here's chapter 2! a little early for New Year's Eve, but I just adore this chapter so much. please enjoy! - Dee

"Almost ready?" Matthew asked as he leaned up against the bedroom doorway while Alice put the finishing touches on her makeup.

"Just about," she smiled at him in the mirror, put the star necklace he'd given her just over six months ago at her sister's wedding, and smoothed a few stray strands of her waved hair before she walked over to him. "All good to go."

"You look stunning, sweetheart," he kissed the corner of her mouth - smiling at her faint blush, but he only spoke the truth. Alice looked gorgeous in her deep green gown that was inspired from the 1920s with its slight cowled neckline and cowled back that dipped down far enough for Matthew to know she wasn't wearing a bra (that would be fun to explore later) and the skirt hugged her hips and thighs before it fell to the floor; the theme continued with her finger-waved hair, and the ring he'd given her at Christmas sparkled on her finger. "Ready for a lovely night out?"

"Honestly, I'd rather stay home and watch the festivities on the telly, but I do get to see you all dolled up in a suit again," she teased as she straightened his tie that matched her dress (or rather she'd gotten the dress to match his tie), and smoothed a hand over his charcoal grey suited chest (period clothes in this instance were easier for him, all he did was find a wider tie and different pants).

Matthew just smiled as she gave him a soft kiss; he'd rather stay home too, but an invite from the Tynemans for their New Year's Eve party (the theme was 1920s/Great Gatsby this year) did not come often, and Matthew figured they could endure it for a little while. The Blakes would be there, and an open bar, but neither one of them would drink much (if at all) tonight as Alice had to drive home, and Matthew had offered to take the early shift at the flower shop so Jean and Lucien could have a longer night out. Neither he nor Alice were really party people, but it was an excuse to dress up and people watch from the sidelines - maybe even dance if both of them were feeling up to it.

"Let me know when you want to go outside for some air," Alice kissed his cheek as they walked to her car. "I'm sure we'll both need a breather before the night is through."

He laughed and pulled her in for a short kiss before they were on their way to the party; it was in full swing by the time they arrived, and Jean immediately pulled Alice in for a hug once they found the Blakes ("Oh, Alice, I love the dress!") while Lucien clapped Matthew on the shoulder.

"Glad you two finally made it."

"Alice wanted her makeup to be perfect."

"Oh, the makeup, sure," Lucien teased - laughing when Matthew sent him a glare. "I'm teasing, Matthew, she's an absolute vision."

"She is," he smiled fondly over at Alice and Jean chatting away - Jean resplendent in her own silver and black flapper styled gown.

"So… are you going to ask tonight?"

Matthew shifted from foot to foot, but nodded with a smile as Lucien handed over the small box, "Thank you for holding on to it for me."

"Not a problem, old friend. You two are going to be so happy together, I can see it."

"In the very least, I won't be a third wheel anymore at your house."

"Matthew," Lucien laughed, "you haven't been a third wheel for quite some time, not since you and Alice became friends."

Matthew laughed with him and smiled when Alice and Jean returned laden with drinks for all of them.

"I don't think one glass would hurt," Alice smiled when he looked down at the champagne. "And mine's sparkling cider, before you ask. I'm not about to be irresponsible around an ex-copper."

He chuckled at her wink and pressed a kiss to her cheek, "One glass is all I need. How about we go dance a bit after it?"

"I'd love to," she beamed.

Matthew couldn't help but smirk a little at the way people's heads turned when he and Alice walked onto the dance floor; Alice slid her arms around his neck - her cheeks high with color from all of the attention, but she smiled when he kissed her softly.

"Doing alright?" he asked her quietly.

Alice nodded, "Just not used to people staring so much."

"Well, you're beautiful, sweetheart. I don't blame them, but I'm glad I'm the one who gets to go home with you."

She giggled at his wink and kissed him, "Lucky for you, you're the only one I want to go home with."

Matthew smiled into her kiss and held her close; he wondered if she could feel how fast his heart was beating, if she knew what he wanted to ask her tonight. It was in his pocket right now, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to give it to her at the party, or wait until they were home; home felt more natural - more them - but here was more likely where they'd be when midnight struck and he was a bit of a romantic about the idea of starting off a brand new year with the next step in their relationship.

He'd know when the right moment was, Matthew was sure of that.

Alice kissed his cheek - her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, just like she had at her sister's wedding, "You're thinking pretty hard there."

"Just enjoying you in my arms, sweetheart," he pulled her even closer as she let out a low laugh. "And thinking of how much of a lucky bastard I am."

"Then I must be one too," she kissed him. "I'm also very hungry and I saw ham and cheese sandwiches, but I couldn't tell if they had mustard pickles on them as well."

"Mustard pickles?"

"Jack introduced me to them when I was growing up," Alice's cheeks turned pink. "It's his favorite kind of sandwich, and Dot makes the best replica of them for her diner, but Jack has his own particular recipe for the pickling that is to die for."

"I'll have to ask for it the next time we're in Melbourne then," Matthew kissed her softly, "so you can have ham, cheese, and mustard pickle sandwiches whenever you please."

"You spoil me."

"You deserve it, sweetheart, but let's go feed you before you get grumpy."

"Well now I'm going to be grumpy just because you said that."

Matthew laughed and tugged her towards the food. The ham and cheese sandwiches were just that, but Alice did brighten up a little at chocolate cupcakes with strawberry frosting (he snagged two of them for her) as they loaded up a plate to share, got two more glasses of sparkling cider, and retreated to the chairs situated around the room to enjoy their bounty; Alice held the plate while she draped her legs across his lap - occasionally feeding him some fruit in between bites of sandwich as they ate and watched the other partygoers - both of them smiled at Jean and Lucien waltzing on the dance floor (each of them only had eyes for each other).

