#can’t get on the ginger alice train sorry. doesn’t Fit in my head.

[noorakardemmomesaetre]

Through the Snowfall - Chapter Two 

Or Read It On Ao3

Pairing: Betty Cooper x Jughead Jones

Summary: The Coopers and Andrews have rented the same cabin in the woods every holiday season since their kids were two years old.

And with Archie and Betty leaving for college in just a few months, Betty is determined to make this Christmas a memorable one…by telling Archie how she really feels.

What she doesn’t plan for is Archie bringing his best friend.

Or the way her gaze is suddenly lingering on the wild dark curls peeking out from beneath a crown beanie rather than the ginger spikes she’d set her sights on so long ago.

Chapter Two: Sunrise 

6:03AM

Betty stares at the alarm clock beside her bed until her eyes burn and she sighs, pressing her palms to her now closed eyes.

She’s tossed and turned all night knowing that he’s sleeping soundly in the room just down the hall from her. She’s dreamed of this moment, of the possibility of her slipping into his room under the cover of darkness, sharing whispered secrets and possibly even kisses beneath his heavily quilted comforter.

But that’s not what’s kept her up. It’s the fact that that same opportunity she’s dreamed of is presenting itself to her now, as it has been for the better half of two hours, and she hasn’t necessarily felt the urge to take it.

And why the hesitation? Because a good-looking guy with a kind smile and warmth behind his eyes has shown up unexpectedly?

That’s enough, she silently decides. Being distracted by Jughead’s good looks and playful wit is absolutely no reason to debate my feelings for Archie. I’ll tell him tonight.

Veronica is snuggled beneath her blankets, snoring gently, and Betty envies her ability to sleep peacefully while her own mind feels so incredibly loud.

She tugs on her robe hanging from one of her bedposts, slipping her feet from beneath her blankets into her plush slippers. Perhaps a mug of hot chamomile tea will quiet her overthinking and she’ll be able to get at least a couple of hours of sleep.

She’s making her way past the main hallway bathroom when the door suddenly opens, startling her. She stops and her fingers immediately fly to the messy bun lazily tied atop her head.

“Sorry!” Jughead whispers, shutting off the light and stepping into the hallway, only feet from her. He motions to his toothbrush and offers her an apologetic smile. “Had to brush my teeth.”

“At 6:00 in the morning?” she asks softly, a playful edge to her tone as she regains her composure. “I didn’t take you for an early riser.”

“I’m definitely not,” he murmurs quickly, his free hand falling to the back of his neck as though he needs to ease some tension there. “But Archie told me how you all like to get ready for breakfast around this time so I thought I’d try to get out of the way of the bathroom before you and Veronica wake up.”

She wonders silently if he knows how endearing he looks when he does that. Rubs the back of his neck nervously. But then the realization of what he says hits her and she tugs her bottom lip between her teeth to keep herself from giggling aloud.

“Oh, Jug,” she sighs, shaking her head partly because of what she needs to tell him and partly because she can’t believe she just referred to him with such familiarity. “That’s so thoughtful, but I think Archie is playing a trick on you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Brunch doesn’t start until 10:30am…”

His hand falls from behind his neck and he closes his eyes, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“Right." He laughs before focusing on her once more and she finds herself tucking a few loose strands of hair that have fallen from her bun behind her ear as she smiles up at him. “Well, I’m really happy I ran into you out here then, Betty.”

She looks down at her slippers in an attempt to ignore the unfamiliar warmth spreading through her chest, before she lifts her gaze to meet his once more.

He clears his throat and takes a step towards his and Archie's designated bedroom, motioning with the blue toothbrush still firmly clasped in his hand. “I guess I’ll head back to sleep.”

“Goodnight Jughead,” she says easily, before remembering it’s now morning and grimacing at her mistake.

But instead of correcting her, he chuckles and gives her a genuine smile. “Goodnight Betty.”

--------------------

“I’m so excited we’re finally going out to the snow!” Alice says, clapping her hands together as everyone settles into the living room to tie on their snow boots. It’s been two days since everyone’s arrival to the cabin and Alice’s excitement for a family outing to the snow has been no secret.

