New beginnings for Mattie and co. A bit long and detailed, again!

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Mattie sat in the bed in the maternity ward gazing at this little scrap that had come out of the love she had for her late husband, Tom. She had been a nurse, a district nurse, and a Sister in Charge of Children's Nursing and still she found the miracle of new life, well, a miracle!

Her little girl, her daughter was so tiny, so vulnerable, so dependent on her and she hadn't even thought of a name. Lucien had rushed her into hospital when she went into labour two weeks before her due date. Instead of a husband pacing the corridor she had a doctor, a police sergeant and the doctor's wife worrying about her. No matter what she said Lucien was not allowed in, and he was her GP! So she gave birth surrounded by doctors she didn't know and nurses who seemed to be too busy to show much feeling. Part of her, in between contractions, registered this and resolved that mothers in Ballarat would have better support.

The baby stirred and grizzled, hungry. Mattie reached into the crib and pulled her ever so gently to her breast.

'Hello, little one,' she whispered, 'funny old world you've come into.'

She gazed at this mixture of her and Tom; a name was difficult. Should she try to use the names of the people who cared: Jean, Lucien and Charlie, or something from Tom? Then it came to her, Grace, Tom's mother's name. Tom had been close to his mother and she had died before he had married, so it was fitting that their daughter should be named after her.

Jean poked her head round the door, 'Can I come in?'

'Oh please do, Jean,' Mattie smiled a tired smile, 'are Lucien and Charlie there too?'

'Aha', Jean returned the smile, 'if they don't come in there'll be no floor left!'

'Oh goodness, let them in.' Mattie thought it was lovely that they both cared so much. But, surely Charlie should have been on duty. The two men crept in behind Jean. As Jean fussed over Mattie, straightening the bed,

Lucien and Charlie went to her, standing either side they both kissed her cheeks and stroked the head of the little addition to the population of Ballarat.

'Hello, Uncle Lucien,' Mattie said, 'Meet Grace; Grace here's Uncle Lucien, Auntie Jean and Uncle Charlie.' She grinned welcoming the love the three people brought with them.

'Grace is a lovely name,' said Jean, 'what gave you the idea?'

'Well,' and at this Mattie looked a little sheepish, 'I couldn't work out how to include all your names so I went for Tom's mother. She was Grace and it is such a peaceful name. Tom was close to his mother and although she passed before we married it seems fitting.' Suddenly she felt embarrassed.

'Perfect' said Lucien and Jean together, 'Tom would be so proud of you.'

Jean noticed the tremble in Mattie's lower lip, 'He would, and so are we.' She kissed her cheek, 'never be afraid to show your love.'

'We'll leave you now,' said Lucien, 'you need to rest and see to this little one.'

'Thank you, all of you,' Mattie looked at the three best friends she had in the world, 'I'd like to come home as soon as possible, though.' Knowing it was usual for new mothers to stay in hospital for at least a week she couldn't wait to get back to the comfort of their house, and she did have a doctor on hand twenty-four hours a day!

'We'll see,' smiled Lucien, patting her arm.

Having the baby to see to over the next day didn't leave Mattie much time to think about her situation, a single mother was frowned upon, and even though she was a widow there was bound to be talk.

Jean went to see her the following day, taking some flowers from them all at home and some chocolate to cheer her up. She was concerned that Mattie might suffer from the baby blues at some point and was determined to try to keep her spirits up. Although her own sons were grown up she still remembered times when she felt very much alone after they were born but she found keeping busy helped; it still did.

'How are you feeling?' She asked noticing dark circles under Mattie's eyes.

'Tired,' she admitted, 'Grace needed feeding every two to three hours, I think; anyway, she seemed to be constantly wanting to be fed.'

'You'll get into a routine soon,' Jean picked up the baby and dropped a kiss onto the top of her head.

'I'm a children's nurse, I should be able to handle it.' Mattie was tearful.

'Mattie, you're a first time mother before you're a nurse. All babies are different, you know, and your reaction isn't unusual. Both my boys were, and are, very different, chalk and cheese. Christopher was an ideal first child, placid, easy to get into a routine; Jack, well he was demanding, always hungry and, as he grew, always getting into mischief. Don't worry, your feelings are completely normal.' Jean wanted to console her young friend, but she knew that Mattie wouldn't be content until she could go home. She needed the support of a mother figure.

