She woke wrapped in warmth. Warmth from the early sunlight that crept across the covers. Warmth from Matthew's body - pressed tightly against her back, his face buried in the back of her neck. Warmth from his hand splayed across her belly (she couldn't tell if he was holding her, or subconsciously seeking their combined genetic material growing with in). Alice threaded her fingers through his, savoring the familiar weight of his hand - grounding her even as he slept.

They'd talked last night, and it alleviated some of Alice's fears and doubts, but there were still a lot of questions to answer. She traced the veins on the back of Matthew's hand with light, lingering touches as her mind whirled.

Would they get married? Did he want the child? Did she want the child? Would they work well together raising a child? Would it be so bad to have a child? Would they do a good job or would she end up like her parents? Matthew said he'd stay, that they'd do it together, but does he mean it?

(She instantly regretted thinking that, but it tickled at the part of her brain that told her she wasn't worth it on her bad days, that no one wanted her around, that they simply tolerated her presence.)

Would the child even survive to term?

Alice's fingers stilled and she pressed Matthew's hand closer to her stomach out of instinct.

There was that risk; the risk of her age, of exceptional circumstances, of mutations of genes, of the sometimes cruel twist of fate.

She'd been so caught up in what she or Matthew would do about potentially raising a child that she'd forgotten there was a chance they could lose it before it came into the world.

Alice wasn't quite sure how she felt about it.

Matthew stirred behind her and she felt him press a kiss to the back of her neck.

"G'morning," he rumbled in her ear and pressed another kiss to the soft skin below her ear.

She could feel him smile when she squirmed in his arms and the dark cloud over her mind lifted.

"Morning," she whispered back.

"You're up early, sun's barely out."

Alice chuckled, "Habit."

"Did you sleep well?"

Alice turned her head and nodded. "You?"

"I did." Matthew pressed a kiss to her cheek, his thumb rubbing circles on her stomach through the borrowed pajama top. "Are you going to take the day?"

She nodded again, "I think so… even with a full night of sleep, I still feel worn out."

"Rest while you can, sweetheart."

Alice turned in his arms and cradled his face in her hands. Matthew met her gaze - his eyes still hazy with sleep - as she caressed the jut of his cheekbones with her thumbs. He waited, quiet and patient, as Alice's eyes roamed over his face - drinking him in, all bleary-eyed and puffy-cheeked in the early morning light.

"I will, I promise."

"Good." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and she smiled. "I have to get up soon."

"I know," Alice sighed. "I wish you could stay, but someone's got to keep Ballarat safe."

"More like keep one Lucien Blake in line."

Alice laughed. "That's a multiple person job, Matthew."

"Hence why I can't lounge around in this bed with you, no matter how much I want to at the moment."

She kissed him - smiling against his lips as he held her tight. "Then we shouldn't keep the criminals of Ballarat - or Lucien - waiting."

He laughed, "Soon, soon. First, there's something that I want to give you and something I want to ask."

Alice sat up slowly as Matthew opened the drawer in his bedside table and pulled something out. Turning back to her, he settled against the headboard with a smile.

"I was going to wait until you were feeling better, but…" He slowly opened the box - a black, velvet lined box that cradled a simple, sparkling diamond engagement ring.

Alice covered her mouth with shaking hands and looked at him with wide eyes, "Matthew?"

"I love you, sweetheart. I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you… if you want it. I'm not expecting you to change; I won't suddenly think you have to stay home and keep house, Alice. You don't even have to change your name if you don't want to. I love you for you and I want to keep doing that. Alice Harvey, will you marry me?"

Tears gathered in Alice's eyes as she stared at the ring. Matthew wanted to marry her. He wanted her. Her heart leapt and joy bubbled up inside of her and she let out a light laugh in disbelief. Never in her life had she imagined her path would lead this way: pregnant, in love with a fantastic man, who just proposed to her. She never thought she'd find someone who wanted to marry her.

Oh, how she wanted to say yes, but she had to make sure.

"This… you're not asking because of the baby?"

Matthew shook his head, "No, I'd had this picked out weeks ago. You can ask Jean, she helped."

Alice laughed - bright and clear. Of course Jean had helped.

"Sweetheart?" He wiggled the box (Alice caught the slight shake to his hands; he was nervous).

"I don't know…" she bit her lower lip. "'Dr. Alice Lawson' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"Then…?"

"Yes, Matthew, yes."

He pulled her in for a kiss; Alice could feel him smiling against her lips, the normally stern police superintendent giddy with joy. Laughter bubbled up from her chest as Matthew peppered her face with kisses. Pressing one more kiss to her cheek, he carefully plucked the ring from the box and slid it onto her left ring finger.

