A/N: I would be remiss in not thanking VoyICJ for lovely chatting these past few days, leading me to add something in here I'd not thought of before, regarding how Charles, as a parent, would react to Daisy meeting Becky (knowing what he does now). I *love* being able to chat with reviewers so, please, set up an account if you review as a guest now. You don't need to use your real name, but it enables me to write back to you directly (which I *always* do).
My undying thanks to my friends – calling out brenna-louise for her patience with my endless annoying questions, particularly as I fleshed out the remainder of this fic, and also chelsie fan, dibdab4, and Hogwarts Duo, who encourage me more than even they probably know. As it stands right now, there is a lot more to come in this story, but it'll end up being about a dozen more chapters ... and it's definitely not all fluff.
The words to this song seemed fitting, so I added it into my "After the Fall" Spotify playlist, which you can find for free under my chelsiesouloftheabbey user name.
Chelsie on, folks! Xx
CSotA
This is where I belong.
Just the sound of your voice,
The light in your eyes,
We're so far away from yesterday
Together, with a wink and a smile.
We go together, with a wink and a smile.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
5:55 a.m.
Charles groaned as he rolled over and pulled the quilt over his head.
"You have to get up," Elsie mumbled, reaching over blindly and accidentally hitting him on the ear.
"Hey," he grumbled, and she giggled in her drowsy state.
"Sorry. What time is it?"
"Too bloody early o'clock," he said, snuggling further down under the covers and placing his head on her chest … lightly, though, lest he apply too much weight and hurt her. "Some of us didn't grow up on farms, you know."
"Hmm, this is rather nice," she murmured, wrapping her arms around his head and shoulders. He leaned over slightly and placed a kiss over her heart and she smiled.
"It is," he admitted. "It's my new favorite way to wake up. Next to you, I mean," he clarified. "Not with the rooster's crow at goodness knows how early in the morning."
"Did you sleep well?"
He picked up his head to meet her gaze. "You're joking, right? You know how well I sleep after … well, that," he said with a smile.
"Just wait 'til I'm back to normal," she whispered with a hazy smile.
"Ohhh, now you're teasing me," he said. "Well, two can play at that game," he added, trailing a fingertip up her thigh.
She sighed. "But I really can't play, though," she pouted, "so I kindly ask you to stop those fingers, Mister."
"Ha! You started it, making me think about you 'back to normal'," he retorted, but he rolled off of her with a groan and swung his legs out of the bed. "Alright – animals, tea, breakfast, Daisy to school, Becky," he said, rubbing his hands over his face. "Edith is bringing Daisy home today?"
"Yes," Elsie replied, looking up and seeing his hair sticking out in all directions. She laughed. "And maybe you can get a haircut when you get into town," she said lovingly, reaching her arm out so that her nails raked over his boxer-clad bottom. "Now get some clothes on before your daughter finds you like that," she added, pushing him away with her fingertips.
He twisted himself around and planted a firm kiss to her lips before getting out of the bed. She laughed aloud at his quick retreat, the joyous sound of her voice chasing him as he headed down the hallway toward the bathroom to start his day.
Elsie pulled the blankets back up over her chest and sighed happily as she heard Charles in the shower. He actually had popped into the local barber's shop after bringing Daisy to school, too, and she smiled again as she remembered his disheveled state earlier that morning. He'd looked so unlike the meticulously put-together Charles everyone else saw, and knowing she'd see him like that every day just melted Elsie's heart. What's more, he'd done two loads of laundry when he got home, spending the down time during the wash and dry cycles cuddled up with her, watching a movie. All in all, it was a pretty decent morning.
Beryl was scheduled to get through the lunch rush at the restaurant and then she'd head over to the farm. She had said she would bring lunch and, after everyone ate, she and Charles would go to the group home to pick up Becky for the afternoon. Daisy wouldn't be home from school for another two hours, and Elsie was looking forward to having a bit of time to herself without Charles hovering over her, watching her every move. She felt ungrateful even thinking it because she had no idea what she'd have done without him, and she did enjoy mornings like the one they'd just had, but she knew enough about herself to recognize that the cabin fever had definitely set in.
And eight more weeks until returning to work.
Elsie was trying valiantly not to cry most of the time, but it was a hard battle, indeed. She was thankful to at least have the wedding to look forward to, which would be so much easier to plan once other people knew it was actually happening.
The doorbell rang and Elsie heard Charles's booming "Come in!" She had insisted upon being at the table for lunch and up for Becky's visit as well, which meant she'd confined herself to the bed for the entire day so far.
