A/N: First of all I have to thank you all for the amazing reviews and feedback. Sometimes I worry that Aidan will come off as annoying in this story since he isn't an already established character in the show and yet you've all accepted him. Blows my mind. Chelsie fans your patience shall be rewarded in this chapter. It's not full on smut, so there wont be a bump in the rating just yet, but I'm working my way up to that point. Thanks to monajo7 for her help with the Chelsie scenes and to a-lady-to-me for reviewing the rest of the chapter. You guys are the best. I hope you all enjoy this latest installment, Anna isn't completely out of the woods yet but it's not as horrible as before. Also there is a bit of a time jump in here, but only because I couldn't stand torturing John and Anna for four days straight. Please review.

Chapter 13

Anna made it home from work and let out a sigh of relief when she locked the door behind her. The alarm was set and she felt herself calm down a bit when the little green light on the device flashed the word "secure" in the window. She wouldn't admit it aloud but she was drained and not just from work. Anna had been on edge all day, it seemed that since John had left her place that morning to go out of town on his business trip every little sound made her want to jump out of her skin. A few times it had happened while she was carrying a tray of food and she nearly dropped it all over the customer or spilled it on the floor. Her brain and nerves were working over time and the only time she had felt some form of relief was when she received a text from John and when she picked Aidan up from school.

John had tried convincing her again before he left to at least consider seeing a therapist and as much as she dreaded the idea, she was beginning to think there was no way around this. If it was going to be like this day in and day out for the next couple months it would do her and Aidan no good. The rational side of her brain told her it would also drive a bigger wedge between her and the people she loved most, she would come to resent them if they were constantly hovering around her and wondering how she was doing. While Aidan was still too little to understand what had happened to her; he was quite perceptive for a four year old, she wouldn't allow this to have any further impact on him.

Aidan went about his business of discarding his shoes by the door; the laces still tied neatly as he hadn't taken the time to untie them. She frowned at that but figured he was still a boy and it was best to let him have these carefree moments for as long as life would allow it. At least he had been thoughtful enough to take his backpack with him as he headed off to his bedroom. Anna let her hair down and sat in the armchair as she removed her shoes and wiggled her toes. It was sweet relief after standing all day. She was just about to put her shoes by the door when her phone buzzed indicating a text message had come through. She glanced down at the soft glow of the screen and smiled.

Would you think me crazy if I said I was bored as hell in this quiet hotel room? I keep expecting Aidan to jump out from around the corner in an attempt to scare me. -J

She had to laugh at that. Anna would have thought he'd welcome the break from Aidan's rambunctious nature and her craziness. Anna quickly composed a text back.

Yes. Enjoy it while you can. Aidan's already been making plans for things to do to wear you out when you return from your trip. I can tell he already misses you. He's asked how many days until you get back at least three times today. -A

It wasn't long before her screen lit up again.

Only Aidan misses me? :( -J

She shook her head in defeat as a grin spread across her face.

Of course not. I miss you more than you know.

Anna held off on hitting the send button. She considered typing out more and letting him know how hard the day had been. But she didn't want to cause him more worry than was necessary. Instead she added something more to the end of the text before hitting send.

Can't wait to have you back in my arms. I love you. -A

John immediately replied back.

Same here. It's only four days. We'll manage. And we'll have a big celebratory dinner when I get back. I still owe Aidan a trip to the ice cream parlor for his goal the other day. Give him a big hug for me. I love you too. -J

Anna felt relief wash over her as she read his words. She didn't know why, but there had been doubts nagging at the back of her mind. Part of her kept expecting John to realize that she and Aidan were more trouble than they were worth and decide to end things. Especially now that he had some time to himself to think without a four year old barging in on him or a girlfriend always in the verge of a breakdown. Anna stared at the screen longer than she thought was normal. Repeating his words in a hushed tone like a mantra to herself, "We'll manage...Only four days."

Anna kept an ear out for Aidan and couldn't hide her joy when he waltzed back into the living room with a box of toys. "Mummy, were you praying?" Aidan asked sweetly.

"Something like that," she answered back with a forced smile.

Aidan paused a moment to observe her, not quite sure she was genuinely happy. After his little stand off with her he asked, "Will you build Legos with me?"

"In a moment my love," she said. "Let Mummy get dinner started and then she'll play whatever you want," Anna negotiated. Aidan seemed satisfied with her response and dumped his bucket of Legos out on the living room rug. Anna was thankful that he hadn't seemed to pay any mind to the way she had tensed up when she thought a man who looked like Henry was following them. Anna could have sworn she gripped his hand a little tighter when she looked back behind them as they left the school. She even went so far as take a different route home just in case. Just thinking about it now was making her heart nearly beat out of her chest and her hands were physically shaking.

