Lucien entered Jean's room, fully expecting her to demand she be allowed home. He had insisted she stay in for a week, but she had asked, daily, to go home, she was not ill, she was bored and the food wasn't up to much. He didn't expect Mattie to be there but she was, and she was helping Jean to dress.

'Jean? Mattie?' He strode over to the bed. 'Where's Amelia?' If Mattie was there she would usually have brought the elder child with her, but there was no sign of her.

'Amelia is with Charlie,' Mattie handed Jean a handkerchief, she hadn't turned round. 'We need to get Jean and Nell home.'

Jean turned round, she had obviously been crying, but he had not detected any sign of the baby blues, just her annoyance at being in hospital. Just beyond her he could see the bassinet with his newborn daughter in it.

'Nell's not well, Lucien.' Jean sniffed. 'She's not feeding properly, and it just runs out of her. There's a bug in the nursery and they've only just told me.'

Immediately he went into full protective husband/father/doctor mode. He felt Nell's forehead, too warm, her blue eyes were bright with fever and her cheeks were very red.

'Mattie, can you get some bottles, she will need cooled boiled water with a tiny bit of sugar dissolved in it.' He turned to Jean, 'you will have to keep her away from Amelia, wash your hands thoroughly after changing her. It's more important to keep her hydrated than anything.'

Mattie left them saying she would see them at home, Jean finished dressing while Lucien wrapped his daughter in the hospital blanket and they hurried out, Dr Blake calling to sister that he would return later to talk to her but he was taking his wife and daughter home. Before the sister had opened her mouth to argue they were gone.

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Mattie had broken a few speed laws to get everything for Jean, bottles with cooling water were lined up on the side, to which she had added a little sugar and mindful of her science lessons as well as long discussions with Lucien and what was in a standard drip for rehydration she had taken a drip bag and put just a teaspoon into each bottle. Getting a line into a baby was bordering on impossible. She hoped she'd done right.

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Keeping Amelia away from her mother for the next week proved to be nigh on impossible. So Jean would set aside time to be with her in the living room and Mattie would look after Nell. Jean also put her to bed at night so at least she slept through. Lucien had two worries, Nell, of course, and Jean, who was becoming more exhausted as the week wore on. She was still feeding Nell, Lucien could then see that she was beginning to recover. Slowly but surely, the number of nappies used reduced to an acceptable level, Nell's 'output', as he called it, became normal and her temperature returned to normal.

To prevent the infection getting round his patients, he had commandeered an office well away from the nursery in the hospital and he never wore the same clothes he wore at home to surgery.

The first thing he had done, after he had got Jean and Nell settled at home was to go back to the hospital and read the riot act to the nursing staff. It wasn't just his daughter who was suffering several other babies were in the same state. They had to be separated from the well children and treated with the same mixture Mattie had made up for Nell. Every nurse was to wear a fresh gown for each child, nobody, other than nursing staff was allowed in, babies needing feeding were taken to a side room where the mother could feed. He then needed to find out where the infection had originated, he had cultures done and Alice had found only one nurse who exhibited the same results. This nurse had not suffered from any ill effects but it turned out that her younger brother had come over from the family farm he worked on and his cultures also harboured the same micro organisms as Nell and the other babies.

By the end of the week the outbreak seemed to have been stopped, but they did lose three babies, all of whom were premature or very small at birth.

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'You wouldn't think we had come so close to losing her, would you?' Jean stood over the bassinet a week later, watching her sleeping, and now healthy, baby girl.

'We were lucky,' Lucien admitted, putting his arms round her and kissing her temple, 'there could have been a lot more losses.'

'What did the board say, about your recommendations?' Jean had watched him stomp around and rage at the unnecessary loss of such young babies. All it took, he said, was attention to detail. He recommended that a new gown be worn by each nurse for each baby, hand washing was to be rigorously enforced. No nurse with even a hint of a sniffle was to be allowed near a baby.

'The only one they are unsure about is that babies should stay with their mothers in a bassinet by the bed.' He sighed, 'the nursery will be kept for babies that are small, needing an incubator, or for when mother needs a break.'

'I like the sound of that one.' She snuggled into him, 'having to wait for your baby to be brought up to you, is awful, and if the baby is beside you, you can bond and feed when you need to.'

'Would you like to speak to the board?' He joked.

'If you think it will help,' she looked up at him, 'and I expect a few other mothers would be willing to stand with me.'

'I was joking, Jean.' He tightened his grip on her.

'I wasn't.'

