AN: I am very behind in this story, but I want everyone to know that I'm trying to do this with a bad cold dragging me down. I promise, I will get this finished, but here is the first chapter. Enjoy!

The room was crowded, full of family and friends, but he had eyes for only one woman. The way her navy blue dress clung to her curves, the way it accented her beautiful eyes. He closed his eyes, taking a sip from his glass of wine. Be patient. Later you can have her anyway you want her. He smirked, and opened his eyes, and he found her giving him a knowing grin from across the room. She winked, and he felt his face heat, and his heartbeat quicken. He paused, just staring at her. She turned away, starting a conversation with someone else, and he felt his frustrations increase. He wanted to be at the center of her attentions.

"Robert," he winced, took a drink, and turned to face his mother. "Don't look so excited to see me."

He leaned forward to kiss her cheek, "I'm sorry, Mama. I was simply distracted." She looked him over, then turned her calculating glance over to Cora, lifting her eyebrows in a knowing look.

"Clearly," she said with a huff, his face quickly turning red at her look of disapproval. "I simply wished to ask you if you could have Carson fetch me that handsome footman later this evening. I have a favor to ask of him."

"Certainly, Mama. Would like you something to drink," he asked, trying subtly to get rid of her.

"Oh, no thank you," she said shaking her head, "I'm not as young as I once was, and I don't think it wise to take a crack at some of the things that pass as drink these days." She walked away to find Edith, and Robert once more turned to look at his wife. She was still deep in conversation, so he glanced at the clock, throwing back his drink. He poured himself a small glass of scotch, and he turned to address everyone.

"Could I have everyone's attention, please," he said loudly as he looked at everyone with a smile. "It won't be long now before this year is at its end. I would like to thank every last one of you, for the memories we have created, and for those still to come." He held his hand out to his wife, and she came over to take it. The clock chimed, and he raised his glass, "Happy New Year!" As all the cheers around him erupted, he leaned forward to place a long kiss on her cheek, "So ends another wonderful year with you, my love."

She grinned, blushing, kissing his cheek, "And so begins another." They locked eyes, and she blushed, knowing what he wanted with the intensity of his gaze. "We can't leave just yet, Robert. It would be rude!"

He scoffed, "I would face social ruin as long as it meant I could be with you, but fine. I will wait for another half hour, and then you and I are going upstairs, and we will start this year off correctly." He smiled, and she nodded in agreement, gently running her fingers up his arm in a teasing way.

"Half an hour, my dear," and she turned to walk away, leaving him staring after as she did. He turned back around, searching the room for someone to talk with, and he saw Tom standing off to the side, looking distant. He approached cautiously, and laid his hand on his son-in-law's shoulder.

"Are you quite, alright, Tom," he said slowly, "Only you look to be hundreds of miles away."

Tom blinked, and looked up at him, "I'm sorry, I was lost in my own memories." He stared down into his glass before bringing it to his lips, and downing it in one gulp.

"The other day, I was out in the grounds, with Isis," Robert began softly, "I came to this tree, and it took me a moment before I remembered why it looked so familiar to me. When Sybil was eight years old, she and Cora got into an argument over some small, trivial thing, and she claimed that she was running away from home. I was on a walk that afternoon, and I walked past that very tree, and I heard something fall, and a small gasp. I turned back to investigate, and I saw a book in the grass, and I looked up to find her sitting in the tree." He smiled at his memory, not seeing the glistening in Tom's eyes, "I said to her, 'Sybil, darling. What on Earth are you doing up there?', and she looked down at me, and she said 'I ran away from home. Are you angry, Papa?' I remember staying silent for a moment, but I smiled up at her, 'My darling girl, I could never be angry with you.' She was so surprised, but all I could do was laugh. 'Silly girl, you are home. Now, come down here, and give your father a kiss.' When she was coming down, she slipped, and I dove forward to catch her, but she never hit the ground." He finally returned from his memory, and he saw that Tom was on the verge of tears. "My dear chap, I know how hard it must be for you. Not a day goes by that I don't miss her, but we must go on. Sybil never slowed down, and she never stopped moving forward, and that is what we must do to honor her, and also for Sybbie." Tom closed his eyes, and he nodded as Robert patted his back.

