I learned that my own book writing did not improve by stopping with my Fanfiction. And life is just boring without Cora and Robert in my head. So well, here I am, back to writing Fanfiction again.
"Baxter did you bring the folder for this advertisement?" Cora asked looking up from her screen. Baxter had come up to Downton with Cora's laptop and some other things they needed for work. They had set up an office in one of the upstairs rooms of Dower House. There was enough space, they offered Baxter a room where she could stay as long as they would work here.
Robert's recovery would take at least a couple of weeks, and Cora had decided it would be better not to travel until his casts were removed. Robert had agreed, and when Baxter said she could drive up to them and stay as long as needed, it was settled. Violet had protested a bit, but Rosamund said that Patrick was happy with Cora's decision. Six weeks had now passed.
"I am not sure, I have brought some new folders this weekend, but will have to look if that one is in the box." Baxter got up to check.
"Thank you for being this flexible. It means a lot that you are here." Cora said, smiling at Baxter.
"There is nobody in London waiting for me, so it does not matter if I work here or there. And besides that, the surroundings here are amazing."
"You know that you can declare the petrol costs, right?" Cora had seen that every weekend Baxter drove back to London, and she wanted to be sure she was indeed getting her money back. The front door opened and closed. "Oh, that must be Robert coming back from his hospital visit." Cora said.
"You should go down; I will finish this up for today." Baxter said, while she found the folder they needed.
"I will only say hello and come back up. We have the deadline in three days, and I do not want to leave everything in your hands."
Cora walked as fast as she could downstairs. Robert had insisted that she should stay home and work. He said he was claiming to much of her time already. Something that annoyed Cora, if they were serious, she would spend much more time with him in the future.
Molesley was helping Robert to move to the sofa. That surprised Cora, with the cast on his leg, it was more comfortable to be in his bed. "Are we expecting guests?" She asked, walking into the room.
"Why would you say that?" Robert asked, turning his head towards the door.
"I cannot think of any other reason why you would want to sit on the sofa. You said it was uncomfortable with your cast."
"I indeed said that. And with the cast it was uncomfortable yes."
Cora was surprised and did not understand what he meant, until she walked around the sofa and saw that his cast was removed. "I did not know they were going to remove your casts today?" The cast on his arm was also removed, she now noticed.
Robert smiled up to her. "I did not know they would. But Dr Clarkson made some x-rays and it all looked good. It will take months before my arm and leg will be back to their old form. But from now on, I can practice with standing and walking again." To prove this, he was getting up. Molesley was still standing next to him and immediately helped him. Cora also stepped forward and handed him her hand, that he took with his good hand.
"Please be careful." Cora said with a worried voice.
Robert moved his hand to Cora's shoulder, she felt him lean heavy on her. She was not sure if she could put her hands on his sides, he did not complain about his ribs anymore, but she did not want to hurt him, so she rested her hands on his hip. This way she could try and catch him if he lost his balance.
Robert now leaned in and pressed a kiss on Cora's cheek. "Stop worrying, Dr Clarkson said that I am allowed to stand on it. And as long as it does not hurt, I can practice as much as I want." He almost lost his balance, when he tried to turn more towards Cora and now leaned even heavier on her.
Cora wrapped her arms a bit tighter around his waist. "You better sit down."
Robert pulled Cora down with him when he sat back on the sofa. She hardly managed not to fall on him. "Robert." Cora hissed. Molesley was still in the room, and she felt ashamed that Robert was being this flirty in front of him.
"What, can I not flirt with my girlfriend?" He said playful.
Cora saw Molesley leave the room and close the door behind him. "You can flirt with me as much as you want, but not when we are not alone." She was still half on top of Robert, who held her close with his arm around her waist.
"We are not back in the old days; were we are not allowed to show affection towards each other."
"It is still a form of decency to not be openly loving towards each other." Cora replied. Sliding next to Robert on the sofa.
Robert moved his hand towards Cora's face and brushed over her cheek bone. "It has been six long weeks before I could move this freely and touch you. I could not help myself." HIs thumb followed the lines of her cheek, down her neck.
Cora smiled. "We have a lifetime together in front of us. Those six weeks were nothing."
"Did you not miss touching me?" Robert said disappointed.
"But I could touch you." Cora's cheeks coloured. The first day she had to help him to wash himself had been awkward. They were sleeping in the same bed together, but he had not seen her without clothes, and she had not seen him.
Robert's cheeks were also colouring. "That was different."
Cora kissed Robert's cheek; her hand rested slightly on his chest. "I know, I was only teasing you."
Robert put his hand on top of Cora's and brushed with his thumb over her hand. "I am so thankful you stayed here with me all these weeks."
"You were there for me when my father died, and I promised myself I would never let you go."
"Not even when I do stupid things like this?"
"Not even then." Cora chuckled. "And now I have seen the Abbey, I cannot wait to start planning the renovation of it."
Robert raised his eyebrows. "Are you serious. Do you really want that?" His arm wrapped around her back.
"Robert." Cora said in a serious tone. "As I said, I cannot wait to grow old with you. And with that comes the renovation of the Abbey."
"Before we can do that, some other things need to be done, but I do not want to rush things." Robert paused, not sure how to continue.
Cora now kissed him on his lips. "We are not in a rush." She kissed him again. "Now, it is still the middle of the workday. I need to go back to work, Baxter is waiting for me."