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It had been two weeks since the accident. The wreckage of the train had almost been fully removed and plans to rebuild the damaged area were made. New tracks were leading trains around the ruins and a wooden platform served as station. Except for that life in Downton Village went on as it always had.

Mrs. Hughes was still in hospital. Both Dr. Clarkson and Carson had insisted that she stayed for both doubted that she would rest properly at the Abbey. In the end, Dr. Clarkson had talked her into it, arguing that it was better if he could have a close eye on her wounds. They were healing, but her leg gave her trouble walking and with her shoulder damaged she couldn't do much with a cane. Still she looked much more herself. Carson avoided the Abbey, especially since that conversation with Lord Grantham that had on both sides run out of hand. He spent most parts of the day keeping Mrs. Hughes company. The renovations on their cottage had started, so he made sure to keep her informed. He brought the newspaper and by now knew which articles she'd like to hear him read. Although some of the literature she read wasn't his taste he was happy to read it to her. It made her smile and if that wasn't worth it he didn't know what was. Their lifes were heading back to normal. But there were two things he felt guilty about. First that he hadn't told her about his argument with Lord Grantham that might cost him his job, not to mention the fact that he had been forced to announce their engagement in a very unfitting manner. And second that he didn't find the courage in him to tell her that he loved her. Of course, he hoped she knew that he did, that his actions spoke for him; still he felt he owed it to her to say it properly. When she had been unconscious it hadn't been at all difficult to tell her, but now that she was wide awake and would react to it, he failed to do so. He found that rather frustrating. The nights he no longer spent in a chair beside her bed. He would have if she asked him too, but she had assured him there was no need. He gave up there, knowing that her next step would be to forbid him to stay. Anyway, the business with the Earl and even more so his incapability of speaking out loud what he felt kept him tossing and turning most nights.

Mrs. Hughes greeted Mrs. Patmore with a smile when she came to visit. Carson had served as messenger between the two since the cook hadn't found the time to come to the hospital herself until now.

"It's good to see you're doing much better", Mrs. Patmore told her. "I've brought you some biscuits."

"Thank you, that'll do a nice change to what I'm offered here", Mrs. Hughes said gratefully.

"Sounds like the cooking is no good", Mrs. Patmore chuckled.

"Well, it might be, but I couldn't tell. I'm rather spoiled by yours."

The cook snorted, but smiled. "I shall take that as a compliment."

"How are things?", Mrs. Hughes asked, taking a biscuit.

"It's not the same without you and Mr. Carson. But you'd have liked to hear how pleased everyone was to hear of the engagement."

"Sorry?"

Mrs. Patmore raised her eyebrows in confusion, then let out an exasperated sigh. "Typical Mr. Carson", she mumbled.

"Why don't I know about this?"

The cook didn't like the hurt tone in her friend's voice and also felt guilty for having given Carson away. "It's not that he just announced it. He never would have without you. But you see, the evening after the accident only relatives were allowed to see the wounded, because, well, I suppose because all hell would have broken loose if not and there had been enough hell on that day. But Dr. Clarkson not only refused to let him see you, he also didn't bother with telling him how you were, because he wasn't family. I blame the stress that surely got to the doctor's head then. However, Mr. Carson exploded when neither Dr. Clarkson nor his lordship would listen to him and told them so he could see you. I could only check on Mr. Carson close to midnight and because Lady Mary asked me to that day."

Mrs. Hughes had listened carefully to Mrs. Patmore's report and was quite touched in the end. It was unusual for Carson and yet it fitted perfectly with the development he had gone through over the past year. "Did he do anything else?"

"Well", Mrs. Patmore began. "I don't have any details, but it seems that his lordship and Mr. Carson had a serious argument."

"Oh?"

"From what I know he thought Mr. Carson had only invented the engagement as some sort of overreaction to the situation which outraged our proper butler so immensely that he spoke against his lordship."

"And how do you know this?", Mrs. Hughes asked, enjoying the cook's gossiping.

"You know someone will overhear certain conversations and start rumours downstairs", Mrs. Patmore reminded her.

Mrs. Hughes nodded, lost in thought. "I wonder what made Mr. Carson acting so rebelliously."

Mrs. Patmore snorted. "That's quite obvious."

"Is it?"

The cook rolled her eyes dramatically. "He loves you, Mrs. Hughes. And that means he would…" Mrs. Patmore was cut short by a warning glance from the housekeeper. Turning around she spotted Carson who was making his way towards them.

"Hello, Mrs. Patmore. I didn't expect to see you here", Carson greeted her, taking his usual place by Mrs. Hughes's side beneath the window.

"I was able to sneak away. Daisy covers up for me. Where have you been?"

"I stopped by the book shop to make a few inquiries." He spotted the biscuits and looked quite distracted by them. Mrs. Hughes rolled her eyes lovingly at him and offered him one to satisfy his sweet tooth.

"Well, I ought to get back. I can't leave Daisy alone with luncheon", Mrs. Patmore excused herself and got up. "I hope to see you both back at the Abbey soon."

Carson forced himself to smile, trying to hide his doubts about any sort of real return to the big house.

Mrs. Hughes waited until her friend was gone, then she turned towards Carson. "Why didn't you tell me about the trouble you had with his lordship?"

He tensed and avoided her gaze. "What do you mean?"

