So, a little experiment! When I started writing this story, I was trying to work out how they got from A to B, that is, how they got from handholding nervously to a confident, loving relationship, in the space of a week.

In the end I think there are two main alternatives: either they did quite a lot of kissing, and some frank talking about how they felt, or...they slept together, and did a little bit of talking.

And both scenarios are rather out of character. Honest talking about feelings is not something either of them do well in the show. Even in 4.7 Lucien struggles with this. But equally, I can't really see Jean sleeping with him so soon. So which is it to be?

I'm firmly in the camp of 'no actual sex in Adelaide' but I know plenty will disagree with me. So I've written both.

Chapter 5 is the more restrained version, chapter 6 less so. But both are firmly T. I don't write actual sex. Oh no.

Both chapters cover the same ground in terms of plot. I'm sure you'll read both, but either would do. And chapter 7 is just a little epilogue that goes after either version. Do please let me know which version you preferred, and which you think is less out of character!

Thanks to seven dragons and coachsone for the discussions about this. I hope you like the results, even though you may not agree with the decision!

Sitting on the only chair in his hotel room, Jean wondered if she would regret her decision to stay longer in Adelaide. But really, she couldn't just go home with Lucien now, not when she had promised to stay and help with the baby. She would be letting Christopher down if she left now, and she had let him down too often in the past.

But the knowledge that Lucien was going home tomorrow pressed down on her.

Yesterday it had all seemed so natural, so relaxed. They had leaned together, touched and kissed, and joked about more of this, but now it all felt more serious, and an awkwardness sat between them.

Lucien poured them both a glass of whisky and placed Jean's beside her on the dresser. He drank most of his own in one mouthful and sat heavily on the edge of the bed, opposite her.

"Don't stay away too long, will you?" He stared down into the glass, not looking at her directly. "I'm not sure Ballarat is home unless you are there."

She took his hand and held it loosely.

"It's just a few weeks, Lucien. I'll be home before you know it." She didn't sound completely convincing. "You'll be busy with work, too busy to miss me." She sipped her drink. The taste still made her grimace but they both needed to relax a little.

He shook his head and stood up, then starting pacing around the room. There was very little space and he seemed wound up so tightly. Jean watched him, judging the moment to intervene. Eventually she reached up as he approached her and touched his side, and as he halted she stood up and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. He pulled her against him and she stretched out full length against him, the closest they had ever stood.

"A few weeks apart won't make any difference in the long run." She rested her cheek against his collarbone and breathed him in. Her fingers glided over his neck to his collar, as she felt the muscle beneath the skin.

"I know, but I'm impatient to have you home again with me." He rubbed his chin gently against the top of her head. They held each other in silence for a moment. He looked at her then and she could see desire for her there. He kissed her softly, moving his fingers through her hair and teasing her lip with his tongue.

Time slipped by as they tentatively, then more boldly, kissed each other, as they stood in front of the window. Jean loosened his tie and then pulled it off; she wanted to feel more of him and he was happy to let her. Leaning into her, he was fully occupied trying to explore the curve of her hips with his fingertips.

"Lucien," she whispered, "Yesterday, in the park, when you talked about practising..." She had moved a little away from him as she spoke. "What were you expecting from me? Because I can't...it's too soon.." She trailed off, awkwardly.

He looked at her gravely. "Have you been worrying about this since yesterday?" She nodded, and he sighed.

"Jean, I don't expect anything. Whatever you want is fine with me. I love you. I'm happy, really happy, that you want to kiss me. If you want more, I'm certainly not going to turn you away, but that's your choice. Even when we're living in the same house."

She smiled a tiny bit. "I do want more, Lucien, but not just yet. I love you too, but I don't want to rush this." She kissed him quickly on the lips and grabbed his hand.

She walked over to the bed, kicked off her shoes, and climbed onto it. Lucien followed, his mouth falling open a little in disbelief, and he let go of her hand. With an effort, he tore his eyes away from where her skirt had ridden up as she moved up the bed.

Jean pushed the pillows back against the head board and sat on the bed, legs out in front of her and leaning back on the pillows. Turning to him with a smile, she patted the space next to her.

"Come on."

He obeyed without comment or a second thought, easing off his shoes and unbuttoning his waistcoat. He settled next to her on the mattress, sliding his arm behind her and resting his hand on her hip. Her stockinged feet leaned against his leg in a way that seemed particularly intimate.

He glanced at her sideways. This was all rather confusing. Hadn't she just made it clear she wasn't ready to go to bed with him?

"There's only one chair, Lucien. I just want to sit next to you, and talk, and maybe kiss and cuddle a bit. It's much more comfortable here, don't you think?"

Jean leaned against him gently and held his hand, stroking his knuckles with her thumb. Lucien again started to kiss her dark hair, then lifted her chin with his fingers and kissed her softly on the lips. As she deepened the kiss in response, she turned in towards him more, and he could feel the softness of her breasts against his side and chest, and her fingers on his belly, under his shirt. He could feel himself tumbling downwards into real passion and pulled himself back.

He had meant what he had said, and they would not be rushing anything.

"We won't be able to do this in Ballarat," Lucien murmured. "Not with Charlie and Mattie in the house." He grinned at the thought of Jean sitting in his bed at home.

"We'll have to be inventive then," Jean replied, a little tartly. "And we have a perfectly good couch at home. Are we going to tell anyone about us?" she continued.

"Do you think we should?" he asked.

"Well, I think some people might guess. After all, you did disappear to Adelaide rather suddenly."

She smiled at him lovingly. "I won't lie to anyone, but I'd rather not tell them either. It will only make the gossip worse if they know we're courting."

Lucien winced at the mention of the gossip. He knew it was mostly aimed at Jean, and there was nothing he could do to stop it until they were married.

Married. He knew it was too soon to suggest that to Jean, but he also knew it was what he wanted. He hugged her a little more firmly to him. He thought they were both old enough to be sure what they felt and where they were heading. But for a few weeks at least they would have to make do with phone calls.

"Perhaps I could come back for another holiday in a few weeks," he suggested hopefully.

Jean nodded. "That's a good idea."

They chatted quietly for a while. Lucien asked if she had told Christopher she would be going back to Ballarat. She had, and it hadn't gone too well. Jean wanted to know what he had said to Mattie on the phone about his sudden 'holiday'. He could truthfully say she hadn't said much, but he knew that really she had guessed his reason for going away.

After a while they slid down the bed a little, lying together on top of the covers, relaxing and even dozing for a time, and Jean found a snug place to rest her head on his shoulder.

xxxxxxxxxxx

Jean woke as the light started to fade outside the window. Lucien had gone from the space next to her, but a blanket had been pulled up over her legs and waist. She twisted round and saw him standing at the window, looking down into the street.

"What time is it?" she asked.

"Time for me to take you home," he sighed. This time he didn't mean his home in Ballarat.

They strolled back to Christopher's house, reluctant to cover the last few yards. Stopping by the gate they embraced briefly, and Jean kissed him swiftly on the mouth. "Have a safe journey," she said, and he could see her eyes shining with unshed tears. He hung on to her hand as she turned and walked away from him, and his heart lurched as her fingers slipped away from him.

She didn't look back as she shut the door behind her, and after a moment Lucien had no choice but to turn away and walk slowly back to the hotel.