A/N this was supposed to be only a tiny tiny one shot. When Martha Levinson arrives at Downton she seems so familiar with Carson/Hughes and because my headcanon for our favourite housekeeper and butler is so strong, I wrote this little piece. Then, people asked me to continue it and here it is, chapter 01 which will be continued soon.

A/N2 it's my headcanon, it's AU, and this is definitely not in character ;)

Second encounters

"They are coming, Mr. Carson!" Alfred, the new footman stuck his head through the door he had opened with a bang mere seconds before.

Elsie almost jumped out of her chair she was sitting in when the young man entered unannounced.

"The next time you take the time and knock before you enter a room!" Charles replied sternly, trying to keep his anger in check. "Thank you Alfred, we'll be upstairs in a minute." The man hurried away, leaving the door open.

"I wonder who taught him his manners," grumbled Charles. "And why we employed him as a footman in the first place." He put his tea cup down on the desk and was about to stand up when her small hand on his arm stopped him.

"He will learn soon enough. After all he has a good teacher." Elsie rose with him and smiled warmly to calm him down a bit.

Charles hand squeezed hers briefly. "Sooner better than later, my dear. Let's hope he remembers what I taught him now." With that he left his pantry and hurried up the stairs to welcome their guest. Elsie followed close behind.

ooooo

They had gathered outside the front door: Thomas, Alfred, Miss O'Brien and some of the housemaids. A full reception was impossible at the moment. Charles was still one footman short and Anna had a half day off to visit Mr. Bates in York.

Elsie straightened her back and moved a bit closer to the butler. Their hands brushed unnoticed. The last time they had seen Martha Levinson was ten years ago, before the war, before everything. In a different lifetime! She stole a glance at Charles. He seemed nervous too, his whole body tense.

The care came into view, a new model with a closed front. Wheels crunched on the gravel when the chauffeur stopped the automobile in front of them. Alfred rushed from his position in the line to the door, opened it and waited for the passenger to step out.

Her style hadn't changed; Elsie thought when Martha Levinson stood before them. The woman embraced her eldest daughter and afterwards her son in law. She was loud and direct in her comments and greetings, so different compared to all of them. Especially when she all of a sudden addressed her and Charles!

"Carson and Mrs. Hughes! The world has moved on since last we met." Indeed it had moved on, Elsie could not help it and let out a deep sigh. Martha Levinson winked at her.

"And we have moved on with it, Madam." She heard Charles answer politely and wished he had said something different. Mrs. Levinson patted his shoulder knowingly before she moved on to greet the other members of her family, including Isobel Crawley and Tom Branson.

ooooo

Trunks were carried upstairs to a guest bedroom and Charles made sure that Alfred was always at his side during the short tour around Downton Abbey. He could not risk a mistake in front of such an important guest.

Martha stood in the large hall looking up at the ceiling and then back at her daughter. "Well, well. It still stands and I am glad to see familiar faces." She motioned towards Charles who stood nearby and at Elsie who had just instructed one of the housemaids to take care of the extra duvet Mrs. Levinson always requested.

Charles cleared his throat and hoped no one else had noticed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw how Elsie shook her head and made a small gesture, indicating that she would wait for him downstairs.

"Mother, we have prepared a light luncheon for you. You must be very tired from your long journey." Cora tried to lead her mother towards the dining room but Martha turned around and talked to Charles again. "Congratulations."

She knows, Charles thought, and tried not to show how nervous he was. He muttered a "Thank you" and then urged Alfred to follow the Crawleys into the dining room. He had to trust his new footman now with serving the cold luncheon. Charles needed to get away for a moment.

ooooo

Elsie paced her sitting room. From the desk to the door and back again. She knows! She rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. But how? She had just arrived back at her desk when a familiar knock on the door told her that Charles was back from the first encounter although it was much too early.

"Come in." Elsie leaned against her desk, playing with the silver chain around her neck.

"She knows." Charles simply said.

"I know." Elsie held their wedding rings in her hand, studying them closely. "But how did she find out?"

TBC