A/N: I'm back! I promised a sequel to "A New Heir to Downton?" and so here it is. Yes, it took me a while and I'm sorry about that.

This sequel takes place in the middle of the birth and the epilogue of my last story. If you have not read "A New Heir to Downton?" I suggest you read it first or it could be a tad confusing.

P.S even though I live in the U.S. I'm still watching the new season of Downton...I don't care if it pretty much gives my computer a new virus every time I upload an episode...it's worth it:)

Love you all! Hope you enjoy the first tiny snippet of the story!

xx Kate

"He's beautiful, m'lady," O'Brien admired from Cora's bedside. Cora held her son close and grazed his porcelain cheek with her thumb.

"Isn't he?" she smiled, gently, never lifting her gaze from the sleeping newborn.

"Everyone downstairs is so anxious to see him," O'Brien informed her.

"Are they?" she smiled.

"Yes, that's all they have been talking about for the last three days," O'Brien laughed. "They have been prodding me for information every time I walk down those stairs."

"I should go down and introduce him then," she smiled proudly up at her maid.

O'Brien chuckled, "Oh, no hurry m'lady. You need your rest," she insisted.

"Nonsense," Cora scowled, "I'm fine, and I want to anyway."

"I really don't think that's-"

"I insist," Cora interrupted, "help me up," she instructed, struggling to find her balance.

"M'lady..." O'Brien warned, taking her hand.

"Enough, I won't hear any more about it, I'm going downstairs," she smiled, using O'Brien's hand as leverage.

O'Brien bit her tongue. She knew there was no arguing with the Lady of the house, but she also knew she was bound to hear about from Lord Grantham. Even so, she helped Cora out of her bed with little Richard James Crawley in tow.

They made their way slowly down the hallways, O'Brien supporting most of Cora's weight. Although O'Brien could see her mistress was struggling, Cora made not a sound; instead, she smiled the whole way down to the servants corridors. Before they reached the dining hall where all of the staff were having breakfast, O'Brien stopped her.

"Are you sure you're up to this, m'lady?" she asked.

Cora smiled genuinely, "You all are as much part of my family as my daughters and husband, you have seen us go through the good and the bad, and this," she gestured down to her son, "Is one of the those good things, and you all deserve to share in our joy."

O'Brien nodded firmly, Cora never ceased to amaze her.

The servants were in the middle of having a lively discussion about the new life upstairs when O'Brien entered, Lady Grantham directly behind her. Everyone got to their feet immediately.

"M'lady," Mrs. Hughes couldn't help but smile at the bundle in her arms, "What can I help you with?"

Mrs. Hughes, along with the entire servants, were completely shocked. It was unheard of for a lady of the house to come tromping through the servants hall in her nightgown, let alone for her to come downstairs with the newborn heir... yes, it was unheard of, but that didn't stop the grins from forming on the servants' faces. They were used to 'unheard of,' Cora Crawley was an American, and she did things differently. Some things defied tradition and Mrs. Hughes had been irritated by numerous of those occurrences over the years, but this was not one of those times.

"Mrs. Hughes, everyone, I'de like to introduce you to our new member of the family," Cora stated firmly, a grin plastered on her face.

Mrs. Hughes chuckled and shook her head, tears forming in the corner of her eyes, "He's nothing less than a miracle, m'lady."

A/N: Shall I continue? :)