Disclaimer: (for good measure) Again, this fic was not intended to slander anybody and I don't pretend to know anything about the people I'm writing about. I basically just took them as people and turned them into characters. This is just my imagination on how I imagine them to be. A special disclaimer for Florian Haertel - he's probably not as big of a jerk as I painted him, it just worked that way for the plot. Everything about Alex's past is taken from things I've gleaned out of research from a desire to stay as true to her person as I possibly could, however what went down between her and Florian and her feelings about it are from my imagination. Please, nobody take this as truth. You can take it as head-canon, but it's just a teenage girl's idea of how it could've gone down.

A/N: (feel free to skip my useless rambling) Here we are at last, at the final chapter. I'm really going to miss writing this fic, updating, and seeing you guys every week. I'm not sure I'll know what to do with myself because this fic has been going on for so long! I'm loathe to see it end, but it's been a good run and I've enjoyed every minute of it. All things must come to an end - thankfully this one comes to a happy one. Again, I want to thank you all for the wonderful support I received while writing this, I'm so amazed how much everyone has liked this because it's a bit of a black sheep in the Mattex fandom because there's no smut. I really have to hand it to you guys for being such amazing readers, you guys kept me writing. I'll still be around, writing Doctor Who fanfiction and poking River to no end if you guys want to stick around for that. A new fic ought to be started within a month or two. ;)

Anyway, come on in, have a cup of tea, sit down on those purple, comfy, spinny chairs, and have a cookie! Please enjoy, and don't forget to leave a review on your way out and give me a hug. It's been fun, guys. We had the best of times - the very best. I'll miss you!

- Indigo X

38

For Always

When they arrived home in Cardiff it was all over the news, plastered on the walls, and pasted on the front of all of the celebrity magazines. Honestly, Alex was too drained to care. When they got out of the plane, the press was there to shout questions at them. But Matt was there too. He shielded Alex and Salome from prying eyes with his body, firm fingers pushing away insistent microphones. Matt kept them safe. She allowed herself to be led through the airport by him, back home to the house. He led the two of them gently up the walk and into that little blue place on the corner of the street, with the homely rosebushes she loved so much. Karen and Arthur had been there, exactly how she'd left them. But this time, they were glued to the television.

Matt walked over and silently flipped it off. Karen's eyes were wide as she looked at Alex. She ran over and hugged her tightly. "Oh my gosh, are you okay? Matt told me…"

Arthur hovered uncertainly, looking for an opening. Finally Karen let go and he immediately smothered Alex in a fatherly hug. "We'll get this sorted."

Alex smiled and kissed his cheek tiredly, "Thanks," she murmured. "Matt and I are engaged, by the way." She held up her left hand, sporting the ring, and gave the two of them a wan smile.

Karen squealed and hugged her again, "Alex, that's brilliant! When's the wedding? Can I be the maid of honor?"

"Of course you are, silly, and Arthur's the best man." Matt replied, chuckling.

"I'd better be," Arthur chuckled.

"Right, well, as much as I'd like to break out the champagne and all…that'll have to be done later, I'm afraid," Alex said with a weak chuckle. "Sleep," she demanded.

Arthur nodded, "Right, yeah, sleep."

The three of them shooed Alex upstairs. Her mind was foggy, and everything was a bit of a haze. She knew that the media knew. They'd been swarmed with reporters the minute they'd stepped off the airplane, it seemed. Right now, though, she just wanted some sleep. She slipped beneath her warm comforter and took a deep breath, a smile on her face. Somehow, she just wasn't as concerned with all of this as she thought she was going to be. It was all slightly anti-climactic, almost. She knew it would be difficult, but Matt was there. He was like her protective shield. She trusted him to keep her and Salome safe.

The next day came, and Matt announced he was taking her and Salome to the London Flower Market. It was a long and enjoyable ride. Honestly, Alex liked car trips. She was almost sad when it was over. Matt got out and leashed Toby, and the enthusiastic golden retriever all but attacked Alex with licks and doggie-kisses. She giggled and crouched, hugging the dog and ruffling his fur and ears happily as he stared up at her with huge, adoring, chocolate-brown eyes.