"Here we are," Beryl said, her voice carrying down the hallway. "It's a hearty beef and vegetable soup, with some bread we made fresh this morning." Elsie heard her set a heavy pot on the stove and click on the burner.
"We still have a fridge and freezer full of what you brought last week!" Charles exclaimed, and Elsie chuckled and shook her head, knowing Beryl was already ignoring him.
"She's the best cook in Misty Cove, Charlie!" Elsie called out from her bed. "Don't you shoo her away or make her want to give it up!"
Beryl's laugh was music to Elsie's extremely bored ears, and Elsie smiled as she heard her friend's shoes clicking down the hallway.
"There you are," Beryl said, bending down for a kiss on the cheek. "I thought you weren't hiding away in this bed now that you have that thing," she added, pointing to the brace.
"Yes, well, Nurse Ratched in there seemed to think I needed to stay in bed if I was to be sitting up for all of luncheon," Elsie grumbled, pointing toward the kitchen.
"He's right, though, isn't he?" Beryl asked, and Elsie sighed and nodded reluctantly. "You poor thing … You must be going mad."
"I am," Elsie freely admitted, "and it's been trying for both of us. I'm spending about sixteen of every twenty-four hours in this bed still, until the pain lessens and the physical therapy really gets going. God bless him, Beryl, honestly – he's put up with so much and just keeps coming back for more. And I've been horrible half the time, I freely admit."
"Well, pet, he loves you now, doesn't he?" her friend soothed, reaching over to squeeze Elsie's hand. Suddenly, Beryl smirked.
"What?"
"Well," she said slowly, "I was just wondering if maybe you're a little extra testy because you two haven't been able to … well, you know," she said, giving a slight nod to the bed.
Elsie flushed brilliantly, a dead giveaway to her best friend.
"Wait," Beryl whispered, stunned. "You haven't, have you? I mean, you can't … can you?"
"We can't do that," Elsie hedged, "but, evidently, there are other things we can do which don't require lying down or sitting -"
But Beryl interrupted her with a raised hand, stopping her cold. "I don't need to know the details, Elsie … but thank goodness," she said, and they dissolved into giggles.
"You're telling me!" Elsie laughed. "Honestly, at our age you'd think we wouldn't mind, but …" She shook her head guiltily, still scarlet.
"You don't have to explain a thing to me, Missy," Beryl assured her. "Now, how about we get you up so we can eat, and then Charles and I can fetch that lovely sister of yours, shall we?"
"Yes! Oh, Beryl, I can't wait for Becky to see the farm!"
"She must be so excited! What finally made the doctor approve it?"
"I'm not sure," Elsie admitted. "Perhaps just the fact that I can't get there to see her? Maybe she begged? I've no idea, but I'm not complaining. It'll be an exhausting couple of hours for her, being in a new place and meeting a new person, but I think she'll do alright."
"And no recent spells?" Beryl asked.
The question made Elsie think of everything that Mary had found, but she just shook her head, keeping all of that to herself for the time being.
"No, no recent spells."
Elsie managed to get herself up and into the brace again with no help from Beryl, whom she sent to the kitchen to help Charles get everything plated up and ready. She made her way into the dining room and found the table set with fresh bread and steaming bowls.
"That looks and smells heavenly," Elsie gushed. Charles helped her get comfortable in the chair before taking his own seat.
The friends spent about half an hour eating and chatting, with Beryl asking details about how the farm was going, whether or not Anna was going to be able to take over all of Elsie's appointments, if Tommy had called yet, and when Daisy's team meeting was.
"One week from today, and thank goodness," Elsie said to the last bit.
When they were finished, Charles rose to clear the dishes, but Beryl beat him to it and ordered him to sit again.
"Don't you argue with me, Charles Carson," she insisted upon seeing the look on his face. "You've been working like a dog around here and I can handle three bowls and three spoons. Get any last-minute instructions from your girl here and then we can head out as soon as I've finished." She took the bowls and silverware into the kitchen, leaving Charles to reach over and take Elsie's hand.
"My girl," he said, smirking and raising an eyebrow.
"Well," she demurred, turning his hand in hers and tracing her thumb over the life line on his palm, "I am. I feel ridiculously guilty not telling her, Charles."
"Once we make it official," he rumbled, and Elsie looked at him curiously. "The ring," he explained, and she nodded.
"Ah, I see. But that's not necessary, surely you know that? It's you that I need, nothing else."
"I'll hear none of that," he insisted. "If we're going to do this, we're going to do it properly."
