Cora did not lose the baby and thus Matthew loses the Earldom. He hears about this while he is already in France. This story takes a look at how Robert and Cora's son influences the relationship between Mary and Matthew.
AN: I have played around with the idea of Cora and Robert's boy actually living ever since I let their child live in my story Kiss Me, but turned the child into a girl in that story. This is one of at least two stories I am going to write in the, I suppose, "The boy lives" AU (although those stories will explore different route so to speak).
This story isn't very long, I think five or six chapters only. The first and the last chapter are shorter than the others.
As always, let me know what you think about this!
Kat
P.S.: At the guest who wrote the last review for Unpredictable and for The Beginnings: Thank you so much again! I am glad I could help provide respite while reviewing for your exams. My last round of exams isn't that far in the past and I remember how important those little moments of not thinking about studying are, so I am very honored knowing that I helped you find those moments. I hope your exams went well! This story is not a Cobert story, but they do play a role in this one as well, so I hope you like it anyway :)
Dear Matthew,
I hope you are doing well, or rather as well as you can do while you are at war. It is up to you to decide whether you consider this news to be good:
Cora has had the baby and they are both fine. It is a boy and we named him Nicholas Robert Crawley. I hope that you can join us in our happiness but I would understand if this was very difficult for you. Be assured that you will always have a place at Downton. Should you decide to return to Downton, I would like to involve you in the running of the estate as soon as you are home from the war, although of course it is your decision whether and how much you would like to be involved.
Cora and I hope that you will be one of Nicholas' godparents. We also asked your mother, who has already agreed and my cousin Shrimpie (don't laugh, it's a nickname, he is actually the Marquess of Flintshire) who has not said anything yet. Quite besides being Nicholas's godfather, we would also like to name you and Mary his legal guardians in case anything should happen to both Cora and me. We hope that you will agree to this -as Mary has already done- we would be honored if you did. Please don't think that this a consolation price we are giving to you, we consider you to be a well-trusted and well-loved member of our immediate family and we would not ask this of you if we did not think that you would be an excellent guardian to our son, should he ever have need of one.
The christening will be on December 23rd and I have already telephoned the war office, they would give you a two weeks leave.
Good luck with everything, Lord knows I know you need it at war. Please be careful and don't play the hero. Our thoughts are with you.
I really hope to see you soon my dear boy,
Robert