This popped into my head whilst re-watching the end of series 5, episode 2 for the 100th time! I wondered how the writers could gently alter their relationship. A short stand-alone piece on how I thought things could go...

Just Dinner

She usually brought him tea around 10:30 after the breakfast rush. Just as things were settling a little and he'd be sat at his desk working on his papers. He liked two sugars and two biscuits.

She knew these things. Seemingly insignificant things. But they made the day what it was.

Only this morning was different. She was slightly late, struggling with her order book and time had gone on, at 10:45 she was still at her desk.

She swung round in her chair at the knock on the door, surprised to find him there with a cup of tea.

"Mr. Carson, I'm sorry I'm running behind."

"No matter, I bought this for you."

She almost fell from her seat.

"Oh, what's brought this on?"

He placed the delicate china cup – her favourite – on the table in front of her, casting an eye at the books she was doing as he did.

"You see I wanted to ask you a favour."

"Goodness, this is a turn up." She leant back in her chair, watching him carefully as she sipped her tea. Things had changed recently, he'd changed, she wasn't quite sure how, it was as subtle as a shift in the breeze but it was different, definitely different.

"With the family dining at the Gladstone estate I thought I might take the evening off. We only have Mr Branson to see to and Thomas and Moseley can handle that."

"Of course they can and of course you must, you never take time for yourself."

He nodded, solemnly, his face set as he stared over her head out of the window.

"Will you be going anywhere nice can I ask?"

"Yes, I er… I've booked a table at_*"

"Oh my, very nice indeed. Are you," she bit down on her lip thinking of the recent friendship he'd struck up with the head of the committee, "Are you dining alone?"

"No, I mean that is yes at present but, you see I was wondering rather if you would care to accompany me?"

She was glad she'd put her tea cup down otherwise she might have dropped it.

"Join you?"

"Yes, for dinner, unless of course you're needed here…" He rushed on, fumbling; this wasn't how it sounded in his head!

She curled her fingers, squeezing her nails into her palm to stop herself from blushing, was this his clumsily stiff way of asking her out on a date? After all these years?

She thought of holding his hand at the beach, how forward she'd been, how brazen in the sunshine and sea air.

"Yes." She said lightly. "I would very much like to join you."

"Good." He clapped his hands. "Well then, that's settled. I've booked the table for seven thirty, I don't like to eat too late and these fancy places can drag it out."

"Quite right," she smiled as he opened her door, "So I'll meet you…"

"After the family have left, they should be gone for six thirty so we can leave after that."

"I look forward to it."

"So do I Mrs Hughes, so do I."

He closed the door. She returned to her books. It was the hour of eleven on the clock and suddenly seven thirty seemed a lifetime away.

*somewhere perhaps like Anna and Bates went to in season 4, episode 6 but I couldn't remember the name of it!

Sorry its so short, it was just a little scene I could actually see happening! Hope you enjoyed