The pure blue sky and warm sun made for pleasant scenery as Lady and Lord Grantham made their way down the pebble path arm and arm.

"What I beautiful morning," Robert commented happily. It was his favorite part of the day - his mid-morning walk with his wife.

"I'd have to agree with you," Cora grinned ear to ear. On the outside, Cora was calm, cool, and collected. But in truth it was a mask. She had no intention of worrying anyone unnecessarily - considering all they had been through in month - but she hadn't quite been feeling herself lately.

In the mornings she would feel faint and extremely warm and in the afternoons nausea would wash over her like a wave. She had to admit, it was beginning to concern her. She had been convinced that it was a passing illness - maybe the common cold - but it had been relentless for the past month. She wondered if she should alert Robert, or at the very least O'Brien and get a second opinion on what it could be.

"Are you alright, you're awfully quiet, my dear," Robert stopped and turned to her concerned. "Cora, you're as pale as sheet," he observed, alarmed.

She brushed him off with a laugh, "Don't be silly, I'm always pale darling, I'm fine."

He accepted her excused without heed, "Well if you insist," he paused, and Cora held her breath that he wouldn't bring it up again, "We should discuss what's going on with Sybil," he said instead.

Cora sighed, relieved with the change of subject, "What about it Robert? Our daughter is interested in politics. We knew she had an inquisitive mind by the time she was a year old," Cora laughed, "Don't you remember when we were convinced we had lost her and it turned out she had just wandered into the servants hall?"

He chuckled and pulled Cora against him more tightly, "I do."

"Yes, Robert. We knew she would have interests that Mary and Edith didn't seem to have...we have to accept her for who she is," Cora said gently.

"I realize that...it's just so...unladylike, and not to mention dangerous! Cora, she was injured yesterday! She's our baby and I don't want to see anything happen to her," he said, defeated.

"Oh Robert, nor do I," Cora frowned. She suddenly felt extremely light headed, but brushed it off as emotions.

"No one ever tells you how hard it is to be a parent of a teenage girl," he laughed.

"I agree that boys seem somewhat easier to handle...although, unfortunately, I'll never know that for sure..." she said sadly.

"Oh, Cora, don't dwell on that," he kissed the top of her head lovingly.

"It's hard not to with all of this heir business we've been attending to...I think about it every day. How much easier it would have been if I could have just simply produced a boy...an heir to Downton...a son for you..." she stopped and put her hand to her forehead. She was beginning to feel hot and her vision was suddenly darting in and out, black patches blurring her eye sight.

"Cora, I wish I could say something to make you feel less guilt, but"-

Cora placed her hand on Robert's shoulder to stop him, "I do apologize but I think I need to sit down for a moment," she told her husband.

"Are you not feeling well?" he asked, concerned, helping her to the nearest bench.

"It should pass...it always does," she lowered herself to the bench.

"What do you mean, 'always'," he raised his eyebrows down towards his wife.

She sighed, "It's been happening for a while now, I didn't want you to worry..."

"Cora, you can't be serious, you were ill and you thought it best not to tell me?" he shouted, obviously offended.

"I'm not ill, Robert," she huffed, "It's not serious at least...just a few faint spells here and there is all," she sighed, looking away from him.

"I'm calling Doctor Clarkson," he insisted.

"Don't be ridiculous, I'm not going to waste his time and mine for something so meaningless." She was gaining her vision back slowly but surely.

"It's not a waste of time when it has to do with my wife's well-being!" he snapped, clenching in hands into fists at his side. Cora was the one thing that kept him going each day, his one love, and he was not going to sit back and watch her ignore something that could be harmful to her health.

"I'm a big girl Robert, I can handle this myself," she told him, hoping he would take her word for it and leave it at that. She took a chance and stood, desperate to get away from her worried husband. She faltered a bit, her blurry vision occurring for just a moment, but then recovered and started walking swiftly back to the house.

Robert shook his head in frustration but followed her anyway.

...

Cora counted herself lucky because by the next day it seemed that Robert had forgotten the incident all together. He was concerned with the situation regarding Sybil and also seemed to be busy handling an issue having to do with John Bates. She too had her mind on other things...such as Matthew's proposal to Mary, and Mary's need to tell Matthew her horrid secret...none the less she thanked God for the preoccupants. In the meantime, her 'illness', if one could even call it that, seemed to be getting worse by the hour. They were soon heading to London for the summer, so she hoped the time away from Downton would give her the rest her body seemed to so desperately need.

...

Whilst in London, Cora hadn't begun to experience any change. She continued to feel ill in the mornings and afternoons and the only break from the sickness she got came after dusk. It was a blessing in disguise that she felt well at night because it was the only time she feared she wouldn't be able to keep it from Robert, considering they shared the same bed. She reassured herself she would check in with the doctor upon arriving back in York.

So here she was...pacing in her bedroom.

She had sent a message to the doctor and he had, as promised, arrived not too long after thier arrival home.

He had done a series of tests - poked and prodded here and there - and had told her the diagnosis...which was something she couldn't seem to fit her head around. He had just left the room and she still couldn't seem to accept it. It just couldn't be true...could it?

Robert was on his way up to his wife's bedroom when to his shock, the doctor, was on his way down.

"Hello doctor, I didn't know you were here," he greeted the man.

"No, Lady Grantham sent a message," he informed.

"Why? She's not ill, is she?" he asked, concern passing over his face. His mind flashed back to the day back in spring. Was this the same illness?

"Not ill, exactly," the doctor smirked.

"Would you mind waiting in the library," he asked. Not sure of what to think, Robert quickly dashed upstairs.

Without knocking, he flew open the door. His wife stood by the bed, her mouth was agape, but the expression on her face didn't seem to one of agony, worry, or distress - but one of surprise, and...joy?

"Cora?" he asked his hand still on the door.

Her open mouth suddenly curved into a slight smile.

"What's wrong? Why was the doctor downstairs?"

"I have some news..." Cora began.

He stepped towards her, his heart was racing.

"Are you sick?" he asked.

"No, Robert. I'm not sick darling..."

"Then what?" What else could it possibly be?

"I'm pregnant," she answered slowly.

He stopped and plopped his limp body down on the bed. He couldn't feel his feet...his legs...any part of his body for that matter.

"Pregnant?"

Cora's face melted into a frown, "Well, you needn't be so shocked," she said offended.

"Give me a moment, you haven't been pregnant in eighteen years..."

"And I'm pregnant now," she said harshly.

"I don't understand what we've done differently..." he started.

"Stop right there. If you want to know more, go down and offer the doctor some whiskey," she hissed.

This wasn't quite the response she'd been hoping for.

"I can't take it in," he breathed apologetically.

"But you're pleased?" she asked hopefully.

It was true, Robert was seriously in shock, but he was also happy and he certainly didn't want his wife to believe he was anything but.

He took her small hands in his, "Of course I'm pleased," he said lovingly, bringing her hands to his lips and then kissing her briefly. She sighed contently and they embraced.

"I love you Cora," he breathed into her hair.

"Oh, Robert, I love you too darling," she replied, kissing his neck.

Her hot open mouth on his skin drove him mad, but he knew the doctor was downstairs waiting, and it was rude to keep him.

"I'll be back my love," he separated from her and nodded affectionately.

"Hurry...I'll be waiting," she whispered suggestively.