This picks up after episode 5.3. Hope you enjoy.
They stood at the door looking at Matthew as he walked to his new bedroom. They had an arm around each other as they smiled in contentment. "So, when did you and Matthew orchestrate this one?" He gave her a squeeze.
"You're just jealous because we thought of it first." She loved teasing him. He was such a good sport.
"Maybe a bit." He leaned down giving her a sloppy kiss against her neck causing her to giggle. "You are brilliant. Thank you, Jean." He kissed her on her forehead and carried a more serious tone. "I think this is just what he needs. I know I'll certainly feel better with him here."
She put her hand on his cheek, genuinely touched. "Of course." This man of hers has such a good heart. "He'll be okay."
He nodded. "I'm going to do physical therapy with him. Try to get the muscles in that leg strong again."
She squeezed his middle. "If anyone can do it, you can."
They came close to connecting a kiss when Matthew yelled from his room. "You two going to bring me my things sometime tonight?" He knew exactly what they were doing as he had peeked out of his room. He guessed he better get used to it but he could have a little fun with it as well.
They both rolled their eyes and grinned. "Yes, of course, Matthew." Lucien gave Jean a quick peck and they headed toward Matthew's room. They set his bags on the bed. "Come join us for some dinner."
"I'm just going to freshen up a bit. Be right there." They turned to walk out of his room. "Thanks again…for this."
They both gave him a warm smile and headed for the kitchen. Charlie came home as Lucien was setting the table. "Charlie, you're just in time."
He watched as he set four places. "Four?"
"Yes, Matthew has come to stay with us. Easier on the leg."
"Oh, that makes sense. Great. Well, I'll go wash up and be right back." Matthew walked in just then. "Boss, good to have you with us." Charlie patted him on the back.
"Thanks, Charlie."
Over dinner they talked about Henry and the mess he went through. They also talked about Bill and had agreed he would eventually come around.
Matthew excused himself and headed for bed. Charlie helped put leftovers away as Lucien and Jean started on the dishes. Once he was finished, Charlie excused himself as well. As Lucien finished drying the last dish, he looked to Jean. "Can I interest you in a sherry?"
"Yes, I think that would be lovely." Reaching up to peck his cheek.
They went into the studio to sit in front of the fire. They settled on the couch, nestled together. Lucien sighed. "I just can't stop thinking about Henry. He's so unhappy and I don't see an end to it anytime soon. It's just all so tragic."
Jean squeezed his hand. "I know. I wish there was some way to ease his pain. I've been thinking about Tilly. I told her, at the hospital, to let me know if she needs anything. It must be difficult not having her mum around. I think I'll keep checking on her."
He leaned down and kissed her shoulder, then rested his chin where he kissed. They sat there for a while, just staring at the fire, each lost in their own thoughts. "Jean? Those two women at the restaurant. Who are they?"
Jean groaned, "Victoria and Grace. They go to Sacred Heart." She sighed. "They are also Ballarat's queen gossipers."
"I don't much care for them."
She let out a huff of laughter and patted his knee. "Join the masses, darling."
"Why do you let their whispers hurt you then?"
"You're right. We are spending way too much time talking about them and caring what they think." She turned in his arms and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I'm working on it, Lucien." He wasn't understanding her so she clarified. "Not letting the whispers get to me. I'm working on it."
He pushed an errant curl away from her face and tucked it behind her ear. "Good. I just think it would be wise to consider the source. They seem to be busy trying to tear people down. You, my dear, are far too good of a person to allow that to work. I know it hurts but just try to let it roll off. I'll get this divorce finished as quickly as I can-" She had heard enough and needed to put his mouth to better use. He was only happy to oblige.
Things got heated quickly. His hand was underneath her shirt, caressing her back. She already had his tie off and was working on his shirt buttons when he stilled her hands. "Let's move this to my room, shall we?" She was breathing heavily. She hadn't even thought everything through. It wasn't only Charlie they had to worry about, now they have Matthew. He saw her putting everything together in her head and knew she started to doubt they should be behaving this way. "We can be quiet. We don't even have to do anything. I just would very much like you with me tonight."
She knew she should just kiss him goodnight and go to her room but she wanted to be with him too. "I'll go change and meet you in your room."
He grinned, thankful that she accepted. "I'll clean up in here." He made sure the fire was out and took their glasses to the kitchen sink and washed them. He went to his room and had just gotten his pajama bottoms on when she lightly knocked and came into his room. He turned to her, bare chested. All thoughts she had of only sleeping with him were gone. He had the same idea, seeing her in her delicate sleeveless nightdress. They both crossed the way and met in a fierce embrace, hands and lips everywhere. Falling on the bed, with Lucien on top, they started laughing. He covered her mouth with his hand and whispered, "We have to be quiet."
She flipped them, giving him a deep, electrifying kiss. Breaking it only to lift her nightdress up and off, throwing it to the floor. "I can do quiet."
"Bloody hell." Lucien said as she leaned back down and captured his lips once more.
Charlie was in the kitchen getting a glass of water when Matthew had come in to do the same. He noticed Matthew quickly look toward the front of the house. "Did you just hear something?"
Charlie smiled. "Nope, didn't hear a thing. Night, boss."
Matthew shook his head. "Night, Charlie." New house, new sounds he'd have to get used to. On his trek back to bed, he thought he had heard a faint giggle. He looked toward Lucien's room. "Bloody hell." He smiled and continued to his room making a mental note to get his water glass before going to bed tomorrow night.