Welcome to my newest AU! I'm excited to share this one with all of you and I hope you enjoy it! - Dee

"Still, there are letters that merely say how dinner's at seven; others ordering coal; making appointments. The hand in them is scarcely perceptible, let alone the voice or the scowl. Ah, but when the post knocks and the letter comes always the miracle repeated - speech attempted. Venerable are letters, infinitely brave, forlorn, and lost." - Jacob's Room, Virginia Woolf

7 May 1940

It was early - the sun barely peeking over the horizon - when he stumbled across the little diner, smoothing down his khaki uniform (he'd already been stopped a few times to be congratulated by well-meaning people), Matthew entered; a tinkling bell rang out the second he crossed the threshold, and Matthew had to smile at the bright turquoise walls, red vinyl benches and stools, all tied together with shining chrome accents. It was completely empty aside from a man tucked away in the corner - sipping from a steaming cup of coffee as he read the paper - and a woman in a turquoise dress with a pale yellow apron leaning up against the wall behind the counter.

Matthew slid into a seat, draped his jacket over a neighboring stool, and hid a smile when the woman didn't look up from her book; she held it in one hand and idly chewed on her free thumbnail, a furrow of concentration between her brows as she turned a page, and his smile widened when she pushed a stray red curl out of her face without looking away from the book - the rest held back by a pale yellow ribbon that matched her apron. A man appeared in the window from the kitchen and Matthew had to hide a grin when he caught sight of Matthew sitting at the counter, and then the woman with her nose in the book.

"Oi, lass, ye've got customers," the man reached through with the handle of his spatula and lightly tapped the woman on her shoulder.

She jumped and a pink flush spread over her cheeks when she saw Matthew; turning to the man in the window, she cleared her throat, "Sorry, Rufus."

"Ah, it's alright, just take his order and then make sure Albert in the corner has his refill."

"Honestly he should have his own carafe at this point," the waitress grumbled as she pocketed the book and walked over to Matthew while Rufus' laughter echoed in the kitchen. "I'm sorry for the wait, sir."

"It's alright," Matthew smiled.

"Welcome to Moonlight Diner, I'm Alice and how may I help you today?" Alice pulled out a pad of paper and pencil as she went through her spiel - her voice brighter than before.

"Uh… coffee, two fried eggs, and toast, please."

"Sausage or bacon?"

"Sausage, please."

"Butter on the toast?"

"Yes, and a little vegemite on the side."

"Certainly," she nodded and hurriedly scribbled his order down before ripping off the sheet, hanging it up in the window, and ringing the bell for Rufus' attention. "Let me refill Albert's coffee and I'll have yours after that."

"Thank you," he smiled and slumped down a little in the stool as he unfolded his own copy of the newspaper - frowning at the bold headlines detailing more of the ongoing events happening in Europe; he wasn't itching to go to the front like some of the men he knew, but he was still going to serve his country as best he could.

Matthew was heading off to Queensland tomorrow - to train in a brigade with the newly formed 7th Division and then from there, who knew; he'd have men to lead, which wasn't new for him as a copper, but there was a level of heightened anxiety when it came to being in a war - a war that didn't seem real since it was so far away. At least he wouldn't be alone, his former boss at City South was also signing up and would be one of his higher ups in the division.

"Here we are," Alice the waitress returned and poured him a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "Your order should be up soon."

"Thank you," Matthew smiled as he put in the milk and sugar he wanted in his coffee. "Has it been busy in here?"

"Overnight shifts usually aren't, thankfully."

"So you often read?"

The pink flush returned as Rufus rang the bell again and placed a steaming plate in the window; Alice brought the plate over.

"I do read a lot when I have overnight shifts," she admitted quietly with a bashful smile. "It's quiet and Rufus doesn't mind it so long as the customers aren't ignored…"

Matthew chuckled, "I'm sorry to have interrupted you then."

"It's alright, this book was actually for fun for once."

He smiled, "You'll have to recommend some for me."

She tilted her head to the side, "Why?"

"Might have some free time on my hand in the future where I'm going," Matthew motioned to the paper, catching the way her eyes flickered in recognition at his uniform as he tucked into his breakfast. "Figured I could pick up some new books to try while I'm gone."

That got him a soft and sympathetic smile, "I'm not sure you'd like my recommendations."

"Ah, that's because we don't know each other."

That got him another blush and a cleared throat, "You're very charming."