Alice carded her fingers through his hair as Matthew kissed her knuckles, back of her hand, her palm, and the inside of her wrist. He leaned in and kissed her again, gently pushing her back down on the bed as she laughed.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips.

"I love you too." She kissed him as he pressed her into the mattress. Laughing, Alice wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"I thought you had to get up."

"I will, I will. I've got some time." He kissed her softly.

"I don't think Jean will have your breakfast waiting for forever, Matthew."

"Breakfast can wait. The most beautiful woman in Ballarat just agreed to marry me, I'm enjoying the moment."

Alice kissed him with a smile. "And who is this most beautiful woman you're speaking of, Superintendent? Should I be worried?"

He rolled them onto their sides and kissed her again. "She's beautiful."

He kissed the corner of her mouth, "Wicked smart."

Her cheek, "Incredibly funny."

Her nose, "Adorable."

Her other cheek, "Confident."

Her forehead, "Loving."

Pressing a kiss to her lips, Matthew smiled. "And I get to marry her."

"Sounds like a very lucky woman," she kissed him back. "And you're a very lucky man."

He leaned his forehead against hers, nuzzling her cheek and neck - occasionally pressing soft kisses to her skin and lips as the two of them lay tangled in the bedsheets. The house slowly woke around them; Alice could hear Jean puttering around the kitchen - pots and pans clanging - and soon she could smell sausage and eggs cooking.

She wished she could freeze this moment forever.

"You have to go to work," she whispered.

"I know."

Matthew kissed her one last time and stood from the bed, leaving her sprawled out under the covers. She watched him get ready for the day with a fond smile as she drifted in and out of a light doze. It was a glimpse into her future and she liked the idea of waking up to Matthew everyday - watching him get ready, watching his hands move by rote memory through the ritual of dressing in his police uniform.

The bed lurched and she reached for him when he sat down to put his shoes on.

"What is it, sweetheart?" He asked, tangling his fingers with hers.

Alice shook her head with a smile, "Nothing, I'm just happy."

"Good."

"Are you happy?"

"Very." Matthew grinned down at her and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

"I'll be back for lunch, hopefully," he kissed her lips, fully dressed in his uniform (minus the jacket). "Then we can start discussing when it'll be best to get married."

"Mm, yes, probably soon, before I start obviously showing," Alice nodded, her arm curling underneath her head as she looked up at him. "I suppose we can tell people we're engaged now."

"Mm-hm. Just the engagement?"

Alice nodded again, "I, um… I want to wait a little longer on the other news, just to be sure."

"In case of a…?"

He left the sentence hanging, afraid to voice the thought in his head that was a very real potential outcome to this pregnancy. They could lose the baby, Matthew knew that; it was something he hoped would not happen to them.

"Yes."

Matthew pressed a kiss to her forehead and cheek, "I'll let you decide when to start telling people about it, how about that?"

"Sounds like a plan." She played with his tie and pulled him down for another kiss with it. "At least I get a new name out of all of this. Dr. Alice Lawson."

She said the name slowly, testing each syllable as she spoke (Matthew rather liked the way it rolled off her tongue.)

"You don't have to change yours, sweetheart. I could change mine." Matthew grinned at her giggles. "'Chief Superintendent Matthew Harvey' has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

"Go," she laughed. "Go, you silly man, keep Lucien in line. And come back in one piece, Superintendent."

Stealing one last kiss, Matthew smiled. "Rest, sweetheart. We'll talk some more later."

Alice nodded and shifted onto her side, her eyes already starting to slide close as she drifted back to sleep. He pulled the covers up over her shoulders and pressed a kiss to her forehead ("I love you," he whispered, smiling softly at her sleepy mumbled reply) before he got up and limped from the bedroom.

Looking back at the woman sleeping in his bed (her borrowed pajamas too big for her frame - he liked seeing her in his clothes), Matthew smiled and closed the door without a sound.

He was a lucky man indeed.

Jean looked up from her magazine to see a sleepy-eyed, rumpled Alice Harvey shuffle silently into the kitchen - rubbing at her eyes with a yawn. She wore what were obviously Matthew's spare pajamas (Jean had done his laundry) - too big for her body; Matthew's robe was falling off her shoulders as she leaned against the doorway - blinking owlishly in the light of the kitchen.

Jean bit back a smile (it was so odd and endearing to see the normally put together pathologist so disheveled) and stood from the table. She gestured for Alice to sit down across from her.

"Good morning, Alice."

"Is it still morning?" Alice grunted and tucked her tousled hair behind her ear and Jean caught the glint of an engagement ring in the light.

She smiled and nodded, "It's about the middle of it. I hope it's been quiet enough for you to sleep."

