A/N: So I know I need to finish other fics but sometimes, usually in the middle of the night, a story will develop and this one was strong so I went with it. Thank you all for supporting the fics I have written and encouraging me to continue! I PROMISE Four Days will continue...and soon! :)

Modern day AU Chelsie fic- Our beloved Charles and Elsie and many other characters we know but different day, different roles, different personalities SOMEWHAT. The familiar thread of who they are will be thin in this fic as this just took on a life of it's own.

**A HUGE shout out and thank you to klswhite for being my beta and helping guide me on this one!**

Charles Carson hadn't realized his phone was ringing until it started vibrating across the bar top in front of him. He glanced at the screen. Elsie Burns. He took in a deep breath. He hadn't talked to her in ages but his heart never failed to skip a beat when he heard her voice. He slid the answer button over. "Hello?"

"Charles?"

"Yeah? Oh hi...Elsie?...Hi..." he put his finger in the other ear, straining to hear over the noise in the pub.

"Hi. How are you?"

"Uh...I'm alright. How are you?"

"Charles, I've just heard about Alice. Is it true?"

"Uh..yeah...yeah...it is. I guess depending on what you've heard?"

The sad tone in his voice made her heart ache, "Well...what? I mean...when?" Elsie stammered trying to process the news, "I'm sorry, what did you say? It's hard to hear you."

"Yeah...I'm in a pub..." Charles had been mindlessly watching the cricket scores tick across the bottom of the mounted tele above the bar. He had spent every night in this pub since his wife told him she was leaving. He almost always drank a pint of lager and ate a handful of bar snacks or an order of scotch eggs then drove home, fed the stray cat outside his flat, then turned in. He had been somewhat numb since Alice actually moved out, routine had been his only comfort.

"Are you alone?" She questioned.

"Yeah." He puts his finger in his opposite ear. "I'm having a hard time hearing you as well, Elsie."

"Why don't you come over? Have you eaten?"

Charles couldn't think of anything more miserable than being in Joe Burns' company tonight. "Oh...Elsie, thank you for the offer but I'm alright...really"

"NO! I want you to come over. Joe is in the states. Please?" Elsie had thought of nothing else but Charles since her colleague told her the news about him and Alice. She struggled not to sound too eager but she desperately wanted to see him.

Hesitantly he nodded as if she could see him, "Alright...yeah...yeah I'll come...I'll see you in a bit." He slid the phone to off staring at it, lost in thought. He wasn't sure what he was feeling exactly but he figured it might do him some good to break up the monotony of his life right now. And with Joe Burns across the pond, he could be himself with her for the first time in a long time. He finished his pint, grabbed his phone and keys and headed out the door.

Elsie smiled, bit her bottom lip and set her phone down on the counter. She looked around, tidied the kitchen and living room quickly before running upstairs to freshen up. Charles Carson was someone Elsie had known for most of her adult life. They met in law school and shared a great friendship in their early years but soon after they married, other people, the relationship waned. Their circle of friends from Uni and Law school stayed close and had casual dinner parties the first few years but eventually everyone got busy with careers and starting families and Charles and Elsie slipped into just a few occasions to talk every year. They both had married within a couple of years of each other and been married 35 plus years. Elsie was shocked to hear Alice had left. The only detail she knew was Alice left him for for another woman. Elsie could not imagine what Charles was feeling. It had taken everyone by surprise.

Upstairs she opted to change clothes, something a little more relaxing, sexier. "Elsie Burns...you are a married woman!" she chided herself quietly while pushing her boobs up a little more and spritzing her favorite Jo Malone fragrance, Red Roses, on the front of her blouse. A quick swish of mouth wash, some fresh pink lip gloss on her lips and a tousle of her hair and she was done.

She made a face at her reflection, wondering what she was doing. If she was honest, she'd always had a thing for Charles. But he'd always been clear about his commitment to Alice. So she'd kept their relationship purely platonic. But a piece of her had always wondered what could have been.

She and Joe, while still married, led separate lives. They'd never had children. They tried, but it never happened and neither had cared enough to figure out why. They replaced children with work, each successful in their fields.. Elsie had joined one of the largest firms in Camden and Joe had built a successful architectural firm that had expanded overseas in recent years. He was rarely home and when he was, their time together was strained. She was happy to have the company of a man tonight.

Elsie sat with her bare feet tucked under her bottom on the plush sofa in the living area of the spacious house Joe had designed for them. Charles and Alice had spent time there at holiday parties, charity events. Joe and Elsie Burns were known for their lavish dos and philanthropy. Charles was never one for show or the acquisition of things but he did like their home and told her so. Elsie's perfectly manicured nails and wedding ring sparkled against the glass of white wine she held close to her lips.

Charles sat close with his leg bent up; his arm draped across the back of the sofa, his glass of wine sitting on the coffee table. "I want her to be happy...you know?"

"Charles, how could she not be happy with you? You're the kindest, most loving man, I've ever known."

Charles smiled sadly, his gray eyes focused on the pattern in the sofa, "Sometimes what you have to give is not enough for some people."

