A/N: Sorry this update has taken longer then the past few, but alas I'd like to get it right. Also I do not have internet service at my house so there has been a lot of frantic typing while at work. Enjoy, and also a pitiful plea for reviews, they make my day!

"So what did Dr. Clarkson say?" Elsie asked greeting Charles at the door with a peck on the cheek. She wanted to show him at every opportunity that she still loved him, that that awful night hadn't ruined everything they had become.

"When did you become such a fan of Dr. Clarkson and what he says?" He asked removing his coat and hat, leaning down to steal a kiss, hoping she wouldn't notice the book he had behind his back.

"Daft man." She said in between sweet kisses.

"He said I'm healthy as a horse, I'll probably live to a hundred." He said without thinking, immediately he regretted his words.

"Elsie I didn't-" he stumbled, putting his arms around her.

"It's alright Charles," she said wiggling out of his arms and heading towards the kitchen. "I wouldn't want you to follow me into the grave."

"There is no where I wouldn't follow you Elsie."

She smiled at that and walked past him and gathered her coat.

"I'm going over to the main house, Mrs. Patmore is going to teach me a few new recipes. Would you like to come?"

"I can't I'm afraid, I've got some reading to do." He said trying to hide his smirk.

"So be it, I will be back before dinner. With any luck I can convince Mrs. Patmore to spare some of theirs. Her cooking certainly out shines mine."

"She couldn't out shine you if she tried." He said making his way over to his chair, completely unaware of how sweet his words were.

"You sentimental old man!" She said as she walked out of the house.

Later that night they sat in bed, both reading their respective books. Elsie this time had donned her old nightgown, the new one leaving a sour taste in her mouth.

She'd successfully convinced the cook to send her home with two full plates of food, having unsuccessfully tried to make several new dishes, there were few things Elsie Hughes could not master, but it seemed cooking would remain beyond her reach.

Occasionally Elsie would glance over at Charles who would wiggle uncomfortably every time he felt her eyes on him. By the seventh time he'd had enough.

"Is there something wrong with the side of my face Elsie?"

"No of course not." She said, returning her eyes to her book.

"Then why are you so preoccupied with it?"

"It's not that Charles it's just...I know you don't want to but I would very much like to try again." She said sheepishly, still avoiding eye contact.

"Elsie, I said no and I mean no. I won't hurt you like that again but..." it was his turn to stare down at the page of his book.

"But what Charles?" she said, finally having the courage to look at him.

"There are many ways for a man to show his affection that do not involve the complete act." With that he looked up into her crystal blue eyes, hoping perhaps she would understand without the need for more details.

"I see."

"Do you?"

"Well not really if I'm honest but I'm curious."

With that he leaned over and pushed his lips to hers in a passionate kiss.

Slow and steady he thought to himself, and after several minutes of passionate kissing his hands moved to her breasts. His left hand was laying softly on the altered breast, allowing just the warmth of it to stimulate her, the right hand however was alive with excitement. He palmed the breast, gently toying with the hardened peek, messaging it gently until she began wiggling under him, a fire between her legs lit, one she desperately wanted his help to put out.

He began to kiss his way down her jaw, to her neck and the small amount of skin the nightgown exposed. He gently pulled the nightgown down just slightly so the tiniest bit more of skin was available to him.

"Off," she said between trembling breaths "take it off."

He looked up into her eyes, she nodded just slightly and pressed her hand against his face. With that he pulled the gown over her head exposing her beautiful body to him for the first time.

He pulled back to look at her, the soft, creamy skin, the firm, full breasts.

"Charles." She said in a warning tone and he resumed his kisses. He kissed her right breast with all the passion he had within him, sucking and licking and biting gently, savoring the taste of this woman. This goddess beneath him. Then his kisses continued down her body. Before she knew it he was just above her navel, his fingers at the top of her knickers gently pulling them off.

"Charles?" She asked, concern and fear creeping across her face.

"Trust me Elsie, this won't hurt at all. This will be wonderful."

She leaned back and closed her eyes tightly as he removed her knickers ever so gently. When she was fully unclothed beneath him he gently parted her legs, letting his hand sweep across her entrance. She moaned, her head still back, her eyes shut.

Smiling to himself he leaned forward, moved his fingers to open her slightly and tasted her.

