Disclaimer: Fellowes owns them, I'm just playing with them.

A/N: NC-17 this chapter

Charles and Elsie had hardly left their room in the last six days. Waking when they wanted, sleeping when they wanted, having each other at every moment in between. Charles woke as the sunlight began streaming through the window, grunting softly he tried to figure out what was tickling his side. Running a hand over his ribs he found…hair…what? Sitting straight up he glanced around the room quickly trying to figure out just where he was, what had… 'Oh' he thought. Laughing softly to himself he relaxed back against the bed turning on his side to watch her sleep. Elsie…his Elsie. No longer Mrs. Hughes, she was now Mrs. Carson. Smiling he spun the simple gold band on his finger, looking at the matching one on her hand.

"Oh Elsie…why ever did we wait so long?" He could happily watch her sleep for days, brushing her hair back out of her face slowly.

She mumbled something in her sleep rolling towards him without waking. The blankets shifting down to her stomach as she did so. The sight drawing a soft groan from his lips, he let his fingers roam from her hair to her cheek, then to her shoulder and arm. He was going to burn every night gown she owned when they got home, forcing her to sleep just like this every night. He had a choice to make now, he could wake her in a most pleasing way, or he could go and fetch breakfast for the both of them.

They'd have to leave soon, food could wait. How much time would they really have once they returned to Downton? Leaning forward he trailed his lips across her collarbone, featherlight kisses as he moved closer to his goal. Taking one rosy nipple between his lips he was rewarded with a soft moan from the woman beneath him, the other nipple received the same treatment, causing Elsie to stir a bit.

Dragging his lips away from her breasts he kissed his way down over her soft stomach, gently urging her thighs apart, he ran his hands over the soft flesh, thumbs gently parting her folds. With his own soft groan, he ran his tongue the length of her slit before latching onto her clit. He knew she was awake by now, as she drew in a sharp breath. Her fingers winding through his unkempt hair.

"Charles!" His name passed her lips as a gasp, the things that man could do with his tongue.

Grinning he wrapped one arm around her waist holding her down as he continued to alternately suck her clit and flick his tounge over the sensitive bud. Slipping first one, and then a second finger into her slick channel he curved them just so and began stroking her towards her climax. Releasing her clit only long enough to say, "Come for me Elsie. Let go love."

Her fingers tightened against his scalp as she tried to raise her hips off the bed. He smiled as he lapped up her freely flowing juices before withdrawing his fingers and kissing his way back up her body. He waisted no time plunging into her, burying himself to the hilt, groaning a "Goodmorning love."

Her nails bit into the flesh of his shoulders, and her eyes fell shut as she arched off the bed to meet his thrust. "Good…morning. To you too… God above Charles. Move my man."

Leaning forward he nibbled along her jaw before sucking her earlobe between his teeth. His voice rumbling softly when he spoke, "I think perhaps I'll wait a bit."

Moaning she pressed up against him again, rotating her hips just so. Drawing a moan from his lips as well. She was rewarded with an agonisingly slow thrust, "I plan to enjoy this…every moment of this. Before I have to let you put that blasted corset and all those layers of clothes back on."

As he spoke he moved against her slowly, his arms slipping under her shoulders, drawing her as close to him as possible. Resting his forehead against hers he slowly drove them both to the brink, and then over it. "Elsie, my dear sweet Elsie. Please don't let me wake from this dream."

Rolling to his side he pulled her with him, tucking her head beneath his chin. For the first time, in as long as he could remember, he absolutely dreaded returning to Downton. They could retire, he had enough savings to purchase a small shop of some sort. Perhaps pick up the odd job here or there, but it didn't feel right just yet. He'd do what he had to, to provide for her. Even if it meant working a few more years, though maybe it was time to turn over some of the duties to Thomas. Travel less with the family, stay home with her. Threading his fingers through her hair he gently combed the locks, completely lost in thought.

"Are ye away with the faeries my man?" Elsie had taken to running her hand over his back lightly. When he'd gone silent, and remained so, it began to worry her.

"No…no just thinking how I'd much rather prefer to spend my days like this." Guiding her head back so that he could look at her, he pressed his lips to her forehead and then to her nose. "I feel we've waisted far too much time."

"Oh Charles… Love if you want to retire…I've got some savings…" He silenced her by pressing her lips to his, she could still taste herself on his lips.

"No. I'll provide for you, should you wish to retire we'd be fine…but until I can be certain I've enough set by I'll continue on at Downton. We should clean up and get dressed. We've only four hours until the train departs."

Nodding she rolled to her back, stretching her legs slowly. "I guess if we must…we must." As her stomach let out a low grumble she laughed, "Apparently we must eat as well."

Washed, dressed, and packed, they sat together for lunch. With only an hour and a half left they needed to depart to the station soon. Neither could seem to drag the other away.

Six months down the road would find Charles and Elsie happily retired and the tennats of a small cottage on the grounds of Downton Abbey. While Elsie learned to cook Daisy supplied them with two meals a day. Charles wasn't able to be idle for long and had taken to teaching the young lads of the village to play Cricket on the days he wasn't pottering about in their back garden.

As Elsie returned from Isobels house she stood at the gate silently watching Charles. Surrounded by the village boys as he explained the intricacies of the game. Watching him now how she wished they'd come together earlier in life. She wished she'd given him children of his own, grand children of his own. It was no use feeling sorry for herself though. They were happy, they were healthy, and their future would be spent together.

A/N: And there we have it! I *finally* uploaded the last chapter!