Author's Note: No Green today! Just playing around with perspective as well as a picture frame. Oh, and a reference to an earlier piece! Annnnndddd just a bit of sappiness.

Spoilers for Series 4, Episode 4 and technical spoilers for post-show (you'll see what I mean...)

She hadn't intended to walk away with a picture frame. But Mrs. Crawley was positively adamant the housekeeper receive something for helping Mr. Grigg out all that time ago. And when her eye was drawn to the frame, the aristocrat insisted on it at once.

It's already on its way to charity, Mrs. Hughes. I see no reason why you can't have it.

But, Mrs. Crawley, I'm afraid I've no use for such a thing.

Well, do you know someone who does?

I cannot think of anyone at this moment, no.

Not even Mr. Carson?

Well… I suppose he might be interested––

Perfect! If you won't take it for yourself, take it for him.

Now that hardly seemed appropriate. But before she could say another word, her hands were soon clutching a rather expensive looking picture frame and she was being sent on her way.

Well, she simply couldn't take Mrs. Crawley's advice. If she presented it to Mr. Carson without explanation, it would be seen as forward and the thing would be tossed. If he found out it'd come from Mrs. Crawley, it would become an outrage and the thing would, once again, be tossed.

Either way, gifting him with the frame did not suit her.

Only, what use did she have for it? Her family had neither the money nor the inclination to get their pictures done. Truth be told, photographs didn't mean all that much to the woman. The frame had only come to her attention because it'd reflected in the light. She wanted to make sure something of value wasn't about to become lost forever, nothing more.

Of course, there was no point in telling Mrs. Crawley that. No, the only thing to be done now was to manage it. Give it to someone else, someone other than the butler.

But who would want such a thing?

Elsie wasn't worrying her lip but it was a near thing. On closer inspection of the piece, she could confirm it was expensive. Which meant special consideration had to be given. If she handed this off to just anyone, it would wind up kicking up much more of a fuss than it already did.

Upon asking Beryl, Elsie got her answer at once:

And just what would I need it for?

She'd concurred, finding the situation to be particularly frustrating. The cook went on to imply she could give it to Mr. Carson, an idea that stopped the conversation at once.

Right. There was no point in asking Anna, not now. The lady's maid would probably find it to be an insult to her situation, causing her even more pain.

Mind, that didn't leave many options.

_._

Days after Grigg stepped out of his life, she stopped bothering him. He couldn't let the past go, didn't have the heart to toss that picture out. But the urge to spend his nights ruminating on the past had eased.

Unfortunately, that didn't mean those nights vanished.

The proof of that was the flyer now resting in his hands. The Lark and the Dove set to perform alongside the Cheerful Charlies. This was a relic that brought with it mixed feelings, regret churning into bemusement. Why had he clung to someone who was gentle, who was sweet, but who did not truly care for him?

Tonight, these were the questions that distracted him from the world. He would've denied it until he was blue in the face, but why else would he have missed the figure that lingered in the doorway?

_._

That little moment she glimpsed confirmed everything. He looked at that flyer much like he had Alice's photograph. That he was so unguarded, a regretful sentiment overtaking him –– well, she'd never seen the man like that before. The whole thing gave merit to Mrs. Crawley's suggestion and affirmed her own unspoken questions.

Elsie didn't need to ask to know that this Alice was someone he'd wanted to marry. That, if he had had the chance, he might never have stayed at Downton.

Now, that's a strange thought –– Mr. Carson not at Downton.

But there was no need to ruminate on that. What was important now was acknowledging the truth: he was fond of this woman, he had kept a picture of her all these years, and even though he'd only been studying a flyer, he would probably appreciate being able to see her properly framed after all this time.

The more she thought of it, the more she knew: this had to be the woman he'd been speaking of when he talked of not being a stranger to romance. The only woman he'd ever loved, judging from the way he acted.

Well, that settled it.

Alice may be gone but she could at least give him a chance to remember her.

