Hi darlings! The 17th chapter is now officially finished…And it's a LOT longer than I originally planned, but we might as well celebrate- well, I don't really know, the words just sort of didn't stop coming... Anyways! I certainly hope you enjoy this chapter! Please don't hesitate to leave me a review, they always give me motivation to continue writing and I love reading them. Excuse any possible typos. I'll see you soon! Stay safe, lovelies! 3

Saturday 4th, the evening

They had luckily made it safely back to their own cottage later that Saturday evening. The rain had stopped, and they decided to take a leisure stroll around the grounds, under the shining moonlight, slowly making their way home. His lordship had told them to go home early that night and to not worry about the dinner service, and the couple happily obeyed. Once they got home, they had a "picnic" by the fire, a delicious meal prepared by Mrs. Patmore and cuddled under a blanket, reminiscing the gentle, lovely moments they've spent in the exact position in front of the fire during the years…They both had shed a few tears, but happy tears, both feeling relieved to be having each other during this drastic change. They had stayed up late, and when they got to bed, they fell asleep right away, curled against each other. The morning came too soon for both of them…

Sunday 5th, Downton Abbey, drawing room

The hours passed quickly. Morning with its duties soon turned to day. When lunch time came, she returned to their cottage, trying to enjoy the last lunch in their own cottage…After that Charles walked her back, staying at the Abbey after Mr. Barrow had asked his guidance over a very important matter (Elsie told herself the young man was rather melancholy that the retired butler would be leaving, even if he didn't say it out loud). She went through the rotas for the days to come, checked everything was well upstairs, and as always nothing was out of line, had tea with her husband, ended a quarrel between Daisy and one of the maids (for the third time that week, mind you) and spend almost an hour in her sitting room, just wondering and thinking…Life really had a weird way for her and Charles.

She had just finished tidying up her sitting room, packing the last of her belongings from the room when her ladyship requested the housekeeper upstairs. The thoughtful person that Elsie was, she brough a tray of tea along with her.

"You are an angel, Mrs. Hughes. I've had a terrible afternoon so far and I doubt it will get any better."

"Not at all, milady."

She turned to pour them both a cup of tea and handed Lady Grantham her cup before receiving the permission to sit down.

"I heard from Barrow that Carson is downstairs?"

"Yes, he walked me back to the Abbey after we had lunch at the cottage, and Mr. Barrow wanted his opinion on something very important, so he remained. I gather they are going through something in the wine cellar.", Elsie explained with a smile.

"Quite right.", the lady replied, a bit absent minded.

"So, what did you want to discuss with me, milady? I know there is the housekeeper business to sort out before our...Departure."

"Oh, yes. I think we both can agree that Ms. Baxter would be the best candidate?", at Elsie firm nod, Cora continued."But I'm worried it will be too much for her, to look after me and the house?"

"I have no doubts Ms. Baxter can manage, milady. She takes her job very seriously and she gets along with Mr. Barrow. And, if I may say so, she shouldn't have much trouble getting a hold of the accounts as I have made sure she is well trained and done the accounting very clearly myself for the last 30 years."

"Well, that comes without saying, Mrs. Hughes. Very well. We are in agreement. You have managed to ease my worries.", Cora smiled brightly, sipping her tea."You shall announce our decision as planned."

"Very good, milady.", Elsie nodded and listed one thing off from her long list of duties.

"I hope we haven't caused you too much trouble with the last-minute preparations, I know you have a lot to do personally?"

"Your ladyship, I think we all have to pitch in to get the outdone we all shall wish for. And you and his lordship have been very generous."

"Of course. Just say if you need anything else.", Cora encouraged.

The two women fell into a comfortable conversation over everything that had happened during the last week, and what would happen in the days to come. They made arrangements and plans…Just like they always did, before they knew anything about the Princess of Scotland amongst them.

Elsie took a sip of the warm tea. In the corner of her eye, she watched Lady Grantham gently fidget with the hem of her shirt, hiding a slight agony- Elsie observed. She was not used to seeing the great lady in a state. Cora Crawley, maybe as the lady of the house, reminded Elsie greatly of her own mother…Well, who she always thought was her mother, until…They both knew what they wanted in life and were never afraid to show that, not even when heads would turn their way. Elsie had always admired her employer and when she was to join the upper-class, she wished to get to know the woman a bit better.

"Your ladyship, is everything quite alright?"

Cora lifted her gaze to meet Elsie's, whose eyebrows were lifted in question. She waited a moment to give her a rather suppressed smile and said;

"I would think you'd have bigger worries than that, Mrs. Hughes, but I do appreciate you asking."

And they fell into an uncomfortable silence.

"Milady, as I am already sitting here, and I have nowhere else to be right now, you can't be a bother if you tell me what is bothering you.", she said gently, but firmly.