'Thank you, Jean, you are the voice of reason. I just feel so alone here, in the hospital.' Mattie relaxed a little, Jean was right, but she wanted to go home.

'I'll speak to Lucien about getting you home as soon as we can. Your room is ready, I've put the bassinet in there, all Grace's bits and pieces are there too.' Jean hugged her, she really needed to get Mattie home.

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That evening, as Jean and Lucien cuddled on the couch, Jean put it to Lucien that Mattie should come home, although it was only two days since she had given birth. She was worried that Mattie was sinking into the baby blues and knowing how hard it was when you were alone after giving birth she wanted her to feel supported.

'You know, Jean, you are right. There is no reason why Mattie shouldn't come home now. I can keep an eye on her and you are here to give her the love and help she needs. I'll speak to the hospital tomorrow.' He kissed her, lovingly, she really was the support Mattie needed.

'Have you spoken to her parents?' He asked.

'Yes, I phoned yesterday to let them know they were grandparents. I spoke to her mother, and she sent her love, but nothing more. I think Martin is putting pressure on her to distant herself from their daughter. I said I'd keep in touch.' Jean looked quite sad, thinking how Mattie needed support not alienating by her parents.

'I bet she'll find a way to see them, something tells me Martin is the problem, not his wife.' Lucien remembered how Mattie had struggled with her father's attitude to her life, that he wanted her to go home and marry well; or what he considered well; after the incident at the Eureka Monument.

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Mattie smiled as she alighted from the car the next day. Lucien had persuaded the maternity unit that Mattie would be quite safe and well looked after at home. Cradling her tiny daughter in her arms she sighed and felt truly at home, safe and supported. Jean opened the door and welcomed her home, arms wide to hug her dear friend.

The smell of a well prepared meal drifted through the hallway, Mattie smiled as she relished the thought of a tasty meal. Hospital food had a lot to live up to! She settled Grace in her bassinet and went into the kitchen where Jean was making tea.

'Welcome home,' Charlie appeared at her shoulder and kissed her.

Mattie liked the friendship she had with Charlie, he was a bit like an older brother but maybe more. She felt she shouldn't think there was anything in their relationship, but he was probably the best friend of her age that she had.

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Mattie settled well into motherhood now she was home. Jean guided her, but did not overwhelm her with advice. Grace seemed to know she was in a safe and secure environment and settled into a routine quickly. Jean knew that ideas about rearing children had changed since her boys had been born but she told stories about how she'd raised them and Mattie took notice. A lot of what Jean said was sensible and followed some of the suggestions she made. She returned to work as the Practice Nurse on a part time basis when Grace was eight weeks old. She could work round Grace's feeding pattern and Jean was more than happy to help her look after the baby while Mattie worked. And so life went on, everyone moved around in their routines and it suited them.

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'Jean,' Lucien pulled her close one evening, 'we've been courting a while now, so I have a question for you...'

Jean looked into his eyes, she knew him so well and knew what was coming,

'Shall we organise our wedding?'

She looked into his clear blue eyes, knowing he had wanted to ask for so long but had felt things had got in the way,

'Oh, Lucien,' she smiled and kissed him, 'what took you so long?'

He grinned and looked around the room, indicating the whole house, it was so...busy all the time and he had tried several times to find the right moment, but the right moment never seemed to occur so he thought, to heck with it he'd ask her now.

'So that's a yes, then?' he planted a kiss on her forehead.

'Of course,' Jean in truth had almost asked him herself once or twice but even though their relationship had become a firm one she still couldn't bring herself to be quite so forward.

'How long do you want to wait?' Lucien wasn't sure how long it took to organise a wedding or if she would be content with a civil ceremony rather than a church wedding, which, he suspected would take longer.

'I think we've waited long enough,' she replied, cheekily. Sometimes, when they had been alone at night, Lucien's gentlemanly behaviour had not allowed them to go too far, as her mother would have said, but she did wonder if she would have been willing to go to bed with him even outside of marriage. Her moral code, ingrained in her through the church, would normally have stopped her, but she was older now and having put up with the snide comments and gossiping in Ballarat about how they were probably sleeping together, she did wonder if she would have thrown caution to the wind and made it all come true. She had never had the chance to find out because Lucien was a gentleman.

Lucien smiled at the comment, he too had wondered if she would have slept with him without a ring on her finger, but he couldn't take the risk of losing her just because he wanted to make love to her, to wake up with her beside him every morning, he thought it was selfish of him to think of damaging her reputation for his own gratification, so he had curbed his behaviour and resorted to cold showers at night. And it had been so very difficult!