"What are you all on about?" Beryl asked as she came back into the dining room area to grab the butter dish. "All I hear is whispering … What are you up to?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Charles teased, and Elsie swatted at him.
"Go and make it sound awful, why don't you?" Elsie chided, but Charles just winked at them both, causing Beryl to roll her eyes.
"Enough of you two lovebirds – my teeth are going to fall out if I stay here with both of you much longer. Let's go," Beryl said to Charles, beckoning him with her hand. "Becky won't wait forever, and I'm sure she's beside herself with excitement."
"Take care of my sister, you two," Elsie said softly.
Charles leaned over and kissed her soundly on the lips, lingering as she reached her hand up to brush her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. He growled slightly and she pulled away.
"See what showering does to me, Mr. Carson?" she murmured playfully, and he reached forward and nipped her lip gently before soothing it with his tongue and backing away, grateful that Beryl had already headed into the kitchen to gather her things.
"Oh, don't I know it? Perhaps we can manage that again sometime?" he asked hopefully.
Elsie glanced at the clock. "It's a date, in about ten hours, how's that?"
"Perfect," he smiled.
The ride to Becky's place was quiet; Charles had a great deal on his mind, and Beryl didn't want to intrude. Truth be told, with Beryl's busy life, fifteen minutes of silence was golden to her and she didn't really want to interrupt it with meaningless noise.
As he pulled the car in, Beryl took something from her bag.
"What's that?" Charles asked, peeking over. He spied a silver picture frame, in which was a picture of Beryl's children.
"Ivy and William got their school pictures done last Christmas," Beryl explained, "and I needed to get Becky an updated one."
"She's met your children?" he asked, truly interested.
Beryl nodded. "Oh, yes, of course – several times, actually. We sometimes come by with Elsie to visit, and always come for Becky's birthday. In fact, she met them on her birthday two years ago. I was set to go and visit with Elsie and I'd made a cake for Becky. My sitter cancelled at the last minute and I had to bring Ivy and William with me. Elsie insisted it would be fine, and it was – the kids took to her like ducks to water, and vice versa. Becky did Ivy's hair that afternoon, a rather intricate French braid, and they were friends for life, I think." Beryl smiled fondly at the memory, and Charles's mind went back to one of his own, a vision of Elsie's hands flying through Daisy's hair in much the same way.
"I'm glad to hear that," he said softly.
"Charles?" Beryl asked. "Were you worried about Becky? About bringing her 'round to the farm, I mean? Because of Daisy?"
He wasn't sure what to say; he knew that he couldn't reveal any details about the O'Brien attack in case Beryl didn't know it had ever happened. And he had to admit, he was a bit nervous; after all, Becky's condition was nothing if not unpredictable.
His silence was all Beryl needed to hear. She reached over and patted his arm, squeezing it reassuringly as he still gripped the steering wheel.
"They'll be fine," she insisted. "Trust me. Becky will love Daisy, and Daisy will love her right back. I know Becky's challenges can seem frightening, but her medication has been spot-on for months now and she's been doing remarkably well. What's more, she's never been to the farm and she's dying to see the horses. She loves Elsie, she was rather taken with you, and I'll hang around for a bit as well. Don't worry … nothing awful will happen."
He looked up. "How did you know what I was thinking?" he whispered.
"You'd be foolish not to have worried at all, Charles, because you're a good father. But it'll be fine."
Charles smiled. "Thank you for that. I do feel better now. I like Becky, I really do. But Elsie not wanting her to meet Daisy straightaway made me nervous."
"Well," Beryl smiled, "Elsie must think you're sticking around for a while, then, hm? She wouldn't have wanted Becky to meet Daisy and grow fond of her, only to have you and Daisy disappear. In some ways, that would be like Joe all over again."
"I hadn't thought of it like that," Charles admitted. "Of how Becky must have been looking forward to that baby, too … of how awful it must have been for her when Elsie lost the baby, or when it all went to hell with Joe. And then he died ..."
"It was a disaster, from what I understand. Becky is very concrete – she likes things all planned out to a T, and she really struggles with change. But you were a huge change, and when I visited her the week after you did all she could do was talk about how much she enjoyed meeting you. She just wants Elsie to be happy, because she knows it will make her happy. Does that make sense? I think she worries about her big sister, to tell the truth."
Charles thought about his relationship with Daisy, how she fed off of his feelings and reciprocated them at times without even being aware of it. "It does make sense," he nodded, removing his hands from the steering wheel at last. "Let's go, shall we?"
