I'm sorry I made you wait for the real ending, it's cos I still couldn't decide whether to listen to Reidsfacts or not :p Heehee nomoretears – your review made me laugh ;)

"Mr Carson… you've nothing to worry about, your wife'll be perfectly fine, a few bruises but she'll live and the internal damage is sorted – she'll be able to come home in a few days."

It was as if he hadn't heard him; she was alright, something had heard him and saved her, not only that but she would be completely fine. He could have jumped for joy but being a reserved man, he refrained from the urge.

Sybil clapped her hands over her mouth and ran them through her hair taking deep breaths.
Charles just stared straight ahead, at the door from which Dr Clarkson had come, she was through there, safe and well again.

"Mr Carson?" Sybil had noticed that he wasn't saying anything, "are you alright?"

"Yes… I'm just.." he took a deep breath but just smiled, Sybil stood on her tiptoes to hug him,

"I'm very happy for you Mr Carson"

They had to wait at least another hour before Charles would be allowed to see her, she was taking a while to come round from the anesthetic, he sat there staring straight up, he would never let her out of his sight again, or at least drive her everywhere – he couldn't prevent an accident but at least being in it together was a nicer prospect than simply losing her. He took his phone out of his pocket, realising it was turned off, when it came back on it sprung to life telling him he had 24 missed calls and 18 text messages; he chuckled to himself, there were a lot from Isobel demanding a reply, many from Anna and Beryl; Elsie's sisters and one that caused him to stop and stare at the name over and over again;

'1 unread text – Elsie'

How could she have texted him? Her phone was destroyed in the car crash. He clicked on it;

'40 minutes and I'll be home with you,
Dw, I stopped to send this,
Just wanted to remind you I love you ;)
Good news from Izzy, tell you when I get there,

Missed you so much,

El. Xxx
Sent: 16/07/11, 9:30'

10 minutes before her accident? He hadn't even realised she'd sent it, he turned his phone off before he first went to the hospital, not wanting to speak to anyone.

He read the third line, again and again, 'Just wanted to remind you I love you', she had no idea just how important those words would have been if anything had happened.
He wished he could have replied, reminded her that he loved her, she could've had it in her mind before…

His thoughts were broken off by Sybil returning,

"You can come and see her now" she gave him an unhindered smile.

He followed her through the door and down the hall back down to the ward. Dr Clarkson was just leaving the room; his smile was for once without concern, he held the door open for him to go through. Then went to stand by Sybil, they watched Charles slowly approach the bed, sit down and hold her hand to his face, Dr Clarkson looked down at Sybil, tears had begun to fall down her cheeks though she was smiling;

" 'bout time isn't it?"

"Yes" she managed to whisper, "it's very romantic isn't it"

He looked at her closely, placing his hand on her shoulder; "it will get better for you Nurse Crawley" he smiled and left her.

He stepped into her room, as he had many times over the last couple of weeks, each time she had recovered slightly more and he'd begun to get optimistic but once again, a phone call had brought it all down on his head, his world crashing down on him. On his first visit, she'd been unconscious, he couldn't bear to see her verging on life and death but now she sat up, looking straight at him, with a smile that he'd last seen 21 years ago.
He silently walked over to her and sat on the bed beside her; they just stared at each other.

"I must cause you so much bother" she laughed,

"Never, you've never bothered me" he lifted his hand to stroke her cheek, "you've never been anything short of wonderful! And before you can argue... I have something to give you" she'd opened her mouth to retort but he carried on before she could, reaching into his pocket to pull out her wedding ring.

"Do you Elsie Hughes..." she giggled at being referred to with her maiden name, "take thee Charles Carson, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

She moved to sit on her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck,

"I do, with all my heart, as ever" she placed her forehead against his as he took her left hand off his shoulder and slipped the ring onto her finger.

"I'll never take it off again, you're stuck with me now – forever" they both looked down at the ring on her hand which was still in his.

"I wouldn't have it any other way" he whispered before he kissed her, smirking as he heard the heart rate monitor increase again, he allowed her to lead the kiss – he just wanted to be reminded that she was there. She leant against him with his arms around her until she fell asleep and he left her with a kiss on the forehead.

o0o0o0o0ooo0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"C'mon El or we'll be late!"

"Eurgh, I don't know why we're doing this anyway, it's hardly a special occasion" she trudged down the stairs, as sweet as the gesture was, she didn't really feel like being the centre of attention tonight.

"Of course it is! It's your birthday"

"Like I want to celebrate that!"

"43 is not old before you say anything and anyway we're also celebrating your recovery"

"Oh c'mon, I've been fine for months"

"No, you've been our of hospital for months, but you're now fully off medication and it's your birthday so we combined the two."

"We could have just had a quiet night in, why do we need to make such a fuss?"

"Because Charles loves you, we all love you, simple as, now I have been told to give you this, I've been keeping it safe" she reached into her bag and pulled out the silver heart pendent, throwing her bag on the table and waving at Elsie to turn round and face the mirror so she could put the necklace on her, "you're really going to tell me you'd rather stay at home than go?" she raised her eyebrows at Elsie's reflection.

Elsie smiled, defeated.

"Of course I want to go, it's lovely to relive the memory so to speak" she looked at herself in the mirror and adjusting her navy dress, "even if we're all 22 years older."

Isobel sighed, "you don't look a day over 21, especially not in that dress. I'd go as far to say you look better in it now than you did the first time."

"Ha! I'm still shocked it still fits"

"Well you look stunning, no one'll be able to take their eyes off you tonight"

This time it was Elsie that sighed, "really Isobel you flatter me far too much"

"Of course I do, that's my job. Now we have to go and party like we're 21 again"

"I think you'll have to tone it down a little, you are seven months pregnant remember" she looked down at the now huge bump Isobel had, she was the only one that wouldn't be dressed as she had been, as she could no longer fit into her size 6 maroon A line dress, she had now opted for one that although accentuated her bump looked just as stunning.

"I think we've pretty much covered everything, apart from a few extra members of your family, it should all be exactly the same" she beamed and Elsie hugged her (as best as she could.)

"Always so considerate, I love you so much Iz"

"I know, I know, now…" she stood back to observe Elsie once more, "I think we're finally ready, even if we are going to be late." She winked and picked up her clutch bag off the side table.

"Well they can't start the party without us and anyway isn't it fashionable to be late?"

Isobel laughed, "I suppose so" she walked over to the door and held it open.

"Ready?"

Elsie took a deep breath,

"Ready."

So there you go, I'm sorry Riedsfacts but I didn't have the heart to kill her, I couldn't bear the pain Charles was already going through so I had to keep her alive.
Well done to those that successfully convinced me not to kill her :) I hope this ending was worth it.

Btw, I know (from experience) that you don't recover from anesthetic and are able to sit up as quickly as I've written this, but for the sake of Charles's heart I have ;) I was so desperate to revisit the party, so I thought it'd be sweet if Charles organised another one exactly the same.

Please please pleaseeee review, it's your reviews that kept her alive in the first place ;) Remember I still have the alternate ending :p