Veronica whispers something to Betty about feeling like the Michelin woman in the snowsuit Alice has insisted she wear and Betty bites the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing.

“Remember when we went sledding last year, Betty, and you couldn’t make it halfway down the hill without falling off?” Archie asks from across the living room, smiling to himself at the memory.

Betty finds herself grinning at him and rolling her eyes. “I was actually trying not to remember that, but thank you for sharing.”

“Okay, enough chatter!” Mary says as Fred helps her zip up her shin-length black snow jacket. “Let’s go!”

Betty helps Veronica to her feet and they can’t help the giggles they share as they take in each other’s fluffy and oversized outfits.

“Kids! Get together for a photo! I need to document this,” Alice says, nudging Betty and Veronica over to where the boys are attempting to stand. She positions the four of them in front of the fireplace, making sure to push Betty in between Veronica and Archie.

Betty hopes her eye roll isn’t as noticeable as it had felt.

After a few dozen pictures are taken with Betty looking grumpier and grumpier with each shot, they all make their way down the snow-plowed road towards where the few families taking up residence here are sledding and building snowmen.

--------------------

An hour later, Archie heads back up the hill with his saucer sled in tow, his cheeks flushed from the cold. He’s waving at all of them excitedly and Betty can’t help but give him two enthusiastic thumbs up for his run.

He heads over to them and his eyes are shining because sledding with his friends is his favorite part of vacation. Or at least she thinks she remembers him saying something about that several winters ago.

But her train of thought regarding their past is interrupted when-

“Veronica, come with me this time! I’ll take you down,” he’s saying, holding up the saucer cheerfully alongside his invitation.

Something tugs uncomfortably on Betty’s heart as Veronica turns to her, her face fully reflecting how obviously torn she feels. “No, no, I think you should take Betty-”

“I can take Betty later, she always falls off-”

“I really think you should take her, Archie-”

“No, it’s okay,” Betty cuts her off with what she hopes is a reassuring smile that doesn’t reflect the pain stinging the corners of her eyes. “You should go.”

“Yes!” Archie pumps his fist in the air, his grin widening as he makes his way over to the very top of the hill. He sets the saucer down and waves for Veronica to join him.

“Are you sure?” Veronica asks, concern laced through her voice as she searches Betty’s face until Betty reaches over and squeezes her hand.

“Of course I’m sure! Go have fun, I’ve been wanting some hot chocolate anyways.”

Veronica hesitates for a few more seconds before Archie calls her name once more and she heads over to join him on the sled. She wedges herself between his legs, her back pressed against his front and Betty pretends not to notice what a perfect fit they are and how far her heart has dropped.

She heads over to a spot of untouched snow beneath a sea of large trees and stares at the ground for a moment before turning around and allowing herself to fall on her back.

The snow pillows around her and she spreads her arms and legs out wide before moving them up and down and side to side. Up and down. Side to Side. Up and Down.

Her gaze is fixated on the snow-covered branches above her and for the first time since the boys have arrived, her mind is truly quiet. She feels comforted by the serenity of being surrounded by the snow.

“Are you trying to make a snow angel?”

His deep voice tears through the silence she had just begun to enjoy, but when she sees it’s him she's not bothered by the interruption.

“What does it look like?”

“If I’m being honest, it looks like a Jackson Pollock attempt at a snow angel,” he teases and she can almost see the way he’s smiling as he says it.

She grabs a fistful of snow in her glove and sits up, throwing it at him before laughter falls from her lips. He doesn’t attempt to dodge it, the unballed snow exploding in the air and falling around him rather than hitting him. He tilts his head, grinning at her and shaking his head.

She lays back down, continuing her half-hearted snow angel movements and though a small part of her hopes he joins her, she doesn’t ask.

And she doesn’t need to. A few seconds later, he lays down in the snow beside her, leaving only a couple of inches between his outspread fingers and her own.

They’re quiet for a few moments with only the sounds of their movements and gentle breathing between them. Birds chirp amongst each other as they fly through the branches above their heads and Betty stills her arms and legs.

