Hello all! thank you all for your support on the last chapter...Sorry you all don't get the steamy stuff you all are after (if one of you wants to tackle that, you have my blessing!)
Also thanks to my fabulous and wonderful and supportive Beta Hogwarts-Duo!
They pulled up to the house after a week and a half in the snow covered Alps. She had been so excited when Charles had told her where they were headed. It had been stunning and they had had a wonderful time. (Waking late, making love whenever they wanted, skiing, reading books by the fire, snuggling up with tea or hot chocolate.) But, she was ready to get back. She missed Ainsley tremendously, even with the once a day text from Izzy.
She went and opened the door as Charles settled with the cab and collected their luggage. She smiled as she pushed open the door and breathed a sigh of relief to see that everything was quite in order. Charles made his way to their bedroom and put the cases down and then meandered back to the kitchen where she was listening to the messages.
3 from her lawyer. 1 from Joe himself. And one from her Aunt Violet.
She tensed as she listened to her lawyer explain that Joe was bringing up a suit for custody. Joe must have been drunk when he called because she could barely understand his slurred words. Violet wanted her to bring Ainsley for a visit after she got back and settled in with Mr. Carson.
Elsie sighed and leaned back into the broad chest of her husband. "Can we go back to the Alps, Charles?"
"You would miss this too much. You were getting antsy being away from the company and Ainsley for too long," he replied sensibly. "Speaking of which, why don't we go pick up our darling girl a bit early from school? Call Isobel and tell her, and then we shall leave."
She nodded and picked up the phone to ring Richard's office. She talked to Isobel and the two made plans for dinner later in the week and for Charles to stop over to collect Ainsley's things.
They arrived at the school just as the students were getting ready for lunch. She stopped by the office and requested Ainsley. The principal smiled and commented on how very excited the lass would be.
When Ainsley came up the hall and spotted her mummy, she broke into a run to which Elsie stooped down to catch. The little lass hugged her mother fiercely, and tears ran down Elsie's face. She wiped them away quickly as Ainsley pulled back.
"Oh, mummy! I'm so glad you're home! I have so much to tell you," the little girl exclaimed.
"I've got a lot to tell you, also. But maybe you could spare a hug for your…" Elsie didn't know how to refer to Charles yet.
"Papa!" She squealed as she caught sight of the big man. She ran to him and he lifted her up high before settling her comfortably in his arms.
"Hello, little love. Did you miss your mummy and me?" He asked joyfully.
She nodded her head as Elsie picked up the discarded backpack and the trio headed outside.
"Sweetie, you need to go with Papa. I have to go run a few errands, and then I'll be home and we can order pizza for dinner! How about that?" Elsie asked in a gentle tone as Charles sat her back on the ground.
"Okay, mummy. Be quick!" Ainsley said in a small voice that betrayed her disappointment.
Elsie knelt down to eye level, "Ainsley, I know I just got back, and you were excited to spend time with us. I'm sorry. But there are things I have to do before we can cuddle up."
Ainsley nodded then hid her face into Charles leg. Elsie sighed and smoothed her curls as she pressed a kiss to Charles's cheek. She exhaled deeply as she went to hail a cab.
She arrived at the law office in ten minutes time and was seated in her lawyers office in less than that.
The short of it was that Joe was trying to get full custody. He was using her working hours as a point against her. Elsie shook her head when Mary Crawley explained that the man wasted more hours at the pub than he did working on his farm. He also had a number of outstanding debts.
Once that was taken care of she checked in at the office to make sure everything was going well. She left quickly and went to the grocer to get some real food and ordered the pizza to be delivered.
As she arrived home she noticed an extra car in the driveway. She made her way to the door with the bags and saw Edith coming out.
"Oh, hello. I've just dropped your prints off. Once you decide which ones you want just shoot me an email and I'll order them." Edith chirped quickly.
"Thank you, Miss Edith. I'm sure I'll love them all. Oh...how is Mr. Gregson?" Elsie asked slyly.
"He's well. I'm actually just on my way out to his place. I'll talk to you soon! Ta!" Edith said as she got into her car.
Elsie shook her head and opened the door to find her husband(!) and daughter laughing and playing a card game of some kind.
Ainsley squealed as she saw her mummy come through the door. She ran to Elsie, who scooped her up into her arms.
"Mummy, I beat papa at cards," Ainsley stated triumphantly and turned to stick her tongue out at Charles. Just as Elsie was going to gently scold her, the doorbell rang.
"That must be the pizza, I'll get it," Elsie said as she sat her lass on the ground.
"I've got it, Els, I've got cash for the tip, too," Charles said as he passed her quickly.
She still wasn't used to him paying for things. But it was nice. She laughed as the delivery boy thanked him effusively for the generous tip. The trio sat down and ate pizza. Charles and Elsie both had a beer, and their little lass had a juice box.
