This was my secret santa gift for the MM secret santa back in 2015. This particular scene takes place between the end of S3 and S3 CS. Enjoy!

Christmas Eve, 1920

"Darling, Cora told me you were looking for me?" Matthew asked as he stepped into the private sitting room Mary had set up for them. Mary looked up at the sound of his voice, smiling at him gently as she nodded. She was seated at her writing desk, but he couldn't make out what was on the surface from his vantage point by the door.

"What do you think of these?" She held up samples of wallpaper for him to see. He stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him. "I'm quite partial to the cream one."

"That's fine." He nodded, moving to stand at her shoulder. "But the paper we already have is fine as well. I don't see why we need change it so soon."

"Oh, it's not for this room. It's for the one across the hall." She stood, putting them eye to eye. He stared at her in confusion, his eyes flickering between her face and the paper. He saw her smirk slightly at his expression, only adding frustration to his confusion. She was toying with him.

"Are you claiming more rooms for our use?" He sounded unsure, as if there was a piece of information that he was missing.

"Of sorts." She continued to smirk at him and he gave up trying to piece together her cryptic clues.

"What am I missing?" He narrowed his eyes as Mary stepped away from him, reaching for the tea pot and pouring herself a cup.

"Seeing as I re-appropriated the room we used to use as a day nursery, I had to find another didn't I?" She continued to smirk that infuriating smirk, but it softened into a smile at the expression on Matthew's face as the meaning of her words registered.

"Mary… I… You're…" He couldn't help the smile that pulled at his lips, his hand reaching out to take her free one. "You aren't toying with me?"

"No." Her smile was just as wide as his. She set down her cup just in time for Matthew to tug her into his arms, wrapping her in a fierce embrace.

"Oh, Mary." He breathed, pulling away just enough so he could press his lips against hers for a soft kiss. "You're pregnant." His eyes dropped to her stomach, still flat as he rested his palm against it.

"Our little prince should be here sometime next summer." Mary placed her hand over his.

"Next summer." He repeated, still in disbelief. "It could be a girl, you know." He couldn't help but add.

"It's a boy. The next one will be a girl." She replied, tone confident.

"Whatever you say, darling. A baby." He pulled her into another embrace, resting his cheek against her hair as he held her close. "You have made me so happy, my darling. So very, very happy." He murmured, brushing a kiss against her cheek, never letting her out of his arms. Mary didn't say anything, relaxing into his embrace. Matthew didn't need her to say the words to know she was just as happy as he was. He could feel it in the way she returned his embrace.

They were going to have a baby.

They had decided not to say anything, not just yet. To be honest, Mary had decided and Matthew was just too happy to disagree with her. That didn't stop him from spending most of time looking at her all throughout dinner though. It wasn't something completely out of the ordinary for him, he had to admit. She would glance over to see him looking, only to shoot him a glare before darting her eyes back to whomever was speaking.

He could feel another set of eyes staring at him in the brief moments he looked away from Mary. His mother was looking at him with the most peculiar expression. Meeting her eye, he tried to school his features into something resembling puzzlement instead of his overwhelming joy. Mary would never forgive him if he spoiled their news without having to ever utter a word.

So he was glad that it was her actions, and not his, that ended up revealing it all.

It, of course, happened just as Matthew looked away from her. The sound of silver clattering on china caused his eyes to snap back towards her. Mary meanwhile sat stiffly, seeming to hold her breath as portions of their dinner were splattered across the footman's livery. "I apologize, Alfred." Mary said tonelessly.

"Is everything alright, Mary?" Robert asked, his face the picture of fatherly concern.

"Yes, I just felt a momentary wave of illness. It's passed now." Matthew watched as she took shallow breaths as Carson attempted to clean up the dropped portion of meal on the tablecloth. "It made me clumsy."

"But you're alright?" Robert reiterated, before Matthew could jump in and ask himself. Mary just nodded, finally breathing as Carson stepped away with the last of the mess.

"Fine, Papa." Matthew could see that she forced herself to smile. Even so, he could see how pale she had gotten and remained to be, how she was breathing through her mouth and not her nose.

"Perhaps you should rest." Cora suggested. Isobel was quick to chime in with her agreement. Matthew expected Mary to refuse so he was surprised when she nodded and stood. He jumped from his chair and hurried to her side to escort her out. As soon as they were clear of the room, Mary turned to face him, pressing her forehead to his shoulder as she took several deep breaths. He smoothed his hands up and down her back, giving her the time she needed to compose herself.

