Hey guys sorry this is a bit later than i anticipated! being at home is sooo not conducive to writing! Thanks for sticking with me though!

Elsie let out a sighed as she turned over once again. The night had proved to be less than restful. She was weary of the upcoming trip to the Registers office. This was not how the most important day was supposed to go. She lost herself in her thoughts and almost missed the knock on her door.

Ellie Kate knocked again lightly then tried to open the door. Locked. "Mama, Mama it's me."

She heard her mother sigh and cross the room. The lock clicked and she was granted access to her mother's personal sanctuary. She picked the box at her feet up and went through the now open door. She paused to close the door and then happily swung back around to face her mama.

"Elinor Kathleen, what are you doing up this early?" Elsie said incredulously.

Ellie smiled at her mother and placed the white box on Elsie's lap. Elsie shot her a look but opened the box anyway. She unfolded the tissue paper and found a beautiful cream blouse inside. Underneath the blouse was a beautiful deep plum skirt. Elsie looked at Elinor questioningly.

Elinor looked down. "It was the Dowager. She phoned Carson to see where you shopped normally. Then she phoned the shop to see if they had something special. They did and then she sent out on f the maids to pick it up. She said 'Every woman should feel beautiful on her wedding day.'"

Elsie smiled and then set to work to get ready. Elinor stood behind her mother and gently took the brush from her hand. She brushed her mother's hair and did it up prettily. Curls gently framed her mother's face and she smiled at her mother in the mirror. Her mother then opened up her jewelry box and removed the silver comb and slipped in her hair. Ellie excused herself to get ready for the day. Elsie donned her corset and then put on the new blouse and skirt. She looked at herself in the mirror and smiled gently. At least she looked pretty on the day she married the man she had loved for forever it seemed.

-C&E-

Elsie stood at the bus stop and waited for Charles alone. She had firmly told Ellie that under no circumstances was she allowed to come along. Elsie heard footsteps behind her and looked over her shoulder to see Charles in his day suit striding up. The bus arrived shortly after they had said their hellos.

They rode in silence both engrossed in their own thoughts. The next stop was Ripon. They were only 15 minutes away from their hushed wedding.

Those 15 minutes seemed to turn into hours to the two upcoming spouses. The bus came to a halt and they rose from their seats and hurried off. He looked at her and then offered his arm. She took it and they headed into the Registers office. They had to wait ten minutes and then they went on in.

"I believe you two know what you are partaking in and so we shall begin." The Officiate began

"I, Charles Edward Carson, take thee, Elspeth Rose Hughes, to be my lawful wedded Wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, and thereto I plight thee my troth." Charles finished with a nod at Elsie.

"I, Elspeth Rose Hughes, take thee, Charles Edward Carson , to be my lawful wedded Husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, and thereto I give thee my troth." Elsie finished quietly.

The officiate nodded and had them exchange the rings. Once that was done they signed the proper documents and headed back to Downton. While walking back to the two houses they reached the fork in the road that would take them to the separate estates.

Elsie smiled and turned to go to the Dower House. Charles reached out and stopped her, "Elsie, I hope you know that I meant every word I said in that office. I love you. We can make this work." He grabbed her hand and started leading her down the path to Downton. She resisted a little and then gave in at the look he shot her. Her mind was a million miles away to that fateful day they walked down this path before. They had gone down the path a while when he suddenly pulled her off the main path to a lesser used one. She looked around and then she spotted it and gasped. He was taking her to the old barn. He turned around and signaled for her to close her eyes. She looked at her hard, and then did so. He chuckled and opened the door. The picnic basket was there just as he had told Sybil to leave it. The table had been set early this morning, and the candles everywhere had been lit by Lady Sybil also. The old barn looked beautiful and the flowers in the vase on the table were Elsie's favorites. Red roses and Hydrangeas skillfully arranged. He moved to stand behind her with his hand over her eyes. He could feel her brow furrow.

"When I remove my hand you can open your eyes." He whispered in her ear. He slowly counted to three. And he removed his hand.

She slowly opened her eyes and gasped. She stood there in stunned silence. She felt tears pricking her eyes, and then turned to him. He stood looking at her fondly. She turned back around and finally said "It is beautiful. Charles I have never seen something this amazing before."

She had turned again and he never took his eyes off her as he replied, "I haven't either." He took her hand once more and interlaced their fingers. He brought her hand up and kissed it gently. "Now come on. We have a lunch to eat."

He led her over to the table and watched as she bent to smell the roses. Motioned for her to sit and then set about serving up the food. They ate in silence. He took out the two slices of chocolate cake and sat one in front of her. He watched her face light up as she took a bite. She closed her eyes and moaned in appreciation. He chuckled and her eyes popped open to the sudden noise. She looked at him questioningly, he just shook his head and she shrugged and tucked into her cake again.

