Chelsie, Modern AU. Their paths crossed once in a hot August, forty years ago. He made a promise, and did not keep it. She has a secret, and has kept it. When their paths cross again, will they be able to get past the years separating them, or is it too much to overcome?

There were always things that could not be said, must not ever be said.

A moment between husband and wife in the kitchen downstairs, and speculation about what happens after. He wonders if she is upset with him, but her response, a kiss, and an endearing nickname reassure him otherwise. UPDATE: Originally a one-shot, now an intermittent continuing story.

A modern Chelsie AU. Charles runs a high-class domestic service company; he is smart, successful and single. He reluctantly attends his friend Robert's New Year's Eve party, but things look up when he bumps into property developer Elsie Hughes on the doorstep...

"Laughing with your pretty mouth, laughing with your broken eyes, laughing with your lover's tongue in a lullaby"

Carson never considered Mrs. Hughes a woman with no standards…

Chelsie fanfiction. After they marry, but before they've consummated it. Lots of smut but lovingly so.

Modern AU Chelsie Christmas song fic ... Need I say more? Well, let's try this: swear words, Christmas, alcohol and a tale of a couple finding back together decades after splitting up [also a LOT of Banna and Cobert] Not our usual Christmas fluff / T *for now*

"Grow old along with me, whatever fate decrees. We will see it through for our love is true ..." Glimpses into various days and scenes from the Carsons' marriage, from the most basic to the complex. Mostly fluff; canon setting.

A single shot tale about the retired life of Charles and Elsie. About how they get into disagreements and of course get back in agreement as always. And of course the famous Scottish temper!

Follow-up to Downton Academy. Modern AU. Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes are the newly engaged headmaster and headmistress of Downton Academy, a private school founded and owned by Robert Crawley. Now that our favorite characters have finally gotten together, what's in store? Engagement, wedding, honeymoon, and beyond!

Elsie Hughes Carson has made an important decision, but how will it impact everyone around her? Written in response to the Tumblr Challenge for "Downton Abbey Series 9."

Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes meet in a most unusual and terrifying way, but is Charles ready to take on all that is Elsie Hughes? Will her past and his future drive them apart? Will their newly forged relationship survive what is to come or will it all come crashing down around them like an avalanche?

Secrets are Mrs Carson's specialty and the one Mrs Patmore has brought to her attention requires a fair amount of her skill

Modern AU: EM Hughes is a novelist who writes historical fiction and Charles Carson is a retired cricketer who is now a sports presenter, a color commentary man (whose on air partner is one Charlie Grigg). You will see the familiar characters albeit in different roles. This is the story of how they met and the long road that is their relationship.

MODERN AU The death of his soon-to-be ex-wife brings Charles Carson and his daughter, Daisy, to coastal Maine. Elsie Hughes, nurse at Daisy's new school, is soon placed deep into the Carsons' lives. But can Charles, Elsie, and Daisy - and the small town of Misty Cove where they live - survive the aftermath of what's to come? New role for T. Barrow; stars almost entire DA cast.

The course of great love never did run smooth... [Carson/Hughes primarily, AU, rated M for shenanigans]

Chelsie songfic that brings Carson and Hughes together during the Great War. Definitely AU with canon strewn throughout. Rated M for eventual scenes of violence, war, and … well. Let's just see what happens, shall we? Stars most downstairs crew at some point as well as some of the upstairs folks.

Sometimes, fate deals an unfortunate hand, and all seems lost. But even the darkest cloud has a silver lining.

This is an AU Chelsie piece set in Reformation-era England at Downton Abbey, a literal Abbey. Carson is a priest and Elsie Hughes is a nun in the era of the English Reformation. They are in love, but can they do anything about it? Will they do anything about it? Rating may increase.

Where Mr and Mrs Carson are just wed.

She'd been going it alone so long that she didn't know love until it bit her on the backside. (Modern AU)

Elsie is the head of marketing at Crawley Enterprises, Inc. Traveling often for work and after an extremely busy day, she finds herself at the hotel bar. Uninterested in a relationship at this point in her life, she plans on a glass of wine only, but a handsome stranger grabs her attention. Will this moment be a one time meeting, or will their paths cross again?

A collection of stories based on prompts from the Chelsie Prompts blog on Tumblr. Ratings may change per chapter and prompt. All of the stories will be Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes. Other characters may appear from time to time.

