This is my first Downtown Abby fic and first multi chapter so please be nice, anyone who reviews gets E- Cookies

She sat in the drawing room. It had been a month since her argument with Tom and the scene kept repeating in her head and she started to wonder if he was right. Her grandmother interrupted her train of thought

"of course as soon as the war is over we shall prepare the girls for the season" Sybil's mind went into panic the thought of being a part of 'the season' again : the meaningless conversation with men who wanted to treat her like a breading mare, the overpriced dresses , having to hide her political views, having to hide who she was, never being able to work again, being away from Tom. She halted herself at the last item. She was fond of Tom, she told herself nothing more. Deep down she knew she was kidding herself. Her heart fluttered whenever he was near her, she cherished every moment she could spend with him, and loved the way he respected her, treated her like an adult.

She knew she must have seemed absent from the conversation but that didn't matter, they would put it down to her being tired from having worked during the day. When she got up to her room she found herself looking through her old diaries. She was shocked at how many times she had waxed lyrical on the sparkle in Tom's eyes, or the soft tones of his accent without really noticing. Not only that but how much she had worried about him whenever he seemed even slightly upset or ill. She was faced with how much she enjoyed his company and how upset she was whenever they argued. She wanted to be with him all the time.

"By god I love him" she breathed to herself in shock. She loved him. How had she not notice? She loved him with all her heart.

She slept surprisingly well after this revelation. The self-doubt and questioning were over. The fear had stayed but that was nothing. She loved him. The rest was all detail. Now she could finally fall asleep knowing that she was thinking about the man she loved, not the man she was fond of, not a friend , not a passing fancy, the man she loved.

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The next day was her day off. Perfect. She spent the morning in her room, avoiding her family and trying to decide how she was going to approach Branson.

After lunch she went to the garage. Branson was working under the car. He heard her entry and climbed out from under the car. He was shirtless. His pale skin was covered with streaks of motor oil and his shoulders where dappled with freckles. He had well defined muscles and whilst pretending to be embarrassed found a position which he felt showed them off.

"Milady" he said respectfully "please excuse me while I go to put a shirt on" their was a defeatist tone in his voice, as if he had given up. She felt a pang of guilt in her chest. "Don't" she instructed firmly.

Then she walked over and pressed her lips firmly against his. She felt him smile as he kissed her back and pulled her closer. He placed His right hand on her waist and interlaced the fingers on his left hand with hers. Just as their tongues touched they had to stop for air.

"I love you"she said quietly into his ear, a tear moving down her cheek. She kissed him briefly before continuing "and I'm sorry"

"I love you too" He replied "and you've got nothing to be sorry for, because you are the most wonderful lass in the whole world and I would have waited an eternity for you"

"But we could have been holding each other like this all this time" she replied softly "and we didn't because of me"

"Stop worrying my love we've got each other now and that's what matters" He told her softly.

"Thank you" She whispered, resting her head on his shoulder "as soon as the war is over we'll run away together, until then I'll be your sweetheart-secretly of course"

"I don't think I've ever been so happy" He said, laughing slightly and kissing her again

"Me neither" She replied, she smiled at him and kissed him.