Cottage First Night

Sorry this one is a bit short – the consolation prize is the next update is massive! It was intended to be a story on its own that never quite got there, but I think it fits in ok. Thank you for all the lovely reviews so far - I'm having so much fun writing these.

They walked quietly towards the cottage, both overwhelmed by the scene that had greeted them when they had returned to the abbey. All of the people that they cared for the most had made such a lovely fuss of them and they were both very grateful. Charlie chuckled beside her. She raised an eyebrow at him as the turned their heads to each other.

'His Lordship seemed pleased about not having to remember to call you Mrs Carson. Are you sure you don't mind?' She squeezed his hand.

'No, I don't mind. It's better than them all stumbling over it and being Mrs Hugh-ah-carson or some such nonsense. Besides, it feels all the more special when you call me it.'

'Mrs Carson.' He said, kissing the back of her gloved hand.

As they approached the little cottage, Elsie gasped.

'Oh. It's beautiful.' Her eyes were glistening. 'I'd not really noticed this one before. You don't see it until you come round the corner.' Charlie hadn't said anything. She turned to face him and found him teary eyed, but smiling. He unlocked the door, but before she could enter he stopped her. He took her case and sat it down beside his out of the way of the door.

'I do believe, Mrs Carson, that it is customary to carry one's bride over the threshold of their home when they enter for the first time. Would you allow me?' she scoffed.

'Don't be daft, I'm too heavy for that…' She squeaked slightly as he ignored her words and scooped her up anyway. He spun her round before carefully manoeuvring them through the doorway. He set her back on her feet both of them laughing.

'See, not too heavy at all.' He said with a peck on her lips. He stepped back out to retrieve the cases before closing the door behind them. Elsie shook her head and took several steps into the small kitchen. A bunch of flowers sat in the middle of the small table, the fire was lit and two pieces of wedding cake sat on the table with a glass lid over them. Cups and saucers and the teapot were set out by the warm stove. She'd just removed her hat when two warm hands came to rest on her shoulders.

'We've trained these friends of ours well haven't we?' he observed. She smiled lovingly at him.

'Tea?' she asked, heading over to the stove. She was struggling to keep her emotions in check. She was tired and completely dazed by the kindness and generosity they had received from their colleagues and employers that evening.

'Are you all right?' He asked, sliding his arms round her waist once she'd set the kettle back on the stove to boil.

'Mmm' she murmured, sinking back into him and resting her hands over his.

'Sure?' Tears tumbled down her cheeks.

'Oh, Elsie.' He breathed, kissing the side of her forehead. He pulled her tighter to him and gently rocked her in his arms. Eventually she came to and laughed.

'Sorry, I'm being silly. I suddenly realised how happy and lucky we are and it was a bit much.' He kissed her again.

'You're never silly. Come on. You do the tea and I'll get the cake. I think we should probably take them to bed with us. It's been a long day.' He moved back to collect the cake and their cases.

'As long as you promise not to get crumbs in the bed. You're changing the sheets if you do.' He grinned at her from the table.

'And so it begins.' He said with a laugh. 'Yes, dear.' She laughed after him as he made for the stairs.

She found him several minutes later sat on the edge of their bed, a small piece of paper in his hands. He didn't look up when she entered and set the tray of tea things down. She fished something from her pocket and sat down beside him, handing him the paper she had in her hand. He chuckled. Her paper read 'Mrs Hughes', his 'Mr Carson'.

'I think we're both silly.' She said.

'A couple of old boobies.' He replied. He took the pieces of paper and place them on the table beside the bed.

'We can have them on the bedroom door if you like, make you feel at home. There are some spare holders in the desk in my sitting room.'

'That would be nice.' He paused, thinking for a moment. 'I think as long as you there I'd feel at home anywhere. I don't think I would have quite accepted it at the time, but my biggest reservation about moving to Haxby was the idea that you wouldn't be by my side every day. I knew I wouldn't be happy there because I'd have to cope without you keeping me steady.' She took his hand.

'The reason I gave Joe Burns for not accepting his proposal was I didn't want to leave Downton or my job and certainly Becky was a huge part of the decision too. But the thing that ties me to Downton and the job has always been you.' Their fingers laced together and he squeezed them. 'I'd have rather lived by your side everyway without ever acknowledging I loved you than lived some half-life with him and never see you.' They sat there quietly in companionable silence for a while. Their hands remained together. They were content to simply be beside each other.

'I'm glad we got there in the end.' He said finally.

'Me too. Come on, this tea's getting cold.'