Jughead follows her lead and Betty pretends not to notice that they’ve stopped with their arms spread in the widest positions...his gloved fingers almost touching hers.

“Is your family sad you won’t be joining them for Christmas this year?”

She’s not sure why she’s asked him about his family, but there’s something about laying next to him surrounded by the safety of nature that has prompted her interest in who he is.

At least that’s what she tells herself.

“I don’t think so,” he responds quietly and she’s afraid she’s touched a nerve before he continues, “my mother left with my little sister when I was much younger and I doubt my father is sober enough to notice I’m gone.”

“Oh.” The word leaves her lips in a breath that crystallizes as soon as it hits the air.  “I’m so sorry, I had no idea-”

“Don’t worry about it,” he murmurs, turning his head to look at her and she does the same. “If I didn’t want you to know, Betty, I wouldn’t have told you.”

His eyes are electric against the backdrop of glistening white snow and she feels her heart beating erratically in response to the intensity of his gaze.

“Do you miss her? Your sister?”

The sounds of Archie’s giddy hollering and Veronica’s squeals pierce the air as they head down another hill, but the noise fades as she awaits his answer.

“There’s never a moment I don’t miss her.”

“And your mom?”

His eyes darken at that question and Betty immediately regrets asking it, but before she can take it back, he shrugs.

“That’s a bit more complicated, I’ll admit.”

“Totally understandable, I’m sorry to be so nosy,” she apologizes, turning her head so that she can focus her gaze on anything other than the adorable way his nose has pinkened in the cold.

“You’re not being nosy,” he says, mirroring her movements and turning back to stare up at the cloudy sky. “I don't know why, but I don’t mind answering anything you want to ask me.”

She’s quiet at that, but she shifts the tiniest bit so that the tips of her gloved fingers touch his. If he’s noticed, he doesn’t say anything.

After a moment, his tongue runs against his bottom lip before he quietly asks, “tell me something about you now?”

“Um...I’ve only applied to colleges out-of-state,” she admits so softly she’s sure he couldn’t have heard her, immediately closing her eyes.

“That’s great, Betty! Which states?”

His interest and encouragement surprises her and she responds with a bit more confidence, “Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.”

“An Ivy League girl,” he says, turning to look at her once more with a cheeky smile on his face. “I should’ve known.”

She genuinely laughs at that and the sound catches her off guard. She tosses some snow at him and he moves his hands to block it, his own laughter now intermingling with hers.

She turns back to watching the birds flying amongst the branches, but she doesn’t miss the way he smiles to himself when she does so.

“What’s making you so happy over there, Jones?”

“Nothing… it’s just that I-”

A snowball hitting him square in the chest interrupts him mid-sentence and they both sit up to see Archie holding his stomach, chuckling loudly. Veronica is standing next to him, her cheeks flushed from their many sled rides.

“Archie,” she finally says and Betty watches as they exchange a knowing look.

“Betty!” Archie turns his attention to her now and lifts the round sled in the air once more. “Let’s see how far you can make it down the bunny hill without falling this time, yeah?”

She rolls her eyes, but grins as she stands up from her accurately-described-by-Jughead snow angel. Archie takes her movement as a yes and gives her a thumbs up before heading to the top of a smaller hill. Veronica smiles at her supportively, but Betty can’t read the expression in her eyes as she turns to make her way over to where the parents are hoarding thermoses of hot chocolate.

Betty’s about to move to join Archie when she stops suddenly and turns around to find Jughead now standing, brushing snow from the sleeves of his flannel jacket.

“Jughead?”

“Yeah?”

“I haven’t actually told anyone about the college thing yet so if you could...um...not talk to anyone about that-”

“What college thing?” he interrupts and she’s about to remind him of what she’s literally just told him - how could he have possibly already forgotten? - when a small smile plays on his lips and he winks at her.

She doesn’t stop smiling until she’s comfortably settled between Archie’s legs on the sled and heading down the semi-steep hill.

She falls off within twenty seconds of take off and decides perhaps tomorrow will be a better day to confess her feelings for him.

For Archie.

