Disclaimer: Unfortunately I do not own it
AN: Matthew and Mary's daughter is my own creation as they do not yet have children in the actual show.
Loss and Life
Mary and Matthew gazed down at their daughter Arabella. In the grief of losing Sibyl during childbirth she, along with each other, was their only joy. The young couple, unable to stand the tension at Downton, had moved into a place of their own. Mary's mother Cora was refusing to speak to Robert, Mary's father. Matthew knew that Mary was incredibly upset about this. On top of Sibyl's death it sometimes became too much for her. Now looking down at her daughter she remembered that she still had a family she could care for. She turned around and smiled at her husband placing a gentle kiss on his lips. 'I am so grateful for you and Arabella,' she told placing her hands on his shoulders, 'without both of you I fear I would have given into despair.' Matthew held his wife tightly. 'You'll always have us my dear,' he assured her. Mary felt tears come to her eyes and buried her face in Matthew's chest. He stoked her hair soothingly and made gentle shushing sounds. Mary eventually pulled back and dried her eyes. Matthew gently took her hands and led her over to the bed. The two of them lay down and fell asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning Matthew had to the office as a case had come up. Before he left he gave his wife a peck on the cheek and his daughter a kiss on the forehead. 'I won't be back too late,' he promised his wife. Mary gave him a warm smile and wished him luck with the case.
After he had left Mary decided to take Arabella to visit Mr and Mrs. Bates. When they arrived and knocked on the door Mrs. Bates, or Anna as Mary called her, opened the door. She smiled when she saw who it was. 'Come in Lady Mary,' she said and Mary followed her into the house and through to the parlour. Anna went to get tea and refreshments and soon return baring a tray of tea and cakes which she set down on a table. She then sat in an armchair opposite Mary. 'How have you been?' Anna asked. Mary sighed and looked down at her daughter. She held a finger out and smiled when Arabella curled her tiny fingers around it. However when she looked up at Anna she had tears in her eyes. 'Things at Downton aren't at all good,' she admitted, 'mother still blames father for Sibyl's death. Edith and I miss her terribly and Branson is trying to remain strong for the sake of their child.' Mary could no longer hold back the tears that were threatening to fall and they streamed freely down her face. Anna left her armchair and knelt in front of Mary taking one of her hands and squeezing it gently. Mary raised her eyes to look at Anna. 'You've all been terribly hurt by Lady Sibyl's death,' she said softly, 'time will tell if your family can move on from this. You have a loving husband and daughter who can help you through this.' Mary sniffed and dried her eyes. She looked at Anna gratefully. 'You're always so kind to me Anna,' she said, 'and you're right, I do have a wonderful family who can pull me through this.' Anna smiled and returned to her seat.
The two women talked for many hours and when Mary left she was in much better spirits then when she had arrived.
When Matthew returned later on he found Mary and Arabella in the bed. Mary had Arabella cradled in her arms. She looked up at smiled when Matthew entered the room. 'Hello darling,' Matthew moving forward and greeting his wife with a kiss. 'How was your day?'
'I went to see Anna,' Mary told him, 'I was so sad when I went to see her but she always knows what to stay to make me feel better.'
'That's good.' Matthew wrapped his arms around his wife and daughter and smiled at them. It was moments like these that Mary realised while she had lost a sister, she still had a husband and daughter and she loved them more than anything.