Hiya there! Time for a little update, don't you think? It's been a while once again since I last updated this story, but at least I got a few words out for you now! This chapter is a bit shorter than these usually are, but let's think of it as an in-between-chapter. In the last chapter, the royals did some catching up with their old friends and we left Elsie to the care of Mrs Patmore! Meanwhile, Charlie decided to head outside for some fresh air and he finds himself in a conversation with a friend of his own. But who is it? The answer to that question will be found in today's chapter! I hope you enjoy - please let me know your thoughts with a little review. They do make my day! Thank you, and I'll see you soon (hopefully)! Take care :-)

**Downton Abbey, under the great oak on the castle grounds**

The Prince of Scotland listened to his steady step on the gravel of the path as he strode along it, slowly distancing himself from the great abbey. The grey of the morning had disappeared from the skies by now - even the sun would peek from its hiding place behind the clouds occasionally. Eventually, he came to a stop under the shade of the great oak, under which he had spent many a minute during his years working for the Crawley family. He took off his hat as he sat down, letting out a breath.

He had made his excuses to the servants, leaving his wife to catch up with her dear friend, and went upstairs. Though, realising he wasn't exactly in the mood for conversing with his former employer and his family, he asked the hall boy on duty to fetch his coat and hat. A walk in the fresh air to sort through the mess of thoughts in his head would be just what he needed

As he sat on the bench, Charles closed his eyes for a moment. The whole morning had all been just a blur that flashed past him way too quickly for him to have time to process any of it. Yes, it was great to be back at the Abbey, the house he considered to have been his home for most of his adult life, but the reason they were there caused all the excitement to fade. He felt lost, almost. Perhaps a bit disappointed.

"Penny for your thoughts, your highness?"

The prince's eyes opened in a flash and he bolted up at the voice - a habit formed so strongly over the years.

"Lady Mary." He wore a look of surprise on his face but managed to greet the young woman now standing before him as kindly as ever.

With a small smile, lady Mary lowered herself into a curtsy.

"There is no need for that, lady Mary, please." He sounded almost shocked.

She straightened herself again, meeting his eye pointedly:

"Oh, I think there is, your highness. Every need, in fact."

He admitted the truth in her words and motioned for her to sit down beside him.

"Thank you."

"May I ask you whatever you are doing out here, lady Mary?"

She let out a sigh before answering.

"I came out for some fresh air, your highness. And perhaps a bit of a company."

"Well, you are most welcome here." Charles smiled.

"And I appreciate it, very much."

For a minute they sat in complete silence.

"Granny would be very happy to know you've come." Lady Mary said to him after a moment had passed.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that."

"Why is that? You've always been her favourite." She asked.

"Perhaps...But...Oh, I don't know." He relented.

"Well, I do, your highness. And I know she'd throw a fit if she knew you were here doubting her."

A breathy laugh left him then:

"You are right, lady Mary. I shan't doubt no more." Charles allowed himself to lean back against the bench. "From one subject to another - how have you been at Downton, lady Mary?"

"Alright, your highness. Master George and the house are both keeping me busy." She did smile at that and it made him happy.

"I'm very glad to hear that, lady Mary. And I hear Mr Branson has settled down with Ms Smith."

"Oh yes. They're very happy together."

"Which is all that matters, of course." Charles stated truthfully.

"And you and the princess, are you happy? Although I do feel quite silly to ask. You two are a match made in heaven."

"Oh, I wouldn't say quite that, lady Mary." Charles shook his head. "But we are, indeed, very content."

"Is the king treating you fairly?"

Charles shot her an amused look.

"I shouldn't ask such things, should I?"

"I'm not sure you should, lady Mary. But this once I shall allow it. Yes, the King's been very welcoming." He told her. "But it is a different life."

"I don't doubt it, your highness. It does feel rather weird to read about you in the morning paper, rather than seeing you at breakfast every morning."

"I wake up every morning and have to pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming."

They both laugh at that.

"Are they keeping you very busy?" Mary asked once they settled down again.

"It's for the best. Else I'd go mad, I'm afraid."

"You must remember to take time for yourself occasionally as well. I wouldn't want you to overwork yourself. And I hope you know you and the princess will always be welcome to stay at Downton for as long as you wish. Or just send us a letter so we know to ready your cottage, should you wish to be alone."

"That is very kind of you, lady Mary." He was truly touched by the offer.

"Nonsense. It's the least we can do to repay you for the many years of service to our family. Both you and your wife."

He thanked her with a low nod of his head and once meeting her gaze again he spoke up:

"Once we have settled back into our normal lives, lady Mary, I hope to be allowed to write to you and I expect your family to visit us one day."

