Author's note: So my muse completely left me after I watched the first episode of the 3rd season last fall, I simply didn't like it and the spoilers that I've
read for the rest of the season do not exactly thrill me either. And though this story was supposed to be fairly canon (since there's plenty of room to explore
Sybil and Tom's life away from Downton) the 3rd season has changed my mind and this story is going to turn rather AU. I still plan to write about the
wedding and their life in Ireland but it's taken a different turn from what I originally planned. (Because seriously, Tom and Sybil forever!)
Thanks to MimiK and for their reviews, I appreciate the the kind words and the helpful criticism.
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Sybil Crawley - Ireland
...
It wasn't the best of days for a shopping trip, the rain and wind would have made it simply miserable for Lizzie and I, if Bronagh hadn't been with us to
make us laugh at the silliest things. Right now we were crowding into a millinery shop to look for a new hat for my wedding, I wanted something simple
that I could wear for church afterwards but Bronagh had other ideas and was showing me some truly outrageous confections of lace and flowers and
feathers. I shook my head at one hat that was white and piled so high with pale pink roses and white ostrich feathers that I'd have to duck to get into the
church.
...
"Something a little simpler would be better" Lizzie supplied with a smile as Bronagh began to pick up a wide-brimmed hat that Mama would have adored
but was definitely not my style.
...
"How about this one?" asked Lizzie as we wandered away from Bronagh and the next hat she had picked up that had an entire white bird mounted on the
very top of the crown and a deep red ribbon arranged in a large bow around said bird.
...
The hat Lizzie was pointing at was a simple ivory hat trimmed with clusters of black tulle and chiffon, and one white feather placed under the brim at the
left side of the darling creation.
...
"I love it!" I exclaimed, I was glad to find a nice hat at a decent price and it would look fine with my dress.
...
With the hatbox tucked firmly under my arm and our other purchases clasped close under our coats we waited for a slight lull in the rain and then dashed
out and along the street back towards Mrs. Branson's house, our pace wasn't very lady-like I suppose but neither Bronagh nor Lizzie seemed to care as we
arrived breathless at the doorstep of my soon-to-be mother-in-law's small well-kept house.
...
"Come in, come in!" came the merry voice of Mrs. Branson as she opened the door and ushered us inside, "hurry and take off those coats before you catch
a cold, wouldn't want to spoil the wedding day with sickness now would we?" she asked with a twinkle in her voice, I was glad to say that she and I had
gotten off to a very good start and our relationship had continued to improve.
...
Lizzie and Bronagh were invited to stay and dine with us so the evening began quite merrily. Afterwards we showed Mrs. Branson all the little things we'd
bought and then my friends were leaving and promising to see me at the hospital the next day for our shift. Mrs. Branson and I went back to the sitting-
room to wait for Tom, he had promised to look in after he left work and he was already quite late.
..
Tom Branson - Ireland
...
Work had ended nearly an hour before, but I'd been delayed, first by my boss wanting to discuss a new article, and then the rain had made for slow going
as I walked towards my mother's house. I was only two blocks away when I heard the crash, it was accompanied by a terrible grating sound and a high-
pitched scream that tore through the night as I came to an abrupt halt and looked around for the source of the commotion. My breath caught in my throat
as I turned along a small narrow street that led away from the comfort of home and came upon the scene of an automobile accident. The area was mostly
commercial and I wondered if anyone else would come to investigate the car that was overturned in the road, I dimly registered that it was a Daimler
Tonneau, a rather expensive car. There was a small moan from the passenger seat and I hurried to the side of a young lady, she couldn't have been older
than fourteen and obviously badly hurt. I tried to reassure her as I gently began to pull her from the wreckage but I barely had her half out when I felt the
barrel of a gun pressed against my back.
...
"I'm only trying to help" I said, as I cradled the girl to me, reluctant to let her go and possibly cause more damage.
...
"My niece and I don't require your help" came a hoarse whisper behind me.
...
"She needs medical attention" I said carefully, remaining as still as possible even as I felt the girl's blood begin to soak my shirt.
...
"She'll be fine or she'll die, what's it to you anyway?" came the hoarse voice again, "put her on the ground and stand up"
...
It wasn't easy to keep my temper... so I didn't, I slowly lowered the girl to the ground and as the man stepped towards her I hooked my foot around his leg
causing him to fall and drop his pistol, he tried to roll himself towards it but I was faster as I flung myself down on my stomach and grabbed the pistol with
both hands. We jumped to our feet at the same time and I kept him in my sights as he raised his hands in supplication.
...
"We're taking the girl to the hospital" I said, "and then you can explain all of this to the police".
...
I motioned him to pick up the girl and to walk in front of me up the street. He smirked as he began to comply but before I could figure out why, I smelled
something sweet and began to feel woozy.
...
"Wha..." I murmured as I slumped to the ground and darkness overcame me.
...
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.
.
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As I said, totally AU from this point on! Anything could happen including character deaths and non-canon romance.