--------------------

leave a comment if you’d like, i love hearing your thoughts! ❤️❄️☃️

#bughead fanfiction #bughead #bughead holiday fanfiction #betty cooper x jughead jones #riverdaleevents #comet: traditions #through the snowfall #a little bit of a tropefest #mixed with as much of a slow burn as five chapters will allow lol

[emeraldbirdcollector]

MTAP prompt - Alice and Jack on their way to Portia

This got really dark, really fast. My apologies. Trigger warnings for parental death, blood, trauma, etc. It’s also not terribly polished - just posting the starter here in hopes of comments and suggestions. I do take criticism, if offered reasonably kindly and aimed at the writing, not personal insults. 

The Civil Corps in Lucien were not to be trusted. Not unless you could bribe them. They were the last line of defense against Duvos, and thus to be honored and respected. But they were also battle-roughened and underpaid, and liable to take what they felt they deserved, by force if necessary, from the local citizenry, and thus also to be avoided and dodged whenever possible. Alice had known that from infancy. Only on the day the war came to her doorstep did she find out there was another possibility.

There had been rumors for weeks, and her parents had not succeeded in keeping either fourteen-year-old Alice or her six-year-old brother Jack from hearing them. The Duvosian army was about to break through Lucien's defenses, and not even the valiant fighting men on the front lines had been able to stop them. Any minute now, the city was going to be overrun. Alice knew her parents were planning to escape, heard them talking at night about what was most important to pack, what they could carry, where they might stay.

“We should tell the children,” her mother said. “Give them at least a little warning. Alice is sensible, she'll cope.”

From her bedroom, Alice felt herself warmed by the praise. Sensible. That's what I am. I can keep my head and help us get through this.

“No. It'll be easier for them if it happens all at once, if we get it over with quickly without giving them time to remember what they'll miss. Alice might be old enough, but Jack's still small, and he doesn't understand yet.”

Alice looked over to where her little brother lay, nothing disturbing his slumber, not even bad dreams. His face, relaxed and innocent in sleep, was propped on one arm, the other dangling off his cot. Don't worry. I won't let anything hurt you, baby brother. I'll keep you safe. Whatever happens.

It was only the next morning when all hell broke loose. She and Jack had been out in the yard, taking down the apricots and apples that had been drying on racks in the sun, when the earth shook and the walls surrounding the great city, undermined by Duvosian explosives, crumbled to the ground. Their mother came running from the house, their father right behind her, each of them clutching a knapsack – no, Pa had two.

“Put all the apples you can in this one, and put it on,” he said to her, brisk and calm. “We need to move. The army will be through any second, and we have to run.”

She nodded, her mouth dry, and gathered up the last mound of apple rings in her arms, pouring them into the flour sack she carried and stuffing it into the knapsack as firmly as she could, willing it to fit. It did, just barely. She put on the knapsack, which was far heavier than she was used to, but she would not let her parents, or Jack, see her flinch. Her mother took her arm, her father scooping Jack onto his shoulders, and they ran.

Alice couldn't tell where they were going. Her father led them down alleyway after alleyway, around corners and through narrow passages, until she was completely lost, in an area of the city she had never seen before. It seemed like everyone had the same idea – people poured from their houses, crowding and pushing in every direction, and it was all Alice could do to hang on to her mother's hand and keep running. But she smelled smoke behind her, and heard screams that ripped through her like knives, and she kept going, running not towards anything but away, away from the screaming, away from the fire, away from the army, away away away...until there was nowhere to run.

Her father had chosen to take them away from the crowds through a narrow, dark alley, and it was the last mistake he ever made. From the darkness stepped three menacing figures – Duvosian soldiers, Alice thought, her mind suddenly frozen over with terror. She turned, only to see a few more blocking their escape route behind. A rough voice ordered from the shadows, “Kill the old folks, they ain't worth much, but take the kids alive. Kids always sell better. More trainable-like.”