"Well -"

"I absolutely insist."

"Well, I am in no position to argue with your wishes, your highness. You shall write to me and should the invitation for a visit come, I will accept." Mary smiled and shook her head. "But perhaps you should have a word about it with your wife, before you invite me for a grand dinner, your highness."

"A piece of advice I shall take gladly, lady Mary."

"Speaking of the princess, your highness...Where have you abandoned her?"

"Ah - to the care of a Mrs Patmore. And for the record, I should probably get back and collect her. We have a very strict curfew and are expected at the palace for dinner. I'm afraid we will be late as it is."

"Well then. You do just that, your highness."

They stood up and Charles slipped on his hat that had rested beside him on the bench during their conversation. He then raised his arm towards her and said:

"Will you walk back with me, lady Mary?"

"Gladly, your highness." The lady slipped her smaller hand into the crook of his arm and they made their way back to the house.

**Back at the house**

Once the pair reached the front door they were let in by the hall boy and greeted by lord and lady Grantham and the princess who seemed to be saying their goodbyes.

"Ah, there you are." Elsie smiled upon seeing them.

"Your highness." Mary curtsied as she and the prince came to a halt."I hope I didn't keep your husband too long."

"Not at all, lady Mary. But we do have to take our leave now."

"I have asked for them to bring the car 'round to the front, your highness." Lord Grantham pitched in.

"Thank you, lord Grantham, that is very kind of you."

"It has been so lovely to have you pay us a visit, especially during the times we are in." Lady Grantham said kindly, smiling warmly at the princess on her left.

"The honour is all ours, lady Grantham." Elsie said as her husband gently slipped her coat over her shoulders, his hands lingering there for a second longer than necessary."We'll be out of your way now, lady Grantham. And please, accept our good wishes in your time of grief once again."

"Thank you." Lady Grantham nodded her head appreciatively.

"Shall we, darling?" Charles asked his wife, offering his arm which she took happily.

...

With a last curtsy and bow the three Crawleys bid their goodbyes to the prince and princess as they got seated in the car's backseat. They remained standing at the front door as the car drove away.

"Well, that's that then." Robert sighed.

"It was terribly nice of them to take the time. I'm pleased."

"Me too." Mary said, echoing her mother's words.

The lord turned his face towards his daughter.

"What did you and the prince talk about?"

"Oh - just, this and that," Mary told him with a smile.

"Well, whatever you did talk about it managed to cheer him up." Robert praised as the trio headed back inside.

"I don't know about that, papa. But I think we both enjoyed the company."

"I'm quite sure you did." Cora smiled, giving her daughter a supporting squeeze on her arm."It is a good reminder that we ought to cherish our old friends."

"Quite right, darling."

...

Meanwhile, in the car moving steadily towards London, Charles and Elsie curled up under a woollen blanket.

"You're looking more cheerful." Elsie smiled at her husband who turned his attention from the moving landscape in the window towards her.

"I am more cheerful, as you put it, my dearest."

"I'm glad. I don't like it when you're unhappy." She said, squeezing his hand on her lap."What did you and lady Mary talk about?"

He gave it a thought before answering.

"Nothing much."

"I see. Well, if you do not wish to tell me about it, you don't have. I'm just glad it cheered you up, love."

He gave the top of her hand a gentle kiss at that.

"What did you and Mrs Patmore get up to while I was gone?" Charles leaned back against the seat.

"Well, let me tell you we had a hard time getting her to not 'your highness' me every other second she could." He flashed her a smile at that understandingly.

"And has she changed?"

"If you mean is she still the same good ol' Mrs Patmore we both know - then yes. She's quite the same, as we both came to realise when she fell through the library door earlier."

They both laughed slightly at the picture. When their laughter died down Elsie, however, grew more thoughtful.

"She asked me whether I'm happy with it all."

He raised his eyebrows in wonder:

"And how did you answer her then, Mrs Carson?"

Her gaze softened slightly.

"You shouldn't have to ask, Charlie."

"But I am." He reasoned with a grin."Perhaps I want to hear it again."

Elsie giggled and gave his arm a gentle pat.

"Very well then-" She turned towards him to face him properly."With you, I am happier than I ever imagined a woman could be."

"Hmm...That makes me the happiest of men to hear."

"Good. That'll make it even." She told him lovingly.

He smiled widely and pulled her closer for a lingering kiss.

A part of him wondered whether lady Mary had been right - perhaps they were what she called a match made in heaven. Right now, at least, he wouldn't dare to deny the accusation.