Chapter 65- Epilogue

A/N: Thank you for your lovely reviews for the previous chapter and your support for this entire story. I really appreciate all of your support and kind words. Here is the final chapter of this fic (unless I decide to revisit this fic at some point in the future!) This chapter is a little different for me, as whilst we left this story in 1925, the epilogue is set about 12 years later, in early December 1937. Hope you enjoy x

December 1937

They both stood side by side at the railway station, every inch the respectable couple; they may have been maturing in years but both remained as vibrant, attractive and astute as ever and even strangers walking past them on the platform couldn't help but see contentment and happiness radiating from the couple, as they delicately held hands, the winter sun shining down upon them.

The former Butler stood tall, a regal and commanding air still about him despite his retirement over five years ago. He kept checking his pocket watch needlessly, the time having barely changed since the last time he'd looked and every so often he looked down at his wife, catching her loving gaze as she smiled up at him. The former Housekeeper was dressed immaculately, her hair still largely brunette; she has hardly aged a day since her retirement just over five years ago. It was a constant source of jest between the two that whilst her husband's hair had greyed long ago, her hair remained essentially unchanged, other than a few silver highlights. She lifted her free hand to gently grasp her husband's arm, pulling him a little closer to her. Nerves, excitement and anticipation settling over both as they waited for the train to arrive. A train that carried their most precious cargo.

"There it is!" she gasped, her beautiful Scottish lilt more pronounced than ever. Her eyes welled with emotion as the train chugged slowly into the station, a plume of smoke rising in the air.

He coughed to attempt to hide his emotion but his wife knew him too well, reassuringly squeezing his arm for support.

As passengers began to descend from the train, they scanned the platform, their eyes sparkling as they finally spotted their cherished son.

"Charlie!" she shouted, as the tall, handsome lad with blonde, striking hair spotted his parents and beamed the most glorious, dazzling smile, waving to them as he bounded down the steps of the train, all legs and arms, athletic and lean, he strode towards them with suitcase in hand.

She couldn't help it; she started to almost run towards him, her pace quickening so much as her husband lovingly let her step ahead so that she could greet their son first. The young lad let his suitcase drop to the ground as he wrapped his arms around his mother in an adoring, enormous hug.

"Ma! It's so good to see you!" he cried, their special and tender bond so clear.

"Oh, and you, Charlie love, we've missed you so much," she said, her voice breaking, as she cuddled him even more tightly. She then stepped back a little, smoothing his face with one hand as she reached up and kissed his cheek. His arms still wrapped around her. She wiped the tears from her own face, laughing lightly at herself.

"And you're as tall as ever, just like your Pa," she teased, trying to stem her tears, as her husband and Charlie both laughed.

She stepped back to allow the two to greet each other; Charlie reaching across to give his Pa a manly hug. He may have grown older but he was no less affectionate, as the two men shared a warm glance; the former Butler so proud of his son.

"Good to see you Pa," he added, as his father patted him fondly on the back and his Ma linked his arm.

The older man picked up his suitcase.

"I'll get that Pa," Charlie offered kindly.

"Get away with you, I can still manage a case," his Pa replied proudly, a quirk of a smile on his lips, as Charlie and his Ma laughed.

Charlie beamed at his parents, feeling on top of the world to be back with them. He had only been away for three months, his first term at university. Yet it had been the first time since he was four years old that he had lived apart from his Ma and Pa and a large adjustment for all of them. He telephoned his parents weekly of course, always at the same time on a Sunday when they returned from Church, and there had been regular letters and postcards telling them all about university life, his studies and the new friends he'd made; they in turn kept him up-to-date with the goings on at Downton, the lives of their friends and former colleagues and their own retired life together.

"Let's go home," Mrs Carson exclaimed, feeling utter joy at having her son on one side, still linking arms with her, and her husband on the other. She reached out and clasped her beloved husband's hand once more.

The former Heads of Staff both felt their shoulders finally relax, sharing a happy gaze with each other before looking towards their son with much gratitude. Their family was together once more.

"Home," Charlie smiled, as all three began to make their way along the platform.

