Author's Note: Hello again!

I'm very grateful for the positive feedback that I have received over the first chapter. You have no idea how much that means to me. I hope that your support will continue and grow as the story continues to grow as well. I'm not quite sure how long it will take me to post the next chapter because I've been procrastinating GREATLY (because of my decision to watch Downton Abbey instead of doing work), but I hope the wait won't be too long.

Feedback is always welcomed and encouraged :)

Now, here's chapter 2!

"Mr. Crawley? You have a visitor."

Matthew looked up from his paperwork and slightly frowned at his secretary who was standing by the door. A visitor? He didn't recall having any scheduled appointments at this time, especially so close to the end of his shift.

"Did he or she book an appointment?" Matthew asked. "I don't recall having any more appointments for today."

His secretary smiled. "No sir, but it's your wife."

Upon hearing that his wife has come to visit him, his head snapped up and his pen stopped scratching against the paper he was writing on. Mary? It was always a pleasant surprise to have his wife come visit him at work because it was a rare occasion for her to do so. But, judging by her weakened condition over the past few days, Matthew was concerned as to why she was here in Ripon. Has she gone to Dr. Clarkson? But, he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind as his frown turned into a smile.

"Well then, we wouldn't want to keep Lady Mary waiting. Send her in."

The door to Matthew's office shut behind his secretary and re-opened once more to reveal Mary standing before Matthew. He stood up from his seat and walked over to where she stood to give her an affectionate kiss on the cheek before motioning her to sit on the chair across from his.

"Darling, this is quite a surprise," Matthew said as he took a seat back into his chair. "What brings you here?"

"You make it sound like my presence is unwelcome," Mary teased.

Matthew chuckled. "You are always welcome here."

Mary smoothed out her red skirt before her as she placed her small handbag onto her lap. "Well, Mama needed a few things here in Ripon, so I offered to go for her. And since it was almost your departure time from work, I figured I would stop by at your office and see if we could return to Downton together?"

Matthew's eyes softened upon hearing those words from his wife. Mary was never one to really show her emotions or her affectionate side all that much unless they were by themselves. It didn't matter to Matthew because he was well aware of her love despite other people's beliefs that she was a cold-hearted woman. But, to her family and Matthew himself, she was a woman with great love and compassion. And whenever Matthew saw Mary so innocent, like today, It was these little gestures of hers that Matthew found the most cherishing.

Matthew reached over his desk to hold one of Mary's gloved hands before planting a kiss on it. His thumb gently motioned back and forth against the leather as he smiled.

"Of course we can head back down together," Matthew replied. "You needn't ask."

As the weekend rolled in, Matthew was given the luxury to spend some more intimate time with his wife: perhaps walk down to the gardens to see the flowers in bloom, sitting together in the library as each read their own book respectively, or maybe even just stay in bed and make love all day. He wouldn't mind doing anything if it had meant he got to spend every moment of it with Mary.

It was midday on a Saturday, with the sun at its highest peak, its glorious rays shining down on the land of Downton. Under Cora's suggestion to have afternoon tea out in the gardens, a tent was set up on the estate where everybody had gathered for tea and biscuits.

"It's just a beautiful day," Cora sighed, as she felt the warm spring breeze tickle her skin.

Cousin Violet seemed to be the only member of the family who was not fully aboard on the decision to have her afternoon tea outdoors. "Well, I don't see why we couldn't have enjoyed this beautiful weather indoors."

"Oh granny, live a little," Mary said with a playful arched brow.

"I think I've lived enough years to decide what I do and don't like, Mary dear," Cousin Violet responded as she took a sip of her tea.

A small smile perked up onto Mary's lips at her grandmother's response. For an old woman, she was just as stubborn as a four year-old. It was no question as to where she got her stubbornness from.

"So, Edith, how is working with newspapers?" Matthew asked curiously.

Edith smiled as she placed her cup down onto her saucer. "Quite well, actually, thank you for asking. It's definitely a change from sitting at social parties and gatherings."

Robert let out a soft, but firm groan after the mere mentioning of Edith's new "hobby" that he did not approve of. Edith's gaze looked towards her father whose eyes were focused on the grass below them as he took a sip of his tea. Her eyes drooped slightly in sadness. After all, it was her only wish to have her father's approval in the decisions she made. But, it seemed to her that having three rebellious daughters (to some degree) was getting to be too much for the man.

"I really wish you would approve of my decision, Papa," Edith said quietly.

"I'm sorry if my wishes to have things return back to their original state before the war does not comply with your decision to work for the newspapers," Robert replied frustratingly.

"But Papa, it's the 1920s! Changes were bound to happen whether you approved of them or not."