"It's all right, Mr. Carson. Mrs. Patmore told me."

He dared to look her in the eyes, searching them for any sign of anger. "Are you angry with me?"

She reached for his hand and squeezed it reassuringly. "No, Mr. Carson. I'm flattered that you fought your place for me."

A soppy smile spread over his face and made her blush. She had a hard time getting used to this very private, emotional side of him. The moment lingered, making Carson aware that this might be the right moment to tell her that he loved her. But he couldn't get himself to ruin this tender moment with the sound of his thundering voice. The opportunity slipped through his fingers and he knew he would regret it later, but now he was glad that things were well between them.

"Now, what sort of inquiries did you make?", Mrs. Hughes asked, curious to hear what had led him to the book shop.

Carson got back to the Abbey in time for dinner. He had gotten quite used to leaving all serving duties to Thomas and only take care of the things that stood behind making the household work. It was a new habit of his to spend the hours after dinner in his pantry, taking care of all the paper work.

It was already close to midnight when Lord Grantham knocked. Carson looked up in surprise and stood. "Milord", he greeted him.

"I know this must be rather unexpected", the Earl replied.

"It is", Carson agreed. "How can I help?"

"I had time to think after our last conversation, Carson. I believe an apology is long overdue."

Carson raised his eyebrows. "Shouldn't it be me who…?"

"No, Carson", Lord Grantham interrupted him. "It really should be me. You've served me the biggest part of both our lifes in a way not many others would have. I would go as far as saying that in some ways you are part of the family. I'm sorry for what I said and I can assure you I have no intention to ever say it again. It is time for me to accept that nothing is safe from change and I do hope that whatever you and Mrs. Hughes decide, we can part as friends. Anything else would be most ungrateful."

Carson struggled to keep his composure. He had always known that he was valued by his employer and enjoyed a position in this house that sometimes did go further than his title, but anyway this was unexpected. "I have no doubt we will part as, ehem, friends, though I can't make any statement on the future. Mrs. Hughes and I haven't settled anything yet."

Lord Grantham nodded understandably. "I hope you consider staying on."

"Thank you, milord. We shall consider."

"I take it Mrs. Hughes is improving?"

"She is, thank the lord."

"Please send her my well wishes and my apologies, Carson. Good night."

"Good night, milord", Carson said with a nod of his head.

Carson hadn't slept that well since the accident, but with things mostly sorted he was able to put his mind at ease. There was a spring in his step when he headed for the hospital after breakfast. On his way he stopped by the book shop to get Mrs. Hughes a proper edition of Dracula. He didn't know exactly what she found so fascinating about it, but while he had read it to her he was surprised how much he liked the way it was written. Even he had to admit that reading from different people's diaries was interesting.

He removed his hat when he entered the hospital's hallway. But when he reached his destination his mood dropped immediately. Mrs. Hughes's bed was empty. His heart sank in his chest. Surely nothing could have happened during the night? She had been so much better. He looked around in panic. A nurse entered and found herself almost knocked over by the butler. "Where is she?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Mrs. Hughes. Where is she?"

"I'm afraid I don't know. Shall I go and look for the doctor?"

Carson didn't hear her offer. He had stormed down the hallway to Dr. Clarkson's office, but he wasn't there. In panic, Carson stumbled into the yard. He let out a quiet sob of relief when his eyes spotted Mrs. Hughes. She was sitting on a bench, two big blankets wrapped around her, a book on her lap. Her shoulder and leg were still immobilised, but a wheelchair standing next to her explained how she had gotten outside. He rushed to her, taking her by surprise when he sank on his knees before her.

"Mr. Carson, what on earth is the matter?", she asked worriedly. "Get up or you will ruin your trousers."

"I thought something had happened to you", he cried. "I didn't know where you were like on the day that blasted train almost took you from me."

She cupped his face with both her hands and reassuringly stroked his cheeks with her thumbs. "I'm sorry you had to go through such fear."

"It's not your fault", he said with his voice shaking violently. "Only, I've missed so many chances to tell you something and I am terrified I'll never find the courage."

Mrs. Hughes wasn't sure what he was talking about. She motioned for him to sit down next to her. "Well, then you better tell me now", she told him.

He swallowed hard. Excuses he could make rushed through his head, but he fought the urge to use them. "It's something which I hope you know already even if I never said it." He raised his head to look at her. "I'd like to make sure that you know I did not propose to you out of pity or kindness or anything like it." He watched how she turned thoughtful. In fact the possibility had crossed her mind once or twice and she was happy to hear him say that she had been right to forget these thoughts.

"I asked you out of love", he stated. "I love you, Mrs. Hughes"

"I had doubts", she replied softly. "But I think I have known for a while."

Carson let out a long, deep breath he hadn't know he had been holding. "And do you love me?", he asked boldly, a smile tucking at his lips.

"Of course I love you, Mr. Carson!", she told him, tears filling her eyes. "I would hug you if I were able to with all this", she said, meaning the bandages she was practically covered in beneath her clothes.

He didn't respond, but kissed the corner of her mouth. "Would that also do?", he asked gently, leaning his forehead against hers.

"That does nicely", she whispered back and with a tender smile on her lips added: "Charlie."

The End

It will take a while until I post a new story, but keep on eye out for "Where you belong". :)