Alice found it harder getting dressed without some assistance these days - which rankled at her independence, but at least when Matthew helped her she got kisses for her patience and that made it somewhat easier to ask for help.

(He took great joy in helping her with her stockings, Alice noticed with a wry grin.)

"I wished my trousers still fit," she sighed as she pulled out different dresses to consider for the day.

Matthew smoothed his hands up and down her upper arms - the wool of his uniform jacket scratched through her slip as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Maybe Jean could help you find some that are adjustable?"

"Maybe… they don't really make clothes for expectant mothers my age who also still work this late in the pregnancy."

"Hm," Matthew kissed her head again. "Want me to help pick out a dress for you?"

She leaned back against him with a sigh, "That actually is a good idea because I'm too worked up to pick."

"Risking your ire… but why are you worked up about clothes, sweetheart? You're just coming in for the interview and then work after that."

"I… I might run into my parents, Matthew," Alice told him quietly and he wrapped his arms around her. "It's stupid, but I want to… look like I don't need them or that I've made something of myself without them around."

"That's not stupid, Alice. If my old man suddenly turned up, I'd be the same way."

Alice turned slightly in his arms to press a kiss to his cheek, "I'm glad I never had to meet him, I'd like to give him a piece of my mind."

He laughed and kissed the side of her head, "Now that'd be a sight to see."

"Might even have threatened him with a scalpel… can I do that with my parents? Or is that frowned upon?"

"You cheeky girl, it's definitely frowned upon" he kissed the side of her head again with a light laugh and looked at the different dresses on display. "Any of these you absolutely don't want me to consider?"

She shook her head, "These are all the ones that fit or were altered to fit."

She watched him consider the different options and smiled when he pulled out a green dress. It was one of Alice's favorites so far during the pregnancy - soft and comfortable while also a classic style and professional enough for work.

"This one, I think you should wear this one."

"Maybe I should ask your opinion more often."

Matthew laughed and kissed her cheek, "You look beautiful in anything sweetheart, but I do think green looks very good on you."

"Thank you, Matthew. I could use your help if you've a few seconds to spare."

He smiled, "For you? I've all the time."

"Flatterer," Alice kissed his cheek and unzipped the dress. Matthew held it up as she wriggled into it and gently zipped it back up for her as she pulled and adjusted the fabric around Baby Lawson - pressing a kiss to the back of her neck when he finished.

"There," he smiled, "perfect."

Alice felt her cheeks warm and she leaned back in his arms as the two of them just… enjoyed the solace of their bedroom before the world called them forth.

"Do we have to go in?" she whispered.

"Unfortunately, yes, sweetheart," Matthew held her close. "I'll try to make it as painless as possible and then you can go do what you do best in the morgue, and forget about the world for a little while."

Alice nodded reluctantly, "I suppose so… I might take off early since Peg and them are only here until tomorrow."

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Should I bring lunch to the station or will you try to come back?"

"Depends on how busy work ends up being," he kissed her cheek. "Could you see if the test results for the Andrews case are back from the lab when you go in today?"

"Of course! And if they aren't, I'll ask for a bit of a rush."

"Thank you, Doctor Lawson."

"You're very welcome, Superintendent Lawson."

Pressing another kiss to her cheek with a playful smack to make her laugh, Matthew let her out of his arms so she could put on her shoes and makeup for the day. When she pondered over the jewelry, Matthew came up behind her and kissed the side of her head.

"Care to offer your opinion again, dearest?"

"Hm…" he smoothed a hand over her arm as she trailed her fingers over the small selection of jewelry. Alice had always had a handful of shiny things - simple and versatile pieces that aligned with her tastes. Luckily, Matthew was not one to bestow her with bits and baubles like other men might have, and he knew what she liked.

Leaning over her shoulder, Matthew picked out her gold and pearl earrings, the small necklace he'd bought for her on their honeymoon, and the thin chain that held her engagement ring and wedding band.

"Perfect," Alice smiled and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Just like you," he kissed her back and helped fasten the two necklaces around her neck as she put in the earrings and put on her watch. "Ready to face the day?"

