Thanks everyone for reading! I appreciate all your support and reviews. I hope you enjoy the conclusion.

About eight months later.

Charles and Elsie held hands as they ascended the stairs to the observation deck of Shackleton Airport. It was deserted and Charles immediately led Elsie to his favorite spot at one of the windows. They were expecting guests, but he had talked her into arriving early at the airport to watch the activity on the runways for a little while.

"You'll like it," he had told her. "As much as you like flying, I'm surprised that you haven't been up there before." Elsie had no objection to the scheme, so they went straight from work to the airport.

"There's one coming in." He pointed to a speck on the horizon.

"Are you sure that's a plane?" Elsie wondered. "Can you really tell from that far away?"

"I only know because I've been up here so often."

She smiled. "I suppose this is about the only time you think about flying with anything but dread."

Charles squeezed her hand. "That's almost true, but I never dread it when I'm with you."

"Oh, my Charles," she teased. "Ever the romantic."

He took her hand and kissed it. "And I mean every word."

Elsie cleared her throat. "Tell me more about these airplanes."

He turned his attention back to the sky. "Look, you can see now that it's a plane and it's coming in for a landing." And just as he had promised, within a few minutes, the craft came into view and the landing gear descended.

Elsie found herself watching a plane land from the outside for the first time and she was fascinated. "It's graceful, in a way," she marveled. "But there's a hint of danger in it. An enormous mass of metal traveling at impossible speed, depending only on gravity, a few tires, and the steady hand of the pilot to keep it from disaster."

"I hope this experience will not dampen your enthusiasm for flying."

Elsie laughed. "Doubtful! I already knew it was dangerous." She paused. "That's not their plane, is it?"

"No, but they will arrive soon. There's one about to take off," he pointed out. Elsie watched this departure with just as much interest as she had the arrival and vowed to look for an observatory of some sort wherever she traveled. The view in a large international airport was sure to be even more interesting than this.

"Here they are." The plane landed and Charles and Elsie made their way to the baggage claim, where they would meet their eagerly anticipated visitors. It seemed like forever, but it was really only a few minutes before the passengers appeared. As soon as Elsie saw Becky, she rushed into her sister's embrace.

"Elsie! Am I glad to see you!" Becky then pulled away from her sister to look around the room. "They look so alike, Elsie."

Elsie was perplexed. "Who do you mean?"

"Charles and Eddie, of course."

Elsie took a glance at Charles and his brother and could see that Becky was right. There was quite a resemblance between the two. Elsie looked at her sister curiously. "But how did you know that was Eddie?"

Becky made no answer, linking arms with her sister as they walked over to where the two men stood. They turned at once to greet the two sisters.

Charles spoke first. "Eddie, this is my Elsie and her sister Becky." Becky hugged Charles briefly.

"Thank you for the introduction, Charlie," Eddie replied. "But Becky and I have already met."

"We were seated together on the last flight, you see, and I knew immediately that he must be your brother," she explained to Charles.

"Did you?"

"The physical resemblance is there, but his voice was what gave him away. He sounds just like you! But enough of that. Here's my sister, whom I expect you will approve of once you've known her for a very little while."

"It's lovely to finally meet you, Elsie," Eddie said, greeting her warmly. "I've heard a lot about you from your two biggest fans."

Elsie smiled. "I can see you have the advantage of me, but I'm sure before long we'll be friends."

They shook hands cordially, but when she saw Becky smother a yawn, Elsie offered to take her home. "Now I know you're tired, and I've got the fold-out couch all ready for you to sleep as long as you like."

"Mmmm, that sounds heavenly right now. I don't think I'll really believe I'm here until I wake up in your flat tomorrow."

Eddie turned to his brother. "I'm ready for a good night's sleep, too. I hope you've booked me into a posh hotel, Charlie."

"Don't you wish!" Charles returned. The four of them collected luggage, Elsie kissed Charles good night, and they all left the airport.

#####

The next week flew by and before they knew it, Charles and Elsie stood before God and man, pledging themselves to each other for the rest of their lives. They had chosen to hold a fairly informal reception, immediately following the ceremony, at the local garden club. Food and drink was served both inside and outside and a dance floor was set up in one of the rooms. After a few toasts, the party got underway. Charles and Elsie danced the first dance together, both smiling. Charles didn't even mind being the center of attention on this special occasion.

"How do you feel, Ms. Hughes?" he asked his new wife.

"I feel fine, though you may call me Mrs. Carson," she answered.

He raised an eyebrow. "I thought you planned to keep your name, Elsie."

"Yes, I do, but you may call me Mrs. Carson if you wish."

"I see. Well, Mrs. Carson, are you enjoying your day so far?"

"Yes, Mr. Carson, I am. I got married today, you know."

"Yes, I was there. I'm a lucky man."

"And I'm a lucky woman. I can't always work out how to say everything I want to say, but you know I love you."