Like a mother would to a child, noted Cora, and finally spoke again.

"It's the business with lady Mary. She has overstepped the line, greatly this time."

She had guessed right…Elsie contemplated what to say carefully before opening her mouth;

"That, I can agree, is quite true, but milady, it is not your fault. Lady Mary reacted to the sudden news…A bit too- Well, the point is that Lady Mary is a grown woman, it is not your job to keep her in check."

"Oh, how I wish she knew how to keep herself in check. Sometimes she surprises me, saying something kind about Lady Edith, but otherwise…I feel like she hasn't grown at all since 1912s."

They both chuckled at that and fell into a silence once again.

"If it makes you feel any better, milady, I don't blame her. In fact, I think I would have reacted to the news with much more ange- Passion, had it not been me who it had concerned."

She let the words sink in, watching the lady's lips form the tiniest of smiles.

"Thank you, Mrs. Hughes. I have absolutely no idea how we are going to keep the house standing without you…"

"Well, I dare say you certainly haven't let change come in the way before, don't let it come this time either."

Just when she had said that, the door to the room opened and Andrew stepped in.

"Andrew, what is it?"

"Mr. Barrow will be ringing the dinner gong in a quarter, he asked me to let you know.", Andrew replied curtly.

"Goodness, is it already that late? I'm afraid I've kept you too long, Mrs. Hughes."

The housekeeper quickly glanced at the clock on the wall. They didn't normally ring the gong this early, did they? Well, she must have seen wrong.

"Not at all, your ladyship. I should get downstairs."

"Yes, Of course…", Cora forced a smile, and Elsie did notice that."…Good night…"

"Good night, your ladyship."

Walking past Andrew, Elsie exited the room and started making her way to the green baize door, only to realize the footman had disappeared somewhere. She looked around the hall, but saw no one. That was odd, she thought. When turning to continue her way downstairs, she heard the very familiar footsteps coming her way. Charles was looking very determined and when she was close enough, she questioned him;

"I thought you were in the wine cellar with Mr. Barrow?", Elsie asked, her eyebrows shot up.

"Anna told me you had been asking for me, so I came up. Weren't you supposed to be with her ladyship?"

"I never did. Andy just came in to announce Mr. Barrow would be ringing the gong in a quarter, so I left her ladyship."

"But dinner won't be in two hours!", Charles pouted in agony.

"That's what I thought too. And then Andy just…Disappeared somewhere.", Elsie thought out loud."Are they trying to tell us we should leave already?"

Neither of them laughed at the joke. It was a weird business. Now that Elsie thought about it, her ladyship had been a bit weird all day, just like everyone else. Mrs. Patmore kept stumbling around the kitchen when Elsie had talked to her about today's dinner, and Ms. Baxter had almost ripped one of her ladyship's brand-new scarves when the housekeeper had addressed her…Not forgetting how the family had been avoiding her all day long, Elsie glanced at Charles, knowing he was thinking the same thing as she; get to the bottom of this.

"Let's go downstairs to see what's going on."

And with that the couple descended the servant's staircase, all the way down.

"What do you think is going on?", Elsie asked Charles as they walked down the stairs together.

"I don't know, but I don't like it."

"What did you and Mr. Barrow do all this time?"

"Why? He asked my advice on how I normally organized a wedding's wine order."

At least one part had been true, Elsie shrugged. Feeling Charles look intently at her, she replied;

"No reason, I was just trying to make sense of it all."

They stayed silent for a while (with only her heels hitting the stone stairs echoed in the cold stairway), soon realizing they could hear no sound coming from the servant's quarters, which was certainly something that would alarm them.

"What in God's name is going on?", Elsie bellowed.

They soon reached the door that separated the long stairway from the servants' facilities. Charles held the door open for her, so she could walk past him. Walking down the small stairs they made it to the last landing. The kitchen was empty, there was no one in the hallways and still, no sound. Turning so she could have a look into the servant's hall, only to-

"Surprise!", echoed through the hallways.

There in the servant's hall, before the couple, stood every member of the staff, everyone smiling from ear to ear. Elsie felt her mouth fall open and brought a hand to cover her shock. She noted, they had brought the gramophone down and on the table was all2 her favourite treats, prepared by Mrs. Patmore.

"We hope you won't mind, but Anna and Ms. Baxter thought it a lovely idea to throw you a farewell party.", Mr. Barrow smiled from one corner of the full room."And, we all might have a hand in it.-"

Now that they thought about it, it wasn't such a good idea. When they didn't hear an answer from the housekeeper in a long time, they started to worry she might have hurt her feelings. And they didn't even dare to think about what lie behind the stoic retired butler's face…Mrs. Patmore replied to break the silence.

