This is it, the last chapter. Thank you all so much for your support! :) Enjoy.

Epilogue – Christmas 1923

It had been five years since the war had turned the Carsons' life upside down. Although not forgotten, the family had long moved on since then. Many things had changed.

Charles had turned into a keen gardener and had started to train the village's cricket team. Of course he had had trouble at first to change sides, but soon he realised that his place was no longer at Downton Abbey, but at Downton Village. Every year when summer arrived in Yorkshire the two teams faced each other on the large cricket field on the estate. And that almost every year the village's team won made Charles quite proud.

Elsie had joined the village's small newspaper soon after it had been founded in the autumn of 1919. Charles had started a fight with her, disapproving of her writing. But then she had written an article about the scars the war had left in Downton for the 11th November and Charles had been close to tears when he had read it. A sincere apology had followed and Charles had never again disapproved of the newspaper or Elsie's involvement. Aside from writing she also enjoyed reading while Charles was busy gardening. When Mrs. Patmore surprisingly retired to marry Mr. Mason and moved to the farm, leaving Daisy to be cook at Downton, Elsie started meeting with the new Mrs. Mason at the farm for tea, sometimes for cooking together and close to Christmas to bake together.

In spring 1920, Jo and Aaron had married in London where he finished his studies and joined Mr. Mr. Murray's office, soon working to replace him one day as the Crawley's lawyer. Jo became head nurse in one of the local hospitals. About a year after their wedding their first child was born, a boy whom they named Charles Henry, always calling him Charlie. And only recently another boy was born, Andrew.

Henry had stayed with his parents, working on his trauma for half a year. Then he had decided it was time to move on. He had left, first for Dublin, then for Edinburgh where he stayed to work as a journalist. When he wrote to his parents about his new job Charles had chuckled and remarked how much the boy took after his mother. With a roll of her eyes Elsie had left Charles at the breakfast table, allowing a proud smile to spread over her face when she was out of his sight.

Last year he had married a teacher called Ellen. Their daughter Lizzie had been born shortly after. And now they were all to stay for Christmas.

Charles and Elsie were waiting for their arrival at the station. They were standing close, holding hands. The train from London was the first to appear in the distance. The steam was still rising from the engine, covering the platform, when young Charlie stormed towards them, jumping into Charles' arms. Chuckling, he lifted the boy and accepted his tight hug. "My god, you have grown", Charles said when he put his grandson down. Charlie grinned proudly before he turned to his grandmother to hug her too. Jo smiled fondly at her parents, followed by her husband who just so managed their suitcases. Charles pressed a kiss to his daughter's cheek and then hurried to help his son in law, shaking his hand. Young Andrew was fast asleep in his mother's arms who gladly handed him over to Elsie, taking Charlie by the hand.

"Isn't that the train from Edinburgh?", Jo asked, pointing at the nearing train from the north.

"I'm sure it is", Charles responded. And so it was. Henry and Ellen soon joined them, their daughter eyeing her grandparents sceptical. Last time they had seen her she had only been a month old, but by the time they reached the cottage she seemed to have understood that Charles and Elsie were close to her. Settling them all in proved to be a challenge, but soon a warm and cosy atmosphere swept through the house. In the evening, Charles volunteered to tuck the children in, taking the chance to read Twas the night before Christmas to Charlie. He wasn't really old enough to understand what his grandfather was reading, but like everyone in the family he found the deep voice comforting. Elsie watched her husband from the doorway, knowing that he was still having regrets about missing their children's childhood and trying to fight that feeling of by being a wonderful grandfather. He kissed his grandchildren goodnight and followed Elsie to their bedroom. They knew the others were about to place the presents under the tree, but the two of them always did that early in the morning. Elsie sat down on their bed while Charles removed his jacket and shoes.

"I'm glad they're all here", he said while he walked over to the bed in search of his pyjama.

"Me too, if only they could stay until New Year's Day", Elsie sighed.

"I wish we could see them more often. I know it sounds silly, but I'm afraid of being a stranger to our grandchildren one day when they only see us twice a year", Charles admitted, rubbing his neck, the lines on his forehead strongly pronounced by the worry that had a tight grip on him.

"We won't ever be strangers to them, Charles", Elsie told him softly, reaching out for his hand. "I'm sure as soon as they are a little older they will be allowed to stay longer and more often. Just think about when they start going to school. They could stay during the summer holidays; get out of the big cities for a while. Henry and Jo would surely like that idea."

"I hope so", Charles mumbled, sinking down on the other side of the bed.

Elsie stroked his cheek. "You worry too much."

"I know, but I can't help it. Promise me, we will talk to them about it after Christmas?", he pleaded her.

"I promise, love", she answered, leaning over to kiss him. He held her close, resting his forehead against hers.

Christmas Day was a success. Everyone was happy about the presents they received and the dinner the women prepared together was a real treat for all of them. On Boxing Day they were all invited to the Mason's farm. Charlie sat on the back of a horse for the first time and Lizzy grew quite fond of the dog while Andrew watched with big eyes what happened around him.

Saying goodbye the day after wasn't much to Charles and Elsie's liking, but left with no choice they saw their family off with big smiles and hugs. Elsie would keep her promise and indeed would their grandchildren spend their summers in Downton a few years later. The Carson's cottage was a place of happiness that welcomed friends and family with open arms. The way Charles and Elsie lived now was the way they had been meant to live ever since they had met. And now finally it really was the way they lived now.

Let me know what you think :) I've already two new fics in the making and hope to post at least one soon.