"What do you mean, sick?" Charles asked cautiously. Oh, God. Not my Elsie Mae.

"I…," Elsie stuttered, "I have cancer. It started in my breast and spread. It's now in my lungs and stomach. The doctors have taken the lump in my breast, and they think they have caught it in time." When Elsie looked up she saw tears brimming in his eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have done this. No, Elsie, you HAD to do this. Her stomach churned as she placed a hand on his shoulder. When Charles looked at her with those glassed over, hazel eyes it takes all she has to not throw herself in his arms, sobbing for him to forgive her for running, for not telling him about their daughter, for not coming back sooner.

When Charles felt her hand and looked into her blue orbs he saw hope and fear. God, you can't take her. Not yet, not now, "Oh, Els. I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I should have come to you. If I would have looked for you-"

"No, Charles. It's not your fault. It's not anybody's, it just happened."

"Does Ella know?"

Elsie was shocked that he had taken to their daughter so quickly, "Not yet. I'll tell her after they do the next X-ray. They want to see how big the tu-," here is where Elsie faltered, "tumors are, but like I said, they're hopeful."

That's when realization hit Charles. She is telling me this in case of…no. Don't think like that, Old Boy. Don't think about her possibly dying, don't think about the fact you might not get back together, just, don't.

"Charles, do you really accept Ella? She is yours, but I would understand if you wanted a DNA test? I just need you to be there if it's as bad as all th-" Elsie was gone. She started sobbing when Charles pulled her into his embrace. She soaked his shirt with her tears, but he would do it all over again if it brought her some comfort. He had missed not holding her all these years, and he planned on making for it every chance he got.

Elsie could feel his warmth through his shirt, and she was grateful. The smell of him made her feel more relaxed than she had in a long time. It felt like coming home; she had cried alone so much over the last five-and-a-half years it was nice to be comforted by him.

"That won't be necessary. I could see it as soon as I saw her. She looks so much like Charlotte, and you. Our daughter is beautiful like her mother. You named her Margaret after my mother, too. You don't know how much that means to me; I know I told about it all, but truly, you don't know what that means," Charles voice was thick with emotion.

"I wanted to name her after a strong woman, and I didn't think my mother's name suited that. Especially, after…well, you know what happened," Elsie meant this, sincerely meant this. She knows her mother loves her, but she couldn't name her daughter after a woman who did what she did. Even if it was her own grandmother.

"I DO know, and I'm still sorry for what transpired," Charles decided to change the subject on this note, "When is your X-ray?"

Startled out of her thoughts she replied, "On the 20th. I would be glad if you came."

"I would love to, but"

You knew he would probably be busy, Elsie. You knew he would probably say no.

"-I was hoping to see you and Ella before then. Maybe go out to see a movie or bowling or whatever you wanted."

"It's fine Charles. It really i-wait. What?" Elsie already had her 'Beryl Said She Would Go' speech planned when he took her by surprise.

"I said I would love to spend some time with you and our daughter before we find out what the future holds. I also think if the doctors are hopeful, then we should be too. Shall we walk back?" Charles asked with a tilt of his head towards the way they came. Elsie nodded. They walked in silence, passing the children they saw earlier, when Charles took Elsie's hand. She didn't pull back, didn't flinch, didn't even blink, for her it was so natural, felt so natural.

"Thank you, Charles. For not just accepting our daughter, but for letting me dampen your shirt," she giggled.

Oh, that sound. I've missed it so these last years, "Absolutely no problem, Miss."

"That's Misses to you."

"Do you mean that?" Charles asked anxiously.

"I do. I've never stopped being Mrs. Carson. Ever. Not when you told me about the affair and not when I left," Elsie had never been so honest in her life. She had, has, always loved him. Been in love with him, and nothing could change that.

"I still have your rings," Charles mumbled while pulling a gold chain out of from under his shirt. By this time they had stopped in front of some shop on the way back to Little Red's. Elsie gasped when she saw the engagement ring and wedding band she slipped off so long ago.

