Once fallen twice shy

A/N One of my favourite films is City of Angels; I intended this to be a crossover fic but changed my mind as I wanted to use only the characters we know and love and thought Downton needed a supernatural element.

In this story, which takes place after 3.5, I assume that Cora, Isobel and Anthony were once angels who sacrificed their immortality for love of Robert, Dr Crawley and Maud respectively; only Anthony was taken back into the heavenly realm. Now desperately in love with Lady Edith he dares to contemplate a second fall for love knowing that this time there will be no going back. He also has no injury here.

Prologue Deal with God

September 1890

Sir Anthony Strallan felt helpless as he sat beside Maud's bed; his face was awash with tears as he watched her. She was flushed with fever as her body became wracked with yet another convulsion as the childbed fever took a hold of her frail body.

He had never anticipated this although he had known it was a risk. Invariably angels such as he had been gave up their immortality for love of a mortal; only to lose them, probably a cruel way of redressing the balance.

He did not need to be told that their son had died for he had heard the final muted cry long before the nurse had put her head around the door to utter the heart-breaking words, "I'm sorry Sir; the bairn is with the angels now."

It was something mortals often said; little knowing and scarcely understanding. Anthony could not blame her; how could she know after all. It had been hoped too many times that the fact that one parent had been immortal would stay the hand of death. Anthony Strallan had been immortal. Then he had seen Maud; concentrated his efforts on being near her to comfort as best he could without touch. She had lost her father and been distraught. His feelings had grown and one night he had braved the storm and thrown himself from the highest tower of Ripon cathedral. A mortal man would have died from such a suicidal fall but Anthony had become mortal as a result. They had married and he had loved her; experienced touch, taste and smell as well as passion and he could never regret a moment of the short five years they had had together.

She seemed relaxed for a moment and clasped his hand.

"Anthony, my darling; I want you to listen to me very carefully,"

He wiped her forehead not bothering to dry his tears.

"I love you and don't think I have ever forgotten your sacrifice."

He looked into her hazel eyes/

"Maud my love; I would rather have had just one kiss from your lips, one touch from your hand and one night in your arms than an eternity without."

"I know; oh Anthony, I can't bear to leave you alone; especially with you not being truly of this world."

She began to convulse again. He realised she was raving but then realised she wasn't; she was speaking to someone in a strange tongue that he was surprised she could know. She was talking to the Archangel Michael.

"I truly honour Anthony's sacrifice but I cannot bear for him to be left alone and broken hearted; Please take him back to the heavenly realm until he should fall for love of another woman who will truly need and love him as I have done. I love him so much that I would do anything; give anything, that he not be alone after I leave. Please."

Tears ran down his face; he had known she loved him but not this much; it mirrored the love he had felt for her that had caused him to fall. But Anthony knew that once an angel had fallen for mortal love there was no way back.

He clasped her in his arms; not bothering to conceal his grief.

Moments later Lady Maud Strallan died in her husband's arms.

Anthony closed his wife's eyes and covered her face with the sheet. As he did so he was certain he felt a rush of wings. The room filled with a bright light. He found himself facing an angel he had once known.

"Anthony, I have come to take you with me. She loved you so much that her request has been heard. You will come with me and in thirty years you will fall again for love of another not yet born."

The light surrounded them both and when the nurse came into the room moments later she found only Maud's body; there was no sign of her master.