Downton's annual Christmas celebration for the villagers was always a welcome change of pace for the staff. One night each year, the guests in attendance were people of the staff's status, rather than of the Crawley's. Many of the guests were familiar to the staff, faces from the village, and even friends. As Downton's butler, everyone in the village knew of Thomas. He had been invited to sit on committee and to join groups and clubs, all of the things Mr. Carson participated in over the years. Thomas hadn't considered these obligations when the job of butler was hastily offered the year before, in the same spot he stood now serving the villagers. He became involved in the community slowly, like dipping a toe in chilly ocean water. Though he didn't consider any of the people he met that year his friends, they greeted him warmly that evening, and he wondered if perhaps they could be friends someday.

Thomas also wondered if he was supposed to recognize a man on the other side of the great hall who kept finding his eyes over the crowd. Thomas smiled politely each time, then returned his gaze to the glasses on the table before him. After an hour of the game, he looked up from pouring a glass to find the man on the other side of the table, smiling broadly, waiting for a drink.

"I'm sorry, have we met?" Thomas asked, returning the smile.

"I don't believe so, no. You're the butler, right?"

Thomas handed a glass to the man and nodded once. He poured more glasses and handed them to other villagers. "Are you new to the village?"

The man shook his head, his light brown hair shifting into his eyes. He brushed it aside, then adjusted his tie. "Lived here all my life, though this is my first Christmas at Downton since childhood. What's your name?"

"Mr. Barrow."

"No, your first name."

Thomas handed out another glass, but his eyes were on the man's this time. "It's Thomas."

"Pleased to meet you, Thomas," the man said, raising his glass. "I'm Eli."

"Pleased to meet you, too, but I must return to my duties," Thomas said, raising a glass as well before handing it to someone else.

"Or what? The butler will punish you?" Eli chuckled when Thomas quickly met his eyes. "I'm kidding. Sort of."

Thomas rubbed his lips together to wipe away a smile. "Enjoy your drink."

Eli handed the full glass back to Thomas. "This was only an excuse to introduce myself," he said, and then blended back into the crowd.

Thomas's heart fluttered, not sure if he had misinterpreted the interaction. But, no, Eli was very likely flirting. The feeling wasn't as familiar to Thomas as it once had been, but it was undeniable. And why try to deny it, Thomas asked himself. Enjoy something for once. It's Christmas, after all.

Thomas asked a footman to take his place at the table. He jogged downstairs to his office, wrote a note on a slip of paper, and jogged just as quickly back upstairs. He folded the paper and set it under the foot of a wine glass on a tray, then added a few more glasses. He carried the tray quickly through the crowd, past the Christmas tree, over to where Eli now stood chatting with two couples Thomas recognized from the village. Thomas offered the drinks to the group, turning the tray so Eli would see the glass with the paper. Eli noticed it immediately. He scooped the glass from the tray, one hand on the top and one at the bottom, and then slid the paper into his jacket pocket. Thomas and Eli looked at each other quickly, long enough for each to see a smile in the other man's eyes.

Thomas was distracted for the rest of the night. Any sight of Eli made Thomas's cheeks warm, and when Eli wasn't in sight, Thomas's thoughts raced. He imagined getting a drink with Eli, and it turning into two drinks and then three, and then getting an invitation back to Eli's home. Did he live alone? Was he even available? Thomas snubbed out any thoughts of doubt. Don't deny yourself this glimmer of joy, Thomas reminded himself.

As the staff mingled with the villagers, Thomas noted that Eli greeted Andy with familiarity. As soon as he could get a moment of Andy's time, Thomas asked casually how Andy knew Eli.

"He's a farmer. Sheep and goats," Andy informed Thomas as they both filled the final round of glasses for the evening.

Thomas imagined Eli using a pitchfork to distribute hay, sweating and shirtless, muscles flexing as he grunted with effort. He cleared his throat and blinked hard, smiled at a confused Andy, and took the last tray of drinks for a walk.

In his bed that evening, Thomas stared at the ceiling with his fingers laced across his beating chest. He wanted to know everything about Eli, and as more time passed in the dark, alone, he wanted to know everything about what Eli looked like under his suit. He allowed himself to picture the farm scene again and closed his eyes, his hands traveling from his beating chest tor his stomach, which was rising and falling with ragged breaths. He stroked himself and sighed through parted lips, licking them between quiet moans. Of all the things he could fantasize about, it was the attention Eli had given him that excited him the most. He couldn't recall the last time he'd been lucky in that way, and certainly not from someone so handsome and promising. He recalled Eli's smiling, deep brown eyes. He pictured light kisses from Eli's pink lips growing warmer with passion, and then Eli's fingers replacing his own on himself as the kissing continued. His head tilted back as his climax built, and he bit his lip and gasped as he came, picturing Eli looking on with a pleased smile.