'Church?' he raised his eyebrow, he'd marry her in a field, he didn't attend church anymore, had become disenchanted with a God he didn't think cared.

'It would be nice, but it would take a lot of organising, finding a date when Father Emery is available.' She sighed, church was her first choice.

'Well, see what he says, then we can make the decision, but it must be your choice, I'd marry you in the kitchen, just as long as I get the chance to put a ring on your finger!'

Jean leaned in a pulled him into one of those long deep kisses they both enjoyed whenever they got the opportunity.

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Jean made an appointment to see the priest the following day. She hoped Lucien would come with her but he would probably be busy. She didn't mind, all she wanted to know was how quickly they could tie the knot while not making the priest think she was 'in the family way!' Just explaining they'd waited a long time and wanted to marry soon.

Father Emery was surprisingly understanding. He'd heard the gossip about the doctor and his housekeeper but having met them both was inclined to feel it was just that, unsubstantiated gossip.

Jean told him they didn't want a big wedding, just them and a couple of witnesses. She'd had a big wedding the first time and it had been quite stressful, and she didn't want to make Lucien uncomfortable with a full wedding mass. She also told him that she was prepared to marry in a civil ceremony but knew that in the eyes of the church that would effectively make her his mistress and neither of them wanted that, although they would be legally married. Oh it was all so complicated. If she was Anglican she could have just had a civil ceremony blessed, but that didn't work in the Catholic faith as far as she was aware.

Father Emery said it would be possible to have a civil wedding and then a blessing in church if he witnessed the civil side of the marriage. He would be happy to accommodate them this way if it would help. He admitted there were a few weddings booked in the church in the near future so if they did want to marry sooner rather than later he did have a small window in his schedule that they could have.

Jean was delighted to hear that this would suit both of them, she would have her church blessing and Lucien wouldn't have to marry her in the kitchen. The priest gave her the times and dates he could perform the blessing, all she had to do was find out if the City Hall could accommodate them on one of those days, too.

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Lucien waited nervously at the City Hall, three weeks later. Jean had managed to arrange their wedding in such a short time, all he had to do was turn up, oh, and organise for them to go away on a short honeymoon. Jean had worried about this, they would be leaving Mattie and Alice in charge of the surgery. But both Mattie and Alice told her they'd be fine and if she wouldn't go they threatened to change the locks! Mattie and Charlie had agreed to be witnesses and the only other people there would be Alice and Frank. As Christopher couldn't attend Frank had agreed to give the bride away and escorted Jean into the Registry Office. Lucien gasped as he saw her, radiant in pale blue, a bouquet of flowers out of their garden in her hands.

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Both ceremonies were concluded rather quickly, but Jean was just happy to be Mrs Blake at last. As she and Lucien got into the car to go away to Melbourne for a few days she looked at her bouquet. There were two single women there, Alice and Mattie, she tossed the bouquet more towards Mattie really and, as Alice had no intentions of marrying, she didn't make any attempt to catch it. Mattie caught it just before it hit the floor. She didn't really think about what she was doing, only that the flowers were going to be damaged and she wanted them to go into a vase at home, they may last until the doctor and his wife returned. She blushed when Charlie grinned at her. Fortunately Grace decided to demand to be fed at that moment so she was sufficiently distracted not to dwell on it.

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The house seemed eerily quiet when Charlie took Mattie speedily back so she could feed the baby. He made some tea while she dealt with Grace and put the flowers in a vase. They would be on their own in the house for a week, while Jean and Lucien were away, Mrs Toohey hadn't been engaged this time to do the housework; they felt they could manage themselves. Mattie said it was about time she had a go at running a home anyway, she shouldn't rely on Jean to fetch and carry for her for ever; though it would be nice! Jean said there'd be gossip, Mattie said she didn't care, it would give Jean a break. Charlie laughed and said he could always find something to charge the gossips with and threaten to arrest them! Lucien told Jean not to worry, Alice would be around as his locum, she could act as chaperone, at which comment Mattie and Charlie threw cushions at him!

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Alice found the GP work interesting, she'd only worked in hospitals before, but Mattie really ran the surgery. She admired the young woman's attitude, she was indeed a very capable practitioner and it was obvious the patients liked her.

