To my wonderful, overwhelmingly supportive readers, (some of whom seem to be crying at the last chapter)

Thank you for all the support. Really, it means a lot. And for the record: I'm crying with you. Despite being the author. It's a tricky thing really.

Kissman

P.S. Also, thanks to chelsie fan, for being my beta crier.

The next morning was surprisingly unhurried, thanks mostly to Anna and her excellent organization. At present, the maid sat with Mrs. Hughes in her sitting room, running through the schedule one last time over breakfast. Mrs. Hughes was rather tired, having stayed up fairly late with Mr. Carson the night before. Eventually, he'd had to insist she go to bed, or she probably never would have gone.

There was a knock at the door, and Anna went to answer it. "Mrs. Hughes?" she said. "Someone would like to speak with you."

She frowned, but Anna did not offer any further details. "Let them in then," she said.

Whoever entered did not announce themselves, but she caught a hint of cigarette smoke. Mr. Barrow?

"Mrs. Hughes," Mr. Barrow greeted her, his voice confirming what she'd suspected.

"Mr. Barrow," said Mrs. Hughes evenly.

There was an awkward pause. Anna decided perhaps it would be best if she stepped out of the room and mumbled an excuse to the two of them.

"Well, what is it?" Mrs. Hughes prompted, once they were alone.

Mr. Barrow almost backed away then and there, too afraid to voice what he'd come to say, but something stopped him. He was not going to be a coward, not about this. She cocked her head expectantly at him, waiting to be enlightened.

"Mrs. Hughes," said the under butler, "you have always shown me kindness, and I have not always shown it back in return. I hope you can forgive me for that."

The difficulty with which these words were spoken was not lost on Mrs. Hughes, nor was the sincerity with which they were meant. She smiled, a true, genuine smile, and gave him a pat on the arm. "I believe I can, Mr. Barrow."

"Thank you, Mrs. Hughes."

She felt more sure of herself than she had in days. The man could be ambitious and sometimes downright cruel, but he was not entirely without redeemable qualities, nor had he been dealt the easiest lot in life.

"You've done well for yourself here," she told him. "Keep your head down as much as you can, and I'm sure things will work out for you." Advice he would do well to follow, though she wasn't entirely sure he would take it.

"Yes, I hope so." Perhaps she was not his favourite person in the world, but she had shown him more understanding than most, and what's more she was a known quantity. He was honestly sad to see her go.

"I wish you well, Mr. Barrow," she told him.

He shook her hand briefly and released it. "Goodbye, Mrs. Hughes."

No sooner had he left the room than there was a knock on the door. "Mrs. Hughes?"

"What is it Anna?"

"You, um, you seem to have more guests lined up out here."

"Just exactly how many more guests?" she asked, moving to the doorway.

"Quite a few," Anna admitted, glancing at the long line of staff that had formed in the corridor. She might as well tell her; she was about to find out anyways. "Err…everyone, really."

"Hmmm," she said, pursing her lips together slightly to hide her gladness. "And they haven't work they ought to be doing instead?"

"I think it can wait just this once, Mrs. Hughes," came Mr. Carson's booming voice to her left. He leaned in to speak in her ear. "Provided that's alright with you?" he asked quietly.

"It's fine," she murmured back. "Have you put them up to this?"

"No," he whispered, delighted. "They've done it themselves."

And so started the steady stream of staff members through her sitting room. Anna had not been exaggerating. The entire downstairs staff had come to say goodbye to their beloved housekeeper. They came bearing grateful words of thanks for her kindness over the years and reiterating, every one of them, that they would miss her. She smiled as they pressed kisses to her cheeks and occasionally small presents into her hands. Sam, their youngest hall boy, who stammered his way nervously through his entire goodbye, had tried to give her his lucky penny. It was one of the very first coins he'd ever earned at Downton, and she had been the one to give it to him. She convinced him gently that perhaps he ought to keep it himself, and then maybe he'd become a footman one day. The lad had liked this prospect and happily put it back in his pocket, promising her he'd never spend it. Daisy gave her toffees for the train and Madge, very cheekily, brought her a feather from one of the dusters to remember her by. The girl never did have a talent for dusting. She thanked them all, whispering back words of affection and her hopes for their futures.