"Are you truly alright? Should I call Dr. Clarkson?" He said quietly as Mary raised her head from his shoulder.

"I just want to lie down." It wasn't an answer to his question, but Matthew wasn't in the mood to fight her on it, not when she was so obviously still ill. Taking her hand in his own, he settled the other on the small of her back as he guided her to their room and into the care of Anna who was waiting within. It took a few moments for Mary to hand Anna her gown and then let down her hair before she was sliding into bed.

"Do you want me to bring you anything?" He asked, taking a seat on the bed near her hip, his hand reaching for her own that rested above the bedclothes.

"Don't stay for drinks." She murmured, peering at him through half-lidded eyes, already on the verge of sleep.

"I'll finish dinner and be straight back up." He agreed easily, pressing a kiss to her forehead before standing to return to the meal. It was an easy request to fulfill; it wasn't as if he had been planning on joining Robert for drinks anyway, not with Mary as she was. "Just rest." He murmured as he stopped by the door for one last look at his wife. It was no use though, she was already asleep.

"I'm sorry I can't stay. But I'll see you tomorrow for Christmas." Matthew said as farewell to his mother. Dinner had just finished and the whole family seemed to sense his need to return to Mary, but he didn't want to miss saying goodbye to her.

"I anticipate it will be a very joyous night." Isobel replied, smiling knowingly. They were locked in a stare and it took Matthew a moment to work out what she was implying, but when he did, he could feel his cheek warm slightly as he blushed.

"Yes, well, that will be up to Mary to announce."

"If she still feels ill in the morning, dry toast should help." Isobel squeezed his arm, smiling widely. "I can't tell you how happy I am for you."

"I'm still in shock about it all, truthfully." Matthew admitted. "But I should go see her."

"Yes, yes, go." Isobel shooed him. "I'll see you both tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Mother." He pressed a kiss to her cheek, bidding the rest of the family goodnight as he hurried to rejoin Mary.

As he reached their bedroom door, he was tempted to join her straight away. He could see a faint light shining from within and hoped that she was awake after her brief rest, but he knew that Mary would frown at him wrinkling his clothing if he joined her still dressed as he was. So he forced himself to detour to his dressing room to change, leaving everything for Molesley to sort out later.

Mary was still asleep when he finally joined her. She had changed since he saw her last, and her hair was properly tied back for bed as opposed to loose as she had it before. There was a full tray abandoned on his side of the bed so he assumed Anna had tried to get Mary to eat something, but was unsuccessful.

Lifting the tray to set aside, he winced as the plates rattled at the movement. Mary stirred at the noise, her hand reaching out to the spot where the tray had been. "Matthew?" Her voice was gravely with sleep.

"I'm sorry." He apologized, setting down the tray and then reaching for the light. "Let's go to sleep."

"Mmm." Mary hummed as he finally joined her, shifting so her head settled on his chest.

"My mother knows." He whispered into the darkness, hoping that she was asleep so that he wouldn't be forced to deal with her ire that their secret was out.

"I assumed she would figure it out." Came her sleepy reply. "The nausea was ill-timed and I'm afraid I couldn't disguise it well. No doubt Sybil would have put it together as well."

"She was so happy. I can just imagine how Cora and Robert will react."

"I should think it will make for a perfect Christmas gift."

"So we are telling them tomorrow?"

"I think our little prince demands it after his performance tonight."

"I hope you know how truly happy you have made me, my darling. Happy Christmas." Matthew pressed a kiss to her hair, wrapping his arm around her and pressing her closer to his side.

"Happy Christmas." Her soft reply came just as she resettled against him. He felt her breathing even out as she dropped back off to sleep.

As Mary slept beside him, Matthew was too excited to even close his eyes. Instead, he gazed out the partially opened drapes to see the first flurries of snow begin to fall. He couldn't help but be reminded of the last time it snowed at Downton, and the happiness he felt then.

At the same time last year, he had been alone and Mary engaged to another man. Now they were married and she was pregnant with their child. He never knew he could feel such happiness after all that had happened, but he was glad to be wrong.

1920 had been good to him. He couldn't wait to see what 1921 would bring.