Alice blinked, and then blinked again. "Yes."

(Jean had to smile, a just woken Alice, it seemed, was one of few words.)

She leaned her chin on her hand, "I think I slept like the dead, I didn't hear a thing."

"Good," Jean laughed. "Hungry?"

"Starving."

She laughed again, "I'll whip up some eggs and toast for you, how's that?"

Alice's stomach growled loud enough for Jean to hear and the doctor blushed. "Eggs and toast sound wonderful, Jean."

"Would you like some tea with your breakfast? I've got a blend you might like with the morning sickness."

Alice tilted her head to the side, "What kind of blend?"

"One made with ginger, I usually pull it out when someone's ill and it helps. How's the morning sickness, by the way?" Jean filled the kettle and put it to boil while she whipped up a batch of eggs for Alice (scrambled, with just a dash of cheese at Alice's request) and a couple of pieces of lightly buttered toast.

"Not too bad today…" Alice smiled. "Now that I know what the cause was, I noticed it came and went depending on the day. It seems to be fine right now."

"Let me know if it gets bad, and you know where the bathroom is?" When Alice nodded, Jean smiled and returned her attention to the stove. Soon, she placed a plate in front of Alice and poured her a cup of the ginger blend tea before sitting beside her with another cup of the same brew. Alice tucked into the food with vigor, the eggs soon disappearing alongside the toast (Jean smiled when Alice put a bit of jam on the pieces - Alice had a hidden sweet tooth). She watched fondly as Alice breathed in the the warm spice of the tea before she sipped on it; Alice seemed to savor the flavor of it on her tongue before she opened her eyes with a smile.

Seeing people appreciate a good cup of tea or a good plate of food at Jean's hand never got old.

"Better?"

Alice nodded, "Much, thank you."

"Of course, Alice."

Alice smiled, "Thank you for letting me stay here last night."

"You're welcome any time, Alice, I hope you know that."

"I do, it's just still…" She flushed and looked down at her cup.

"Something to get used to?" Jean smiled and patted Alice's forearm when she nodded. "It'll take some time, Alice, and we've got nothing but that right now."

Alice's smile wobbled and she caught the telltale signs of tears in the pathologist's eyes, but the smile remained.

"Did Matthew take the news of the pregnancy well?" Jean already knew the answer, but she wanted to hear it from Alice herself.

At that, Alice chuckled, "He did, as well as can be expected. We haven't talked much about it, so there's a lot to discuss, but, um… I am going to need help soon."

Alice fiddled with the ring on her finger and looked at Jean with bright pink cheeks and a soft smile. Jean grinned and gave Alice a gentle one-armed hug.

"Congratulations, Alice."

"Thank you, Jean." She leaned into the hug. "I heard I have you to thank with helping him pick it out."

Jean laughed, "He did most of the work, all I did was figure out your size."

"Now that time you had me trying on 'old rings that were the wrong size' makes a lot more sense," Alice teased, her eyes glittering. "Lucien adores you too much to forget your size."

"I never said they were from Lucien, Dr. Harvey. For all you know they could have been from distant relatives."

Alice just shook her head with a fond smile. "We're going to talk about the wedding when he gets off work, and the baby, but I wanted to ask you some questions… if you don't mind."

"Of course not."

"I… I see Dr. Spencer, but I wondered if I could…"

"You want to switch to Lucien?" At Alice's nod, Jean smiled, "I think that can be arranged. He'll want to give you a very thorough exam, I'm warning you now."

Alice smiled, "I'd expect no less from him. I just… I'd feel better about everything if it was with Lucien. Dr. Spencer is nice, but I'm… he can be somewhat judgmental. And… and Matthew and I aren't married, and Lucien knows a little of my past so I'd feel more comfortable with him."

"I understand," Jean squeezed Alice's shoulder. "I'll see if Lucien has an opening this afternoon in the surgery and call Dr. Spencer's office to have your patient history sent over."

"Thank you, Jean, that's one less thing I have to worry about."

"You're very welcome, Alice. Is there anything else you'd like to ask?"

Alice traced a finger around the rim of her teacup and sighed. "I… I'm worried about the pregnancy. I'm older than average to be a… I mean to say that it can be harder the older you are and this is… There's a chance that… that the child won't-"

She cut herself off with a sigh and Jean patted her shoulder.

"You're worried that the pregnancy might not go to term." Jean squeezed Alice's shoulder again when the doctor nodded. "You are older than average for a first time mother, Alice, but you're also healthy. There's a chance, and a risk, that you'd lose the child, and… unfortunately there's no way to predict if it'll happen. We'll take every precaution though, we'll make sure everything's going as well as it can for you and the baby. Worrying won't help, though I know that worrying comes with the territory."