They were done and he suddenly stood and disappeared, and then she heard music suddenly. He came to her side and extended his hand in silent question. She smiled up at him and took his hand. They swayed gently to the music. She rested her head against his chest and he looked down, completely in awe of this moment. He pressed a silent kiss to the top of her head and she looked up at him. As their faces inched closer she closed her eyes, they were centimeters apart when the door burst open.

Sybil ran in and looked terrified, "Mary, Mama, and Papa have all gone to the Dower House to ask Granny and Ellie who she is. Mary is on the war path. I'm sorry to cut this short but I think you both need to be there."

The music had stopped and the mood broken. Elsie looked at Charles questioningly. He ushered her out the back of the barn. There was another path that led to the Dower House. Sybil had followed them and was surprised to see this path. She kept close to the older couple who weren't talking but were firmly holding hands as if giving the one another strength.

They made it to the house quickly and went up through the servant's entrance. Elsie took the lead up the stairs. She heard Mary talking loudly and a sniffle from her daughter. She swiftly knocked and the trio was bade to enter.

She took in the sight and almost immediately went over to the settee where her daughter set with tears streaming down her face. She took her daughters hand into her own and her daughter immediately clapped her arms around her mother.

The family with the exception of Lady Sybil and the Dowager Countess were taken aback. They had never seen the Housekeeper show affection to anyone other than Lady Sybil. They watched as Mrs. Hughes rocked the girl slightly. The girl pulled back and looked at Elsie who nodded. The girl wiped her tears and then looked over to Violet and nodded. Violet looked at the two women on the settee and then to Carson who no one had really noticed come in. He steeled himself and then looked at her and nodded.

Violet cleared her throat just as Mary had opened up her mouth to speak. Violet shot her a look and Sybil elbowed her in the ribs. Violet began slowly, "This young lady is the daughter of two close people to this family. Her name is Elinor Kathleen Carson. Mrs. Hughes isn't really Mrs. Hughes; she hasn't been that for quite some time. She is really Elsie Carson. You see Carson and she have been married and they had a daughter. But they felt that they had to keep it a secret so she sent their only daughter to live with her sister in Argyll. The sister raised the girl as her own and Ellie is only now learning who her real parents are. So she is here to make a connection with them."

Robert and Cora's eyes were wide. Mary looked shocked. Sybil feigned amazement and Carson had gone over to stand behind the settee his family was on.

Mary was the first to recover and she shot out of her seat. "I cannot believe you didn't tell me Carson! I thought I was your favorite. I thought I could trust you to be truthful to me. You married the DRAGON? Why in the world would you not tell me about that or your daughter? I cannot believe you would do this to me!" She turned on her heal and was about to leave when she heard a mumble come from the other side of the room. She stopped and turned back to stalk to the settee.

"You must have trapped poor Carson into marrying you. You probably got pregnant by some random man and then put it off by pretending it was Carson's. The girl looks like you not him. So how are we to know? How is he to be absolutely sure that..."

Her tirade was cut short by Sybil's slap. Mary's eyes filled with tears that refused to fall. She turned and left the room with squared shoulders. Mrs. Carson looked at her hands folded in her lap. She felt Charles hand on her shoulder and Sybil sat on the other side of her. She heard Cora clear her throat. She looked up into her former employers eyes then stood to address her.

"Mrs…Carson. Is this why you left? Because you thought we wouldn't accept your marriage? We would have. Certainly, I am only sorry you didn't see that. Your daughter is absolutely lovely and if Mary would have cared to notice she has Carson's eyes."

"Milady, Mr. Carson and I have only been married in name for the past almost twenty years. There has been no relationship. The day I gave up my daughter almost certainly killed our marriage. Only recently have we tried to get back to sorts. The Dowager kindly offered to give my lass a place to stay and then Ellie happened to fall in love with Evelyn. She didn't intend to hurt Lady Mary…" Elsie trailed off not knowing how to continue without saying something about the little bitch, who had just cut her with untrue accusations.

Cora nodded and then motioned for her husband to get ready to go. "Carson, I suppose you would like to ride back with us since it is dark outside."

"Yes, Milady, although I would like to have a moment with my family." Carson watched his employer nod her ascent.

He brought his girls into a hug and heard a sob escape Elsie. He knew how she had taken those scathing accusations the first time, but this time was a whole different story. Ellie looked up at her dad who jerked his head towards the door. She left quietly as Elsie cried into his shoulder.

He finally got her calmed down enough to tell her he loved her before he had to leave. Elsie watched the car disappear down the road and as the tears tracked down her face she knew that this could be their new beginning.

thank you for reading! You all are awesome! please review=)

Samantha=) xoxo

(PS- i own absolutely nothing! promise!)