The next three chapters all take place over the same time period, twenty four hours from the end of the court case. The first chapter is how Matthew and Alice's life changes.

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There was an air of some relief at breakfast now that the giving of evidence was over. They were all looking forward to going home and trying to resume normal life. Lucien had just poured another cup of tea when the head waiter approached the table.

'Superintendant Lawson?' He looked round the table.

Matthew lifted his head from the newspaper, 'Yes?'

'The court usher has just rung,' he kept his voice low, 'you and your colleagues at to be at the court for ten a.m.'

'Thank you.' He folded the paper and drained his tea cup. 'Well, looks like the jury are back.'

Alice reached over and squeezed his hand. 'Soon be over.' she smiled.

'Mm..' he murmured.

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The public filled the court, papers were shuffled, Matthew and Charlie took their customary seats either side of Lucien behind the council. The defendants were brought forth from the cells, and a hush fell as they waited for the judge.

'All rise!' An usher called. The shuffling of feet accompanied the judge's entrance, he nodded to the usher and councils and sat down.

'Foreman of the jury, have you reached your verdict?'

'We have.'

'And is this the verdict of you all?'

'It is.'

They went through each defendant and each damning verdict. All were guilty.

The weight started to lift off shoulders and then the judge sat and looked around at the expectant faces. He thought it was like addressing a school hall.

He started on about how it was such a shame that grown men had to prey on youngsters in the way that these men had. It was saddening that it had been done in the name of God, it devalued faith and destroyed trust. In dispensing justice he started by giving the men who had followed orders sentences that ranged from five to fifteen years in prison. He held Simkins wholly responsible for the death of Brian Jackson, who should be out playing and climbing trees, instead of lying in the cold ground in a country that was supposed to take him in and nurture him. He looked down at the man who proclaimed himself 'Prophet' and sentenced him to life in prison, with no hope of parole. If there were proof he had actually dealt the killing blows to the child he would have no hesitation in passing the death sentence. He didn't add that the prison population would make him wish he had.

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Only time would start to heal the hurt, and in the case of some of the boys it would never go away, it would always be there in the background.

'Dr Harvey,' Alice got to the phone as she entered her house on her return. 'Oh, hello Sister.'

She dropped her overnight bag and nodded to Matthew as he mimed a cuppa and went through to her kitchen.

'I'm sorry, as you know I've been in Melbourne,' She sighed, 'right, I'll be right there.' She put the phone down.

'Cancel tea, Matthew,' she called through, 'Sid is having a meltdown.'

'Shall I come too?' He raised his eyebrows. 'Then I can see what goes on.'

'Alright, but don't expect him to fall into your arms.' She picked up her medical bag and they headed out and up to the orphanage.

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'I'm sorry Dr Harvey,' Sister Josephine would have run her hands through her hair in frustration if she wasn't wearing a wimple, 'he's done this just about every day since we told him you had to go and do some important work. We didn't think he'd understand about court and the trial. We did say you'd be coming back, though.'

'Have you been able to calm him down at all?' Alice took her coat of and laid it over a chair, they were in the Sister's office but they could still hear the screams.

'We've had to let him wear himself out, but it takes longer each time.'

'Where is he?' Alice took a deep breath.

'In an empty room,' Sister Josephine opened the door, the noise got instantly louder, 'he can't hurt himself on any furniture.'

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Sid was hurling himself at the door and the walls of the room. He had obviously banged his face as his nose was bleeding, his clothes were soiled and he had clearly vomited at some point. A younger nun was standing outside the door wringing her hands which hovered over the handle as if she was going to go in, but changed her mind.

Alice's shoulders dropped as she looked through the small window in the door. She handed her coat to Matthew and held out her hand, onto which Sister Josephine draped a blanket. She nodded to the young nun to open the door and as she did so Sid charged forward. She dropped to her knees and wrapped him in the blanket, tightly.

'Sid, shh...' she spoke clearly but in almost a whisper. 'It's alright, Dr Harvey's here.' She rocked him as he struggled, staring but not seeing.