Matt held out the leash, "Would you like to take him? I'll take that one." He jerked his head toward Salome with fond smile.

Alex grinned and nodded, "Sure." She took Toby's leash firmly in one hand, and then laced her fingers with Matt's. She took a deep breath. This would be the first time they'd be going out in public as a couple. Matt took Salome's hand, and he looked at Alex.

"Ready?" he asked with a slight quirk of a smile.

Alex swallowed. She trusted him. Her fingers squeezed his, and he squeezed back. She nodded, "Ready."

And with that, the four of them walked the London Flower Market. Of course, there were the reporters, but Alex resolved not to bother with them. She was determined to have a good time, no matter what questions were asked, or the snide comments that were made, or the looks that were given. Alex was not about to give anybody the satisfaction of upsetting her. She was here with her fiancée, and the world would just have to accept that.

Matt bought a bouquet of peonies, all multi-colored. They burst like fireworks from the green paper wrapping as he handed it to her, pressing an unabashed kiss on her lips. Alex grinned brightly. "They're beautiful."

"I know," he boasted, taking a bright red peony and tucking it behind her hair. "I plan on doting on you both all I like, today." He grinned at them both. Salome grinned back from where she was greedily sucking on a flavored honey packet. She had three others in her hands.

Alex shook her head disparagingly."You're going to spoil us."

"I don't care," he grinned widely and kissed her again.

Salome ran over to a stand that was selling all sorts of critters. One happened to be a cricket. "Matty! Look!" She looked at Alex, "Can we get him, mum?"

"What happened to your last cricket?"

Her face fell a bit, "Matt the Cricket the second died."

"What happened to Matt the Cricket?" Matt blinked.

"Alex the cricket ate him."

Alex sputtered for a few minutes, "You didn't tell me you had that many crickets!"

"Can we get this one, just one more, please?" She begged, bouncing up and down. "I promise he won't die!"

Alex sighed, "I suppose." She went and paid for the cricket, and the stand-owner handed the little box to Salome.

Matt grinned, "How about you name it Matt the Cricket the Second the First?"

"Why not just name it Matt the Cricket the third?" Alex pointed out, laughing.

"Because Matt the Cricket the Second the First is so much funner to say!" Matt replied. "Isn't it, Salamander of Kingston?"

Salome nodded seriously, "Yes, Matty."

Alex rolled her eyes, "I give up on you two."

"We love you, mum," Salome grinned and hugged her tightly, careful not to squish the box that held Matt the Cricket the Second the First.

"So whatever happened to Alex the Cricket?" Matt asked.

"Oh, she's still there," Salome shrugged. "Hopefully Alex the Cricket and Matt the Cricket the Second the First will fall in love and make babies – and then I'll have lots of crickets."

Alex blinked at her for a moment and then looked at Matt. Matt looked at Alex. After a few minutes, they both realized that they mutually found the situation ridiculous and burst out laughing.

"I hope they do too, darling!" Alex replied between giggles, ruffling her daughter's hair affectionately.

Salome rolled her eyes at the two of them in the exact same way Alex had rolled her eyes at her and Matt not a few moments earlier. "Adults."

They passed a bagel stand, and Matt bought each of them one: cinnamon raisin for him, blueberry for Alex, and plain for Salome. They got little packets of cream cheese and some fruit smoothies, and then took their seats in front of a few buskers to enjoy the show. Alex smiled as she kissed Matt again, proudly, in public, not caring who was watching. Right now, the only important thing was that she was completely whole again. She had Matt, she had her daughter, and she had Toby. Sure, it'd been hard getting here. She'd bumped her head a few times along the way, but it had been worth it. She had a man who loved her now, who loved her daughter, and that, to Alex, was priceless. Not even Florian could ruin her day now. Sure, she'd been through a lot of men. None of them had stayed … none of them except for one.

Alex Kingston bit into her bagel, listening to the strains of guitars wafting above the hubbub of the London Flower Market, and rested in the fact that Matt Smith was For Always.

Fin.