Elsie was clearing the table when the doorbell rang once again. Her brow wrinkled as Charles wiped his face and stood.
"Can I help you?" Charles asked.
"So you are the bloke who has been shacking up here and shagging that whore!" Joe Burns slurred out.
Elsie had heard what he said and quickly scooped up Ainsley and took her to her room telling her to stay put until Mummy or Papa came to get her. No matter what she heard she was to stay put.
She shut the hallway door and made her way out to where Joe was saying more lewd things about her.
"What are you doing here, Joe?" Elsie asked harshly.
"I want to see our daughter, the one we made while I was between your legs!" Joe said haughtily.
"Mr. Burns, I think you need to get off our property," Charles said scathingly.
"I think you need to back off," Joe shouted.
"Elsie, go inside and call the police," Charles commanded calmly.
She went in and dialed the number. She explained what was happening, and they said they were on their way.
She walked back out to see Charles clenching his fists. She walked over and put her hand on his arm to relax him. It wouldn't do for him to hit Joe right now.
They heard a little voice calling 'Papa' and Joe lost it. He swung at Charles and clipped his nose. Elsie shrieked as Joe grabbed her and backed her up against the wall.
"Who was she calling for, Elsie?" he asked menacingly.
"Not you," she replied just as sharply.
He hit her across the face twice. Then he balled up his fist only to slam it back into her stomach. She prepared herself for another blow, but never felt it. Charles had pulled Joe back and had punched him hard enough to knock him out.
She sank to the floor and the tears started. Charles wrapped his arms around her but she shrugged him off as the police officers entered. She stood and they both told what the awakening man had done. The officers hauled him out in handcuffs and Elsie went to the phone and called Izzy. She asked her best friend and Richard to both come and Richard to bring his medical bag.
Things were silent as they sat at the table. Cautiously he slid his hand over to grasp hers. He looked up at her and saw that the skin around her eye was darkening and her cheek was an angry red. She was struggling to breath comfortably, and it was noticeable. She looked at him with sad eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Charles," she whispered sorrowfully.
"Els, it's not your fault..." He was cut off by the door bell. He got up and answered the door.
Isobel flew in and Richard followed close behind.
"Izzy, will you go check on Ainsley?" Elsie asked her friend quietly.
Isobel turned and went down the hall. Richard looked at Charles and reset his broken nose. Then he turned to Elsie.
"Where did he hit you lass?" Richard asked quietly.
"My face...obviously. And he clipped my ribs. It feels like I've one that's broken," she replied quietly.
"Lift your shirt for me," Richard said clinically. He saw the bruise forming and gently ran his hand over her rib confirming that it was broken. "Well, we could bind your torso. It may help, but it's going to be painful regardless. But, you know that. No picking the little lass up, and cuddle on the other side."
She sighed and put her head in her hands. "We just got back, Richard. How do I explain this to her? 'I'm sorry sweetheart I can't cuddle or play. Your real father is a bastard who wants to take you away?' That's exactly how I wanted today to go," she finished sarcastically.
Charles shook his head and went down the hall to check on Ainsley and Isobel. He stood in the doorway, unnoticed, for a few minutes until a tearful Ainsley looked up to see him and ran to him.
"Is Mummy okay, Papa?" she asked with a quiver to her voice.
"She will be, lass. She has bruises on her face. You have to be gentle when you hug her, stay to her right side. Can you do that?" he asked kindly.
The little girl nodded and clung to his neck tightly. He carried her out to the kitchen with Isobel following closely. He let her down gently and she walked over hesitantly to Elsie, and her bottom lip quivered at the sight of her Mummy's pretty face all bruised up.
Elsie reached for her and lifted her slowly gently on her lap. "Hello, my little lass."
The little girl burst into tears and hugged Elsie's neck tightly. Elsie winced in pained but waved off Isobel and Charles.
"Shh. Sweetheart, I'm okay. I'm okay. Papa is okay, and you are okay. We are all here and fine. Shh," Elsie soothed.
"But Mummy, I'm scared." Ainsley hiccuped between sobs.
"Sweetheart, your real da, well he isn't a very nice man. He's trying to take you from your Papa and me. It's not going to happen but we have to go see a judge, and you might have to talk to him. It may be scary but we will all be there with you, and we will get through it together." She felt Ainsley nod and then shot Charles a look.
"Let's get you to bed, little love," Charles said as he plucked her from his wife's lap and then headed down the hall.
"Well, at least it will be a quick thing, especially after tonight." Izzy said with a sigh.
Tears spilled down Elsie's face. "I hope you're right, Izzy. I hope you're right."
Let me know what you think!
Much Love,
Samantha=)