Cora watched from across the room as her husband comforted their son-in-law. Her heart swelled as she realized how far they had both come since all the yelling and disapproval at the start of it all, and she was immensely proud of her husband for finally accepting him. She looked at the clock, and she began her walk over to him. "Robert, I've grown quite tired after all the excitement of today. I think I'll head up to bed."

He kept his poker face on, and he smoothly replied, "I'll be up shortly, my dear woman, I simply need to speak with Carson before I go." He kissed her cheek, and he made it linger for a moment.

"Hurry, Robert," she whispered, and his breath hitched as she pulled away with a smile, leaving the room. He gaped after her for a moment, but then he turned to search for Carson. He spotted him not far, so he hurried over to him.

"Carson, my mother would like for you to send her James before she leaves tonight. Apparently, she needs him for some errand, and I didn't really care to ask," he said slowly, shaking his head.

"Of course, m'lord. I will go and find him when she says she is ready to leave," he said with a nod of his head.

"Thank you, Carson. I think I will be retiring early as well, but please tell Bates he can have the rest of the night and most of tomorrow off. As long as he is here by the dressing gong, I see no problem with him having some time to himself."

"I will relay the message, m'lord," he said with a professional smile, nodding once more to acknowledge his understanding.

"Happy New Year, and good night, Carson," he said with a smile in return before strolling out of the drawing room. He began to climb the stairs, and when he finally arrived at her bedroom door, he knocked softly.

"Robert?"

"Yes, darling, it's me."

The door opened suddenly, and she grabbed him by his jacket, yanking him inside. As they lost their balance, she kicked her foot out, closing the door. As they tumbled to the floor, giggling, he suddenly realized that she was wearing nothing but one of his night shirts. He leaned down to kiss her intensely, and she groaned softly as the passion between them began to burn. Suddenly aware of his surplus of clothes, he helped her to her feet, and she began to make quick work of the buttons on his shirt. He watched her as she undressed him, and when she finally made eye contact with him, her eyes were bright with desire. He pulled her against him, sliding his thigh between hers as he kissed down her neck. She groaned her appreciation as she began to rub herself against his thigh, her hand finding the growing bulge in his pants. He gasped as she used her skilled hand to work him over, and he simply doubled his efforts at seduction. He pushed her over back onto the bed, and ran his hands all over her body. He pulled his shirt off of her, and his tongue dipped into her collarbone.

Cora was helpless to give in to the sensations that her husband was providing with his onslaught of pleasurable attacks. His tongue slid downward to find her breasts, and as her back arched, he slipped his hand down to toy with her. She let out a sharp gasp, and once more reached down to stroke him gently. After several minutes of toying with each other, Cora hissed out a moan as she reached her peak. The sound caused Robert's control to snap as he sat up on his knees to undo his belt. He quickly rid himself of his trousers, and before Cora could recover fully, he was inside of her, and they both groaned deeply at the feeling of mutual bliss. She raked her fingers through his hair as he buried his face in her neck, and her other hand moved over his bare back as he pistoned himself into her. It wasn't long until Cora had reached her peak once more, and this time, she drug him over the edge with her. He stilled over top of her, both of their bodies still trembling with the aftershocks of absolute pleasure.

"Robert," she sighed, and he managed to pick his head up to look at her, a smile on his lips, "You never fail to take my breath away."

He rolled off of her, laying on his side to face her, stroking her cheek with a gentle touch, "I am so glad of those words, and you never fail to render me incapable of all thought. You are the sweetest addiction I have ever known, and I love you more than I could possibly ever explain."

"Oh, Robert," she said as she leaned in to give him a long, tender kiss. "I believe we've started this year off right." She giggled as he looked at her with a grin. He pulled her closer, lowering his voice as he brushed the hair behind her ear.

"I'm afraid I'm not fully convinced yet, I wish I had more to go on," he admitted, waggling his eyebrows. She put her hand on him, and pushed him to his back, running her hand down his chest to squeeze him, giving him a coquettish smile as his eyes got wide.

"Your wish is my command, m'lord."