'Shh... stop now.' Alice murmured, 'shh... no more, there's a good boy.' She looked up at the other adults, 'can I have a warm damp flannel please, would one of you run a bath, Superintendant there is some antiseptic in my bag. A half cup into the water please.' She turned back to the boy now just sobbing and hiccupping in distress against her shoulder. 'Come on, little man, let's get you bathed and a warm drink.'

Matthew helped her up and she adjusted her hold on the child.

'This is Superintendant Lawson, Sid.' She indicated Matthew standing quietly next to her, 'he's my special friend. He's a policeman and he is the one who helped Dr Blake bring you out of the church.'

Sid shifted his head so he could see Matthew out of the corner of one eye,

'Hello, Sid.' Matthew smiled softly, 'it's very nice to meet you.'

Sid sniffed but didn't turn away.

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For some reason Matthew wasn't surprised to see Alice's gentleness with the distraught child. She undressed him and wiped the bulk of the soiling off him before placing him in the path and trailing the warm water over him. The nuns had left her to it, knowing Sid was probably safest with her than with anyone else. The only sounds were the water, Sid's occasional sniffs and hiccups and Alice quietly singing. It took Matthew a while to realise it was her voice he could hear, a soft contralto, low and soothing as the tune floated round the room. He looked at the little, undernourished waif in the bath, bruises on so much of his skinny body from his violent contact with the walls. Sid just looked up at Alice, eyes wide, she never broke eye contact.

'... someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops...' she sang, now sponging his back. Matthew swallowed as she looked up and nodded towards the pile of towels. He could see tears in her eyes and saw the inevitable, at the same time he wanted to know why she connected with this child more than any of the others, he needed to know, sure that Sid reminded her of some past incident, perhaps in her childhood that she never spoke about.

He held the towel out and she lifted Sid into his arms, surprised the child didn't protest. Matthew wrapped the towel round him, noticing how light he was and wondering when he had last eaten a proper meal. From what had been happening he thought it was unlikely he had eaten since they had left for Melbourne. Alice took him and started to pat him dry while Matthew picked up a pair of pyjamas, nappy and waterproof pants, all left ready by Sister Josephine.

'Pass me the arnica, please.' She sat Sid on a chair still wrapped in the towel.

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In the office Sister Josephine watched Alice help Sid drink the warm milk and sighed. They had neither the facilities nor the staff to cope with a child like him.

'Dr Harvey,' Sister Josephine addressed the doctor directly, 'we cannot keep him here, he needs to be with someone who can devote themselves solely to him, not a large group of children such as we have here.'

'What are you suggesting?' A tight knot had formed in Alice's stomach, 'he's not ready to be fostered.'

'No, I agree, and what I am suggesting is asking a lot of you.' The nun leant forward and placed her forearms on the desk.

'Sister,' Alice's eyes widened, 'I live in a one bedroom flat, it's just me. I don't have the room for a child and I work and I'm single.'

'You are the only one he is comfortable with.' Sister pointed out, 'I don't know why, what he sees when you are here, but it's the only time he is calm.'

Matthew had been watching this exchange, knowing that Alice was torn between her life as she knew it and her feelings for this child. It was true she only had a one bedroom flat, and it was tidy and feminine, not a family home. It was why they spent a lot of time at his house, where he had lived all his life.

'Dr Harvey,' he murmured, 'may I have a word; alone.' He offered his hand to her but Sister Josephine stopped him,

'I'll wait outside.' She smiled, 'Sid is almost asleep, don't disturb him.' The peace and quiet was lovely.

The door closed behind her.

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'Alice,' Matthew held her hand. 'There's room at my house, heaven knows we spend a lot of time there.'

'Are you asking me to live with you, Superintendant?' She tried to lighten the atmosphere.

'We're engaged.' He pointed out, 'we live together, part time. I know, talk, sideways looks, and I'm not going to rush you down the aisle, although I'm not sure Sister Josephine is going to be too impressed. I know it won't be easy, and Sid and I may not always get on, but at least he didn't hide from me when you introduced us.'

Alice sighed, what he said made perfect sense, and she wasn't bothered about the talk unless it hurt Matthew. People had whispered behind their hands about her all her life.

