hey y'all! we're nearing the end of this story, but not the end of this au, please enjoy the second to last chapter of A Life Full of Possibilities. I'm working on the last chapter and some other projects, but fic updating once this story is done might be light for awhile. I've got a big test (the GRE) coming up at the end of the month so I'm focusing more time on studying for that until it's over. In the meantime, enjoy all the fluff of this chapter. - Dee
Matthew sighed in relief as he crossed the threshold of 7 Mycroft Avenue. Hanging up his hat and uniform coat by the door, he limped down the hallway in search of either Jean or his wife and daughter. The house was quiet for the afternoon - Lucien out chasing leads as he had no patients today - and Matthew felt the strain of his day lift off his shoulders. Faint singing drew his attention to the sunroom and he stopped in the doorway with a smile at the sight of Alice swaying and dancing with Joan in her arms as she sang. It wasn't very loud, and she couldn't quite hit the high notes and sometimes she laughed as she forgot the words, but she smiled when Joan reached for her during the song.
He didn't think he could love her more than he already did, but Alice did love to prove him wrong time and again.
"I didn't know you could sing," Matthew said quietly, smiling when Alice jumped and turned quickly - her defensive posture relaxing when she realized it was him.
"There are a lot of things you still don't know about me," she teased as he walked over to her.
"I look forward to finding them all out, sweetheart," Matthew leaned down and kissed her. Joan wriggled between them and he drew back from the kiss with a light laugh. "How's our girl doing today?"
"Getting more active by the day," Alice smiled. "She calms a bit when Jean or I sing to her, and she likes being out of the house."
"Look at you go!" He ruffled Joan's thickening curls with a light hand - grinning when his daughter squealed. Gingerly lifting her from Alice's arms (Alice wrapping an arm around his waist so he could lean against her), Matthew kissed Joan's cheeks and settled her against his shoulder. "She's getting big already."
"She is," Alice agreed as their daughter snuggled into the crook of Matthew's neck. "She's turning more vocal lately."
"Little Miss is opinionated?"
Alice laughed and nodded, "She knows what she likes, as you keep saying. God help us when she actually starts talking. I'm betting her first word will be no."
"I'll take that bet, I say it's going to be why."
"You silly man," she kissed his cheek and yawned. "I'm glad I took off work, the little miss is keeping me tired and I can't confidently say I'd be able to do my pathology registrar duties to my usual standards."
Matthew curled an arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead, "You'll adjust, sweetheart. As she grows, she's start sleeping through the night more often. You're returning to part time work soon, aren't you?"
"In a week or so, yes. Nurse Wolfe - Leah - has volunteered to look after Joan when she's free, and I think I might take her up on that offer whenever both Jean and I have to work… I wish I could just take Joan with me to work, but a morgue's no place for a baby."
"Neither is a police station, unfortunately. We'll figure it out, but I like Leah; she's got a good head on her shoulders, we'll have to make sure to thank her properly."
"I was going to basically hire her," Alice shrugged. "Pay her a fair rate for the time she has to look after Joan since it'll eat into her time off work."
"Sounds perfect. Now, this little girl is starting to sound hungry, shall we go inside and deal with a starving baby and relax a bit before dinner?"
His wife laughed and took Joan back from him - their daughter fussing in her arms as he led her back into the house with a hand at the small of her back. Alice wasted no time in sitting in the rocking chair to let Joan eat - humming the odd song as it came to mind while the baby had her fill. Matthew looked on with a fond smile as he loosened his tie and toed off his shoes.
"I love you," he walked over and kissed Alice's forehead. "I love you so much, Alice."
"I love you too, Matthew," she tilted her head back for a proper kiss - smiling against his lips. He kissed her again and sat back down on the bed as Joan finished; Alice burped her (an expert after nearly a month of it) and changed her as the baby settled down for a few hours of sleep.
Laying Joan in the bassinet, Alice kissed her forehead before she joined Matthew on the bed. She leaned in and kissed him - cradling his face in her hands as he kissed her back. Sighing when Matthew wrapped his arms around her waist, Alice pulled him back down on the bed without breaking the kiss.
"Alice," he whispered against her lips when she kissed him again. "Alice, you haven't been cleared yet for this."
