A.N. Before I watched the finale of Downton on Sunday I was so sure that Mary and Tom would end up together. Their chemistry was palpable, they are the best of friends and confidantes, and their relationship actually would make sense. Why were we given all of those scenes of them together? How many times did one or the other seem on the verge of admitting their love? But, alas, it was not to be. So, I have decided to do these characters justice (I hope) by allowing them to be with the person who is right for them. Besides, Henry Talbot is just plain creepy.

"You're a coward Mary. Like all bullies you're a coward!" He shouted to a stunned Mary. Slowly she stood from her seat, hands shaking.

"You just don't want to understand me!" Came her bitter reply, her pale face cemented into a stony expression.

"Understand you? I understand you better than anyone. How dare you say that," he moved across the small office spitting his words.

Mary scoffed, standing tall, head held high, attempting to maintain her facade. Of all the people she had fought with in her life, and there had been many, it was different fighting with Tom.

It hurt.

"This is all about Henry isn't it? You're miserable so you want to make everyone around you feel the same." She noticed that his knuckles were white as he balled his fist.

Swallowing hard she inquired, "Henry? Why on earth would I be miserable about him?"

"Mary you love him for Christ's sake!" He was shouting loudly now and she had never seen him like this. What's worse is that she couldn't read him in this state.

Perhaps it would be best to come clean. Bite the bullet. She had just persuaded herself to tell him the truth when she looked into his fiery eyes. Every ounce of her notorious courage left her in that moment and she attempted to walk past him. A strong hand on her arm prevented her from doing so.

"Tell me one thing Tom." She whispered as his grip loosened. "Why do you keep pushing me towards him?"

He drew a long breath as he lowered his his arm and turned away, running his hand through his chestnut hair.

"Tom, tell me, please," she begged tearfully.

He slowly turned and huskily announced,

"I want to be free of you, of wanting you,"

Mary's lips opened as her jaw dropped. Had he really been the first of them to admit it?

"Why do we have to free of one another?"

He wore a puzzled expression. Had she just said one another?

"Tom I don't want Henry here because he is not the man that I love. He's not the man that I want," she announced. Every trace of haughtiness that was ever detected in her voice had vanished.

"We can't," he shook his head, spoke those words, yet his eyes said something else. They spoke of his need, his desire, his love.

"Why not?"

"Mary you rejected Henry because he wasn't titled, didn't have an estate or money to his name,"

"So you think I'll do the same to you?" She softly asked, walking over to where he stood.

Her stomach dropped as he nodded.

"Do you really think that Mama or Papa would have accepted me rejecting Henry without me giving those reasons. I could hardly have said "Oh Henry's an utter bore and the only man that excites me is Tom," I'd do that now though,"

He took her slender hands in his.

"You would?" Noting her nod of the affirmative he asked, "What if they don't agree,"

Thinking momentarily she whispered in his ear, wrapping her arms around his neck, "they don't get a say anymore,"

Tom grinned, looked into her chocolate brown eyes, and kissed her passionately.

Mary sat content in Tom's lap as they made plans.

"We should go away somewhere, for the weekend, just the two of us," she announced.

"Where? Liverpool?" He chuckled as she playfully hit his chest.

"Anywhere! Let's get away from Downton and all of the memories it holds."

He kissed her glossy hair and he whispered, "Well it would give us a chance to get to know each other, so to say,"

She bit her lip seductively as she agreed.

"So it's sorted, we'll head away tomorrow,"

"What'll be our excuse?"

"I don't know, a pig conference?"

Throwing his head back, Tom erupted with laughter.

"Mary you don't honestly think there are such things as pig conferences,"

"Obviously not," glancing at him through the side of eye. Standing up and straightening her she said, "but the family won't think too much into it. If you'd prefer we could say we need to research a new breed or something. Now come along, the children will be at tea,"

He took her outstretched hand in his own and kissed her once more.

"At least there are two people who will be unconditionally happy for us,"