The piece of paper Thomas handed Eli listed three times and places over the next two weeks where Thomas would be at a pub after hours. Eli didn't show up the first two times, but Thomas didn't lose hope, and on the third night, Eli arrived exactly on time. He found Thomas at a table in the very back of the pub. No matter what night of the week, the pub was always crowded, and Thomas knew their conversation would be lost amongst the din. Privacy among the masses, Thomas called it. There were electric lamps on the walls casting a warm yellow light on the crowd. A man played a variety of songs on a piano which could still be heard above the noise.

Eli was wearing a different suit than the one he'd worn for the Christmas celebration, and Thomas realized he had assumed that a farmer wouldn't need more than one nice suit. What else have I assumed wrongly, Thomas wondered.

The smile Eli greeted Thomas with was even wider and warmer than his smiles at the celebration, and he looked practically giddy to sit across the table from Thomas. Perhaps he's been having similar fantasies about me, Thomas thought. They both placed orders for drinks, and Eli added an order of chips.

"I hope you don't mind," Eli said bashfully. "I had dinner, but today was long, and I'm starving."

"Order whatever you'd like," Thomas said, grinning as he lit a cigarette. "Care for one of these?" he asked, holding up the box of cigarettes.

"Oh, no thank you. They kill my appetite and now I have my heart set on eating an embarrassing amount of chips in front of you."

Thomas chuckled. "Why would you be embarrassed?"

Eli waited for the barmaid to set down their drinks before speaking. "Because I want to impress you."

"With your eating skills?"

Eli smiled and shook his head. "Teasing me already? We've only just met."

"I'm a tease, what can I say?"

Eli raised an eyebrow. "I hope not too much of a tease."

Thomas felt his cheeks grow warm. He took a drag to calm himself, breathing in deeply and then exhaling slowly, away from Eli. "Time will tell."

Eli chuckled. "Not too much time, I hope."

The basket of chips was deposited in front of Eli and he looked at them cautiously.

"Is something wrong?"

"I feel silly eating alone. Will you have at least one?"

Thomas rested his cigarette in an ashtray and lifted one of the chips the same way he had held the cigarette. He inspected it, then took a bite. The hot, fried potato felt decadent compared to what Mrs. Patmore has been serving the staff now that economics were worse and food costs were higher. Eli could tell Thomas enjoyed the chip and pushed the basket further across the table.

"What should we order for the second course?" Eli asked as he ate a chip in one bite.

"My goodness, multiple courses. This is turning into quite the outing."

Eli raised an eyebrow while waving a chip. "I told you I wanted to impress you."

The two laughed and talked, here and there revealing more and more personal information. Eli lived alone, Thomas learned. He grew up in the village and moved back recently after his father's passing to take over the family farm. He had also served in the war, and his older brothers served and died. A sister passed during childhood, and mother not long after, and so Eli was the last of his immediate family. The more Eli shared, the more Thomas felt that he was being trusted as if they were already friends. The evening began to feel intimate, special, and Thomas hoped, just the start of something.

"Did you decide what you wanted for a second course?" Thomas asked as he and Eli split the last chip.

Eli finished his drink and leaned closer to Thomas. "I have bread and cheese back at my cottage, and some wine as well. Maybe we could eat there instead."

Thomas's eyes went to Eli's lips, looking for a sign from his smile whether he was truly offering a snack, or something more. It wasn't that Eli was hard to read, but it was hard for Thomas to believe such a lovely, handsome young man was inviting him over. How long had it been? Thomas wondered. Who cares, we're here now, another part of him replied.

Eli attempted to pay but Thomas stopped him, insisting that he had done the inviting and would therefore do the paying. Eli held the door for Thomas as they exited, and Thomas noticed how calloused Eli's fingers were from hard work. I've never been touched by calloused hands, Thomas thought. Other servants, or nobility, or people in similar worlds, but not a man like Eli. Not even during the war.

The cottage was about a mile away, back towards the Abbey. It was much colder than when Thomas walked to the pub, and he wished he could wrap an arm around Eli as they walked. Eli occasionally bumped shoulders with Thomas and apologized, blaming the drinks, but Thomas wondered if Eli was distracted by similar thoughts of walking in each other's arms through the cold night.

Thomas had walked by the cottage hundreds of times in his years at Downton. There was a silly wood carving of dancing sheep on the door that often made him smile. Eli took Thomas's coat and hat, then took off his own jacket and rolled up his sleeves to light a fire. He gestured for Thomas to sit, but instead Thomas paced the cottage while Eli prepared a plate for the two to share.

"You could open that wine if you'd like," Eli said over his shoulder, nodding to a bottle by the sink.