"Of course," Charles assured her. "You tell me so all the time and you show me in a thousand other ways."

"Good." Elsie caught sight of a couple entering the dance floor. "Don't look now, but your brother just asked my sister to dance."

"Well, of course he did. The best man always dances with the maid of honor."

"Not always."

"Are you implying that there might be something going on between them?" Charles asked.

Elsie looked thoughtful. "No, I'm just saying that I wouldn't mind if it did. I like your brother."

"I'm glad to hear it. I hope he hasn't maligned me too dreadfully."

Elsie laughed. "I wouldn't like him as much if he had."

"Well, you know I love Becky, so I wouldn't mind it either. I only hope you don't have plans to bring it about."

"Oh no." Elsie shook her head. "I didn't reach this age unmarried without being the victim of well-meaning friends trying to set me up. We'll leave them to themselves."

"I know just what you mean," Charles agreed. "A bonus to the many benefits of marriage is that our friends will turn their matchmaking eyes in other directions."

"Mmhmm." Elsie laid her head against Charles's chest and the dance continued.

#####

Becky and Eddie spun gracefully around the floor together. Becky inclined her head in the direction of the newlyweds dancing nearby. "They're trying to match us up, you know," she told him.

Eddie rolled his eyes. "Dear God, I hope not!"

Becky raised an eyebrow. "How very flattering!"

He laughed. "That sounded quite rude, didn't it?"

She shook her head. "Not to worry. I'm glad we agree on the subject of matchmaking families."

Eddie nodded. "Yes, there's that, but…"

"But…?" Becky prompted.

"Well, it's all too tidy, if you ask me. My brother marries your sister, so you and I logically come next, right?"

She laughed. "You're right. Far too tidy. But I'm glad to call you friend."

"Absolutely. Friend and co-conspirator, I hope."

Becky's eyes lit up. "Oh, I hope so! What do you have in mind?" Eddie leaned down and whispered something in her ear. "Oh, yes, you can definitely count on my help. When can we get started?"

"Now is as good a time as any. Go have a drink while I get some things out of my car. I'll meet you outside in ten minutes."

"Right." Becky checked her watch as they left the floor in opposite directions. Ten minutes. It was an innocent conspiracy. She felt like a girl again, in the best possible way.

#####

"I just love weddings, don't you?" Phyllis said with a contented sigh.

Beryl looked out over the dance floor, smiling at the newlyweds. "Dreaming of your own, then?"

Phyllis rolled her eyes. "You know Joe and I haven't-"

"Yes, yes, I know," Beryl replied. "No plans to get married anytime soon."

"It's not so much that we definitely have no plans. We just haven't really talked about it yet. It's not been that long."

"Where is Joe, anyway?" Beryl wanted to know.

Phyllis took a sip of her drink. "I think he's talking to Robert."

"What, still?"

"They're probably talking about the history of Shackleton. It's a favorite topic for both of them. You should hear the stories!"

"Fascinating, I'm sure," Beryl remarked skeptically.

"Mock if you like, but I love to listen to Joe tell stories. There's so much that's entertaining and he cares so much about all of it."

Beryl patted her friend's arm. "I won't mock, then. I'm glad he's found an enthusiastic audience for his tales."

"What about you?" Phyllis wanted to know. "Your date is here somewhere. Surely I get my moment to tease!"

"I'm afraid not."

"Why not? That doesn't seem quite fair."

Joseph Molesley appeared and took Phyllis's hand. "Because you'll be dancing with me," he answered. "That is, if you want to dance with me. You don't have to."

She laughed and set down her drink. "Of course I want to dance with you." And they were gone without a backward glance for Beryl.

"Joe, darling, why have you never told me you were such a good dancer?" Phyllis murmured, after half a minute in his arms.

"It's not the sort of thing a gentleman boasts about to his lady," Joseph replied.

She blushed slightly, pleased at his reference to her as 'his lady.' It sounded quite lovely when he said it. "Well, this lady is impressed. You are full of secrets and surprises."

He laughed in surprise. "Me? Secrets? You must be exaggerating. I'm about as mysterious as a bucket."

"Hidden talents, then," she amended and they continued on in silence for a while.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Joseph eventually asked.

"Oh, yes! I was just telling Beryl that I love weddings, and this one has been particularly beautiful. They're obviously so happy together."

"Do you think you'll ever get married, Phyllis?"

"Goodness, what a question!" she exclaimed, but when she realized he was awaiting her answer with some anxiety, she composed herself. "I'd like to get married, yes, if that's what you mean."

"Yes, so would I," he agreed, looking her in the eye. "If you take my meaning."

"Joseph Molesley, if that is a marriage proposal-"

"No, it isn't," he interrupted. "Not yet."

Phyllis was now flushed and smiling and wondering if anyone would notice. "Well, I won't be coy and pretend not to understand you." She lowered her voice. "You know how I feel about you, Joe."