"I am well aware of the fact that changes are happening, Edith," Robert said firmly. "…but, it doesn't mean that I should be like everyone else and accept them. That editor was only seeking you out for your title, Edith. Don't think that the reason as to why he offered you a position as a journalist was solely based on your writing."

While the father-daughter bickering ensued, Mary stared out towards the estate, watching the calming wind gently blow against the blades of grass. As much fun Mary gets from a good argument, her muscle aches and growing headache were distracting her from any involvement. Her tea was left untouched in her lap, with her eyes closing every so often in hopes it would lessen the pain coming from her head and just about everywhere else. But, the multiple voices coming from her family members were not helping.

Standing up from her seat, she fixed her skirt, freeing it from any lines or wrinkles that may have formed from sitting down.

"I think I'll take a walk around the estate," Mary said as she began walking over to the table where the silver tray was set along with the kettle, sugar, and milk.

However, despite wanting to leave quietly, Mary felt a rush of dizziness, allowing her cup and saucer to slip out of her grasp and fall against the silver tray and shattering to pieces. The tea that was inside began pooling inside the tray as she held a weak grip against the table to steady herself.

Having heard the clatter, Matthew was immediately by his wife's side, slipping an arm around her waist to keep her elevated.

"Darling! Are you alright?" Matthew asked in a calm, but nervous manner. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

Mary leaned against Matthew's lean chest for support. "I…I don't know. I just felt suddenly dizzy. I think it must be the heat."

"Mary, you're white as a sheet!" Cora said with a concerning frown upon her face. "Maybe you should go inside and rest. Matthew, will you take her back to your bedroom?"

"I'll make it my very duty and see to it that she goes back into bed immediately," Matthew replied firmly.

Helping Mary back into the house, Matthew called up Anna to the bedroom to help Mary change into her nightgown. He stood outside their bedroom, pacing back and forth until Anna emerged, closing the door behind her.

"How is she?" he asked.

Anna lightly smiled. "She's in bed, resting. She requested for some water, so I'm going to get that for her now."

Matthew nodded. "Very well, I don't want to delay your duties."

With a curtsy, Anna headed downstairs and into the servant's hall. With a deep breath in, Matthew opened the door to their bedroom, where he saw Mary lying on her side of the bed, her back faced towards him. He quietly walked over to where she lay, pulling up a chair beside her and gently stroked her pale check with his thumb. Mary's eyes slowly fluttered opened as she weakly smiled at Matthew's presence.

"I'm sorry for ruining tea," she whispered.

"Shhh, just rest my darling," Matthew said. "We can talk more when you're feeling better. I'm going to phone Dr. Clarkson so he can-"

"No."

Matthew frowned at Mary's response. "Mary, you're clearly coming down with something. You need to be examined by Dr. Clarkson-"

Mary shook her head. "No, there's no need. I just need some rest. Please don't call Dr. Clarkson up. I'm sure he has many other patients to see and I don't want to bother him with something that doesn't need his medical attention."

"But-"

"Matthew, please."

The weariness in Mary's voice made it very clear to Matthew that this argument was not negotiable. Not wanting to further his wife from any unnecessary exhaustion, he relented.

"Alright, I won't phone up Dr. Clarkson," he said begrudgingly. "But, if this gets worse, I will call him whether I get your permission or not. Is that understood?"

Mary nodded before her eyes closed, sending her off into a deep sleep.

As the day slowly turned into night, Mary had awoken from her sleep to only to see Matthew donned in his dinner jacket. She smiled.

"Well don't you look very handsome this evening," she said.

"I only try to impress the best," Matthew joked.

Mary chuckled.

Matthew smiled while listening to Mary's light laughter. The warmth of it was a definite change to her weak state.

"Have you had dinner?" she asked.

Matthew nodded. "Cousin Violet had left not too long ago. Everybody was very worried about you."

"Hmm…"

"Would you like me to get you something to eat?" Matthew asked. "You missed lunch and dinner and you've barely had anything to eat for breakfast."

Mary shook her head. "No, but I wouldn't mind a cup of tea."

"What the lady wants, the lady shall get," Matthew said. He stood up from his chair and kissed the top of Mary's head. "I'll go and fetch some from downstairs."

"But, you needn't do it yourself. Why not just ring up Anna?"

"Is there a problem to have a husband be chivalrous to his wife?" Matthew questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Mary giggled. "I suppose not."

"Well then, I'll be back in a moment."

Matthew then headed downstairs to the kitchens. When he returned, he had brought with him a silver tray of tea and a couple of sandwiches in case Mary decided to have a bite to eat. However, when he opened the door to their bedroom, Mary was not occupying the bed and the bedcovers to her side were thrown open.

