A special thanks to my buddies Happyheart2 and GeordieLass :). You ladies inspire me to write! xoxo

Charles is tense. She can see it in his face, can hear it in his voice. He is always like this now. She can feel the tension radiating from him. She doesn't know how much longer she can take it. She knows how hard it's been on him since Mr. Crawley's passing. He hurts for her, his Lady Mary, her young son. He has taken on so much extra work, extra stress on his already weakened heart and body. He is unrelenting and stubborn. She tries to help him, offers to take on tasks, lends him an ear in the evenings. She wants to hold him. To caress him, to take away some of his hurt. She is glad he still comes to her. Late at night when the rest of the house is fast asleep, he walks quietly to her sitting room, carefully tapping then pushing open the already cracked door. She waits for him each night. Just to see him, to know he's alright. Still moving, breathing, living. He sits across from her, pours open his soul as he pours their wine. Yet stays silent, his eyes telling her everything he feels. She comforts him in the ways she knows how. Tells him dinner is set, the rooms are ready for guests, everything is in order, the house is as it should be. She will take care of the house, take care of him, keep things in order as he falls apart. Tonight will be no different...

Charles slowly pushes the door open to find Elsie asleep at her desk. His poor love. She is pushing herself too hard. Taking on too much. Compensating for him and his backslide on his duties. In all his life he never thought it would be possible for him to put anything above his running of Downton. That is until Lady Mary needed him. He had never been truly needed before. Of course, he knew he was an asset to Downton. Downton needed him. But he now realized he did not need Downton. He did not need anything. Anything except Elsie... He longed for her. To hold her, feel her soft hands in his, along his skin. Taste her sweet lips, run his hands along her soft curves. She would be his only comfort. A comfort he could never allow himself, had never allowed himself no matter how much he wanted her. He walked up to her sleeping form, her head lying on her folded arms, her lips slightly parted. He stared in awe at her beauty. Even after all these years she could still take his breath away, cause a knot to form in chest, making it hard to breath or think. He touched her shoulder gently. "Mrs. Hughes."

"Charrrrles." Elsie purred, her eyes still closed. "Mmmm...Charles."

He couldn't take his eyes off her, watching her sleeping mouth moan his name. She couldn't possibly? What was she thinking, dreaming? What were they doing? He dared to kneel down next to her and softly lay his hand along her face, gently running across her cheek and through her hair. "Els...Mrs. Hughes. It is late." He face was level with hers as he watched as her eyes fluttered open.

"Charles." She smiled sleepily at him. Within a second she was jolting upright quickly, his hand falling from her face. "Uh hmmm..." She nervously cleared her throat. "Mr. Carson. I, I must have fallen asleep. I'm sorry.."

He was still down on his knees as she sat in her chair in front of him. "No need, Mrs. Hughes. You should have been up in bed ages ago. The drinks ran late for the gentlemen, then I stopped by to check on Lady Mary. She was in good spirits tonight. It warmed my heart to see her so. I apologize for my lateness. "

"It's quite alright, Mr. Carson. I'm all too happy that she was able to do that for you. Some of us aren't much help when it comes to lightening your mood." She looked away from him and gave a pathetic laugh, but was pained by her own words. Biting her bottom lip as she always did when she was uncomfortable or attempting to control her emotions.

"You must know that isn't true?" Charles said, placing his hand over hers as it rested on her knee. His eyes held a sadness behind them. "I honestly do not know what I would do without you, Mrs. Hughes."

Elsie's heart beat wildly in her chest as she lifted her gaze to him and smiled sweetly at his words. "Thank you for that, Mr. Carson. I will always be here for you." She said reaching out and placing her free hand on his arm.

"I know you will." Charles said linking his fingers through hers and pulling them both to stand. "You don't know how much that means to me?" And with that he pulled Elsie into his embrace. His arms circling around her shoulders holding her tight to him. She lay her head on his chest and he rested his cheek upon her silky hair breathing in her soft feminine scent he had so loved all these years but never experienced so closely. Elsie instinctively wrapped her arms around his waist, her small warm palms resting on his solid back. Although she tried to hold them back, tears fell from her eyes as she relished in this overwhelming feeling of release from being so close to Charles. She wished he would hold her forever. She could feel the tension of the past few weeks, months, years, decades, begin to slide away.

Charles hands began to caress gently up and down her back as she weeped silently against his chest. "Oh Elsie, how did we get this so wrong?" He whispered into her hair.

"Wrong?" Elsie's voice cracked.

"Yes. Us. Why has it taken so long for this? For me to hold my dearest friend. To be able to embrace and care for the one person that I...that I care for most in this world." Charles stumbled a bit over his words as he gently kissed the top of her head, her hairline, her temple. "It hurts me to know you doubt my care for you. But I suppose that is my fault alone. I apologize."

Elsie relished in his adoring kisses before pulling away, just slightly, not daring to break the embrace she wished to stay in always. Her blue eyes sought out the hazel in his own. "Do you doubt my regard for you...Charles?" Elsie said hesitantly.

"I never doubt it, but I am amazed by it. I'm shocked you would care for this stubborn, relentless, old fool." He placed his hand on her face, cradling her cheek in his palm, his thumb brushing the tears from her eyes. "You truly are the heart of this house, Elsie Hughes. And you are most definitely the heart of this Butler."

Still held in his embrace, Elsie stared into Charles' eyes searching for the right words to tell him how much he meant to her. How much she loved and needed him. Instead she chose to show him. She turned her lips into his palm, closing her eyes as she placed a soft kiss into his hand. Charles, beyond moved by her tender display of affection slowly turned her face in his palm as he lowered his lips to hers. His mouth gently pressed against hers as if he was kissing the soft petals of a flower. His lips leaving hers just long enough to whisper, "I love you", before eagerly meeting hers again. His lips parted slightly taking each of hers slowly between his. Their breaths moved in time with one another's, the giving and taking mingling as their kiss deepened. They found their years slip away from them as their kisses grew heated and passionate, theirs hands pulling and grasping with want and need. Elsie boldly moved her hands to his chest and began pushing his jacket from his shoulders. Charles responded quickly pulling it from his arms and tossing it onto her settee. She was silently thankful she decided to wear her lowest cut dress today as his kisses trailed slowly down her neck. His hands ran along her sides and into her hair, his fingers tangling in her thick curls. Elsie let a soft whimper escape as his hands and lips continued to drive her wild with desire. Charles groaned in response. "Oh, Elsie. I've wanted nothing else but you...always."

Elsie's hands found their way into his hair and tugged his face up to meet hers. "I love you, Charles. Please...please?" Elsie pleaded not knowing exactly what she was asking for. She only knew she wanted more. More of him. More of this all consuming passion she felt for him...

TBC