It was his turn to blush and he spoke softly. "Yes, you've said. Believe me, my dear, if I had known how happy you would make me, I would have asked you out the first time I saw you."

"But none of us knows that sort of thing ahead of time, so we just have to muddle through on our own."

"You're right, of course, and I'm glad you asked for a date all those months ago. But I hope you will allow me the pleasure of asking the next question." He watched her face to see how she reacted.

"Even though the answer will not be a surprise?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes."

"Very well." Phyllis sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Thank you," he whispered.

#####

"Everyone's dancing, it looks like," Albert Mason observed as he moved to stand beside Beryl.

"Everyone except the best man and maid of honor, who seem to have disappeared," she remarked.

"Not up to no good, I hope."

"Search me!"

Albert gestured toward the dancers. "Well, what do you say?"

Beryl smiled and took his hand. "I thought you'd never ask."

#####

"I can't believe they did this to my car," Charles grumbled as he and Elsie took their suitcases out of the trunk.

Elsie laughed. "Can't you? I can. Becky was always playing little pranks on friends when we were young. What about Eddie?"

Charles closed the trunk. "Yes, you're right. It only makes sense that they would gang up on us like this."

"Anyway, it's not so bad," Elsie said as they walked into the airport terminal. "It only says 'Just Married' on the windows. I've seen some much more vulgar graffiti on newlyweds' cars before."

"True," Charles agreed reluctantly.

"But enough about that," Elsie said. "I've been looking forward to this trip for months. We're going to have such terrific fun!"

"I think we could have good fun anywhere, my dear," he murmured.

Elsie blushed. "Of course, but it will be nice to get away for a while, just the two of us."

"I won't argue with that."

"And I think Spain will be quite romantic."

They checked in and moved through security in time for a short wait at the gate before boarding began. Once their section was called, Charles and Elsie walked onto the plane and found their seats, his an aisle seat and hers a window seat.

"This seems quite familiar doesn't it?" she remarked as she stowed her carry-on and buckled her seatbelt.

"Very," Charles agreed as he took his seat.

"I hope you don't mind if I rest my head on your shoulder."

"Of course not. Don't you remember? You fell asleep on my shoulder that year when we traveled on the same flights to England and back for Christmas."

"I'm surprised you remember. That was a long time ago."

"I remember everything about you, love," he murmured, kissing her cheek. "I missed you when we parted at Heathrow. I had a terrific holiday with Eddie and some friends, but I wished you were with me."

"You never told me that," Elsie replied.

"Well, I couldn't tell you then, and I forgot about it until now."

"Then it's only fair for me to tell you that it was pretty much the same for me. Oh, I wasn't pining away in misery, but more than once I wished you were with me."

Neither spoke further. Elsie gave her husband a fond smile and rested her head against his shoulder. The plane took off and before long they had arrived and were catching their connecting flight to Madrid. Elsie was looking forward to showing some of her favorite sights to Charles, who had never been to Spain.

"You're really going to love Madrid," she told him. "I'm sure of it."

"I'm looking forward to seeing it, particularly because I'll be with you."

"Even if we weren't going together, I know you'd enjoy it."

"Elsie, do you ever think about what it might have been like if we'd gotten married years ago?"

"I've thought about it before, but I don't think it's worth dwelling on what might have been."

"You're right, but I do wonder sometimes. If things hadn't been so tempestuous at the beginning, I wonder how long it would have taken us to come to our senses."

She smiled. "Those were some turbulent months, weren't they?"

"It's funny that you should use that word – turbulent," Charles commented.

"Why is that?"

"The day we first met I thought you were charming, but I also thought you might be a little eccentric when you told me that you liked turbulence when flying."

Elsie laughed. "Well, I can assure you, I like it when flying, but I most definitely do not like it in relationships!"

"Nor I, though I would take it over never having met you at all."

She sobered. "Yes, and I suppose our turbulent start did no long-term harm."

"It might have even done us good. We know how to make peace."

"Three cheers for turbulence, then."

"Indeed," Charles agreed with a smile. He bent to kiss her cheek when suddenly the left side of the plane dipped suddenly and his head bumped hers with some force. The plane regained its equilibrium, but continued to rattle. The seatbelt sign lit up.

"We've encountered some turbulence, ladies and gentlemen," a flight attendant announced. "Please fasten your safety belts and remain calm. Before long things will calm down and the rest of your flight will be smooth sailing."

Charles and Elsie, each rubbing their heads, caught each other's eyes and simply laughed.

"Have you ever heard a more accurate description of our relationship, Charles?" she asked, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.

He chuckled. "Turbulence, banging our heads together, followed by a smooth ride? That sounds about right!" Charles made another attempt at kissing Elsie's cheek and this time was successful, in spite of the jostling of the plane. Then she turned her head and kissed his lips.

"I love you."

"I love you," Charles replied, before kissing her once again.

The end.