A week passed and Jean was itching to return to work. She was bruised and limping, and her arm was still in a sling, but she was no longer sleeping most of the day, and she had assured Lucien that the best thing she could do right now was to try and get back to some kind of normality.

Somehow news of her attack had spread like wildfire through the small community, and misinformation was rife. Patrick had even rung Jean to ask whether she felt a special assembly was necessary to correct the rumour going around that she was actually dead. Jean had rolled her eyes and told him not to be so dramatic. The kids would see her in class, and about the school, and that would be enough. She didn't want the attention. More to the point she couldn't stand the pity. It was one thing to have genuine concern from her actual friends, but the amount of people who she barely spoke to who just happened to call past, not because they actually cared, but because they were nosy and wanted to know what happened was getting ridiculous.

She had been very well looked after by Alice, Matthew and Lucien. Lucien who had been there almost every day, with food, nursing her injuries, and he'd even somehow managed to get her a new phone. Alice had read to her, helped her dress and shower and Matthew had sat quietly watching TV with her, brought her news from school and even done some cleaning and gardening for her. She was eternally grateful for her friends and would never be able to repay them. Then there were the cards and flowers all over her house from well wishes. She smiled as she glanced to her phone where the cast of Aida had sent her a recording of them singing the version of 'When You Wish Upon a Star' they had learnt for the fundraiser, complete with individual get well messages from many of them.

A noise at her front door made her look up and she smiled as Lucien entered.

"Are you ready?"

Jean nodded eagerly and pushed herself out of her chair, wobbling slightly.

Lucien moved to hold her good arm but she waved him away.

"I'll have to move around the school without help today, so let me start the day as I intend to finish it."

"I'd like to state for the record that I still don't think this is a good idea. In my professional medical opinion."

"Noted," Now let's go."

By lunchtime Jean was regretting everything. It had been an incredibly busy morning trying to catch up on all the things she had missed, and bring some normality back to her classes for her students, most of whom had spent a lot of class time asking questions and basically reassuring themselves that she was alright. Except right now she was feeling decidedly not alright. Even though she had tried to stop herself from moving around too much, there was only so much she could rely on others to do for her, and she hurt. Her whole body ached, her foot throbbed, and she was thoroughly exhausted. She rubbed her face as she collapsed into the chair in her office, wincing as the jolt sent shocks of pain around her body.

"I'm calling Lucien to come pick you up," Alice pulled out her phone and began tapping on it.

"Oh Alice, don't be ridiculous."

"Me? I'm not the one all but passing out. You think I'm being ridiculous? Come on Jean!"

Jean stared stonily at the desk in front of her as Alice continued.

"Listen, Maybe Lucien's idea of a few half days to ease yourself back into things wasn't so absurd. You're trying to do too much too soon. Especially since I know how much you also want to be back at Aida rehearsals. Slow down, give yourself time to adjust, I mean, what's the most you've done in the last week? Give yourself a sponge bath, and walk around the garden?"

"Maybe you're right," Jean sighed as she rubbed her neck. I'm just so bored at home!" she huffed grumpily.

"I'll call Lucien," Alice repeated as she put her phone to her ear.

When Lucien arrived, Alice had packed up Jean's things and organised covers for her classes after second break.

"Jean," Lucien said knowingly.

"Don't say anything Lucien, Please don't say I told you so."

"Wouldn't dream of it," the tiniest of smiles hovered on his lips as he looked to Alice, "Thanks for the call." He held out an arm to Jean who gratefully leant on it. "Come on, Let's get you home," he pressed a quick kiss to the side of her hair."

He helped her to the car and she carefully slid into the front seat.

As Lucien started the car, the radio began to play. Jean felt her head fall back into the headrest and she let the soothing tones of Adele wash over her.

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When the evening shadows and the stars appear
And there is no one there to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But I will never do you wrong
I've known it from the moment that we met
No doubt in my mind where you belong

Jean tipped her head sideways to look at Lucien and he began to hum along with the song, his voice plus the rumbling of the car soothing her agitated mind.

I'd go hungry, I'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
No, there's nothing that I wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on the rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't seen nothing like me yet

Lucien pulled into the driveway and turning off the car, finished the song in his deep baritone voice as Jean closed her eyes and smiled peacefully.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love
To make you feel my love

There was a long silence and Jean finally opened her eyes and looked around herself. "Lucien, what are you doing? This is your house!"