So it was decided. Jean spoke to some other mothers whose babies had been struck down with the same bug and had survived, for which they thanked Dr Blake profusely. They sat down one afternoon, in the Blake's living room, with tea and biscuits, and discussed what they wanted to say. Jean was appointed spokeswoman, but the others said they would happily speak too.

Arranging a time when they all were sure the babies would not interrupt with demands for nourishment, Jean and four other mothers sat facing the Hospital board.

Jean stood to speak, Lucien said she would command more respect that way,

'Gentlemen,' she began, 'the recent outbreak of an infection that affected the babies in the hospital nursery has been devastating. Most of us were lucky and our babies made it through, but,' she looked round, 'three babies didn't. Three too many babies died because they were kept in close proximity to sick babies. I know my husband, Dr Blake, has recommended that certain hygiene regulations are put in place, which will do wonders but, when a woman gives birth the first thing she wants is to hold her baby and keep it close. Common practice is to remove the baby and take it to the nursery, saying mother has to rest. The baby is given formula until natural milk is available and the baby is brought to the mother on request or at regular intervals. Well, gentlemen, and we all know it is men who run the hospitals, and we know you think this is in our best interests, but, I'm afraid you are mistaken. Keeping the baby at the bedside in a bassinet is reassuring for both mother and child. After nine months of carrying a child, feeling it move for half of that time, to have it taken away is frightening. Questions arise, is it alright? being the most needful. We agree that it is nice, on occasion to have the baby settled in the nursery, for a couple of hours, to give mother the chance to wash, or nap, but, we want our babies beside us, they are ours, gentlemen, not the hospital's. Keeping them with us will reduce the spread of infections, allow routines to be set and set the bond which may shake over the years, but will never break. As I tell my older boys on occasion, I may not like what you do, but I will always love you.'

There was a silence as she sat down, still cradling the child she had thought she would lose through the spread of infection, and waited for a reaction.

'Mrs Blake,' the consultant she had insulted stood up, 'your arguments are emotional, but are also quite well thought out. However, the maternity team need to be able to keep a watchful eye on the babies in their care. How would you suggest that is addressed?'

'In the circumstance that has promoted this, a watchful eye didn't really work, did it?' Jean looked at him, 'my baby was seriously ill, she nearly died. All these mothers here had the same experience. Couldn't the team be on the wards, not just seeing to the babies but to the mothers as well. Dispensing advice, reassuring new mothers, engaging with parents, on the ward they could talk to two or three at the same time. Mothers could help each other. Second and third time mothers can help first time mothers. It would be so much more relaxed and supportive.'

The other mothers agreed with Jean and they spent more time talking about what the patients actually wanted, leaving with just a little hope that the board would at least think about the idea.

'If I have another baby,' Mrs Thomas mused, 'I think I'll have it at home.'

'That works,' Jean nodded, 'I was born at home, so were my boys.'

'Perhaps all this progress is actually going backwards,' Mrs Ellis suggested. 'Maybe we should leave things that work, alone, and try to change those that don't.'

'Maybe.'

The ladies parted and headed to their homes, while Jean headed to the station to see if Lucien was about.

He was talking to Matthew when she found him. They were discussing a case that had got them both perplexed, three men found dead in a barn out on the Daylesford Road.

'Jean,' Matthew stood as she came up to the desk. 'How are you?'

'I'm well, thank you, Matthew.' She smiled, 'but I need to get this one home,' she held out the baby, 'she's getting ready to complain about a late lunch.'

'Lucien says she has recovered.' Matthew moved round the desk to take a look at his soon to be god daughter. He stroked her hand and the little fist opened to wrap round his finger.

'She seems to have done.' Jean inhaled deeply.

'You?' He looked at her, Lucien had said he was worried she was overdoing it.

'I'm fine, Matthew, thank you.' She turned to her husband, 'Mattie will need to get off to work, Lucien. Nell needs feeding.'

'Of course,' he put his arm round her, 'come on, I'll take you home...' He hoped he could persuade her to take a nap, or at least lie down for a while. He could look after Amelia.

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Lucien made tea while Jean went to the nursery to feed Nell. Mattie had made Amelia's lunch and he set about sitting her in the high chair and spoon feeding her the mashed vegetables. She usually had a nap after her lunch and he was going to propose that Jean put Nell in the bassinet and she curl up with Amelia on their bed for an hour or two. He would be around, he had no ongoing case at the morgue so he could busy himself about, maybe mow the lawn.

'What about the three in the barn?' Jean asked when he brought Amelia into the nursery.