"I have to get medically cleared by Lucien to kiss my husband?" she teased and nuzzled her nose against his.
"That's not what I'm talking about."
"We're just kissing, dearest," Alice whispered and kissed him again. "I'm too tired to do anything else, but I just… I've missed you. Joan's very nice company, but we've not gotten a lot of time for just us lately in between caring for her and you returning to work. I've missed just laying here with you - kissing you when I felt like it without the little miss interrupting."
Matthew held her close and kissed her softly, "Alright, I can see where you're coming from, sweetheart."
"You do?"
He nodded, "I've missed you too, but I didn't want to push you too much since it's been a lot of adjustment for both of us."
Alice wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss, "I'm so glad I found you. How are you just what I needed?"
"I could ask the same of you," Matthew smiled. "I'm very glad you decided to come to Ballarat, sweetheart, and to take a chance on an old man like me."
"You're not old," she protested even as he laughed. "You're perfect to me, just as you are."
"Even as a grump?"
"Especially as a grump, because it's adorable and I love being one of the few people who can make you smile or laugh. That and I know it's a mask you put up for the world to see - to protect yourself and your heart from all you've seen, dearest. I love that about you."
"And I love you for taking the time to peek behind that mask… for taking that chance for us to… well, become us."
"If I hadn't, Joan wouldn't exist."
He laughed and pulled her in for a kiss, "Thank goodness for that, then."
Alice giggled and kissed him again - smiling when Matthew pressed kisses to her cheeks and lips.
"I love you," she whispered.
"I love you too, sweetheart."
Lucien couldn't hold back the grin as he leaned against the doorway to the parlor; His oldest friend reclined on the couch, The Courier folded open to the crossword as little Joan lay on his chest.
"Four letters… clue is 'blank of office', what do you think, Joan?"
The baby gurgled and Matthew kissed the top of her head as he filled in the answer, "Yeah, I think it's 'oath' too, sweetheart. You're so smart already, just like your mum."
"I wasn't aware she could speak at such a young age," Lucien remarked as he entered the room.
Matthew - used to his teasing - just looked up with a small smile, "Oh, we've got our own way of talking, Blake. You wouldn't understand it."
"Really?"
"Yeah, the Lawson Family code, only Lawsons know it. Joan likes it when I talk to her and Alice read somewhere that it's good to talk to them even this young."
"Alice is correct, talking to her like this will help her learn it more easily when she's older."
"Ah… I don't want her growing up too fast just yet," Matthew put the paper down on the coffee table and held his daughter close.
"I imagine not," Lucien grinned. "And where is the delightful Mrs. Lawson?"
"Laundry outside with your Mrs. Blake. I told her I'd keep an eye on Joan so they could get a bulk of the work done without an interruptions by this little troublemaker."
"May I?" He held out his hands - nodding to Joan wriggling around on top of Matthew (his right hand on her stomach, holding her firmly in place).
"Yeah, sure, you're her godfather after all."
Lucien lifted the newest member of the household up off Matthew with a bright grin - Joan fussed a bit at the change in elevation, but she settled in Lucien's arms soon enough. "Hello there, Miss Joan, how are we today?"
She squealed at his voice and he couldn't help but laugh. "I think she likes me."
"Good, just what I need, her liking you and then I have three troublemakers to chase after."
Lucien laughed again as he bounced Joan up and down a little to make her squeal again, "It keeps you young, Matthew. Joan's doing perfect, soon she'll start to be able to hold her head up, stay awake longer and sleep more during the night."
"Oh thank goodness," Matthew sighed. "I know Alice will welcome more hours of uninterrupted sleep."
"Want me to take her for a bit? You look dead on your feet as well, my friend."
"Nah," he shook his head, "I like looking after her, besides don't you have patients arriving soon? Can't very well deal with them and the little miss."
"You're sure?" Lucien asked as he handed back the baby - who yawned and her eyes started to droop.
"Yeah," Matthew smiled. "She's going to settle down for a nap… which sounds like a good idea."
"I'll leave you to it then, if you need anything…"
"I know where the study is, Lucien."