Isobel's thoughts following the events of One More Morning, Chapter 9. Yet another piece of the modern Richobel retirement AU puzzle; this is "The One Where Matthew Doesn't Die." ***Strong M***

When Jim Carter shaved his head IRL, November 2017, Tumblr was all abuzz (pardon the pun) with the news and @stokersisters even suggested a prompt to help explain why. This is my one-shot explanation. Set after Season 6. Pure Chelsie with a little Banna, baby Bates and other characters tossed in.

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes have something to get used to.

My long delayed Chelsie Honeymoon fic. Not sure exactly where this is going but hopefully some of you will join me for the ride. Enjoy!

When Mrs. Hughes loses her eyesight, her life as the housekeeper of Downton Abbey is over. Perhaps with Mr. Carson she will be able to realize a new life just beginning. Carson/Hughes.

A place for Chelsie prompt challenges that I've compiled through the years. All are Carson and Hughes focused with the appearance of other characters as necessary. Canon as well as AU.

The first summer after Charles & Elsie wed and Carson heads to London with the family. They exchange letters during their time apart.

A follow up to Uncovering Love, we rejoin the Carson family and friends in Halifax, autumn 1953. Their home is lively and happy, but Elsie is suffering from a longing only one thing will sate. Beryl and Bill, Isobel and Richard, Andy and Daisy, and the Crawley family will prominently appear as the little family continues to deal with ghosts from the past and new challenges.

"I love thee to the level of every day's/Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light." - Elizabeth Barrett Browning. They somehow found each other in America. But a war will separate them from the life they have built together. Chelsie AU. Historical. I will try to update this on a weekly basis.

Modern AU. Elsie Hughes is exec producer for "The Granthams," a docudrama being filmed by Crawley Film Productions. Enter one old flame, Charles Carson, plus someone hell-bent on ruining the project ... what could possibly go wrong? Set in the glitz of Hollywood with some filming in Toronto and London. Rated T but a couple M chapters along the way. Chelsie fic w/many DA faves.

Present day AU. Charles and Elsie, newly married and newly retired have set up house in York. Health and intimacy issues pose new challenges for the (mostly) happy couple. Fair amount of Richobel in this one, as well.

Years after running off to become Cheerful Charlie, Mr. Carson and his family return to his boyhood home.

A bit of love for our darling Elsie following her husband's retirement from Downton Abbey. Written to fulfull the #unofficialdaS7 challenge by the lovely chelsie fan. Updates every Sunday for nine weeks, and a finale Christmas chapter on Christmas Day 2016.

A series of Chelsie Christmas prompts inspired by Chelsie Fan and Chelsie-Prompts. Carson and Hughes with other characters making appearances.

Period/Canon Chelsie. What if the Chelsie romance really DID start mid Season 3? Shows the behind-the-scenes realization and development of a love that was rarely shown on our screens, but that was slowly burning behind them all along. **Honeymoon has two M chapters.** Soundtrack for all songs is Ch 37.

The Housekeeper has always helped others stitch up their wounds, now she needs help stitching up her deepest one. Fits somewhere between 6x01 and 6x02.

Mrs. Hughes finds herself a bit flustered around a certain butler. Takes place the morning after the final scene in 6x01. Pure fluff.

A continuation of the Downton Abbey series as it might have gone, had the makers decided to give us another series - ensemble piece

When growing insecurities threaten the engagement of Elsie Hughes to Charles Carson, what waste land awaits them? Canon-divergent AU beginning with S6ep1. Whether the story returns to canon, you'll have to keep reading to find out!

A continuation of Series 6, following the finale episode. How will Mr and Mrs Carson cope with the their new and 'different life? A happy, hopefully in character, fic focusing on our beloved Charlie and Elsie as they look to the future, as well as some background stories on other characters. Spoilers from Series 6 throughout. Hope you enjoy x

Modern AU: When Professor Hughes decides she's had enough of being alone and waiting hopelessly for her dear friend to fall in love with her, she sets into motion a chain of events Professor Carson might not be ready for. With Elsie embracing a new 'live a little' attitude, the Downton University faculty will never be the same again but could Charles really lose the woman he loves?

