Author's Note: Hi again! We can now officially celebrate the tenth chapter of this story -woohoo! I'm ever so glad you've come here to give today's chapter a read and also, if you've left me a review on any of the chapters I've uploaded before, then I shall extend you my thanks! I really do appreciate all of them. But, let's get into it. Let me know what you think with a review! Thanks!

P.S. A word of WARNING! Surgery and medical things related to it are discussed in today's chapter and they play a rather significant role in the chapter. So, just avert your eyes slightly, if that kind of stuff makes you uncomfortable, thanks! And also, I did try to do some research on cancer treatments in the 1920s, but I apologize if things are not accurate. We'll make do with this, I hope you don't mind!

On Thursday Charles had finally gathered enough courage to bring up the subject of visiting Dr Clarkson again with his wife, to hear what could be done to help bring her back to health. He was surprised - though he wasn't entirely sure as to why - when she put him off by saying there was no rush. He promised to let it be for the time being but the next day he had found her asleep in her office, and decided it couldn't wait any longer. And so, they would be going to see the doctor on this rainy Saturday afternoon when the family was away in London celebrating Lady Rosamund's birthday. The only people remaining in the house were the servants who wouldn't be needed up in London, Lady Mary, who had come down with the flu and was in no fit to travel, as well as Anna who would be looking after her mistress. Normally, when the family went up to London, Charles would have gone with them, but since the family would be staying with Lady Rosamund, he had been given permission to remain home and told to do something enjoyable with his wife instead. When a doctor's appointment was not probably quite what Lady Grantham had had in mind when suggesting something enjoyable for the butler and housekeeper to do, it was something that needed to get done. Charles was glad of the opportunity to be away from the house for a while without having to ask permission from Lord Grantham for an afternoon off. He didn't want to have to lie about the reason he and Mrs Hughes wanted to share their half day. Today proved to be a good choice.

They decided to take their leave from the Abbey after the servants' luncheon and said they would be back in a few hours, and they would like to see everyone back, should they want to go somewhere, by then. After luncheon, Charles headed to his pantry to get his coat and hat and took a moment to catch his breath and calm his thoughts. He, too, like his wife was feeling nervous. After a minute had passed, Charles left his office and made his way towards hers. When he stepped through her open door and into her sitting room, he was met with her adjusting her hat and then putting on her gloves in front of the little mirror on the other end of the room.

"Are you ready to go?" Charles asked as he started putting on his coat, his gaze still firmly fixed on her.

She sighed heavily, then turned around to answer him, "Yes, I'll just put on my coat."

"Here, let me, love."

Charles took her coat from its place on the hook behind her door and held it up so she could slip her arms through the sleeves.

"Thank you."

He tried to read her face as she turned around to face him and concentrated on buttoning her coat but noted she was hiding her emotions well. It was so like her, he had to smile.

"Ready?" he asked her again, and she nodded."I told Mrs Patmore she would be in charge and that we'd be in the village should there be an emergency."

Of course, he was worrying about his Lady Mary, Elsie thought.

"Good," Elsie said absentmindedly, then continued with more resolution."But I'm sure Lady Mary is quite alright, Charlie. It's only a little cough. And besides, Anna will be at the house."

"I know. I just worry."

"Of course you do. And I'm sure she appreciates it."

The couple bid their goodbyes to the cook who was nursing a cup of tea at her desk, and started their walk towards the village hospital arm in arm. When they arrived at the hospital, a nurse told them Dr Clarkson was currently with another patient but should be out in a minute. They thanked the kind, young woman and took their seats in the waiting room.

"How are you feeling?" Charles asked his wife to break the awkward silence in the room.

"Alright, I suppose. A bit nervous."

He extended his hand towards her, and she gladly took it.

"It'll be fine," he reassured her and tried to ignore the nervousness in the pit of his own stomach.

She showed him a weak smile, and he greeted it with one of his own. Their shared moment of reassurance, of trying to calm each other, was interrupted when they heard a door open and then footsteps. An older woman, Mrs Acker, who they knew from the village walked out of the doctor's office, and they offered her a polite 'how are you' or 'how nice to see you' before she headed down the hallway and the couple was left alone again.

"Mrs Hughes, Mr Carson? Please, do come in."

That was Dr Clarkson calling out to them from the end of the small hallway. The Carsons stood up and followed the doctor into his office.

"Dr Clarkson," Elsie said as a greeting as she and Charles sat down on the other side of the doctor's desk - something so familiar to them by now.

"I gather you've come here to discuss how we'll go on from here, after Mrs Hughes's diagnosis," this was not a question to the couple but a statement made by the doctor.

"That is correct, doctor."

"I understand that this must be very frightening to both of you, but as I said before, not all cancer diagnoses end up the same way. Not these days."

"Please, Dr Clarkson," Elsie gently interrupted the doctor and then continued when he had turned his attention fully towards her."I would like to know if there is a way to…to…"

She wasn't sure what word to use and started worrying her lower lip as she thought. Luckily Dr Clarkson saw her struggle and went on answering her question, in doing so releasing the housekeeper's lip from under her teeth.

