Elsie kissed her way up Charles' chest and neck. His hands were in her hair pulling out pins, running his fingers through her thick dark locks. She whispered softly in his ear. "Charles...Charles..." Finding it hard to find the words after so many years of holding everything back. "Oh, Charles."

He responds, worshipping her with kisses on her lips, her nose, her cheeks, her eyelids. "Elsie...my love." He whispers against her ear, nibbling gently on her lobe causing her body to shiver. Hearing him speak her name, call her his love, she comes undone, tears falling from her eyes. He kisses her tears, his own now forming. Their eyes are locked, so many unspoken words of love slowly passing between them. That is how they are, it is how they have always been. They let their eyes do so much of the talking for them. Only this time there is so much clarity. His gaze does not leave her sad and confused, as it continually has in the past. She knows that she is wanted, loved, adored.

Charles is lost in the deep blue of her tear filled eyes. He watches as the woman he has known for so long becomes this deeply erotic, sensual creature. He has seen her fiery passion before, but in anger, not in this new heightened sexual way. So many things he wants to say to her, yet the words he cannot find. He just looks into the eyes of the woman he loves. The woman he has silently loved for so many years. And he knows, he knows that she loves him. That the tears that fall are from her heart weeping in joy for them. His love for her is desperate and out of control, consuming every part of him, an overwhelming need to be with her and part of her. To make their bodies one, as their souls have always been. This final act to seal the bond between them.

She is nervous, yet this all seems so natural and familiar. "I...I...Charles..." She tries again, but the words do not come out. His eyes still watching her, Charles' hands glide over her thighs, pulling them slowly apart as she bends her knees up. He settles between them and she feels his solid warmth through her shift and undergarments. Feeling his weight on her, Elsie unconsciously lets out a soft moan. Both timid and unsure of themselves, they continue their loving kisses and touching. "Please... Charles... Please." She says pulling back enough to grab his hands and place them under her shift to the tie at her waist. He slowly undoes the tie and stands, guiding the garment down and off her shapely legs. Charles removes his shorts in one swift movement and then kneels down between Elsie's welcoming thighs. He lifts her up to him, sliding her shift slowly over her body. She raises her arms as he eases it up and off, gently laying her back down. He kneels over her taking in the beauty before him. He places his hands on her waist, his gaze on her breasts. "May I?" He asks, his voice so soft and deep. His face flushed and shy, yet eyes burning with desire.

"Yes." She answers softly "Always." She means it too. He can have all of her, any way he wishes. His hands quickly respond, sliding up to her breasts. Gently caressing, squeezing, rubbing. He leans his head down and lays his face gently against the soft white globes. Then begins to lavish them with mouth and tongue. Elsie is moaning, sighing, gentle noises coming from somewhere deep in her. Feelings she didn't know her body capable of burning through her as their skin presses together. Charles reaches down between their bodies and she gasps when he rubs gently at her most sensitive area. He watches her face as her eyes shut and she bites at her lip, chewing it slightly while she writhes under his touch. He places himself at her entrance, slowly and gently starting to press into her. She looks into his eyes as she responds, thrusting herself up to meet him causing a beautiful painful pleasure to course through her center as he fills her so fully.

"Elsie.." Charles groans deeply his head dropping forward in ecstasy. Her body enveloping him fully, tightly. He wants to stay just like this, bodies, hearts, and souls joined. "I love you, Elsie. I love you." He says kissing her as he starts to move his hips slowly.

She slides her hand down his cheek. "I love you Charles, I've always loved you."

Elsie's arms wrap around him, her hands gripping his back tightly. One leg snaking around his thigh. Her hips moving with him, a perfect rhythm matching his. Time stands still as they move together as one. Their passion building to a glorious release, they collapse into each other. Charles rolls onto his back, bringing Elsie to lay flush on top of him. He slowly strokes her smooth naked back, soothing them both back to reality.

They lay there silent, their naked bodies pressed tightly together. His hand caressing her bare back. Her hand lay on his chest next to her face. Their minds should be racing in contemplation over what's just happened between them, but there is a sense of calm that has come over them. A release of the tensions that have plagued them for years. Elsie raises her head up and rests her chin on her hand that lay on his chest. She can look at him now, see his eyes. She will know what he is thinking, she always does. He looks back at her, his shy crooked smile. He is unsure of himself, his actions. She knows how to soothe his worries. She will give him whatever he needs to make it through this night unscathed. She does it because she loves him, and even more so now that she knows he loves her. "That was wonderful Charles." She purrs with a thick Scottish brogue.

"I..I don't know what came over me. I am sorry to have woken you up like that. You must be shocked at my..." Elsie pushes herself up, stopping his nervous rambling with a kiss. She is very relieved to find him kissing her back, his hands going into her hair.

"I must say, I am a bit surprised." Elsie smiles, laughing a little. "But very pleasantly so. You've made me very happy Charles."

"And you, my beautiful woman. You have made me the very happiest of men." He said smiling, then turned serious. "I meant what I said Elsie. I do love you. Very much, and for so long now. I hope I haven't offended you in any way. I'm ashamed I wasn't able to control myself. You must know how badly I've wanted to do that...and so many years I've waited. I will make it right though, my love. If you will have me?"

"I know you love me Charles. I know that now. And you don't have to do anything to make it right. It feels right to me." Elsie says, then lowers her eyes. "I love you and I don't want you to ask me that out of guilt Charles."

"Elsie Hughes." He says softly, raising her chin up to look into her eyes. "I ask you because I love you and I can no longer go on living my life without you beside me as my wife. I ask you because you are everything to me. You have been my best friend, my confidant, my partner, and now my lover. Now will you? Will you marry this stubborn old man Elsie Hughes?"

"You do realize, that since I'm lying here naked on top of you the option of saying no is completely taken off the table." She laughs, teasing him. He sits up quickly, pulling her into his lap and covering her with his jacket.

"The option is there, my love." He says his eyes serious and questioning. "If that is what you wish?"

"Charles Carson! I am about as likely to turn you down as I am to give Mrs. Patmore my store cupboard key. Of course I want to marry you!" She holds his face between her hands. "I would of said yes is you asked me twenty years ago." She adds softly, kissing his lips.