A/N: Here is a little giftie for Batwings79, who made a request AGES ago in a review of "Softie." I wrote a scene to fulfill the request and then promptly stored it away for later. It fits here nicely, I think, so Happy Un-Birthday, Batty! ;)

This is a short chapter, but the next one will MORE than make up for it. I think that if you've made it through the last four chapters with me, you all deserved some fluff.

Thanks to brenna-louise for reviewing once again, you're a darling! xx

CSotA

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes ...

"Here Comes the Sun" ~ The Beatles

As the days went on, Elsie started to feel more and more like herself. Her energy was back up thanks to finally being able to get out for long, meandering walks through the half-frozen fields surrounding the cottage and, thanks to her worry level being down, she was eating better as well. Although it had yet to snow, the coldness of winter was upon them and she found the sharp bite to the air refreshing rather than intimidating, a reminder of the intensity of all that life had to offer. With Christmas on the way and a baby in their lives, Elsie was feeling quite well, indeed.

She was the first to wake on Tuesday morning, giddy at the feeling of what the day would bring: finally, a visit with Anna and Brenna, whom Elsie hadn't seen in weeks. Anna had been so kind to send notes now and then, just checking in and making sure Elsie knew she was being thought about. Elsie had been so grateful to receive them, but had not sent much by way of reply. Today she felt like a new person, full of excitement at seeing how Brenna had changed. A month or two might not seem like much time for adults but it usually meant a world of difference in the development of a baby. Anna had mentioned that Brenna was now crawling, giving a warning that it would be wise to rearrange some of the low-to-the-ground items in the Carsons' cottage prior to any upcoming visits.

Elsie rolled over in bed and felt her heart swell as her eyes fell upon her two bed mates: Thunder, their black cat, and Charles. She took note of how the cat had tucked herself in between Charles's shoulder and his chin … and that, in their own way, each of them was 'purring' softly. Both she and Charles had given up any thought that this was Elsie's cat long ago, for after the first three or four days under their roof, despite any feeding and cuddling and yarn that Elsie provided, Thunder had made herself very clear that she was her Da's girl through and through. Oh, sure, Thunder would curl up in Elsie's lap as Elsie was knitting before the fire, but the moment Charles came through after putting away the dinner dishes the little bundle of black fluff would abandon all thoughts of dismantling sweaters that were being knit, choosing instead to lounge on his lap or, more frequently, his chest. She would follow him out to the garden to chase butterflies as he pulled weeds and pruned the roses, meowing at him as suppertime approached as though she were keeping him on schedule. And when she was allowed into the bedroom she would immediately pounce on top of the coverlet, burrow her way underneath it, and find a spot next to his warm body where she would curl up for her night's sleep.

In those first days Elsie had found herself a bit jealous, truth be told, a feeling for which she felt mildly ridiculous. But the sweetness of scenes like the one before her now had banished all of that. Her Charles was such a large, loud man that sometimes even she still forgot how gentle he could be. When his hands would reach down to pick up the cat, petting her as he talked to her as softly as he could, pretending to admonish her for following him around, Thunder would purr away, and Elsie would feel such contentment at the love that their tiny family shared. Besides, she knew perfectly well why Thunder preferred laying on Charles's chest or lap when they all relaxed in the parlour: the timbre of his voice vibrating through his body when he spoke, the way it echoed in Elsie's own ear as she rested her head upon him, was one of the most calming things Elsie had ever experienced; naturally, she assumed the cat felt the same way. Almost like cuddling up to her own purring 'cat,' I suppose.

Just then, Charles opened his eyes slightly. "Well, good morning, darling," he said sleepily.

Elsie raised herself up on one arm, leaned over, and placed a kiss to his nose. "We're going to presume that you were addressing me in that loving voice, yes?"

Charles smiled through his yawn and opened his eyes wider, noticing that the cat was tucked in directly underneath his chin. "Yes, but now I see that we have company," he sighed. "When did she make her way in here?"