Now it was a matter of figuring out how she would give him the frame. Much as the housekeeper wanted to place the picture in the frame herself, she'd rather not go through his personal possessions quite so soon. And though a small part of her would've preferred to leave it on his desk –– neatly wrapped with no note so as to avoid discussing a subject she was supposed to know nothing about –– there was hardly a point in doing that.

He would want to know the truth of the matter, she would be forced to reveal where she got it and what she knew, the frame would then be ruthlessly dismissed, and everything would become even more strained between them.

No, Elsie would have to give it to him personally. Which meant she needed to invent a reasonable excuse. Somehow she doubted it would work to say this was a thank you for his replacing her toaster, considering that had been over and done with two years now.

_._

Charles hadn't like witnessing that conversation between Mrs. Hughes and Anna. Efficiency may be something he prized, but the lady's maid wanting to move back into the house? It hadn't sat right with him for reasons he couldn't explain. But he had come to express his opinion of the subject of Miss Braithwaite's departure, not discuss Anna. And so that was what he would do.

"I'm sorry it didn't work out with Miss Braithwaite –– not that I care much for her. I'm sorry about the disruption for her Ladyship."

That seemed to have shaken the housekeeper out of her previous mood, "One of these days, I'll tell you the whole story." Much like the whole story with Anna? For he suspected there had to be a story with the lady's maid. "Then you'll be less sorry."

The butler nodded, distracted by the scene he'd just witnessed. He'd heard of how Anna'd accidentally hurt herself, but surely she would've bounced back by now? Except her spirit remained despondent, worryingly so. And why would she want to be here instead of her cottage? It made no sense.

"The truth is," Her words pulled Charles out of his reverie at once, the man straightening up in his chair, "We were mad as hatters to let her back in the house."

Really? And why's that? He'd already known Edna Braithwaite wasn't necessarily the most well-suited for the post, but she seemed to be implying more.

However, there would be no time to question Mrs. Hughes about it. Not when she was grasping something that looked suspiciously like–– "I've got a present for you."

What? There was no reason for this, none at all!

Hands quickly undid the flimsy wrapping, needing to get to the bottom of this. What exactly was going on here? Cryptic conversations with Anna, throwaway remarks about Braithwaite, and now this?

When a stunning picture frame was unwrapped, Charles found himself even more confused.

"It's for your desk."

That little comment didn't answer his curiosity, "What made you think of it?"

"Does a gift always require thought?"

It does when it's this expensive. Yet the man knew grumbling wouldn't get an explanation.

Still, that didn't mean there wasn't a slight snag: "I don't have anything for it."

"Don't you?" It seemed the housekeeper thought otherwise.

The truth was, he couldn't think of anything worth putting in such a nice frame.

"Nothing at all, Mr. Carson?" What was she playing at?

Unless, she means to say, Charles couldn't help but feel bewildered, glancing in the direction that held Alice's photograph. Surely, she didn't mean that photograph.

The woman followed his glance, turning back with a knowing air. That was precisely what she meant.

But, why? It's not as though I want to––

He stopped those thoughts at once but it was too late. Whether Charles finished them or not, he now knew the truth: Alice really had stopped haunting him. There were things from back then that needed to be dealt with, even he could see that. But he wasn't drawn to her in the same way he'd once been. For some reason, the idea of having her image in this beautiful frame felt wrong.

"Mr. Carson?" If only Mrs. Hughes didn't seem so determined about this. She wasn't saying much, but he could tell she thought it a kind sentiment to give him a chance to see Alice properly. Out in the open, not tucked away from the world. Although it was indeed a kind sentiment, it wasn't a fitting sentiment, not now. But it didn't seem kind to say as such, not when she'd gone to such efforts.

"Well," He didn't like lying to the housekeeper. But this wasn't exactly a lie, was it? "I'm sure there's something worthy of this frame."

"Oh, I think any picture will be worthy." There she went, trying to reassure him it was all right when he was busy trying to reassure her of the same.

