Author's Note: So here we go: My first slash story. I'll try to be quick with updates. I think I've got the story mostly worked out, but I am open for suggestions. The perspective will be alternating each chapter. Jimmy/Thomas/Jimmy/Thomas, etc. As always, thanks for reading.

Chapter One: In which, Ivy can't escape Alfred, and Jimmy can't escape Ivy.

Jimmy, Ivy and Alfred sat on the grass, leaned against a wall outside Downton's kitchen. "Come on, Ivy," Alfred practically whined. "We rarely have the same day off. Are you sure you won't walk to town with me?"

"No, Alfred. I already told you—I have mending to do that day," Ivy explained, exasperated.

"But that won't take you all day, will it?" he persisted. Ivy shot him a pointed look.

"Why don't you ask Daisy to go with you. I am sure she would love to go with you, but I will be busy," she said. Alfred huffed in response and drug himself to his feet. Sweet Jesus, Jimmy thought, quit making such a fool of yourself. She's just a girl.

"I guess I'll just go by myself then," he growled before shuffling inside. Ivy sighed.

"Poor Alfred. He's nice, but…"

"But he's not me," Jimmy responded with a mischievous grin. Ivy swatted his shoulder. "Calm down. He'll find someone eventually," Jimmy hurried to say to save himself from another swat.

"But what if he doesn't? What if he ends up like Mr. Barrow?" Ivy asked in an exaggerated whisper. Jimmy laughed.

"Oh, I don't think there is much trouble of that!" Jimmy snorted again.

"Stop it. I'm being serious. Mr. Barrow is very handsome and done well for himself. If he can't find a wife, then I don't think there is much hope for Alfred. Why are you still laughing?" Ivy said losing her patience.

"I'm sorry, Ivy," Jimmy manage to respond while attempting to catch his breath. "I'm not laughing at you or Alfred, but really you don't have to worry. Alfred won't wind up like Mr. Barrow."

"How do you know that?" Ivy persisted crossing her arms.

"I just doubt that Alfred will start liking men that's all, especially not after seeing the way he chases after you."

"I don't know what you mean."

"Oh come off it! You have to know Alfred would kill to be your sweetheart."

"No not that. I don't know what you mean about liking men," Ivy said scrunching up her eyebrows. Jimmy looked at her stunned for a moment. Really? She doesn't know?

"The reason Mr. Barrow doesn't have a wife is that he doesn't want a wife," Jimmy said slowly.

"Doesn't want a wife? Why wouldn't he want a wife?"

"'Cos he likes men." Good lord, are we going to talk in circles all day?

"What do you mean Mr. Barrow likes men? Of course he does. He is one, isn't he?" Ivy laughed, still obviously confused. Jimmy sighed.

"I guess the best way to explain it is that Mr. Barrow likes men the way Alfred likes you," he attempted.

"But, you said Alfred fancied me…," Ivy said slowly still not quite comprehending. Jimmy tried to think of something else to say. Jesus, this girl is daft. Before he could put the words together, Ivy's eyes grew wide with understanding. "Oh!" She gasped. "How… how do you know?"

"He kissed me! But, Alfred came in and stopped it all," he explained, astounded that everyone in the house didn't already know, but then again, Mrs. Patmore kept her kitchen maids close under her wing. "Eh, don't tell anyone I told you that," Jimmy said rubbing the back of his neck with his hand. He pushed himself into a standing position and pulled a still dumbfounded Ivy to her feet. "Come on we better get inside before someone notices we are missing."

…..

As Jimmy went about his duties the rest of the day, he couldn't help but feel a bit bad for telling Ivy about Thomas. Since the whole fair incident a few months back, Jimmy really was trying to be his friend and talking about him to Ivy didn't seem like something a friend would do. Of course, I don't know much about what friends do and don't do, do I? Never really had much time or tolerance for friends. He really had just assumed she knew. He didn't mean to tell. It just kind of happened. Stop feeling so guilty. You didn't do anything wrong. Everybody downstairs gossips.

Jimmy tried to push the thoughts away as he helped Carson set the table for dinner. If he was being honest, he did enjoy Thomas's company. He was much cleverer than Alfred. They could actually talk about things—the news, books, pomade, and other important things. Alfred really only wanted to talk about Ivy. Jimmy almost rolled his eyes at his own inner monologue. Just because I'm handsome doesn't mean I'm not intelligent.