######

The three sat around the table in their kitchen, just like the old days, enjoying roast beef and yorkshire puddings with a range of vegetables and lots of gravy, Charlie's favourite meal. They chatted freely, enjoying hearing even more about Charlie's first term. Charlie was studying for a Bachelor of Honours degree in History at Durham University, one of the top universities in the country, and his parents could not be prouder. Their bright son had continued to thrive throughout junior school and had moved to a high school in Ripon when he was 11 years old. Thankfully, he was able to make the journey back and forth by train to Ripon every day and so he had lived at home throughout this time, being offered the place at university in the summer.

His parents had retired from their roles as Heads of Staff when he was thirteen years old and therefore, the support and time they'd continued to give their son throughout his studies, was a major factor in his ongoing success. Charlie had gained a part-scholarship to attend his day school in Ripon and a combination of this and careful spending over many years by his parents, as well as a very generous retirement sum from the Crawley's, meant that his parents had been able to comfortably pay for his continued education. It was an incredible achievement for Charlie and his family; the world was changing fast but still very few children from working or lower middle families went to university. However, the Carson's had always been special and no-one in Downton was surprised at all to see Charlie Parks-Carson progressing so well. From the moment that the young boy had been taken into the care of Mrs Carson, then Mrs Hughes, following the death of his mother Ethel, his future success and happiness had been blessedly secured, only further enhanced when he'd gained a father too in the steadfast and loving Mr Carson.

"So, you mentioned someone called Sarah in your previous letter? A fellow student in your seminar group?" his Ma asked, trying to weave this question into the conversation subtly.

Her husband chuckled beside her, knowing that she had been desperate to ask about this Sarah, the first female name he had mentioned in his correspondence. Of course, the students at his university were largely male.

"She's just a friend Ma," he replied levelly.

His Ma smiled, biting her lip as she studied her son, trying to work out if there was anything more to this. She knew her son better than anyone and there was definitely a glint in his eye. She continued to gaze at him, a teasing smile on her lips.

"Oh alright, she is very nice, I'll admit," he offered, his cheeks blushing a little.

"I knew it. Tell us more then, sweetheart," she soothed, giving her husband a look that clearly said, I told you so.

Mr Carson shook his head cheerfully, realising that he should never doubt his wife, she was always right about these things.

"There's not much to tell. We hardly know each other really but we are in the same study group for Medieval History. She's from Manchester. She's very intelligent, quick-witted and well, she is very …" he said, stumbling a little.

"Beautiful," his Ma suggested, a beaming smile on her face.

"Yep!" Charlie quipped, now blushing furiously yet smiling brightly.

His parents were filled with joy, as they watched Charlie's happiness.

"Deadly combination son, I should know," His Pa said, motioning his head towards his wife.

Mrs Carson shook her head modestly at this comment.

"Too right Pa. Although, you got the most intelligent and beautiful of them all," Charlie replied sincerely.

"Alright, enough with your flannel, you two …" she began, her cheeks now blushing, as she stood from the table, "but by way of reward, you do get the biggest slices of apple pie you've ever seen!" she joked, as cheers erupted from her two men.

######

"And she isn't expecting me?" Charlie asked, as the three walked along the gravel path, having enjoyed a bit of a lie-in that morning. They had stayed up way past their usual bedtime the previous evening, as they caught up properly on the last three months.

"No, she's expecting you home next week, we didn't tell her you were able to start your break a little earlier. We wanted it to be a surprise," his Ma returned.

"Get yourself ready for more tears," his Pa said drolly, as his wife slapped him playfully, shaking her head at him.

Mrs Carson knocked lightly on the back door and then the couple walked through to Mrs Patmore's kitchen, wishing their friend and former Cook a 'happy birthday' as she stood to greet them. Daisy and Andy were already sitting at the kitchen table and their young son Arthur sat on a blanket on the floor playing happily with his toys. Mr and Mrs Molesley, formerly Miss Baxter, were there too. They were all enjoying cake and tea, as Mrs Carson passed her friend a beautifully wrapped gift.

"You can open that gift later Beryl, as we have another gift for you first," Mrs Carson explained, an excited expression on her face.

"Another gift?" Mrs Patmore asked.

Mr Carson nodded knowingly, opening the back door again.

"Happy Birthday Aunt Beryl!" Charlie hailed, as his Aunt shrieked in surprise and the others around the kitchen table cheered.