"I'm sure you're right." It was an easy concession to make, all things considered. And it brought out a smile from her, so it was quite worth it.

But truth be told, that frame would be going without a picture for quite some time….

Today's Inspiration: "It's a sweet gesture on her part, giving the frame to him. But I don't know if he would really want to have that reminder in his life."

Author's Note: In spite of today's inspiration, I personally think her giving him the picture frame is entirely debatable and would be curious to hear your thoughts.

Either way, for those who want a post-show bonus scene wherein we solve the little mystery of what picture will be go in that frame, that scene is just below this note! The italicized part is from "Honourable" (think back to Series 1, Episode 2) and it picks up from there.

Regardless, as always, hope you enjoyed and that you have a lovely day!

Bonus Scene (Post-Show):

Six Years Later

"I admire you, you know."

"Oh?" That confused him, to say the least. "And why's that?"

"Because you let life change you. And, well," Her tone was far too casual to be unrehearsed, he knew this as a performer. That didn't keep him from startling, thrown off by this unexpected memory. "Do you not suppose that's the point of living?"

"You know," His hand hovered in the direction of the bin, delicately placing the photograph inside with more than just a bit of relief, "I do believe you're right."

Hours had gone by, Alice's photograph long gone. She thought the matter resolved, he was still finding the courage to ask a question that was now nearly six years old.

In the end, it was a matter of fishing the picture frame out of a box, wrapping it up in tissue paper, and––

"What's this?"

Charles continued to hold out the gift, having surrendered when it came to planning out his speech. He could only prepare so much. "It's for my desk."

"For your desk?" She chuckled, accepting it. "My, my."

The man gave a weak smile, not daring to laugh until all was well. She took this in with an arched eyebrow, meticulously unwrapping the paper to reveal the gift, "My, my."

He patiently waited for further elaboration, a little amused by his wife's reaction. To receive one my, my was fairly normal. Two, however, was anything but normal.

"I thought you said you were going to find something for this."

"There was nothing worthy," Charles gently reminded her, prompting the woman to roll her eyes. "But I've an idea about that."

"Which is why you've given it to me?" When he nodded in agreement, "I don't suppose you'd like to share this idea?"

"Well, now that you mention it," Elsie kept her breath bated as she waited, the woman rather fascinated with what he had to say. "There is one picture that I think would be worthy."

"Alluding to your idea is not the same thing as sharing it, Charlie."

Charles resisted the urge to grumble about being put on the spot, still unprepared to ask this question. Although he did want to keep stalling, she was right. "Right. Well, if I had to pick a picture,"

Except he mumbled the rest of it, the sounds nearly gibberish.

"I'm afraid I didn't catch that." Her smile just had to widen at his exasperation, didn't it? His wife just had to be thoroughly uninterested in keeping her mirth out of this, didn't she?

So be it. "It would have to be one of you."

"What?"

Charles couldn't help but feel a little pride for being able to stun her after all these years. He hadn't really done that since 1925, which made this all the more worthwhile.

Dutifully, he repeated himself and expanded on the thought: "I think the only picture worthy of such a frame would have to be one of you."

"You can't be serious!"

"Oh, but I'm afraid I am." And now it was his turn to watch her flounder about, the woman rather flustered by his proposition. Truly, he understood her earlier perspective: this was rather endearing to observe.

"But you see me every day," Elsie started up again, only he was having none of it. Not this time.

"And I would like to guarantee that, thank you." Because with her still working at the house, he sometimes didn't get to see her until very late, if at all. It was one of the only few frustrations that came with their life together. A necessary part of their life but a frustrating one, nevertheless.

Elsie glanced back at the frame before fixing him with another stare, faintly blushing. "Well, when you put it like that, I suppose I can allow it."

He perked up but she wasn't finished: "So long as I get a picture of you, too."

Sputtering was a quaint term for what he did in this moment.

She unabashedly continued, "For my desk, if you will."