Hello! If you've read GranthamGal's fanfic, "Falling Stars", here on FanFiction, this is something like it. If you haven't read her fanfic, I encourage you to read it! Very cute RobertxCora one-shots. This is NOT a continuation, or even something to compare to it, but it's more of my own take at it.

I'll follow her own guidelines: 1. Every one-shot is based on a prompt from the Tumblr blog, imagineyourotp - 2. Every prompt is randomized, and I HAVE to do whatever I get - 3. Everything is RobertxCora!

I'll try to update it a lot, but God knows that I'm a horrible procrastinator who's not good at all with long-term projects. XD I don't know when I'll stop, but I'll be going on for a while. I can't promise you anything, and I'm not a very good writer, but I hope you enjoy my stories!

Imagine your OTP getting ready for a formal event. Person A's tie isn't tightened enough and Person B fixes it for them. Then Person B pulls Person A by the tie in for a kiss and, just as it's starting to get good, smirks and mutters that they have to leave. Person A is left with ruffled hair, red cheeks and a whispered promise of more in their ear.

It was going to be the first party the couple would have since Mary's, their first child, birth. Aunt Rosamund, his sister, had dropped in that very morning, with yet another man in the crook of her arm. All his mother could mutter grimly about behind Rosamund's back was about "her and men older than her own brother". But luckily, his mother didn't bring out her claws this time, and for that he was grateful. Everyone was more or less quiet with joy at the fact of there being another Crawley in the household. It wasn't too much of a hard delivery, but through the anxiety and worry a beautiful, healthy daughter was born. Even the footmen and servants moved with more meaning, always murmuring a "congratulations" of some sort whenever the proud mother or father swept by with their baby in the arms.

And he was proud. At any given moment, Robert Crawley had at least a small smile on his lips, enlarged at any mention of his successful child. He wasn't too upset over the fact that their child didn't turn out to be a boy, for heir reasons, but he was still very, very proud. Since him and Cora had finally grown closer together over their years after a hurried and pushed marriage, Robert had come to love her more and more each day. Finally they came to a point where they could share looks across a crowded room, or mouth something under a breath and the other would understand. It was much preferred over their awkward silences and stares and spats while they courted, and even well into a year of their marriage they had issues with each other.

"Remind Carson to buy me a new bowtie," Robert stated matter-of-factly as he watched his valet produce a shiny black bowtie from a drawer. As his valet came forward to dress him in it, he turned around to face the long mirror and continued. "This one is starting to loosen at the seams."

"Very well, Your Lordship," his valet cleared his throat and responded, his hands faltering a little as he tied the bowtie around his collar. Then Robert saw in the background of his mirror his valet holding out his dinner coat, so he routinely slipped both arms into the sleeves.

"Thank you," he muttered as his valet finished brushing his coat. With the door held open for him, he walked dignified out of his dressing room. In one of the long hallways to the dining room, he noticed his lab, Pharaoh, following him not-so discreetly from behind, his claws clicking on the hardwood floor that gaped between the rugs. "Go on, boy," Robert argued with not too much effort, turning around to meet the yellow puppy. "Go on." But instead of making a leave, his dog commenced to bark excitedly, probably going on a craze because of the cologne he was wearing. Huffing in half-annoyance under his breath, the earl gently picked up the puppy and started back down the hall.

"Robert?" Looking to his left, he saw his wife Cora and her maid come up to him from another hallway.

"Here." He shifted Pharaoh over to the maid, who in turn curtsied and then left with the dog.

"What were you doing with the dog? Bringing it to the dinner, perhaps?" Cora managed a small laugh in the quiet hallway, the sound of the dinner being readied coming from a few doors down.

"Not that Mother would appreciate its presence, I'm afraid," he replied with a smile, restlessly glancing down the hallway. "Let's go."

"Wait." He watched with surprise as Cora stepped towards him, reaching out her small hands. Silently he waited, almost embarrassed, as she fiddled with his bowtie. "It's falling out."

"I told Mr. Watson to notify Mr. Carson about it," he quickly assured, his voice dropping low as he noticed how close to him she was. A few moments later, he blurted, "We'll be late, dear. Do you want me to ring for -"

"- There." She took a step back, drawing her hands away from his chest. With her gazing at his face, and him somewhat restless because of it, he noticed how lovely Cora was looking tonight in her new black dress.

Fine. They could stare at each other later for as long as they wanted, but Robert wanted to go. He sharply turned away from her towards the dining room, but he didn't get the chance to move further as she snatched him by his bowtie and drew him into a kiss. He didn't fight back despite his initial instincts, and instead he kissed her back harder. It was a passionate battle between their lips, and shortly his arms were around her waist, and her hands were in his soft hair.

He let out a loud intake of breath as they pulled apart for air, his skin heating up and his eyes blinking with shock. Since when did his sweet and quiet-natured wife began doing this sort of thing? Especially when someone could come barreling down the hall to view this unruly display? Her after-birth hormones, he supposed. But it wasn't like he just stood there and did nothing, either. "I -" Robert began.

"- Your mother should be wondering what the waiting is for." She put her lips to his reddening ears and whispered, "Later." Then Cora gave him a smile - or was it a smirk? God knows - and walked soundly away from him without pausing or waiting for him.

Robert could only stare dumbly at where she disappeared into the dining room, his mind reeling. Half-heartedly remembering his duty, he peered into the mirror that hung on the wall beside him, fixing his ruffled hair and trying to cool down. And then he frowned slightly as he caught sight of something in the mirror. His bowtie was falling again.

Thanks! This is my second fanfic that I've ever written, so reviews would be greatly welcomed!