"My recommendation would be surgery. It is very possible that with surgery we would be able to remove the cancer mass and stop it from spreading any further.."

"A surgery?"

"It might sound more concerning and worrying than it actually is, Mr Carson. Nowadays cancer can, in most cases, be treated with surgery, and it is quite common."

"Are there any other options?"

Clarkson thought for a moment, calculating the question.

"Technically, yes. Although I wouldn't recommend it. We can ease the symptoms and possibly also slow down the cancer from spreading with certain medicines. However, surgery is currently the only way for us to get rid of the cancer entirely. It is always good when these things are noticed and examined as soon as possible, and we can catch them in an early stage. Mrs Hughes's cancer is in an early stage, meaning it shouldn't be too hard to remove surgically."

"What would the surgery mean, practically that is?" Elsie asked quietly.

"You would be put under anesthesia, and you wouldn't feel anything during the surgery. I would make an incision on the side of your breast and then remove the mass manually."

"And the risks, doctor?" Charles eyed the doctor, hoping to find reassurance in the steady look in the other man's eyes. It did little good as the doctor remained neutral.

"Surgery always comes with risks. There might be complications during the operation, the patient could react badly to the anesthesia or there could be heavy bleeding. But even with the risks it is a better option than leaving the cancer there and letting it spread. It would not be the first time I would perform a surgery to remove cancer, and I would be assisted with two to three nurses at all times."

Charles slowly nodded his head as he digested the information. Elsie seemed to be doing the same, he noted when turning his head to look at her.

"I will not need to hear your decision right now. Take a few days to think about it, and then come back to let me know what you've decided on."

"Very good, doctor," Elsie said and stood up - looking only a tiny bit unsteady as she did so."We shall do that."

"In the meantime, take it easy. Listen to your body, sit down if need be and get enough rest."

Elsie nodded in understanding.

"Very good. I will see you again in a few days then."

—

Charles pulled his wife's chair back, and with his hand on her back, she took a seat. His hand lingered on her shoulder for a little while before he let go and sat down on the opposite side of the table.

When leaving the hospital, Elsie had suggested they might go drink a cup of tea or a glass of wine at the Grantham Arms, since she felt she needed a moment before they'd have to go back to the Abbey to put her thoughts in order a bit better. Charles, of course, was happy to oblige.

Now, as the couple took their seats in the said pub, Charles kept wondering what was going in his wife's mind, what she was thinking about. What did she think about the doctor's words earlier in the afternoon - would she be willing to do the surgery, or would she prefer not to? Of course, he knew they couldn't openly discuss the matter whilst in the pub, but he would return to the subject later on.

"What are you thinking about?" her words brought him back to the present.

"Um…I'll tell you later," he said gently and extended his hand towards her across the table.

"Is everything alright?" Elsie gladly took his offered hand, and felt him squeeze it gently.

"Yes, don't worry."

"Well, I do worry about you. Just as you worry about me."

The couple shared a smile, but they were interrupted by the young waitress who came to take their orders. While Charles ordered both of them a cup of tea, Elsie inspected the young woman. She was the oldest daughter of the pub owners Mr and Mrs Moore. A beautiful lady, and kind at that, too.

"And how are you, Mr Carson, Mrs Hughes?" Ms Moore said kindly, her hands falling to her sides as she smiled at the older couple.

"Quite well, Ms Moore," Charles answered politely, nodding in approval.

"I see you're helping out your parents. That is very kind of you," Elsie added.

"I am, yes, Mrs Hughes. And it'll help me earn some more extra cash as well."

"That it does."

"It was lovely to chat with you, but I best get on now. I'll be back soon with your tea," the young woman said and headed back behind the counter.

"She's a nice girl," Elsie's smile was weak as she turned her attention back to her husband.

"She is. Reminds me slightly of a certain someone when they were younger," Charles said, his eyebrow raised upon his suggestion.

"Don't be daft."

"You've often told me I never am," he said, truth in his words."But we'll not talk about it more now."

"Certainly not," Elsie said teasingly, happy of this moment of leeway in their otherwise sorrowful states of mind. It did them both good, she thought.

At the same time, Ms Moore came back with their cups of tea and bid them a good day after Charles paid for their drinks and tipped the young lady nicely. Only now, did the they let of go of the other's hand as they started sipping their tea.

"We'll have to drink these quickly, else we'll be late from the curfew I set myself."

"And we can't have that."

"No, my dear wife, we cannot. We have to set them an example, as their superiors," he looked at her pointedly and drank a mouthful of tea that instantly warmed his insides.

"Very well," Elsie agreed with a nod of her head and grinned. She almost wasn't able to contain her laughter.

Charles seemed to notice this, as he formed a happy grin of his own, "It warms my heart to see you happy, Elsie. It saddens me greatly to know you're feeling out of sorts," his grin disappeared when he continued. "Which I suppose you've, we've both been, feeling lately."

At first, she met his gaze. But the next second she looked away, feeling the bubble around her burst as he brought her back to reality.

