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-Mama!

Robert got out of the car, helping Cora and run to Lady Violet, who was standing in the front door with Mrs. Crawley, obviously relieved to see her son once again. Robert run to her and hugged her, receiving a kiss on the cheek from her. Cora had Edith and Mary on each oh her sides, looking lovingly at her husband. Nanny stood inside the house with the three year old George and the almost four year old Sybbie.

-Oh Robert, what happened? We heard that an iceberg struck the ship. But that's ridiculous.

-I'm afraid it is not Mama. Why don't we go inside, and after Cora and I have settled in we can tell you everything with a cup of tea?

-Of course. -She let Robert get inside and then looked at Cora- My dear, I'm glad you are all alright.

-Thank you Mama. We can talk later, I'm tired.

-Robert is already upstairs, he looked worn out too.

Carefully and silently Jane and Richard got out of the car and stood there, looking at Anna, who had her heart on her throat, ready to burst. Elsie had fallen asleep and she was laying against Charles' chest fast asleep with Michael sleeping soundly in her arms, with his fists gripping Elsie's coat and resting his head on her breasts.

-Love. - Charles whispered in her ear, hating having to wake her up. She snuggled closer to him, without waking up. -Darling.

-Hmmm

-We are here.

-Five more minutes Mrs. Arnold.

-Elsie, I'm not the former houskeeper.

-Oh Charles- she opened her eyes and looked down at her son. - You said that we are here?

-Yes I did

-Where are Jane and Richard?- she panicked.

-They are outside, waiting. Move so I can get out and then I'll help you.

-How long have I been out? - she sat properly looking out the window.

-A few hours, but it's alright, you needed the sleep.

Carefully and slowly they managed to get Elsie out of the car without waking Michael. Anna gasped when she saw her friend after all this weeks of anguish; she cried and looked at her husband, who smiled fondly at her and took her hands.

-Carson- he looked up from his child to see Lady Violet walking in his direction followed by Mrs. Crawley, who couldn't hide the smile for the baby.

-My Lady.

-I'm so glad to see that you amd your wife are alright.

-Thank you for your concern My Lady. As you can see we are fine.

-May I see the baby? -Mrs. Crawley got a surprised look from Lady Violet when she pointed at the small figure hiding from the light in the dark jacket.

-Of course, although he may wake up soon to have his lunch. -She took the jacket and gave it to Charles, exposing the freckled covered baby.

-Oh, look at him, he looks so much like Mr. Carson, except for the freckles.

-My curiosity demands it, when was he born?

-I don't know if Mrs. Carson feel up to…

-It's alright Charles. -She looked at Lady Violet- A few minutes after the boat sank My Lady.

-I hope that the people from the lifeboats helped you. -They walked to the door, Richard and Jane were running with Master George.

-We didn't get to the life boats My Lady.

-What? -She stopped right at the threshold.- My son and his wife…

-They were with us My Lady. We all stayed in the ship until she sank.

-What a horrible situation.

-It was My Lady. The worst I've ever lived.

- Then come inside, join us for a cup of tea.

-As much as we love the idea My Lady, we have thingd to attend to.

-Well perhaps some other time.

-You should go one of this days to see Dr. Clarkson.

-We will. Thank you for asking My Lady, and thank you Mrs. Crawley for worrying about the child.

The Carson's got reassuring smiles from both ladies as Thomas closed the doors. It was warm inside the house, and the smell of fresh tea and biscuits welcomed Elsie and Charles as they made their way to the Entrance Hall.

-Charles, -The butler turned to the staircase to see Lord and Lady Grantham coming downstairs. -we will be having tea in the Drawing Room, so may use the Library.

-Thank you.

-We've also told Mrs. Bates to get the Blue room ready for you.

-Might it be possible for us to have a crib and two other beds sent up?

-For who?

-The children.

-Wouldn't they be more comfortable in the nursery as they have been all this weeks?

-I just want them around me, you understand that we almost… -She looked down at the kids who had grown tired of the journey and were with their father, yawning and resting their heads on his arms.

-Yes. I'll tell Thomas when he brings our tea.

Cora gave her a light smile before following her husband to the Drawing Room, looking as if she might burst into tears at any moment. She wanted to comfort her friend, but she changed her mind when she saw Mary and Edith walking to her.

-Dear, should we go up and change?

-I want to take care of everything before we go up, because if we go up I'm not coming down again until dinner.

-Mrs. Carson - Elsie turned to look at Thomas- may I have your coat? Actually I don't know how to address you anymore. Lady Carson, Mrs. Carson, Countess…

-I think we should stick with Mr. and Mrs. Carson fir now- she took her hat off and with the help of her husband she took her coat off without disturbing Michael much. - By the way Thomas, send a tea tray up to the Drawing Room for six and another tray up to the Library with two cups of tea and some snacks for the children.

-Of course. When are you coming downstairs?

-Later, we have have to do some things.

And with that Thomas walked away. Charles opened the door of the Library and held it open for Elsie and the kids. Elsie did look tired, and stressed, the lines in her face were all of a sudden very deep and the paleness made her look as if she had been sick for a while. The children sat in the couch, snuggling together close to the fire.

-Elsie, are you feeling alright?

-I'm tired, but you know that.

-I think we should leave this for the morning so you can rest.

-No, we need to sort this out. Sit down.

Following her he sat next to her and placed the envelope on the coffee table. Michael had woken up and was making fussing noises against his mother's chest.