"Beryl!" Becky shouted, running over to Beryl's open arms. "And Charlie!"
"I told you I'd see you again sometime, didn't I?" Charles asked as he hugged Becky.
"You did! And we are going to Elsie's house. She hasn't been feeling well," Becky added sadly. "Charlie, how is she?"
"She had a fall, Becky, but she is perfectly alright. She's in some pain, but can sit and visit with you for the afternoon. Rides in the car are uncomfortable for her though, and she won't be able to drive for quite some time, but she's at home and can't wait to see you." He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"And I'm meeting your daughter today," Becky said pointedly. "That's important. Why didn't I meet her before?"
Charles took a deep breath, wishing Elsie had coached him on how to answer that. "Well," he said, "Daisy's had some difficulties since we moved from England. But she's mostly better now, and she is looking forward to meeting you very much."
Becky seemed to accept that answer, and she reached out for Charles's hand. He took hers lightly and she squeezed it and smiled at him, melting his heart as they left her room and walked down the corridor toward the front door. Beryl approached the front desk and signed Becky out.
"Have a wonderful time, Becky," Mags said, giving the woman a hug. "Tell Elsie I send my best."
"I will, Mags," Becky said, giving the woman a hug. Then she took Charles's hand again and they headed to the car.
As Charles drove down the driveway, he noticed Max come running out the door. He stopped at the end of the front walk and sat, his tail wagging furiously. Charles hadn't even thought about the dog …
"Do you like dogs?"
"Oh, yes," Becky answered, nodding. "Max is sweet."
"Have you met him?"
"Once," she said, "when Ellie first got him, she brought him by the home."
She looked around, taking everything in, looking in wonder at the barn, the pond, and the expansive yard. Once she opened the car door, the smell of the horse paddock and the barn assaulted her senses.
"Smells like back home," she giggled, "but it's not as cold as Scotland."
"Come on in, then," Beryl said. "There's a cake I've left on the counter."
"Chocolate?" Becky asked, eyes lit up.
Beryl looked up to see not one but two pairs of eyes staring at her with hope, and she laughed.
"Yes, kids," she teased. "Chocolate."
Becky winked at Charles, who smiled and nodded.
"Let's go!" he said.
Becky reached down to scratch Max behind the ears, and giggled as he nosed her palm with his cold snout. He kissed her hand and evidently deemed her worthy to enter, for he bounded off across the yard in search of a ball.
"I see how we rate," Charles said to Beryl. "Not even a sniff, no kiss - nothing."
"I know," she sighed, smiling and tilting her head in Becky's direction. "It's all about the new girl."
Charles held the front door open for the women. "We're here!" he called, and heard Elsie's reply, "I'm in the sunroom!"
Becky entered the house and stopped short. Her mouth fell open as she turned where she stood, trying to take everything in at once: the stone fireplace, the photos, Daisy's bookbag on the sofa where she'd plopped it upon arriving home.
"It's beautiful," she gasped. "Where's my Ellie?"
"Just through here," Charles indicated, stepping past Becky and motioning for her to follow him. Becky remained rooted to the spot, though, so he gently took her hand again and led her past the dining table and into the sunroom.
"Ellie!" Becky cried, dropping Charles's hand and rushing to her sister, who was standing by the door.
"Gently," Elsie cautioned, reaching out to hug her sister. "Oh, I've missed you so much, lass."
"What's this?" Becky asked, her arms full of Elsie and the back brace. She knocked on the hard plastic.
"It's my back brace," Elsie explained. "It keeps my spine straight, which keeps the pressure off of the part that I broke."
"Where?" Becky enquired, and Elsie turned around and unfastened the brace.
"Just here," she said, lifting her shirt and pointing to the spot. "Is it still bruised?"
"A bit," Becky said. "It must really hurt."
"Well, it's uncomfortable to sit for very long, so I spend a great deal of time in bed."
"That's boring," Becky declared, and Elsie nodded.
"You have no idea," she said, rolling her eyes and sighing. "However, I'm all rested up for your visit, although it'll be Daisy and Charles who bring you to the barn later as I can't go out there."
"You don't leave the house?" Becky asked, horrified, and Elsie shook her head.
"Not yet - only for doctor's appointments, and that's hard enough, being in the car and all. In another couple of weeks I'll have started physical therapy to strengthen my muscles, and then walking about will be easier and I'll be able to at least be outside. Right now it's too painful to walk far, and I can't take the chance of slipping and falling on the icy pathway."
"Oh, I see," Becky nodded. "Where's Daisy?"
