Hello Everyone! Here's the first chapter in my new fic, 25 More Days of the Bransons. We pick it a year later as the four Bransons - Tom, Sybil, Moira, and Rory - prepare for Christmas. I hope everyone enjoys the new drabbles!


Sybil sighed as she pulled into the driveway. It had been a long day and it was only half past three. She glanced into the backseat and at her two sleeping children, Moira and Rory.

Her eldest had been in a rare mood when she picked her up from the Montessori school earlier. More so after she found out that Rory and her mummy had gone to the library after lunch. Sybil had sat through a rare temper tantrum with an amused Rory on her lap for ten minutes before she could herd her daughter into the car.

Now, fifteen minutes later, with both children asleep, she was trying to figure out how to get them both into the house on her own. She was saved by a knock on her window. Startled, Sybil quickly turned her head. She was happily surprised to see her husband.

Opening the car door, she said, "You're home early."

Tom smiled. "The meeting with my editor ended earlier than expected. Plus, I got an express train back."

He pulled her up and kissed her firmly. Pulling away, he asked, "How was your day?"

She sighed again. "It was busy, but goof until I picked up Moira. She had a tantrum over Rory and I going to the library without her."

Her husband nodded his head. "That's the what…third tantrum in the last two weeks."

"Yes," huffed Sybil. "I don't know what has gotten into her."

Tom gave her look, as though expecting the answer to be obvious.

"What?"

He gave her a small smile. "The tantrums started when I started my leave of absence from the paper. Moira thinks she's missing out while she's at school and I think she might be a little jealous that Rory gets to spend more time with us right now."

"Oh." She turned and gazed at her daughter. "Perhaps I should arrange some one-on-one time with her. A mummy and Moira day does sound like fun."

Tom chuckled. "I think that's an excellent idea." He clapped his hands together. "Let's get these two troublemakers inside before they turn into icicles. I'll take Moira, you'll take Rory."

Sybil nodded her head. They quickly unbuckled their children from their safety seats and carefully proceeded into their cottage. Tom had just carefully placed Moira on their sofa when she woke up.

Rubbing her eyes, she greeted her daddy. "Hi, daddy. I missed you."

"I missed you two. How was school."

"Okay."

He arched an eyebrow at his daughter. "Just okay?"

She nodded her head.

Just then, Rory awoke. On seeing his daddy and big sister, he babbled, "Dada! Momo!"

Tom beamed at his youngest. "How are you, my boy?" Did you have fun today?"

The little boy nodded his head.

"Let's get you two out of your coats. You both have a package from New York," announced Tom.

Moira's eyes lit up. "From Granny Martha?!"

"Yes."

The little girl threw off her coat and assisted her father in hanging it up. She then proceeded over to her mother and helped her remove her baby brother's jumpsuit. A mighty feat since Rory was more interested in his big sister, whom he hero worshipped, than in anything else.

Eventually, Moira and Sybil got Rory out of his jumpsuit and the family gathered together on the floor in front of the fire to open the package. Tom wisely took charge of that task, using a pair of scissors to cut through the packing tape. As he return the scissors to a drawer in his office, Moira yanked open the package to reveal several lovely items for her and her brother.

Most of the items were clothes, which the three year old could care less about. However, there were two small packages with writing on them. She recognized her name on the one package and reached for it. Sybil reached for the other package for Rory, as well as an envelope addressed to her and Tom.

Tom, having returned to the living room, assisted Moira with opening her package while his wife opened their son's. Both were stunned by the contents of the packages. Martha had sent her great-grandchildren identical star photo frame ornaments, each decorated in sparkly silver.

"Ooohhh," uttered Moira.

Rory, on the other hand, liked his gift so much, he tried to put it in his mouth.

Sybil wrestled it out of his grip and handed him to his father. She then opened the envelope.

Dearest Sybil, Tom, Moira, & Rory,

I know what you're thinking, Sybil. It's too much. Well, I'm too much, as my beloved Isidore used to tell me. I saw all of these items while out shopping and knew they would be perfect for my only great-grandchildren. I think I did an excellent job picking out clothes and toys for Rory. He's a handsome little imp, just like how I imagine Tom was at that age. I sent several books for Moira as I know from your last letter that she's starting to learn to read some words. I expect great things from that one. She is a bit of Crawley, Branson, Levinson, and Wheeler. Women in those families do not suffer fools.

Now, as to the ornaments, I saw them and thought of your two little stars. I've always loved the part of the Nativity Story where the Star of Bethlehem guided the Magi to the manger. I like to think of your little ones as my own stars guiding me to England. Lord knows, I wouldn't leave New York for Christmas for just anyone! I hope to see these ornaments with their pictures in them when I get to Downton on the 23rd. Please don't disappoint an old, but still glamourous, woman.

See you all soon!

Love,

Martha

Sybil sniffed a little as she finished reading the letter. She looked over at her husband and children and smiled. Oh, my children are so lucky to have grandmama in their life. Her thoughts were interrupted by Rory leaping out of Tom's arms and onto Moira, tackling his sister and giving her sloppy kisses.

"Ugh, Rory!"

Sybil rubbed her head as she and Tom attempted to intervene. Stars guiding me to a headache, she thought as she entered the fray.