There is a season 4 picture of Cora floating around on Tumblr that caught my eye. She is looking older and sadder than any of the season 1 pictures of the character. It made me wonder what Robert would think as he looked at her, realizing what had caused some of the lines of sadness. That's where I started this little piece and it manipulated itself, becomming something a little different than what I had started out to write. Still, I hope you like it;-)

She turned to look at him, giving him that look, the one that always made his heart skip a beat before beating faster; the one that made him putty in her hands. All he could do was smile at her across the room, smile and wish the others would disappear.

She turned back to the conversation with his mother and Isobel, a faint smile still on her lips. She knew what she had done to him, the mush to which she had reduced him. Tom and Edith were chattering on about…something; he really couldn't be bothered by whatever it was they were saying. She had given him that look so he sat quietly, studying the face of his wife.

The years were beginning to show, but only just… subtle hints, a smile wrinkle here, a line there, especially under the eyes. Tilting his head in contemplation, Robert couldn't decide if those tiny lines under her eyes were the result of her laughter or of the immense sadness that seemed to clothe the house the last two years. The blue that sparkled under her grief laden lids was still bright however, and that heartened him somehow.

Her hairstyle had gradually changed and Robert had to admit that he like the new look. It wasn't drastically different but it suited her, following the angles of her face to perfection…those angles that he had learned to know so well, and loved so very much.

Her lips…oh, her lips….no one would suspect what she was capable of with those lips. The sweet curves, the fullness, the warmth of them all combined to make his life pure heaven upon occasion. And judging from the expression on her face as she had glanced at him, he knew heaven might be his tonight; if only all these people would just go away.

Glancing from Cora's face to the faces of his mother and Isobel, he knew that one day hers would be as old and wrinkled as theirs. But to him, she would always be the most beautiful woman in the room. Hers was the face that would comfort him as he cultivated his own wrinkles. Her face had brought him so much happiness over the years and would continue to do so; hers and hers alone could brighten his day, bring joy or peace, hope and confidence.

He smiled when she glanced at him again, a smirk playing at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes twinkled with mischief as she glanced at the clock and then back at him, silently conveying a short message; only a little longer…

Later, as she snuggled against him, both in recovery from their trip to the promised land, she cooed a question. "Why were you looking at me so intently in the drawing room earlier?"

Tightening his hold on her, he whispered back, his tone full of love. "I couldn't stop staring," he confessed. "There is nothing more interesting or more important to me than you."

"You made me nervous," she confessed. "I had the feeling you were looking at all my wrinkles."

"I was," he replied. "I was looking at them, along with your sparkling eyes and your lips that I believed needed my kisses. And I thought how very beautiful you are…have always been…will always be, to me. And I couldn't take my eyes away."

Her answering purr told him she was pleased by his response. "Careful," she said softly. "With statements like that, you might be called upon for a repeat performance."

Confused at first, Robert's brow furrowed. Then she stroked her hand across his manhood and all confusion fell away. "A performance I would be most happy to provide," he said as he nuzzled behind her ear to tease. "When shall we schedule this repeat performance?"

"Mmmmmm….." she cooed. "Would now be too soon?"

"My darling wife, your wish is my command," he replied as he leaned over to kiss her and once again became putty in her hands.