'Oh Matthew,' She tipped her face to kiss him softly on the lips. 'Are you sure?'

'Are you?' He reached over and pulled the blanket around the, now sleeping, boy.

'As sure as I'll ever be, I suppose.' She looked into his eyes and saw only a deep and profound love.

'So, we'll tell Sister Josephine that he can come with us,' he turned to the door, 'and to hell with gossip.' He whispered and winked as he opened the door.

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Sister Josephine watched Dr Harvey and Superintendant Lawson take Sid out of the orphanage. She would have to admit to the bishop, later, that she had handed a damaged child over to an unmarried pathologist and her close, male friend. At least that was what she would tell him, the rest was for her conscience. Sid could not remain there, he was frightening the other children, he would end up hurt, badly hurt, and then probably in an asylum. She was not a hard woman, it was just a hard life, and so many of these children were difficult to place in families.

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Matthew suggested that Sid have the room he had had as a boy.

'It has a bed, which just needs making up,' He steered the car into her drive as she had to pick up at least enough things for one night, 'I think there's even a box of toys I never got round to getting rid of.'

Sid was asleep on the back seat of the car so Alice quickly went to retrieve her overnight bag and a fresh set of clothes for the following day. There was lots to discuss and lots to sort out, but this would do for now. Sister Josephine had given her a change of clothes for Sid and a clean nappy for the following night. That was one of Alice's priorities, he shouldn't need them at the age of six, really. As she closed the door she thought that it wouldn't be long before she closed the door for the last time. Moving in with Matthew, eventually marrying him did not worry her, but they were going to be a family, it seemed, almost instantly, and that did worry her.

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It seemed that Sid was not going to wake up anytime soon. Alice placed him on the couch while Matthew headed upstairs with her bag and Sid's things. He was going to make up the bed for starters then see where they went from there.

They would have to have something to eat, the light snack they had on the train home would not see them through to the morning but there wasn't much in the fridge or cupboards. Alice wondered if Matthew could be persuaded to go out, again, to the chip shop. She supposed she would have to learn to cook, she couldn't expect Matthew to do all of it. Even though having Sid in their lives had been an option, she felt it inevitable weeks ago, she didn't envisage it being so sudden.

'Bedroom's sorted,' Matthew appeared behind her and wrapped his arms round her. 'He should be alright in there.'

'Right,' she turned round and leaned her forehead against his chest. 'What are we doing, Matthew? I'm not a mother, but... oh hell.' She sniffed.

He tipped her face and wiped the tear with his thumb, 'We'll sort it.' He kissed her forehead. 'For now, food, then a drink and in between times we'll put Sid to bed and hope he sleeps through.' He kissed her again and headed to the fridge.

'Hm..nothing too exciting,' he mused, 'omelette?' He turned round with some eggs in his hand. She smiled her acceptance and watched him break and beat the eggs. He reached back into the fridge,

'Here,' he passed her a block of cheese, 'I'm sure you can handle a grater, doctor.'

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Matthew had a deft hand with an omelette, it was soft and full of flavour and just enough for a light supper. They washed the dishes then took Sid up to bed still wrapped in the blanket. Matthew drew back the covers and she lay him down gently.

'Leave the blankets,' he whispered, 'they're warm.' He drew the cover over the sleeping child and watched Alice lightly ruffle his wavy hair.

'Sweet dreams, little man.' She whispered.

They left the door ajar and the light on outside his room and went back downstairs.

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As they sat on the couch, his arm round her shoulders, he noticed she seemed tense and lost in thought. She hadn't touched her drink and after swirling the whisky round in the glass she finally put it down on the side table.

'Alice?' He rubbed her upper arm, comfortingly. You ok?'

'He reminds me of Paul.' She stared across the room at nothing in particular.

'Paul?'

'Paul was my friend, at school.' She smiled, 'we were the odd ones out. Usually reading together or peering into puddles to see if there was any life in there.'

'Kindred spirits.' Matthew thought of the times he and Lucien had gone gold prospecting.

'I suppose so.' She agreed, 'he wanted to be an archaeologist, but...'

Matthew waited for her to continue.