"Aidan, Mummy will be right back. Stay here and play with your toys," she instructed.

Aidan looked up with concern and silently nodded his head in agreement. But he didn't go back to playing with his toys instead he just kept staring back at her in a way that threatened to break her heart.

"Go back to playing with your toys sweetheart. Everything is fine," she assured.

Aidan fixed her with a look that made him seem wise beyond his years, "Mummy, you're not okay are you?"

It was then Anna knew she had only been fooling herself. She tried to play it off like it was nothing, "What are you talking about?"

"John told me to be a good boy for you while he was gone," Aidan said as he stared at his handful of Legos.

Anna was intrigued now, "What else did John tell you?"

"He said if I was helpful he would get me a surprise when he got back from his trip. John says sometimes people don't feel like themselves and just want to stay home. Are you having a bad day?"

"Yes, I am. But it's nothing you did my darling boy," Anna said.

"Is there something I can do to be helpful?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes. Can you come give Mummy a big hug?" she asked. Aidan nodded his head and dropped the Legos before wrapping his arms around her. "Squeeze tighter, else I'll float away," she said playfully and he did. Anna laughed out loud when she actually heard him grunt as he attempted to squeeze tighter. "When did you get to be so grown up?" she teased.

"Grandpa says I come from good stock," he said proudly.

Anna stared into his soulful, blue eyes and the corners of her mouth turned up. Even though she was sure that Aidan didn't know what that meant, she simply agreed, "Of course you do. No doubt you'll be big and strong just like Grandpa."

"And John too?" he asked.

"Yes, John too," Anna answered as she ruffled his light blonde hair.

There was a knock at the door and Elsie had just finished pulling the last of her hot rollers out of her hair. She nearly burned her fingertips trying to remove one of them but remained unscathed. She wasn't quite sure why she was such a bucket of nerves today; it wasn't as if she hasn't gone out to dinner with Charles before or hadn't days him before either. Although she had to admit that this was a different sensation. Even though they hadn't officially announced anything to anyone, she was certain Anna was already on to them. And it wasn't as if they were sneaking around to protect Anna's feelings as they had during their last go around. Now there were no more secrets between them; well, nothing major anyway.

Elsie called out to Charles from the bathroom and told him she was nearly ready and for him to let himself in. She brushed her curls loose and dabbed one last hint of blush on her cheeks, before changing into the outfit she had picked out. She quickly threw on the emerald green sweater over a black satin top that hung just off the shoulders. Shimmied into a pair of black slacks and topped it off with some dressy boots. Then headed to her jewelry box to pull out the key brooch he had gotten her and fastened it in place. Lastly she secured a pair of simple diamond earrings into her ears. She looked herself over once more in the mirror before stepping out into the hallway and flipped her hair back over her shoulder.

"Okay I'm ready," Elsie announced as she walked into her tiny living room. But her announcement was met with silence. When she looked up to see what was the matter, there stood the man she had always longed for in a white linen shirt, grey dinner jacket and black dress pants. His hair was combed back neatly and it looked as though he had dabbled in adding a bit of product to it, making him look very debonair. She couldn't help but notice he even took the time to shine his shoes.

"You're looking very lovely," he commented. "Not that you don't always...but this is different. Very different." He couldn't stop staring at her, she completely captivated him, body and soul.

"Good different?" she asked.

"Definitely good different," he answered without hesitation.

A smile played upon her face when his tender eyes met hers and he presented her with a bouquet of flowers. "My, my. We certainly are pulling out all the stops tonight aren't we?" she asked.

"And why shouldn't we?" he asked in a grumbly voice that almost made him sound upset. But the look on his face told her it was all just an act. "You're the one always reminding me we're getting on in our years...that we can afford to live a little," he reminded her with a wink. "We've waited long enough and I intend to take you on a proper date."

Elsie immediately headed for the kitchen to stick the lovely bouquet of wildflowers into a vase. The sound of his words warmed her heart and she felt a sensation travel up her back before settling in her stomach.

Charles followed behind her and admired her figure as she filled the vase with water quickly and began to put the flowers away. This was one of the first times he had seen her so dressed up since Anna's graduation. Her hair was done differently and it was rather hypnotizing the longer he stared at it. The curls in her hair reminded him of when she was younger and gave her a certain glow that he couldn't quite put into words. In the few short months they had shared as an unofficial couple he had loved to run his fingers through it, drawing lazy circles in her scalp with his fingers and he twirled her hair mindlessly around his fingertips.

"I still don't see why you couldn't just meet me at the shop. It would have been faster than you driving all the way out to my place just to drive me back into town for dinner," she remarked.