Her father let Jack slip from his shoulders, placing the children between himself and his wife. Both parents drew knives, but they looked pitifully small against the Duvosian soldiers' swords. Nor did they do them any good. Alice covered Jack's eyes, shielding him as best she could against her body, but for the rest of her life, the image of her mother's head bouncing against the cobblestones, the sound of her father's scream, abruptly cut short, and the sudden rain of blood that spattered her hair and clothes, face and hands, would haunt her worst nightmares.

Nothing of the next few moments registered on her consciousness. Her fingers had to be pried loose from Jack's shoulders, and he broke his terrified silence in a wail as he was torn from her and thrown over a soldier's horse. Another grabbed her knapsack, ransacking it for anything worth stealing, and, finding nothing, tossed it contemptuously aside. The next minute she, too, was scooped up and thrown behind her brother, and felt rough hands tie her, wrists and ankles, to Jack and to the horse, holding both children upright but with no hope of movement. The largest of the Duvosians mounted up behind them, and spurred the horse, his comrades following.

Alice kept her eyes tightly closed, the unfamiliar movement of the horse beneath her combined with the visions repeating themselves over and over in her head and the smell of her parents' blood, making her sick. She concentrated everything she had on not throwing up, not letting go of Jack, letting everything else retreat to the back of her mind. Got to stay alive. Got to keep Jack alive. Just one more minute one more one more...

A sudden sound from the soldier behind her made her open her eyes, as he collapsed and fell backwards. The horse startled, and it was all that she could do to hold on for a moment, ropes or no, but when he settled, she looked down, and wished she hadn't. An arrow sprouted from his throat – Civil Corps colors, she noted absently, wondering if they were just going from one danger to another – and she looked up to find two more arrows striking their targets. Three of their captors were left mounted, however, and they wheeled to challenge the newcomer.

Apparently out of arrows, he drew his sword and charged. Alice had never seen a swordfight before, but even she could see that he fought like a lion, swift and sure. Three against one, it was, but one by one, the semi-trained thugs fell to his blade as it darted and wove, making gleaming patterns in the moonlight. A knight. A knight in shining armor.  

The last of their captors fell with an unromantic thud, and their rescuer dismounted, wiping his blade on the sparse grass by the road before sheathing it. He turned to the children, his hands surprisingly gentle as he undid the knots. “You kids all right?” 

Alice nodded, and Jack, looking at her, followed suit, though he was far too pale and far too quiet. “We are now. Thank you.” Surprisingly, her voice was clear and firm, though she was shaking inside.

He lifted them gently from the horse, one by one, and knelt next to them. Alice was surprised to see he wasn't much older than she was – perhaps eighteen or nineteen. He had the darker skin of a Sandrock native, and lighter hair, with paler streaks – tattoos? scars? birthmarks? she couldn't tell – outlining his cheekbones and down his chin, giving him a fierce, hawkish look. But his eyes were warm, dark golden-amber, kind. “You got parents? Somewhere to go?”

Alice looked at the blood on her shirt, and her voice broke. “Not...not anymore.” The sob escaped her throat before she could stop it, and she felt strong, gentle arms around her, holding her together as more of them tore from her, uncontrollable, unstoppable.

“Hey, hey now, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. We'll get you someplace safe, you and your...brother?” She nodded, wiping her eyes. “We'll get you to safety, I promise.” He paused. “What are your names? Mine's Remington. My friends call me Remi.”

“I'm Alice. This is Jack.” It felt surreal, introducing herself as if she was still herself, still the same person she'd been yesterday.

“Come with me. I'll find you someplace.”

Remington knew that the Lucien Civil Corps was largely corrupt and incompetent, and he hated it. This wasn't the grand future he'd planned for himself when he'd left quiet Portia behind, looking for glory in the war against Duvos. Certainly not this Earthforsaken rout that could have been prevented if only the General had had the sense to realize that Duvos would bring in miners. Such a damned waste, he thought, his throat closing up as he thought of what he'd seen that day. Make Portia proud, Mayor Gale said when he saw me off...sorry, Mayor, there's no pride in this, none at all. He looked at the girl balanced in front of him on the horse, small and slender and fragile, but holding on to her little brother like a lifeline, determined to protect him. She can't be any older than little Sam back home. Come to think of it, Sam's family are refugees from Lucien, too, aren't they? I wonder if her Ma told her stories of fleeing the war like this...no wonder she's so damned determined to face down all the bullies in the world, even the ones who are twice her size. The thought of home, and the younger kids he'd been charged so often to look after, made him heartsick. Sam, Arlo, Ginger, I'm sorry, I'm not the hero you thought I was...but I'm damned well not going to let little kids be sold into slavery if I can help it.

