Ok so here's the final chapter :) Thank you so much for sticking with this story and for so many kind reviews, they mean so much to me, now I can cross this off my list and finish updating the others, and I have many more ideas for new stories and I'm too close to writing them so I need to finish my others first.
I haven't even finished his chapter yet and I already know I don't like it, all the pressure you put on me :p ahh well, I hope you all like it anyway.

He carefully entered her sitting room to find her checking the back of her hair again. She'd been furiously checking her appearance all morning, picking imaginary dust off her dress, placing unruly strands of hair back and straightening any creases that threatened to make her less than immaculate.
She caught his eye rolling in the mirror and turned to him.

"You don't need to do that, you look beautiful."

She blushed at his words and appeared to be frustrated at how this coloured her cheeks. She laid her palm over them in an attempt to cool off, taking a deep breath.

"Tell me."

She laughed silently and closed her eyes. He knew she was nervous, he knew why but he'd always want her to tell him. Walking closer he took her hand willing her to look at him.

"Please…"

Sighing, she placed her free hand over his and smiled weakly at him.

"It's just, I haven't seen Lily since she was nine, and she's now what? Fifteen? I don't know how to talk to her, comfort her, bring her up, anything! Charles she's still a child and she has no parents, she's probably so traumatised and, I can't pretend this hasn't upset me too and I'll need to be strong for her, I just don't know how to help her."

He didn't answer straight away but sat down on the settee pulling her to sit next to him, bringing her into his arms.
She relaxed instantly and took a few deep breaths.

"You don't have to know; as soon as you see her you'll realise what to do, I'm sure she's just as scared as you are." He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and laid his cheek on her hair. "She'll understand, she may be still a child but I'm sure she's mature, and I'll be here to help, to help both of you."

Tears pricked her eyes at his loving words, she could never believe how lucky she was to have Charles, she'd always been a strong woman but found having a stronger man to protect her in her weaker moments was a god sent. They would have both preferred a more romantic way to have confirmed their feelings but it brought them together so they never looked back.

"Do you think we should tell her, about us?"

"Maybe, it might be for the best."

"She'd know then that she could come to you, that'd you'd help her as well."

"And I will do that, I promise, the girl will never be alone."

He reluctantly let her go as they heard a knock at the door; Anna's face peered round informing them of an arrival at the back door.

Elsie let out a slow breath and rose from the settee, before they left Charles squeezed her hand laying a soft kiss on her cheek, "everything will be fine."

He let her leave her sitting room first, following her into this brave new world with their new found family.

Can't believe how long it's taken me to finish it, that's what happens when you write one good chapter and everyone wants more, I swear this is another one that just gets worse as it goes through – hope the ending wasn't too disappointing :L

Please please review, I've been so ecstatic by all your reviews so far!

xXx