She nodded, "Ready for breakfast at least."

Matthew laughed and kissed her one last time before he led the way out of their room.

Alice smoothed her dress with shaking hands as she sat across from Matthew and Lucien in the interview room. This one was different from the one she'd sat in during the Orton case - this one felt warmer somehow, even if the reason she was in here wasn't pleasant. Matthew had warned her that they'd have to do a formal interview and statement, that it had to be professional, but Alice understood… and asked Lucien to be involved. With her husband and her best friend in the room, maybe it'd be easier. Hobart lurked in the corner as well as one of the station's few female police officers (standard protocol).

"Full name?" Matthew asked.

"Doctor Alice Eleanor Lawson, nee Harvey."

"And why are you in here today, Doctor?"

"I'm giving my statement in the incident at the Begonia Festival yesterday morning."

When Matthew nodded, Alice continued, "I was out with my sister - Margaret Grace Walton - and her family at the festival. Her daughter, Bernice, was playing with Hazel Jones while Peg, my sister, and Frank Carlyle were enjoying the festival."

"Where were you at this time?"

"Resting at the fountain with Rose Anderson."

"Continue please."

"I noticed a commotion while talking with Rose and I looked up to see a man yelling at my niece while holding tightly to her arm."

"What did you do?"

"Ran towards them," Alice fidgeted with her hands - twisting and untwisting her fingers. "I told the man to leave her alone, to get his hands off her. He said she should have 'watched where she was going' and 'how dare I touch him' before he grabbed my arm."

She gestured to her upper right arm, where the bruises ached as she thought of them.

"What next, Doctor?"

"I… I recognized him…"

"Who is he?"

"My…" Alice sighed. "My father, he's my father… Alistair Harvey."

"What did he do next?"

"He recognized me as well," she shifted in her seat as Matthew jotted it all down. "He was… just as… pleasant as ever like when I was growing up and time has only made it worse. My… father wouldn't let me go after I asked him and he called me insolent; I told him he couldn't… he couldn't beat it out of me like he had in the past and he said 'who's to say I can't?' before he made a jab at… my current condition and the fact that I didn't have a wedding ring on my finger."

Alice curled a hand around her bump and avoided the gaze of everyone in the room. She cleared her throat, "He'd been drinking, heavily, I could smell it on him. I pulled my arm out of his grip and scraped my hand on a nearby wall. My father was about to hit me when Sergeant Hobart grabbed him and pulled him away."

"Thank you, Doctor Lawson," Matthew nodded as he finished writing down everything. "Do you mind if I ask a few clarifying questions about… everything?"

She looked up warily, but saw only compassion in Matthew's eyes and so she nodded. Lucien shifted in his seat and Alice looked to him briefly before back down at the table. She knew Matthew needed to ask these questions for the record - even when he already knew the answers to them - and that her childhood was about to be on display for the entire room.

"Your father, Alistair Harvey, why would he react this way towards you?"

"My father… expected sons. I was supposed to be Alistair Junior, instead I was named Alice, and my sister was to be Marcus for his middle name."

"She was named Margaret instead," Lucien supplied.

"Exactly," Alice nodded. "My father expected sons and when he only got daughters, he turned to drinking heavily and… having a heavy hand."

"He beat you?" Matthew asked quietly.

"Frequently, each more worse than the last and we never knew what would trigger it that day," she wrapped her arms around herself. "I… I tried to take the brunt of it as the eldest, and Peg was six years younger than me, I couldn't let her go through that."

"How long did this go on for?"

"He started when I was six a few months after Peg's birth, and it only stopped when Welfare removed me and Peg from the house when I was twelve. I haven't seen Father or my mother for decades, I was even separated from Peg until a few weeks ago."

"What of your mother?"

"Lavinia Harvey has been making excuses for him for as long as I can remember; she stood by and did nothing as he beat me and Peg for years… she had the gall to say I lied about it all when Welfare removed us. If I didn't have fresh bruises from his latest outburst, Peg and I might not have gotten out."

"Did she also join in on the… beating?"

