We Survived
I do not own Downton Abbey or the characters.
He had wondered when she was going to break down.
After hearing the news of Matthew's death, Sybil had been the strongest one in the room. He had seen the tears fill her eyes, but she blinked them away before anyone could notice. She instantly rushed to her father's side, sliding her arm through his as he faced the window. His hand had come up to squeeze her arm and she rested her head against his shoulder.
Tom had gone to Cora's side, offering her his handkerchief and sitting down next to her. After a long silence, and a few sobs, Edith brought up that someone would have to tell Mary.
Sybil, of course, was the one who volunteered. He decided to go with his wife, offering her whatever strength she needed.
Mary, understandably enough, completely broke down. Tom had taken the newest Crawley while Sybil held onto her sister, once again fighting back tears.
It wasn't until they were alone in their cottage that Sybil had allowed herself to cry.
He had gone to the washroom to clean up. He had come back into their bedroom and found her sitting on the edge of the bed, her whole body shaking. He was by her side in an instant, two strong arms wrapped around his wife's body. She had grabbed at him, burying her face in the crook of his neck.
"I don't know what I would do if you…" she croaked, pulling away to look up at him. Her eyes were bright red from crying, her cheeks wet with her tears.
"Shh, love. I'm not going anywhere. Ever," he reassured, brushing a hand over her hair.
"But what you must have gone through when I was in labor…"
Tom shook his head and dismissed the thought. "Do not think about it, my love."
"I cannot help but to think of it!" Sybil cried, standing up quickly. "It was merely hours ago that Mary and Matthew were celebrating the birth of their son, and now Mary is a widow and that child will never know his father." She pressed a hand to her chest to quell the sobs threatening to interrupt her. "I came so close to that, Tom. I nearly left you without a wife, and our daughter without a mother."
He stood and scooped her into his arms. "But you are here, Sybil. You survived."
"But what you must have gone through…"
"I survived too, Sybil." He tipped her head up and softly pressed his lips against hers. "We all survived. And now, we need to help your sister do the same."