"Oh treacle, you've made my day!" she cried, wrapping her arms around Charlie's waist in a big hug, as he towered over her, a foot taller than her now. He chuckled at the use of her pet name for him, as he hugged his Aunt.

"I thought I was treacle?" Arthur asked from the floor, genuinely confused.

"You both are," Mrs Patmore said, as she reached to squeeze Charlie's hand, thinking that it felt like only yesterday when this lofty eighteen-year-old was Arthur's age.

######

"Do you think he's serious about this Sarah, Charles?" she asked, placing her book on her bedside table as she turned to face her husband.

"Elsie, he's only eighteen. He needs to focus on his studies, he's far too young to settle down," her husband grumbled, removing his glasses from the tip of his nose, he couldn't read a thing without them now, and resting his book on his lap.

"I know he is, I didn't mention anything about settling down, but you saw that look as much as I did, he's smitten," she said knowingly.

"He's a young man and he's noticed a pretty girl, it doesn't mean he is smitten," he said, lowering his head to place a quick kiss to his wife's temple. He placed his book and glasses on his bedside table, shuffling down under the covers and reaching to switch off his bedside lamp.

The room fell into darkness.

Elsie rested her arm across his chest but she was still partly sitting up, not ready to nestle down for the night just yet, she had too many thoughts flitting through her mind. Her husband drew her in closer, trying to get her to relax, although he knew she wouldn't settle until they had chatted about this.

"Not everyone waits as long as you did to declare their feelings to a girl, you know," she teased, chuckling to herself as even in the darkness she sensed his eyebrows raising skywards.

"I'll have you know that some things are worth the wait young lady," he joked, as Elsie laughed loudly now, finally snuggling into her husband, as his strong arms wrapped around her.

"They are indeed Charles," she breathed, stroking his chest tenderly. He kissed her lemon-scented hair and moved one hand to smooth over his wife's bottom.

She smiled against the soft fabric of his pyjama top.

He was about to be lulled into sleep when he felt his wife's body slightly tense again. He grinned sleepily in the darkness, knowing that some other thought was about to be shared.

"Out with it Elsie love," he murmured, kissing her hair once more.

"No, it's nothing Charles, nothing at all, let's get to sleep," she tried, although she was secretly smiling again.

"Tell me!" he returned, tickling her sides.

She shrieked loudly and then slapped him playfully.

"Charles! We'll wake Charlie … and anyway you'll think me quite mad," she whispered.

"Well, now I have to know," he said, dead-pan.

A few more seconds of silence passed before she spoke again.

"I always thought, well, not for a good few years of course but I always thought eventually …" she stalled.

"Yes?" her husband said, impatient to hear this thought without further delay, as he held his wife closely and gazed down at her.

Their eyes had now adjusted to the darkness in their bedroom and the flecks of moonlight coming through the curtains meant that he could see his wife's beautiful eyes sparkling, even in the shadows. She reached upwards and gave him a heartfelt kiss, knowing that he would find her suggestion preposterous.

"Charlie and Miss Sybbie," she finally answered.

"What? No Elsie!" he bellowed in shock, as she laughed gloriously at his stunned expression.

Her son and his childhood friend were still firm pals and had continued to enjoy each other's company, sharing the same sense of humour and many of the same interests. The former Housekeeper knew that they regularly still wrote to one another and Sybbie had even visited Charlie in Durham a couple of months ago. In one sense, they were obviously from completely different worlds but she felt that they were very well-matched in terms of the things that really mattered, such as their love for their families and their strong moral compass. There hadn't even been a hint of romance between them thus far but then Mrs Carson knew only too well that sometimes, fond friendship could turn into the most wonderful, deep love. She smiled as she had this thought, as she looked into the eyes of her one true love.

"Elsie, you can't be serious?" he gasped, as she wound her arms around his neck, still giggling at the reaction of her daft but lovely husband.

The world might be changing, somewhat faster than the former Butler would like at times, but he had never even considered the Earl's granddaughter and his son in terms of a potential romance.

"We shall see Charles, we shall see," she smiled knowingly.

He shook his head with a soppy grin as he looked down at his wife, wondering if she would eventually be proved right about this as well.

"I love you Elsie Carson," he declared, kissing her tenderly on the lips.

"I love you, Charles Carson, and I always will."

The End.