Alice nodded, "Sometimes, if she was angry enough - usually if I hadn't done a chore right or if I'd burned something in the kitchen… She stuck to either locking us in cupboards or insults, but mostly she just stayed silent as her own children were hurt by their father."

"Why would she make excuses for him?"

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Maybe she just… could never believe that the man she married was the same person who was cruel to his children… I never asked her, not that she'd tell me anyways."

"You had an incident with Lavinia Harvey in the station, correct?"

"Yes."

"Could you tell us what happened?" Matthew picked up his pen again.

"My father was hauled off to the cells, to sober up I believe. Lu- I mean, Dr. Blake looked at my hand and the bruises while Peg calmed down her daughter. I think he looked at her after he went to get you, Superintendent."

"I did," Lucien nodded.

"Rose approached me and asked if I wanted tea, she was getting it for me when my mother entered."

"What did she do?"

"Asked where my father was and said he did nothing wrong. I… I couldn't help but scoff at that and that's when she recognized me. She asked what lies I'd cooked up this time and… we got into a shouting match."

"I do remember walking into that one," Matthew gave her a soft smile. "Hard as this might be, could you tell me what happened next, Doctor?"

"I… I snapped at her and said she could never get over the fact that she couldn't give my father sons and that's when she slapped me across the face." Alice briefly touched her cheek with a shaking hand before she returned it to rest on her bump and straightened in her seat. "After that she called me an ungrateful brat… that was always her favorite insult for me, like me wanting to not get beaten by my father was being insolent and ungrateful."

"And then?"

"And then… the usual, 'you'll never be loved, Alice' before you interrupted us, Superintendent. As you… defended me, she continued with her insults - those were always more her purview than Father's. She insulted and… and accused my unborn child of being a bastard and that I ensnared a 'poor bastard' to marry me for convenience. Luckily, Superintendent, you… managed to get her to stop and… that's all that happened."

"Thank you, Doctor, this can't have been easy."

"It was easier than the first time I had to speak to someone about my parents. Is that all you needed?"

Matthew nodded and both he and Lucien stood when Alice got up from the chair. Walking out into the hallway with them, Matthew stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes?" she stepped closer to him as Hobart passed them - heading for the cells.

"Do you have to go to the hospital straight away or do you think they'd let me borrow you for a bit more today?"

Alice smiled, "I'll just have to call and see where the Andrews test results are, but I think I can spare at least an hour for you."

"Good," he leaned in and kissed her forehead. "I'd like to ask a favor of you and wondered if you could make a few calls to Jack or Hugh in Melbourne… apparently that's where your parents were before coming here and I'd like to see if anything happened while they were there."

"I don't like the sound of that… that my parents were in Melbourne and then came to Ballarat," she sighed and Matthew kissed her forehead again as Hobart appeared at the end of the hallway with her mother in tow. "I'll see what I can do."

"Thank you, sweetheart. You can you the phone at my desk."

Leaning up and pressing a kiss to Matthew's cheek, Alice wiped away the faint trace of lipstick left behind and walked past her mother with her head held high - not even looking at her as she acknowledged Hobart. Ignoring the hissed insult her mother sent her way before Hobart pushed the older woman forward was a little harder to do, but Alice kept looking resolutely forward - intent on doing what Matthew had asked of her.

Settling in Matthew's chair, Alice pulled a pad of paper and a pencil towards her before she dialed the hospital. She spoke with the nurse on the other end, explaining that the police needed her for a bit longer that morning, as well as inquiring into the Andrews test results.

"Oh they've actually just arrived, Dr. Lawson, would you like us to send them over to the station?"

"Only if it won't take someone from their work, if not I can pick it up after lunch."

"Nurse Wolfe actually volunteered to bring them over to the station on her rounds in the district this morning, Doctor."

"Then that's perfect, I'll let the front desk know here at the station to expect her."

"Of course, Dr. Lawson, is there anything else you'll need?"

"Yes," Alice nodded and fiddled with the pencil in her hand, "if you could transfer me to the hospital administrator, I'd be very grateful."

"Of course, Doctor."

