This is my first peice of fan fiction. I do not own Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes does. I have written more chapters if you'd like to see more let me know.

This is set immediately after the Xmas Special and is about my favourite couple. Matthew and Mary. There are other people's point of views but that it because you get to see it from all sides.

Chapter 1: The Aftermath:

Mary's POV.

We swung around in the snow. I didn't want him to let go of me. We had to. It was late I had come out without a coat on.

"Are you cold Sunshine?" He'd never called me a pet name before. That was something that I would have to get used to. We were engaged. He stopped twirling

"Sunshine?" I questioned him.

"Your my ray of sunshine. You have been for many years even in those early days and through the war. When I went into battle I took your stuffed toy with me and not Lavinia's picture. You gave me hope to face the future and even after her death you were there for me." It was only then that I realised that I was cold.

"Let's not say a bad word about Lavinia ever. You loved her in your own way and I will not resent you for that. I am a little cold." He took his jacket off and put it around me. It felt warm like it had done when we were spinning around. He made me warm. Richard had left me cold. Tomorrow the scandal would break but it didn't matter to me I had Matthew and one of the advantages I realised I would have is that Matthew is a solicitor. He would protect me in many ways.

"I should be on my way home. My mother will worry." Matthew said. I didn't want him to leave. I looked at the depth of the snow that surrounded us.

"It will be too dangerous to travel tonight. You can stay in the library. The sofas are very comfortable to sleep on. I used to sleep there as a child. When will you ask Papa?"

"Tomorrow morning I think. I will do this properly and go to the jewellers to buy you a ring. I won't dishonour you by giving you Lavinia's ring. You deserve something special." I didn't want him to resent me because of the scandal. I felt that it was right for him to buy me a ring. A ring I would be proud to wear unlike Richard who never bought me a ring because it was against his principles. Matthew's ring was security to me because of the scandal if we were seen out together in society he wouldn't look like my new lover. The announcement would have to be made soon but first we had to tell our families.

We walked inside and asked Sarah for some blankets and pillows to be brought to the library. I didn't want to leave him much like when he was injured during the war but he had Lavinia and I had Richard then. I knew I regretted Richard but Matthew didn't regret Lavinia. Sarah brought in four pillows and some blankets and told her to tell Anna to go to bed. All I wanted to do is look at him like I had many times in secret. He sat on one of the sofas and I joined him. I put one of the blankets around him like I had many times during the war.

"Your already doing your wifely duty and we haven't been engaged an hour." He joked. I smiled but I did want to hit him with a pillow. That didn't bode well for our life together.

"I'm doing it for your comfort. You will have to sleep down here alone if I don't go up to my room Anna won't retire till I have been seen to."

"I heard you tell her to bed when Sarah delivered the pillows and blankets. What will the great Lady Mary Crawley do without her faithful maid Anna? She might be forced to undress herself." I could tell he was in a jokey mood despite him being as tired as I was.

"Shall we try and sleep? We will have a very trying day tomorrow. The scandal will break and we have to tell our families. You didn't do it properly as you hadn't asked my father and you didn't have a ring but you did go on one knee."

"We're not traditionalists are we? I will seek your father and your grandmother's permission if that will make you happy" He took a pillow and put it on his lap. I knew he would have a bad back the next day.

"We're not but I am sure they will give us permission. If they don't then we could elope. We are both above 21." I commented

"You're an Earl's daughter and I am the Earl's heir and a middle class lawyer. If we eloped that would cause a bigger scandal. One we could both do without." He added. I swung my legs up onto the sofa and I put my head onto the pillow. I stared into his eyes. It was like I'd never noticed them before. They were a rich deep blue and completely bewitching. If we had children I hoped there eyes would be like his. He yawned. I arranged the other blanket over my dress. I would never do this with Richard. He would have thought it improper but not Matthew. The war had changed him. It had changed all of us.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked me. I couldn't lie to him not after the Pamuk scandal. I'd never lie to him.

"That if Richard saw us like this he would think that this is improper. Even when we were engaged he'd never do this."

"Do you mind if we never mention Sir Richard Carlisle again unless it is absolutely necessary? I know he was your fiancé but we are a couple now and we should live our lives how we want to and do things we want to do not what he wants us to do."

"I don't mind but we won't be able to avoid saying his name till the fuss dies down. Come on lets sleep." I shut my eyes and nestled my head on his lap. I felt him kiss me onto the forehead. It felt nice and sweet exactly how a kiss should be. That night not for the first time I dreamt of Matthew.

I woke up to the clatter of metal smashing together.

"Oh I'm sorry milady I thought everyone was still in bed." The kitchen maid Daisy I think her name was.

"It's quite alright Daisy. I slept down here last night." I sat up to find Matthew still asleep. He'd moved onto the other sofa and discarded his formal apparel. He looked beautiful and peaceful as he slept. I couldn't wait to wake up to him every morning.

"Will you get Hawkins to drive Mr Crawley back to the village after he's had some breakfast?"

"Yes milady" Daisy left the room. I got up and went across to Matthew who was still sleeping. He looked so peaceful and serene it reminded me of the day he was brought back to the hospital during the war. I whispered "Matthew" Into his ear until he stirred from his slumber.

"Mary" he yawned "How long have you been awake?"

"Not long. I only woke because Daisy came in to set the fire but I sent her away and told her to fetch Hawkins after you had finished breakfast. I can't have you facing Granny on an empty stomach. I suspect the servants hall will be full of gossip now you've been caught sleeping in the same room as me."

"Whatever they say it won't matter and they will know the truth soon." He got up and kissed me. That was the way I wanted to wake up every morning.

Daisy POV: The Servants Hall

"You'll never guess what I saw when I did the Library fire"

"What?" Sally asked. She was ok but not the best person to talk to. She was very talkative.

"Lady Mary and Mr Matthew asleep in the library. She was still fully clothed but he wasn't. She woke up and asked for the car to be brought round after breakfast." I said. Anna came into the servants hall.

"Lady Mary didn't retire last night. I wonder where she slept." Anna questioned. She was nice Anna but had been through a lot.

"She slept in the library with Mr Crawley." I said matter-of-factly. Mr Carson came in in an angry mood. You could always tell.

"What was that Daisy?"

"I just said that Lady Mary stayed the night in the library with Mr Crawley Mr Carson."

"Did she? I knew she was with Mr Crawley last night but not that he'd stayed in the library."

"I took her and Mr Crawley some blankets and pillows last night." Sarah added. Sarah was quiet and really nice then I heard Mrs Patmore's voice bellowing.

"Thank You Sarah." Mr Carson said.

"Daisy if you want a promotion you'd better get back to work."

"Yes Mrs Patmore" I said. The gossip all day would be about Lady Mary and Mr Crawley.