Baby Talbot

So, I decided to add a few one shots to the end of this. I intend for them to stay in chronological order (unless I think of something else along the way!) I wanted to cover a few more things and play with a few more characters. And largely to fill the huge Downton void in my life! As always don't own anything unfortunately and this is purely for fun.

Elsie entered the kitchen alone. For the first time since he had retired, she had managed to convince Charlie to stay at home and enjoy the lay in he'd never had as butler and allow her to walk to the abbey on her own. The sight that greeted her left her somewhat confused however. She blinked, Anna was sat at Mrs Patmore's desk, her head in her hand, fast asleep. Half a cup of tea was sat before her, rapidly cooling. Mrs Patmore walked in, looking tired. Elsie raised an eyebrow.

'Is she ill?' Elsie asked, concerned.

'No, she just didn't get much sleep last night' the cook replied.

'William?' She enquired.

'No' Mrs Patmore said with a mysterious grin. Elsie raised an eyebrow. 'Baby Talbot arrived just after twelve last night' the cook revealed with a flourish. Elsie grinned.

'Oh wonderful! And all is well?' Elsie asked.

'All is well. She asked to see Mr Carson when he walked down with you' Mrs Patmore looked around expecting to see him.

'I finally convinced him to have a lay in' she explained.

'Late night in the love nest?' Mrs Patmore teased. Elsie blushed.

'Not what I meant, Beryl' she scalded. 'I'll pop back and get him then'. She approached Anna and placed a hand gently on her shoulder. 'Anna?' she started and looked up confused. 'Come on, lass. I'm walking you home. Mrs Patmore may happily sleep at her desk, but that doesn't mean it's comfortable'.

'Thank you, but I should stay and…' Anna began.

'No, if Lady Mary needs anything I'll see to it. She'll understand. If she's got any sense, she'll be asleep anyway'. She took Anna's hand and led her back towards the door, collecting her coat.

'But, Mr Bates…' Anna tried again.

'I'll tell him when I get back, Anna. William will be fine in the nursery, I'll go and check on him on my rounds too' Elsie said, slipping an arm round Anna's back as they walked to keep her steady. Elsie chatted to her quietly as they walked, not expecting Anna to reply, but hoping to keep her awake. After Anna promised to go straight to bed and not come back to the abbey until at least after lunch, Elsie walked round the corner to her own home.

'Charlie?' she called out softly as she opened the door. He didn't respond. She wandered through the kitchen into the small sitting room. She climbed the stairs after finding the sitting room empty. Elsie grinned uncontrollably when she found him on her side of the bed, hugging her pillow, fast asleep. She sat on the edge of the bed and ran her fingers gently through his ruffled hair. He mumbled something incoherent and pushed his face closer to her pillow. 'Charlie?' she whispered, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his forehead. He opened his eyes sleepily and peered at her. She leant in and gave him a soft peck on the lips. 'Hello, Sleeping Beauty' she teased.

'Hello, love' he murmured, 'is something wrong?' he asked, shuffling back to his own side of the bed and half sitting up. He patted the bed covers and she moved to sit against him, her feet hanging off the bed. She rested her head against his shoulder.

'Lady Mary wants to see you this morning' she said, 'you don't have to rush, she was still asleep when I left'.

'I'd better get dressed then' he said, making no move to get up. Elsie laughed. 'You said I didn't need to hurry'.

'No,' she looked up at him with a smile, resting her hand against his stomach and playing idly with the buttons on his pyjama shirt. 'Do you want to know why she'd like to see you?' he nodded.

'The baby arrived this morning. They're all happy and healthy, Anna said he's got lots of dark hair and Lady Mary's eyes. He's long too, probably much taller than Master George was'. She explained. Charles was grinning.

'She's fine' he said softly. Despite the passing years, Elsie knew Lady Sybil still weighed heavily on his thoughts whenever a new life entered the abbey. She made to get up, but he slipped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him. He bent forward and kissed her, letting his hands wander down her back.

'Charlie, we have to get back' she scalded, still smiling.

'I'm not rushing' he teased.

'Daft man! If we walk in late and smug we'll never hear the end of it from Mrs Patmore' she argued.

'I'll save you from her' he mumbled into her neck, kissing it.

'She thinks you are having a lie in because I've worn you out!' She exclaimed.

'Fine,' he groaned, giving her one last, long kiss before he pulled back. 'We can reschedule until this evening, Mrs Hughes, will that be satisfactory?' he asked in his best butler voice.

