A/N: I'm sorry this chapter took as long as it did. It was hard for me to find that balance between my responsibilities, summer travels, writing All Hope Is Not Lost, and writing this. It's here now though, and I hope you all enjoy it. I hope to get a couple more chapters up before school starts, and then we will just have to play things by ear based on how busy school gets. My goal is to have completely finished this story by this time next year though, and I'm choosing to believe it is a goal I can reach. Anyways, thank you all for coming back to this story, and I hope it is a good read for ya!

Chapter Seven

April 2, 1891

Elsie moved into the cottage with her husband and stepdaughter upon returning from their honeymoon. They had spent 3 days at the seaside in Scarborough and 5 days visiting Dunfermline Abbey in Scotland. Charles got to see Scotland for the first time, and Elsie got to see a part of it she had never seen before. It was a marvelous adventure and the perfect way to begin their lives together. Lily was slightly jealous of her parents' trip, but Charles promised to take her back some day. Now that they were home, they had to readjust to the responsibilities of their work and get used to living together and raising Lily as a team.

Every night when they came home from Downton, they would have tea together in the sitting room while Lily washed up and got ready for bed. When she was ready, they would go upstairs and tuck her in before heading to bed themselves. In the morning, it was a slightly less amicable situation, with Elsie not being fond of such an early start no matter how used to getting up early she was. Lily always helped brighten her mood though. She would talk about what she planned to do that day at school while they walked to Downton, and she always had good manners when Mrs. Patmore served her breakfast. Elsie was so proud of the woman she was growing into, always kind and loving and appreciative. She couldn't ask for a better stepdaughter.

One night, as Elsie was helping Lily braid her hair before bed, Lily was feeling chatty and began to talk to her stepmom about the change in their circumstances. "Daddy likes having you here," she said boldly, earning a smile from Elsie which grew when she continued, "and so do I. You're much better at plaiting than he is."

Elsie chuckled softly, "Well, I should think I've had a lot more years of practice than he has."

"Yea, I guess. Did you braid your sister's hair when you were growing up?"

"I did," Elsie said, nodding her head in the affirmative. She remembered those days fondly. Becky would always settle when her hair was being brushed and styled by her big sister.

"I wish I could have a little sister. I could learn to braid her hair like you did for your sister."

Elsie gave her a soft smile in the mirror. "Maybe you will one day. It's still early days in me and your dad's relationship. We have plenty of time to bring a baby into this world."

"When will you?" Lily asked innocently.

"We don't know yet, sweetpea. It's up to God's timing," Elsie answered sweetly, tying off Lily's braid and rubbing her back lightly to signal she was done.

That response seemed to have placated the girl as she smiled at her stepmom and rose from her seat at her little vanity so she could climb into bed. Once she was settled, Elsie pulled the blankets up and made sure she was snug and comfortable and then sat on the edge of the bed so she could lean down and say goodnight to the girl. However, her usual routine was stopped when Lily spoke. "Mum, I'm not tired. Can you tell me a story from your honeymoon?"

"Well alright," she acquiesced. "I'll tell you, but then it's off to dreamland for you," she said, brushing Lily's bangs out of her eyes. Lily nodded, a silent promise that she would go right to sleep as soon as Elsie had told her the story. Elsie gave her a wink and then began.

"When we were in Scotland, we were visiting a castle, looking at its beauty and exploring the grounds. I was looking at a painting, and your father decided to go off and explore the servant's quarters. You know he can never resist seeing how other houses are run," she teased, eliciting a giggle from Lily, who certainly knew that to be true. "He didn't tell me where he was going, so when I turned around and didn't see him, I realized we were separated. But I didn't have to worry because he's a very predictable man, so I knew where he'd be. I figured out how to get there, and eventually I found him chatting away with a historian about what kinds of napkins they used in the sixteenth century."

This sent both girls into a series of giggles. While they both loved Charles immensely, they found his obsession with etiquette a little comical. One could always count on him to do things properly, which was a great trait for a butler but also a little quirky in their day to day lives at the cottage. Then again, one could say the same thing about Elsie's tendency to make sure everything was cleaned properly. That was probably one of the reasons why their lives fit together so well: their quirks complimented each other.

"Daddy is funny sometimes," Lily proclaimed, still giggling slightly.

"Yes he is, but I love him."

"I do too," Lily said sleepily. This elicited a smile from Elsie as she looked at the girl who had claimed she wasn't tired just a few minutes before and chuckled softly before leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. "I love you too," Lily murmured, beginning to drift off to sleep.