Elsie's heart broke for him. She had witnessed his love for Alice over the years and it angered her now to think that he had loved her so selflessly and now she was gone. She reached over and took his hand, "I'm sorry. You don't deserve this."

"Ah...it's alright. I'll be alright." He smoothed his thumb across hers, "I knew something was up. I just refused to lend it any power. I didn't want to face what might be happening. She's...well you know...she's always had a bit of madness in her. A bit of a wanderer, a lost soul. We've weathered many seasons of darkness. I just never thought she would leave. I mean...it's not been good for a long time Elsie. We haven't..." He paused and peered at her with a cautious eye, "I shouldn't be airing my dirty laundry to you...it's not fair to..."

"Charles Carson! You stop that now! You are my friend...we are friends and it is important for you to be able to share what is in your heart." She moved off her foot, set her wine glass on the coffee table. Moving closer to him, she smoothed her hand down the length of his arm. "Talk to me," she whispered.

Suddenly Charles felt warm, where her palm touched him felt like it was on fire. He glanced at her, her eyes were dark, her skin flushed pink. "I...uh," he swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat. "I just...meant," why couldn't he breathe properly? He reached up and tugged at his tie, suddenly too warm for his sport jacket.

Elsie noticed him struggling, "Here..get out of this...I'm sorry...the fire is probably too much. Let me turn it down." She got up and his eyes followed the sway of her bottom, her knit pants clinging snugly to her curves. Charles closed his eyes, willing himself to calm down. He sat on the edge of the sofa and scrubbed his hand over his face.

She bent over to turn the gas key down. Charles' eyes followed her movements, her bottom, her bare feet. He closed his eyes, shifted positions; his trousers were getting tight. "Dammit Charles...stop this," he chided himself, silently. "It's been so long," he thought.

"There...let me help you out of this." Elsie pulled his jacket off his shoulders.

Her breasts were right at his eye level. "God you smell so good..." he wanted to say but kept it inside. He shrugged out of the jacket, his head brushing against her. He wanted to reach around her, pull her into him, kiss her. He'd always thought she was a beautiful woman. But she'd always seemed so smitten with Joe. He hadn't dared show his affection toward her in the past. And he couldn't do it now, could he?

"Better?" She sat next to him again, closer this time and she placed her hand on his thigh and laughed lightly, "Can I get you a glass of water?"

Charles sat back again but kept his arm across his middle, hoping his feelings didn't physically manifest themselves in front of her. He closed his eyes and wiped at his brow.

"Are you alright Charles," Elsie stood. "Let me get you some water." She left the living area and walked into the kitchen. "Have you eaten?"

"Uh...no...well if you count pretzels and a few pork crisps as a meal..." He chuckled.

"Oh Charles! Come in here...let me fix you something."

"Elsie, I'm not pitiful...not yet at least. I'm alright." He stood and made his way to the kitchen.

"I'm not pitying you. I'm nourishing you, you daft man!" She opened the fridge and clicked her tongue. Charles sat on a bar stool at a large granite island, planting his elbows on it and thankful his lower half was covered for now.

"Let's see...what do we have? Hmm..." she laughed realizing her fridge was somewhat bare. With Joe out of town, she rarely ate at home, by herself.

"Elsie...really. I'm alright."

"NO! I have it...I know what I'll make you..." She turned around with an excited expression, "Do you fancy french toast? Eggy bread?"

"Uh...I...I dunno." He laughed a bit. "I've had it, but it's been years."

"Oh I make a mean eggy bread," she sneered trying not to laugh and started for the pantry. She stopped and twirled around. "You do like it..no?"

Charles was mesmerized by her, her walk, her voice, her enthusiasm, sexiness. He looked up, realizing his eyes were following her behind, again. "Uh...yeah...yeah...but I don't want you to go to any trouble."

She ignored him and got the ingredients she needed. "You just shush and let me take care of you." Their eyes met when she glanced toward him. She drew her bottom lip in immediately and felt the blush creep onto her high cheekbones. She looked away with a slight smile thinking how handsome he was. Closing her eyes she drew in a slow, deep breath.

"Remember that time we all went World's End and Robert wound up breaking his arm when he tried to show off for...what was her name? She was American?"

Elsie was giggling out of control, "Cora...Cora was her name!" She slapped Charles' arm and laughed even harder, "He made the biggest fool of himself and she loved it! She married him!"

"She did?" Charles' eyes sparkled with mirth as he sat back on the barstool. "Oh man...I don't remember that...are they still together?" He crinkled his nose in question.

"Oh...ah...I think. I haven't seen either of them in years but yeah...they had 3 or 4 girls I think. He went into real estate you know?! He never practiced law to my knowledge but she had all the money." Elsie stood and stretched. "Are you finished?"

She reached for his plate and her breasts brushed against his arm. He inhaled sharply, stopping her. She moved her body away slightly their eyes meeting again. This time neither bothered to look away. Elsie's lips parted just a bit as if she was about to say something; her head tilted ever so and before she could think his lips were on hers. Instead of her hand on the plate it was now in his hair along with her other hand. Charles' hands were all over her back, her bottom. His lips crashing fiercely into hers.