It's been a long time since I've added to this collection of one shots, but this idea came to me last night and so here we are. Enjoy! :)

Surprise Visitor

Charlotte (5)

As Elsie pulled the pie out of the oven and set it down on the counter top, she was sure she heard the faintest of knocks on the front door. She paused for a moment, arching her neck closer toward the door and glancing out the front window to see if she saw anyone. Assuming she was hearing things, she shook her head and returned to her dessert. It was her husband's birthday tomorrow and he had requested this pie. Technically, he wanted the one from Ms. Patmore, but Elsie was determined to show him that she could make a pie just as good as hers.

There came another knock and then the unmistakable sound of little Charlotte's voice.

"Godmama! Godpapa! Hello? Are you here?"

Elsie quickly made her way to the front door and swung it open. There, all by herself, stood Charlotte. It was cold out and the girl didn't have on any sort of coat or any shoes. Elsie glanced around in search of Anna, Mr. Bates, or even her older siblings, but she was all alone.

"Charlotte! What on earth! You'll catch a chill. Come on inside," Elsie motioned for the little girl to come inside. But the stubborn thing, just loudly sighed and then grabbed at Elsie's hand.

"Come on!" She said, pulling her out the door.

"Where's your mother? Your father? Jack? Madeline? How did you get here all alone?" Elsie questioned, confused on how the girl had made it all the way here by herself. The journey from the hotel was at least a fifteen minute walk on foot and Charlotte had a much smaller stride than she did.

"Papa's off with Lord Grantham. Madeline and Jack are at school. Come on!" Charlotte encouraged again. Elsie's eyes fell to Charlotte's feet, which were covered in dirt. Her brows furrowed.

"How did you get here?" Elsie asked her, now bending down to the little girl's level. "Where's your mum?"

Charlotte pursed her lips together into a determined line. "She's very sick! She needs help!"

"She's sick?"

"Yes, please come on! We can't take any longer!"

"Alright, alright," Elsie quickly replied. She stood, grabbing her jacket. Then she scanned the room for something to put over Charlotte's shoulders. She didn't have any shoes the young girl could wear, but perhaps there was a shawl or something she could put over her top. Finding a small blanket, she tied it around Charlotte's neck and then lifted her up into her arms. "Let's go."

They made the journey as swiftly as Elsie could with Charlotte on her hip. While the little girl was insistent that she could walk, Elsie didn't want her to accidently step in something that could cut her.

When they reached the hotel, Elsie stepped inside. Right away, she saw Anna pacing around the front desk with tears falling down her cheeks.

"Charlotte! This isn't funny. Where are you?" Anna was calling up the stairs. She turned and saw Elsie holding Charlotte and her entire body relaxed. Making her way over toward them, she pulled Charlotte from Elsie's arms. "Oh my god! Where have you been?"

"She came to my house," Elsie answered. It was then that she saw how pale Anna's face was with the blush of her cheeks, to signify that she had a fever. Elsie brought the back of her hand up to rest on Anna's forehead and she frowned. "You're burning up."

"I'll be fine," Anna claimed, holding Charlotte close. She returned her attention to her young daughter. "Why did you leave?"

"You need help!" Charlotte exclaimed. "You're sick!"

"You can't just leave the house, my little one," Anna said, rubbing the back of her fingers against Charlotte's little cheek. "You could have gotten hurt."

"But I didn't! I'm very smart and very strong," Charlotte insisted. Anna chuckled slightly, but she also wavered on her feet.

"You are, but you also can't leave alone. You're too little. You had me very worried." Anna's fingers then took a hold of Charlotte's dirty feet. "And now you need a bath."

"Let me handle that," Elsie stated, reaching back for Charlotte. "And you go on to bed. I'm calling Dr. Clarkson."

"I'm fine, truly," Anna asserted, again. "We have guests coming in shortly and I haven't gotten their room ready."

"Isn't that what your staff is for?"

"Yes," Anna mumbled. "I'll call them down to help."

"Right, good," Elsie said. "Then up to bed with you. I'll get Charlotte in the bath and into fresh clothes. You need to rest up. Where's Mr. Bates?"

"Lord Grantham asked if he wouldn't go on a short trip with him this week," Anna answered. "Madeline and Jack should be home within the hour."

"I'll prepare them some snacks. You go to bed, now, alright? I can take the children home with me tonight so you can rest."

"You don't need…." But Anna paused her words when she saw that Elsie was not going to allow her to argue. "Oh, alright."

Elsie went on to take Charlotte to the back where they lived and to prepare her a bath. Before doing so, she rang for the doctor.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Dr. Clarkson came down the stairs while Elsie and the children played a card game. As he stepped downstairs, Charlotte rushed up to him and gave him a serious look.

"How is she, Doctor?" Dr. Clarkson gave her a wink and patted her head.

"It's just a cold. But she does need some rest."

"But she'll be alright?" Charlotte questioned, her strong demeanor fading slightly

"Yes. She will," he promised.

"Thank you, Dr. Clarkson," Elsie told him. The doctor told them goodbye and left the hotel. Elsie went to make sure the staff had everything covered for the evening, before packing up the children to come with her to her cottage.

When she peaked in on Anna, she saw she was asleep. She left her a note and then walked the children back to her home.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"What's all this?" Carson asked, when Elsie walked in with the three children. He had been off on an outing when Charlotte had shown up.

"We're staying with you tonight! I came all the way here all by myself and Mummy is sick! But Godmama called the doctor and now we're staying here!" Charlotte excitedly explained. Carson just narrowed his eyes, flummoxed. Elsie shook her head.

"I'll explain it all to you later. Come on children, let's go and prepare the guest room for you tonight."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

That night, as Elsie tucked them into bed, Charlotte held on tightly to her hand.

"Mummy will be alright, won't she?"

"Yes, sweetheart, she will be."

"Good."

"You were very brave, coming all this way to get me. But next time, you can't leave all by yourself. How about we learn how to use the telephone tomorrow so you can call me next time if there is an emergency?"

Charlotte pondered this and then nodded.

"Alright. I think I'd like that." Elsie smiled and kissed the top of Charlotte's head.

"Goodnight, my love."

"Goodnight, Godmama. I love you."