"We can clear everything up and we'll have dinner normal-"

"Mind? Why on earth would I mind?"

Elsie had blurted that out like it was as obvious as the sun on the sky. She was honoured. She felt happy and thrilled, that someone had made something like this for her. Of course, she was also impressed they had managed to keep her in the dark. She did have a way of knowing everything that was going on under the Abbey's roof, up and down. She turned to look at her husband, worried that he might be feeling differently, but when she saw the obvious smile on his lips, she knew he was just as proud of them as she was.

It didn't take them long to get the party started. Chatter and laughter filled the whole servant's floor, echoing loud and clear for the family to hear. They all, except for lady Mary, joined their servants not long later. Andrew took care that they all had something to drink and eat, Molesley (who had come down to the house for the party) chose something to play on the gramophone and everyone had a great time. Family and servants included. Everyone wanted to offer their well wishes for the departing couple and the Carsons were happy to receive them, sad to be leaving.

"The last weeks have gone by too quickly.", said Mrs. Patmore as she approached her dear friend.

"You couldn't put it any better. I shall miss all this.", Elsie sighed, smiling at the cook.

"I don't doubt that."

The two friends stood in silence for a moment. They both understood these would be the last moments they'd have together.

"I do hope you'll be missing us too.", Beryl whispered quietly.

Elsie turned her head to look at her and said;

"I wish I wouldn't, it would make parting much easier. But I will, very much.", Elsie told her."You've been a good friend to be, Beryl. You've been there for me when no one else was. And I hope we can stay in touch."

"That would be an honour. I shall make sure I write to you."

"Good. I wouldn't want it any other way."

Elsie gently took her friend's hand in hers, upon seeing the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes.

"I will come to see you. We'll come to visit, Charles and I. You mustn't think this will be a final goodbye, I won't allow it to be."

"And I thank you for it…Elsie. But you will have a completely new life ahead of you, it will be almost impossible for you to keep your life the way it was.", Beryl murmured, patting her eyes dry with her handkerchief."And heaven knows what the King would think of such a thing."

"Let us worry about those things when it's time to cross that bridge. I won't let them chance me, I can promise you that."

"No. No, I didn't think you would."

They both chuckled, it was bitter-sweet now that they thought about it.

"What is so funny?"

The cook and housekeeper stumbled quiet for a moment, before Elsie spoke up again;

"Never you mind, milord. It's very kind of you to join us tonight. I couldn't imagine a better way to spend our last night at Downton."

"Oh, I doubt that-", murmured Mrs. Patmore under her breath, so only the housekeeper heard her.

"Not at all, Mrs. Hughes. It's an honour. You have been nothing less, but loyal to my family, and I feel like this is a little pay of everything you've done.", Lord Grantham smiled, taking a sip of his champagne.

"Of course, your lordship. I thank you for saying so."

Elsie really was grateful. The family had shown her and Charles great care during the past weeks, and she had a hard time believing she hadn't thought they cared about their staff before…Now she knew she had been wrong.

"And- Is Lady Mary going to join us?"

Lord Grantham looked up from his drink, forcing a half smile.

"I doubt that.", he replied."Well, I'll go have a word with Carson."

"Of course."

Soon Elsie was already having a discussion with Mr. Molesley and Ms. Baxter, who had already been informed about her promotion by her ladyship. She was smiling all evening, although Elsie could not blame her for it. Ms. Baxter was a lovely woman and she certainly deserved it.

"I do hope you are ready for this position, I have no doubt that you aren't, but I have to ask?"

"I am, Mrs. Hughes. I won't be able to fill your shoes of course, but I will do my best. Hopefully that will be enough.", said Phyllis Baxter.

"It will be, eventually at least. It will take a few months to get used to it, but you'll do great. And if you need anything, help with something, you can always ask her ladyship. She will be more than willing to help you, I can tell you that.", Elsie smiled, trying to give the young woman good cards for the start of her new life as the housekeeper of Downton Abbey.

"I shall do that. Thank you, Mrs. Hughes."

They sipped their drinks for a while, Elsie chatting away with Mr. Molesley about his job and Downton.

"I haven't been at Downton even half the time everyone else have, but I know it won't be the same without you, and Mr. Carson. You will be greatly missed."

"Thank you, Ms. Baxter.", the housekeeper kindly told the lady's maid."I promise I'll write."

Mr. Molesley almost choked on his drink, turning Elsie and Ms. Baxter's heads in his direction. Receiving a letter from a royal! Oh, he was about to burst!

Elsie then made her way to Mr. Barrow, who was standing in the corner of the room.

"Mrs. Hughes.", he greeted her.

"One would think you didn't like us, Mr. Barrow. It's not very polite to creep in the corners.", she teased, stepping to stand next to him.

Thomas turned to look at her with raised eyebrows.