"One," Charles said as he helped her get her jacket on, "you will always be worth driving out to the middle of nowhere for." She turned to look him in the eye and was taken aback by his beaming smile. "Two, is that this is not just a get together between friends. This is a special night."

"Are you saying we are more than friends?" she asked, though Elsie already knew the answer to that question.

"Well I won't say it if you don't want me to," he teased. "But I think your eyes have been saying it for years. I'm just sorry I didn't acknowledge it sooner." Charles felt bad when he saw the tears building in her eyes. "Whatever made you want to wait around for an old fool like me to wise up, I'll never understand," Charles said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Do you really want me to answer that?" she asked.

"I'm almost afraid to hear the answer," he joked.

"It was your sense of humor," she said seriously.

Charles was known for many things, but a sense of humor wasn't one of them and even he could admit that. "What?"

"Granted, it doesn't always shine through," she stated with a small laugh. But the first time that you came to one of Alice's performances at the theatre and I met you for the first time, you cracked some joke...God help me, but I can't remember what it was. All I know is you made me laugh harder than I had in a long time. Not even Joe was able to make me laugh like that." She caught a glimpse of the slightly perceptible grin that crossed his face and felt her cheeks flush red. "You were always so good and sweet with Anna. Even after everything that happened with Alice, you managed to maintain a softer side and it just always made a big impression on me. At first I thought to myself, I hope I meet someone like that. And then after everything fell apart with Joe and of course long after Alice passed, it occurred to me..."

"What?" Charles asked as he hung on every word.

"That maybe you were the one I was hoping to meet."

Charles was moved beyond words, he hadn't realized that he'd held her fancy from that first interaction with her. It almost made him wonder what would have happened if he'd gone another way. If he'd met Elsie first. As much as he would have enjoyed it, he couldn't regret one moment of the life and love he'd shared with Alice, or the people that came into his life as a result. "I'm touched. Thank you for sharing that with me." Charles offered her his arm. "Now we best be off. I made reservation at a lovely little restaurant across town and I wouldn't want us to be late."

"No, I imagine you wouldn't."

He fixed her with a serious look and a raised eyebrow.

"Perish the thought," she said with a giggle.

He could do nothing but smirk back at her.

Anna called across the flat from her bedroom, "Aidan Charles Smith, you had better have brushed your teeth little man." She could hear the subtle shuffle of toys across the carpet in his bedroom. Still no answer. "Aidan? Mummy is giving you until the count of three." Anna rolled her eyes as she finished applying some face cream and grabbed her robe. "One!"

This was followed by the clatter of Legos.

"Two!"

Then the footsteps across the hallway.

"Three!"

The faucet turned on.

"I'm brushing!" he shouted back.

Anna smiled to herself as she brushed her hair back and made her way to the other bathroom. "Done already?" she asked.

"Mhm," he said while smiling up at her.

"Let me see," Anna instructed as she leaned forward to check his breath. "Ok, I guess this means I can give John a good report. Now off to bed," Anna said as she patted him on the bottom.

He skipped off to bed and jumped into it immediately and grabbed his bear.

Anna walked into his room and stepped on one of his Legos and had to fight the urge to curse out loud as she gripped at the bottom of her foot.

"Sorry, Mummy," he apologized quickly.

"It's alright, but please remember to pick up your toys," she said.

He hopped out of the bed to pick up the Legos while Anna headed to his book shelf and asked, "Would you like a story tonight?"

"No," he shook his head. Aidan continued to scoop up the last remaining Legos into his bucket.

Anna stopped running her fingers along the books on the shelf, she turned back to look at Aidan. It wasn't like him to pass on reading a bedtime story. "Did you want a song then?" she offered.

"Nope," Aidan answered quickly. He pushed the bucket under his bed and clicked his nightlight on. Then he promptly got back into bed.

"No stories and no songs?" Anna inquired. "You feeling okay my love?" Anna took a seat beside Aidan on his bed, being mindful not to sit on his little legs. She waited for his answer and smoothed the quilt on the end of the bed.

Aidan sat thoughtfully for a moment, looking terribly serious for a boy his age, before he decided to speak his mind. "Mummy, can we call John?"

"You want to call John?" Anna inquired while looking at his pleading eyes. "I don't see why not, he's probably still awake."

Anna dialed the number on the phone and listened to it ringing for a few seconds before being met with a familiar voice, "Hello?"

"Good evening, stranger," she greeted.

"I was wondering if I'd hear from you tonight," he said in an optimistic tone of voice.

She could almost hear his smile through the phone, "Of course you would have. But someone else wants to speak with you first."

"Oh?"

"Go ahead, say 'hello' to John," she encouraged.

Aidan confidently took the phone from Anna, "Hi, John."