"And I love you. Sleep tight, sweetpea," she whispered, pulling the girl's covers up over her shoulders and tucking her in gently.

Her husband was waiting for her in the hallway when she stepped out of Lily's room. "She's out cold," Elsie told him.

"All those giggles I heard between you two must have worn her out," Charles teased.

"Must have," she agreed. "Those giggles were about you, by the way," she teased back.

"Oh really, and what about me could possibly elicit such a response?"

"Just your desire to learn about serving napkins from 300 years ago."

Charles rolled his eyes at that. His wife and daughter were always teasing him that he was a bore, but to him, it was interesting. They loved him and supported him though– and he knew that– but he still feigned annoyance at their teasing.

"Well, can I at least get a kiss to make up for all that teasing?" he asked with a smirk.

"Of course, my darling," she responded, stepping closer to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. She looked at him with a soft smile before closing her eyes and locking her lips with his in a sweet and tender kiss. When they opened their eyes, they could see their love for each other in them, and Elsie knew she had never been more happy than she was at that moment. Here she was with the love of her life, a little girl who she absolutely adored sleeping in the next room over, and an empty room for a future child down the hall. She couldn't ask for a better family, and she couldn't wait to expand their family either.

"I love you, Charlie," she whispered, leaning her head onto his chest and pressing a soft kiss to the patch of skin exposed by his pajamas.

"I love you, too," he responded, pressing a kiss to her hair. "Let's go to bed, my love."

"Yes, let's."

June 16, 1891

As Cora and Robert were settling in for the night, they were engaging in routine discussion about their day, the children, and the running of the house. "Things seem to be going well with a married butler and housekeeper, don't you think?" Cora asked Robert as she rubbed lotion on her arms.

"It certainly seems so," Robert agreed from his place in the bed. "I know it's unusual, but I think it is right for them and right for us."

"Although I'm glad we still call her Mrs. Hughes," Cora admitted. It was nice to have that consistency for the girls who had just been learning to talk around the time of the Carsons' wedding. "Not much has changed honestly. They both do their job extremely well, and they're both still called the same thing," Cora reflected with a slight chuckle.

"I suppose the only way things would really change is if they were to have a child," Robert suggested.

"You would support that, wouldn't you, Robert?" Cora asked, making her way to the bed.

"Well it's not like I would just throw her out. They're married and in love just like we are, and if they end up having children, we would be wrong to not support them in that."

"I agree. I'm glad we're on the same page with that," Cora said, leaning over to kiss her husband. Their lips met in a soft peck that was both a gleeful reminder of their love and a gentle way of saying goodnight to one another.

"And on that note, I think we ought to sleep before I say something daft," Robert joked when they had parted, making Cora chuckle.

"Yes, I suppose we should," she agreed playfully, "Goodnight, my darling."

"Goodnight, love."

August 4, 1891

"What color do you think he'll be?" Lily asked excitedly as she walked alongside her parents to one of the local farms. They were on their way to get a kitten because Mr. Peele's barn cat had had a litter of kittens a few months back, and he wanted to give them away. When Elsie and Lily had heard him talking to the shopkeeper a couple of days ago, they had decided it was time to get a kitten, much to Charles's dismay.

"What does it matter?" Charles grumbled. "Either way you'll love it, and I'll be stuck paying for all its things."

"I heard Mrs. Bram say most of the litter were gray," Elsie answered, ignoring her husband's curmudgeon-like comment. "What color are you hoping for, love?"

"Gray or orange," Lily answered.

"Well then, I think you'll certainly get that," Elsie said jovially, rubbing her husband's arm tenderly to try and placate him a little bit.

When they arrived at the barn, Lily quickly settled in on the floor with the kittens. There were only three left, and they were all good choices for a family pet. One in particular had caught Lily's eye. He was the smallest but the most bold in his affections for the girl. As Charles watched the kitten nuzzle against his daughter's cheek, her smile lighting up and small giggles escaping out of her, he knew he could not deny her the chance at having a pet. She had already bonded with him in the short time they'd been there.

He turned to look at Elsie who was also watching the scene in front of them. They must have had the same thought as she turned to look at him too, and they nodded to one another in silent confirmation that this is what they were doing. "Lily," Charles said, making eye contact with his daughter when she looked up at him, "Is this the one you want?"

She nodded fiercely. "Oh yes! Please please daddy, can we take him home?"

