*Three weeks later*

The church bell rang as Elsie, Joe, Thomas and Anna chatted in the courtyard with the few neighbors who bothered to show up for Charlie's christening. Pretending to examine the relief sculptures above the church's archway stood an awkward and lonely Charles Carson.

"I should have written to you earlier but thank you for Charlie's gown, it's lovely."

Charles held up a hand "Think nothing of it. I behaved rather poorly when we last spoke, and I feel it's a small way to beg your forgiveness."

"Rest assured you are forgiven Mr. Carson." She flashed him a loving smile that stayed even when she noticed Joe flagging down her attention "It looks as if everyone is ready to move this little party back to the farm; let's go."

"Are you certain you wish me to come? Only I didn't feel as if Mr. Burns was comfortable with my being there last month."

"Of course I want you to come! Thomas and Anna may be Charlies godparents, but for as long as we worked together you and I are practically family." Now it was Charles turn to return her smile "And you could start calling him Joe if you don't want him to think you stuffy."

Back at the farm luncheon had been served and Elsie topped up cups with ale and passed around helpings of chestnut cake, happily noting that Thomas fell right back in with Aiden, Colin, and Peter, who seemed to be taking a shine to Anna. Like a true solider, Charlie made his way around their little party without making a fuss even though he was overdue for his nap. Joe on the other hand was telling stories to the Abernathy's, Dempster's and old Mrs. Maxton in a brogue so thick even she had trouble understanding the words leaving his mouth. Once again Charles was stuck in the middle of the table, unsure of what to do, with no one more than his cup to talk to.

Satisfied that everyone had something in front of them, Elsie placed the jug of ale on the table to find an open spot on the bench where she could chat with her solitary friend. As she rounded the table, an arm wrapped around her middle and pulled her in close.

"Alright, shut it ya reprobates!" Joe said standing up. He'd clearly had too much to drink and Elsie wanted nothing more than to escape before he embarrassed them both "As you all know by now Elsie's been avoiding me hand for years now, but it looks as if I finally caught me lass." Everyone eyed each other with the same question on their mind "Elsie and I are gettin married!"

The table erupted in cheers and Elsie was immediately swarmed by friends offering their congratulations; Joe's bride had finally come home. Even Peter gave her a peck on the cheek and called her mother, albeit with a rather grim look on his face. It wasn't till everyone settled back down that she realized one guest hadn't been part of the merry bunch, and it was the one whose blessing she wanted the most.

Slipping out the back door she looked around for a sign as to where the man had gotten to. Ah good, the barn door is open. What had started out as merely a drizzle became a solid rain in the short time it took her to cross the field. Peeking inside, the scene she witnessed broke down any remaining walls she tried to build between him and her. The stern butler who was born to steer a ship of brick and stone through seas of propriety… was sat atop a hay bale tenderly petting one of the barn cats curled up in his lap with another stretched out against his thigh. The ale has put a healthy glow about his face which he has paired with a sad smile only meant for her.

"It looks as if Downton has lost you for good."

She sat next to him on the bale and scratched the chin of the second cat. Downton. It was always the house with him. Why couldn't he just come out and say he would miss her? She might go home if he would only ask her properly. But she should not think of Downton as home now.

"Is it such a surprise? You lost me the day Charlie came into this world, I told you so when we last saw each other. Besides, the big house is no home for a wee bairn." She's reasoned reluctantly and he looks almost insulted that she doesn't think of the abbey as a natural nursery.

She scoots a little closer to his warmth as the rain starts coming down in buckets and asks how things are at Downton. Anna, O'Brien and Mrs. Patmore have been splitting her duties as he looks for a suitable replacement. "Looks like Mrs. Patmore finally got the storeroom key." She jests.

For a moment it is like they were back in his pantry or her sitting room and she feels a familiar warmth pooling low in her belly as he goes on about the family and the staff. For just a moment she closes her eyes and she is home.

Their moment is ruined when a cat spooks them both by jumping down from the loft to her lap and sending them back into the giant pile of hay. Laughter rings out as they roll about in the straw, unable to right themselves in the seemingly baseless heap. Charles finally manages to get a solid mass under his hand only to have his elbow give way and he is pinning Elsie beneath his weight. Their laughter ceases as they lay there, faces mere inches away from the other, in an atmosphere that is thick with unspoken love. Her heart is hammering against her breast as he lowers his lips to hers and captures them in a soft embrace. When he pulls away, she is breathless and her heart has returned to normal. Everything about him feels so right, being beneath him feels so right. Reaching up, she cups his smooth cheek and gently pulls him down for another and revels in his unique scent of fine aftershaves mixed with the silver polish he uses daily. When they pull away again to look at each other, she can tell from the look in his eye that whatever is there between them is over and this is the goodbye to what never existed in the first place.

With Charles just behind her, she is the first to struggle up into a sitting position only to come face to face with Joe. He is standing there, drenched, with red eyes and his heart in his hands.

"I can explain." She says, but she may not be able to dig herself out of this hole.