"Hey, kiddo," Anna could hear his voice ring out through the mobile. "How was school today?"

"Good. I played with Freddie at recess. And a girl kissed me on the swings," he recanted.

"She did?" John asked.

"Who did?" Anna asked at the same time.

Aidan put his finger to his lips to silence her like she did to him when she was on the phone. "Mummy, I'm talking to John," he said before returning to his conversation with John.

"Oh right, well let me know when you are ready to talk with your Mummy," Anna said as she waited with her arms crossed. Although she was thoroughly enjoying this interaction between John and Aidan.

"She must really like you," John remarked. "Do you like her back?"

"No, I don't like girls," Aidan corrected John.

"You will one day," John said wisely.

"I only like grown up girls. Like Mummy and Gwen," he stated clearly.

"Ah. So you like the older ladies, huh? Well I'm quite fond of your Mummy," John commented. "Speaking of your Mummy. Were you a good boy today?"

"Yes, I was very helpful. Mummy said so," Aidan replied.

"I'm very glad to hear that. It just so happens I passed a toy store today with a remote control car in the window. And I'm pretty sure it came in a certain someone's favorite color," John said.

"Did you get it?" Aidan asked as he leaned excitedly on the edge of his mattress.

"You'll have to wait and see," John teased.

"John, when are you coming home?"

"Why? You can't wait for your race car?" he said with a small chuckle.

"No. I just miss you," Aidan said solemnly.

The sound of Aidan's voice tugged at his heart and he had never felt further from Downton in all his life. He wanted to reach right through the speaker and hold Aidan and Anna in his arms that very second. It was the first time that he had a place to really call home in years, aside from the one he had shared with his mother. But even with Vera he had never really felt whole and where he truly belong. If there was ever a doubt that Aidan had accepted him into his heart, it was immediately brushed away with those words.

"Four more days little man," John said. He heard an aggravated sigh through the phone. "You know, the sooner you go to bed, the sooner it will be only three days away," John reasoned. John never knew that a few short days could seem like such a long time, but then again he'd never had anything worth waiting for. He silently wondered to himself if it would always be this way. If his love for Aidan and Anna would continue to grow stronger with each passing day. It was hard to fathom, but it didn't bother him in the least. John was pulled from his thoughts when Aidan asked him a question.

"John can you tell me a story?"

"Uh, I don't think I know any stories," he answered back.

"What about a story when you were my age?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know something funny," Aidan suggested as he laid back on the bed with one arm behind his head.

"Umm, hold on...okay I think I've got one," he began.

Anna stood in the doorway watching Aidan's face light up as he spoke to John. She eventually sat herself down on the floor listening to Aidan laugh every so often. Anna was so thankful that there was some angel out there looking out for her to give her a child like Aidan and a man like John to love them both.

Charles and Elsie sat across from one another quietly after placing their orders wondering what to do next. Charles took a long sip of wine from his glass and Elsie was focusing a little too hard on the pattern of the napkin set before her. They kept stealing glances of each other before their eyes finally met at the same time. "So…" she began to say, "how are things?" She immediately regret her words. Why was it so hard to talk to the man who she had already known as both a lover and a friend. It felt like a first date all over again and it was painfully awkward. What do you say to someone that you already know everything about?

"They're about the same," he answered.

"Is that good?"

"It's not bad...I mean I suppose things could be worse," he responded before clearing his throat.

She felt her heart drop at that statement. They had been worse and it wasn't that long ago. But tonight was supposed to be about moving forward and learning to let go of the past. Would it always be this way? This invisible wall that still stood between them. Would the way she handled the situation always be there to haunt them? Maybe it wasn't the Anna situation at all. Perhaps Charles reluctance now stemmed from his feelings for Alice, a woman that had long since passed, but had been very dear to the both of them.

The sounds of the restaurant continued to fill the void as other customers chattered around them and a small band led by a crooner covered some of the older hits from their younger days. It wasn't lost on Charles that Elsie looked towards the dance floor at the center of the room longingly as the singer encouraged the couples in the restaurant to join in on the fun.

Her profile looked indescribably stunning in the candlelight as the reflection of the fire danced in her eyes. Charles kept wanting to say something more but found himself in doubt each time and thought better of it. He counted himself lucky to be sitting across from this amazing woman that left him absolutely gobsmacked. And yet she captivated him in such a way that he couldn't find the courage to speak to her now. Surely after all this time she had some great expectations of what she wanted in a man, or rather from a man. What if he couldn't be what she needed?

When the waitress came by to place a bread basket on the table they both reached for the same roll at the same time and their fingers brushed up against one another. They both immediately pulled away and gestured for the other to take the roll instead and laughed nervously. Instead, both decided to forgo eating the rolls. "This is ridiculous," Charles stated loudly. "We're acting like this is our first time out of the gate, but in truth we've been dating for years," Charles pointed out.