He knew the city well, and more importantly, knew where the Duvos army was, having faced it down until the lines had broken in a frenzied rout, soldiers fleeing every which way. He had attempted to stand firm, and to rally his neighbors, but there was no point, no discipline left, and finally he had fled himself. Not proud of that. I should have gone down with the fighting, like so many others. But...then who would get these kids to safety? his practical side reminded him. Maybe there's still a purpose for me after all.

Now, it seemed that everyone was making for the South Gates, away from the rampaging Duvosian soldiers pouring in from the North. He kept his horse steady with a firm hand, but the smell of blood and the sights and sounds of panicked humans was making her uneasy. She had been trained for battle, but had never seen one. Nor had Remington, before this week, and he sympathized. I knew it was gonna be horrible, but...he held back the thought, lest he lose what little breakfast he had eaten that morning. Too many gone. Too many who ate that breakfast with me now feeding their blood to Mother Earth. Stefan, Janik, Richardis...and those were just the ones I saw. What's the point of spending so much time painstakingly reclaiming the past, fighting off the monsters, rebuilding things after the Cataclysm, if we just keep destroying all our gains over and over every time some damned Emperor gets greedy? That's what I'm supposed to be here for, to protect civilization, to protect people, dammit - and first chance I get, I failed. We all did. He looked down again at Alice and Jack, so small and yet so determined. But I won't fail you kids, not this time. I'll get you someplace safe if it kills me.

#mtap #mtap prompts #my time at portia

[doctoraliceharvey]

Request for a Malice fic where Matthew has to go to Melbourne for a case and Alice is out of sorts because she misses him. Happy reunion ending please 😍

here you go, nonnie! I put it in the Baby Lawson universe (hope you don’t mind, it fit really well) - Dee

Wandering Thoughts

AO3 | FF.NET

---

"You alright, Alice?" Lucien's voice - and his hand upon her shoulder - jolted her from her thoughts.

"I'm… I'm fine," she nodded, diverting her attention down at the paperwork in front of her.

"You don't sound fine."

Alice rolled her eyes and gave Lucien an exasperated look - he was immune to it now that they practically saw each other all hours of the day.

(Alice really needed to make a start on finding a new house for her and Matthew; she loved the Blakes, but she loved her own space more.)

"Is it because Matthew's in Melbourne?"

She clenched her jaw - the thin gold band of her wedding ring weighing heavy on her hand and heart. Matthew had been called back to Melbourne fairly quick after their week-long honeymoon in the city (why they couldn't have just asked him to stay was something that bugged Alice to no end - she had vacation time saved up, or she could have helped out Mac at the university for a bit). They needed him on a case up there and while he was certain it wouldn't take long - a promise sealed with a kiss on the train station platform as his hand brushed against her growing bump - the days turned into weeks and Matthew had been gone almost a month now.

Oh, he called when he could - Alice staying up far later than she should, her toes growing cold in Lucien's study as she and Matthew talked until she couldn't stop the yawns every other word. But it wasn't the same as having him here. It wreaked havoc on her sleeping schedule, she tossed and turned more at night, and while her blood pressure was fine - Alice knew both the Blakes were worried about her.

She wanted Matthew; she wanted his warmth, to feel his calloused hands against her body and hear his low, rumbling voice in the early morning as he talked to her and their unborn child. She wanted her husband, but the higher ups in Melbourne weren't done with him yet.

She slumped down on a stool and sighed, "I… I miss him."

"He's your husband, it's natural to do so."

"I just… I know that he's doing this for work, that it's good for him, but… Ballarat doesn't feel like home without him."

