Disclaimer: I do not presume to own Downton Abbey by writing this fanfic.


Full Summary:

AU- I asked myself: what if Matthew and Mary had met before the events of the series, while he was still a London (not canon, but it fits the story better) lawyer and she couldn't marry him because of Downton, but they still fell in love while hiding it from their families. When Matthew inherits, they are both overjoyed, but he still holds lasting anger towards her family who kept him away from his one true love. They are still in love but have to pretend to slowly fall for each other as they don't want their families to find out about their previous affair.

This will follow most of Season 1.


Mary hurried through the London streets, hat tipped low, concealing her face. She slipped through the crowd of people around her and rushed up the steps to a law office, glancing about to check if she was followed. Seeing no one, she disappeared through the door, closing it softly behind her. Tearing off her coat and hat, she went deeper into the building, past the main office and into a parlor where she knocked gently on the door.

"Come in." a man's voice came distractedly though the door and Mary smiled softly before entering.

"Hello darling." She shut the door tightly behind her, sliding the lock for good measure, and rushed towards the man sitting on a sofa with law books in a pile before him.

"Mary!" he exclaimed, papers tumbling to the floor. He reached out for her, and she allowed him to pull her down beside him on the sofa and to plant a small kiss on the corner her lips. An arm wrapped around her waist and the pair smiled into each other's eyes. "I missed you." He stroked her face with a fingertip.

"I missed you too, Matthew, which is why I'm sorry to be the bearer of such bad news." Her gaze dropped and she twisted her hands in her lap.

"Oh dearest, what is it?" Matthew pulled back to observe her face.

"I don't know how to say it nicely, so I suppose I'd better just spit it out." A tear dripped down her face, which she ignored. "I'm going to marry Patrick. I have to, for Papa."

"What!" Matthew leapt up from the sofa, running a hand agitatedly through his hair. "I was so sure we could work something out, if you'd only let me talk to them…" he trailed off pleadingly, eyes tugging at hers.

"I've tried, believe me. I didn't tell them about us, that would be a terrible mistake, but I have dropped hints. And it's all been determined and there's nothing I can do!" she explained desperately. "I'm not destined to be happy, my duty is to Downton and nothing I ever do will keep that from being true, no matter how much I love you, how much I long for my own happiness." She wrapped her arms around herself, missing his touch.

Matthew paced back and forth. "But we're related distantly, aren't we? Perhaps that could give me something to work with-"

Mary interrupted him. "No, no it would never work! Papa's already worked the whole thing out and there's no stopping it. James is the heir, and Patrick is his heir, and for us to keep Mama's money in the family I must marry him. I have no choice in the matter." She groaned into her hands. "Don't you think I've considered it from every angle? In the first place, they'd never approve of you, no matter how much I love you, and in the second, Downton comes before anyone's personal happiness. Please, Matthew."

"Alright." He dragged his hands across his face and collapsed back into the sofa beside her. "But I will forever resent them for it."

"Me too, darling, but I'll have to be better at hiding it." Mary smiled wryly. "At least they promised not to make the engagement public until May, so I have a bit of time to become accustomed to this feeling of dread."

"But it's March now! Do we really have so little time before our fate, before I lose you forever?" he said frantically.

"Less, actually. We're leaving London next week." Mary grimaced. "And I only have another hour before I'm missed."

"Can't I see you before then?"

"Aunt Rosamund has the rest of the week mapped out. This is it. We'll be in the same city and unable to see each other. Why must everything feel so impossible?"

"Darling, it's impossible for me to be in the same universe with you and not want to be with you. We'll make the most of the time we have left." He drew her closer, and they wept together for a love shattered in its youth, comforting each other in the knowledge that their love was forever, no matter what heartbreak approached. They kissed over and over again, tasting the salt of tears on their lips, wishing with every fiber for just the possibility of a miracle.


AN: To all those following my other story, (Mary x Tom), I'm sorry, but the plot bunnies attacked me. I'll try to write both at the same time, and you'll have an update later today. *heart*