"Charles, I-I don't know what to say, I'm truly touched, and I know I've said I forgive you, but I do not think I can put them back on yet," she saw his crestfallen look when she added, "I do forgive you, yes, but you need to earn my trust back. Plus, I don't think Ella is ready. She would go from no father to suddenly having one. She knows all about you, though. I made sure she knew who you were, are, but she is only five. I think we should start with what you suggested, dinners and movies and eventually, sleepovers. You are still a stranger to her, even if she did embrace you. She still wouldn't be comfortable by herself with you, but I hope to change that." They started walking again, both going quiet as they got caught up in their thoughts.

Charles understood, he really did, but he wanted Elsie and Ella now. He wanted them to move in as soon as possible. He wanted his family, husband, wife, and daughter, together; he wanted them to spend as much time as they could with each other. Since Elsie told him about the possible chance of her death he couldn't stop mulling over the idea of having her and Ella move. If Elsie wanted a new house because of the things that happened at their old one he would buy one, if there wasn't one to fit her idea of perfection, he would build one down to the last detail to suit her, and Ella would get everything she wanted. If she wanted a pool, check. If she wanted a playhouse in the backyard, check. If she wanted a trampoline, check. I would do anything to get us in the same house. Anything to spend the rest of the days and nights I have left with you. He wanted to tell her this, but he knew she was probably right.

Elsie was thinking about how Ella would react to Charles being in her life. She always told Elsie she would love to meet her daddy, but she also told her mother she wanted to know him. So, Elsie told Ella the stories of her and Charlie. She always skipped the things she knew Charlie should tell their daughter such as his parents, his twin sister, and his side in the affair. Elsie always wanted her to hear his side first so she wouldn't get the impression to hate her father. Ella always loved the stories, and she was enthusiastic the night before she got to meet Charlie, but there was fear in her eyes when she waved bye at the restaurant. Elsie saw it, the fear of rejection and of a stranger she had only ever been told about. Oh, Ella, you're going to love him. When you see what a teddy bear your father is you're going to laugh at the fear you have now. After all, he might be the only parent you have left.

They had arrived back at Little Red's, and Charles held the door open, "Thank you, Charlie."

It's been so long since you called me that, "No problem."

Beryl was there and said, "There better not be. I'd hate to shut the restaurant down because I have to kick your ass, Charles Carson."

"No offense, Beryl, but I don't think you could beat dough in your current condition," Elsie chuckled motioning to her friend's stomach.

"Hey! Remember I supply most of your food. Don't make me spit in it. Now, tell me, why have you been gone so long?" Beryl inquired while cocking her eyebrow.

"We haven't been gone that long. Oh, never mind," Charles said as he saw the clock. It was almost 3:30.

"I take it you got a lot accomplished, then," Beryl said hopefully.

"We did," Elsie replied.

"And does he know about…ya know?" Beryl asked.

Charles sighed, knowing beryl wouldn't stop until she got the answers she wanted, "I know Elsie has cancer, Beryl."

It was too bad they were so wrapped up in their conversation to notice Ella, who had snuck into the kitchen for just one more biscuit, standing there staring at her father. She had been studying Charles, or Charlie, as her mother always called him in her stories. The stories were nice in the fact she got to know a father she had never met, but she always had a sneaking suspicion her mother was keeping something from her. When she heard the words Elsie and cancer in the same sentenc she spoke up with a trembling voice that made her parents and aunt turn, "Cancer? But-but that's what Aunt Izzy says killed Matthew's daddy. Mummy, are you going to die?"

C&E

HI! Sorry, it took so long to update. Due to bad weather, several power outages, and my computer crashing it has not been a good week. I tagged as requested by you lovely people, and I just want to thank every single one of you! I promise to try and update regularly, but with life and school and how emotionally drained I am after writing this I don't know. Love y'all! Thank you again. Sorry for the angst.