'...his parents didn't understand how bright he was.'

'Paul was the same from the day we started school. That's why we were close. His father used to rough him up when he showed any signs of independent thought. I got used to taking the bottle of arsenic from my house to our spot in the park.' Alice bit her lip. 'It got worse. I tried to get him to tell someone, a teacher, we had some good ones, but he wouldn't.'

'What happened?' Matthew asked gently.

'I don't know.' She turned and looked at him, 'he didn't come to senior school, I never saw him again after we finished primary school. I went to his house but his mother wouldn't talk to me and Mr Elliot told me I was a silly little girl and to go away.'

'Did you try to speak to anyone else? The police, your parents?'

'Always told the same thing, I was a silly little girl.' She turned and looked at him with tears in her eyes, 'he was my best friend, Matthew, and he disappeared. I don't want that for Sid, I want him to have the chances Paul didn't have.'

'He will.' Matthew kissed the side of her head. 'We might be a bit unconventional but that doesn't mean he won't get the chance to make something of his life. Now, my dear doctor. Time for a little stress relief.' He stood up and extended his hand.

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Matthew's idea of stress relief was to take Alice up into the bathroom and run a bath scented with rosemary bath crystals and then bathe her as she had bathed the little boy, working his hands over her back and shoulders, then climbing in with her and trickling water over her breasts before taking her in his arms and kissing her deeply and passionately. She moved her hands over his chest and down to his stomach, groaning with increasing desire.

His hands ran down her back and under her bottom, lifting her into a position more suited to his intentions. Alice could feel him hard between them and then he slid one had between her legs and started to move his fingers over the most sensitive spot.

'Yes,' she moaned, slipping her hand to position him better to enter her and let him lift her so he could take her, letting her grind against him until they released together and lay panting but still joined.

Matthew squeezed the now cooling water out of the sponge over her back, making her shiver.

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Dried and wearing his pyjama top she crawled under the covers waiting for him to join her.

'Don't you have any of your own nightwear?' He huffed with a grin, she looked incredibly sexy dressed like that and the sight of her lying there had him become aroused again, though he had said once he was too old for such behaviour.

'Forgot to pack any,' she purred, her eyes catching sight of an unmistakable bulge in his trousers. 'Would you like me to take it off?' She looked from under her eyelashes.

He got into the bed and turned to look at her, sliding his hands under the cover and down her thigh. She shivered with anticipation then gasped as she realised he had gone down under the covers and was now kissing her knees and working his way up her inner thigh, right to where his tongue did the most amazing things making her shudder and squeak with pure pleasure. He continued up her body, kissing her curls, her belly button , little nips and kisses that had her running her fingers through his hair and begging for more,

'Please, Matthew,' she moaned, 'oh god,' He was at her breasts, teasing her nipples to hard buds then to her lips as she felt his desire against the inside of her thigh and she wrapped her legs round his waist as he thrust deep into her with a rhythm and purpose that made the world become intensely bright. She bucked as she released and held him there until he too gave his all.

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Sid slept through the night, a product of his exhaustion from days of screaming and throwing himself round a bare room and nightmares disturbing his sleep. Sister Josephine always told Dr Harvey that the only nights he slept were those where she had put him to bed or held him until he fell asleep. In fact he didn't wake until Matthew had made tea and taken a tray up to the bedroom where Alice lay dozing having been disturbed when he got out of bed.

'I think Sid may be awake.' He put the tray on the end of the bed, 'I'm sure I heard him whimper.'

'Are you alright if I bring him in?' She pulled the top back on, somehow it had ended up on the floor, 'as you've brought milk up for him.'

'Sure,' he smiled and watched her take his robe off the back of the door and head into the other room.

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'Good morning, Sid,' She smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, 'how are you today?'

He looked at her with wide brown eyes but said nothing. He let her unwrap him from the blankets then lift him onto her lap.

'You are in Superintendant Lawson's house.' She explained to him, 'this was his bedroom when he was a little boy. We thought you might like to stay with him and me instead of with Sister Josephine.'

Sid looked up at her and put his head against her breast and tried to put his arms round her.