Her eyes flew open, she sat up in bed, her eyes wide looking directly into his. He took a firm hold of her thighs and moved his mouth back to her center, never breaking eye contact. As he began to lick at her nub, the most sensitive part of her whole body, he noticed her eyes fighting to stay open. Her hands reached for his arms, holding firmly onto his biceps, nails digging into his flesh. After a few moments she let the pleasure overtake her and fell back on the bed, eyes closed, she began moaning in pleasure under his attentions. Charles couldn't help the smile spread across his face, not only was he tasting the most delicious ambrosia in the history of the universe, he had the woman he loved underneath him squirming with pleasure.

He removed one of his arms from around her thighs and moved his hand towards her center. Slowly he pressed one finger inside of her, immediately her hand went to the back of his head, tangling in his hair. "Oh God Charles!" she said, this sensation wonderful, the most delicious stretching, a perfect friction taking her higher and higher to unknown planes of ecstasy. He hooked his finger slightly and began moving it in a slow rhythm, matching his pace with the flicks of his tongue. Nothing would ever taste better, of that he was sure.

He could tell her pleasure was building, her back began to arch, her hips began rolling of their own accord, he had to hold on tightly to keep from losing contact, though he doubted he could have gone far with her hand pressed so firmly to his head.

"Charles…Oh God Charles…Yes…yes! Please! YES!" she screamed as her body shuddered and she fell limp into the mattress. Slowly he removed his fingers, watching the rise and fall of her beautiful chest as she began to come down from her high. He lapped up her juices, savoring the tangy sweet taste of her. Slowly he moved back up her body and placed a gentle kiss on her mouth.

"Oh Charles…" she muttered, completely spent.

"You lay here, I will be back in a moment." He said, getting up and heading towards the bathroom. Once he was inside he looked at his reflection in the mirror, this was not the face of a man who couldn't please a woman, this was the face of a hero, of a lover, of a true man. But Charles knew himself, he had needs, they couldn't be denied. In fact reading that book he had learned the dangers of men suppressing their urges, with that thought in mind he reached into his shorts and took hold of himself. After a few minutes he was spent, and as his own pleasure began to dissipate he came back into the room.

"Where did you go?" Elsie asked, lazily, barely able to turn her head.

"Ah, never you mind about that. Now what do you say we snuggle for a bit?" He asked, climbing into the bed beside her.

"I would love to Charles, but I can't seem to move my arms, or my legs, or really any part of my body." She said with a giggle.

He reached over and pulled her limp body to his, placing her arm across his chest and moving his under her head. After pressing several sweet kisses into her hair, he heard her soft snores begin. Eventually he let himself be lulled into peaceful slumber, thoroughly convinced he had just experienced the greatest moment of his life.

The next morning they awoke in each other's arms, looking lovingly up at Charles, Elsie was at a complete loss for words.

Sensing her dilemma he solved the problem for her, "I think the phrase you are looking for my dear is, I love you." He said with a smile, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"I do Charles, I love you very much. But…well…" she couldn't help but hesitate, knowing it was a sore subject between them, "what about you?"

"What about me?" he asked confused.

"I'm not a woman of the world Charles, but I do understand that men have needs. I certainly didn't fulfill any of them last night." She said, looking ashamedly down at the bedding, she's been so distracted by her own pleasure she'd forgotten about his.

"What would make you say that?"

"Last night was wonderful, I've never felt so wonderful but, well…did you get any pleasure from it?"

"Oh woman, more then you will know. You cant even begin to imagine how much I enjoyed last night. To start with you have the most wonderful taste, no wine, no matter how perfect could ever compare, the look on your face the moment you…well…that moment I've never felt happier or, to be vain, prouder. Yes the usual way can be very…pleasurable for a man, but the most wonderful experience is knowing he has completely and totally satisfied his partner. Don't you worry about me, to be a bit cheesy, I'm happy when your happy."

She crawled up his body slightly and placed her lips on his. "Oh and I am very happy my man."

They spent several minutes smooching sweetly.

"We should get up my dear, I'm rather hungry." He said beginning to get up.

"Yes I suppose so, could you hand me my nightgown Charles?" she asked, pulling the sheet up to cover her chest.

He walked over to the place on the floor where he had thrown the nightgown, an evil smile crawling across his face.

"If you want is Elsie, you'll have to come get it." And with that he dashed out of the room. She hesitated for a moment in the bed, unsure what to do, then finally she threw off the sheet and walked out of her bedroom, their bedroom, as naked as the day she was born.