A/N: Once again, if you haven't read the previous two chapters, please do. I hate to get anyone's hopes up, but I will not be able to update this story this quickly all the time. This section rather called for it.

He was lost in a haze of rage. Then Thomas appeared at the door. He screamed at the young man, something awful.

Then he saw her.

And everything stopped.

Her soft eyes bored through his. At the sound of his name on her lips, he felt himself tremble.

His mind cleared.

Pain, terrible pain, and anger still flowed through him. But the wild beast was gone.

He suddenly felt tired. She caught him when he pitched forward, holding him steady.

She always steadies me.

He clung to her as she held him. She kissed his head, murmuring wordlessly. Comforting. He wept again, soaking the front of her blouse. When he looked up, she smiled at him, even though her own face was tear-streaked. She bent over as far as their child would allow, and kissed him on the mouth.

Lingering, he held her tighter. His lips traveled from hers down to her jaw. He pressed a soft kiss to the hollow between her heavy breasts, over her blouse. Her breath caught, but she didn't pull away.

He tried to say without words what he felt.

You are my true mate. You have never lied to me. I trust you with my life.

You are my life.

"Charles…" she breathed, leaning back slightly. His hands slid from her hips, toying with the bottom of her skirt. "We can't…Beryl and Thomas are in the next room."

Sighing, he got to his feet, his knees cracking. "Ouch," he mumbled. He blinked at the devastation around him. "Oh God…did I do this?"

"Yes," she said softly, holding his hand. "But don't worry about it now. Let's go to the kitchen and talk." She frowned, reaching up to touch his face. "Love, you're bleeding."

He hadn't noticed. They went back into the kitchen, where Beryl was pottering around with dishes. Thomas stood up immediately when they walked in. "Mr. Carson, I-"

"Please, let me apologize," he said, holding up his hands. "I'm sorry I shouted at you. I had no right to do so. My anger was misdirected. And Beryl," he turned to his friend, "I am…so sorry I reacted the way I did." His shoulders slumped while Elsie gently stroked his back. "I…I'm afraid I destroyed some of your possessions. Whatever the cost, please let me repay you. Will you forgive me?"

She had her hands on her hips, but her expression was soft. "Of course, Charlie. I'll look through the room later, but don't worry about anything that's broken. Most of it I haven't looked at in over ten years." She patted him on the arm.

"Thank you," he said in relief. He held out his hand to Thomas. "Could I have your forgiveness as well? Of anyone who shouldn't be screamed at, it's you. I'm afraid I scared you." He watched the younger man, worry in his eyes.

Thomas flushed pink. "Of-of course I forgive you," he stammered, shaking Charles's hand. He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine, I know you didn't mean it." His eyebrows knitted together. "Did you know you're bleeding?"

"I'll take of it," Elsie said, running warm water in the sink over a clean cloth. She tapped Charles's shoulder. "Sit down."

He obeyed, and she pressed the cloth against his face. "Ow!" he sucked in a breath. "That stings!"

"Hush," Elsie gently wiped the scrape. Thomas and Beryl chuckled quietly. Beryl shook her head.

"I would never have wanted things to happen the way they did, Charlie," she said, her voice low. "I'm sure you don't, either. But one thing's for sure – you've got the right woman with you now."

She was glad to see him smile, his eyes twinkling. "That I do," he said, taking Elsie's free hand and kissing it.

00000000000

"I have good news and bad news." Mr. Napier folded his hands. Charles and Elsie glanced at each other. Charles took a deep breath.

"Let's have the bad news first. It can only get better after that."

Nodding, Mr. Napier shuffled the papers in front of him. "I quite agree." He sighed. "As you know, the letter changes the divorce proceedings considerably. So I'm sorry to tell you, Charles, that you won't be free to marry Elsie for a little while longer."

"How much longer?" Charles asked, almost before the sentence was out of the attorney's mouth.

"Well, I assume you'll want to move as quickly as possible on this. By the end of the day today, I'll draw up a declaration of invalidity on your marriage, due to fraud, and have it filed with the court tomorrow. With the evidence available, we should get the decree declaring your marriage invalid by next week."

"Next week?" Elsie let out the breath she'd been holding. Charles slumped in his chair.

"We thought it'd be weeks, or months," he said, leaning on the desk. "You're sure?"

"Positive," Mr. Napier said. "It's just under the original conditions, everything would have been finalized by the end of this week."

"I think we'll take next week," Charles said, putting an arm around his fiancée. Elsie dabbed at her eyes, laughing.

"Mr. Napier, if that's your bad news, I'd love to hear your good news."

"Ah," the dour attorney cracked a rare smile. "Well, invalidity of a marriage is legally different from a divorce. After the decree is given, Charles's marriage will be void. In plain language, it will be as if it never happened. What that means for the two of you is that the divorce agreement doesn't exist either." He looked pointedly at Charles. "Alice is entitled to nothing from you, if you wish. The house on Chestnut Street, any alimony payment, or-"

"The cabin," Charles finished. His heart skipped several beats; he felt as if he'd been released from under a great weight. Elsie gasped aloud, clapping her hands over her mouth.

"Your home," she whispered, feeling tears coming again. "Oh Charles, it belonged to your grandfather, then your father. I'm so glad for your sake!"

He laughed and leaned over, kissing her on the cheek. "It will be your home as well. Our home. Unless you'd rather have a place in town. Closer to work. It'd be more convenient," he kept his voice serious, but his eyes danced. "Are you sure you want to live in a cabin in the woods?"

Elsie opened her mouth to give him a retort, but laughed instead. She took his hand and put it on her belly. The two of them smiled at each other.

Mr. Napier raised an eyebrow. "I take it that's three votes for the cabin?"

A/N: Thomas has a backstory in this fic that could probably make its own story. Also, I have no idea how quickly a decree declaring a marriage invalid could be granted by the court. I just made that up. And I wanted to give an attorney some kudos; they're not all incompetent like Murray.