Lucien sat on the other stool next to her - his hand rubbing her upper back gently, "He'll be done soon, Alice. Matthew's just as antsy to get home as you are for him to come back."

He leaned in with a wry grin, "I don't think he likes big cities all that much."

Alice laughed, "No, not really. At least not Melbourne. He's been catching up with his sister and mother though, sometimes I talk with them on the phone if Matthew's called out for a later shift."

"That's good! Getting to know the in-laws and all that. How about we finish up here with Mrs. Dunlop and call it a day, hm? Jean's busy with her campaign, but I know she'll probably have a good dinner on the stove at home."

Alice smiled and nodded. Together, her and Lucien finished up the autopsy (natural causes, more her field house than Lucien's, but with no active case at the moment, he was helping her out in the morgue when he didn't have patients) before they headed home.

It was still odd to walk into 7 Mycroft Avenue and call it home, but it was her home now. There'd been some whispers - some snide remarks - at Alice moving in before she and Matthew married, and more after the Lawsons stayed after the wedding. Alice held her head high - ignoring all of it, hiding her shaking hands when the talk turned to her expanding waistline.

(Those whispers, the ones that speculated on her condition and the reasoning behind her and Matthew's hasty wedding, were the ones that hurt the most - they hurt more with Matthew not here.)

She smoothed a hand over her bump - smiling softly when she felt a flutter in response as they arrived in the driveway.

"Baby Lawson already dancing in the womb?" Lucien grinned and parked the car.

"Yes, they've been very active since the honeymoon. When will others be able to feel them move?"

"Soon, very soon. I hope you've been practicing your glare, Alice, because people are going to want to touch the belly."

"I'd like to see them try," she huffed as Lucien laughed. He got out and opened her car door for her - lending her a hand to pull herself up with. Alice sighed, "I've got how much longer with this little tyke in me?"

"You're only halfway through."

"Ugh," she sighed again as they walked through the front door. "I'm over it."

Lucien laughed and helped her out of her coat as Jean leaned out of the kitchen.

"Dinner's almost ready, you two, go wash up and Lucien if you could set the table afterwards? Rose and Danny are on their way now."

"Of course, my darling," He kissed Jean on the cheek with a smile that left Alice's heart aching.

She hid the hurt throughout dinner - though she did notice Jean and Lucien exchanging looks as she idly played with her food throughout the lively discussion with Rose and Danny over old cases and stories. Everything felt muted and off as she and Jean washed the dishes - Alice barely felt the kiss on the cheek from Rose as her friend (niece? she was technically Alice's niece now) bid her goodnight.

"Why don't you go have a bath, Alice?" Jean suggested quietly. "It'll help you relax."

She wouldn't relax until Matthew was home, but Alice nodded with a faint smile. Jean ran the bath for her - putting in lavender scented bubbles - and pressed a kiss to Alice's forehead once she settled in the bath.

"Relax, Alice, I'll come get you out before you prune."

The lavender filled her senses and the bath water wrapped her in a warmth that made her feel drowsy. Alice rested her hands on the bump and gently rubbed it as she closed her eyes.

(If she willed hard enough, she could almost feel Matthew's arms around her)

Alice sighed - she didn't used to be like this. Time was, she was happy to be alone, she could sleep alone and wake up feeling refreshed. Now, Alice couldn't sleep well without Matthew's familiar warmth and weight in the bed next to her. Now, the bedroom was too quiet without his snuffling snores or his low chuckle in her ear as he teased her awake with kisses.

Matthew Lawson had ruined her - and Alice loved him for it.

"Hand inspection, Alice," Jean teased as she popped her head into the bathroom.

Alice smiled and lifted her soaking wet hands from the bath for Jean's perusal.

"Hm, just starting to wrinkle. How are you feeling?"

"Like I'm about to fall asleep in the tub."

"Mm, can't have that, can we?" Jean reached down and pulled the plug. She helped Alice stand and wrapped her in a fluffy towel. "C'mon, into pajamas and then into bed for you."

She didn't fight Jean's motherly coddling, instead she leaned against her friend - suddenly more tired than she originally thought she was - and listened to Jean's soothing voice as Alice dressed in her pajamas and wrapped herself up in Matthew's heavy dark green bathrobe.

