AN: A Christmas treat for the Mary x Tom shippers!
m~t
Christmas at Downton was fast approaching, and as Mary had decided to take charge of the decorations this year, she was quite preoccupied with assuring every bit of tinsel and holly was arranged to perfection. However, with all her efforts in holiday preparation, a very large gap had appeared in the decor.
m~t
Waking up on Christmas Eve's Eve, she stretched languidly and reached out to ring the bell for Anna only to freeze. "Oh, no! I forgot the mistletoe!" She lept out of and hurriedly dressed herself, dashing downstairs for a quick breakfast.
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"Good morning, Mary dear," Robert smiled up at her over his newspaper. "You're up early."
Tom, sitting next to him, raised his eyebrows. "Are you up to something, then?"
Mary trilled a laugh. "No, just some last minute decorating." She slid into the chair across from Tom and poured herself a cup of tea.
"I was wondering when you'd get around to the mistletoe." Robert commented. "Your mother and I have been missing it."
"Papa!" Mary clinked her teacup into her saucer. She glanced at Tom. "Just ignore Papa's romantics, please."
Tom chuckled. "It's rather sweet, actually."
Mary found herself blushing and quickly made her excuses and left the room.
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Determinedly, Mary instructed the servants to hang an excess of mistletoe to make up for the previous lack. A few hours later, a person could hardly walk along the halls without passing under half a dozen sprigs of mistletoe. Mary was quite pleased with the result and found the white and emerald plants to be aesthetically charming.
As she strode along, she gave all the decorations one last glance over to assure perfection for Christmas Eve. She lingered under a sprig of lopsided mistletoe near the library and stretched up on her toes to attempt to adjust it. Suddenly, just as she grasped the bottommost leaf, the library door opened and someone crashed into her and she lost her balance, the pair falling against the wall. Mary pinned beneath the heavily breathing Tom.
"Why, hello there," she said dryly. "Would you mind letting me breathe?"
"Oh, Mary, I'm so sorry!" Tom exclaimed. "I had no idea, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, except—" Mary smirked.
"What?"
She pointed above their heads. "Mistletoe."
"I suppose I'd better fix that then." he grinned.
"Yes, I suppose you'd better."
And her leaned in once more, and their lips met softly. After a moment, Tom moved back with a groan. "Mary… I suppose you have mistletoe in every nook and cranny of the house, don't you?"
A slow grin stole across Mary's face. "Why, yes."
"I'd like to go and christen every sprig. What do you say?"
"Well, if you insist."
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And so they spent an afternoon full of holiday spirit, kissing their way through every bit of mistletoe in Downton. (And believe me, there was a lot!) However, after dinner, when the family had retired to the drawing room and Mary and Tom stood by the fireplace conversing, a tiny sprig above them caught Tom's eye. He leaned in to whisper in Mary's ear. "Look, there's one we missed!"
Mary's eyes widened. "Not now!" she hissed, grabbing his sleeve.
"Well, why not?"
"In front of everyone? It's simply not done!" she fluttered, distressed.
"Come, Mary," he winked, causing her lips to turn up just the slightest amount. And, winding his fingers through her hair, he brought his open mouth to her gaping one in a passionate kiss, turning the heads of the entire family.
m~t
Fin.