'I take it you like the idea.' She stroked his head, and smiled as she felt his arms tighten a little. 'Come on, the Superintendant has some milk in our bedroom for you. Let's go and have a drink.' She lifted him up musing on what they could let him call them, if he ever spoke in anything other than a scream. Mother and father was not for now, she thought, she supposed by their names would be easiest.

Sid sat on Alice's knee and watched Matthew over the rim of his cup, Matthew, for his part just greeted him pleasantly but didn't reach out to touch him or attempt to take him off his fiancée.

They finished their tea and waited for Sid to decide he'd had enough of his milk, when he did he held the cup out to Matthew then snuggled down against Alice again.

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Usually Matthew would dress in front of Alice but, after what the little boy had been through, he decided that perhaps the bathroom was the best place, for now. He returned, in uniform trousers, shirt and tie and looked at Alice lying against the pillows with the child clutching the edge of the robe. He wondered if Sid would stay with him while she showered and dressed, perhaps he could encourage him to have a look in the old toy box.

'Sid,' he sat on the side of the bed, 'Alice needs to get washed and dressed, would you like to see what's in the toy box in your room?'

Sid appeared to consider the offer then help out his arms to the Superintendant. Alice raised her eyebrows and smiled.

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Alice felt refreshed after her shower and dressed quickly in shirt and slacks, practical, she thought for the day. She would ring her apologies to the hospital but she had pressing family matters to deal with. One of which was what on earth was she going to do with Sid when she was working. If he went to school she could work round those hours, but he didn't, yet. When she did find a school it would have to be non-faith and as far away from a priest as was possible. She couldn't do that until he was officially placed with her, she knew that, and that wasn't going to be easy unless Sister Josephine was prepared to help them.

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After Alice bathed Sid and helped him dress in the shirt and shorts Sister Josephine had supplied they ate breakfast together. Sid was obviously feeling the effects of his very restricted diet of the past few days and made short work of some eggs and toast and another glass of milk.

They discussed what they would have to do,

'Shopping,' Alice suggested, 'we need more milk and bread, and meat and veggies. I think I'll take Sid into town and get what I can, he'll need some more clothes as well.'

'Will you be alright?' Matthew wondered if a shopping trip with a small but uncommunicative child might be a step too far for the pathologist.

'Well, I know where you are if I need help.' She smiled. 'I'll nip back to the other house and pick up more of my things.'

'Alice,' Matthew took the plates to the sink, 'I hope this isn't moving too fast for you.'

'It is a bit of a whirlwind,' she agreed, 'but I don't see what else we can do about it. The other matter we will have to deal with as soon as we can is Family Welfare.' Her shoulders dropped, 'they aren't going to like it.'

'I'll see if Sister Josephine can write a reference or a letter stating the best interests of Sid, Blake will help, he's got some insight into mental trauma, albeit from the war,' he smiled, 'and if all that fails I'll let you give it to them with both barrels.'

'Matthew!' She laughed, 'what do you think I am?'

'Beautiful, caring, the best thing in my life for a long, long time, and I'm willing to bet the best thing that could happen to our little friend here.' He dried his hands and bent to kiss her, a little more deeply than she expected in front of a child. Sid watched them then climbed off his chair and onto Alice's knee to be held by both of them. He sighed, contentedly.

Alice made a list of everything they would need, she was not a natural shopper, usually preferring to grab something that would do for her immediate needs, but this time she would have to think more about meal planning, again not her forte, but meat, vegetables and fruit as well as milk and bread. She hoped Sid wouldn't be a fussy eater.

She parked the car and she and Sid headed to the butcher's first. She was aware that she was being stared at and whispered about. Sid stayed close to her side and held her hand tightly looking around for anyone who may want to hurt him. He stood obediently in the butchers only once tugging her hand and pointing to some sausages on the counter. Alice bought a pound, as well as bacon, a chicken and some mince. Satisfied with her purchases they headed to the grocers and bakers and with some, silent, suggestions from the little boy by her side filled the cupboards and fridge with a good variety of food.