"She's in her room," Elsie said quietly. "She's looking forward to meeting you though, I'm surprised she's not out yet."
Just as she said the words, Daisy appeared in the doorway.
"Hi, Daisy," Becky said, stretching out her hand. "I'm Ellie's sister, Becky."
"Hi," Daisy ventured, gently shaking Becky's hand.
"Beryl said you don't talk much, but that's okay," Becky said. "My friend doesn't talk much, either."
Daisy nodded, distracted by Becky's appearance. "You look like sisters," she whispered, and Becky gave her a huge smile.
"Well, maybe you will talk," she said sweetly. "To me, perhaps? I won't tell anyone."
Daisy looked at her for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
"Well," Charles said, looking with wonder at Elsie. "That's alright, then."
Elsie looked up and met his gaze, her eyes communicating the relief that she was hesitant to acknowledge out loud.
Elsie had put out a few games, thinking they'd be a good way to break the ice between Becky and Daisy. She told them to choose, figuring it might encourage some talking if nothing else. She laughed when Daisy and Becky reached for Sorry! at the same time, and Charles just shook his head.
"I'm rubbish at that one," he grumbled.
"That's why I like it," Daisy quipped, and Becky and Elsie laughed.
"He always loses," Elsie not-quite-whispered to Becky.
"So do I," Becky admitted. "Mags plays it with us sometimes. I'm always blue, though … Is that alright?"
"That's perfect," Charles laughed, patting her on the back. "That's the color Elsie always uses when she beats me. I'll be yellow, then?"
Daisy reached for the red, and Elsie the green. Becky took the cards and began to shuffle them, then set them on the board and told Daisy to go first.
The game progressed fairly well and, true to form, Charles lost miserably. It was Daisy who won, producing a cheer from both her and Becky. Elsie shook her head, marveling at how easily their afternoon was progressing.
"I want to see the animals," Becky declared as she replaced the box top. "Can you bring me?" she asked Daisy, and Daisy nodded.
"I think I'll go, too, if that's alright," Charles ventured. "That way I can feed them all a bit early, and relax once I get home?"
"Sure," Elsie said. "It's not that early, really, and they'll be happy."
Elsie got up, with Charles lending her a helping hand as he noticed her discomfort settling in once again.
Don't ask, her look said.
"I know," he whispered, kissing her chastely on the lips.
Becky looked on, a small smile on her face. Daisy took her hand and pulled gently, pointing at her feet.
"You'll need barn boots," she said. "Will Elsie's fit?"
"No way!" Becky said, laughing. "She's tiny."
"Well, there's a box downstairs with a few extra pair - I'll show you," Daisy said, leading Becky downstairs.
Charles watched as they walked off, then turned back to Elsie. "How are you, really?" he asked.
"In a lot of pain," she admitted, "but it's worth it to see this. Who'd ever have thought they'd get on so well?"
"I know. Els, shouldn't we tell Becky before she leaves - about the wedding, I mean? She's the only family you've got, really. I think she should know, don't you?"
"Yes, I was thinking that very thing while you were getting your arse kicked in our game," she teased. "I do want to tell her. After the animals, though, alright? That way if she doesn't take to the idea, she won't be upset when she meets them. That could be bad for everyone," Elsie admitted.
"True." He planted one more kiss on her lips. "Be back in a bit," he said. "Will you be in bed?"
Elsie sighed. "I think so, yes," she said, finally caving to the pain.
"Alright."
Charles found Daisy and Becky downstairs, bundled up and ready to go.
"You found boots, then?" he asked while tugging on his own.
"I did, thank you. The horses are Star and Scarlett, right? Daisy gave me a carrot to feed each of them, just like we used to do when Ellie and I were little."
"Why do you call her 'Ellie?'" Daisy asked.
"Well, when I was little, I couldn't say the s in 'Elsie.' I called her 'Ellie,' and I never stopped. So it's my special name," Becky explained.
Daisy introduced her to the horses, and Becky stroked their manes. She was a bit apprehensive about Star, but he was calm and sweet and nuzzled her hand when she fed him the carrot.
Charles led them through the hen house and they checked for eggs. He was surprised at how good Becky was with all the animals, knowing it had been years since she'd been on any kind of farm, but he was grateful for it.
"I love them," she'd said simply, and he'd smiled.
"Good. I can see they love you right back."
When it was time to go in, Charles said, "Alright, ladies. Elsie and I have something to discuss with you."
Daisy smiled.
"Is it good?" Becky asked warily.
