Well I'm really surprised and pleased by the positive response! I thank you all very kindly for leaving reviews and the recommendations on Tumblr. I do wish to thank the guests who left a review. I wish I could reply to you! Anyway, Charles and Beryl. Cos she needs a starring role in all Chelsie fics. And just ignore the motorbike thing. I just think it's Charles' like secret rebelliousness coming out. please: Enjoy!

~ 2 ~

Charles threw the dusty canvas cover over his T100 Triumph Bonneville, coughing at the tickle in his throat it evoked. He was back at Westburn; it didn't feel like five years had passed since he graduated but now he would return as a lecturer. It would be strange, but he'd manage. He'd simply be standing at the front of the class rather than sitting in a chair.

He pulled down the roller door and pulled the switch to the garage light. He knew exactly why he'd returned here of all places, rather than moving on to another institution. The whole business with Alice and Grigg simply became too awkward; Westburn was familiar. It was comfortable. The halls hadn't changed and Beryl still remembered how he liked his coffee.

It was safe.

He still had a few weeks to prepare before the next semester and it was time to start planning his lectures but thoughts of Beryl and her charming little cafe on the campus gave his stomach cause to growl.

It didn't take a lot of internal argument for him to lock his front door and slide into his car.

The familiar jingle of the bell above the front door calmed him, the smell of warm pastries and freshly ground coffee welcoming him in.

"Well, look what the cat dragged in!" The brash welcome brought a wide grin to his lips as he laid eyes on Beryl Patmore who was juggling two teacups as she weaved between tables.

"Hello Mrs Patmore," he smiled warmly down at the little redhead as she deposited the tea at a table and approached, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Well, let me get a look at you," she lifted her chin, casting her critical eye over him. "Still too skinny, by the look of ya. You best sit down and I'll bring you that espresso cheesecake you used to like."

"You're too good to me, Mrs. Patmore," he chuckled, looking around for a spare table. Not seeing one immediately, he suddenly turned to fell two hands pressed to his chest. It startled Charles and his hands instantly came to the woman's shoulders.

"Oh! I'm sorry! Excuse me," a young mahogany haired woman apologised in her thick Scottish accent. The tiny blonde behind her suppressed a cheeky snigger.

Knowing it was likely he had his hands on a student, Charles quickly released her.

"It's quite alright," he shook his head, rejecting her apology. He was a tall fellow who took up a lot of space. He would have to be more careful. The girls both smiled up at him as he stepped to the side and allowed them to pass. He only briefly considered that the Scottish girl looked a bit older than his usual students, but the thought was quickly lost when Beryl arrived with a small plate and a cup of coffee.

He pulled out her chair for her before sitting in his own, knowing she would never allow him to push her in.

"So how have you been, Charles? Well I suppose you'd be Mr Carson now. Not a student anymore; got that doctorate now."

He shook his head once, slicing a bite of cheesecake with his spoon.

"A bit up and down but that's life I suppose. It's very odd to think of myself teaching here."

"What happened to that missus of yours? She come too?"

He knew the topic would come up; he just didn't think Beryl would be so quick. Then again, he'd brought Alice in once or twice when they had occasion to visit.

"She wasn't my missus." He shook his head. He'd never asked her to be so.

"Certainly looked like it."

"I admit... there was a time I wished she was. But..."He shook his head again.

"No good?"

"She preferred the head of the Dramatic Arts department. I walked in on them..." He wasn't sure how to explain without- well, explaining. Beryl frowned thoughtfully but her eyebrows popped when she caught on.

"Oh... Oh, I'm sorry Charles."

Charles shook his head dismissively.

"Don't be. I didn't make my feelings known very well. So we weren't involved but I had planned- or at least hoped we would be." He used his cheesecake spoon to stir his coffee and made an effort to perk up. "Besides, I'm back with a clean slate. Robert Crawley has let me back through the gates and handed me some history modules."

"Well I know you'll do well here and if you're lucky, you may just find yourself a nice lady-"

"Don't start Beryl." He cut in, but his smile told her he wasn't angry with her. She meant well but his private life was his. Not that he had much of one. He'd liked Alice, at one point he may have loved her but she didn't have the patience and latched onto Charlie Grigg. Not that Charles could blame her really. He never considered himself to be particularly interesting to women. At least not the ones he set his eyes on.

A tall, lanky lad with a oversized nose with eyebrows to match who enthused over Edwardian history and jaunted around the countryside visiting stately homes in his free time was not something to attract the 'Nice, pretty girls' that Beryl once insisted he deserved.

He sighed and promptly changed the subject to her latest intake of girls who worked casually in the cafe. He allowed the complaining and huffing to carry on as long as his lack of a love life remained a topic not to be further discussed.

~EC ~

I have no timeline for updates. I'm two chapters ahead and simply post as I complete a chapter. Reviews are humbly appreciated. Proper Chelsie next chapter :)