Matthew felt his own cheeks and ears warm as he sipped his coffee, "Thank you… I don't think anyone's said that to me."

"Well… you are," Alice smiled. "Anything else I can get for you?"

"I'd, um… would you mind… I mean…" he cleared his throat as Alice raised an eyebrow. "Would you mind sitting down for awhile and talking with me? I'm… feeling a little low about… all of this about to happen."

Alice refilled his coffee, and then looked at him for so long he started to squirm in his seat - her blue-grey eyes were intense in a way he hadn't felt since his mum would sit him down after he'd gotten in trouble (usually after a run-in with McAvoy).

"I get off in an hour," she finally smiled, "and I know where we can go if you don't mind waiting."

He smiled back, a warmth filling his chest as Alice took his empty plate, "May I wait for you here?"

Her smile widened and she nodded, "That's fine, and Rufus wouldn't mind so long as you're still a willing patron."

"Keep this coffee coming and I will be."

With a faint chuckle, Alice prepared another pot behind the counter as Matthew settled in to read the paper, and he hoped she would let him borrow her pencil later for the crossword puzzle; he already had one of his own, but he wanted a chance to talk to her again before her shift was over.

Alice wasn't sure what possessed her to actually go somewhere with this man, let alone talk with him in the first place (she didn't even know his name!), but there was just… something about him in the quiet way he'd asked her about reading and books; it seemed to her that he wasn't being charming to be charming. He seemed genuinely interested in what she said - in her - and he did have a sort of lost look to him; worst case scenario, she'd have to fend him off like other men in the past, and best…

She actually didn't know what the best case scenario would be, but… she did like the way he smiled at her, and the way his eyes seemed to stare right through her.

"Is he going to be a new regular?" Rufus asked her when she walked into the kitchen.

"What?" Alice felt her cheeks start to warm - as per usual whenever Rufus teased her.

"Is he going to be coming around more, lass? I only ask because he hasn't taken his eyes off ye for the last hour, and I wanted to know if I needed to have a word with the lad before I boot him out on his arse."

Her cheeks nearly burned, but she still smiled, "No need for words, Rufus, I'm… just going to talk with him in a few minutes once my shift is over."

"Really?"

"Oh, Rufus, don't start."

"Why not, Miss Allie is going on a date!"

"Rufus."

He laughed, but he stopped teasing her as she clocked out for the day and grabbed her coat and handbag - passing her replacements on the way out.

"Have a good day, Rufus."

"Aye, a good day to ye too, lass, and good luck with school tomorrow."

Calling a thank you over her shoulder, Alice exited the kitchen and hid a smile when she saw the man Rufus teased her about waiting by the door; he smiled as she drew closer.

"May I help you into your coat?"

Eyeing him closely, Alice bit her lower lip (and ignored the excited whispered twittering of the other waitresses behind her), but nodded - feeling her cheeks warm as he held up her coat like a gentlemen would; she'd never had this happen to her before, most men didn't take the time to actually treat her right, so all of this was very new to experience. He held open the door for her without asking, and Alice didn't mind it one bit like she usually did; she pointed in a direction to go and they walked side by side in silence - Alice very pleased he didn't offer his arm, though he did insist on walking on the side nearest the street. She watched him every so often out of the corner of her eye - smiling at the way he chewed on his inner cheek, and opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it as if he thought better.

"I don't even know your name," she met his eyes with a smile before looking back down at her feet as they walked - drawing nearer to Alice's favorite part of the pier.

"Matthew, it's Matthew," he smiled and offered his hand, "Matthew Lawson."

She took it, "Alice Harvey."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Harvey."

"Likewise, Mr. Lawson… or should I use your rank since you're in uniform?"

At that he smiled and nodded, "I'm a Staff Sergeant, or I'm going to be, but you can call me Matthew if you'd like; Staff Sergeant Lawson is quite the mouthful."

"Alice, then," she smiled up at him and led him over to the usual spot on the pier she liked to sit and watch people from; Matthew sat down next to her, folding his tall frame into a comfortable position as Alice pulled out her cigarettes. He passed on smoking one, but did light hers for her, and they settled back into silence.

It felt comfortable to sit there with him, which surprised Alice; she could count on one hand the amount of people she could sit with like this, and this strange man made her feel more at ease after an hour of them meeting than people she'd known for half her life. It both thrilled her and scared her, but so far he hadn't tried anything untoward, so she was willing to give him a chance.