Her fiddling with the pencil increased as she was transferred from the hospital floor up to administration, but Alice kept her voice steady as Beaufort's replacement answered.

"Mr. Evans, this is Dr. Lawson."

"Ah, Dr. Lawson! What can I do for you, everything well?"

She nodded even though he couldn't see it, "It is, I'm afraid I'm going to be late today. The police aren't quite done with me here at the station."

"Stay as long as you need, Doctor. If you'd like, since I know your family is in town, take the rest of the day."

Mr. Evans was vastly different from Beaufort, Alice mused. "Thank you, Mr. Evans. There… there was another matter I'd like to discuss with you."

"Of course."

"You know that I'm expecting, and I've discussed it with Dr. Blake, but after next week I'd like to go to part-time work in the morgue, and then about four weeks after that is when I'll stop working for a few months. Dr. Blake cleared me for it, but I wanted to make sure it wouldn't upset the hospital schedule too much."

"That should be fine, Dr. Lawson. We'll work on finding a temporary pathology registrar during your part-time weeks, they'll take over during your time off and if you and Dr. Blake get along with them, we might keep them on as an assistant of sorts. That way if Dr. Blake is out of town and you're busy filling in as police surgeon, the regular registrar duties don't go unfulfilled. Do you have an idea on how long you'll take off?"

"It'll depend on when the baby is born, but I believe I'll come back around the end of January? I can give you a more definite date later."

"No, no, that works, Dr. Lawson. Please let me know if you need anything prior to your leave, but is there anything else you'd like to discuss today?"

"No, thank you, Mr. Evans, that's all I wanted to talk to you about."

"Wonderful! Have a good rest of the day, Doctor, and don't hesitate to stop by or call if you need anything."

"Thank you, Mr. Evans," Alice smiled as the administrator said his goodbyes and hung up. He really was a good improvement over Beaufort and Alice was entirely too grateful he'd been very lenient and flexible with her work schedule during the pregnancy.

Dialing City South station with a sigh, Alice waited for either Hugh or Jack to answer. Jack's familiar deep timbre soothed the edges of her slightly frayed nerves and while she always enjoyed talking to him, the news that her parents had caused a bit of a ruckus in Melbourne wasn't pleasant.

"Thank you, Jack," she sighed again as she wrote down all he told her. "I really appreciate this and I know Matthew does too."

"Not a problem, Alice. Have they caused much trouble in Ballarat?"

"Matthew… had to arrest both of them," she admitted. "And I got into a shouting match with Mother before she slapped me… it wasn't my most shining moment."

"It wasn't your fault," Jack told her firmly and Alice ducked her head with a smile - she could hear the stern look Jack was certainly sporting.

"I know, Jack, it's just…"

"A hard habit to break."

"Yeah," she sighed. "I keep feeling like that terrified little kid around them and I hate it."

"You'll persevere, Alice. You've proven them wrong time and again - you'll do it again."

"Thank you, Jack."

"You're very welcome. Do you want me and the others to come up and visit?"

"No," Alice shook her head, "No, as nice as that would be, I'll be fine. Maybe Christmas or around that time, I'll have to check with Jean to see if that's okay. Lucien said that the baby might have arrived by then and I know Mac would like to see the baby herself for her own peace of mind."

"That's a great idea, Alice. Let us know the plan."

"I will and you might see me in the next month or so - Matthew and I have to start shopping for the baby."

Jack chuckled, "Don't let Phryne hear you say that, but let me check with Dot before you go to any stores. She might still have some things in storage that you could use. They'd be dated, but solid pieces to use and I know you wouldn't mind if it wasn't the latest fashion."

"If it works, I'll consider it," Alice smiled as Jack laughed. "Seriously, thank you, Jack. You've been a big help today."

"Of course! You're family, Alice, all you ever have to do is call."

The fond smile stayed on her face as they exchanged goodbyes and Alice hung up the phone. Pushing herself up out of Matthew's chair, Alice took her notes from Jack and headed toward the front desk - arriving there just as Nurse Wolfe walked through the door.

"Ah! Doctor, how are you today?" Nurse Wolfe smiled as she handed over the test results.