'Autopsies are done, I am not needed just now,' He smiled, 'so, now that Nell is asleep...'

'Very well,' she sighed, he was right, of course.

He held Amelia while Jean undressed as far as her slip and lay on the bed. Amelia was more than happy to snuggle down with her mother and they were asleep almost before he lay the blanket over them.

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Charlie and Bill had been sent over to the barn on the Daylesford Road to see what they could find.

The pile of bales that had hidden the bodies lay as they had been left. If it hadn't been for the farm dog running off they'd never have been found, well, not for some considerable time, anyway.

There was little blood on the floor, tying up with the injuries Alice and Lucien had found during the autopsies. Each man had been strangled, then stabbed after death, long enough to prevent huge blood loss.

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'You see, Charlie,' Lucien suggested at dinner that evening, 'they were stabbed in the chest while lying down so the blood did not leak out, so to speak, it pooled into the body.'

'But why?' Charlie couldn't understand why the second act had been committed, 'surely, once they were dead there was no point in stabbing as well.'

'No, I think it was designed to put us off...'

'...but it didn't, did it?'

Lucien smiled up at Jean, the nap had done her good.

'Well, did you think it would?'

'No, of course not.' She laughed, that musical laugh he loved.

'We are just waiting for some blood results, but even then, I don't know where that will leave us.'

'Doesn't that nurse,' Jean started to think about all that had happened recently, 'you know, the one who unwittingly brought the bug into the nursery, doesn't she come from a farm out that way?'

'She does,' Charlie agreed, 'but what does that have to do with it?'

'She may know them.' She looked up as Mattie came into the kitchen, her shift had run late after helping Jean out earlier in the day. 'Your dinner is keeping warm, Mattie.'

'Thanks, Jean,' she went to the sink and washed her hands before lifting the plate. 'Lucien, could you get to see Mrs Standish tomorrow?'

'Surely, why?' It wasn't often the nurse asked him to make a house call at dinner.

'Her little boy,' Mattie swallowed a mouthful of potato, 'he's been off colour, she's kept him off school, today. I did think of making a surgery appointment, but after what happened to Nell I didn't want to bring anything like that into the house.'

'Is he staying off school tomorrow?' Jean asked, grateful for the young woman's thoughtfulness.

'I said to, better to be sure than spread anything round school.' She nodded, 'this is lovely, Jean,' she waved her fork over the meal, 'just what I needed.'

'Quite right, Mattie.' Lucien grinned at her.

'By the way, Lucien,' Jean started to clear the plates, 'what have they decided about the maternity unit?'

'No change, dearest.' He pulled a face. 'They have only decided that a separate room will be set aside for sick babies, but they still won't have them at the bedside.'

'Right,' Mattie huffed, 'I'm having any babies at home, with you in attendance, Dr Blake.'

'Oh,' Charlie raised his eyebrows, 'we're having kids then?' He teased.

'Hoards of them,' she grinned back.

'Best get married and start then.' Charlie roared with laughter.

'You do seem to be dragging your heels,' Jean noted.

'Want us out?' Mattie scraped the last of her dinner off the plate.

'Not at all.' Jean squeezed her shoulder as she passed on her way to the sink.

'We have been looking for a house, or flat.' Charlie sighed, 'but, in our price range...'

'Alice offered us her flat, as it's empty.' Mattie smiled, 'but it's one bedroomed.'

'You can still get married,' Jean smiled, 'we don't mind married lodgers. You could have my old room as a bedroom and one of the others as a private sitting room until you do find somewhere of your own.'

'That's very generous of you,' Charlie smiled, 'we didn't want to ask.'

'Rot!' Lucien declared, 'go on. Get married, then what goes on upstairs, that we know nothing about, doesn't matter.'

Mattie flushed crimson, Charlie cleared his throat in embarrassment.

'Suppose it would be less embarrassing for you two, as well.' He murmured.

'Somehow, because you are not shouting about being engaged,' Jean smiled, 'it doesn't seem to be a problem for the gossips.'

'Phew! That's a change.' Mattie grinned.

'Could be because you don't wear your ring when you're on duty.' Charlie pointed out.

'...and you haven't put an announcement in the paper.' Jean supplied, 'but you must excuse me, somebody needs me.' Everybody could hear Nell demanding to be fed.

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In the nursery as she sat with her daughter to her breast, Jean thought about having married lodgers. Upstairs was quite large, three bedrooms, and the family bathroom. They could give the whole top floor over to them if they reorganised downstairs and made over one of the studio side rooms into a bathroom. Heaven knows they'd thought about it often enough. Amelia and Nell could share a room for as long as they needed to and if they needed to split them up as they grew, well, there was another room attached to the studio that would make a small bedroom.

