This chapter is dedicated to Ashley (chElsiehugs) who is always bugging me about updates but I decided to ask her this time so she could choose ;) Love you girl! Sorry that I asked you ages ago and never got past the 7th line of this chapter for weeks :')

Ok just to clarify, they're not currently in any kind of relationship, Charles is quite ooc in this too, though seeing as this whole fic is I felt it was alright, and some of you wanted him to comfort her anyway :)

This is a shortish chapter because once again it's late at night and this story does freak me out. :p If you want to get the ambiance of this story, listen to Night of Terror from the Black Swan soundtrack as you read it ;)

He led her to her sitting room, ushering her in with his hand on her back and guiding her to the settee to let her sit, taking her hands in his and kneeling in front of her.

"Tell me"

She didn't look up, merely shook her head.

"Why not?"

She glanced up through her eyelashes, her unshed tears clear as glistening pools in her eyes.

"I don't want to remember"

His heart had been breaking for her for months as he knew this time was gradually creeping upon them, she was usually the one confidant he would discuss everything with, but they'd avoided this topic like the plague knowing the nightmares it would bring her.

"I know you don't but tell me about now, talk to me Elsie."

She paused for a while and he was unsure if she'd ever answer, until she took a deep breath and clung to his hands slightly tighter.

"It's silly, it's a story but I'm so scared" the words were practically breaths, as if she was worried she'd be overheard.

"I know." It was all he could think to say, he could hardly agree that even he now questioned whether it was a story, or that he was just as scared as she was. How many nights had he held his tongue afraid he would tell her to sleep in his room just so he knew she was safe? Too many to count, it wasn't appropriate but neither was a psychopathic ghost killing off their housekeepers and that still went on.

"You know?!" She looked up now, he realised how unhelpful he was being for her but, what could he say, what could he do? No one knew if this nightmare lived in their minds or in reality, how could he make this better for her?

"I understand how you feel." He reassured her, shuffling forward slightly till her fast breathing caressed the tip of his nose. "I want nothing more than to protect you, make you feel safe here."

He felt her hold her breath, looking up at her he saw she still refused to meet his gaze.

"You don't have to do that."

"You take care of me" He stated plainly, "surely I should be allowed to take care of you?"

Defeated, she nodded silently, leaning forward she rested her head upon his so their noses touched.

"You're too good to me Charles, you care so much about me, that's what's, kept me going."

He smiled softly, she had to know he cared for her and was here for her in such a high time of need.
Her breathing had returned to normal and he felt her hands soften in his, though she made no attempt to move, their closeness somewhat relaxing for her.

He wondered if she'd fallen asleep which he certainly wouldn't have minded, the opportunity to hold her for the night and comfort away all her nightmares sounded like heaven even if the whole situation was due to the worst kind of hell that played on every senior staff members mind.

Neither of them noticed the lamps begin to flicker, or the fire flicker down to its last embers, a chill entered the room but they were too focused on the others breathing. But they were both jolted out of their senses when a picture frame fell silently from the top shelf and landed with an almighty crash upon the wooden floor causing Elsie to scream in terror and throw herself forward at Charles. He caught her and maneuvered himself so his back rested against the settee and she was tightly secured against his chest, curled up in his lap. The gentle breathing of a moment ago replaced with short rapid breaths and endless tears against his chest.

He shushed her as she trembled violently in his arms, tightening his arms around her, making sure all of her was protected against him.

He glanced over and the photograph now lying out of the frame, shards of glass scattered around it, one piece of glass had torn the photo so it lay with a rip in the middle, he could just about make out the people in the photo. His breath caught in his chest - he needed to make sure Elsie didn't see what it was. The photo was one of the whole staff taken the year Elsie'd become housekeeper but now it was destroyed – the rip going straight over Elsie's heart.

Why I wrote this story I will never know but please review if you have time, they mean the world to me :)