"Correct," Lucien took her hand in his and kissed it gently, "Thought you could use a change of scenery." He expression shifted, "Of course if you'd rather go home I can…" he gestured over his shoulder.

"No, this is fine, this is… nice." Jean took a deep breath, "Thank you for looking after me Lucien."

Lucien smiled at her softly and after helping her inside and setting her down on the couch put the kettle on. "Tea or coffee?"

"Tea please, I'm trying to avoid too much caffeine, some nights I'm still struggling to fall asleep. My mind… you know… There's all sorts whirling around in there." She shifted uneasily not willing to let on just how much the attack was still playing on her mind.

Lucien frowned as he saw right through her veiled comments, "Jean I gave you something for that."

"I just don't like taking them."

"Stubborn, that's what you are."

"You know it," she caught his eye and smiled softly.

Lucien took her hand in his and kissed the knuckles gently, "I do."

After a cup of tea Lucien rubbed his hand gently over Jean's knee. "What do you need now? Want to have a lay down? Or watch some brainless TV? Or I can offer you a selection of books? Or… I can work on any sore muscles?"

Jean thought for a moment, "Maybe a book?"

"Most of the books are on the bookshelf in the hallway." Jean made to get up but Lucien shoed her away. "I'll go read you some titles," he moved to the corridor still talking, "What kind of book are you wanting?"

"Something comfortable and easy," she called to him.

"Hmmm. Right, Well I do in fact have all of the Narnia series now, I bought the complete set after you loaned me that one the other day. I've re-read all of them."

Jean stifled a yawn, "Well maybe one day when my brain isn't cous cous we can have an intellectual conversation about it. Not right now, I feel like I can barely string two sentences together."

"Absolutely." Lucien agreed, "So do you want one of them?"

"Mmm maybe, What else have you got? Similar to that."

"Well I have The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings…"

"Hardly light reading Lucien."

"What about some Jane Austen?"

"Getting closer."

"Gosh you're hard to please aren't you?" Lucien's head appeared around the corner of the door, a smirk on his face then disappeared once more. "Right, well I've got all the classics, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Heidi, A Little Princess, The Secret Garden…"

"Ooh, yes, that sounds good!"

"Which one?"

"The Secret Garden."

"Coming right up."

"You know they made this in to a musical?"

"What haven't they made in to a musical Jean?"

"Fair point."

Lucien passed the book over her shoulder and then placed his hands on her shoulders "Too sore for a massage?"

"Not at all."

Lucien began to gently massage her shoulders and Jean closed her eyes, the book laying open in her lap.

"I actually auditioned for Martha in the Australian production, back when I was still in drama school and thought I was going to make it as an actor. Made it right through to the final round. It was between me and one other," She closed her eyes. "Eventually they decided I was too young." She opened her eyes but her eyes wouldn't focus on the words on the page.

"They didn't know what they were missing out on."

"Would have been an amazing cast to work with. Anthony Warlow, Philip Quast and Marina Prior. I don't think there's ever been a cast of such impressive calibre." She sighed, "But I'm glad that's not the direction my life took."

"Really? Fortune and fame doesn't do it for you?"

"More like the uncertainty and stress of the life as a professional performer wasn't what I wanted. Even though this life hasn't been easy, I wouldn't change it for anything. Especially now I've met you."

Lucien reached down and kissed the top of her head. "I feel the same way. All the things I went through with Mei Lin, and Li, They brought me here, to you."

Jean looked at the open book in her hands, the words unread on the page. "When do you think we should tell Li about this? About us?"

"Whenever you're ready my darling. I want to shout it from the rooftops, but this is your decision, this is your hometown."

Jean reached her hand back over her shoulder to hold his "I'm just not ready for that yet, I think maybe we let things settle down first. Wait until I'm fully healed."

"Good decision."

"So you're happy to wait?" Jean looked up at him.

Lucien rubbed a thumb over her hand, "I will wait for you forever."

Alice picked up her buzzing phone and smiled as she saw Matthew's photo.

"Hello."

"Hello sweetheart."

Alice smiled as the warm fuzzies crept up her arms.

"You got dinner plans?"

"That depends, What were you thinking?"

"I'm thinking fish and chips at your place. Or mine, I don't mind where." Alice heard him hiss in pain.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"Matthew I'm not an idiot, what's wrong? Tell me? Please?"

There was no answer but Alice heard Matthew sigh.

"Matthew Henry Lawson if you don't tell me what's wrong you know I'll jump to the worst possible conclusion and worry myself sick, don't you?"