Alice made a non-committal noise and took the folder from the young district nurse, "Better now that I have work to focus on."

"Is there anything else you need, Doctor Lawson?"

"No, Nurse Wolfe, thank you for bringing these to me when you didn't have to."

"I didn't mind," she smiled. "And you can call me Leah if you'd like, Doctor Lawson."

This took her by surprise and Alice's eyebrows rose, "I… thank you, Leah."

The nurse smiled, "Have a good rest of the day, Doctor, and let me know if you need assistance with autopsies."

"Wait, Leah," Alice reached for her as she turned towards the door. "I… I have a rather… personal sort of question for you."

"Yes?"

"Have you… have you midwifery training?"

"Of course," Leah smiled. "I sometimes assist on home births or hospital births. Why do you ask?"

"I-," Alice cut herself off with a sigh and rested a hand on her bump, "I have some time yet, but I'm just… I guess nervous about it all and I'd like… I'd like the idea that there'd be someone there I know when the time comes."

Leah briefly touched Alice's elbow and Alice had to smile. "If you'd like, Doctor, I'll have the hospital note that when you come in for the birth to call me - that way even if I'm not on the schedule, I can come in. I'll ask that they do the same thing if you end up having the baby at home."

"Thank you, I just… I know that my husband won't be allowed in the room at the hospital and that Dr. Blake might not be there if he's out of town and I don't… I don't do well with people I don't know."

"Yes, Matron can be quite severe."

Alice ducked her head with a smile, "Thank you, Leah… that's one less thing I have to worry about."

"Of course, Doctor, I'm happy to help in whatever way I can."

"The next time Dr. Blake is out of town, you'll be my first call for the autopsy."

The young nurse laughed, "I'd like that."

"Have a good day, Nurse Wolfe."

"You too, Doctor Lawson."

Alice waved as Leah left the station and looked over the test results. Her mood had lifted significantly between talking with Jack, Nurse Wolfe, and now test results that Matthew would be happy about. Nodding to herself, Alice closed the folder and took it - along with her notes from Jack about her parents - and headed towards the interview room.

She looked in through the window and saw both her parents sitting across from Matthew and Lucien (Hobart still in the corner, it was he who noticed her first).

"Yeah, Doc?" He asked her quietly as he opened the door.

"I have some things the Superintendent will want to see."

Hobart looked over his shoulder and caught Matthew's eye. Her husband looked at his sergeant and then over to her before he nodded. Nodding her thanks to the sergeant, Alice silently walked to Matthew's side and put the folder in front of him and then her notes from Jack.

"Wait a moment, Doctor," he stopped her before she could leave. "This is from Jack?"

"Yes," she nodded.

Alice caught the slight upturn of Matthew's frown as he read the notes and then looked up at her parents.

"Seems Melbourne wants you two as well," he spoke to them - a smile forming on his face that Alice knew wasn't at all comforting to the Harveys. "And for a lot more severe crimes than here. Which is good because I want you out of this city and locked up for good if I can help it."

"You don't have anything," Alice's father sneered. "You've cooked this up with that bitch."

The smile slipped from Matthew's face into a deep frown - his eyes flashing in a way Alice hadn't seen for awhile. She stopped Matthew from immediately lashing out with a gentle hand on his shoulder - he clenched his jaw so hard Alice was surprised she didn't hear it creak.

"These are notes from City South's superintendent," he finally spoke - his voice dangerously low. "Seems you messed up big time and he's eager to have you in his interrogation room… and his cells."

"What a load of rubbish," Lavinia Harvey glared at them. "It's just more lies from her, we've done nothing wrong."

"The bruises on Bernice Walton - your granddaughter - and on Doctor Lawson beg to differ," Lucien spat out. "As well as the years of abuse your daughters suffered at both your hands."

"Lies!"

"Tell that to the man you brutally beat in Collingwood outside of a pub," Alice narrowed her eyes at her mother and father. "Where you beat him within an inch of his life, but then again you were always good at treating people like punching bags."

Alistair Harvey shot up out of his chair, "How dare you, you-!"

