A/N Written for the Andith Christmas Santa Swap, this prompt was originally given to 'Weeredfrenchie'. Unfortunately she is suffering from some ongoing health issues and, being really upset at not being able to complete the challenge and let someone down, she asked me to write it for her.
The prompt is 'Their First Christmas' and they will get there eventually, I promise, they've just got some things to work through first.
I'm not sure who suggested the prompt but I hope if they see this, they will approve of the direction I'm taking.
I'll try to complete it in the next couple of days.
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Merry Christmas, Baby
Edith Crawley flipped the date on the calendar sitting on her office desk in the Humanities Department of Cambridge University where she was senior lecturer in Women's Studies.
"December 23rd, where on earth has the year gone?" she whispered almost under her breath.
Sitting back in her chair, Edith closed her eyes and remembered the absolute train crash that had been last Christmas….
At that time, Edith had been dating Michael Gregson, erudite newspaperman, for almost 18 months. Michael had that kind of easy going charm that made him a hit in small crowds or in large gatherings. Everyone loved Michael – Edith's parents loved him (proof that miracles do indeed happen), her sisters loved Michael (yes, even the 'Ice Queen' Mary) and Edith loved him. So very much.
Edith and Michael had been invited to Downton for the traditional Crawley Christmas. The Crawleys were a pretty modern bunch but even for modern aristocracy, there were some traditions that had to be upheld!
Everyone, Edith included, thought that Michael would propose at Christmas and there was an air of excitement and anticipation around the old Abbey.
Christmas Eve saw the Crawleys and Michael in the family pews for the annual Downton Parish Church Midnight Mass. The ancient ceremonies imbuing all present with a sense of peace and calm.
It was on Christmas morning that things went epically, spectacularly wrong…
"Merry Christmas my love!" Edith excitedly exclaimed to Michael
"Do hurry along, you have gifts to open!"
Michael seemed less than enthusiastic at the thought of opening gifts with the family and asked Edith if they might take a walk in the grounds. Edith agreed, earning excited 'knowing' looks from her mother and sisters...
Edith and Michael walked along the grounds in companionable silence until Michael suddenly stopped walking and pulled Edith to a stop. He took both her hands in his and motioned them both to a nearby bench. Michael was clearly ill at ease.
"Michael, are you okay?" asked Edith.
"To be honest, Edith, no I'm not. I need to talk to you about something."
Edith felt her stomach lurch to her feet. Whatever it was he had to tell her, it was not going to be good.
"The last 18 months with you have been the most super fun….." he started, almost haltingly.
"And I think that you're a great girl and all….but I wonder if we're really right for each other…..in the long term….."
Edith looked at him as if he had been speaking a foreign language.
"What are you saying, Michael? I don't understand what you're saying!" Edith was starting to panic, apparently with good reason.
"I just think that we should take a break for a bit. See if this is definitely what we both want", Michael continued on lamely.
"Are you breaking up with me?" Asked Edith, trying her best to keep it together.
"I think it might be for the best…."
"But why?! I don't understand! We're happy aren't we?" Desperation creeping into Edith's voice.
"We are, were, yeah but you know Daniella Martin…" Edith's blood to turned to ice in her veins.
Daniella Martin. Executive Editor of 'The Associate' – powerful, poised, beautiful and an absolute man eater.
"Daniella was at that conference a few weeks ago in Madrid, you remember the one? All of the press corps were there….anyway, she….we….. I'm sorry Edith.." Although the look on his face made it quite plain that he was far from sorry.
Edith was simultaneously heartbroken and incandescent with rage.
"HOW COULD YOU?! I TRUSTED YOU! YOU KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT YOU PUT ME THROUGH THE ABSOLUTE CHARADE OF CHRISTMAS WITH MY FAMILY! HAVE YOU ANY IDEA WHAT YOU'VE DONE?! HOW COULD YOU BE SO CRUEL?!"
Michael mumbled some pathetic, borderline incoherent apologies and then left. Leaving Edith sobbing her heart out on the bench.
Unbeknownst to Edith, there had been witnesses to her humiliation. Her mother and sisters, fully expecting a proposal and not wanting to miss the big event, had followed the couple out and now stood, stalk still, in shock.
Edith's mother Cora recovered first and ran to comfort her. Closely followed by her sisters, even Mary.
"Oh Edith! My darling girl! I'm so, so sorry! What an utterly wretched man!"
"Oh Mama! I loved him so much! What am I going to do now?!"
"Oh sweetheart! You're going to have a good cry and you are going to go on. You are far stronger than you think and I promise you, I PROMISE YOU, by next Christmas, all this will be a bad memory"
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Anthony Strallan – shy, bookish lecturer in English literature, was also sitting in his office at the university contemplating the disaster that had been his Christmas last year.