"James, could you please focus your attention on the task at hand," Carson barked. "There is no need for an additional place setting unless you know of a guest of which I have not been made aware."

"No. Sorry, Mr. Carson," Jimmy responded collecting the last few pieces he put on the table.

As he made his way back downstairs to put away the extra cutlery, he cursed Carson silently to himself. He almost ran straight into someone coming up the stairs.

"Easy, James," Thomas said catching Jimmy's arm as he nearly tumbled down the last flight. Once Jimmy regained his balance, Thomas snatched his hand back quickly as if he had been burned. Jimmy noticed a slight flush even cross his pale face. Thomas touching him didn't make Jimmy uncomfortable. However, it did annoy him a bit that even after all this time Thomas was still afraid Jimmy would go running to the police if he even looked at him sideways. "Sorry 'bout that," Thomas mumbled, dropping his gaze, which annoyed Jimmy further.

"You know you can call me Jimmy if you like," he answered with a slightly exasperated breath. Thomas looked up at him slowly. Jimmy couldn't tell if he was angry, upset, or confused. "You know 'cos we're trying to be friends now," Jimmy rushed to explain.

"Alright, Jimmy," Thomas amended before brushing past him and hurrying upstairs.

As Jimmy continued on to the kitchen to collect the first dish to be sent up, he couldn't get the image of the flush on Thomas's cheeks out of his mind. It was so vivid against his creamy skin. It stood out more than Ivy's ridiculous rouge. It looked much nicer, too. As Jimmy took a tray from Daisy, he shook his head to clear his mind.

"Are you feeling alright?" Daisy asked.

"I'm fine. Fine," he responded turning to take the tray upstairs. What's wrong with me? I must be in need of a good night's sleep. I'm starting to think ridiculous things.

…..

After the family's dinner, Jimmy stepped outside to get some fresh air and hopefully, to clear his mind. He leaned against the wall and closed his eyes taking a deep breath. He could smell the smoke coming from the kitchen with a hint of spices. He hoped the spices were from his dinner and weren't just lingering from the upstairs food. What I wouldn't give for some of me mum's old cooking or anything other than stew…

"Jimmy," a tentative voice called. Jimmy peeked out from under his lashes to see Ivy leaning against the wall next to him. He opened his eyes all the way.

"Yes?"

"So you remember how I told Alfred I had mending to do so I couldn't walk to town with him?"

"Yes." That was just this morning.

"Well, I was lying," Ivy said with a sly, little smile.

"I assumed you were," Jimmy answered. Anyone with half a brain would know you were lying. I guess that's why Alfred couldn't figure it out.

"Well do you know why I said it?" Ivy pressed.

"'Cos you didn't want to go with Alfred," Jimmy guessed. What is she getting at?

"Partially, yes. But, also because I would rather you walked me to town," Ivy said blushing furiously.

"Oh, er, I don't have the same day off as you," Jimmy managed.

"Couldn't you ask for the same one, or at least the morning? I am sure if you were back by dinner, Mr. Carson wouldn't mind," Ivy begged, sounding too reminiscent of Alfred for Jimmy's liking.

"Sorry, Ivy. I don't think I can," Jimmy replied. He tried to keep the harshness out of his voice, but he wanted to get his point across. Thinking the conversation was finally over, Jimmy made a move to go back inside, but Ivy stepped in front of him. What the hell?

"Are… are you… are you like Mr. Barrow?" she whispered.

"What? What on earth gave you that idea?" Jimmy snapped.

"When you told me about him kissing you, all you said was that Alfred came in and stopped it. You didn't say what you would have done. Well, what you would have done if Alfred hadn't come in?" Ivy demanded, hands on her hips.

"I would have pushed him bloody well off me," Jimmy stammered. "Jesus, Ivy, just because I don't fancy you doesn't mean I don't fancy women at all."

"That's not what I meant," Ivy responded looking like a cat about to pounce.

"Well, that's bloody well what it sounded like!" Jimmy shouted before ducking past her to escape inside the servants' hall.