A/N: I had this weird idea in my mind for a few days now and I decided to write it down. Some of you may hate me because you are Chelsie fans but somehow he manages to upset me with his behavior towards her. This story begins a while after they return to Downton from London and the day at the sea side. Now, let's get on with this story.
Disclaimer: I don't own Downton Abbey or its characters.
No one from the family was going to be the same person after the season in London. Lady Rose was successfully presented to the world and she had begun her ball with the Prince. Lady Mary had confessed that she wasn't yet ready to start a new life with a man by her side but at some point in the near future she was going to be. Lady Edith was going to spend time with her daughter as she couldn't stand having her away from her. Tom had started accepting the family as his own with everyone's help while he was interested in that young teacher from Downton. Mrs. Crawly had started being courted by Lord Merton despite her first dislike for him.
The same could be said for the staff as no one was going to be the same person after the season in London and the day they had spent at the sea side as a treat and 'thank you' from the family for their hard and good work. Daisy was happy that a young man had been courting her and even offered her to work in America for Mr. Levinson but she had declined the offer as she still loved Alfred. Ms. Baxter had found the strength she needed from Mr. Molesley to confront Thomas and live her life happy and was very glad that someone was supporting her and courting her in a way. Anna and Mr. Bates were getting on very well with their marriage after her… attack all those months ago. Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes had even enjoyed themselves walking hand in hand in the cooling water of the sea and spending a day without having to worry about their work. That day at the sea side seemed to bring more closely the butler and the housekeeper.
You could say very well that the season and the summer had done very good to everyone both from upstairs and downstairs. Mary had started spending more time with her son and working with Tom at the estate. Edith had started laughing and enjoying life again. Rose had started being more responsible about her actions as they had almost cost a scandal for the royal family. Downstairs you could hear more laughter and see more joy. The butler and the housekeeper were closer, laughing with the others and some times dropping their stern mask.
The days were passing quickly for everyone and they were all happy that nothing bad or sad was happening. The two children were growing up and filling the whole house with their laughter and their smiles. At least once a week Tom would bring his daughter and some times little George downstairs to the housekeeper's sitting room where she would play with them, sing to them and give them their favourite biscuits. The butler was very glad to see how much the two little children loved the older woman and he would remember the times their mothers would come downstairs when they were little girls to hear stories from the housekeeper and play games with her.
Soon without knowing it the summer had already arrived once more and the family would go to London for the season. The London housekeeper had taken permission to leave for the summer to visit her brother and so Mrs. Hughes was once more called to act housekeeper at Grantham House in London. She was more than happy to go as it meant that she was going to spend more time with him and she would learn more about what he was doing during his stay there. Although, she had to admit that she was getting more tired there than in Downton as the family would have more parties or be outside the house more or they would have guests staying at the house.
It was her day off after working for a whole month at the Grantham House. She offered to take the children with her for a walk as the nanny had caught a summer cold and it was a pity for them to stay inside the house in such a lovely and sunny day. Mary and Tom were so grateful to her for her offer and had smiled when the little faces had lightened up at the opportunity to go out with their favoutire person from downstairs. Little George was inside his pram playing with his toy while little Sybbie was walking beside Elsie holding the pram with her hand. She was surprised to see Charles at a park full of children playing as she didn't know that he had the day off as well. If she knew it she would have asked him to come with them.
However, the wide smile on her face disappeared when she saw a girl running towards him and calling him 'daddy'. She was standing there confused looking at the scene thinking that the girl might be calling some other man but she was sure that what she had heard was true when Charles lift the girl in his arms with a wide smile. She stood there watching the scene very shocked. Only a few moments later a boy and another girl approached him and hugged with wide smiles on their faces while he leaned forward to kiss a woman on her lips. She tried hard to keep back her tears as she didn't want to break down in front of the children and the whole park.
"Sie, I am tired.", Sybbie said as she tugged the woman's skirt. They had started calling her 'Sie' and she didn't have the heart to tell them that they shouldn't call her that.
She lifted the girl in her arms and placed her in the pram behind George who was still playing with his toy. As she lifted her head she was met with the distant gaze of the butler who was looking at her surprised. She just turned around with the pram and left quickly from the park. She was going to find another park where she could stay for a while with the children and think what she was going to do, how she was going to react when she would see him back at the house.
After a while she was sitting on a bench while the two children were playing with their toys in the pram. She was thinking what she had seen at the other park and was trying very hard to hold back her tears as she didn't want to break down in front of the children. He had been lying to her all these years. He was married with a younger woman and they had three children. He was looking so happy as he was watching his little girl running towards him. She was so in love with him since the moment she first met him. The last year they had gotten closer and she was sure that he loved her but now her heart was broken from the scene of a happy family.
Suddenly, she remembered something that before wasn't making sense to her. Every month, for the last sixteen years, he was leaving for London for two whole days and he was coming back with a wide smile on his face and so much energy. He was leaving every month to visit his family in London and she was staying behind at Downton waiting for him and loving him. Every summer the family came to London for the season he had more free time to visit and be with his family while she was staying behind at Downton waiting for them and cleaning the house in order to be perfect.
As she looked at the two children in the pram she noticed that they had fallen asleep and she decided to return at the house. As she arrived at the house she met outside the front door Mary and Tom returning as well. She smiled weakly at them and stopped in front of them with the pram. They both looked inside the pram and found the two little children sleeping peacefully. As Mary turned her attention to the housekeeper to thank her she noticed how pale the older woman was.
"Mrs. Hughes, are you feeling alright?", she was getting more concerned as the seconds were passing and the older woman was getting more pale.
"Yes, m'lady. I am feeling perf…", she didn't manage to finish her sentence as she felt her head getting heavier and heavier and her legs were getting weak.
She rolled her eyes in the back of her head and fell backwards. Tom managed to catch her before she could hit the ground. He tried to wake her up but after a few moments he lifted her in his arms, put her inside the car and left quickly for the hospital. Mary was left there standing with her hands on the pram and concerned about the housekeeper.
Please review! I would like to know what you think!
To Be Continued…