6'4", blue eyes and 47 years old, Anthony hadn't really celebrated Christmas since the death of his beloved wife 10 years earlier and he was doing just fine thank you very much! He enjoyed his solitary Christmas Day of Chinese food, the Queen's Speech and an old black and white movie.
Last year his forthright, you might even say pushy, younger sister Charlotte, had other ideas.
"Anthony! You cannot continue to live like a monk! You're 47, not 147! We are hosting a Christmas gathering and you WILL attend. Do I make myself clear?!"
Anthony knew that there was absolutely no point in trying to argue with 'Charlie' when she got a bee in her bonnet about something so he drove to her country pile, arriving just before noon on Christmas Day.
"Anthony darling! So GOOD to see you! Journey alright? Do come along, I've got so many people waiting to meet you!" Trying to have a conversation with Charlie was a bit like trying to converse with a category 5 hurricane and Anthony immediately felt overwhelmed.
He escaped to his room for 10 minutes of solitude and to dress for dinner.
"Its one night old boy, just one night" he muttered quietly to himself.
When Anthony entered the drawing room for pre-dinner drinks, he knew he'd made a dreadful mistake… There were maybe 3 or 4 couples and at least 6 unaccompanied women! He took Charlie by the arm and ushered here into the corner of the room.
"Charlie! What on earth is this?! It feels like I'm being forced to participate some odd upper class version of 'The Bachelor!"
"Oh don't be such a stick in the mud Anthony, its just a bit of fun! Who knows, you might actually enjoy yourself!"
"Somehow I doubt it!"
At dinner Anthony was seated right in the middle of the group of ladies. He groaned inwardly as he was forced to endure question after question from the women - was he single? Was he gay?!
Honestly, it was like the deli counter at the supermarket – "now serving number…!"
Anthony was humiliated. Humiliated by his sister's less than subtle attempts at matchmaking and humiliated that he had to, at times impolitely, tell these women that he was unequivocally not interested!
He retired to bed feeling utterly exhausted and older than ever.
The following morning, he managed to slip out of the house before the rest of the party had woken up and was soon on the road back to Cambridge. He knew he would catch hell from his sister for 'sneaking out like a thief in the night' but he really didn't care.
As he drove back he thought, "Well that was a nightmare. Surely next Christmas will be better…
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Five months on from their nightmare Chrismases, Edith and Anthony found themselves at the end of term for Cambridge and time for the Graduates Ball. This celebration was thrown by the University for the Graduating Class and attendance by all faculty members was mandatory.
Following her disastrous December at Downton, Edith had positively thrown herself into work. If she didn't think about it, she didn't feel and that was good enough for her.
She knew she would be required to attend the Graduate Ball and she was nervous. It would be her first social outing since last Christmas and she wasn't sure she could do it.
Edith had chosen a 1920s style turquoise silk gown as her sartorial suit of armor for the evening.
"Well, if I'm going to be miserable, at least I'm going to look good doing it" she ruefully thought.
Anthony meanwhile, had returned to his hermetic ways following the awful Christmas at Charlotte's but, in common with Edith, he was mandated to attend the Graduate Ball.
"Time to dust of the tux, old boy. At least none of Charlie's friends will be there" Anthony thought to himself.
The Cambridge Graduates Ball was held at Trinity Grand Hall and all the great and the good of the University were there.
Edith was trying desperately to extricate herself from a conversation, well monologue actually, from her faculty head and get herself a drink, when Anthony walked in.
Anthony hated these things. He scanned the room for two things, a quiet corner to stand in and a drinks waiter. However, his reconnaissance was interrupted by a vision in turquoise silk, obviously stuck in a dreary conversation.
Looking back later, Anthony could still not identify what had made him do what he did. He was NEVER normally so forward but, he was a gentleman and when he saw a 'damsel in distress' he knew he had to act.
"Ah there you are, darling! I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting but there was a dreadful queue at the bar"
"If you'll excuse us, Dr Walker. Do have a pleasant evening".
Anthony gently led Edith away from a rather stunned Dr Walker.
"Forgive my intrusion but you looked like you needed rescuing there" said Anthony, handing Edith a glass of ice cold champagne.
"Er, I, er, yes, I did! Thank you ever so much…..I'm sorry I don't know your name" said Edith.
"You are quite welcome. I'm Dr Anthony Strallan, I teach in the English faculty. May I ask your name?"
"Oh, oh yes of course, I'm Edith Crawley, I teach Women's Studies in the Humanities faculty."
"Well, its an absolute delight to meet you Miss Crawley and may I say how wonderful you look this evening".
Edith blushed lightly and looked into the bright blue eyes of her companion and felt her stomach lightly somersault. "He really does have the most astonishing eyes" she silently mused.
"Likewise Dr Strallan and thank you again for rescuing me there. Dr Walker is a dear woman but this is not the time to discuss gender roles in the digital economy, however interesting I find the topic!"
Both Anthony and Edith laughed lightly and smiled shyly at each other.
"Gosh, you're rather lovely!" they both thought.