"Oh, alright. I just twinged a muscle in my leg during class today. Stupid really, my own silly fault, I didn't stretch properly."

"Right well how about you come to mine, you can pick up some dinner on your way here, and then I can work on your sore leg after dinner. I took a short massage course during uni, had a few clients to supplement my income."

There was silence on the other end of the phone.

"All above board clients Matthew, nothing untoward, I wasn't THAT kind of masseuse."

"Pity," Matthew's cheeky voice came down the phone. "Alright, I'll pick up some dinner and see you soon."

"Bye. Oh, and make sure you ask for extra chicken salt!" she added as Matthew signed off.

Alice grinned to herself. Things just felt right.

Alice wiped the last dish and put it away. Sherlock wound around her legs as she looked around her small flat, and there was a knock on the door. She wiped her hands on her yellow dress with the navy flowers, and checked her appearance in the mirror that hung on the wall. Suddenly feeling self-conscious and nervous she opened the door.

Matthew was standing on her doorstep with a paper wrapped bundle under one arm, and a single yellow rose in his hand. "Hey," he greeted her and offered her the rose. "Hey look! I managed to match the flower to your dress!" He smiled at her and her eyes sparkled. "You look beautiful."

Alice felt her cheeks flush as she took the flower. No one had ever brought her flowers before, and she took a moment to smell the fresh scent of the rose as she closed the door behind him. "This is beautiful."

Matthew's face lit up. "From my own garden of course. Alice, please don't take this the wrong way, but your place looks like a dump from the outside." He placed the steaming parcel on the table and began to unwrap the paper.

"Oh I know," Alice replied as she looked around for something to put the flower in. She'd never had the need for a vase before. "That's one of the reasons I like it." She reached over and grabbed an empty wine bottle and began to fill it with water.

Matthew scrunched his face, "Hey? You like it because it looks like a dump? I don't follow."

"It's a case of 'Don't judge a book by its cover'. When I moved in it reminded me of myself. Not much to look at but worth taking a chance on, getting to know." She fed the rose into her make-do vase and turned to put it on the table.

Matthew stepped away from the food and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to him. "I think you're something worth looking at and getting to know." He leaned in and gently pressed his lips to hers.

As she smiled against his lips Alice thought she'd never get used to the taste of him. "Matthew," she pushed him away gently, "Dinner is getting cold." She smiled at him and he looked slightly abashed.

He turned back to the table as Alice reached for the plates. "Two pieces of butterfish, and chips with extra chicken salt, as requested."

"Thanks. Beer?" Alice asked as she reached into her fridge.

"Yes, thanks."

Alice pulled out two beers and, after opening them, placed one in front of Matthew and took a long sip from the other.

"I didn't know you drank beer," Matthew commented as he watched her pick up her knife and fork and push her chips away from her fish with her knife, clearly separating the two things.

"Sometimes," Alice looked up and saw him watching her and she chewed her lip, slightly embarrassed. "I... don't like my food to touch, is that?... I mean, I won't refuse to eat it if it is, I just would prefer it not to."

Matthew smiled and his blue eyes shone. "I've noticed. It's adorable."

Alice felt her cheeks flush as she hid a smile. No one had ever found her quirks adorable. Odd, strange, weird, yes. But never adorable. She looked at Matthew who was happily tucking into his piece of fish, and Alice felt them falling into a comfortable rhythm. Alone, in the privacy of her own home, the worry of Jean removed, Alice relaxed into Matthew's easy company.

"We're home!"

Lucien forced his eyes open at the sound of voices and quickly removed his arm from where it had been sitting across Jean's shoulders.

The front door slammed and Jean awoke with a jolt. Her whole body screamed at her while her brain tried to catch up. "Don't touch me!" she pushed Lucien away.

Lucien took her good hand in his strong gentle hands, "Jean, It's just me, It's Lucien, You're ok," he murmured at her as Mattie and Li appeared in the doorway.

"Mrs Beazley?" Li scrunched her face, "Are you alright?" Her eyes studied her favourite teacher as Jean's chest heaved and she shook her head slightly with confusion.

"She's just... woken up a bit too quickly I think, How about you girls go pop the kettle on and makes us both a cup of tea, hmm?"

The two girls shared a look and without a word turned and made their way to the kitchen.

"Jean?" Lucien tried.

Jean stared at their joined hands and wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Please, look at me?"

Jean forced her eyes to meet his but swiftly looked away again, "I'm sorry Lucien, I was a million miles away."

"No apology necessary. Were you… dreaming about that night?"