Patting Matthew on the shoulder and ruffling Joan's (still blonde) curls, Lucien watched his friend settle further into the couch with Joan curled up on his chest. Matthew's hands rested on the baby's back - holding her secure even as he relaxed and the faint snores started.
Matthew had evidently been more tired than he thought, and Lucien grinned at the sight of him and his daughter napping on the couch. Walking as quietly as he could from the parlor, Lucien's grin stayed on his face as he went through his patient notes for the day. He'd sat in this very chair nearly a year ago at this point and wondered if Ballarat was ready for the offspring of his two dearest friends; now that she was here, Lucien could tell without a doubt that the sleepy gold-rush town was in fact not ready for Joan, and he hoped to see her take the world by storm once she was old enough to do it.
(And laugh at his oldest friend's grumbling as she did it)
"Oh, I'm going to miss you helping when you go back to work, Alice, at this rate I might have to hire someone to help around the house," Jean grinned as they folded another sheet - freshly dried off the line.
"I can still help when I'm not working, Jean," she laughed. "I like doing laundry, less of a chance of me messing it up like cooking."
"You've been improving, don't sell yourself short."
Alice just laughed again as they finished up folding.
"I'm going to go check on Matthew and Joan and then I'll come help with putting the next load to dry up."
"Take your time, we've got all morning to do this."
Jean watched her friend duck into the house and return moments later - beckoning her over with a grin and a finger to her lips.
"What is it?" She asked as she followed Alice into the house.
"Look."
There, lying on the couch was Matthew - fast asleep and snoring slightly with Joan curled up on his chest, as dead to the world as her father. Jean covered her mouth with her hand to squash the giggle rising in her throat.
"Camera?" Alice whispered.
"Studio, I think."
Alice slipped away - silent and swift - and soon returned with the Blake's camera. Stifling her laughter as Alice crept towards her husband and daughter, Jean bit her lower lip to keep quiet. She could see the grin on Alice's face right before she snapped a few quick photos - Matthew and Joan oblivious to it all as they slept on.
Jean barely held it together as her and Alice hurried back out to the garden - where both of them burst into giggles. As she leaned against Alice while they laughed, Jean imagined they were no better than silly schoolgirls.
"Oh, I can't wait to see how these turn out," Alice grinned as she looked down at the camera in her hands.
"Want me to turn in the film tomorrow or will you use The Courier's darkroom again?"
"With Rose gone, I don't think they'll allow me back in, though I do know how to pick a lock."
"Let me guess… Phryne taught you?"
"Jack actually."
Jean threw her head back and laughed. "Does Matthew know of your deviant skills?"
"Of course!" Alice grinned. "He saw them first hand when I locked myself out of my flat on a date once."
Jean could barely breathe she was laughing so hard. She leaned against Alice as they both laughed and giggled like girls half their age, but it felt nice to just be giddy and to let go. Alice must have felt the same way as she wrapped an arm around Jean in a hug as their laughter trailed off. They stood in the garden and just enjoyed it - swaying a little as the birdsong echoed around them and the wind passed through the trees - soaking up the peaceful day and the quiet comfort of each other while they could.
An uneven step and a weary sigh interrupted them. Jean turned to see a grumpy looking Matthew holding a bright-eyed Joan. "Enjoy your nap, Matthew?"
"I was until this one started wriggling around and squealing," he nodded down at his daughter - who squealed lightly in response.
Alice chuckled and walked forward to lift Joan from her husband's hold, "Joan, it's rude to wake people."
The baby blew out a spit bubble - drool dribbling down her chin.
"Yes, I know it's fun to do, but it's still rude," Alice wiped away the drool and kissed Joan's cheeks with a smile as her daughter wriggled around even more.
"I knew she'd take after you," Matthew grumbled, but he smiled when Alice leaned up and kissed his cheek.
"I've an idea of what she was after," she bounced Joan a bit as the baby began to fuss. "Either food or a changing."
"I'll leave you to it," he kissed her forehead and then Joan's as she and Alice left. "Need any help with the laundry, Jean?"
"No, no, Alice helped with the bulk of it, but a cuppa does sound nice."
He gave her a mock salute and headed back inside; Jean smiled and started on the last load to dry as she hummed to herself in the sunlight.
Today was a good day.