Edith cursed under her breath as cold water sprayed her in the face. Hunched under the sink as she was, a wrench in her hand as if holding it would help her better use it, the leaking sink was no longer dripping but bursting at the seams. One week alone in Auntie Ros' and Edith was about to flood the place. Brilliant.

Edith refused to call her parents. Not only could they do nothing from their home an hour away, she had no desire to appear any more incompetent than they already considered her. Tom and Matthew both refused to answer their mobiles. So much for her heroic brothers-in-law. And she knew no other men, of course.

Just as she was pulling out her mobile to call an emergency plumber, Edith remembered her aunt mentioning the couple next door. Perhaps a bit of neighborly assistance could solve the problem before she had to rack up a bill.

It was a short jaunt from Aunt Rosamund's stoop to the neighbors', whose house was identical except for their navy door versus Auntie's red one. Edith rapped quickly before she had a chance to retreat from shyness.

It took a while for someone to come, and when he did he seemed completely nonplussed. "I, hello, yes?" he greeted, frowning gently. Edith found herself at a momentary loss, staring up at the tall man and his crystalline eyes.

"Hello," she said, blushing when she realized she was soaked through, barefoot, and still holding the wrench.

"You look like you're in a bit of a pickle," he observed, a smile playing on his lips.

"Do you know how to use one of these?" she asked, waving the tool before him.

"In theory," he hedged, stepping through the front door. "Lead the way and I'll see what I can do."

The bathroom was on the second floor, and Edith led him there in a hurry. "I, well I dropped a ring down the drain, and I thought I'd catch it in the pipe, but I seem to have caused more of a problem."

The man chuckled as he knelt down before the open cabinet, wrench in hand, to take a look. "Would you like me to get the pipe off, or tighten it back up?"

"At the risk of sounding terribly greedy, could you do both? I'd hate to lose my ring."

As her neighbor fussed with the sink, head buried in the cabinet, Edith observed his faded navy sweater and well-worn corduroys. He looked dapper, even in older clothes, and he was absurdly long. The bathroom was more than adequate but with the two of them sharing space it felt quite crowded.

"Bugger," she heard the poor man gasp as water sprayed at him. Edith was torn between giggling and apologizing emphatically. But as soon as it had started the water had been sealed off again, and the man was kneeling up, holding out a thin gold ring to Edith.

"My hero," she teased, taking the ring. She slipped it on her right hand with a relieved sigh and closed her eyes for a moment.

"It must be quite important," he suggested.

"My sister gave it to me for being a bridesmaid in her wedding," Edith explained. Then without thinking she said, "She passed away last summer." She opened her eyes, knowing she had made things awkward. The poor man was still on his knees, shoulders, chest and hair wet from his endeavor. "I'm so, so sorry," she said suddenly. "You've been a huge help. Oh, and you're utterly drenched. I'm really am terribly sorry."

The man stood up, bracing himself on the sink. "I'm glad I could help. No need to be sorry." Edith smiled at him as they moved back downstairs.

"Can I make you some lunch for your efforts?" she offered, trying to ease the awkwardness of passing through her bedroom to reach the hall. In her haste to stop the leak she hadn't thought about having a strange man in her room.

"No, no thank you. I'm quite alright," he dismissed. Edith led him to the door instead. "Are you related to Mrs. Painswick? You look very much like her."

"She's my Aunt. I've started work here in London and needed a place to stay."

"I guess that makes us neighbors," he mumbled as he pulled his soaked sweater over his head. Edith felt a bit intrusive, as if watching him undress—ridiculous considering he was still wearing a button-down underneath. She rolled her eyes when she noticed the glint of his wedding band.

"Guess so," she shrugged. They stood at the open door for a moment, both too socially awkward to know how to end the conversation. "I really do owe you something," Edith said. "You saved me today. Auntie Ros is in Cambria for another couple of weeks and she's convinced she'll come home to a pile of rubble and ash as if I'm twelve years old."

"Well perhaps I'll just call in a favor next time I try to set my kitchen on fire with biscuits or some such thing, alright? Until then don't let it worry you. I'm always glad to help."

Edith smiled. "Not much of a cook?"

"Deplorable. Ghastly," he replied, running a hand through his blonde hair.

"Your wife must make up for that, no?"

"Uh, yes she does." He smiled and huffed a little laugh before trotting back down the steps to the sidewalk.

"Wait!" Edith nearly shouted, blushing at sounding so unintentionally frantic. He stopped and turned, grinning politely in anticipation. "I don't know your name."

"I'm Anthony," he said, and he looked a little sad if anything.

"I'm Edith. Thank you, Anthony. You really are a lifesaver."

He laughed at that as if it were some inside joke, waved, and retreated to his own door. She watched, leaning against the railing on her stoop as he opened it. Pausing once more before entering, Anthony turned back to give Edith another crooked smirk.

"Good day to you, Edith. And maybe remove your jewelry at your dresser from now on."

"See you, Anthony," she replied. They lingered awkwardly, he nodded again, and with that they both retreated inside their respective homes.

A/N: Just a short chapter to get us started. This story stems from a prompt that was sent in a PM and I only hope I do it justice. :)... Such lovely fiction happening here lately! I'm admittedly losing faith/interest in Canon, and perhaps Series 5 will rope me back in, but I'm heartbroken about Edith's choices. That said, our Andith community is keeping the pair alive and well, and for that I thank all of you!

Eleanor