Jean nodded, "Always," she whispered.

"How can I help?"

"I won't take your sedatives."

"Jean they're not sedatives, It's simple melatonin, it's a natural supplement that will just help you regulate your sleep." He watched her carefully "And maybe you should think about booking a session with Phryne to talk this through."

Jean sighed.

"My love, you've been through something unthinkable, Please, let us help you."

Jean finally met his eyes, more out of shock than anything else, as her brain repeated, 'my love my love my love,' over and over again. Too stunned to speak she could only nod, a small serene smile playing on her lips.

"I saw that Matthew." Alice raised an eyebrow.

Matthew straightened up in his chair, radiating innocence. "What?'

"I saw you sneaking fish to the cat. Quit it, he'll develop expensive tastes."

Matthew grinned good naturedly. "I couldn't eat another bite, and he's got those eyes… actually they remind me of yours."

Alice hid a smile as she looked sideways at him. "What, yellow and surrounded by fur?"

"No, piercing, clear, beautiful."

"Smooth talker," Alice's lips twitched.

Matthew just crossed his arms in front of him and leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh.

"How's the knee?"

"Sore," Matthew admitted. "But now that I'm here with you, the pain is less," he grinned stupidly at her.

Alice rolled her eyes. "Alright enough flattery, go take your pants off and lay on my bed," she smirked.

"Yes Ma'am." Matthew stood and pressed a kiss to the top of Alice's head, "By the way. I think you'll find it's not flattery if it's true."

Alice watched him go as a smile played on her lips. She looked down at the cat who had fixed his yellow eyes on her. "Don't give me that look!"

Sherlock just yawned and rolled onto his back feigning disinterest.

Alice rose from her seat, picked up the plates and took them to the sink. She hummed to herself as she rinsed the plates, washed her hands, wiped them dry, then moved toward the door. She knocked, "Are you decent?"

Matthew's voice came through the door, "Never, But you can come in anyway."

Alice could hear the smile in his voice and when she pushed the door open, she found Matthew sprawled across her bed. His trousers neatly folded on the chair, shoes and socks tucked under it.

Sherlock brushed past her legs and leapt onto the bed. Finding much of it already occupied he turned and glared at Alice. Then turning back to the prone form splayed on the bed, simply climbed onto Matthew and settled down in the small of his back.

Alice could see Matthews muffled laughter against her pillows as she scolded the cat, "Sherlock! Off! Get down!"

"Oh let him be sweetheart, he's not hurting me, and it's not like you're working on my back."

Alice shook her head in disbelief as she moved to the foot of the bed and took Matthew's leg in her hand, "You're spoiling him, first the fish and now this? Who would have thought that the under the grumpy PE teacher exterior, you would have a soft spot for a silly black cat."

"Some might say I have quite a soft spot for the silly black cat's owner too."

Alice's cheeks flushed but she didn't say anything, she just smiled and pressed her thumbs into his leg.

"Mrs B are you staying for dinner?" Mattie's voice from the kitchen broke through Lucien and Jean's quiet conversation.

Jean's eyebrows shot up, "Oh goodness, what time is it? I don't think…"

Lucien interrupted her, "I think you should stay, and have dinner with us. Then I can take you home after."

"But Lucien…"

"No buts."

Li and Mattie appeared in the doorway once again, "Please stay, We're making soup." Li said

"What kind of soup?"

"Chicken and vegetable."

"And we're doing garlic bread," Mattie added.

Jean smiled at the girls, "How can I say no to that?"

The two girls disappeared back into the kitchen and Jean dropped her head to rest on Lucien's shoulder. "Thank you Lucien."

"Hey, I'm not the one making the soup."

"No, but Mattie would never have been able to make soup if it wasn't for you."

There was a pause as Lucien took her hand and threaded his fingers through hers.

"Thank you for inviting us into your family Lucien. Me and Mattie. I can honestly say, for me, it's been some time since I've felt so comfortable and welcome in someone else's space"

"But that's you too Jean. I mean, this, what we have, it has been created with you and Mattie as a part of it. It wouldn't be the space it is, if you two weren't a part of it. Without you and Mattie it's just Li and I." He listened to the chatter in the kitchen for a moment then he added "Of course I do wonder what Mattie's parents think sometimes. When she spends all her time here."

"Unfortunately, they're not really interested in being very involved in their daughter's life."

"So I gathered."

"She needed this, She needed you. And so did I. It's been so long since I've felt… part of a family."

