Let's Get Married
Author's Note: To be honest, this is just some silly ViPat thing I wrote that takes place when Patrick and Violet are five-year-old's and they decide to get married. Because I don't think any one has done kid ViPat before and I can see the two of them having playdates and deciding to be five-year-old's and getting married to each other. In this fic, Roberta is eight-years-old so she sort of understands, but not really. So here, have some cute kid ViPat.
It was a rare occurrence that Violet and Roberta's parents would visit their friends at Downton Abbey. More often than not, Roberta and Violet would visit without their parents to play in the nursery with Patrick. On one such afternoon, Violet and Patrick were sitting on the floor playing with two of Violet's dolls when Patrick made an odd statement. "I wonder what being married is like. For happy people, not like our parents most of the time," he said.
"Why would you wonder that? It's silly; being married is silly," Violet replied. "Except if you're married to a friend. Friends are forever."
"We're friends Violet," Patrick said. "We could get married."
"Alright, let's get married Patrick. When will we get married?" she asked.
"Now? Roberta, do you know how people get married?" he asked, turning to Violet's older sister.
"Not really. I know there's a ring involved, because mama wears a ring that she says papa gave her when they got married, but you can get Violet one later. I think you need to both want to get married, and only have play-dates with each other and you need to kiss on the cheek," she said.
"Okay," Patrick said. "I agree. Violet?"
"I agree too," she said and Patrick kissed her on the cheek, before letting her do the same. "There, we're married."
"I like being married," Patrick said, taking Violet's hand. After a little while, Violet and Roberta's mama and papa came to collect them where Violet and Patrick told their parents that they were married. The four adults laughed lightly, but neither of the five-year-old's cared.
13 years later
Violet and Patrick were sitting down on a bench in Hyde Park at the end of the season. Both their parents had disapproved of their marriage hopes. Patrick's family needed more money than Violet's dowry could provide and Violet's parents didn't want their friends to lose Downton. "Violet, I couldn't be happily married with anyone else except for you. Do you remember thirteen years ago? How we got married and made our play-date promise?" he asked, taking her hand the same way he had when they had first married all those years ago. Violet nodded lightly, looking into his eyes. "I'm not paying for my father's folly and marrying some poor little rich girl for her money. I can't properly be married to anyone while I'm in love with someone else, can I? You know who I love, right Violet?"
Violet nodded. "Did you ever have a play-date with any other girl?" she asked. Patrick smiled and shook his head, reaching up to touch Violet's face lightly, making her smile. "I never had a play-date with another boy either."
"You're the only one I've ever felt that way about," he said. "You're my best friends, we'd be wonderful together. We need to change you're parent's mind and I think I know how. If we can, and it's alright with them, would you marry me for real?"
"Of course I would Patrick," she said. "There's no one I'd rather marry. Besides, we're already married, aren't we my darling?"
"Of course we are, my love," Patrick replied with a smile, pressing his lips to Violet's in a soft kiss.