She hadn't expected those words to come out of his mouth or to be said with such conviction. But what she least expected happened next. Charles rose from his chair and rapidly removed the napkin that had been sitting in his lap and threw it on the table before straightening out his suit and tie. Suddenly he whipped his hand out in her direction and spoke firmly, "I'm tired of waiting, we've done enough of that. We're going to start living, Els." She simply stared back at his hand in disbelief, palm facing up and placed hers in his own, having no reason to distrust or fear whatever he was going to do next. She had never seen him act so impulsive or erratic as he led her away from the table. Elsie trailed behind him as he whisked her across the restaurant, not entirely sure if all this was real.

"Charles where are we going? What about dinner?"

"We're going to dance."

She stopped him from moving forward to make sure she heard him correctly. "You want to dance?"

He nodded his head in agreement. "We'll gain nothing from standing still. And you deserve to be spun around on the floor," Charles stated as he stood up straight and held out his arms to lead and frame her; one arm rested on the small of her back while the other squeezed her hand firmly. The band kicked up the tempo as they started up a new song and he began moving a little faster with practiced ease.

"Glad to see your days on the stage weren't all for naught," she teased.

They're feet moved as one to the rhythm of the music; the sound reminded her of the big jazz bands from the 20s and 30s. Charles hips were moving in an almost hypnotic way and his hair loosened as his actions became more animated. She was trying hard not to stare too hard, but the music kept them on their toes and caused her to fall into a trance as she looked deeply into his eyes. Over the years they had changed in many ways, carried scars they shouldn't have had to bear, the passage of time had aged them. But the eyes, they were still the same. They still held that naive hope that tomorrow could always be better, had cried tears of heartache and still found the will to wake up each morning. They still crinkled around the edges with every laugh and smile.

"I didn't always play the fool you know. I was the entertainment on occasion," he nearly growled into her ear. He twirled her around and pulled her back in so that she had her back facing to him and his arms were wrapped around her as they swayed together. "Besides, they're playing our song," he said with a chuckle.

"But we don't have a song," she pointed out in her Scottish brogue.

He held her close to him and dipped her slowly. Still suspended above the ground in his arms she was speechless and looking up into his big brown eyes, noticing the almost greyish-hue that encircled them. "I don't think you've been listening closely enough," he said with a wry smile.

Elsie kept moving her feet in time with the music and let the words of the song sink in for a few seconds. "How Sweet it Is," she said.

"Mmhhmm," Charles nodded with approval then flashed that smile he only reserved for her.

Elsie had to hold back from laughing when she watched his head bob back and forth to the sound of the music and he sung loud enough for only her to hear, "But you brighten up for me all of my days...with a love so sweet, in so many ways. I want to stop and thank you baby."

"Charles," she said in a tone that resembled mock embarrassment. But she smiled back at him with reddened cheeks and gave him permission to go on.

"How sweet it is to be loved by you." Charles pulled her so that she was resting her head on his chest and continued moving for both of them.

Elsie had to resist the urge to cry tears of joy. She could almost hear his heart beating beneath the layers of clothing and wanted nothing more than to stop the hands of time as his arm provided all the protection and reassurance she had ever yearned for. She could feel the love emanating from every extension of his body: in his heated gaze, in his tender touch, and the smile that he cast down upon her. They danced on into the night, as a flame that was never fully extinguished took hold of them both and set a fire in their veins.

Anna poked her head around the corner after a while when she heard a gentle snore escape Aidan's mouth. She came in the room and picked up the phone and saw that Aidan was passed out with his arm hung over the side of the bed. "You still there?" she whispered into the receiver as she pushed Aidan back into the center of the mattress.

"I am," he replied with a chortle. How could she possibly think he had fallen asleep or hung up the phone without talking to her?

"Hold on, let me finish putting him to sleep," she said. Anna pulled the covers back and tucked Aidan in before placing a kiss on his cheek. Anna held the phone to her chest as she ventured a glance over her shoulder once more and turned out the light.

Once she was out of earshot and in her bedroom she returned to her conversation, "What on earth were you talking to him about for so long?"

"I just told him some childhood memories," he explained.

"No fair. Aidan knows more about your past than I do," she whined playfully.

"I'm an open book Miss Smith. I'll tell you anything you want," he said.

"Well, I want to hear these memories you shared with Aidan at some point," Anna noted as she got comfortable in her bed. "But right now I really just want to hear your voice. I'd literally listen to you recite the telephone book at this point."

"That can be arranged, I'm pretty sure they still make hard copies of those," he joked.