Lucien picked up Jean's hand and kissed her knuckles. He stared into her eyes and took a deep breath. "Jean, I…"

"Dinners ready!"

Alice gently put the leg down on the bed as Sherlock, still perched on Matthews back, watched her through lazy eyes.

"Thank you" came the deep rumble of Matthews voice from her pillows.

"You're welcome." Alice watched as Sherlock stood, stretched and yawned, and leapt gracefully from the bed, padding off in the direction of the kitchen. Her eyes scanned back to where Matthew still lay on the bed and she kicked of her shoes, climbed onto the bed and knelt next to him.

Matthew groaned and began to roll over to make room for her.

"No. Stay there," Alice whispered as her hands went to his shoulders.

"Alice, what are you doing?"

Alice smiled, "Simple massage" She trailed her fingers down his back to where his shirt met his undershorts, and hesitated. Her fingers inched onto the bare skin that was revealed, the shirt creased from where the cat had sat, and she saw Matthew's skin prickle. Emboldened by this she pushed her hands under his shirt and pushed it up. His muscled back was now fully revealed to her and she couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"Alright?" Matthew uttered, hearing her sharp intake of breath and nervous at so much of his skin on display.

Alice ran her fingertips lightly across his back. "I didn't know you were so toned," she sighed appreciatively. Then before she could think about what she was about to do, she threw a leg over him, and knelt on the bed, one knee either side of his hips.

"Years of football." Matthew looked back to see what she was doing, and the sight of her straddling his back, her yellow dress rucked up around her thighs and fanning out behind her made him swallow heavily.

Alice continued kneading her strong fingers into Matthews well defined muscles. "You're strong, yes, but you also hold so much tension here." Her fingers hit a particularly tight spot and Matthew grunted. Without thinking about it, Alice reached down and pressed a gentle kiss to the middle of his back. She watched as goosebumps spread across the wide expanse of skin.

Suddenly Matthew couldn't bear to be facing away from her and he wriggled around to lay on his back and look at her. Taking her hands he entwined her fingers in his own, pulled them to his mouth and kissed the inside of her wrists. "Your hands are amazing."

Alice froze as she suddenly found herself in a much more intimate position. She smiled apologetically and removed herself from where she straddled his hips. Laying back on the pillow next to him she felt Sherlock jump back up on to the bed. The cat wormed her way in between them and settled. Her hand went to pet the cat, relieved for a distraction from the awkward silence that bloomed between them.

Matthew internally kicked himself as he realised he'd made her uncomfortable. "Sorry," Matthew muttered, "I wasn't trying to pressure you into anything," His hand also reached out to scratch Sherlock between his ears. "I just wanted to see you."

Sherlock yawned. He liked this other human that had come to visit. He made his human smile. Plus there were twice as many hands to pat him. And feed him. He began to purr and closed his eyes.

"It's alright, really it is. I… it was just a bit too much all of a sudden. I'm sorry Matthew."

"Don't be sorry sweetheart, I just want you to know how much I want you Alice"

"I do want this, I just… I need to take it slowly" Alice smiled at him and continued to pat the cat. "I know we've held each other before and even slept in each others arms, but taking things to the next level, physically… I'm not ready Matthew, I'm sorry.

"Hey it's alright." Matthew took her hand in his own "I won't push you. I just like being near you, holding you close."

Alice raised her hand, still enclosed in Matthew's and stroked a finger down the side of his face. "Thank you. I like being with you too. It's nice" She closed her eyes and tried to cuddle closer to him, forgetting about the sleek black cat that currently lay between them.

Sherlock yowled indignantly at them and they both burst out laughing.

"It's your own silly fault for laying there," Alice tapped Sherlock's nose affectionately.

Matthew scratched the black ears, "All I'm saying is you'd better get used to sharing." He smiled at Alice. "I'm going to be around a fair bit."

"Guess who picked up Jean Beazley halfway through the day today?" Nell sing-songed to where Agnes sat, knitting on the couch.

Agnes dropped the knitting into her lap and stared at her sister with exasperation etched on her face, "Oh Nell, come on, you're not still on that are you?"

"You didn't see them," Nell insisted. "She's leaning on his arm all soft and cosy, he's got an arm around her waist, helping her into his car…"

"Just leave them alone, it's none of our business."

"Come on, Agnes don't you want to see Jean happy?"

"Of course I do, I'm just not as invested in her love life as you seem to be."

"You don't work as closely with her. I tell you, If those two aren't dating by the end of the year I'll eat my hat."