Lucien brought her a cup of tea through, it was just an excuse to watch her. She always looked so serene when she was feeding their daughter.

'Thank you.' She smiled up at him as he put the cup near her and sat on the arm of the chair.

'Everything ok?' He stroked his finger over the crown of Nell's head.

'Fine, I was just thinking.'

'About..?'

'Mattie and Charlie.' She reached over with her free hand for the cup, 'I didn't realise they were looking for a home of their own before marrying.'

'Me neither.' He looked into the distance.

'There are three rooms upstairs, and a bathroom.' She mused.

'A small flat?'

'If we make that small side room into a bathroom for us, yes.' She looked up at him, 'until such time as they feel they have to leave, or have, as Mattie said, hoards of children. Why not?'

'Why not indeed?' He bent over and kissed her.

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Wedding preparations seemed to go faster than Mattie thought they could. Charlie obtained a marriage license in between investigating the case of the three bodies; which seemed to have stalled; and they set a date with the registrar.

Mattie informed her parents of the date and that there would be a small celebration at the Blake's afterwards. Maureen, mindful of the conversation she had had with her daughter, persuaded Martin to give his daughter away. He had huffed and puffed about it, but she said that they didn't have to announce it. Privately she let her friends know that her daughter was marrying quietly not wanting to ride on her father's coat tails.

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'I'd like to give them something more than the use of upstairs.' Lucien said one night, as he lay in bed with his arms round his wife. 'A proper wedding present.'

'Mmm...' Jean snuggled into him, 'how about a honeymoon.'

'Pay for a trip, you mean?'

'Yes, and not Melbourne.' Jean agreed, she'd been quite happy with Melbourne, they would travel later, when the children were older, she hoped. He looked at her, 'Not the cabin!' Jean almost shrieked, 'Lucien..!'

'How much leave do you think they can have?' Lucien's mind was whirling.

'Probably not a lot.' Jean admitted, 'but maybe Sydney or Canberra.'

'Jean..?'

'I'll look into it.' She sighed and cuddled down, wishing he would let them be more intimate, but as she had given birth just over a month ago he was, for once, responsible.

'Jean,' after a few moments.

'Hmm?'

'Love you.'

'Love you too.' She allowed her eyes to close, a sweet smile on her face.

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The case had not been solved when the day of the wedding came round. Matthew had said it didn't matter, they were to have their week away, there had been no more incidences anyway.

'We can't solve every murder, we do still have cases that have never been solved,' he'd said, 'go and have some time together, it will still be here when you get back.'

Charlie had stayed over at the Lawson's, though Paul though it strange that Sergeant Charlie was in the spare room.

'Mum,' he asked Alice that morning, 'why's Sergeant Charlie here?'

'He's going to marry Nurse Mattie today,' Alice put some cereal in front of him.

'Will Nurse Mattie come too?' He dipped his spoon into his breakfast.

'No, sweetie,' Alice smiled, 'the night before a man and a woman get married they are not supposed to see each other, just for luck.'

'Oh,' Paul thought the whole thing was far too complicated for him, Charlie and Mattie were always nice to him so he decided to just eat his breakfast and see what else the day would bring.

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The day brought sunshine and a light breeze. Jean fed Nell, saw to Amelia and Lucien's breakfast, then took a tray up to Mattie.

'Morning,' Mattie pushed herself up in the bed, 'Oh Jean, such a treat, thank you.'

'The only time I'm likely to wait on you, but..' Jean sat down on the edge of the bed, 'until my two girls are ready for this, I can indulge you and me.'

'Mum and dad,' Mattie spoke through a mouthful of toast, 'I'm so glad they came around, or at least dad. Mum said she would do whatever I wanted.'

'Well, they are due here just before you head down.' Jean smiled and reached out to push a stray curl off her cheek, 'your father has arranged a car, so don't be surprised.'

'I have to let him have his own way on something, I suppose.' Mattie smiled back.

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Maureen O'Brien had persuaded her husband not to do anything that would embarrass their daughter. He bowed to her thoughts, and opted to use his own car to take Mattie to the Registry Office.

He softened when he saw his daughter, she looked lovely. Not a traditional wedding outfit, Mattie had chosen a mid calf length dress in sky blue satin overlaid with lace. It was fitted to the waist with a sweetheart neckline and sleeves to the wrist, the skirt was full with layers of net underneath. Jean had fashioned a hair decoration of flowers from the garden, white roses and cornflowers and their leaves held the sides of her hair away from her face, the same blooms were in her bouquet.