'More than satisfactory, Mr Carson, I shall look forward to it' she stood and held her hand out to him. 'Providing you promise never to tell Mrs Patmore she was right!' They both laughed.

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When they arrived back at the abbey, Mrs Patmore had some breakfast set aside for them. They ate happily before the bell for Lady Mary's room rang for her breakfast tray. Charles attempted to insist on taking it, but Elsie managed to insist on helping, knowing that in his excitement, his hands would be less steady. Elsie went into the bedroom ahead of him after Lady Mary answered. Mary beamed from the bed, a tiny bundle wrapped in a white shawl nestled in her arms.

'Good morning, My Lady and congratulations' Elsie said kindly, placing the breakfast tray over her legs.

'Thank you, Mrs Carson. I didn't expect to see you' Mary replied, without a hint of malice in her voice.

'No, I'm afraid I've sent Anna home to sleep for a little while, I hope you don't mind' she said, pouring a cup of tea for her.

'Not at all, I would have suggested the same if she had come up' Mary said. She looked at the tea cup and then the baby. 'Would you like to hold him?' she asked. Elsie smiled.

'I've left Mr Carson outside the door, I think he might like that honour first, My Lady, if you don't mind' Elsie said.

'Not at all,' Mary smiled happily. 'Carson?' she called out. He sheepishly peered around the door and Mary laughed. 'You're safe, it's not too terrifying in here' she reassured him. He approached the bed and stood beside his wife. His eyes shone and he smiled at her warmly.

'Congratulations, My Lady' he said a little hoarsely.

'Mrs Carson says you should have the honour of the first hug' she said, lifting the baby slightly.

'I…' he began, looking at his trembling hands.

'Sit on the chair and I'll pass him over then' Elsie cut in gently. He did so, a little overwhelmed at the situation. Mary took a sip of her tea and watched as Elsie lay the tiny bundle in his arms, gently tucking the blankets back around him as she did so.

'Does he have a name yet?' Charles asked as he watched the sleeping baby.

'He does' Mary replied. 'That's why I wanted to see you first. I… with George, things were different and I… there were expectations. This time… well' Mary smiled, tearily, stumbling over her words. 'Meet Charles Robert Talbot' she finished. Elsie gasped and then beamed. Charles looked across at her, the tears in his eyes precariously close to tumbling down his cheeks. Mary nodded at him. 'It's the only name I ever wanted to give him. It would have been George's middle name if circumstances had been different, but this is more fitting'.

'Thank you, My Lady' he said, finally finding his voice. He looked back at the baby, his namesake, who to his surprise was now watching him curiously. Charles gently stroked the baby's head with his free hand. 'It's very nice to meet you young man' he said, softly, tears now freely running down his cheeks. Elsie watched on, a lump appearing in her throat and tears in her own eyes. She rested her hand on Charles' shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He shuffled on the chair allowing her to sit beside him as they both gazed at the little boy. Elsie lifted her head and smiled at Mary a few moments later. While Charles was still occupied watching the baby she mouthed the words 'thank you' at Mary. She nodded with a smile.

'You approve then?' Mary asked a little while later, having finished her tea and silently observed the couple as they sat in awe of the tiny boy.

'It's an honour, My Lady' Charles said, finally regaining control of his voice. 'It means a great deal'.

'Oh tosh! Carson, I owe you for more than I could possibly put into words and there is no better name I could have given him' Mary said. Charles didn't have an answer.

'Well,' he began eventually, this time addressing Baby Charles. 'In that case young Charlie, let me tell you a story about a little girl. She had big brown eyes just like yours and full of mischief. Do you know, she once tried to run away…' Mary and Elsie laughed as the butler talked to the baby.

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'Have you recovered yet?' Elsie asked her husband as they sat before the fire in their sitting room much later that evening.

'Hmm, yes. I can't believe she did it though' he said, taking a sip of the fine Scotch whisky they had toasted the baby with earlier.

'I can. She loves you Charlie. You are a second father to her, why would she not choose your name?' Elsie rested her hand on his thigh.

'I hope his lordship…' Charlie began.

'He's not in the least offended. Her Ladyship was telling me when I took her tea how fitting they both thought the name choice was' Elsie explained. He placed his glass down and turned to her, leaning down and pressing gentle kisses to the side of her neck. She leant away giving him more space.

'I think we'd have had a Charlie' he murmured into her soft skin. She chuckled.

'If we'd carried on like we have been, we'd have had a dozen!' she squeaked slightly as he nibbled her neck. 'Charlie!' she laughed.

'We've got a reputation to live up to, Mrs Carson' he teased.