Two years ago, just before our first STEAMM day, I wrote this drabble series on Tumblr; a "rewrite of 3x03". I've always wanted to bring it over to FF, and STEAMM day 2015 just seemed like the perfect time! So here is part one, with the rest being posted shortly throughout the week. Thank you for reading, and if this is the first time you've encountered this story? I do hope you enjoy. And if it's the second or third time? Well, I hope you enjoy it again :o) HAPPY STEAMM DAY!

THE UNINVITED GUEST
a STEAMMy 3x03 rewrite
by The Yankee Countess

~1~

"Oh Edith, you look beautiful!"

Edith couldn't help but grin as she admired her reflection in the mirror. It wasn't often that she felt beautiful, especially in the presence of her two sisters, but right now…yes, yes she had to agree with what her youngest sister had said.

"I do look rather pretty, don't I?"

Mary and Sybil giggled and smiled and nodded their heads with approval.

"Oh, let us have a photograph taken of the three of us when we get to the church!" she eagerly suggested. "All three of us; happy and married!"

She glanced at Sybil and noticed how her sister was rubbing her belly. She had been doing that a great deal since she and Tom had arrived at Downton for her wedding. "Sybil…is everything alright?"

She was surprised by Edith's question, but nodded her head. "Yes, yes, everything's fine," she answered with a reassuring smile. "He's just kicking a lot."

"He?" Mary asked with the lift of an elegant eyebrow.

Sybil giggled. "Tom and I have a little bet going; he's convinced it's a girl, so naturally I am saying it will be a boy, although both of us will be happy with either," she explained, her hand rubbing her belly in a soothing gesture…and trying her hardest to hide the slight discomfort she was feeling.

A quick knock brought all three sisters attentions to the door, and they smiled as their mother poked her head inside. "Well? Are you ready? We mustn't keep Sir Anthony waiting!"

Edith grinned and reached for Mary and Sybil's hands, squeezing them tightly, before turning and following them out of the room, linking arms with her mother as they quickly moved downstairs to the motor that was waiting for them…

~2~

"Groom seems a bit nervous," Matthew commented to his friend and fellow brother-in-law. "Was I that nervous?"

Tom glanced over his shoulder at their soon-to-be third brother-in-law. "You were, although I think it was more because you were worried Mary wouldn't come…and I don't think we have to worry about that with Edith," he chuckled.

Matthew smiled and nodded. "No, I don't think we do. I understand that all three of them were up quite late last night? At least I was asleep by the time Mary came to bed."

Tom nodded. "It was well past midnight when Sybil came back; she said that Edith was very excited and had many questions to ask."

Matthew lifted his brows at this. "Well I hope both our wives were able to provide her with the answers she was looking for."

Tom didn't say anything, only smiled to himself. However as he glanced again at Sir Anthony, he frowned at the way the man seemed to be…fidgeting in his pew. He looked as if he couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to remain seated…or bolt up.

"Here they come," Matthew murmured, pointing to the motor that contained the bride and her sisters.

"One moment!" Cora announced as the three sisters climbed out of the car behind her. "The girls want a picture together; it won't take very long!"

Matthew and Tom nodded and smiled, before turning to enter the church. "Best tell the groom to reassure him that the bride did come," Matthew joked.

"Good idea," Tom agreed, although he couldn't shake this strange feeling that something wasn't right. As Matthew made his way to talk to Sir Anthony, Tom settled in his own pew, just next to the Dowager Countess. "Edith, Sybil, and Mary are here," he told her. "Having a photograph taken outside; just the three of them."

"Hmmm," Violet murmured under her lips.

Tom wasn't quite sure what to make of that. He glanced over at Sir Anthony and Matthew. "Is everything alright?" he asked. "With Sir Anthony? He seems…very nervous."

Violet glanced over at the groom and pursed her lips together. "I don't know why; it's not as if he's never done this sort of thing before."

Was it his imagination? Or did his grandmother-in-law sound…displeased?

Tom couldn't help but frown and turn his attention back to Sir Anthony. Perhaps he should go and talk to him? After all, didn't Matthew always say that to take on the Crawley girls, they as brothers-in-law, needed to stick together? And as far as he was concerned, Sir Anthony Strallan was already one of them…

~3~

"They're here," Matthew murmured to his soon-to-be brother-in-law. Sir Anthony looked up at the future earl, his eyes wide but he forced a smile and gave a thankful nod for being informed, before turning his attentions once again to the front of the church, his eyes fixed on the altar and cross that stood behind it.

Matthew couldn't help but frown slightly. He understood how nerve wracking one's wedding day could be, but…Sir Anthony seemed to tense even more at the understanding that his bride was just outside. Should he say something? Try to offer some "words of wisdom" the way Tom had? He glanced over at his Irish brother-in-law, who was looking right back, and he could tell that Tom also looked concerned, in fact he was rising from his pew and moving over to where Matthew stood and Sir Anthony sat.

"Everything alright?" he whispered, forcing a smile of his own and trying to look cheerful for the groom.

Matthew glanced back at Sir Anthony, waiting for him to reply. Was it his imagination? Or…was Sir Anthony having difficulty breathing? Indeed, the man seemed to be wheezing, as if he were about to have some sort of attack!

"Sir Anthony?" he murmured, reaching forward to put a calming hand on the man's shoulder. However his hand only met air when suddenly the groom rose to his feet at a speed that was altogether startling, even earning a few gasps from the people sitting nearby.

"I can't do this…"

Matthew's eyes went wide and he looked at Tom. Tom wore the same expression, his own face pale and full of horrified shock at the words that had escaped the other man's lips.

"I…I…I'm sorry," Sir Anthony whispered. "I…please…please, stop her from coming in, I…I don't want to embarrass her…" and then without any other word, the groom moved at a quick pace towards the sacristy door just past the lectern.

Tom and Matthew stared at each other and then at the retreating figure. "We have to stop him!" Matthew hissed.

"We have to stop Edith from coming in!" Tom hissed back, imagining his sister-in-law's horror if she were to enter that church now…and find that her fiancée was missing.

They both turned towards the congregation, who were looking a little confused by Sir Anthony's sudden disappearance, and like a pair of professional actors, put on reassuring smiles which seemed to ease a few people. "Mr. Travis," Matthew said turning towards the vicar. "If you would be so kind as to…stall things for a moment? We'll be back as soon as possible."

The vicar frowned. "Is everything–?"

"Everything's fine!" Tom replied. "Just…it's…it's a 'groom' thing," he tried to explain. "We brothers-in-law need a moment, that's all."

They didn't bother waiting for Travis' reply; Matthew turned towards the door Sir Anthony had exited, while Tom briskly moved up the aisle to church doors to stall the bride…