Mattie and Charlie found they rubbed along rather well during the day, none of the household chores were missed, Grace's routine wasn't disturbed and they found time to sit together in the evening over a sherry and Charlie had a whisky, as he usually did with Lucien. On the last evening before Dr and Mrs Blake returned, Charlie and Mattie sat over their evening drinks. Grace had been fed and would sleep 'til the early morning, all was peaceful. They sat side by side on the couch, Mattie had curled her feet up under her as she sewed a button onto her uniform dress. Charlie was reading, or pretending to read the paper, but out of the corner of his eye he watched his housemate and friend. She put down her sewing and returned the needle and thread to Jean's sewing box.

'Anything interesting in the paper?' She asked.

'Not much, although the wedding's in.' He showed her the picture and notification. He'd asked Rose if she could get it in before they came back, and she had duly found room on the announcements page.

Mattie leaned in to see, she smiled and looked up at Charlie. There was a strange look in his eyes and a gentle smile played around his lips. Charlie let go of the paper and he slipped his arm around her shoulders. She leaned close enough to kiss his cheek, something she did often, but this time he turned his face towards her and ever so gently kissed her lips. Mattie looked into those clear blue eyes, 'Oh Charlie,' she breathed, placing her hand lightly on his cheek. He pulled her closer and the next kiss was deeper and longer.

When Mattie had come back to Ballarat she was hurt, pregnant, lost. Now he saw a pretty young woman, stronger than before, ready to face the challenges life might throw at her and he wanted to face those challenges with her. In just over six months the feelings he had always had for her had become deeper and he hoped hers had for him. He would have to take things slowly, he didn't want to frighten her off and he had to assure her that he could be a good father to Grace.

Mattie broke the kiss and looked at him. She felt she had come full circle, she could read Charlie like a book and knew that what he wanted she wanted.

'I'd better go to bed, there's a full list tomorrow,' she said, regretfully. He followed her to her bedroom door and kissed her goodnight, hoping they wouldn't have to wait as long as Jean and Lucien before he'd be kissing her goodnight in the same bed!

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'Well, that's the last one,' Alice declared as she put the patient files away.

'Dinner's nearly ready!' called Mattie from the kitchen.

Alice smiled, Mattie was turning into Jean, and she had noticed that the nurse and her policeman friend were even closer, he was a lucky young man, and she was lucky too.

Alice left after she had helped wash the dishes, declining the offer of a drink, she was not going to chaperone the young pair, whatever Lucien said. Anyway the newlyweds were due back that evening, they wouldn't be doing anything they shouldn't because of the chance they would get caught.

Mattie and Charlie were locked in a deep embrace when Lucien and Jean walked into the house. Even though Jean had told her husband off for carrying her over the threshold they hadn't heard them and so they were caught! Lucien coughed politely causing them to break apart suddenly. They both jumped up, red-faced, hugely embarrassed at being caught.

Jean raised an eyebrow, 'Well, well, well, what have we here?' but there was a smile on her face. 'Alice isn't a very good chaperone, I shall have to have words with her!'

She held out her arms to Mattie and drew her into a hug,

'That's as far as we've gone, honestly,' whispered Mattie, terrified she'd offended Jean after all she'd done for her.

Jean held her at arm's length, she knew she could trust Mattie and Charlie but she was going to make them sweat a little, 'Hmm!'

Lucien just laughed, 'Took you long enough, Charlie Davies,' he grinned. He'd truthfully been waiting for Charlie to take a chance on Mattie, he knew how much the young sergeant liked her, and he would like to see Mattie settled properly, even if they stayed with them.

'You look so well, Jean,' Mattie swung the attention from her and Charlie to Jean and Lucien, 'marriage suits you.'

Jean grinned, slightly embarrassed herself. Lucien had been the most attentive husband during the first week of their marriage and she knew his tenderness was going to continue. She really was blessed.

Charlie poured a whisky for Lucien and a sherry for Jean, topping up his and Mattie's drinks and they sat chatting for the next hour or so, happy to be all together again. Mattie yawned and excused herself, Charlie went with her, as he usually did, to kiss her goodnight. He didn't think the Blake's would mind, as long as that was as far as he went! He went to bed himself, wishing the doctor and his wife pleasant dreams!

Life, he felt was going to get interesting!

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Not sure about the idea of a blessing of a civil marriage in the Catholic church so apologies if I've bothered anyone!

I'm thinking I could get at least one more chapter out of this story. Let me know what you think about this and the idea of continuing.