A/N: I don't actually remember writing this but it was in my S/B folder and warmed my heart a little when I read it. I suppose Sybil was meant to have gone away to London for a time and Tom stayed at Downton. Not very realistic but I miss Sybil, so I tend to over-do these things these days.

Set long before they admitted anything to one another. Probably round series 1.

"I've missed you."

Tom spun around at the sound of the soft voice that he wasn't expecting. He saw her standing in the doorway to the garage, looking very shy with her hands behind her back and her eyes glancing downwards.

"Missed me, milady?"This caused her to look up and giggle slightly. Tom thought it was the loveliest sound.

"Yes, Branson. You," she stepped toward him. "Whenever I was bored – which was several times, believe me – I contemplated taking a drive just so I could talk to you. But then I remembered that I was in London and you were back in Downton," she walked forward until she was stood just in front of him. "And every time I got into the car, I nearly started speaking to our London chauffeur. He's a stuffy old conservative and I imagine he would have been very shocked if I had spoken to him as we do." She laughed again and this time, so did he.

"I'll bet," he smiled down at her and her shyness seemed to evaporate as she met his look with an equal of her own. "I missed you too, you know," his voice had become very soft and Sybil began to notice how close they were standing and how much she had missed his voice, his accent, his bright and lively eyes. She had a sudden urge to hug him and before she could lose the courage to do so, she threw her arms around his neck. Tom was very surprised for a moment before he realised he was being hugged by Lady Sybil Crawley. His arms went around her waist and pulled her closer.

"I've really missed you," she whispered into his neck. He squeezed her tighter, lifting her off the ground slightly. When he put her down – somewhat reluctantly – and pulled back, she didn't let go.

"Well, we've a lot to catch up on, haven't we?" he smiled at her. "Maybe you could organise a nice long drive?"

Smiling slightly, she shook her head. "For now, I'd just like to stand here with you." She pulled him back into the hug and they just stood there, like that; neither of them knew for how long. He ran his hands up and down her back while she pushed her fingers through the hair at the back of his neck. Were it up to either of them, they would never have moved. So it was probably a good thing that they were interrupted by a shout from outside.

"Mr Branson?" It was William. Sybil and Tom put enough distance between them to avoid suspicion before the footman entered the garage. "Mr Branson, his Lordship wants the...oh, sorry milady."

"That's quite alright, William," Tom was amazed by her ability to act as though the past moments hadn't happened. "I was just asking Branson here if he could take me to York"– York? Nice long drive was right – "on Wednesday. There are some things I want to get that you can't get in Ripon. I should have asked you or Thomas to tell him but you seemed busy."

"Very good, milady. Should I tell his lordship, or will you?"

"I'll tell him at breakfast tomorrow, thank you William."

She nodded to them both, giving Tom one last secret smile before leaving the garage. She didn't know that she wore a contented little smile all day, nor that Tom was strangely distracted and took a moment to respond whenever he was spoken to.