Hi, I've decided to post on fanfiction net also some shorter works which I previously published on the Tumblr I co-manage, Patano & Bijou's Corner (link in my profile). I plan to post here various ficlets, drabbles and oneshots that are either gifts, responses to prompts or challenges, or works written especially to celebrate a particular occasion. I'd greatly appreciate if you would tell me which pieces are your favourite ;) Firstly, I'm posting two event ficlets. The first one was posted as a contribution to the Rock the AU! Easter challenge, while the second one as a birthday present for my friend and co-manager of our S/T-themed blog, bijou156.

A Very Bunny Easter

1924

Great Saturday was very hectic that year; it was the Bransons' first Easter in Ireland after they had returned from their banishment. Hence, Sybil and Tom decided to invite Tom's family for a festive dinner. The young Mrs. Branson was very determined to show the Branson clan how much she had learned during the last five years.

It wasn't an easy task, though. That Easter was also the first one that they would spend as a family of four, and little Patricia was only four months old. While Sybil did not yet return to work even on a part-time basis, she still sometimes went to the hospital if any additional help was needed. Tom tried to help his Sybil as much as he could, but he had to work more now that he was the sole provider of the family. As such, once it all became coupled with the additional stress related to Easter preparations, Sybil began to feel overwhelmed. She felt little joy at the prospect of the impending celebrations.

The door opened. Tom and Saoirse returned from the shop. Sybil got up from the chair to greet them, but before she could make any move, Saoirse sprinted into the kitchen.

"Look, Mama! We have a bunny!" the little girl exclaimed and pointed at a little box that she was holding in her hands.

Sybil looked at her husband questioningly.

"Someone wanted to throw the poor thing away. We couldn't allow this, could we?" Tom explained.

Sybil only nodded. It was so like Tom – to care even about homeless rabbits. But it didn't mean that she was thrilled at the prospect of a new addition to their family, which entailed also more responsibility since it was clear that a four year old girl could not take care of a pet only by herself.

Later, when Sybil was baking a cake for the next day, she heard merry laughs coming from the adjacent room. She immediately decided to check what was the source of her family's merriment.

In the drawing room, Tom and Saoirse were sitting on the floor and intently observing the rabbit, which was hopping carelessly throughout the room. The little animal was simply itself and full of life; it didn't care much about the past, the present and the future. Its joy came from the simple fact that it was alive. Life. Easter, the holiday which is all about the celebration of life.

Sybil smiled and returned to the kitchen only in order to turn off the stove.

A few minutes later, Tom found her sitting on the armchair in their bedroom with a glass of egg-nog.

"Sybil, I just want to say that if you don't want this rabbit to stay, we may find it another home, " Tom offered as he sat on the edge of their bed.

Sybil shook her head. "No, it clearly brings Saoirse a lot of joy. And you know what? This rabbit made me realize that the more hectic our life is, the more I enjoy it."

Her husband could only grin in response. "It's been always like that, hasn't it?"

"But I forgot about it all recently because I was thinking only about starting anew in Ireland. I wanted for us to be accepted here once more."

"We are accepted here."

"I forgot about it. We left Dublin four years ago, darling. I just wanted to fit in again. But you're right – we just live and do not care about what others think. That's been always our way of living; and the more hectic our life is, the better. Even if we are not perfect."

Tom reached for her hand and squeezed it in agreement.

"Also, remember that the Branson clan likes when things are hectic and far from perfect," he finally whispered and grinned mischeviously.

Each time Tom Branson had that grin on his face, his wife could do only one thing – give him a loving kiss.

X

A Birthday Present for Mama

Saoirse Branson had mixed feelings about her family's visits at Downton. On the one hand, she thoroughly enjoyed seeing her Ma's relatives (maybe except for Grandpa Robert who always seemed somewhat strange to the little girl), but on the other hand, Downton was often simply a boring place to be. Saoirse liked her cousins George and Violet as well as playing with them, but at Downton children weren't as free to do what they wanted as in Dublin. Saoirse couldn't imagine, for example, having a real playground battle below Grandpa Robert's window. She had to admit, though, that there were certain pastimes that Dublin did not offer, especially pony riding. But then, part of those activities' charm lay in that she could indulge in them only a few times in a year.