She laughed but sighed heavily afterward. Anna tried clearing her throat hoping that he hadn't noticed.

"How are you today?" he inquired.

"I'm fine," she replied a little too quickly.

"You may have Aidan fooled, but I'm not falling for it. How are you really?"

If only he knew the truth. Aidan was more aware than she wanted him to be of the situation. Anna felt the sob building in her throat but pushed her feelings aside as she wiped her eyes. "I'd tell you I'm okay, but I know you wouldn't believe me," she posited.

"I would if I knew it was the truth," he countered. John could hear the exasperation in her voice and knew better than to push her any further for information. "Listen, if you insist you are alright, I will reluctantly believe you. But I just want you to know I'm here for you."

"I do, it's just…it's been a long day and I'm just missing you," she said sincerely.

"I miss you too my darling," John said as he looked around the empty hotel room.

"Will you talk to me until I fall asleep?" she requested, hoping to distract him.

John did his best to muffle a yawn as he had not been sleeping well the last few nights. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed at his eyes anticipating a long night, "Of course," he replied.

The next morning...

The sun made its way into the bedroom and slowly filled the room with light. It was a new day and eventually the rising sun fell upon Charles' hairy chest and warmed him all the way through. With eyes still closed, he stretched his arm out to reach for his wristwatch and squinted to bring the numbers on the face of the clock into focus. Thankfully he didn't have to be into work for another three hours. Charles set the watch back down on the bedside table and let out a yawn, but stopped abruptly when he felt something stir against his chest. Without effort, his lips curled into the most perfect smile as he was reminded of how the evening had ended. He glanced down and saw the most perfect creature with rich, mahogany hair sleeping peacefully in his arms. He wanted to let her sleep a little longer; knowing that they had stayed up late into the night.

"Els," he whispered. She moved a little, her naked body flush against his, stirring up the most delicious sensations in his belly. She refused to wake up and he had to muffle the laugh that escaped his lips. "Elsie, my dear. It's time to wake up," Charles said in the softest voice he could muster. He felt his own head quake at the sound of his words, perhaps they should have held off on that second bottle of wine.

Her eyes quickly snapped open and she sat up a little too fast. "What?" Her own voice forced her to close her eyes and she raised a hand to her forehead. "Oh god, I need Tylenol. What time is it?"

"Seven," he answered and began to laugh when he looked over at her. She held the blanket up to her nose and thought she was being shy. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I haven't had a chance to brush my teeth, I don't want you to be subjected to my morning breath," she explained.

Charles turned in bed to face her, hating the loss of contact between them, but enjoying the view. He moved his hand up slowly to remove the blanket and pressed a slow, passionate kiss to her lips.

They both began to laugh together when she realized he was becoming excited again, judging by the slight lift of the sheets between his legs. "Again?" she teased.

"We don't have to. I'm sure you'll be late for work if I keep you much longer. Besides I was not expecting last night to happen," he replied with a guilty smile. He looked at the trail of clothes that led from the hallway and smiled when he recalled their antics the night before. "Twice," he emphasized proudly.

"Yes, you were full of surprises last night," she replied. Elsie remembered the way Charles had lingered on her doorstep as he prepared to kiss her goodnight. The kiss was languid and sensual, his lips smooth and slick like silk. Their tongues dueling within their mouths and their hands grasping at anything solid that would reaffirm this was in fact happening. It was all coming back to her in pieces, flashbacks more like. They had stumbled down the hallway and she remembered him shushing her a few times, ironically since it was her house.

Their years in exile had led to a pent up desire that could no longer be contained. They had both nearly tore the others clothes off and fell into her bed with a thud. She remembered him stopping them before they got going to make sure she wanted this just as much as he did. It only took one kiss to encourage him to continue with his ministrations. Yet, despite the rushed nature of getting in the door and to the bedroom, everything after seemed to go in slow motion. He took his time to caress her and place his lips on all the places that he remembered brought her the most pleasure and were the most sensitive and she was an eager participant. She was pleasantly surprised that despite them only being together a few months during that time that Anna was gone, he still knew how to read her like a book.

"What got into you? I thought you'd want to take things slow," she commented.

"Any slower and I don't think we'd have much time left together," he said regretfully.

"Don't you dare say such things, Charles Carson," Elsie scolded as she let her hand explore the expanse of his chest and scour the dark, coarse hairs that were spread liberally there. "I haven't had my fill of you just yet. So don't you start making plans to leave me."

Elsie hated to leave now, but any later getting into the shop and she was sure she would have to field questions from both Ivy and Mrs. Patmore. She rose from the bed, still holding the sheets to her chest, her figure moving across the room still afforded him a glimpse at what lie beneath the sheets as the sun cascading in the window revealed her silhouette. He could almost see the curve of her breast and her shapely thighs that drove him to the brink of madness. She had his full attention now and laughed out loud when she turned around and saw the slack jaw look on his face.

