AN: Starting a multi-chaptered fic when I'm still so new to this is probably not intelligent, but I don't care. This is my take on why it took Robert so long to fall in love with Cora after they were married. Don't hate me for this chapter it will eventually be Cobert. Forgive me for any historical inaccuracies and please review!

Disclaimer: Does anyone really think I own Downton Abbey?

Chapter 1:Goodbye My Love

He was obsessed with her hair. The way in shone in the candlelight. The way it felt when he ran his fingers through it. The expression of relief on her face when she pulled in out of its bindings before they went to bed. Her hair was the very first thing he had noticed about her.

He had been walking through town the day of the annual flower show when a young boy charged past him and knocked him off his feet. As he stood up he was run into again from behind. He turned around to confront his attacker only to find himself face to face with the most beautiful woman he had ever met.

Her cheeks were flushed, her breathing was labored, and her beautiful, golden hair was falling out of place. He didn't realize he was staring until she began to blush. He looked at his feet in embarrassment but then looked quickly up again as she spoke. " I'm so sorry, that was my little brother. I was trying to catch him. I hope he didn't hurt you when he knocked you down."

Listening to the musical sound of her voice made him forget that he was supposed to reply until she looked up at him with a strange expression on her face. "I'm fine, thank you." he said quickly, "It was very nice to meet you." he turned and walked away quickly and didn't realize until later that day that he hadn't even asked her name.

As he pulled the sleeping form next to him closer against his body he couldn't believe that that was how he found his darling Alice.

The transition from strangers meeting in the street to lovers happened surprisingly quickly. After walking away from her that day he realized how rude he had been. He searched for her at the flower show and eventually found her walking outside with her brother. He introduced himself and apologized for his behavior. They spent the rest of night walking together among the roses.

After the first meeting Robert found himself coming into town more and more. Each time he would search until he could find her. They would walk out of town through the fields and the woods away from prying eyes.

On the second walk she allowed to hold her hand. He kissed her on the fifth and on the tenth they made love for the first time, hidden between the dark trees. Robert found an empty house outside of town that one of his tenants had recently vacated. They met at the house every week for months. They would talk and laugh and make plans and fall deeper and deeper in love.

It became their perfect hideaway. No one knew so no one could care. For each of them it was the only place in the world that they could be themselves. They could pretend that their lives outside of the house didn't exist. It was only a matter of time before reality would catch up to them.

They knew from the beginning that they could never be together outside of the house. She was the daughter of a farmer and he was the son of an earl. It could not be done. While they spent their days blissfully together her parents planned the rest of her life. When she told him that she was to marry a local farmer his heart broke.

They had one last night to say goodbye before she spent the rest of her life in the constant drudgery that came with being a farmers wife. They spent the night wordlessly making love, each trying to figure out what to say before they parted.

"My darling" Alice began before losing her words in her violent sobs. "I have no idea how I will possibly live my life without you. Please promise me that you will never forget me. I couldn't bear to think that years from now I will still be in love with you and you will remember me as a youthful indiscretion."

"Never. I could never forget you. You mean far to much to me." He held her through the rest of the night and when the sun rose the next morning he watched her walk away and softly whispered "Goodbye my love."