Why haven't I read this earlier?! It's beautiful and I just can picture them in a scene like this. Glad you decided to write!

I just reread this for the umpteenth time, and find that I've not left you a review. How shocking.

I love this so much. I love the way she misunderstands him, how she cries, how he makes it better, that he saves his desire for another time. The way you use words from the series in such a way that shows how far they've come. It's just wonderful.

This little gem escaped me. Mrs. Patmore "unleashed." I feel sorry for Mr. Carson, in so many ways here. This is a nice elaboration of their ongoing dance of intimacy without the words or the actions to fit it. They both think their proposal behaviour ought to have convinced the other and yet they both doubt the evidence of their own eyes. Yes, vagueness is perfect here - both for them and for us. They move towards intimacy, as Jim Carter has said, at a glacial pace, but clearly they want to get there. I enjoyed this a lot!

Rusty? Goodness...this was wonderful! I can imagine that this will be exactly how it might play out in S6. Thank you for this.

Great job!

Welcome back :)
Such a heartwarming story. I feel all warm and tingly and happy and smiley

Lol! So true. Can't wait to see this unfold. Nice work.

This is absolutely gorgeous. I love that he goes to her and there's the slight misunderstanding between them before all the pieces come together. Their confessions of love were so very much in character. I can easily see it happening like this in series 6!

So this is you being rusty. Well. I dunno lady, but this pretty frikking ace. Like. SO GOOD. So in character and the way the whole one shot just flows beautifully and it reads so easily and comfortably. I love it. I love the theme, and the way you've played it out. I love how you've made Mrs Patmore a presence without her actually being there (and I love that you've made her so creative in her insults) - the emotions that run so deep with both Mrs Hughes and Mr Carson and the way you have mapped a future for them. A real married couple - not just married companions and I am squeeing so hard because this is actually how it might happen! SOMEBODY HOLD ME!

Please continue! :)

Very real. Goood writing! Liked the misunderstandings. Especially liked Mrs Patmore's words. Ha! Please DO continue, so we can learn about these things she does to him. Mmm hmmm

Feels! Feels everywhere! I can't even can, but I'll try! Elsie, so worried over Charles' reaction to Beryl's well-meant meddling and so resigned when he tells her that the house on Brounker Road isn't such a good idea anymore, convinced that things are ending. And her relieved sobs when she realises they aren't, when she knows for sure that he loves her completely and wants to spend their future together in a cozy cottage of their own, that Beryl's words gave him the assurance he needed! His admission that it was always his hope to spend his future with her, that his business venture was a way of testing the waters, that he abandoned that plan when he learned of her circumstances and offered her the proposal he'd always intended to. And that lovely ode to canon lines, "Because one thing I do know is that the woman I love loves me" and her confirmation that she does, very much ... lovely feels!

And I'm flailing again! Thank you for this beautiful, feels-filled thing!

Oh my gosh. Wow. *Flails*. This is GREAT! He's calm, she gets upset, he's confused, she clarifies, he understands. Mrs. Patmore and the bumbling berk! Egad. If JF gets it anywhere near this, I will be doing a happy dance. Well done, bravo!

Poor Charles, Elsie didn't believe he really was in love awww. I like how he gently teases her about it, after they clear things out. It was so cute.

I really enjoyed your theme here with the vagueness. It was really interesting. And I love how Charles is so vague when speaking and yet it's so clear to us what he is saying. His sentiments are made quite clear. Their conversation was great. I just loved how Charles explained his whole plan of action as to how he would test the waters first with the business deal and then ultimately propose. I love how he planned to woo her during renovations! How adorable! It's a shame we didn't get to see that, but we got a proposal, so I guess we can't complain. ;)

Charles must have suffered in the hands of Beryl, from the looks of it, poor man. But I am glad that Charles and Elsie got the chance to finally discuss this matter and openly admit their feelings for each other. This was so sweet! Welcome back.

Excellent. Now back to writing full length features.