"Can I ask for one more dance, sweetheart, before we go out and get some air?"

"Yes, because one more dance is all I can stand in these heels," Alice kissed his cheek.

With a laugh, he pulled her to the dance floor and twirled her around just to hear her giggles and to admire the way her dress sparkled in the light; she was radiant and he adored her and couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with her.

"Come with me," she whispered in his ear as the song came to an end, "I could use some air."

Kissing her, Matthew smiled and nodded - his smile widening as she pulled him through the crowd to the balcony door; luckily no one stopped them and he got in one deep breath of the night air before Alice pulled him over to a darkened corner and immediately kissed him. Chuckling into her kiss, Matthew wrapped her up in his arms and leaned back against the wall as they traded heated kisses - the muffled sounds of the party barely reaching them, like they were in their own little world.

He didn't know how much time had passed with them there on the balcony, but this was a much more enjoyable way to get through the party in his opinion.

"I have something for you," Alice whispered as she trailed fleeting kisses along his jaw; Matthew curled his hands around her hips - his fingers digging in when she hit a particular sensitive spot.

"Christmas was a week ago, sweetheart."

"I can't spoil you too?" she grinned against his skin.

"Alright, what's my gift?"

"Close your eyes," she kissed him softly and drew back slightly. He did as she told him - leaning against the wall as he heard her shift around in front of him; he heard the tell tale snap of her clutch purse opening and closing before she cupped his cheek with a slightly shaking hand.

Was she nervous?

"Okay, you can open them now."

He opened them and saw Alice standing before him - his hands still on her hips - with an open jewelry box in her hands; it took him a bit to realize what was in the box, and he blinked when he saw the dark brown glossy band nestled in velvet.

It was a ring.

"Alice?"

She smiled even as her hands shook and her voice wavered a bit when she started to speak, "I've… never done something like this before so forgive me if I stuff it up."

He just smiled and squeezed her hips in what he hoped was an encouraging way.

"I… I never imagined how my life would turn out that day I walked into your store. I never could have predicted the friendships I gained, the experiences I had, or the love I would have; You've added so much to my life, my dear Matthew, in a way I thought was lost to me years ago. I love you… so much and I want to be with you, I choose to be with you… and I hope you do too. So… will you marry me? I know it's not traditional for me to ask, but it is a leap year, well it's going to be a leap year in a short bit an-"

Matthew cut her off with a kiss, nipping at her bottom lip before he drew back and smiled, "Yes."

"Yes?" her eyes shone in the low light - with happiness or unshed tears, he wasn't quite sure.

"Yes, sweetheart, I'd gladly marry you."

Alice's face broke out in a brilliant smile, a few tears slipping down her face as her hands shook while she took out the ring; he helped steady her as she slipped the ring onto his left ring finger, before she pulled him in for a giddy kiss.

Matthew grinned against her lips and drew back, "We had the same idea tonight."

"What do you mean?"

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the small box with a ring - a white gold band with a blue star sapphire haloed by white stones - and held it up for Alice to see. Her hands immediately came up to cover her mouth as she looked from him to the ring and back again.

"I meant to give you this at Christmas, but uh, there were some delays and difficulties getting it on time, so I figured I'd surprise you at the party, but uh… I'd say you surprised me first, sweetheart."

Alice giggled and smiled as he slowly pushed the ring onto her left hand and kissed her knuckles, "What a pair we are."

"Two silly people in love," he grinned and pulled her close as they heard the countdown begin inside. She curled her arms around his neck and nuzzled his cheek - pressing sporadic kisses along his jaw as the countdown grew more boisterous. Alice smiled and leaned in for a sweet, lingering kiss just as the voices reached one and erupted into cheers; poppers, crackers, and fireworks went off all around them as they shared their first kiss of the new year together - rings sparkling on their hands.

But there was one thing still tickling at Matthew's curiosity

"What were you saying about a leap year before I cut you off, Alice?"

Her eyes went wide before she blushed and shyly ducked her head, "Ah, well… traditionally in Ireland and Britain, a woman may propose marriage only in leap years."

"Really."

"Mm-hm, apparently you'd know which ones were going to do so by them wearing a scarlet petticoat - to serve as a fair warning for any unsuspecting single men who might be suddenly accosted for their hand in marriage."

Matthew threw back his head and laughed, "I don't suppose you're wearing one?"

"And give away my surprise, I should think not!" Alice kissed him. "But I think a better question should be whether or not I'm wearing scarlet at all."

"Are you?" he trailed kisses down her neck.

"Am I what?"

"Wearing scarlet."

Alice laughed - low and throaty as he continued his exploration of her skin; he heard her shift around in his arms before she put his hands on her suddenly bare legs and Matthew drew back to see Alice had hoisted her dress up above his hands. Clearing his suddenly dry throat, Matthew slowly pushed her dress up further until he saw her bright scarlet knickers, and laughed along with her.

"You devious, sneaky woman," he kissed her, "I'm so glad I get to marry you."

Alice grinned and pulled him back in for another kiss, "I'm glad to marry you too, my dearest Matthew, but for now… let's continue this particular conversation at home."

"You read my mind, sweetheart."

As Alice backed away - her dress dropping back down to the floor - and pulled him back towards the raging party, Matthew couldn't help the slightly dopey grin on his face. His fiance - Fiance, I like that, he thought - guided him through the crowd (again luckily no one stopped them) and back down to her car where she drew him back in for another kiss against the side of it; she laced their fingers together and Matthew smiled when he felt her engagement ring press against his skin - his own warming from his body heat. It was an unfamiliar weight, and he couldn't wait to get used to it.