A/N: Hi everyone! I'm darkwolf76 and I've been a long time reader of fanfics in the DA fandom but have never attempted to write one before, so I have to admit I am quite nervous. I am going to warn you a head of time that while this is an M/M story, it does not have a lot of fluff in it and is quite dark. The idea just popped into my a while ago and wouldn't go away until I attempted to write it in the form of a story. I have never seen this AU route explored in a fic on this site and wanted to try it out. I hope you find it interesting at least and please leave reviews! I welcome any constructive criticism or comments you might have, but please, again keep in mind that this is my first DA fanfic and go easy on me! Thanks!

Disclaimer: The characters, settings, and events of Downton Abbey belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV and not me. Otherwise a certain two characters wouldn't have died…

'Why does Mary always have to be so stubborn and why do I always give in to her?' Matthew thought frustratingly. The wind tousled his blond hair as he sped along the road in his AC, rushing from the train station to the Downton hospital where his wife and child were waiting for him. He should have been there waiting for Mary so he could be there to see the baby right after it had been born. He should have come home from Scotland when Mary came home. 'Mary and I shouldn't have gone to Duneagle in the first place'. Matthew shook his head as he mentally chided himself for not being more firm with her when she had insisted they accompany the family up to Duneagle for their summer holiday and later when she had insisted she travel back to Downton early alone. 'But why am I worrying?' He thought chuckling to himself, pulling up next to Downton village's hospital. His child, his and Mary's child, had likely been already delivered, safe and healthy. Knowing Mary, she was probably impatiently wondering why it was taking him so long join them. 'Because my Mary's a storm braver, if there ever was one. And Mother was with her. Everything is just fine'. Mary possessed more strength than most people, even most of her own family, gave her credit for, and Matthew's mother, Isobel, was a skilled nurse. Between her and Dr. Clarkson, the birth surely had gone smoothly. Matthew, now firmly self-assured and filled with the excitement of meeting his child for the first time, leapt out of his car and raced into the hospital to be with his family.

He walked quickly down the passage way to find what room Mary and their baby had been placed in and was greeted by Isobel Crawley, a sullen and empty expression on her face.

"Mother! How are Mary and the baby? Everything is well?" he asked eagerly with grin, his excited eyes flitting around. His excitement ebbed considerably, however, when he registered his mother's weary expression and hesitant silence. At second glance he noticed Isobel, though she was trying display a calm façade for her son, had red, glassy eyes, swollen almost as if she had been crying. She also seemed to be trembling slightly. He frowned, dismayed. 'The only times I've ever seen Mother cry was when Father and her mother died. The only time she's ever lost her composure like this is when someone's…' He stopped mid-thought, so horrified by the possibility that he couldn't even bare to think it.

"Mother, what happened? Where are Mary and the baby?" he asked, his voice rising in panic. He knew something had gone horribly wrong when his mother looked back at him with a terribly sad expression and a single tear slid down her cheek.

"Matthew, you have wonderful baby boy who is sleeping right the hall. I'll have him brought out here in a couple minutes. But I need you to-"

"Mother, what's wrong with Mary? What happened? I want you to take me to her now!"

"My dear boy," Isobel pursed her lips into a firm, tight line, "Maybe we should sit down for a minute to-"

"Mother, where is Mary? I need to see her now! MARY!" Matthew shouted frantically, pushing past his mother. He rushed down the hall to the entrance of a room from which he heard the wail of infant emanate. He froze where stood in the door way and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the door post for support. His heart seemed to stop for a minute time as time stood still; he then let out his own wail of heart wrenching despair to match that of infant's as the sight of a cold, pale, and lifeless Lady Mary Crawley laying on the hospital bed greeted his eyes.

TBC

A/N: Please leave reviews and let me know if there is something you would like to see in this story! And to those who have already left reviews and have marked this story with alerts, sorry if you thought I posted new chapter. I just edited this one. I'll try to have a new chapter posted in a week. Thank for all the support!