A/N Thank you so much for your wonderful reaction to "The House on Brouncker Road." After the loveliness of the CS, I wondered if I ever would write again. (Don't mess with the perfection of THE SCENE, right?) But I did, and your support led me to try again. Thank you.

Some of you said that "The House on Brouncker Road" made you sad. It's my hope that this pure, unadulterated fluff will restore your spirits. This story is in answer to a tumblr prompt from otpdisaster. I initially wrote a brief response in a tumblr post, and thanks to encouragement from brenna-louise, putmeinyourpocketmike (libbybell), and onesimus42, I expanded it a bit. The prompt is this: "Person B of your OTP not letting Person A get out of bed by aggressively cuddling them." I was just tickled at the notion of aggressive cuddling, because aggression and cuddling seem pretty incongruous to me. Here's my take on it.

Early morning in the Carsons' cottage…

Mrs. Carson sighed and started to roll away from her husband. "I suppose I'd better get up and get started."

Mr. Carson opened one eye, wrapped his arm firmly around his wife's waist, pulled her back to his chest, and spooned her tightly. "Five more minutes, love," he rumbled sleepily.

"You do remember that Beryl and Bill are coming for tea?" she reminded him.

He softly caressed her stomach and draped one of his legs over hers, restraining her more securely. "But that's hours away. We can have a bit of a lie-in. Give me four more minutes. Please?"

"But I've got so much to do!" she countered. "Cooking and tidying … They're our very first visitors, and I want everything to be perfect."

"And everything will be perfect," he assured her as he kissed her shoulder. "I'll help. We'll be done and ready in no time. Please, love? Just three more minutes?"

"But I am to bake biscuits – that will be eaten by Beryl Pat- I mean Mason! I don't mind telling you I'm a bit worried they won't be up to her standards." She half-heartedly tried to wriggle out of his insistent embrace.

"You are a wonderful cook, my dear. I've certainly become a bit thicker about the middle since you've been feeding me. Your biscuits will be delicious. You're delicious," he whispered seductively as his kisses moved to her neck and his hand rose to her bosom. "Now, just lie here with me for two more minutes, and then we'll get to the biscuits and all the rest."

"Charles Carson! Are you trying to ply me with sweet words and tender caresses?" she accused, feigning disapproval.

"That is precisely my intention, Elsie Carson!" he admitted as he stroked her bottom and nibbled her ear. "I'll settle for one more minute."

"I'd love to, dear, but – " she began.

He turned her over, rolled himself on top of her, and trapped her playfully underneath him as he pressed her down gently into the mattress. "Very well. You win. We'll get up. But I'm not going anywhere – and neither are you – until I get a proper good morning kiss."

"I think I can agree to that," she conceded.

Five minutes and many kisses later, he reluctantly disentangled himself from her and started to rise, sighing. "All right, then. Let's get moving."

She pulled him back down, pushed him against the pillows, climbed on top of him, and kissed him thoroughly. "Just five more minutes, darling. Please?" she purred sweetly.

An hour later, they finally rose.

That afternoon, when Mr. and Mrs. Mason arrived, everything was in order. The cottage was tidy, the biscuits were hot out of the oven, and the water for tea was set to boil. However, it was fortunate that the Masons arrived late; for if they had arrived on time, they surely would have caught the Carsons in a rather compromising situation.

After exchanging pleasantries, the men chatted amiably in the parlor, and the women went to attend to things in the kitchen.

"Elsie, I've something to tell you," began Mrs. Mason as she placed some biscuits on a plate.

"Yes, Beryl? What is it?" asked Mrs. Carson while she wet the tea.

"Well, you've a floury handprint on your backside." The newly-retired cook had to fight back a grin.

"Have I? Oh, well, I must have wiped my hand there earlier." The former housekeeper colored a charming shade of pink while trying to brush the flour from her skirt.

"If that were the case, love, your thumb would have been facing down. And besides that … I don't think your hand is quite that large. By any chance, did Charles help with the biscuits?"

"That's a lovely new blouse, Beryl."

"Thank you, but don't change the subject."

"Only, you've a button undone, here at the back of your neck. Did you perhaps dress in a hurry? Is that why you were late? Next time, you should ask Bill to make sure you're done up properly."

Mrs. Mason covered her face and burst into a fit of giggles, and Mrs. Carson couldn't help but join her friend's laughter.

"What a sight we are!" cried Mrs. Mason. "At least married life agrees with us."

"That it does, dear. That it does," agreed Mrs. Carson.

The men in the parlor were completely unaware of the reason for the merriment coming from the kitchen, but both smiled fondly at hearing their wives so happy.

"I daresay marriage suits them both," suggested Mr. Carson rather proudly.

"Yes, I think it does," Mr. Mason concurred. "And us, too, I think."

"I certainly have no complaints. We're two very fortunate men, Mr. Mason."

"That we are, Mr. Carson. That we are."

Please drop a review to let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!