Mrs. Patmore brought up the rear, already weeping before she even got to the door. She threw her arms around her friend in a great bear hug, almost knocking the poor woman over.

"There, there, Mrs. Patmore. No need for all the…hysteria." She dug through her pockets (with great difficulty considering she was still being crushed by Mrs. Patmore), and pulled out the new handkerchief Miss Baxter had kindly embroidered for her. She held it up to the cook.

"No, no, you keep that. You might need it later," insisted Mrs. Patmore. "I've got me own."

Mrs. Hughes tucked it back into the pocket of her traveling dress, knowing the cook was probably right. She'd held it together rather well so far; the crying had been from others, not from her. The more she comforted them, the easier a time she had keeping her own emotions at bay. It was a sad day certainly, but mostly she was touched by the outpouring of affection from the staff, something perhaps she should have anticipated, but hadn't.

Eventually, Mrs. Patmore stopped crying long enough to wish her goodbye properly, and then the next thing she knew Mr. Carson had come back.

"They've just pulled the car around. It's time to go up," he informed them.

He helped her with her coat, and offered her his arm. She took it, even though she was more than capable of walking the distance alone. It was easier and it made her feel steadier as they made their way outside. Anna followed, helped by Jimmy with the suitcases.

As they approached the front of the house Mr. Carson halted them for a moment. "The Family has come out to give you a proper send off," he explained in low tones.

"All of them?" asked Mrs. Hughes in surprise. It was mid-November, and reasonably cold outside. She had not thought she warranted interrupting the Family's day, let alone having them to stand outside in the brisk autumn air for her.

Mr. Carson smiled at Mrs. Hughes. "Yes, all of them," he said. "You didn't think they were going to let you leave without saying goodbye; did you?"

She had hoped last night to slip away unnoticed, thinking it preferable to long drawn out goodbyes with everyone, but she saw some merit now in doing things properly. It seemed an awful lot of fuss to interrupt their day, but perhaps Mr. Carson was right: they could let it go this once. It didn't upset her half so much as she'd thought it would.

Lord and Lady Grantham were slightly more formal in their goodbyes, and if one hadn't known better, it almost would have appeared awkward, but Mrs. Hughes knew that their stilted words were perfectly sincere. Lady Mary and Lady Edith followed suit, offering their own farewells. Tom decided to completely ignore the example set by his sisters-in-law and gave Mrs. Hughes an enormous hug. Lord Grantham frowned disapprovingly, and Mr. Carson gave a start, but Tom didn't care what they thought of him for the moment. Mrs. Hughes was momentarily shocked, but gladly returned his embrace.

"Thank you. For everything," he told her. That was the closest she came to crying all morning. She was so proud of him, and she told him so, not caring who heard her say it. After a moment he pulled away, leaving her slightly disoriented until Mr. Carson came up beside her.

Anna, very astutely, had decided to occupy herself with checking the cases, leaving Mr. Carson to say goodbye and help Mrs. Hughes into the car. Knowing they were in full view of the Family and the staff, he could not pull her into his arms as he'd have liked to, but he did take her hand and squeezed it tight. He guided her carefully into the car, never letting go of her hand.

"Goodbye, Elsie," he said quietly. There were so many other words on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed them. She did not wish to hear them, and perhaps it was better this way for them both.

She bit her lip hard, to keep herself from crying and spent their last few seconds together trying to memorize him. She wanted to remember forever the way he said her name, the way he smelled, and the way his hand felt holding hers. She noticed Anna climb into the seat beside her and knew it must be time to go.

"Goodbye, Charles," she whispered.

Regretfully, he let go of her and closed the door. As the car pulled away and she faded out of sight, Mr. Carson couldn't help but wonder if he'd made a very great mistake.

TBC...