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Jean seemed to have disappeared, Mattie couldn't see her anywhere in amongst the people milling around the living and dining rooms. She had seen her when Lucien had toasted the bride and groom but then lost sight of her, her anchor in the storm of celebration and chatter. Mattie headed to the nursery, but she wasn't there, so she tried the bedroom. Jean was propped up on the bed, Nell in her arms. She must had slipped away to feed the baby, both were asleep. Nell was not suckling so Mattie picked her up and kissed her, placing her in the bassinet. Her little hands flexed and her lips smacked, but she didn't wake. Mattie turned her attention to Jean and smiled. Very, very gently she eased the pillow out so she was lying down, adjusted her clothing and lay a light blanket over her. Jean murmured in her sleep.

'Sweet dreams, dear Jean.' She whispered and left the room smiling.

Lucien noticed her leave the bedroom and caught her arm,

'Mattie?'

'I just wondered where Jean was.' She grinned up at him, 'she nodded off feeding Nell, I've settled them down.'

Lucien pushed the door open enough to see inside and smiled.

'Thank you.'

'You make sure she takes it easy while I'm away.' Mattie stared at him.

'Yes, Nurse Davies.' He pushed his hands into his pockets, 'I'll look after her, Mattie.'

'You see that you do,' Mattie muttered, 'although it won't be easy.'

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The newlyweds were taken to the station by taxi and afterwards their guests drifted away, leaving Lucien with Amelia to amuse and Maureen and Martin preparing to head off to the hotel. There had been no suggestion that they stay with the Blake's this time, with Jean having a new baby and that child having been unwell.

'We must say good bye to Jean,' Maureen turned to her husband, 'then leave them in peace.'

'Um, yes of course.'

'I'll go and see if she's finished with Nell,' Lucien picked Amelia up and headed to the bedroom. Jean had been asleep for a good couple of hours, she would not be happy at missing Charlie and Mattie leave, but Mattie wouldn't let him wake her.

He stood by the bed and leant over, ghosting his hand over her forehead. No matter how light his touch, she felt it and slowly opened her eyes.

'Um, oh,' she mused, 'did I fall asleep?'

'You did, a couple of hours ago.' He smiled at her, 'Mattie settled you both and told me you weren't to be disturbed.'

'Two hours!' She sat up, 'Lucien! The guests...'

'...are capable of helping themselves.' He put his hand on her arm, 'you must have needed the sleep.'

'But...'

'But nothing,' Lucien kissed her cheek, 'Mattie told me that if I don't look after you she will be dealing with me, and she can be quite scary when it comes to protecting you.'

Jean grinned, 'well, let me tidy my hair and I'll be right there. Who's left?' She slipped off the bed.

'Just her parents.' He watched her finger her curls back into place and apply a little lipstick. On her way out of the room she looked into the bassinet, Nell was sleeping, her little chest rising and falling under the blanket. Satisfied all was well she headed out of the room ready to face Mattie's parents and the tidying up.

'Thank you, Jean.' Maureen approached her, 'it was a lovely reception. It was nice to see she had so many friends here.'

'She has, she's a very popular nurse.' Jean smiled.

'We'll leave you in peace,' Maureen smiled, 'you have two lovely babies to look after. Perhaps we'll meet again, if you are in Melbourne please, do come and see us.'

'That's very kind of you,' Jean smiled, 'we shall do our best.'

They watched them leave and Jean leant against her husband, sighing.

'Just us for a week,' He put his arm round her shoulders. 'Let's have an easy week, just surgery, unless anything turns up at the station.'

'That sounds nice,' she looked up at him, 'but first I need to tidy up.'

'All done,' he grinned, 'Mattie and Charlie's friends said you had enough to do so they tidied away, and washed up.'

'Oh, goodness,' she raised her eyebrows. 'How nice of them.'

'The O'Brien's thought it was a bit strange, I could seen Maureen didn't quite know what to do.'

'So she did nothing.' Jean laughed, hoping they didn't feel too uncomfortable. 'That used to happen at home, when I was a girl. Everybody mucked in.'

'Quite right too.' They wandered back to the living room, 'I'll make some tea, shall I?' He passed Amelia over to her.

'Lovely.'

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So, finally got Mattie married off, having suddenly realised that was the one wedding that hadn't happened! Now, I must find out about those men in the barn!