Wading Into the Unknown

[aka Deleted Scene at the end of the 2013 Christmas Special]

"We're getting on, Mr. Carson, you and I. We can afford to live a little."

They waded out into the low surf hand-in-hand, smiling like children. Mr. Carson felt the loose sand shift under his feet with every step. It was thrilling and frightening. He held his free hand out for balance, like a tightrope walker. Mrs. Hughes felt a clump of seaweed squish between her toes and tried not to giggle. She held her skirt up with her free hand. The breeze was gusty and she was unsure of her hat, but she was more interested in keeping her skirt hem dry than checking her hat. And nothing was about to make her release his hand.

She turned her head to check on his progress. She wanted desperately to say something else he might interpret as risqué. He still looked unsteady, so she squeezed his hand.

"You're not afraid, are you?"

"No, but I must observe that the known is infinitely preferable to the unknown."

"That is debatable, but then, everything known was once unknown."

"That is very philosophical of you."

"I was going for risqué." She said, but he did not hear her. For, at that very moment the breeze freshened and her hat flew off her head. It landed in the water further out.

"Oh, dear!" Mrs. Hughes exclaimed.

"Ahoy! I say there!" Mr. Carson cried out to a set of nearby bathers who were splashing about like seals, their heads bobbing on the softly rolling swells of water. These happy idiots paid Mr. Carson no heed.

The traitorous headgear floated teasingly on the surface, moving further away from them. Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes were at a point where they would both get their clothing wet if they took a step further. In desperation, he released her hand and waded further towards the hat.

The hat continued its seaward journey as he tiptoed after it as quickly as he could, trying to avoid the seaweed. His trousers were now wet to the knee, but it would be silly to get so wet and then return without his prize. He was vaguely aware of her calling after him. "It's not worth it, Mr. Carson. It's just a silly hat. Look up, Mr. Carson. There's a wave coming!"

"A what?" Stupidly, he turned back to her for clarification rather than scanning the oncoming sea. Behind him, a swell, larger than those previous, actually became a wave. It broke just as it slammed into the back of his legs. The cold water splashed up his back and over his shoulders, drenching the back of him head to toe.

He could see she was trying desperately not to laugh. Unable to fight a war on two fronts, he decided it was best to face the ocean for now and face the humiliation later. He turned and saw that the hat had been brought back closer by the wave. It was almost within his grasp. He took two more great steps out and he had secured the runaway bonnet. He was standing thigh deep in the water, but the waves were reaching as high as his waistcoat.

Trying to ignore his discomfort, Carson headed back towards the beach, watching over his shoulder for any other large waves. He reached Mrs. Hughes without further incident. She had long since lost her battle against her laughter. "Oh, thank you. But, bless me, you are a sight!"

He handed her back the hat and pulled out his watch. He held it up to his ear, frowning mightily. "I might point out this was precisely the sort of thing I was afraid of."

"And now that the worst has happened, was it worth the risk?" She smiled coyly.

Not noticing her playfulness, he huffed, "You tell me. Is that hat worth more or less than my trousers?"

She rolled her eyes at him but did not stop smiling and snickering. "When I said we could afford to live a little, I wasn't thinking in terms of literal money."

"I guess I can afford a new pair of trousers." He said, begrudgingly. "But I've got to get out of these trousers at once. Can you help me?" He held out his hand for assistance reaching the shore.

"I don't know how, but you managed to make that sound a little risqué." She teased.

Finally, his gruff demeanor dissolved. He could not help but admire her for throwing his earlier words back at him. He smiled apologetically. "I don't know how I could have managed not to."

"No, nor do I. Be assured, I shall be happy to assist you in any way."

"I appreciate that, but, the least I could do is buy you a custard first."

She dropped the hem of her skirt into the water and took his hand in hers. Laughing confidently, they walked back toward the safety of dry land. When they reached the beach, he squeezed her hand. She thought for a moment that he meant to release it, but he did not.

A/N Though I got my Christmas wish, I am still an ungrateful and impatient woman. I needed just a bit more to assure me that these two are headed in the right direction...and will get somewhere before WWII.

Happy Chelsie Canon Boxing Day! These two are just too cute!

ETA- Here is the original description...2013 Christmas Special extended ending. SPOILERS FOR S0409! I appreciate that Fellowes likes to leave something to the imagination, but... Actually, no, I don't. I don't appreciate it at all. Here's one minute more of dialogue and "action" that I feel should have aired[ more]. I can only hope that it is sitting on the cutting room floor somewhere and will show up in the DVD extras.

Obviously, the story has grown beyond that scope...