"Ladies and gentlemen - please fasten your seat belts and ensure that your seat backs and tray tables are in their upright and locked position as we make our final decent into the depravity that is Sin City. Thank you for flying with us and Viva Las Vegas!"

Mary Crawley rolled her eyes as she put her iPad back into her carry-on bag. She half expected an Elvis impersonator to jump out and start singing at any moment. Isn't that something that was supposed to happen in this God forsaken town? She really did not want to be here but, looking out the window on the flight in, even she had to admit that the city strip before her was impressive. Who would have thought that a dusty, desert town, could turn into something this magnificent? Only in America...

She really should stop criticizing it because she was, in fact, half American.

Her mother was a member of the very rich and prominent Levinson family who owned half of New York City and had a compound in Newport. While on holiday visiting the UK, Cora Levinson met the young and very handsome Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham. After a whirlwind romance they married, moved to Yorkshire and had 3 daughters. Having been to America several times to visit, Mary and middle sister Edith were always relieved to return to England but younger sister Sybil always had a soft spot for their mother's native country. It was no surprise then that Sybil announced she would be attending Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Four years later, Sybil would soon be graduating and starting a new life.

This was the reason Mary was flying into Las Vegas, Sybil was getting married.

Sybil met Tom Branson during her second year at university. A native Texan, Tom was everything the Crawleys weren't. Raised on a ranch, Tom was opinionated, middle class and political so, of course, he stood out like a sore thumb when he was introduced to the family while visiting Sybil in Yorkshire. "Wow! What a load of bricks you have here!" in his Texas drawl was not the greeting Robert and Cora were hoping for. As Sybil and Tom's relationship flourished, each member of the Crawley family tried to convince Sybil that Tom wasn't going to fit into the family but she would have none of it. Tom was The One for her and that was that.

It was no surprise then that 3 months ago, Tom proposed and Sybil accepted.

When the family was informed by the couple that their wedding would not take place at the Crawley's ancestral home, Downton Abbey, and instead would be outdoors at Tom's family ranch, it became too much for Robert and Cora. It was decided that Sybil would be cut off financially after graduation which meant no money for the wedding. Relations had become so strained that now only Mary and Edith would be attending.

In show of support for the couple, Mary decided that she would help plan the wedding which included both rehearsal dinner and the Hen night, or what Sybil now called a bachelorette party. Since Sybil refused to come to England, Mary knew she would have to plan the bachelorette weekend in an American locale. After consulting with a Newport cousin and Sybil's best friend from school, Gwen Dawson, it was decided that Las Vegas was the "go to" place. Having heard of the city but not having been there, Mary did an internet search and knew immediately that she was out of her league. Who would have thought a place would have that many casinos, restaurants and shows to choose from?!

Enter Anna Smith, Mary's best friend, confident and resident sounding board who happened to know a thing or two about planning a wedding since her own was being held in a couple of months.

Now, after several weeks of planning, everything had been booked and reserved.

Mary planned to get to Vegas a day early to make sure everything was going to run smoothly. She would be joined the next day by Sybil, Edith, Anna, Gwen and Tom's sister Alannah. Their Newport cousin had backed out at the last minute making Mary think that news had gotten back to the Levinson's about the Crawley family rift.

Mary was relieved that her luggage had arrived and was now making her way over towards the limousine/taxi queue. Seeing the driver with an "M. Crawley" sign, she made her way over having no idea that someone else was making their mad dash to the same sign.

Matthew Crawley was very glad to be getting off the plane. After consuming 2 vodka tonics and 3 whisky & gingers, he didn't think he could take any more turbulence or closed quarters. He usually didn't drink this much but Matthew was not his normal self.

It had only been two days since he was jilted at the altar.

Matthew was a very kind, thoughtful and even mannered individual. While attending Cambridge University he met Lavinia Swire who happened to be studying the same Law course and their relationship progressed from there. She was a sweet and steady girl and Matthew had never felt more safe and secure than when in Lavinia's presence. Coming from a single parent household, Matthew was looking for that special someone who he could build a life, career and family with. Both received training contracts at Lavinia's father's law firm and soon were in talks to join full time after graduation. With an education and stable career in the making, the next logical step was marriage.

Since Mr. Swire would be footing the bill, Matthew let Lavinia plan the entire wedding. For the next nine months his life consisted of looking for ceremony and reception venues, tastings, fittings, auditions, registries and photo shoots. He did all with no complaints and a smile on his face. The only thing he requested was a reading during the ceremony in memory of his late father to which she agreed. He even let Lavinia plan his stag night with best friend William at a cigar and wine club.

The day of the wedding arrived sunny and warm. Matthew in his custom fitted Burberry morning suit stood waiting. He remembered from the rehearsal the night before that, once the music started, he needed to count to 100 then turn around. The moment arrived and he turned around to no one. Not even the bridesmaids had made it down the aisle. He looked nervously around only making eye contact with his mother Isobel before turning back again. He could hear the whispers and murmurs starting as he made himself count to 100 again. When he turned and nothing had changed, Matthew knew something was wrong.

Lavinia's father eventually came out to say that the bride had taken ill and the ceremony was canceled. He insisted that all guests go to the reception site for cocktails andhors d'oeuvres. Matthew rushed over to the bridal suite to find Lavinia, dressed in her wedding gown, crying on the floor. The look on her face was one Matthew will never forget.

"I am so sorry Matthew but I can't marry you. You are a wonderful man but this is a mistake."

Kissing his cheek, Lavinia insisted that he go on their honeymoon alone and that she would be out of their flat by the time he returned.

Forty eight hours later, Matthew was still stunned by the turn of events.

The only reason he made it on the plane to Las Vegas was because his mother and William packed his bag and dropped him off at the airport. Having sobered up, Matthew was ready to embrace Sin City. He had nothing to lose now, having gambled on love and life and had lost.

Bag in hand, he rushed over to the limo sign for "M. Crawley".