AN: Hey, back with one that has been poking around in my head for a few months. Just a quick word, it's completely AU, no one dies, Matthew and Mary got married with little drama and have already had George. Sybil is just dating Tom while she's in med school. And William the footman, he's not in the story at all but he's not dead either. I've decided it.

I steal some direct dialogue from Mr. Fellowes here and there, all credit goes to him, I own nothing yadda yadda...

Hope you enjoy!

Edith Crawley, wearing jeans a loose striped shirt and a worn leather jacker walked into the ground floor offices of Grantham Publishing, past the various employees who smiled at her in greeting as she made her way over to Charles Carson as he was giving instructions to one of his editors

"Good afternoon Charlie" She brightly said

Charles turned at the greeting and smiled

"Hello, Edith you're a bit early"

"Just excited to see you, especially after being away for three months" Edith beamed as she stood on her tip toes to place a kiss on his cheek

Charles put his hand on her shoulder to guide her across the office floor

"Let's go to my new office and catch up, shall we?"

Edith realized they were going in the opposite direction to where Charles' office was and gave him a puzzled look while she said

"Why did you change offices?"

As Charles opened his door and waited for Edith to enter as he replied

"We just ran into some logistical issues. Doesn't really matter, and this is fine for me anyway"

Not satisfied with the answer Edith gave him a skeptical look as he sat down across from his desk

"So, how is our star author?"

"I don't think I qualify as a star author anymore, but thank you for saying that" Edith dejectedly said.

Edith had burst onto the literary scene two years ago with her first novel, "An Heiress in Yorkshire" about an American heiress finding love through an arranged marriage to an English Lord. It was the hit of the year in the historical fiction genre, gaining rave reviews from the press, was incredibly successful commercially and practically saved the small and struggling Grantham Publishing. She followed up a year and a half later with a less than stellar effort centered around a middle class lawyer who discovers he is the heir to a Duke then struggles to navigate his new place in society. Her second novel was largely dismissed by critics, wasn't as successful as her first but still made a profit for her publishers

"Oh, nonsense Edith. I know in the end you weren't so happy about the reaction to your latest but you have a great talent and a long career ahead of you" Charles said, trying to be encouraging

"Yes, well maybe that woman from the Times was right, 'Lightening doesn't' strike twice for Crawley' I think it was...maybe I should be like Harper Lee and just retire to the country and be eccentric"

Charles gave her a sad smile and tried once more to encourage her

"You know that critics are paid to find faults, it's their jobs. Please don't take it to heart, you have a lot of fans waiting for your next work, and speaking of, did you come up with any ideas while you were on holiday"

Ready to move on from the topic of her perceived failure Edith brightened and answered

"Yes! I did, I have about two or three ideas that I think are worth a shot"

"Good, I'm sure your editor will love to hear about them"

Shifting in her chair Edith asked

"What are you talking about? You're my editor, you've been looking over everything I've written since I was ten"

Squaring his shoulders Charles was preparing himself for battle

"We hired a new one, a very good, and very expensive one. He's from around here but he's spent the past few years working in New York. He worked on that young adult series about the girl with the bow and arrow, I'm sure you heard of it. I quite surprised we got him actually..."

Shaking her head Edith looked at him

"So you're giving me a new editor? I know 'The Lawyer' wasn't my best but I hardly think it was so bad that you would pass me off to an overpriced gimmick"

"Edith that's not what I'm doing, like I said before you're a great talent and Mr. Gregson is excellent at bringing out the best in his writers. I've known you since you were born and frankly while you were writing your last book I let some things slide because you were in a fragile state, and it was a disservice to you and all of the employees and I won't let that happen again"

Giving him her most stubborn look Edith replied

"I agree it was a bad time for me to finish the book, but I refuse to entertain the idea of some New York...wanker trying to change my work into something that will sell gawdy merchandise"

Realizing the logical approach was going to take more time than he wanted Charles cleared his throat and leaned forward

"Now listen young lady, just because your father helped finance this company and you and your sisters are the closest thing I'll get to children of my own does not mean that you get to call the shots around here-"

Edith opened her mouth to respond but was silenced by Charles raising his hand and giving her a stern look

"The most professional thing you can do, which is the very least I expect of you, is to meet with Mr. Gregson whenever you two agree upon and give it your level best. After a certain time if the working relationship doesn't turn out to be fruitful for parties involved then we will discuss a solution. Is that understood?"

Letting out a deep breath and knowing she was beaten Edith mumbled out

"Yes, Mr. Carson"

"And I don't want to hear you using vulgar language like that again, it's unbecoming" Charles gravely added

"The last time you told me off like that was when Sybil and I took your Rover out for a joy ride around the estate" Edith commented with a sense of humor

"You did happen to leave most of the paint on a tree, if you remember" Charles lightly scolded

Edith smiled at the memory then realized for the first time in her life someone other than the man her and her sisters considered a second father would be critiquing her work

"Right, so when must I meet with this... what's his name?"

"Michael Gregson. He's a nice fellow and terribly hard working, there should be no reason for you two not to get along. He is available right now I think, he's in my old office"

"He took your office?!" Edith angrily asked

"He didn't take anything, we gave it to him to,...sweeten the deal as they say. And I'm quite happy here and happier that we have him on staff, so don't get all worked up"

"I can't understand the nerve of him to take your office when you built this from the ground up, and he just waltzes in, probably taking up half the payroll and wanting all the glory. Charlie, tell me, did you have to fire anyone just so he can buy a new Porsche or something" Edith petulantly ranted as Charles tried to soothe himself by rubbing his forehead

"Edith, I have a feeling that you dislike the idea of Mr. Gregson more than anything, maybe you should come back and meet him in a few days. And for the record he took quite a pay cut from his normal rate to work here so please don't make assumptions"

Edith stood and swung her bag over her shoulder

"No, no I'm already here and we wouldn't want to keep the guru waiting, I'll go meet him now" Edith turned to leave but was stopped by Charles speaking as he moved from behind his desk

"Hold on, let me introduce you two, and if need be, pull your claws from the man's face"