All in all, Saoirse certainly didn't mind visiting Downton in general, but this time she did. This year they were to celebrate her Ma's birthday during their stay at the Abbey. Each year, Saoirse went with Da to the meadow on the outskirts of Dublin where Sybil had often taken her daughter for walks in a pram, and picked fresh flowers for a special birthday bouquet. Then, they always headed for Ma's favourite cake shop and bought a different pastry each year.

Saoirse didn't like the fact that this year they would not follow this custom. Yes, Great-Granny was thoughtful and had sent a bouquet of truly beautiful roses from her garden, but for Saoirse that wasn't enough. She wanted to put some effort into her gift for Ma, not to just give her flowers that had been delivered directly to her room, evenly cut and tied with a magnificent ribbon. The little girl then thought about the annual visit to the cake shop, but she didn't even know where cake shop was in the Downton village. Actually, the sad truth was that pastry from any other cake shop than her Ma's favourite one wouldn't mean the same.

Suddenly, an idea hit her. Why not to bake Ma a cake? Saoirse recalled that one day Da had told her and Patricia a story about Ma baking a cake together with Mrs. Patmore in Downton's kitchen. She had extremely enjoyed this story and did not forget the tone of admiration in her father's voice. Yes, she would bake a cake herself, just like her Ma did!

Having decided to do so, the girl left her room with an intention to go to the kitchen. However, as soon she closed the door, she bumped into Cousin George who was searching for her to propose a game of cricket in the gardens.

"I'm sorry, but I can't play with you now," stated Saoirse curtly, but seeing puzzlement on her cousin's face, she quickly added, "Please don't tell anyone… I want to bake my Mama a cake for her birthday."

Her explanation only enhanced George's confusion. "I don't understand… you will bake it yourself?"

"Yes."

George's eyes grew even wider. "Does this mean… that you'll go downstairs?"

Saoirse laughed merrily at her cousin's dread. "Of course, what's so scary in going downstairs?"

"Nothing, but… I've never been there and I don't know what it looks like there… and I don't know people who work only in the kitchens and do not come here," the future Earl of Grantham clarified.

"I've been there several times with my parents. People downstairs are really nice, so don't worry about me," Saoirse assured the boy and waved him goodbye. She couldn't waste any more time.

George merely sighed and watched as his cousin began descending the stairs. He liked Saoirse a lot, but had to admit that she was sometimes really strange.

"Can you teach me how to bake a cake, Mrs Patmore? Just like you taught Mama once?"

Mrs. Patmore looked fondly at the child in front of her. Yes, the elder Miss Branson was definitely her parents' daughter and showed spirit even at such a young age.

"As you wish, Miss. Can you do anything at kitchen?"

Saoirse smiled delightedly in response, took the kettle from the nearby table, and directed her steps towards the sink.

Mrs. Patmore could only watch with wonder as the little girl confidently and skillfully prepared a cup of tea.

Just as Saoirse opened the door to her parents' bedroom, she saw the two of them kissing passionately, holding each other in a close embrace. The child sighed loudly. She could never decide whether she found her parents' habit of frequently expressing affection endearing or off-putting. Personally, she thought that it was charming, but then, most of her classmates at school claimed that it was "Yuck!".

Once Tom saw his daughter standing in the doorway, he released Sybil from his embrace and decided to leave the room.

"I love you, Ma!" squealed Saoirse excitedly as she approached her mother and handed her a wonderfully smelling chocolate cake and a bouquet of the Dowager's finest roses.

When Sybil Branson noticed what was in Saoirse's hands, her eyes welled up with tears. She remembered.

Later in the afternoon, Cora Crawley entered the Bransons' bedroom in order to give her daughter a birthday present. She was surprised to see Sybil sitting in the corner of the room, smiling fondly at the cake lying at the table in front of her.

Cora did not have to ask any questions to understand what was going on. "I've never told you this before, darling, but when you baked that cake with Mrs. Patmore… before you went to the nursing college… I was watching you while you were working in the kitchen…"

In response, Sybil looked at her mother with watery eyes.

Lady Grantham, in turn, put her hand on Sybil's shoulder and whispered, "I'm telling you this… because I perfectly understand how you feel."