A/N: Only one more chapter and this tale is finished. Thank you for the reviews.

Edith laughed as she walked into the room to see Charles holding a squalling Wee Elsie out in front of him, a frown upon his face, a wet spot on his shirt. He'd mellowed since coming to live with their little family, something she was sure that his relationship with Elsie had played a large part, but he hadn't mellowed so much that this sort of thing didn't upset him.

"Nanny leave you with her wee lassie for a moment, Carson?"

Charles looked at Edith and raised an eyebrow at her barely controlled mirth. "She had to step out a moment. The babe started fussing so I came to see if I could settle her back to sleep." He scowled down at his shirt. "This was my reward."

Edith bit her lip, not quite catching the snicker that overcame her at the look on Charles' face and the disgusted tone of his voice which he hadn't even tried to hide. "That is what babies do, Carson. Don't tell me this has never happened to you before. Surely one of us managed to do that," she pointed at the wet spot even as she reached out to take the baby from him.

"No. Mostly certainly not."

Not being able to keep her laughter in any longer, Edith chuckled as she walked to the changing table. "I'll take care of her, Carson."

Charles rolled his eyes, not really seeing the humor in the situation. "I'll go then and change my shirt," he muttered.

Edith looked down at the baby and tickled her gently. "You've upset your teddy bear, Wee Elsie."

"Charles Carson, whatever in the world!" Edith heard Elsie's voice then her laughter followed by Charles' blustering. She laughed harder at that then smiled widely when she heard her baby's squeal of excitement as she kicked her legs and flayed her arms about.

Pinning the nappy into place, Edith lifted the baby and fixed her dress then nuzzled her chubby cheek. "We mustn't let Carson see you so happy about his blustering. He'd be ever so cross."

EEE

Elsie had nearly been bowled over by a grumbling Charles Carson as she came from her room, heading in the direction of the nursery. "Charles Carson, whatever in the world!" she shouted as she stumbled back against the wall, her eyes catching sight of the wet spot on his shirt. Looking in the direction he'd been coming from then back to him, her mind put two and two together and she began to laugh.

"I do not find the humor in, in," he snarled and pointed at his soiled shirt. "in this!" he finally blustered. "Elsie Hughes! Control yourself!" he grumbled.

Elsie shook her head as she held her sides. She couldn't stop laughing. The look on Charles' face, his blustering, both were priceless. She could see that he was getting more irritated, but that only added to her mirth.

"Elsie!" Charles huffed then shook his head and moved passed her. "I'm going to change. Perhaps when I'm through you'll have calmed yourself."

Elsie cleared her throat to stop herself from laughing. Moving to stand in front of Charles, she placed her hands on his arms. "Come now, Charlie," she purred. "She's a wee lassie. She did'na soil ye shirt on purpose."

Charles felt his body reacting at her slip into her natural brogue and growled, "Dear god in heaven, Elsie Hughes, you mustn't do that."

"I mustn't?"

Narrowing his eyes, Charles grabbed her hands. "You're dangerous when you talk like that and you know it. Now behave and go check on your wee lassie while I change my shirt."

Elsie smiled as she lifted their hands to her mouth and gently kissed the backs of his. "I'm sure she's fine with her mother, but I still need to go on about my business so that we can have our night out."

Caressing her cheek, Charles leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'm looking forward to our night. I think you'll like what I have planned."

"Mmm, if it's anything like the last time, I'm positive I'll love it."

"Elsie!" Charles hissed even as he smiled and shook his head.

Elsie laughed as she walked off, exaggerating the sway of her hips to tease Charles just a bit more before she disappeared around the corner and made her way to the nursery.

Charles shook his head and turned to walk to his room to change. The woman was going to drive him mad. He hoped she would like the surprise he had for her tonight. Mr. Gregson had agreed to help him, and he knew that Elsie would be happy to have her surrogate family there, sans baby of course.

He shook his head at the thought of the little bit of soft, chubby cuteness. She'd grown so much since he'd come to live and work here, and every day he saw more and more of her mother in her. It had taken a lot for him to grow accustomed to Elsie being called Mum and to calling Lady Edith simply Mrs. Gregson, but he had and he had felt his heart swell when Wee Elsie had looked at Elsie and called her Nana, not Nanny. He had seen the tears in Elsie's eyes as she picked the babe up and held her close.

He didn't see much of the family, his hurt still too fresh to forgive them for the way they treated Elsie. He supposed if they would apologize it would go a long way toward helping him with forgiveness, but so far, they all seemed to simply ignore everything that had been said and done after the truth came out.

He knew that Elsie still refused to go near the family with the exception of the Dowager. He shook his head as he tugged a clean shirt on. Never in all his years did he think he would see the day that the two women got along or even remotely liked each other, but not only did they get along – the Dowager actually smiled when she had accidentally overheard Edith call Elsie, Mum.

He smiled as his thoughts turned back to Elsie. He'd been courting her since the day they'd brought her home to a small little party to celebrate her being released from hospital. Those first few weeks had been a bit crazy as they tried to get things ready to move to the new home Mr. Gregson had found as well as trying to keep Elsie from overworking herself.

Finished redressing, he stepped out into the hall only to be met by the woman he'd been thinking of.

"I thought you'd gotten lost." Elsie smiled up at him.

Shaking his head, he reached out to caress her cheek. "Lost in thought. The house isn't so big as to get lost in."

Elsie leaned into his touch. "The Gregsons are dining out tonight. I'm afraid I'll have to stay in with Wee Elsie."

Charles smiled, the first part of his plan having been put into motion. "That's quite alright. I don't mind staying in with you and the lassie," he told her, trying to imitate her brogue.

Elsie gently smacked his chest. "Don't tease, Charles."

Pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, Charles let go of her. "I'd best be going. I've a meeting with Mr. Gregson."

"I'll see you later then."

"Most definitely."