"Would you like some company?" Jean smoothed back Alice's hair from her face with a warm smile.

Alice shook her head, "No… I think I'll try reading before I go to sleep, Jean, but thank you."

"How about some ginger tea then, and a bit of shortbread in case you get a craving for something sweet?"

Alice's heart warmed at Jean's generosity and she nodded.

"Thank you, Jean… I know I haven't been the most… engaged lately."

"You're worried about Matthew, that's understandable, Alice. I'd be exactly the same if it were Lucien. You're family, and family takes care of each other even if we're out of sorts."

Jean kissed her forehead and left the room. Alice flipped to her bookmark and read without actually processing the words on the page. Voices out in the hallway drew her attention from the same paragraph she'd been trying to read at least five times and Alice leapt to her feet when she heard Matthew's familiar timbre.

Lurching to a stop at the end of the hallway, Alice clung to the wall when she saw her husband by the front door - nodding along at Jean's idle chiding, his shoulders slumped in the way they did whenever he was exhausted - and a holdall at his feet.

He was home.

"Ah, there she is," Jean smiled when she noticed Alice lurking. "Go on, I'll fix up the tea for both of you."

Matthew squeezed Jean's shoulder and started down the hallway towards Alice. Alice willed her feet to move and practically ran into his arms; he let out a faint chuckle as they teetered for a second - Jean steadied them both as Matthew held Alice tight and Alice wrapped her arms around his neck.

"You're home," she let out a shuddering sigh - a few tears slipping out to dampen his collar.

"I am. The case is done, I'm home and I'm not leaving again any time soon."

She sniffled and held him tighter, "Good."

"I'm sorry I had to leave you, sweetheart," Matthew pressed a kiss to the side of her head.

"I know you didn't want to, Matthew."

He pulled back and kissed her gently - wiping away her tears with his thumb. "Next time, I'm saying no."

Alice shook her head, "Don't do that, Matthew. It's your job."

"And you're my wife, you're more important."

She cupped his face with her hands, "I don't want you to throw away your career for me. We've got more than each other to think about."

---

He leaned his forehead against hers as she pulled one of his hands down to the bump where their child grew. Matthew sighed as he drew strength from his wife and their unborn baby - Alice was right, Baby Lawson was joining them in little over four months and they'd need both incomes to raise the baby (and buy a new house). He couldn't afford to say no to Melbourne, but he also didn't want to be away from his loved ones that long again.

"How about, the next time you have a case in Melbourne, I see if Mac needs help and come up with you?"

"Even after the baby's born?"

Alice shrugged with a smile, "It'd be an adventure for Baby Lawson."

Matthew pictured Alice in the morgue with their child in a sling against her chest - Alice bouncing slightly to soothe the baby as she and Mac did a full autopsy and he laughed at the image. "Our kid's gonna know how to do an autopsy before they can walk."

She kissed him, "I missed you."

"I missed you too," Matthew kissed her back. "I love you, Alice Lawson."

She grinned against his lips, "And I love you, Matthew Harvey."

Matthew held her close as they had a late night tea with the Blakes. He squeezed her hand tight as they wrapped it up fairly quickly - Jean and Lucien beating a hasty retreat to the studio as Alice pulled him towards their bedroom.

He was tired, but at the first brush of Alice's hands against his neck, Matthew needed her. She sensed the same thing and in between heated kisses they left a trail of clothes on the floor. It was quick and quiet, their lovemaking - brought on by time spent apart and the need to feel her skin against his without making too much noise to disturb the rest of the house; Alice seemed especially impatient and took the lead. As they lay next to each other, panting softly, Alice let out a soft laugh and Matthew joined in - the two of them giggling in the tangled sheets of their bed.

"Welcome home," Alice pressed a kiss to his chest.

He ran his hands through her hair and pulled her up for a slow kiss. "It's good to be back."

#alice harvey #matthew lawson #matthew x alice #the doctor blake mysteries #au: home is a heartbeat #matthew.alice #writing of dee #Anonymous