Alice looked up and watched him as he observed the small amount of people around them - a hint of a smile on his face, it remained when he turned and met her gaze; she blushed, but didn't look away.

"Do you come down here often?"

She nodded and looked out over the shoreline where beachgoers were just starting to arrive for the day, "I come here usually after a shift or after school and like to watch the people for a bit."

"You like observing them?"

"They spark my curiosity."

"How?"

"People are… strange," Alice shrugged and took a longer drag; exhaling the smoke away from him. "Or at least they find me strange, so I like to watch them without really… being with them."

"I know the feeling," his quiet admission startled her and Alice looked up to see a bashful smile on his face. "People are strange."

A warm, fluttering sensation erupted just under her ribs and sank into her chest as she smiled and shifted next to Matthew on the bench; he was quite unlike any man she'd met in a long time.

"You said you come here after school… what are you studying?"

Alice bit her lower lip, the warm feeling clenching into an iron fist as she finished her cigarette - wondering if this would be the end of pleasant conversation, "I'm studying medicine… to become a doctor."

She could feel his eyes on her and she chanced a look up - the fist easing a little when he didn't outrightly say anything bad about her choice in career; in fact, he smiled a little and nodded.

"What kind of doctor do you want to be?"

"Pathologist."

"Ah, so you want to help solve crimes."

"You know what it is?"

Matthew nodded, "Before joining up, I was a copper here in Melbourne actually, before that I was in Ballarat."

"Where in Melbourne were you stationed?" she asked.

"City South, I really liked it. Good atmosphere, good leadership, and their police surgeon is a woman doctor."

"You've met Mac then," Alice smiled at the mention of her mentor.

"Yeah, once or twice."

The smile remained on her face and she pulled out another cigarette - it felt like they were going to be here awhile; Matthew took one this time when she offered, though he did make a slight face as he smoked it ("Not my usual choice, but it's still good.")

"So… why did you want to talk to me?"

"I think you're interesting."

That wasn't something she usually heard, and Alice frowned slightly until Matthew ducked his head with a smile.

"You… you're so… different - not that that's bad, I like different… I feel like I'm putting my foot in my mouth," he admitted when she frowned at him further. "I'm… not good talking to women, I'm sorry."

(She liked the way his ears turned pink as he babbled, it was cute.)

"I'm not good at talking to men, so… we share that at least."

That got her a laugh and a wide, dimpled grin as Matthew scratched the back of his neck, "I guess what I'm trying to say is that… I'm curious about you and I wanted to get to know you… also…"

"What?"

"You… You might already have someone, a boyfriend perhaps, but um… I don't have anyone to talk to besides my family and I leave for army training tomorrow." He clenched his hands in his lap and looked up at her with those piercing blue eyes, "I… may I write to you? I really would like to get to know you, and maybe you can recommend books to me."

"Most people don't want to know me."

"I'm not most people."

"No… no you're not," she nodded slowly. "I don't have a boyfriend, so… if you want to write to me, you can."

She pulled out the pad she used for taking orders and jotted down her address; handing it over to him, Alice smiled, "I… I find you interesting too, Staff Sergeant Lawson."

"I look forward to your letters, Almost Doctor Harvey," he pocketed the slip of paper with a smile. "I also look forward to hearing about what you learn, always wanted to know a little more of that side of the investigation."

"I could recommend a few textbooks for you to try."

The dimpled grin returned and Alice couldn't help but return it.

Once their cigarettes were done - and a slightly animated conversation on her end about the intricacies of the cardiovascular system - the two of them got up from the bench on the pier and headed back towards the street; Matthew offered to walk her home, but she just smiled and said he could walk her to the nearest tram.

"Thank you for the conversation, Alice," he stuffed his hands in his pockets as they waited for her tram.

"Thank you for not getting bored as I rambled."

"It was interesting," he shrugged with another one of his bashful smiles. "Think you could recommend a textbook or two? Though, I might need you to explain a few terms again."

Alice grinned, "I'll have to find some for you… and I look forward to your letters after this morning."

"I'm looking forward to your responses," he smiled.

"This is me," she nodded to the oncoming tram. "Have a good rest of the day, Matthew… stay safe."

"You too, Alice," Matthew shook her hand once more and stepped back to let her board. He held up a hand in a wave once she'd sat down and she waved back with a smile; Alice hoped he wouldn't forget about her in the whirlwind of being shipped off for training, but something about Matthew told her that she'd be hearing from him sooner rather than later.