Another prompt answer, this time from downtonismylife who requested chelsie+it's never too late. Sorry for the sadness.

"It's never too late," Anna stood staring sadly at the pair of tombstones sitting on the hill in front of her. "It's never too late," That was certainly true in terms of Charles and Elsie Carson who, after 25 years, had finally got married in a small ceremony in Ripon. The wedding had been attended by the family, the majority of servants and Elsie's sister who had travelled down from Scotland. The occasion had been one of the happiest times of not only the bride and groom's lives, but Anna and many of servants as well.

However, just 6 months later the happiness had been destroyed when Elsie had discovered yet another lump, but this time the results had been devastating. Cancer. She had been told that she had less than a year to live, and it was likely the cancer had spread further than her breast. The couple had retired and then gone on an impromptu honeymoon to the Scottish Highlands. They had returned 2 months later with Elsie's body starting to fail and Charles attempting to hang on.

It had been a peaceful death for Elsie. She had gone in her sleep 1 month after they had returned from Scotland with Charles by her side whispering how much he loved her in her ear. He hadn't attended the funeral. He wasn't able to let go of her and seeing the coffin would force him to realise she really was gone. Many tears were shed and everything had changed especially by the event 2 weeks later.

It was a heart attack that took Charles. At least that had been the official cause of death, most blamed it on a broken heart from the loss of the love of his life. Everything had changed though. Mrs Patmore and Daisy had left to run Mr Mason's farm. Thomas had got a job in London. Mr Molesley and Miss Baxter had married and left service. Slowly, but surely everyone had left Downton and been replaced by a new group of servants. One that hadn't lived up to the high standards left by Charles and Elsie Carson. Downton had been solved and with it the Crawley family. It had broken up and spread around the globe.

Anna stared at the gravestones in front of her. Her and John had bought the Grantham Arms together and were currently running one of the most successful inns in the area. Despite that, however, she missed the old days. With her friends and colleagues at Downton and especially the butler and housekeeper. She sighed and turned to walk away. She had things to do and no time to do them.