"As if you mind at all," Elsie teased. "Take your time waking up – I'll get the kettle on." She rose from the bed and donned her dressing gown, smiling a bit as she watched Thunder stretch, give Charles a scratchy kiss, then jump from the bed and pad on over to the door in search of breakfast. The cat stopped just outside the door, looked up at Elsie, and meowed loudly.

"Sometimes you are my wee little one, aren't you?" Elsie murmured, bending down to gather the cat in her arms. "But only if I have food." She chuckled, scratching Thunder's ears gently. "Much like your Da," she said more loudly, scooting out of the way as a throw pillow came sailing in her general direction, Charles's laughter echoing behind her.

oOoOoOoOo

Brenna's squeals sounded through the warm parlour as she crawled around investigating, seemingly thrilled with her ability to do so. Charles was following her every movement, nervous as she moved closer to the fireplace despite the screen that he and Elsie had put up to keep her back from it. He was trying to give the women a chance to catch up and, truth be told, he was quite enjoying himself. It had been a great many years since he'd watched the young Ladies crawl about Downton, but this time he felt more protective, more comfortable in many ways. After all, Brenna was, for all intents and purposes, his granddaughter. Grandchildren … who'd ever have thought? Charles gave a little smile at the thought as he always did when he pondered how his life, his family, had become so much richer the moment he'd declared his love to his wife.

Elsie and Anna were in the kitchen preparing dinner, each of them looking up every so often to check on what the 'children' were up to. Elsie was so grateful to have both Brenna and Anna back around again, thankful for their presence in her life. Both women had slid into a comfortableness with one another over the time since Brenna had been born, something that each had craved for years but which would not have been entirely appropriate when Elsie was still employed at Downton. Today's visit was a clear reminder of that valued relationship between them; today it felt as if no time, no surgery, no strife had interrupted the flow of their conversation, the ease of their familiarity. Anna related that John was well and that things at the Abbey were going splendidly; Master George and Miss Marigold both seemed to enjoy having Brenna in the nursery with them, and Brenna was such an easy-going girl that Nanny loved having her there.

"But how have you been … really?" Anna asked suddenly. "I don't mean to pry, but I've been quite worried."

Elsie tilted her head and sent her girl a look of soft fondness, biting on her lip as she formulated her answer. "Oh, lass … thank you. It was quite difficult at times, I'll not lie, and the fact that we're standing here nattering away is a true testament to what love can help one to overcome." She looked again into the parlour, finding Charles sat on the couch, Brenna cooing in his lap as he sang her some nursery rhyme or other. "I had a good many reasons to make it through it all, I will say that. And I thank you and John for the brightest of them," she said, reaching out to pat Anna's hand.

"She has been such a joy in our lives. I can't believe how quickly she's growing! I swear, all that girl does is eat and then burn it all off again as she's darting about the place! I was worried that she'd not grow well, I was like that as a child, but she seems to be doing quite well."

Suddenly a peal of joyful laughter rang out through the cottage and both women turned their heads to see what their little angel was getting herself into. Elsie's face broke into a broad smile as she saw her handsome husband serenading their lovely girl as he danced her around the parlour, swinging her into the air on occasion and making her face light up with glee. She looked at Anna, and noticed the younger woman's eyes filling with tears.

"Never in my life did I imagine I'd have a proper family, that any child of mine would be able to grow up like this," Anna whispered. "Thank you for that." She placed the sugar she'd just retrieved onto the counter, turned to Elsie, and wrapped her in a fierce hug. "Thank you," she said again. "You've no idea what it means to me."

Elsie thought back on her life, to her childhood on the farm, to the complete and utter lack of scenes like the one she'd just witnessed. "Oh, Anna … I do. I truly, truly do," she said, returning her embrace with equal measure. "We are the lucky ones, you and I, and I'll never forget that as long as I live."

Sooo ... the next chapter will be Christmas with the Carsons. What types of gifts would you all like to see? Leave a teensy review, if you please and, if you've got ideas, I'm all ears! xx