I'm so sorry it took me so long to post the new chapter, but I've been writing future chapters and I must admit I had in mind finishing the story long ago, but I have tons of things in mind so... If you want me to add something to this story, ideas or things you want to happen tell me in the comments or send me a PM and I will see if it can be added. Please review.
The boat pulled into the harbour quietly, slowing down as she finally found the end of her journey in Southampton. The people that were waiting talked, but not as happily as you would normally see, for most of them were the families of the survivors, only a few were waiting for normal passengers. Elsie had little Michael in her arms, close to her chest, wrapped in a dark jacket fast asleep, making slight suckling motions with his small lips. Charles stood next to his wife as the boat stopped, finally, and the employees of the harbour got the boat ready so the passengers could get out.
-Elsie, are you alright?
-Yes… I just… we are home.
-We are. Everything's over.
-You don't know how much I want to go home and rest. I'm so tired.
-No wonder, these weeks have been so stressful for everyone. I just want to spend time with you and the children. Nothing else.
-I'm so tired. I want to cry.
-Save the tears for when you see Richard and Jane.
-My babies, they must be so scared.
-I'm sure they know we are alright, they must have told them.
-God I want to see them so much, we shouldn't have left. We really shouldn't have.
-Carson, is time to go. Cora is already waiting for us.
Charles placed his hand on the small of Elsie's back as she started walking following Robert. Cora had her eyes set on something or someone at the end of the gangway; she quickly made her way to the end of it, with tears in her eyes.
-Mama!
-Oh Mary!
Lady Mary was crying, running to her mother and hugging her, hiding her head on her chest. Robert followed his wife, hugging his daughter Edith as she cried in her father's chest.
-We were so worried.
-How did you managed? The survivors were mostly woman, how did you manage Papa?
-We will tell you everything once we are back at Downton, I'm sure you don't want to hear the whole story here.
-And what about the Carsons, Mama?
-They are there – Cora turned to point at the elderly couple who were walking really slowly to the floor of the harbour.
-The Baby! Oh Mama, the baby is here!
-He was born the 15th of April.
-That was when…
-Yes. The children, how are they?
-Thomas has been taking care of them. Anna has been so busy with the house and Mrs. Patmore was so shocked, almost catatonic.
-What about grandmamma?
-She was worried, of course. She's been staying with us since it happened. Carson. – Lady Mary looked at the butler and smiled, hugging him. –I'm so glad you are alright.
-I'm glad you were thinking of us My Lady.
-Have you seen Mrs. Patmore? She had the children. – Edith looked at the baby smiling and then turnrd to the crowd. - What a dear baby
-Elsie! – The cook run to the housekeeper with Jane and Richard next to her. She hugged the housekeeper tightly as she cried, and then looked down at Michael, who was starting to move in his mother's arms.
-Ma!
Charles took Michael from Elsie's arms, hding him tightly and let her run to the kids, as she took them in her arms and cried hysterically. The children didn't know why their mother was crying so much but were so happy to see her.
-Oh my lass and lad. I've missed you so much.
-We missed you too Ma. But something was wrong at the big house. - Jane kissed her mother's cheek taking hold of her coat.
-Oh, what my lass? - She cherished her daughter's face, noticing how her auburns curls were slightly longer.
-A boat sank, and we heard that Lady and Lord Gwantham were in it.
-Where you with them Ma?- Richard hugged her sitting on the floor.
-That's a long story my dear lad.
-Ma, where's your belly? – Richard had his head resting against his mother's breasts.
-It turned into a brand new baby brother for you.
-A bwothe?
-Brother, yes.
-Do you want to see him? – Charles looked at his family. Elsie was sitting on the floor, with Jane sitting on her lap and Richard was resting his head on his mother's breasts. Elsie was crying silently resting her head on her son's head.
-Yes!
-Once we are home you will be able to see him, Ma is very tired.
-Did you have fun in America?
-No, I missed you too much.