"It would appear that you are as fond of these big gatherings as I am" Anthony said.
"Indeed so, I'm really not terribly good in social situations and I find these types of things a real challenge but, as you know, they're part of the job. I love my students, I love my research but socially, I'm a nightmare!" confessed Edith.
"Well Edith, they say misery loves company. Would you consider being miserable with me this evening?" Anthony asked tentatively.
"I would be absolutely delighted to" smiled Edith.
Anthony and Edith found themselves in a comfortable nook at the edge of the Great Hall and they began to talk. They talked about their work, politics, music, current affairs, literature, art and their families -realizing that they had something particular in common in that they were both children of the British Aristocracy and they were both horrified by the thought of using their titles!
"I'm not Lady Crawley! They're my sisters!" Edith laughed
During a slight lull in conversation Anthony quietly asked "Would you like to dance, Edith? It seems like such a shame to waste the opportunity of dancing with a live big band."
"I would love to. Thank you. Although I warn you, I'm not much of a dancer!"
Anthony took Edith's arm and gently led her on to the dancefloor.
The music re-started and Anthony took Edith in his strong arms. For all that he was a tall, substantial man, he was surprisingly light on his feet and led them both around the dancefloor with real ease.
"Gosh Anthony, you really are a wonderful dancer!"
"Thank you my dear. I haven't really danced since my wife died. It's good to know that I haven't lost my touch."
"Oh Anthony I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bring up sad memories for you."
"Please my dear, don't apologize. You weren't to know and sufficient time has passed that I can take comfort in the memories and not feel the acute sting anymore. Besides, I'm rather enjoying making this new memory, dancing with you."
Anthony blushed furiously, afraid he had been too forward.
At this point, the tempo of the tune changed to a much slower tune but rather than pull away from him, Edith pulled him closer towards her, wrapping her left arm around his broad back and keeping hold on his left hand, with her right. As she did, they gently swayed to the music.
A casual observer might remark that it was so good to see an established couple enjoying the grand occasion. Little did they know that these two had only met hours before but, unbeknownst to one another, had connected on a deep soul level.
Edith was in heaven. Allowing herself to relax in Anthony's solid hold and breathing in the fresh scent of his cologne.
Safe. That was how he made her feel. How could this be possible after only a couple of hours, she mused.
Anthony was sure that he was dreaming and that, any moment, he would wake up alone in his Cambridge flat.
That had to be it. There was no way on God's little green earth that he could actually be dancing cheek to cheek with the remarkable young woman that was Edith Crawley.
In the space of 2 hours she had captivated him with her dry sense of humor, her intelligence, her rapier wit and yes, her astonishing beauty. Red blonde hair, flawless porcelain skin and the deepest, warmest brown eyes he had ever seen. Anthony was smitten.
Although neither of them would have admitted it, each was very much enjoying being able to hold the other so close. They didn't leave the dancefloor all night.
At the end of the evening, Anthony escorted Edith home to her little flat.
"Thank you, my dear, for an absolutely perfect evening. I enjoyed myself immensely" said, Anthony.
"Its me who should be thanking you, Anthony! You saved me from the lovely but overwhelming Dr Walker and gave me a wonderful evening! Will I see you tomorrow at college?"
Edith immediately regretted seeming so, well, desperate to see him but, she was.
Anthony's face lit up at the thought that tonight was not going to be the end of it.
"I should be delighted, my dear. I have a faculty meeting at 9am to tie up some loose ends before the end of term but I would love to take you to lunch if you are available?"
"That sounds perfect, shall I come to your office at say 1pm?"
"Lovely.".
Anthony had his hands on her waist (how on earth did they get there, he mused) and she had her hands on his firm biceps. Neither wanted to relinquish their hold on the other. They smiled and blushed quietly.
Gathering her courage, Edith moved on to her tippy toes and ever so gently kissed Anthony on the cheek. He returned the gesture by slipping his hands further around her waist and kissing her on the forehead.
"Goodnight my dear, I'll see you tomorrow. Sleep well"
"Goodnight Anthony."
Safely inside her flat, Edith replayed the evening's events in her mind. She could not believe her luck. She went to the social because she was obligated to do so but now, she thanked her lucky stars that she did.
After everything that she went through with Michael last Christmas, Edith thought that she would be alone forever. Michael made her feel worthless. Made her feel unworthy and unlovable. After tonight and a few short hours with Anthony, she realized how spectacularly wrong Michael had been. She was worthy of being loved and absolutely capable of giving love. She just needed the quiet, gentle Dr Strallan to come along and show her the way.
When Anthony returned to his flat, he too replayed the evening's events in his mind.
What on earth possessed you to approach that beautiful woman?! Mid conversation too! You cad, you! He smirked wryly to himself.
Well, thank God you did old boy. Edith Crawley might be just about the best thing that's ever happened to you. Tomorrow can't come soon enough.
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