"I'm sorry," her face fell as she looked at him again - his eyes now sorrowful.

"No, my darling, do not apologize. I am the one who's sorry."

Elsie was taken aback, "Why would you say that?"

"Even if I don't mean it, I keep reminding you about…" he trailed off for a moment, and when realizing she had gotten his meaning he continued. "You deserve to feel happy and without having to worry about something every minute of the day. And I keep ruining it."

She looked at him, flabbergasted.

"Charles Carson, you could not be more wrong."

She held out her hand over the table, and he took it without hesitation.

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to feel one moment of peace. And besides, I think it's good that you keep me on the ground and don't let me think there's nothing wrong. Because that's just not true."

"Elsie…"

"Let's just drink our tea and head back to the Abbey. As you said, we have to set a good example for the younger staff. Everything's alright, I promise."

She let go of his hand to sip her tea. He soon followed her lead, but not without casting another look her way and worrying that she was not quite alright.

—

The Carsons had just gotten back to work when the servants sat down for their supper. They stood up from their seats around the table when the butler and housekeeper entered the room, now out of their coats, gloves and hats.

"Sit down, everyone. Let us start eating," Charles said as he and Elsie took their seats at the head of the table.

Supper was a quiet incident, and when everyone had finished eating, they got back to their duties. Elsie let her husband know she would be doing her rounds around the house to make sure the maids had finished cleaning and done it well before sitting down to work through the house accounts. Charles had nodded his approval, though she didn't actually need it, and planted a quick kiss on her temple in the hallway when no one was looking. She had smiled and told him she'd find him when she was finished for the night. And so she did, at quarter to eleven, with a knock on his pantry's door.

"Hello, stranger," she said as she crossed the threshold and stepped properly in the room.

"All finished for the night then are we, Mrs Carson?" he smiled upon seeing her, her presence immediately lifting his spirits.

"I am, thank heavens," Elsie stood beside him, her hand coming to rest on her husband's shoulder. "Shall we go home?"

"I'll just have to lock up, and then we shall," he turned his head to look at her, their eyes meeting.

"Good. I'll wait for you in my sitting room," she lowered her lips to meet his in a searing kiss. "Don't take too long, my love."

Charles definitely meant to oblige her request.

He made his way upstairs into the family's quarters with haste. He told himself he'd make quick work of locking up the front door and shutting the lights for the night and then be off to home with his wife. The very thought made him smile. When Charles reached the front door, he carefully twisted his key in the lock to secure it shut - of course, checking the door once more to make sure it was properly locked. He moved away from the door, his hands behind his back, and headed towards the great hall. Just as he was about to shut the lights, he noticed a figure moving down the stairs. It was Lady Mary, dressed in just her morning coat.

"Milady? Is everything alright?" Charles took a few steps towards the staircase, his eyebrows sown together in worry.

"Carson? I thought you'd have gone by now," Mary stepped down from the bottom stair and pulled her morning coat tighter around her.

"You should be in bed, milady. What are you doing down here?"

"I'm afraid I woke up with an empty stomach after I barely ate anything when Anna brought me a tray earlier," she explained kindly. "I just thought I'd get something from the kitchen myself, since Anna's already gone home and the others are are in bed as well."

"I'm sure I can wrestle up something for you, milady, so you can get back to bed."

"Really, Carson, there's no need. I can manage on my own, surely. Besides, I'm sure Mrs Hughes is already waiting for you."

"I insist, milady," Charles said firmly, yet not unkindly.

Lady Mary thought for a moment and then spoke up again, "Very well, Carson. I will let you make me something to eat, but only if you allow me to come down with you and make my excuses to Mrs Hughes for holding you back."

Charles was about to disagree with the younger woman but realized this was a fight he would not win, and he did not want to cause her any distress.

"Very well, milady. I agree with your suggestion."

As the pair slowly made their way downstairs, a thought struck Mary.

"I hope everything's well, for you and Mrs Hughes, Carson."

Charles turned to look at her, "Milady?"

"Only…I'm not sure if it's worth anything but Tom thinks he saw the two of you by the village hospital the other day, even if you were supposedly having dinner at an entirely different city. I hope nothing's wrong?"

Charles tried to read her impression and look for any signs of where this had come from.

"You're not ill, are you, Carson?" he noted the care in her voice.

"I'm quite healthy. You needn't worry about me, milady."

"Oh Carson, how can I not? You must know how very important you are to me."

"As you are to me, Lady Mary."

She gave his arm a gentle squeeze as she held hers in the crook of his - he had insisted on offering her his arm to help her downstairs, and she hadn't wanted to argue.

"And how is Mrs Hughes, Carson? Well, I hope."

Charles got lost in thought for a moment, and Mary had to repeat her question before he answered her.

"She's well, milady."

"I'm glad. I only want what's best for you," Mary showed him a genuine smile.

"And I thank you for that, milady. Now, let us get down these stairs and get you something to eat. I'm sure Mrs Hughes will be more than happy to brew you a cup of tea as well."