Upstairs, Downton Abbey

She caught him again. Thomas stiffened when Lady Mary appeared at the end of the corridor. He tried to turn away, but she had spotted him. "Mr Barrow! Thomas, Thomas come here." She called. She was fairly drunk, but not as much as on the night of the wedding. She smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "I've missed you." She whispered softly. Thomas squirmed uncomfortably. "I must go M'lady." She stroked his face. "I could make you butler if you want. Now that Carson is married and probably leaving. And call me Mary.... Well, you can call me whatever you want."

She leaned in to kiss him, but he turned and pushed her away slightly. "This isn't proper, M'Lady." Mary sighed. "I don't care. If Sybil ran away with a chauffeur, then why can I not run away with you? Answer me that, my dear under butler." Thomas tried to back away. "They were in love. This, this is not love." Mary pulled him back, closer than ever. She entangled her hands in his collar and kissed his neck. "Do you not love me Thomas? Because I love you." Thomas swallowed, "you are mistaken M'lady." Mary ran her hand down his chest and pressed him against the wall. "Don't call me that. I want to strip away all the titles and classes. Come to think of it, those aren't the only things I want to strip away.... Just Mary and Thomas, nothing more to it. Nothing separating us."

Thomas had never wanted to get caught in his life. Now he would pay for someone to see them, and tear Mary away. He now understood how Jimmy had felt with Lady Anstruther. At least Mary wasn't twice his age. There was a part of him that wanted this to continue. Maybe it was the hope that his encounters with Lady Mary, would change him. Make him like other men. Lady Mary was very pretty and quite nice beneath it all, maybe he could learn to love her. Was that possible? And of course he didn't want her to find out about him. He didn't have an expensive car to destroy, so he was afraid that she would attack him directly. For some reason, he didn't enjoy the prospect of getting his head smashed in by a cricket bat.

Giving in to her seemed the easiest and safest option. He could ignore his emence discomfort and awkwardness of being pawed by a drunk aristocrat. He could focus on the good things, like.... well he couldn't think of any particularly positive outcomes of the whole affair off of the top of his head. But he would, eventually. He wasn't enough of a hypocrit to feel used, since he was hoping Mary would 'straighten him out', but he did wonder what had caused Mary to drink so much, and thus turn to him. He had a mind to ask her, but he was too nervous. Who knew how she might react? Despite asking him to undress her, she could still have some reservations as to what was proper to be discussed. They were after all, still servant and mistress. Thomas didn't want to ruin everything by getting above himself.

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The Next day. ...
Crawley House (Isobel's house)

Mrs Isobel Crawley sat at her desk and sighed. Between her fingers were two photographs. One of her dear deceased husband Reginald, the other of her dear deceased son Matthew. She had been taking them out more often as of late, and reminiscing about the times when she and Reginald were young, and baby Matthew - so strikingly similar to George. Back to the days when she was simply the wife of a Manchester physician, mother of a young boy who she hoped would train to be a lawyer or something. Before they came to Downton. Before being middle class was degraded to a criminal offence by Violet. When life was simple and happy.

Days long before the letter that changed their lives. Before Matthew became the heir to an Earldom. Before titles and social conversation dictated her life. Before aging widower Lords asked for her hand in marriage. Before she fell in love with the family Doctor. Who was she to grumble? That was Violet's role! No, Isobel was a strong independent woman of the future, she didn't need a man. She didn't need a title. She didn't need all this. She stood up. The evening sunshine shone in the window. It lit up the photographs.

Isobel glanced down. Dear sweet Reginald. How in love they had been. The perfect husband. The perfect father. Matthew's image fell onto the desk. So young, so much life left. So many memories that had yet to be made. So much love left to give. Isobel sat down again. She had come to a conclusion. Even strong independent women of the future, needed to cry sometimes. And cry she did. The tears came, in fits and coughs, streaming down her cheeks like streams of a summer. She dropped the photographs and buried her face in her hands. She wept bitter tears for her lost loved ones. She cried, as Matthew's photograph watched.

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Downstairs, Downton Abbey

Elsie and Charlie Carson stood in the servant's hall, surveying the events in a parenteral manner. Being housekeeper did, in some ways, make up for the lack of children. The younger maids and footmen looked to her for advice, guidance in not only their jobs but also on the more personal side. There was still the line of professionalism that prevented any real maternal connection, but it was real enough for Elsie, as real as she would ever experience anyway.

Charlie watched as the bustle of the day drew to a close and the servants began to relax and unwind. He ventured then, to take his wife's hand in his. She grasped his fingers and smiled slightly. He would miss Downton when they eventually left. It had become a part of him, and shaped his life in more ways than he could imagine. During his stage days, he would have never predicted even contemplating entering service nevermind being the long serving butler of an Earl. Time had changed him, loves and loss. But he no longer had any regrets, for he had found true happiness, by the name of Elsie.

Meanwhile, Mr Moseley was fantasising about his beloved Phyllis Baxter. Since she became a nanny, they hadn't been able to spend as much time together. He missed her warming presence downstairs, and her soft laughter which rung sweetly in the kitchen. Just the sight of her made him smile and her touch lifted his heart. He was head over heels in love with her, and his heart ached every moment they spent apart. Life was dull without her, tedious and boring, pointless. When she was near him life was suddenly worth living, filled with hope and excitement. He longed to see her smile. The fact was, that Phyllis was upstairs. Above his head infact. She was still alive and well and in the same building. Joseph knew that he could never be further away from her, and waited for the day when they would become Husband and Wife.

