The day after Tom's arrival back at Downton Mary and Edith arranged a picnic to welcome Tom and Sybbie back home. Tom had loved the idea, and with a few directions given to Mrs. Patmore and the new housemaids, the three parents and their three children took to the gardens of Downton together.

"I still can't believe you're really here," Edith said, as they enjoyed their sandwiches.

"Why? Because you missed me so much?" Tom said with a wink.

"We did miss you," Mary insisted. "You'll never know how much," she said, looking at Sybbie.

"I hope it's as much as we missed all of you," Tom answered. He thought for a moment then shook his head. "I couldn't keep Sybbie away from you all. Every day she was asking where George was. It nearly broke my heart," he said with a reminiscent grin.

"I'm glad," Mary declared.

"George and Marigold kept asking us when Sybbie would be coming home," Edith put in. "Neither Mary nor I knew how to answer them."

Tom smiled. "Now they don't need to ask. Things are as they should be." Mary smiled, but Edith looked a little uncomfortable. A few minutes later she decided to take Marigold for a stroll, and Tom and Mary remained on the blanket, enjoying the sunshine. Tom lay on his back and Mary sat next to him as the children toddled nearby.

"I am so very, very happy you're home, Tom."

"Oh, Mary," he sighed, "if you only knew how much I dreamed of a moment like this when I was at Boston," he smiled, put his hands behind his head, and looked up to the sky.

"What are you thinking of?" she asked after a moment. "You seem to be a million miles away."

"Do you sometimes wish we could just hold a moment in time and come back to it whenever we like?" Tom asked dreamily.

"You're being very sentimental," Mary smiled.

"It's because for the first time in a long time, I'm happy. I'm back at Downton, Sybbie is where she belongs, and all is right with the world."

"I'm not quite sure that I can agree with that statement," Mary said. Tom half rolled over and met her eyes. "No moment in time is ever truly perfect," she concluded.

"This one is," he declared. Without thinking he leaned forward and kissed her. It was impulsive and took Mary by complete surprise – but it lasted several seconds before Mary remembered herself and pulled back. She didn't speak.

"That kind of took me by surprise too," Tom said, sitting up.

"Tom – I – what was that?"

"I honestly don't know. It's been such a perfect day and you were looking so beautiful I just… I just wanted to kiss you. It just… happened." He looked back at Sybbie who was finishing her dessert.

"But – Tom…" she never finished her thought as Edith returned a second later.

"Well, did you leave us any cake?" Edith asked as Marigold toddled towards her cousins. Mary and Tom exchanged a glance before turning their attention away.

"I don't know," Mary answered her sister. "You'll have to ask Miss Sybbie."

"I think we can find some cake for Miss Marigold if we look really hard," Tom answered, directing the young girl to the picnic basket. Mary watched him in amazement. He was completely focused on the little girl and was so good with her. For the first time she started to look at Tom differently. He was very handsome, and so loving. Mary felt for a moment that she was seeing him the way Sybil had once done.