-It's alright darling. -She unbuttoned her dress and her nursing corset; in a flash of light he latched on and started suckling soundly.

-Ma!

-What lass?

-The baby is eating from your breast! Does that mean we don't get to eat anymore?

-No my dear, he gets his food from here, but there's enough for you too. Would you like to look at him closely?

The kids moved quickly to their mother's side and looked at the blue eyed freckled covered baby that moved his fists hitting Elsie's chest lightly.

-He's so small.

-Well, he's a big baby compared to both of you when you were born.

-And does it hurt?

-What my lad?

-Him eating. Does it hurt?

-At first yes, but once you get used to it it doesn't. When you eat it doesn't hurt me.

-Ma, were you in the boat?- Jane and Richard looked wide eyely at their mother.

-Yes we were.

-But we heard that people had died!

-We are alright.

-You must have been very frightened.

-Da was with me, and he helped me and protected me. Now we are here, and there's nothing to worry about.

-What if Da hadn't been there?- Jane had tears in her eyes.

Richard hugged his sister and soon they were in their mother's embrace, all of them crying freely disturbing Michael. He fussed in her arms.

-Shhh, darling. It's alright.

-We promised you we would come back, and we've done it.

-Auntie Beryl looked like a ghost.

-Well, we are here, and that means that there's no need to keep talking about the boat, okay?

-Do you have bad dreams about it?

-Yes, but they will go, now, once Mr. Barrow brings our tea have your snacks and leave Ma and Da alone for a bit, because we have to do something very important.

-Do we go upstairs?

-No. You can play by the fire.

-Alright.

While Elsie nursed Michael, Charles got all the papers out of the envelope and placed them on the coffee table.

-Alright Elsie. Explain me everything. Where is this castle located?

-Near Argyll, at the west of Scotland. The mansion itself is very big, part of it was destroyed in a fire, but it was expanded not long ago, in 1875.

-What about the grounds?

-Obviously there's the garden, a lake and various farms.

-What do they do in the farms?

-One is a pig farm, another is a fox farm and the third one are stables.

-I see. How many horses?

-Around fifteen. Frank loved horses.

-It says here that we also have a house in London.

-Frank mentioned that he had a house in Oxford Street. He didn't go often, so probably it's closed.

-The service?

-There's the housekeeper, Mrs. O'Callaghan, the butler, Mr. Bellamy, then there's the cook, Mrs. Bolton. There are six scullery maids, as well as six footmen, three kitchen maids and two kitchen assistants. Four gardeners and two drivers.

-Didn't this man have a valet?

-Oh the valet, Mr. Carter. A very dear man, he's been in love with the housekeeper for ages. Everyone knows it.

-We will take care of the love affairs after know what to do.

-I think we should talk with Mrs. O'Callaghan and Mr. Bellamy, to know how things are done in the house and… and to know why he left everything to me.

-Then I should send them a telegram.

Elsie nodded. A nock on the door made Elsie take Charles' jacket and cover herself; Thomas was carrying a tea tray with tea and two sandwiches for Jane and Richard.

-Thank you Mr. Barrow, leave it here.

-His Lordshio has asked me to tell you that Mrs. Bates has taken a crib and two beds from the nursery to the Blue Room.

-Thank you Thomas. By the way, we will be going downstairs tomorrow. We are tired.

-Of course Mrs. Carson. -Thomas closed the door quietly.

Elsie moved the sleeping Michael to her shoulder and with Charles help she dressed again. Richard and Jane were laying next to the fire, embracing each other, fast asleep, worn out from the journey.

-The family will be having dinner soon, so unless you are too tired we should wake them up and go upstairs to change.

-I'm really tired, so I think Mrs. Patmore could send a tray up.

-I'll take the beans.

Charles shook them a bit and after they were standing he took them both in his arms and followed Elsie out of the room and up the stairs.

-Mrs. Carson. -Anna call her with a smile on her lips.

-Hello Anna.

-We were really worried about you.

-Well, we are fine.

-Something came for you a few days ago. We kept it in case… Well, it's in your room. I'm very glad to see you too Mr. Carson

-Thank you Mrs. Bates. We appreciate it.

-Then I shoukd be going.

-Tell Mrs. Patmore to send a tray up with our dinner.

-I will Mr. Carson.

Curiosity rose inside Elsie, so sh walked quickly to the room and opened the door.

-Put the children to bed while I put Michael.

-I'll go downstairs later and send the telegram.

-He didn't change anyone.

-Who?

-Frank, he has kept the same people since I met him. Perhaps Mr. Carter is courting the housekeeper after all.

-You really want them to get married. -Charles finally finished buttoning Richard's pyjamas and covered him with his blanket.

-They are made for each other, just like us.- she undressed herslef abd took her nightgown and a robe and sat over the covers of the bed, taking a package in her hands that came from the White Star Line. -It's from the owners of the Titanic.

-Then we should open it, shouldn't we?

Slowly she unwrapped the package. She closed her eyes as tears run down her cheeks; there, in her hands, laid the baby blanket that Lady Cora had given her for the twins, and next to it the dark blue dress her mother had given her when she had come to Downton. The only thing ger mother had been able to give her. She wrapped her arms around them and cried.

-I don't believe it, how did they…?

-I… I don't… know, and… I don't… care…

-Give me the blanket.

She handed him the baby blanket, walked over to the crib and placed it covering Richard with it. Then walked back to the bed and held Elsie in his arms as she cried hugging the dress.