Thomas opened the wine and poured it into glasses drying by the sink. He carried them to Eli's small kitchen table as Eli carried the plate, but Eli motioned to the floor by the fire instead. Thomas took off his jacket and sat cross-legged by the fire. Eli sat with his legs to the side and scooted until he was nearly touching Thomas's. He lifted the glass to Thomas, drank a sip as Thomas savored his, and then spread cheese onto a thin slice of bread. He held it out for Thomas, but pulled it back when Thomas reached for it with his fingers. He held it out again, but Thomas wasn't sure what Eli wanted.

"Eat," Eli said, holding the bread to Thomas's lips.

Thomas tentatively took a bite, his lips just barely touching Eli's fingers as he closed them. He closed his eyes as he chewed, took a sip of wine, and shook his head. "That's absolutely delicious."

"Thank you. I made them both."

"Really? I can barely toast bread let alone bake it."

Eli chuckled. "Would you like another?"

Thomas nodded, and kept his hands in his lap as Eli fed him once more, this time letting his fingers linger.

Once Thomas swallowed, Eli leaned forward and kissed Thomas's cheek. Eli's eyelids were heavy as he gazed at Thomas's lips. "Is this alright?"

Thomas nodded, holding his wine glass tightly as Eli kissed the same spot on his cheek softly, tenderly, slowly.

"I like you very much," Eli whispered into Thomas's ear.

"I'm beginning to notice."

Eli took Thomas's wine and set it on the hearth.

"You're quick-witted," Eli whispered as he placed slow, soft kisses on Thomas's cheek. "You're sharp," he added, kissing Thomas's jaw. "And so, so handsome," he said finally, kissing Thomas's neck.

Was this real, Thomas wondered. It felt too much like one of his fantasies. Eli's hands and lips hadn't gone lower than his neck, but Thomas could feel Eli in every part of his body. He breathed deeply, his eyes closed, leaning into Eli's lips and fingers as they explored.

"Is this moving too fast?" Eli asked, sitting back to look over Thomas's face.

"No, why?"

Eli cradled Thomas's face in his hands and shrugged. "You look distracted."

Thomas laughed and averted Eli's eyes. "It's just been a very long time since I was paid this kind of attention."

"That can't be true," Eli said, finally kissing Thomas on the lips.

Thomas inhaled sharply, his fingers quickly finding themselves buried in Eli's thick hair, pulling Eli closer. Eli kept his kisses slow, but Thomas made them deep, both men sighing as Thomas's tongue slowly slid past Eli's lips. Though Eli's fingers may have been calloused, his lips weren't chapped from his days outside. They were smooth, soft, and growing fuller as the two continued kissing.

Eli broke the kiss and brushed his hair from his eyes. "Shall we move to the bedroom?"

Thomas looked up at Eli's smile illuminated by the now roaring fire. "I like it right here," Thomas whispered.

"Are you sure? This floor isn't very comfortable."

"How can I feel any discomfort when you're looking at me like that?"

Eli ran the back of his finger along Thomas's bottom lip, then kissed him again. Thomas was lost in the kiss and barely noticed as Eli freed him of his tie and collar, and then from his waistcoat. Eli then removed everything to his waist without breaking the kiss. He sat back on his knees, looking down at Thomas, pleased to watch Thomas take him in.

Eli reached for Thomas's shirt buttons, but Thomas put his hand over Eli's. "I'm a bit older than you. And less… athletic these days."

"Oh, please," Eli said, his hands back on Thomas's shirt. "Just a peek at your neck tells me I'm going to love everything below it," he whispered, placing a slow and gentle kiss just beneath Thomas's ear.

Thomas closed his eyes, but kept his hand on his shirt. "And like I said, it's been so long for me."

Eli sat back again and waited for Thomas's eyes to open before speaking. "Then let's not rush."

Thomas sat up quickly. "No, I'm sorry. I want this. I want you."

"I can tell," Eli chuckled, rubbing Thomas's cheekbone with his thumb. "We can pick up right here next time," he added as he slipped his undershirt back on.

Thomas sighed regretfully and stared at the fire. It was much nicer with Eli's shirt on the floor.

"It's alright, I promise. I went too fast."

"You didn't."

"I did," Eli said as he slipped his arms through his shirtsleeves. "I'm not normally like this. Maybe it's because you've been on my mind so much."

Thomas blushed and gave a half smile, his eyes still averted.

Eli rose to his feet and offered a hand to Thomas. Thomas accepted the assistance, and continued to hold Eli's hand once he was standing. He felt foolish for ending the evening, but also relieved. Letting someone get so close so fast never ended well, Thomas thought. If Eli can wait for a second date, or a third, then maybe there was a real chance of something more.