ribbons Hazel had in her pockets - as Hazel asked question after question about the Harvey sisters' childhood.
Peggy hid a smile when Bernice tugged on Alice's dress, "Can you do mine too, Auntie Alice?"
Alice looked taken aback and glanced over at her sister; Peggy just grinned, "You'll like the practice if you have a girl, Allie."
"I can't fault that logic," Alice laughed and Bernice traded places with Hazel.
Watching her daughter's hair being braided by the sister she thought she'd lost years ago, Peggy swallowed the lump in her throat; whirling emotions of regret from those missing years, the sheer joy at reuniting with her older sister, and warmth of the daughter that reminded her so much of Alice interacting with her left Peggy reeling in the cozy kitchen of the Blakes.
Frank's hand smoothed over her back and she leaned into him. He pressed a kiss to her temple and whispered, "Everything alright?"
Peggy nodded, "I'm just… I'm happy, Frank, truly happy that Alice is back in my life."
He kissed her temple again, "Me too, doll. Me too."