A/N: Back to the main timeline. Someone has news to share…

A soft knock sounded on the door.

Muttering for them to come in, Charles looked up and saw Alice in the doorway of the office. He frowned slightly, knowing that she had rarely come to Downton throughout their marriage, but even less since she knew about the affair. She gave him a small smile.

"I won't be long. I'm going to Hazard to have lunch with Denise, then we're going shopping. I should be home around eight tonight," she paused. "Is there anything I can get for you while I'm out? Some new trousers, or shirts? You really should consider upgrading-"

"No, thank you," he shut her down. She flared her nostrils.

"I only want you to look your best. See you tonight," she left, shutting the door behind her. He sat staring at it.

"Look my best"? That's all she cares about. Appearance.

She acts as though nothing has changed. That I never had an affair. That she never met Elsie a couple of weeks ago, and tried to bribe her to leave town.

She has not changed.

I am not the same.

She had told him about meeting Elsie at the diner. For the first time in weeks, he had felt a visceral reaction. Anger towards Alice, that she had goaded Elsie into meeting her. Guilt for Elsie's sake that she had had to endure it. Shame and anger directed at himself, for not being more courageous earlier in his life, and ending the marriage years before.

What had finally swayed him was Alice's behavior. She had refused to go to any kind of counseling, saying it would be too embarrassing to talk about their marriage in front of a stranger. She carried on as normal, visiting friends and serving on the local Arts Board.

If she wouldn't acknowledge the clear problems they had, what was the point in staying married to her?

He had hired an attorney, who advised him to move out. Legally, Charles did not have to do so, but he was not sure how Alice would react to his news, so he thought it the sensible thing to do. Some of his things were already at the cabin.

He would have to tell Alice soon.

And Elsie. If she would see him.

They had successfully avoided each other for six weeks, no small feat, considering they worked in virtually the same building. He had had no more than short glimpses of her.

Although he knew the next few weeks and months would be difficult, it was worth it. Elsie was worth it.

For the first time in a very long time, he looked forward to the future.

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The river was high, the spring rains swelling the creeks that fed it. He relished the sun on his neck. He checked his watch. Beryl would be coming along soon. She had said she wanted to meet him somewhere private. To talk.

He wondered what she wanted to talk about.

It came as a shock, therefore, when he heard the distinctive rumble of Elsie's truck. He swallowed, nervously running a hand down on his hair, as she parked a few spots away.

You were going to tell her anyway. I suppose now is the time.

Her hair glinted in the sun when she got out, and his mind immediately transported back to heated memories at the cabin. His soft smile vanished at her expression. She wasn't smiling, or even looking at him directly. His heart hammered in his chest.

"I didn't expect to see you here," he said in a low voice. She stopped about six feet away, a faint blush coloring her pale face.

"I'm sorry to deceive you. It was my idea for Beryl to ask you to meet. I wasn't sure if you wanted to see me again."

The lilt of her voice made him feel lightheaded. He took a step forward.

"Of course I wanted to see you again," he said, rubbing his fingers together. "I-I've missed you."

"You too," she whispered, looking up at him through her eyelashes. When she bit her lip, he couldn't stop himself, gathering her into his arms. She was stiff for a moment, then relaxed, wrapping her arms around him.

"God, I missed you," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. She let out a sob, crying softly into his shirt. Rubbing her back, he enjoyed the feeling of her body tucked just so under his chin. Gradually, she calmed. He gestured at a wooden bench along the bank. "Would you like to sit down?"

Nodding, she sat down, still holding his hand. He squeezed hers, wondering how it was possible that the hell of the last six weeks could fade away so completely with her touch. He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.

"I'm glad you're here," he said, smiling at the hitch in her breath. He took a deep breath. "Because I wanted to tell you something. I'm filing for divorce."

Her mouth dropped open, and she put a hand to her mouth. Several emotions flashed across her face.

"Oh God," she whispered, her eyes wide. "Truly?"

"Yes," he said. "I should have done it years ago."

"I'm sorry to be the cause of it," she choked, withdrawing her hand and fishing for a tissue from her purse. He watched her with a concerned expression. "You have always taken your vows seriously-"

"Elsie, stop," he commanded, putting his hands on either side of her face. "You were not the cause of my marriage ending. It was there long before you." He rubbed away her tears, but they kept falling.

"I am sorry, I can't seem to stop crying," she whispered. He put an arm around her.

"I love you," he said in her ear. "And you would make me the happiest man on earth if you would become my wife." He felt as though his entire life had been building to this moment.

To his surprise, she leaned away from him. "Are you offended?" he asked, worried. "I know I should have waited to ask you until after the divorce is final-"

"No," she said, getting up. "I can assure you the last thing on this earth that I am at this moment is offended. But," she bit her lip, wiping her eyes with her sleeve, "you don't want to be stuck with me."

"But that's the point," he said, taking her hand and pulling on it so that she sat down again, "I do want to be stuck with you."

She looked away, down the brown flood that was the river. She spoke so quietly he almost couldn't hear her.

"But it won't be just me you're stuck with," she looked him in the eye, her blue eyes glistening. "Charles, I'm pregnant. I'm going to have a baby."

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He stood without comprehending, his hands on his hips. Everything around him seemed to fade away like the morning fog.

Impossible.

No, not impossible. After all those tests years ago, the doctors said nothing was wrong with me physically.

I never thought this could happen. Not now. Not like this.

I never thought I would have the chance.

A lifetime ago, almost thirty years ago, Alice had said almost the exact same words to him.

Then, I proposed after she told me.

This time, Elsie's news came after my proposal.

What if this ends the same way? She's older, there could be complications…

A thousand thoughts and words bombarded him.

A baby. At my age.

I'm fifty. A ten-year-old when I'm sixty? What kind of father would I be?

A baby. A child. Elsie's child.

Our child.

He bent over, leaning on the fence. Her hand slid onto his back.

"Are you all right, Charles?"

He tried to answer her, but only a gasp came out. He gulped through another sob, feeling the tears drip off of his chin. He nodded and tried to regain his composure. Feeling his knees weaken, he knelt on the ground. She embraced him, and he held her hips, whispering into her ribcage, pressing his lips against the fabric of her windbreaker.

He looked up, suddenly looking worried. "Will you?" She ran a hand through his hair, trying in vain to smooth that errant curl.

"Will I what? Oh," she blushed, remembering his unanswered question that was not a question at all. She dipped her head and kissed him on the mouth, humming. "Yes," she breathed. "Of course I'll marry you, you booby," she teased, breaking into a smile when he laughed.

They lingered for a few minutes more. He felt as though he could kiss her forever, and it would not be enough. With a promise to talk soon about their plans, they parted.

He was pulling into the long driveway of the house before the bubble burst.

What is Alice going to say when she finds out?