"What?" she asked.

"You look breathtaking this lovely morn," he said.

"Well you don't look so bad yourself. I think I rather like you with bed head," she shot back. She grabbed a pair of underwear from the drawer and a bra before she headed to the bathroom to get herself ready for the day. "You don't have to answer now, but I was thinking just now...when should we tell Anna? That is if she hasn't already figured out what's going on between the two of us."

"I hadn't thought much about it," Charles answered as he drew lazy circles on the empty side of the bed. "I suppose you could come over for the next family dinner and we could tell her then...that is...if you want to," he offered.

She walked back to the bed and leaned forward to run a hand through his loose, salt and pepper hair before placing a kiss on his lips. When she pulled back she saw a boyish grin on his face that made him look ten years younger. "Of course. I suppose we are living by our new motto now. Seize the day," Elsie said playfully before smothering him with kisses once more and allowing him to pull her back into bed.

Three days later...

Anna's phone wailed across the flat as she wiped up some remnants of finger paints left on the kitchen table. "Aidan, you had better not be having another one of your candies that Gwen gave you. Dinner time first," she said before answering the phone.

"Hello?" she said sounding exhausted and frustrated.

"Hey. Did I catch you at a bad time?" John asked.

"Uh...yeah, sort of," Anna answered as she wiped up the last of the finger paint and saw the water begin to boil over the top of the pot.

"I can let you go if you want," he offered.

"No. No, that's not necessary," she said, willing herself not to sound too desperate. "Just give me a second," Anna said. She set the phone down on the counter and turned the burner to a lower setting. Then made sure to toss out the paper towels that were now covered in different shades of red, yellow and blue. "Aidan, what are you doing?" she called out.

"Nothing," Aidan said as he popped around the corner. But one look at his fair complexion told her all she needed to know as the corner of his lips were lathered in chocolate. "What did Mummy say?"

"Wash my hands," he answered with a catfish smile ingrained on his face.

Anna was having a hard time being firm with him when he gave her such adorable faces, much like his father. "And after that?" she questioned.

"I don't know," he fibbed. Even without the evidence that was so clearly spread across his mouth, she could tell by the way he refused to look her in the eye and the way he fiddled with his hands. In some ways he was more like his father than she cared to admit and it terrified her more than anything.

"Aidan, Mummy said no more chocolate. Now go wash your hands and face again before you get the furniture dirty," she ordered. Anna felt her shoulders slump and her head drop as he stormed off down the hallway. She took a moment to compose herself and returned to the phone. "You still there?" she asked.

"I am. I don't think I've heard you raise your voice to him before. Rough day?"

"It's fine," she answered. Anna was so tired of saying that word. More than ever she was tired of it not being true. In between texts and phone calls from John she was also being checked in on by Ms. Hughes and her father. No doubt they were all in cahoots by now and reporting back their findings to one another.

John could tell by the way she sounded that she was not fine, but like he had been doing in the previous days away from her, he let Anna be. The decision to get help had to be made by her and her alone.

"I'll be happy when you are back home tomorrow," Anna uttered as she placed the noodles into the boiling water.

She was met with silence on the other end of the phone. "That's actually what I'm calling you about. Turns out the presentation went phenomenally and some of our clients would like us to meet with some other potential clients," John said as cheerfully as he could.

Though she already suspected she knew the answer to the question, she had to ask. "What does that mean for you?"

"I'll be here another three days," he said, the sadness evident in his voice.

"Oh," was all she managed to get out. Inside her head she was coaching herself, that it wasn't a big deal. She could make it through another three days without seeing him. And yet it suddenly seemed so incredibly impossible, like the very walls surrounding her were closing in on her. Anna had a flashback of Henry when she was in the market earlier. He went to grab the same cart as her and his hand had grazed her wrist no more than a second or two. But it was enough to force her to head back into her car near hysterics.

"Anna? Anna, love, are you still there?"

"Yes," she choked out as she fought back tears. "I thought you'd be back tomorrow is all." Ann tried not to sound too crushed, but she wasn't as strong as she thought. Her resolve began to give way when he said he would try to see if Thomas would be willing to take over."

"No. John you can't. I won't rob you of such an opportunity."

"Anna, you're obviously not fine. I can hear it in your voice," he argued. "If you won't let me come home, atleast tell me what's wrong. How can I help?"

"You can't help," she finally admitted in defeat.

"What happened?" John asked in a serious tone.

"I thought I saw him," she sputtered out.

"What?" he nearly shouted as concern took over.

