Alrighty, I was bored and this suddenly developed. As a bit of a background, Elsie did marry Joe Burns but they ended up divorcing (big surprise), she's bestfriends with Mr Carson and I'll leave the rest for you lot to find out.

For the reviewer who wanted to know where I'd be receiving prompt suggestions, just drop them in a review or a PM, either is alright :) I'm also working on one of the prompts a reviewer left because I had a lightbulb moment.

This is in T rated territory, and there's reference to abuse, so if you don't like to read that sort of thing please skip this chapter. It's a bit darker than I usually write but it's an AU and I haven't done those in a while.

"Mum?" A moment passed with no answer, "Ma where are you?"

"Give me a second. I'm almost done Kenna."

Walking back through the hallway, Kenna made her way to her mother's bedroom. Peeping in through the doorframe, she gasps.

"I see someone got a new frock," The girl remarked, moving to sit on the bed behind her mother.

"Oh, it's all for naught. I look terrible, don't I?" Elsie turned, her face looking dejected.

"On the contrary, I think you look sexy." Kenna says with a wink.

Her mother ignores her, fiddling with her hair, seeing how it'd look best.

"Ma? Did you hear what I said?"

"Aye, indeed I did. Wherever did you learn that word?"

"I heard Da saying it to that hag of his-"

Struggling to keep a straightface, Elsie scolds her, "Don't call Rachel that, she's a perfectly kind woman."

"Irregardless, you look smashing. Charles will be glad to have you on his arm." After a second and a peer out the window, Kenna adds, "He's already here. Fix your hair up, I'll tell him you'll soon be down."

Elsie sighs, nodding in thanks.

"Oh don't be so sad, Ma. Finish up so you can show Da what he lost and another man has found."

It was darker now, they'd arrived later than expected to the Gala but no one payed them any mind. The abbey was brightly lit with candles outside. Tents were set up where people could sit down, however few people used them since the music began and couples moved to the dancefloor.

"You look worried." A gruff voice said over her shoulder.

She took a sip of her drink. "I haven't spotted them yet. Kenna saw them when we first arrived, I let her go. It's dark now, and I have no clue where my child is, Charlie."

"Well," he leans closer to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, "If it's of any help, I saw her with Sybil and Tom in the Kitchens."

Elsie raises an eyebrow, "Why are they in there?"

"Kenna is teaching Sybil how to make cookies, Tom is merely there to make sure they don't burn down the place." He continues with a chuckle.

Rising from her seat, she whispers under her breath, "Always up to something that one, isn't she." A bit louder, she adds, "I'll go get her."

Charles grabs her hand, "Let them be, they're only having a bit of fun. Besides, you promised me a whirl around the dancefloor Ms Hughes."

"It would be my pleasure, Mr Carson."

Next to them, in the dimly lit area, they see Isonel and her doctor friend, Mr and Mrs Mason, unexpectedly there's also Mary and a man they can't seem to recognise.

"Ah," Charles whispers, "there he is."

"Joe?"

He mumbles in agreement, "He's coming over."

Elsie braces herself, apart from a few phone calls, the two hadn't seen eachother in months. Ever since, Kenna decided to stop visiting him in October, they had drifted further and further apart.

"Might I have a word, Els?" Joe Burns mutters. He looks more grim than usual, lacking the typical smile he used to carry.

She let's go of Charles' hand, whispering an "I'll be back soon." and moves off to the side. There are a few people there, which she thinks might help things... in case it escalates from a civil conversation.

"Els, we need to talk."

"Yes, what is it?" She shifts uncomfortably.

He sighs, "I wish she wouldn't make it so difficult, but the visits can't end. You know this. The understanding was, you keep her for the majority of the year while I see her for a weekend or two."

"I can't force her Joe. Especially after what happened." Elsie says pointedly.

Joe shakes his head, "That was a misunderstanding. Rachel told me she explained to you what happened-"

"Yes, she did."

"And?"

"And my thoughts remain the same on the subject."

"For the love of God, Els," He raises his voice, "Just send her once, that's all I ask."

"What so you can hit her again over a fallen bag of flour?" As hard as she may try, her voice falters to stay even.

"I would never-"

"Do it again? You said that to me before, it ended in divorce. When would it end for Kenna? A black eye, bruised ribs?"

Around them, people had began to stare, slowly stepping away from the two and getting the others attention.

He took a step forward menacingly, "Now listen here, you b-"

"Elsie, is everything alright?" Charles. She thanked the lords.

"Oh look at who we have here, Mr Carson, dashing Knight in shining armour, home-wrecker and wife stealer." Joe yelled annoyingly, "We were only having a chat, isn't that right, Els?"

"Don't call me that." She said calmly, taking a step back to where Charles stood. "I believe we're done here."

"Yes, I'd agree. I'll see Kenna next week then."

"No, you will not. I'd rather drown than let her step foot in your house again-" It happened so suddenly, she hardly felt it. A sharp tinge of pain on her cheek. He'd slapped her, sending her hard into the ground.

"Ma? Ma?" Tears running down her face, Kenna yells as she leaves the house in a hurry.

Charles had moved to grab Joe, pinning him to the wall. "Touch her again and you won't see the light of day, understand me?"

"You took her from me. Stole her."

"You took your own baby's life, the day you pushed her down those stairs. That was what stole her. You hurt her incredibly and she couldn't stand it anymore."

"She tripped."

"You pushed her, Mr Burns." Charles tightened his grip, "One more word, one mere step into her line of sight and you won't breathe."

The man, gulped and nodded.

He'd made a grave mistake. Elsie Hughes wasn't his, neither was his own daughter in a way. When he'd married Elsie, they'd been young and naive, even so, he knew she deserved far better. In the end, she'd gotten far better, it was in the shape of Charles Carson.

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