A/N So today was the first day of spring and I was riding my bike for the first time in four months. The air smelled so wonderful and the birds were singing. And then the plot bunny went crazy in my mind and I came up with this first chapter of a NON-Angst Story! YAY!

the characters aren't mine. They are a creation of Mr. Fellowes, and are brought to you by ITV and Carnival. But the story you're reading is mine... :)

Spring came early this year. The first fresh green leaves sprouted all around the trees, daffodils, spring snowflakes and crocuses dotted the lush green grass that surrounded the main house and the smell of all these heralds of spring was intoxicating. Elsie took one last deep breath before she closed the backdoor again to return to her work in her rather dark sitting room, replacing the fresh air with the smell of a freshly cooked lamb stew and all the other odours the house poured out. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and quickly shut the door to her little sanctuary to keep the smells out as good as possible. It was too bad that, whoever installed the small window that let a bit of the sunlight into her room, had forgotten to include a hinge and a window catch. She could not open it at all. Sighing she sat down at her desk and took up her pen to finish the rota for next week.

After half an hour her head started to throb again. Short, painful twinges forced her to close her eyes and press her hands to her temples where the pain was the worst. This would not do! She could not stay inside any longer today. Some fresh air and the already warm spring sun would sure help her recover. Elsie took her green hat from the shelf next to the door and was about to put it on when she had a closer look at the face that looked back at her through the mirror.

The last three months had been rather stressful. Bates' trial, his acquittal, the preparation of the cottage for the young couple, Anna leaving the main house to live with her husband, Matthew Crawley's proposal to Lady Mary and Lady Sybil's visit from Dublin. She could not deny that there were new lines upon her face, around her mouth and eyes. Some caused by all the sorrow she had suffered from during the weeks where they did not know whether Mr. Bates would live or die, others caused by the joy and laughter she had shared with the people that were so dear to her and had helped her to give her life new value. She tucked one loose strand of hair back into place and noticed with a frown that there were too many grey hairs now to ignore them any longer. Whatever she tried, she could not hide them anymore. He had told her it did not matter at all, that she was still very beautiful and desirable. Still, grey hair made her feel old.

Maybe the hat would help. She arranged it, pinned it to the chignon her hair was always done up to and then took the matching coat from its hook. There was no time to fuss over her appearance now because the pain behind her left temple was still there and constantly getting worse.

ooooo

It was such a relief to be outside again, walking the grounds, enjoying the sun and the fresh air. This time she would only return to the house when her headache was completely gone. She knew she took a liberty here, leaving Downton Abbey without notice during the day, but the family was away for the next three days and she had delegated all the important chores. Anna would take care of the other housemaids while she was away, besides she would not be outside for a long time. Her sense of duty would not allow it.

She walked past the stables towards the lake. A walk she always enjoyed since her first days at Downton Abbey. The lake brought back so many memories that she was unable to suppress a smile and even more so unable to stop smiling at all on her way back. They exchanged their first kiss here although it took almost twenty years until she received a second kiss and a third. And now she had lost count anyway. Remembering all those moments was a better cure for her headache than any aspirin or fresh air could ever provide.

ooooo

"Ethel have you seen Mrs. Hughes?" Charles had knocked at the closed door of her sitting room a minute earlier, opened it when he did not receive an answer and found her room deserted.

"No Mr. Carson. I haven't seen her since luncheon." The housemaid shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe she went for a walk?"

That was rather unlike Elsie, he thought, going for a walk during the day without telling anyone. It did not matter that the family was not present for the next few days and that her workload was not as pressing at is usually was, Elsie Hughes did not simply take half an hour off. He probably would not even have noticed that she was gone, as sad as it was to acknowledge this, because he had two new footmen to train while Lord and Lady Grantham were away and had been immensely busy today. He had even left his luncheon untouched in order to get all the work done so that he could have a few hours off in the evening. Hours he wanted to spend with her, in private.

The fair was in the village again and he had not been to such an event for too many years. She had sometimes joined the housemaids and footmen on their evenings at the fairground but more often she had stayed at the house together with him until every one of them returned late at night. Tonight he wanted to change this routine once and invite her to the fair whereas all the other staff members would stay at Downton Abbey and have their night off tomorrow. His plan had so far worked out perfectly until he had found her sitting room empty.

"If she did so she would have told someone, Ethel." He grumbled. The only answer he received from the redhead was another shrugging of her shoulders before she turned around to take up her work again.

"Are you looking for something Mr. Carson?" Anna was suddenly standing next to him. He must have been lost in thought for a while because he had not seen her approach nor heard her. Though chances were that Anna might know where Elsie was at the moment.

"In fact I was wondering where Mrs. Hughes is. Have you seen her or has she told you where she has gone?" The moment Anna started to shake her head and then opened her mouth ready to answer him caused him to heave a sigh and turn around ready to go upstairs again to supervise the two new footmen again instead of further pursuing his plan.

"Wait." He had not expected her to say that and now followed her gaze that was fixed on the backdoor. "I believe this will solve your problem Mr. Carson?" she curtseyed and went into the linen cabinet wearing a grin on her face.

TBC

Reviews are always welcome! They help me a lot and may also change the story ;)

A/N I could not resist and made a reference to "Moments" :)