"I think so," Daisy said with a smile.
They washed up and headed into Elsie's room, where Becky and Daisy sat upon the bed as Charles took his usual chair by the bedside.
"Becky," Elsie said, reaching out for her sister's hand, "have you had a good day today, love?"
"Oh, yes," Becky said, nodding. "Very much. I love it here. I'm ready to go home, though," she added, and Elsie smiled.
"I'm sure you are. But this is important, and as you're my sister, you need to be one of the first to know."
"I hope you're getting married," Becky said bluntly. "To Charles, I mean, of course."
Elsie's eyes widened suddenly. "You do?"
"Oh, yes," Becky nodded. "You're so happy, Ellie. More than … well, more than before," she added, noticing Daisy's furrowed brow. "Ellie? You didn't tell Daisy about Joe?"
Elsie looked over at Daisy, then at Charles, willing him to say something.
"Daisy does know Elsie was married before, Becky," he said softly. "And that Joe passed away."
"Okay," Becky said, and Elsie let out a soft sigh of relief that her sister didn't mention the baby. They'd not yet had that conversation with Daisy, and she didn't feel like having it now.
"So you'd be alright with that?" Charles asked hopefully.
Becky leaned over and gave him a huge hug, a bit awkwardly as she was still on the bed and he was sitting in the chair. "I would," she said happily. "You'll be a great brother, and now I can be an Auntie!" She looked at Daisy then, and added, "Well, if Daisy wants me to be."
But Daisy nodded immediately. "Oh, yes," she whispered. "I do."
"Well, then," Elsie said, a lump in her throat.
"Can I go?" Becky asked suddenly. "To the wedding?"
"Oh, I think we can manage that," Charles said, his voice thick with all the same emotion he saw in Elsie's eyes. "In fact, I see no reason why you two shouldn't be in the wedding. Elsie?"
"I'd love that," she said softly. "Please, Becky, would you? And Daisy?"
Becky smiled at Daisy and winked at her, laughing when Daisy tried to return the wink, and Elsie smiled as she remembered a similar scene from not terribly long ago. "You're getting there," she said to Daisy, who blushed but nodded.
"When is the wedding?" Daisy asked.
Elsie and Charles looked at each other.
"Summer?" she suggested. "I'll be mobile and, hopefully, back to normal with everything," she added, determinedly avoiding his eyes as she said that last bit and recalled their conversation from earlier that morning. "And we'll be out of school, so we could go away on honeymoon."
"I could stay with Auntie Edith," Daisy added.
"Auntie Edith?" Becky asked.
"Charles has lots of very good friends who are like his family," Elsie explained.
"But they're not my true siblings," Charles added. "You'll be my only sister when we're married."
Becky seemed happy with that explanation, and Elsie breathed a small sigh of relief. They'd had such a good day, but Elsie realized she'd been waiting for the other shoe to drop at any moment.
"You could stay there," Charles said, bringing them back around. "So, summer? July, or August?"
"August," Elsie said immediately. "July is too hot."
"Well, then I guess you'd better start planning!"
"If you think I'm planning this wedding without you, you've got another thing coming," Elsie said firmly. "No way - this is a joint venture, pal."
"Actually, I was only kidding," he admitted, squeezing Elsie's hand and lifting it to kiss the back of it. "I'd like to help, to have a say in my own wedding."
"Yes, I can imagine," she murmured, understanding in what he didn't say that his last one had likely been under the control of the Crawley family, as well as - perhaps - Alice's parents.
"Alright," Elsie sighed. "Time for you to head out. Daisy, would you like to go with them, see where Becky lives?"
"Yes, if I may," Daisy said.
"You've finished your homework?"
"Yes - all of it," Daisy grumbled.
"Good - your meeting is next week, petal. We'll take care of that soon. Alright, get your shoes on, then."
He turned to Elsie. "We have a house full of food from Beryl. I'll pop something in before we head out. Any requests?"
"Is there a chicken something in there?" she asked hopefully. "Maybe one of her pot pies?"
"I believe there are two of those," he chuckled. "Sounds good." He leaned over to kiss her, keeping his behavior in check as Becky was still at the foot of the bed.
"I love you," Elsie murmured, and he hummed.
"I know," he answered, smiling. "Thank you."
"I love you, too, Charlie," Becky said bluntly, and Charles turned around as Becky tackled him with a hug.
"Well, then, I'm doubly blessed," he said, hugging her back as Elsie looked on.
"Perfect," she whispered. "My life is absolutely, positively perfect."
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