Elsie held her children close to her chest, crying quietly. They looked so grown up, she thought that she would never see them again, that her babies wouldn't grow with a Ma and a Da.
-Mrs. Carson, this came this morning, looks important. – Lady Mary gave Elsie a very big envelope and looked at the new addition to the Carson family.
Without disturbing Richard she opened it and read the first page, going through the rest quickly. She looked up and stared at her husband.
-What's wrong? What's going on?
-I can't believe he did this.
-Who? What? Elsie? - Charles' heart couldn't take much more of this.
-Do you remember what Cora said about us being rich now?
-Yes.
-It's true.
-What?
-Let's go back to the Abbey, I'll explain everything once we are there.
Charles helped Elsie up with Jane and Richard running around them. Elsie took the baby in her arms; he was wide awake now, and started at the people around him, moving his head to rest it on his mother's chest. With the envelope in one hand they walked to the cars. The luggage was already there and Mr. Branson and Thomas where at the wheels, looking rather relieved to see them alive and well.
-We will arrange a room for you at the Abbey, so you don't have to go to the cottage, unless you want to leave.
-I think we will stay. After what I have to tell you we will have to.
-Is it that bad? - they got inside the cars, Cora hugging Edith lightly.
-It's not bad, it's unexpected.
-There are many hours ahead of us, are you sure you want to wait until we reach the Abbey?- Charles settled Jane and Richard in the car and closed the foor, looking at his wife.
-Alright. As a girl back in Argyll I was walking out with a farmer, you know him, but I was flirting, if that's how it can be described, with… with and English Lord that lived in Scotland.
-A Lord?!
-Yes, but there's more. Not long before I came to Downton he… He proposed, but I was young, and I didn't know how to be a Lady, so I run, and soon afterwards Joe proposed as well, and I got scared and came here. Things were going well here so I rejected both. Since that moment I stopped talking with Joe, but Frank took it rather well and we kept in touch. I told him about the house, the family, you, and he told me things about his boring life, as he used to call it. Well, when the Mr. Green incident happened he wanted to take care of him himself, but I asked him not to, then I told them about the twins, and he was so supportive. Obviously he was a very good friend, and he… He's dead now.
-Oh Elsie- Charles let her rest her body against his.
-It's alright, he didn't suffer much. He had been ill for a while, and apparently he didn't have any family so in his will all his money, the estate and the titles go to me.
-The Estate? The titles?
-Yes. Clan McNally now belongs to me, as well as the title of Countess and Lady.
-But you weren't married to him
-Yes, I know. We are Lord and Lady Carson now, Count and Countess of McNally.
-Was he really and English Lord? You own a castle in Scotland!
-He was born in Southampton, he was English.
-I don't believe it.
-Go through the papers yourself- she handed him the envelope without looking at him.
She turned her head to look at Robert and Cora, who were looking at her a bit surprised. Edith and Mary just couldn't really believe that their butler and housekeeper had turned into a Lord and a Lady in the course of one night.
-We really are Lady and Lord Carson.
-What you must think of me now.
-What do you mean?
-Flirting with a Lord for so long and now inheriting everything.
-You married me, not him. You made him happy all this years, and I'm happy you were such good friends.
-You can't run two houses. -Cora stared at Robert.
-Robert!
-You want us to leave My Lord? - the anguish in Charles voice made Richard hug his sister.
-Oh there's no need to call me My Lord now Carson. You have a estate now to run, and I don't think…
-Robert, do you want us to go?- Elsie wanted a direct answer.
-Of course I don't, but everything's different for you now.
-Robert, we can manage, I'm sure that after thinking and arranging things we can manage both houses.
-Do whatever you have to do. Think about it, once you have an answer, tell us.
-We will Cora. We don't have a choice.
Elsie looked at Charles sighing, rested her head on his chest and looked at her children, who had lost interest in what their parents were talking about and were now playing with their fingers. Michael had fallen asleep again with his fist in his mouth. Elsie thought she would find peace once she reached home, but everything was different all of a sudden, and she just didn't know what to do or how to react.