"Were you ever worried? With your boys?"

Jean nodded, "Both of them. I'd… I was pregnant before I married Christopher and… well, we lost our little girl mid term. I never breathed easy for both of the boys until after that marker passed."

"Jean, I'm so sorry," Alice grasped her hand and Jean held tight. Talking of her little girl, her little Ruth, was never easy for Jean even after all these years, but Alice needed peace of mind.

"It was years ago, Alice, you couldn't have known. The boys came out just fine; you're going to be fine. This baby is half you, after all."

"And half a Lawson."

Jean grinned, "You're going to unleash a terror onto the world, Alice."

Alice laughed, "I wasn't a terror until I learned how to talk, what Matthew was like as a child, I don't really have any clue."

"Quiet, but stubborn, and very protective. Half the trouble he got into as a child was to protect either his younger sister - who was very forthright with her thoughts - or Lucien."

Jean caught the fond smile on Alice's face as the other woman looked down at her still flat stomach. "He'd be a good father; he's a good man."

"He is, and a very happy one now that you're in his life."

"I feel the same way, Jean." Tears welled up in Alice's eyes, "I'm so lucky. I never thought I'd… that I'd be this happy, but I am. True, there is a lot to figure out still, but I'm happy. Growing up… the way I did, I never thought I'd get that."

"Oh, Alice…" Jean pulled her into a hug and rubbed her back as Alice wrapped her arms around Jean and held on tight. She could feel her shirt collar grow damp as the tears fell, but she held Alice as long as she needed it.

"You deserve to be happy," Jean whispered into Alice's hair as the woman's tears quieted. "You deserve this."

"I know I do, I know that now." Alice drew back and wiped away the remaining tears, laughing a bit when Jean helped her. "I'm usually not like this."

"Pregnancy hormones can make any woman a bit more teary," Jean smoothed a hand over Alice's hair and cupped her cheek. "I found myself crying over the littlest things with my boys."

"So, I should be prepared for more?"

"I'd keep a handkerchief handy, just in case you start crying in the morgue."

Alice threw back her head and laughed.

Jean watched over Alice during the rest of the day as she went about her usual activities around the house. She'd penciled Alice in for an appointment with Lucien for the afternoon and phoned Dr. Spencer's office for Alice's patient files. Alice had settled in for another nap when Jean went to pick them up - stopping by Alice's flat for a fresh change of clothes for her.

"Jean, you don't have to, I can just wear my clothes from yesterday." Alice protested at the end of her breakfast when Jean asked for her key.

"I want to, Alice, you stay here and rest or read, I'll be back soon."

Alice sighed and nodded her head in defeat (though she smiled when Jean kissed the top of her head), "I suppose I can't lounge around in Matthew's pajamas all day."

"You could, it might just shock others," Jean laughed.

Jean came back armed with the files and a small suitcase for Alice. She wasn't sure if she had everything Alice would need, but she figured Alice would tell her. She and Matthew needed time to adjust to being engaged as well as expecting a child, so Jean surmised Alice would be staying over again. Jean would make sure Alice got the food she needed, Lucien would make sure she was medically healthy, and Alice and Matthew would have the time they needed to figure out their future away from the prying eyes of Ballarat.

Alice was still asleep when she put the files on Lucien's desk and tiptoed into Matthew's room to lay out an outfit for Alice to change into when she woke. The rest she put in Matthew's wardrobe and she paused by the bed to smooth a hand over Alice's hair as she slept. She looked much better than she had yesterday and this morning, Jean mused as Alice briefly stirred under her hand.

'Good,' Jean thought. 'Lunch should be ready soon, I'll let Matthew check on her then if she's not awake.'

She bustled around the kitchen, preparing a simple soup and sandwiches for lunch - making enough for six people in case Danny and Rose stopped by as well. The front door opened and Jean heard Lucien call her name. Rounding the doorway, she put a finger to her lips that he luckily caught before he spoke again.

"Alice is sleeping," she told him in low tones as she helped him out of his jacket. Matthew wasn't far behind her husband and he hung up his hat.

"Still?" Matthew asked.

"No, she woke up briefly this morning and I fed her a late breakfast. She went back to sleep while I ran errands. Why don't you go see her, Matthew?"

"How is she?" Lucien asked as Matthew made a beeline for his bedroom.

"Better, she said the morning sickness comes and goes depending on the day. I also put her down for an appointment today in the surgery. Alice wants to be seen by you."

"Really?"

"She trusts you, Lucien. I already went by Dr. Spencer's office and picked up her patient history from him."

"We'll make sure the pregnancy is as smooth as possible, won't we?"

Jean pressed a kiss to her husband's cheek, "We will, for both of them."