Daisy remained alone. Maybe it was her destiny. To be an old maid. Unmarried, unloved. Of course she was still young, and if Lady Edith could land a handsome American, why couldn't she find a nice young farmer or something? She wasn't tied to her job like Mrs Patmore, she wasn't prepared to give up a chance at love for a life of service. Not yet anyway. Life was short and Daisy meant to live it. To the best she could, and go as far as God and luck would allow. Maybe. Well, that's the advice Mrs Hughes - Mrs Carson now (Daisy would never get used to calling her that)- gave her. But was that what she wanted?

Daisy thought about it. Mrs Patmore was successful to an extent as the cook for an Earl, but she had no husband or children. Mrs Hughes was successful as a housekeeper in a big country house, but she didn't marry until last week and would never have children now. Miss O'Brien (well Mrs Goswami, but Daisy couldn't really pronounce those foreign names) had reached as far as she could go as a lady's maid to a Countess, but then ran off to India and found a husband. That was all well and good, but again there was no chance of children. Miss Baxter had gone from a seamstress, to a lady's maid, to a nanny and was now engaged. Still she too had missed out on a family. Only Anna, now with child, had the type of life in service that Daisy would like. But a lady's maid was different to a cook, and there was no guarantee that Daisy's Mr Right would be a servant like her.

Everything was always so complicated. Why could life not be simpler? Why could one not find the perfect husband around the corner, in plain sight, waiting to marry you? Daisy beat the eggs and sighed. Nothing was ever fair.

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Upstairs, Downton Abbey

Cora sat in her room. It was dark outside and rain pelted on the window glass. She read the letter again. And again, it was almost ingrained in her mind by now. She had received it almost a week ago, but had yet to reply. She was not yet sure what to do. The letter went like this:

' Dearest Cora,

My darling, I write to you to ask you a very important question. Will you run away with me? This may sound absurd, but I am going to Egypt next month and wish for you to accompany me. I want you to tell Robert about us and put all this to rest. I want us to be happy together and raise our child. I want you to come away with me, where we can live happily and peacefully. I want to marry you. I love you, I truly do.

I also wish to know exactly where I stand. Do you love me as much as I you? Do you want to be with Robert or me? What is more important to you, our happiness or your duty as Robert's wife? He doesn't deserve you, my sweetheart. You need someone who loves you regardless, and I tell you now, I am that person. I need to know if you are willing to give up your life as Countess of Grantham, for my love. For our child. I need to know if you will go with me, if you will brave the dessert, so different from the Yorkshire fields you have come to know. I need to know if you really love me.

I leave at midnight on the 28th of June, from King's Cross Station in London. I eagerly await a reply prior to this.

Love as always,

Simon.'

Cora sighed. Should she go? Should she stay? Suddenly the door opened. She hastened to hide the letter and slipped quickly beneath the covers. It was Robert. He sat down beside her. "It has been too long since I've slept in this room. I miss you." Cora swallowed uncomfortably and turned over on her side. Robert climbed in beside her and kissed her neck. She swatted him away slightly and pulled the blanket tighter around her. "I love you" he whispered, still snuggling closer to her. The beginings of tears came to her eyes.

He kissed her head and slid his hands down to her waist. Then he paused, perplexed. There was a bump. A bump. A BUMP! But surely it could not be! Pregnant. At her age, it was impossible. Wasn't it? And they hadn't even....... Oh. Oh no, he thought. Not Bricker. Please don't make it be Bricker's child. Robert took his hands away and lay back flat on the bed. This should not be real. He refused to accept this. His wife, his beautiful wife, could not be pregnant with another man's child. She just couldn't. Cora would never do that. But then, she was rather, unhappy.

But no. No! He sat up. Even if it was Bricker's child, he would raise it as his own. A fourth Crawley, a second chance for his unborn son. He would call him James for a boy, and Elizabeth for a girl. They would live happily. Cora and he would overcome their current problems, and all would be well in the end. He would see to it that it would. He smiled and leaned back. "I love you Cora." He said aloud. "And I love this baby." Cora gasped slightly. "Another Crawley. Another child for us to raise."

So... Simon wants to raise the baby, Robert wants to raise the baby, Cora is torn between two men, Mary and Thomas, Joseph is desperately in love, Daisy is thinking about her future, Isobel is sad and stuff..........

Wow, how do I come up with this genius! :D (*cue psycotic laughter*)

THANK YOU FOR READING! !!!

Also, a shout out to DowntonWriter for the shout out and for writing such an amazing older Sybbie fanfiction, it is PERFECTION !! Check out the genius please......

Ps. My kik is sasquash34 if you're ever in need of Downton fanwarrioring. ... or spoilers (*cue evil laugh* except I have no idea why I'm laughing evilly after that comment {!})

lols,

{SaskatFishcakes } xxx

CAST
Lady Grantham ~ Elizabeth McGovern
Mr Bricker ~ Richard E Grant
Lord Grantham ~ Hugh Bonneville
Charlie Carson ~ Jim Carter
Elsie Hughes ~ Phyllis Logan
Thomas Barrow ~ Rob James-Collier
Miss Baxter ~ Raquel Cassidy
Mr Moseley ~ Kevin Doyle
Mr Bates ~ Brendan Coyle
Anna Bates ~ Joanne Froggatt
Lady Mary ~ Michelle Dockery
Denker ~ Sue Johnston
Spratt ~ Jeremy Swift
Lady Edith ~ Laura Carmichael
Henry Talbot ~ Matthew Goode
Daisy Mason ~ Sophie McSherra
Mrs Patmore ~ Leslie Nicol