"I'm only joking.", Elsie brushed it off with a laugh.

"You've been rather popular this evening."

"It seems I have. So has Mr. Carson."

"Hmm."

She examined his face.

"Is there something wrong, Mr. Barrow?", Elsie asked gently.

"Why would anything be wrong?", he asked, way too quickly.

"I don't know. Only you seem a bit preoccupied at the moment."

"Well, maybe I am."

"Can I do something to make you feel a bit better?"

"I don't think so, but thank you for asking. You have always been on my side.", Thomas smiled warmly.

"An odd many people have said that to me. And I am happy to be."

"I sometimes wonder if there is a- Person, out there who would have my back without me having to fear for what I am."

Elsie placed her right hand on his arm, giving it a gently squeeze.

"I know you wish the world was a better place."

"Is it right for me to wish such a thing, Mrs. Hughes?"

"I think it is.", she nodded before adding."It will get better, Mr. Barr- Thomas. I know it will."

While they had been talking, some of the servants had moved the big table to the side of the room, making room for everyone to dance. Elsie watched her husband dance with Lady Grantham, next to them was Anna and Mr. Bates, somehow wobbling around, and Daisy and Andrew. She would have liked to dance with Charles, but she wouldn't push him if he didn't feel like it in front of the family. They had done it at their wedding reception, but today it would be a bit different.

"Would you like to dance, Mrs. Hughes? I know for a fact that you are quite a dancer."

"Do you? Well, I'd be delighted."

He took her hand and led her to the small "dance floor" in the middle of the room. Just when they were about to start dancing, she heard a very familiar voice from the doorway;

"Good evening."

It was Lady Mary.

"Excuse me, Mr. Barrow.", Elsie politely excused herself to walk to Charles.

She didn't want things to get nasty. Again.

Everyone in the small hall knew what had happened between the lady and the Carsons, and none of them were too pleased to see her downstairs. Lord Grantham had moved to his daughter, whispering;

"Don't make things worse than they already are."

"I'm not going to.", Lady Mary said determinedly to her father, then addressed the couple in question."Carson, Mrs. Hughes? Might I have a word?"

They distressedly started making their way to his pantry when Mr. Branson spoke up.

"You can say it here, Mary."

Hesitating just a bit, Mary nodded. The three of them stood for a long time, just in silence, Elsie worrying her lower lip.

"I've made a mistake.", blurted the lady.

"Mil-"

"Let me talk.", at the Carsons' nod, she continued."I didn't think the news were right at the time. I now know I was wrong…I had no right to act the way I did. I wish I could take it all back, although I can't, and I would have liked to be on your side…Just like you have always been on my."

The last words were directed towards Charles. Elsie looked up to examine his face, but he didn't give anything away. Not even to her.

"I know I did wrong. I have been a horrible person…I will beg for both of your forgiveness, but it shall be your own decision should you accept my apology."

"Lady Mary, I won't deny that how you behaved was wrong. I think a great many people would think it enough to not accept your apology.", Elsie gently spoke.

"I understand."

"No, I don't think you do, milady.", she smiled, lifting the lady's down casted face to look at her."I accept your apology. I have no wishes to part in bad terms with anyone."

"Oh-", beamed the young lady."Thank you!"

"I think you have learned your lesson from this, milady."

Those were the first words Charles had spoken this whole time.

Lady Mary nodded;

"I won't ever do it again."

"Then you have my forgiveness too. I can't very well disagree with my own wife.", he smiled warmly.

The lady rushed to kiss his cheek, making him blush. Elsie just shook her head at the pair. They parted, both smiling.

A while passed with no words, just quiet. No one in the room dared to moved or say anything. Everyone had stopped what they had been doing, to watch the exchange. Mr. Branson and Lord Grantham both sighed in relief. Mrs. Patmore smiled at Daisy, Anna and Bates exchanged a look of love between them and Lady Grantham thanked their lucky stars that it was their housekeeper and ex-butler who her daughter had angered.

Everyone slowly continued with the party, conversation starting again. Suddenly Lady Mary bursted;

"Oh, I almost forgot!"

Both Carsons looked at her in awe. What was she doing?

"Your majesties.", Lady Mary dropped to curtsy before them.

Charles and Elsie looked at each other in great shock. They didn't give the couple a moment to react, as everyone else in the room slowly followed her lead. One by one, everyone from Mrs. Patmore and Daisy to Lord Grantham, had lowered themselves before them.

It took her everything not to faint when she realised what was happening. A lump formed in her throat, and she was at the loss of words. So was Charles too. Reaching for his hand, he took it, giving it a gentle squeeze. It all made their new life feel so terribly real.

"Well, this is certainly something to get used to.", murmured Charles when he finally found the words.

Everyone in the room laughed.