"We certainly can, sweetheart. I'll just go finalize everything with Mr. Peele while you keep playing with him. Maybe you can introduce him to your mum, too."

"Gilbert."

"Hmm?"

"His name is Gilbert," Lily said confidently, making Charles chuckle.

"Alright, well I'll go tell Mr. Peele we're taking Gilbert home," he said before turning to leave the barn as Elsie crouched down to meet Gilbert.

"He's gonna be my best friend," she said to Elsie, making her smile and uplifting Charles's disposition about the whole thing even further. He had been a bit grumpy about the whole thing at first, but watching his daughter bond with the little guy had turned him around about it and transformed him back into the softie he usually was around his wife and daughter. He was glad his little girl would have a playmate to love and cherish, and he wouldn't want it any other way.

October 17, 1891

"I think she had a marvelous time, don't you?" Cora asked Robert as she leaned into him and watched from a far distance as Edith played with Lily. They had had Edith's second birthday party earlier that afternoon, and everything went off without a hitch. Their youngest daughter was growing up, and they wanted both to celebrate and pretend like it wasn't happening so she could stay their baby forever.

"I'd say so," he agreed. "Everything went rather smashingly, too, and that's all down to you," he said, pressing a kiss to his wife's temple.

"Quite literally smashing when it came time for Edith to eat her cake," Cora said with a laugh.

Robert laughed too, remembering his daughter with smeared chocolate all over her face and hands a few hours ago. "Mess aside, it was a fun day and a big hit for everyone who attended."

"Most importantly for the birthday girl in question," Cora agreed, gesturing her head in the direction of their daughter who was happily giggling while Lily placed a bow in her hair during their game of dress up. "She'll certainly be worn out tonight."

"Yes she will, and if I'm right, so will her Mama," Robert commented, pulling his wife closer in his embrace. Cora nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder, smiling when she felt him kiss her hair. She loved this man so much, and she always felt warmer in his arms. This was her rightful place, and no one could take her from it.

"Then maybe she'll need a massage," he whispered seductively, making her chuckle slightly.

"Maybe I will," she flirted back, placing her hands on his chest and reaching up to kiss his lips.

That evening, Charles and Elsie were having some tea in the sitting room after putting Lily to bed. Charles was starting to get worried as Elsie was unusually quiet; she was simply sitting curled up beside him slowly sipping her tea. "Els, what's wrong, love?" he asked softly.

Elsie sighed. She had hoped he hadn't noticed, but of course he had. He knew her, and he knew she wasn't in the best frame of mind right now. "It's stupid," she muttered.

"I want to know. Whatever it is," he assured her. "You know you can tell me anything, Elsie."

"I know," she said, nodding as she took a final sip from her tea and set her cup down before telling him what was bothering her. "It's just I..I thought I would be pregnant by now," she confessed in a defeated tone.

"Is this because of what Lily said today?" Charles asked. He and Elsie had been nearby supervising Lily and Edith's playtime after everyone else had left the party. They overheard Lily whispering to Edith about how she wanted a little sister as cute as Edith and saying how she prays for it every night after her parents leave the room. While he was happy Lily wanted a sibling, he also knew that overhearing that would likely put some pressure on Elsie. She wanted so badly to give Lily everything her heart desired, and he loved that about her. However, he also knew there wasn't necessarily a specific timeline on when, or if, it would happen.

Elsie nodded, "Charlie, she prays for it every day. I want so badly to make her prayers come true. And if I'm honest, I pray for it a lot too."

"So do I, Els," he confessed. "I do want us to have a baby– and hopefully sooner rather than later– but we've only been married for seven months. I'm not worried, and I don't think we need to worry yet. It will happen," he said confidently, soothing Esie somewhat.

She nodded, feeling uplifted by his words. "Yeah, it will," she said, feeling much better now.

"It's just going to happen on God's timeline rather than a 10 year old girl's."

Elsie chuckled slightly at that, a confirmation for Charles that she was certainly feeling better. "Speaking of 10 year olds, that means it's been 10 years since you changed a nappy, and it's been double that for me. Are you sure we remember what to do?" she joked.

"We remember enough," he said, taking her hand in his and giving it a soft squeeze, "And the rest we'll have to learn. Together."

"Yes," Elsie agreed, "We'll be together always."

"Always," Charles said, sealing his words as a promise with a soft kiss to his wife's lips.

"Always," Elsie repeated, feeling a magical sensation of love flood over her. Charles was her deepest and dearest love, and he always would be.