"It wasn't him," she reassured. "It's my mind playing tricks on me. But I panicked and I couldn't stop shaking afterwards."

"Oh my darling." This trip couldn't have come at a worse time and he hated it. But what was he to do? She would have only punished herself and admonished him if he left early. And what reason could he give? Anna wouldn't want Robert or anyone else knowing about why she couldn't handle being alone right now. "Maybe Gwen could come stay with you?" he suggested.

"No," she wasted no time in rejecting the idea. "She doesn't know about...Aidan's father. I mean she knows we aren't together, obviously. But I never told her why."

This was news to John. He was sure Anna would have at least told her best friend. "Perhaps, you could stay with your father?"

As much as she loved her father, she wasn't particularly fond of that suggestion. The last thing she wanted was another person watching her like a hawk. That and the fact that it had been years since she stayed over at her father's house. Having a man in the house again was one thing before her nightmares had started up but since her admission, she felt more and more uneasy being around them.

Her silence left John feeling uneasy. "Have you given any consideration to what I suggested?"

"I don't know John. It's been so long. I had a hard enough time talking about it with you and my father. I don't know that I could talk about it with a stranger," she said in a pleading voice.

"Maybe talking about it with a stranger will make it easier. At least it's worth a try," he tried to persuade her. She sat quietly on the other end of the line again. He really hated playing this card but he knew it would be the only way to get her to go. "Anna if you wont do it for yourself you need to do it for Aidan. You already said he suspects that something isn't right. He's anxious enough as it is. Think of how this could impact him," he pressed her for a response now.

"Don't you think I know that?" she almost yelled at him. "I'm doing the best I can. I was fine before I spoke of this to anyone else. Now I'm struggling just to make it through the day."

"I know love," he responded and made a conscious effort to soften his voice. "But you weren't fine before. You were surviving. Struggling with this on your own. Let us help you," John said convincingly. "It's not a sign of weakness or anything to be ashamed of." John was not a man of faith, but right now he was praying that she would finally see reason in this and heed his words. "Anna, please...don't let him bring you down. He can't hurt you anymore, I won't let him," he promised. "It won't be much longer my darling. I'll be home as soon as I can. Just stay on the line with me and breath in and out. It will get better, I'm not sure when, but it will."

"Okay," Anna muttered as she wiped at her eyes. She could hear Aidan playing in the living room and tried to pull herself together before he wandered back into the kitchen. "I'll do it," she whispered.

"You'll go to your father's?" he asked.

"No...well yes that too. But I'll see about making an appointment to talk with someone tomorrow," she said in a shaky voice.

"That's my girl," he encouraged and let out a sigh of relief. At least she wasn't closing herself off. She had done enough of that. "I love you so much, darling. I'm so proud of you. It will be hard at first, but I know that this is the first step in the right direction. You wont regret it."

"I love you too," she replied. Anna swallowed the lump that had been forming in her throat; she didn't feel brave. And then Aidan walked in the kitchen and she knew she had no choice. "Hold on Aidan's here," Anna said as she dabbed at her eyes with a dish towel.

"Maybe I should break the news to him."

Anna nodded her head, unable to form words in response. She didn't even want to say it aloud that he wouldn't be coming back for another three days. "Come here love, John wants to say 'hi' to you," she encouraged.

Aidan took the phone from Anna without hesitation, "Hello." She had to smile at the way he sounded so confident on the phone. He recounted his day to John just as he had the day before, "Miss Sybil showed me the alphabet today, but I already know it. Mummy taught me." He was quiet for awhile and then said, "Yes, I'm being a good boy." Another brief period of silence followed. "I made a picture for you. Mummy let me paint because it was raining outside." And the she saw the look on Aidan's face as it fell, "You won't be back tomorrow? But you said...you said tomorrow. You promised one more day." Aidan remained on the phone but threw himself into Anna's legs. She ran a hand through his hair, feeling a similar ache for John. She knew this wasn't any easier for John sitting on the other line.

Anna bent down to look him in the eye. "Sweetheart, John has to work. Just like Mummy. Three more days is not so bad," she tried to persuade him as much as herself. "You and I are going to have fun and go to Grandpa's house tomorrow. And Gwen has been wanting to take you out to spend the day with you. How does that sound?"

His bottom lip still pouted in response as his eyes filled with tears. "Okay," he conceded.

"Now say goodbye to John and wish him luck," Anna said.

"Bye, John."

"That was more painful than expected," he said when she returned to the phone. "Are you both going to be alright?"

"We will be. Just hurry home," she instructed him. "Never doubt how much I love you."

"Never."

A/N: the song I had been listening to for the Chelsie dance scene was "How Sweet it Is (To Be Loved By You)" the Michael Buble version