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"I hope you know that really smart people sleep in separate rooms," Mary informed her parents as her father entered her mother's bedroom from his rarely occupied dressing room.

"I always keep the bed made up in the dressing room so at least I pretend that we sleep apart. Isn't that enough?" Robert tried.

"No. Never mind. Good night," Mary quickly replied before leaving. She figured the less she knew, the better.

Cora smiled slightly at Robert - her thoughts still busy with Mary's troubles. She couldn't help but smile wider though as Robert smirked at her. He took off his dressing robe and tossed it carelessly at the foot of their bed.

"I guess that means we're not really smart people after all," he teased. He stared down at her with a glint of mischief in his eyes.

"No. I suppose not," she whispered.

"I'd rather be considered a helpless fool than to sleep away from you."

She blushed and looked down. "Me too." When she looked up at him he was still standing beside their bed. She raised an eyebrow at him. "I may be a fool for asking this then, but why are you still standing there?"

"Well, my dear, you may not have noticed but you are on my side of the bed."

"Pfft. Well, you're not supposed to even have a side on my bed. Both sides of this bed are mine as far as propriety is concerned."

"You just told me you weren't concerned with being appropriate. Or smart."

"So, then you are saying the smart thing for me to do would be to not have you in my bed," she teased.

"You're on my side, Cora" he insisted.

She laughed then paused. "Well, fortunately for us, when it comes down to it, I am always on your side."

"So, darling, are you going to move over?"

"No," she said firmly. She leaned up and grabbed his pajama shirt to pull him down next to her. She kissed the spot below his ear before whispering to him, "I think the only smart thing is for us to be together. To be on the same side. I need to be on your side, Robert. And I need you on mine."

"Cora?" He questioned. Her tone was soft but serious.

"With Sybil. I don't think reacting with anger and forbidding her is going to accomplish anything. She has interests and wants to be involved. We raised smart and stubborn daughters, Robert, if you haven't noticed. They won't stop their passions just because we disagree and they certainly won't do what we demand." Cora placed a slightly lingering kiss on his throat where she noticed his pulse increase slightly since she brought up their youngest daughter's escapades.

Robert ran his thumb over the back of her hand. "I know but Cora -"

She grabbed his hand between both of hers firmly. "But something has happened concerning our daughter's resistance to what we want her to do that I think you'll be pleased about."

Robert looked at her quizzically. "What's that?"

"Matthew proposed to Mary tonight. And before you came in here she told me that she believes she loves him. And has for a while."

Robert looked somewhat stunned. "Well, I never would have believed that even a couple months ago! Wow." He smiled at Cora. "Did she give him an answer?"

"No. She will. I can tell she really loves him and that's the only reason she will marry. She never considered it before when we wanted her to take him. I told you - we have stubborn daughters. But they are smart. Thank heavens."

"Well, we know where they get that from," Robert began.

"Oh?"

"From a certain woman I love whose stubbornness is keeping her from moving to her side of the bed."

"Yes," Cora agreed. "And that stubborn woman is also smart enough to know that if she doesn't move, she will get what she wants from her husband."

Robert pressed his lips against hers. "To be on the same side."

"Always," Cora mumbled into his lips.

Robert traced his tongue across her upper lip before Cora gently bit down on his lower lip. Her fingers combed through his hair as he moved his lips across her jawline. She sighed into his ear as he kissed across her favourite spots he knew so well.

"Robert..." she breathed. He responded with light kisses on her neck. Robert moaned into her neck when Cora's hands eagerly explored his chest.

Cora shifted from beside him into his lap, straddling him confidently. She leered down at him and was excited by the look he returned. His hands raced up her sides. His touch was firm but gentle as he felt her curves over her nightgown. Cora grabbed his hands in hers, intertwining their fingers in both hands.

"My dear, Cora," he rasped. "You're on my side. I need you on my side - on my side of the bed tonight with me. I don't care what the really smart people say. All I want to do is really foolish things with you."

"That's no way to talk to a lady, Robert Crawley. Luckily for you, I am nothing but a fool when it comes to you."

"Oh, then we are definitely on the same side," Robert smirked before pulling her down against him. Cora began undoing the buttons on his silk top and demanded in a low tone, "Good. Now, kiss me and remind me why I'm happy to be a fool."


Cheesy corny fluff. I hope it was somewhat enjoyable. Xo