Due to his palsy, Charlie starts to have trouble with some of his everyday routines, meaning Elsie will need to assist. Written for tumblr's chelsie-prompt of 'whiskers'.

A look at the married lives of the Carsons, told through the wedding anniversaries they share together. Various cameos from Anna, Daisy, Beryl, Tom and Isobel, amongst others, helping to show that the life they lived was filled with the friends and family their life in service had given them.

Set in 1901, an AU where Elsie walks in Ethel Parks' shoes.

In 4x2, Mr. Grigg asks Mr. Carson "why did you never ask about Alice when we last met, before the War?" What might have happened if Mr. Carson HAD asked Charles Grigg about Alice the first time Grigg came to Downton? This story answers that question. AU Chelsie.

A/U Charles ensures that Mrs Hughes always gets the very best customer service available.

My first stab at a modern Chelsie AU. Charles Carson meets his neighbor, Elsie Hughes, under less than optimal circumstances. Why put your best foot forward when you can plant it firmly in your mouth? Enjoy!

A honeymoon fic, in which Elsie and Charles realize what it means to finally come HOME. "They slipped briskly into an intimacy from which they never recovered." -F. Scott Fitzgerald

That first night together is met with no small amount of trepidation

Modern AU. Christmas theme. Robert Crawley is the founder of Downton Academy, an exclusive, traditional, British-style boarding and day school in Chicago. Charles Carson is headmaster for boys, and Elsie Hughes is headmistress for girls.

Spoilers for S6E1: They've not had a proper chance to talk about the wonderful things he said about her to Mrs Patmore, cannot even find a way to begin, but when Charles reveals a hidden talent and sketches his beloved, the drawing allows the love to flow.

Aspiring writer Charles Carson is still healing in the aftermath of WWII. As he begins to construct a book based on a collection of journals left by a distant relative, he uncovers the tale of a secret love just as he meets a woman who has the potential to either fill or break his heart. AU that will incorporate Downton characters. Not my characters, but I love them deeply.

What happened between the Carsons' wedding reception at the schoolhouse and their arrival back from honeymoon? This is what I imagined.

Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes met at university. They fell in love, married, got good jobs and had a family. The perfect life. But sometimes things don't quite turn out the way people plan them... Modern Chelsie AU - a joint venture between theoofoof and RhondaStar47

A collection of stand alone missing moments/post-eps for series 6. How do the episodes continue for our beloved Chelsie? Christmas Special chapter added.

Charles Carson lives two very different lives and dwells too much on the one he can't have. Set 11 years before Series One.

A series of drabbles pertaining to the upcoming wedding/wedding night of Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes. A vain attempt to retrieve some small portion of my life back. M rating for...who am I kidding?

Sometimes, the deepest and silliest conversations take place at night. Between lovers, it's called pillow talk. A series of drabbles featuring Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes Carson.

Heigh ho the derry-oh! The Carsons are on their honeymoon. NSFW, I repeat NSFW

Sparked from an old OTP prompt and a conversation with YellowBrickRoad! Starts angsty and introspective before progressing into friendship, hope, and love, answering the question of what truly makes us FAMILY. Starts after S4 ending, goes AU. Most major cast members make an appearance at some point.

The Carsons on their honymoon

Modern AU: Bookshop owner Charles and teacher Elsie are finally dating, sharing their first holiday together in Dubai after months building a relationship. Can they navigate their way through the demons of their past to find a way to stay together for the long haul?

Sequel to my earlier story, "Breakdown." This story chronicles the evolution of Red and Healy's lives and relationship after Red is released from Litchfield. They formed a strong bond behind prison walls, but will it all fall apart now that Red is free?

Gentle Chelsie tale of parallels: Charles and Elsie in their early days at Downton and Charles and Elsie in their retirement years (following on from Stuck with you) x

Where Carson and Mrs. Hughes are now husband and wife.

Faced with his very last day at Downton, Charles wonders if he's completely ready for his new life. In my mind, the perfect final Carson/Hughes scene. 'Co-written' by Bugs, enabler of the staircase kiss.

After rejecting Healy, Red makes an impulsive decision that permanently changes their relationship. Not a songfic, but it was inspired by "Breakdown" by Tom Petty, hence the title. Set during the last few minutes of the Season 3 finale and beyond. Possible Season 3 spoilers.