"Sit down!" Matthew yelled as Hobart forced him back down.

Alice just stared her father down - she hadn't even flinched when he reached for her. "I dare because I'm not afraid of you - of either of you anymore. I dare because the evidence shows that you are a brutal drunkard of a man. And you," she turned to her mother, "keep making excuses for him and insulting anyone who doesn't agree with you. I'm not that little girl anymore who you can just bully into silence about your mistreatment of her because she had the unfortunate luck to be born female instead of male."

"You'll see what it's like if that bastard of yours is born a girl," Lavinia sneered.

"My child is not a bastard, and my child will not know how bruises ache more when they come from loved ones and how much a broken bone hurts when their arm is twisted. My child will be loved and not locked in a cupboard or put down or insulted. I will love this child, regardless of gender. I hope you both rot in prison and in hell."

Squeezing Matthew's shoulder, Alice turned on her heel and left the interview room. She returned to Matthew's desk and sat just as her legs gave out underneath her once her body caught up with the reeling in her mind. Covering her mouth with a slightly shaking hand, Alice felt the disbelieving laugh bubbling up, but she tamped it down as Lucien walked up and sat down across from her.

"Hell of a day, hm?" he asked her quietly.

"Yes," she nodded and the laugh escaped. "Yes, it has been a hell of a day."

"Matthew's charging your parents right now and he's going to call Jack to come and get them since Melbourne has the more severe charge."

"Understandable. I'm just… I'm glad it's over and I don't have to see them ever again - aside from court I suppose."

"We'll be with you every step of the way," Lucien reached across the desk and Alice slid her hand into his. "I know Matthew is proud of you and so am I, Alice."

Alice smiled, "Thank you, Lucien."

"Now, are you hungry? I was going to nip home for lunch."

"Do you think Jean would be upset if we got fish and chips?"

"Got a craving?" Her best friend asked and she couldn't help but laugh. "Here, I'll call Jean and ask, maybe we can pull Matthew away long enough for a bite to eat."

"I'd like that a lot, my friend."

"I wish you could stay longer," Alice told Peggy as they hugged at the bustling bus station.

"Me too, Allie," her sister smiled as she drew back from the hug. "But alas, we both have lives to get back to."

"True, that's very true. You're always welcome here in Ballarat, Peg."

"As are you up in Melbourne. You'll have to come for a visit soon anyway," Peggy's smile grew as Alice gave her a confused look. "Frank proposed."

Alice grinned, "Oh that's wonderful, Peg! Congratulations."

"Thank you! It'll probably be a small ceremony, but I want you to come and stand with me at the altar. We can wait until the baby comes."

She drew Peggy into another hug, "I'd be honored, Peg. You just tell me the date and I'll be there."

Peggy kissed her cheek and hugged her tight, "I will. Now, I'll let Bernice and Frank say goodbye before the bus leaves."

Bernice didn't want to leave her aunt - or her new friends in Ballarat - but Alice gave her a hug and promised to visit once Baby Lawson arrived. Peggy cajoled her away and Alice waved with a smile as her niece waved back enthusiastically.

"It was good to see you again, Alice," Frank sidled up to her with a smile.

"You too," she nudged his arm with her elbow. "I heard you asked Peg… you'll treat her right or I'll show up on your doorstep."

That got her a laugh and Frank raised his arms for a hug, "I know better than to mistreat a loved one of Doctor Alice Lawson. Let us know if you need anything and ring us when that little one of yours comes along."

"We will," Alice promised and hugged him back. "Stay safe in Melbourne."

"We will," he kissed her cheek and dodged the swat with a cheeky grin as he joined Peggy and Bernice in the queue for the bus.

Alice stood and waved as they boarded and watched the bus pull away from the curb; she stayed until it was a blip on the horizon - soothing the rambunctious Baby Lawson with a smile.

Her parents wouldn't ever bother her or Peggy again, Peggy and Frank were about to start a new chapter together, and everyone she loved was safe and happy. It was time to buckle down and prepare for Baby Lawson's arrival, but for now she enjoyed the peace.