'Let's leave this in the car, Sid, and go and see if we can get you some new clothes, eh?' Alice noticed Sid didn't react to the comment, 'Little man?' He turned his head, 'new clothes?' He looked down at the second hand shirt and shorts he wore, then nodded.

'Sid?' She tried again to get him to turn at the sound of his name, feeling as if she were training a dog, not speaking to a child. For some reason he would not acknowledge her when she used his given name. She crouched down and took both his hands in hers. 'It is your name, isn't it? That's what Robbie called you.' She realised they had been labouring under the assumption that his name was 'Sid', but only Robbie had referred to him as such.

'No like.' He looked down and Alice noticed he was ready to cry. She wasn't keen on the name either, but that was not her decision, though she thought maybe they could choose something he did like.

'Well then,' she wiped his face with her handkerchief, 'we'll call you something else, something you like.' His name would be forever linked with the horrors he had been through, perhaps a new name, a new family would be the fresh start he needed.

They found a children's outfitters and headed in where she chose enough shirts for a week, with changes, three pairs of shorts in blue, dark brown and black, socks, underwear, a couple of jumpers, a coat, more pyjamas and a dressing gown. As the shop owner was parcelling up her purchases she looked round the shelves to see if there was anything she had forgotten. She noticed some blankets and covers suitable for a child's bed and in the corner waterproof mattress covers. That might be a way to solve the night time issue, save the mattress at least. His nappy hadn't been particularly wet that morning, there was a chance he just needed reminding, she asked for one to be added to her order.

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She had got all their purchases into the car and Sid was standing waiting to be lifted in when Father Emery strolled by. He had been informed by the bishop of the case and the outcome for both Simkins and the boys. It had deeply saddened him and he knew it had damaged his standing in Ballarat as a member of that church. He saw Dr Harvey and, as he knew she had been involved, stopped to speak to her and convey his sorrow. Sid saw him and screamed, clinging to Alice's trousers. She looked round and saw what had upset him. She instinctively swung him up and his legs wrapped round her waist, he buried his head in her shoulder and continued to wail.

'Shh...' Alice rubbed his back, 'it's alright, little man, sh...' She blinked as she felt a distinct warmth and wet on her side. 'Come on, sweetie, let's go home.'

'Home,' he sobbed, 'home, Liss.' It was his first attempt at her name and she smiled.

She nodded to the priest who was standing with his mouth open at the scene before him, 'Sorry, father.' She mouthed.

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Matthew came home as soon as he could, Ned had been in the street when Sid had had his mini meltdown and informed the boss what he had seen. Alice and Sid were upstairs washing and changing, he had calmed down almost as soon as she had driven away from the stunned priest and was now giggling as she tickled him. There was a pile of clothes on the bathroom floor and Alice was wearing Matthew's robe while she dried the child off.

'Er..?' He scratched his head, it was nice to hear the boy laughing but why would they be washing in the middle of the day?

'Hello, Matthew,' She looked up and smiled, 'Our little man had a bit of a meltdown when he saw Father Emery in town. We both needed to change.'

'Oh, right.' He offered her his hand as she stood up. 'Ned said he saw a bit of a to do.'

'I wondered why you were home.' She swung Sid up onto her hip and headed to his bedroom. 'Right, young man, clean clothes, you choose.'

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By the time they had dressed and gone downstairs, Matthew had made some sandwiches for lunch and a pot of tea.

'Did you get everything?' Matthew asked as he watched Sid tuck into a cheese sandwich.

'I think so, he will be well clothed and I bought a cover for his mattress.' She sipped her tea, 'by the way, he doesn't like his name.'

'Oh, so I suppose he needs a new name, or at least a nickname.'

'I can't keep calling him 'little man' though he does respond to it.'

'How about Paul, after your friend?' Matthew watched her swallow and think.

'Well,' she turned to the boy sitting next to her, listening, 'what do you think, little man, would you like your name to be Paul?'

Sid looked at her and tipped his head to one side as if considering the idea. He pointed at his chest, 'Paul?'

'Paul,' Alice tickled him again, 'yes?'

'Paul.' He nodded with more enthusiasm than usual.

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So the first twenty-four hours after the court case for Matthew and Alice and Sid/Paul.