This is a series of vignettes based on how Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes observe the other's voice the first time they have the occasion to hear the other express anger, guilt, fear, passion, consternation, silence, etc. The rating begins as a K but will change to a M as the story progresses. The chapters will form a complete story as we move along.

Mrs. Hughes uses some of the cuts in staffing the family has made to her advantage. I don't own any of the characters. Trust me if I did there would be a lot more Chelsie and a lot less of any of the upstairs characters (except the Dowager Countess because she priceless).

When the past catches up with the present, it isn't always easy to deal with its consequences. Alternate Universe fic, almost spoiler free, includes a very proper Butler and a very different role for the person we normally know as Housekeeper Elsie Hughes. Will often not be safe for work.

Charles and Elsie try to adapt to retirement and marriage

My first Chelsie ficlet, which seems to have grown into a multi chapter fic. Roped into something by Lady Mary, our intrepid butler is worried about repercussions.

I got bored with trying to figure out ways to get them together and decided instead just to have some fun! So here they are, married, and skipping right to the good stuff... A sweetly romantic take on their first few days as husband and wife.

Pretty self explanatory title. I really hate writing summaries for Fics. Like come on, we hardcore shippers are gonna read it no matter what this part says. Am I right? ;) xo

This story has Season 5 spoilers. It covers a snippet of Mrs. Hughes backstory relating to her sister who resides in Lytham St. Anne's. She and Mr. Carson are traveling for a visit.

Season 5, Servants Ball.

Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes are respected colleagues and friends. Could one special night change everything for the Butler and Housekeeper? Set during Series 5 and therefore will contain some spoilers x

Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes invest in a cottage and in their relationship. Mild Series 5 spoilers.

Post S4, mild S5 speculation. Beginning with a garden party, Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes reflect on life and a job well done with the promise of more on the horizon. Together and apart, they learn how to navigate their feelings and places in the world as Downton ushers in a new era. This is the author's first Downton fic.

"I thought I would die here and haunt it ever after." In a way, he did.

In the middle of the night, Charles Carson allows himself to feel his fear, which leads to skills of yesteryear being retrieved and the comforting of someone he treasures more than anyone

Mrs Hughes is bored during the Season, but gets a call from Mr Carson to urgently join him. She doesn't need to be told twice, but what she finds at Grantham House is not all pleasant.

The yearly cricket match is being played on a beautiful English summer's day and the status quo is suddenly completely overthrown. Rating subject to change.

Series of drabbles, having one thing in common: a measure of time. All drabbles stand alone (if not, it will be in the author's note). Angst, romance, fluff. Ratings K thru M. Chapter 15 picks up with a Choose Your Own Adventure style of ficcing. Don't hesitate to vote!

This is mainly a Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes story set during Series 5. However, Richard Clarkson will appear, as will Isobel Crawley to a lesser extent. As a ghost from Charles's past re-emerges, will he choose his past over his present? Does the Butler appreciate what he has here and now?

Mrs. Hughes receives unwelcome news.

Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Carson, and two burlap sacks.

A response to the latest chelsie-anon prompt. Mrs. Hughes wishes to get an overworked Charles Carson out of the great house for a couple hours of solitude. What adventure does she have planned?

The staff has been decimated, standards are dropping and Charles Carson is getting close to celebrating his thirtieth year in service of the Granthams. When a person from his past pops up uninvited at his party, Elsie Hughes investigates and finds out more about Charles Carson's past. Together Charles and Elsie walk into an unimagined future. AU. Includes OC.

As Sarah O'Brien departs Downton Abbey and her replacement arrives, Charles and Elsie are forced to adapt to the changes that she brings.

Charles and Elsie discover something they both enjoy more than a good book.

When the end is finally in sight Mrs.Hughes makes a list of all the things she wishes to do before she dies, much to her surprise Mr. Carson decides to help.

SPOILERS FOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! What would the house do without them? It would fall apart, most definitely. Charles Carson and Elsie Hughes are more than just a housekeeper and a butler. They are like parents to the staff and to some other people that live at Downton Abbey (although they both won't admit it...)

Snapshots from random moments in the lives of Charles and Elsie Carson. What does life have in store for them?

Elsie admiring Charles. Total M-ness.

My take on Carson/Hughes relationship. Winner of a Highclere Award.