Elsie stands at the sink and looks out into the garden. Looks at her grandchildren who enjoy the unusually warm, sunny weather. Sees how Gracie throws a ball to her little brother, how John tries to grab it and falls into the leaves, hears the laughter of both. If you could only see this.

But she knows that he does, knows that he wouldn't miss such a sweet moment for anything in the world. She closes her eyes and feels that he stands behind her, embraces her, his soft breath tickling her neck. I'm here, my love, I share this with you.

Tears are glistening in her eyes as she opens them again after giving in to her imagination for just one moment. She misses him so much. Since two years she finds herself talking to him constantly, telling him all the things he has to know, all the things she cannot tell anybody else. Wherever you are, listen. And as she puts the potatoes on the work surface, her gaze wanders to his portrait, standing next to the bread bin. Her husband in his butler's uniform, so proud, so dignified. So handsome.

"Elsie? Elsie? Where on earth are you?"

She could hear the excitement in his voice as she made her way down the steps. And as she saw him coming from the kitchen, the sparkle of his eyes and his happy, genuine smile already told her what had happened.

"May I present, dear wife, the future butler of Downton Abbey?" he said in his most stern imitation voice that he had used so often for the good-night stories of their children.

"Congratulations Mr. Carson." she answered with a warm smile on her face, knowing how much this meant to him. She also knew that his time for their family would be limited from now on but there was no question of him accepting the offer. Of course he would take it.

She walked to him and felt his hands on her hip instantly, taking her off the ground to whirl her around. "Oh, Charles, stop it!" she protested amused just as he put her on her own feet again to give her a proper celebration kiss. "Mama? Papa? What is it?"

Elsie could feel how Sophie dragged at her skirts to end her parent's embrace so that they could tell her why her Papa was home so early today. "I'm butler now Soph." Charles said as he scooped her up in his arms. "Is that something good?" she asked with wide eyes starring at her mother in slight incomprehension. "Does it mean we can have cake?"

Elsie laughed. "Yes, precious, come on into the kitchen, let's prepare a fine dinner for your Pa."

Charles had to smile at the sight that greeted him a few minutes later. Elsie, helping their daughter who was sitting on the work surface close to the bread bin with cutting the vegetables. Yes, indeed, their daughter was so very precious he thought before he went in to join them.

When she looks out of the window again, she sees how John tries to catch his big sister, runs after her, red-faced and nearly out of breath. His dark curls are falling in his face. Such familiar hair. Such a familiar, stubborn aim to get things right. If you play tag, you have to catch somebody. He is so like you, you know.

Elsie chuckles as she thinks back at how John had stood in the doorway of the kitchen this morning, raising his eyebrows at the porridge she had made for him. It doesn't look like the porridge Mama makes Granny. It's different. Something good doesn't have to change, does it? But, just as it had always been with her husband, she had persuaded him to try the porridge and succeeded. Just like you, afraid of change. But he learns, just as you have learned. He will become a handsome young lad. Just like you have been. Just like you.

She washes her hands then, leaves the potatoes next to the portrait of her husband and goes outside to join her grandchildren on a beautiful autumn day in Yorkshire.

"Miss Hughes? Just a moment Miss Hughes."

"Yes?" she answered to the deep, rich voice, looking back over her shoulder. "I just wondered… as your cousin has just told me that you are going to leave for Scotland again in a few days, I wondered if I might write to you?"

Elsie looked into the face of that tall, young man, his hair that had been so properly arranged at the beginning of the evening now a little more jumbled, his cheeks slightly red from the beer and the dancing. She had enjoyed the few weeks in Yorkshire she had spend with her aunt and cousins to help on their farm after the death of her uncle. A change from the usual scenery of her life, a chance to get away from the worrying glances of her mother and the careful, strict eyes of her father.

But why would a footman of the Abbey want to write to her? And such a good looking one in addition? She had enjoyed dancing with him. His arm around her waist had felt right. But any sort of romance was so far from her mind at that moment, especially because she had to go home in a few days, to see how Grandma was doing, to show her mother that, yes indeed, she was alright and to make sure that her father and sister didn't find themselves in hot-tempered arguments too often.

Yet as he was standing there in front of her with a small, hopeful smile on his face, she realized that yes, maybe a letter from him would be nice, even if it would probably cause her a lot of trouble with her father.

"I think you don't need my permission to post a letter Mr. Carson, do you?" With that she took one last look at him, gave him a dashing smile and made her way to her cousins who had promised their mother to take her back to the farm before midnight.

Elsie has just put away her book as she hears a faint knock on the door. A few seconds later, Gracie's head appears in the door, her curly hair disheveled and her cheeks slightly red from the effort of being quiet as to not wake her brother. "Granny? I couldn't sleep." she whispers, giving her Grandma an apologizing smile that also shows exactly what's on her mind. Can I, please? I know that I'm older now. But still?

"Come here then." Elsie says as she holds up the covers for her to crawl in. Gracie cuddles up to her and Elsie lays her arms around her in a warm embrace. My first one, my pretty girl full of wit. She reaches over to the bedside table and turns out the light.

After a few moments, Gracie looks up at her. "I bet Grandpa is looking down at us now. Goodnight Grandpa, wherever you are." Elsie smiles softly at her. So you know it too.

And in this moment, as she kisses her granddaughter goodnight for the second time that evening, she finds herself being happy and relieved. Happy because yes, he is still here with them, watches them, keeps an eye on them. He must be. Relieved because he is there too, wherever it is, with another little girl that he loves, that they both love. A girl that has been in their hearts for such a long time, a sweet, little face so dear to them, beautiful memories connected to her, mixed with the devastating sorrow of a sudden goodbye, too soon, much too soon.

And as she has done so often before, Elsie says her silent prayer. Take care of her Charles. Be happy Alice. Sleep well. I love you both. So much. Good night.

There we go, another chapter of which I hope that again, you like it. Reviews would be terribly appreciated! :)