"Mary?" Matthew called out as he set down the silver tray onto the bedside table.

He then heard a sound of someone retching violently coming from the bathroom. Quick on his feet, Matthew rushed to the bathroom to see Mary by the toilet, clutching the bowl, heaving the contents from her stomach. Matthew knelt down beside her and used one hand to keep her hair out of her face while the other was making circular motions across her back. He couldn't help but to wince every time he heard Mary be violently ill, only wishing that he could do something, anything, to help ease the pain away.

When she had finished, she leaned against Matthew, her chest taking in shaky breaths from the unexpected event. He heard soft cries escaping her lips as he calmed her down with his soothing words.

"Oh, my darling," Matthew whispered into Mary's ear as he picked her up off the floor and carried her back into bed.

He took a basin from the bathroom and filled it with cold water and returned back to Mary's bedside, where she lay completely ashen in the face. He dipped a washcloth in the water and wrung out the excess and began lightly dabbing it across Mary's face. She lightly groaned at the contact.

After a few minutes of silence, Matthew sat up from his seat.

"Right, well I'm going to phone up Dr. Clarkson," he said. "I'll be back in a moment."

"Matthew, there is no need," Mary lightly groaned as she sat up in bed.

Matthew frowned. "Of course there's a need! You've had muscles aches for a week, as well as a re-occurring headache. And not to mention that your appetite has been declining and now you're being sick. So, please enlighten me when my only assumption is that you've caught the flu of some sort because by God, Mary, I think I'm going to go insane the next time you refuse my wishes to call Dr. Clarkson. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to call Dr. Clarkson because that was our agreement."

Matthew started marching towards the door, with his hand reaching for the handle before Mary spoke up.

"There isn't a need because I've already gone to Dr. Clarkson."

Matthew froze in his spot as he pivoted to face back towards Mary who was twisting her wedding band with her fingers, signalling her anxiousness.

"You went to go see Dr. Clarkson?

Mary lightly rolled her eyes. "Yes, Matthew. There is no need to repeat what I had just said."

"When did you go see him?"

"Remember a few days ago when I came to see you in Ripon, telling you I was there to run a few errands for Mama?"

Matthew nodded.

"Yes, well, I wasn't completely honest with you," Mary confessed. "I was also there to see Dr. Clarkson."

Matthew's voice got caught in his throat.

"Why didn't you tell me that you had gone to see Dr. Clarkson?" Matthew asked, clearly hurt and disappointed by Mary's decision to keep her appointment with the family doctor a private one.

"It was in my very intention to tell you, but I just couldn't find the right moment."

Mathew sarcastically scoffed. "And you figured the best way to tell me was to watch your health deteriorate."

"Oh Matthew, you always make things so black and white!"

"Can I not assume the worst when my wife didn't inform me of a doctor's appointment?"

"Well I didn't think my symptoms would get worse!"

There was a moment of silence between the couple. Mary remained quiet in bed while Matthew had his arms crossed, his body leaning against the bedroom door. His eyes never left his wife, who did everything in her power to avoid his contact.

Get worse? Matthew's imagination now only imaged the worst possible outcome from Mary's visit with Dr. Clarkson. Has Mary fallen gravely ill? A new wave of the Spanish flu? Cancer? His eyes closed, trying to block out all those unimaginable illnesses that could potentially take his Mary away.

"…So, you are ill…" Matthew whispered, afraid that his voice would break if he spoke any louder.

"Not exactly in the most conventional way," Mary replied.

Matthew's frown of disappointment now turned into a frown of confusion. Surely if his wife was ill, it would be a serious illness. But, judging by her words, that was not the case.

"I-I don't understand."

Mary nervously chuckled as a small sniffle escaped her lips as a tear ran down her porcelain cheek. Sensing her anxiousness, Matthew walked back over to Mary`s side of the bed, cupping her cheek to wipe away the tears that have fallen. His past frustration was put aside for a moment to coax out the anxiety that Mary was carrying.

"Darling, whatever it is, please tell me," Matthew said. "Because whatever the situation may be, I'm sure my imagination is imagining something far worse."

Mary laughed behind her tears as she looked into Matthew's loving eyes. Oh, what did I do to deserve this man?

She placed a hand over the one Matthew rested on her cheek as she drew in a deep breath to release the news that she has kept a secret for the past few days.

"I'm pregnant, Matthew."

To be continued...

Dun dun dun!

I feel kind of awful that I left it hanging, but I figured that Matthew's reaction would be best suited to your imaginations until the next chapter is posted. But, judging by his great desire to have children (for those of you who are following Downton Abbey right now), I'm sure that his reaction is appropriate for this occasion.

See you for the next chapter!