Thank you so much to those of you who took the time to review my story it really means a lot to me and I really hope you'll continue to do so. Also I used a few Irish words a few places I'm not sure they are 100% right but I hope you can look past it.

Sybil brushed her hair back and checked her image in the mirror one more time. Her stomach seemed to have settled down after her nap. She walked over to their bed and gather the book she had Tom had been reading to Saoirse.
She took the books and Saoirse's baby blanket into the nursery, the blanket was getting terribly worn it had been a gift from Tom's mother and Saoirse had been wrapped in it when she was born. They had tried to get her to part with it but her daughter had inherited both her parent's stubborn streak and refused to let go of it.

Their time at Donwton was coming to an end and soon they would be heading back to Liverpool where they had made their home for the past years. Sybil had not been happy for Tom to go back to being a mechanic but after so many failed attempts at getting a job at a paper Tom had convinced her it was the only way. She had been so frustrated and angry at the way the editors had treated Tom, he was a good writer but they never looked past his accent. He tried to convince her not to look at it as a step back but see it as a chance for them to relive the early parts of their relationship.

It hadn't been easy living in Liverpool, Tom's older brother Ciaran seemed to have a hard time letting go of the big brother role. And although he never said anything Sybil had the distinct feeling that Ciaran wasn't very happy that Tom had married an English girl and an aristocrat on top of that.

Tom missed Ireland and though he rarely spoke about it she knew it broke his heart that they hadn't been able to return home. The Irish Free State was a reality he hadn't been there to see it happen and that he made his desire to return home even greater. They had hoped that with birth of the Free State that the arrest order of Tom would have been cancelled but so far there was no news. The plan was still to return home but they kept it to themselves they didn't want to get his families hopes up and they see the need in telling her family just yet.

They had also decided to keep the news of the new baby to themselves especially given the events of the last couple of months. Sybil's hand drifted instinctively to her belly in an attempt to protect the growing child inside of her. It made Sybil so indescribably sad that for the second time she would have what her sister craved the most a baby.

Mary and Matthew longed to start a family but for the second time Mary had recently suffered a miscarriage. They were wonderful with Saoirse but Sybil could see the sadness and longing in their eyes. She had gotten pregnant so soon after their wedding it wasn't planned or anything they had discussed. And there had been times during her pregnancy when she wished they would have had more time together just the two of them but now she couldn't imagine her life without Saoirse. Sybil wanted her sister and brother in-law to be happy and she continued to hope that they would get their biggest wish soon.

Sybil slowly made her way down the stair looking for her husband and daughter, the house was filled with the hush sounds of the staff working around the house.

"May I be of some assistance Lady Sybil?" the sound of Carson's deep rumbling voice surprised her and made her jump a little she looked up at the big broad man.

"I was just wondering where Tom and Saoirse are."

Carson couldn't help frowning a little at Sybil's use of her husband and daughter's name, he would didn't find it proper "I have been told that Mister Branson and the young Miss have gone exploring."

Sybil smiled the weather was wonderful and her nap had left her in much better spirits "I think I'll join them."

"Very well m'lady" Carson gave her a quick nod and walked over and held the door open for her.

As she looked out over the lush green lawns her family were nowhere in sight she decided take the very familiar walked across the gravel and down to the garage. She was convinced that she would find them there but she only found Davis the new chauffeur she decided she'd have a better chance of finding them if she went back to the house and waited for them.
She was almost at the front door when she heard a loud roar followed by a wild shriek she turned around and saw her daughter sprinting over the lawn followed by her father. Saoirse dark mane blew wild in the wind no ribbon was holding back her curly hair and her dress was stained in several places.

Saoirse saw her mother and called out to her "Mammy, mammy" Sybil knelt down and held her arms open for her daughter.

Saoirse threw her arms around her mother's neck "help me, help me Da is trying to get me."

Sybil wrapped her in her arms "don't worry I'll protect you."

Sybil stood up balancing Saoirse on her hip smiling at the state of her daughter as a very tiered Tom reached them "how did the exploring go?"

"Mammy we found a troll cave"

Sybil smile at her daughter's the excitement "really did you see the troll as well?"

Saoirse shook her head vehemently and then she wiggled to get down "where is Carson? He promised me a biscuit."

Tom smiled as Saoirse ran inside without waiting for an answer; Sybil reached out and brushed away a few loose strand of hair away from his forehead. Tom let his hand wander to her belly "how was your nap?"

Sybil put her hand on top of his "It was nice I feel much better now"

"Good" Tom leaned in and gave her a light kiss.

"Sybil, Saoirse is badgering Carson for a biscuit" the sound of Mary's voice made the couple jumped apart as if they had done something, Mary looked them up and down but she didn't say anything.

"I'll go and save Carson from our little wild child " Sybil and Tom walked into the house where Mary stood with a disapproving glare on her face.

"Sybil have you seen the state of her dress is filthy, her hair is loose and filled with twigs and leaves."

Tom's body stiffened his relationship with Mary had greatly improved and normally they got on just fine but during this stay at Downton she had been close to unbearable. Tom understood why, the second miscarriage had really taken a toll on both Matthew and Mary but he wasn't about to let her take it out on Sybil or Saoirse.

"She's been outside playing of course she going to be dirty."

Mary barely looked at him "this isn't Liverpool or worse Dublin and it's not proper for her to run around looking like that."

Tom took a deep breath trying to control his temper, he felt Sybil's hand in his he looked at Sybil and decided to excuse himself fearing he would lose his temper if he stayed.

He lifted Saoirse into his arms and spoke to her in Irish "ar chóir dúinn dul agus a fheiceáil má tá Mrs. Patmore a briosca ar do shon?"

Saoirse gave him a bright smile "tá da."

Mary snorted at the conversation between father and daughter "honestly must he do that?"

Sybil lifted her hand to her forehead and took a deep breath in an attempt calm herself but her frustrations with her sister got the better of her. "Yes he must its part of his heritage and whether you like it or not Saoirse is Irish and both Tom and I want her to know her heritage"

"She's English too."

Sybil nodded "yes and she speaks English too."

Sybil took Mary's hand "I know you sad about losing the baby and I'm so sorry..."

Before she had a chance to complete the sentence Mary pulled away from Sybil "I honestly don't know what you're talking about, I'm going up to rest."

Sybil watched with sadness as Mary hurried up the stairs and she knew that their last few days at Downton would be long.

Tom pulled at his bowtie no matter how many times he had dressed for dinner he never got used to it and especially not after having Saoirse and having moved to Liverpool. He missed their dinners at home where it would just be the three of them sitting in the kitchen around their small table.
Here is was a big show of dressing up and all these rules, traditions, expectations and polite conversation.

His relationship with his in-laws had gotten better over the years; his relationship with Cora had changed the night Saoirse was born. She had supported his decision to take Sybil to the hospital, she had sat beside him as they waited for news and she had supported their decision to have Saoirse baptized in the Catholic Church. His relationship with Robert hadn't changed much they had found a way of coexisting but no matter how hard Cora, Matthew or Sybil pressed Robert still struggled to accept him as a member of the family.

"Here let me help you with this?" Sybil walked in front of him, Tom hands drifted to her waist and he couldn't help but smile at the concentrated look on his wife's face.

"I don't know what I would do without your help"

Sybil straighten the bowtie and brushed her hands across his shoulders "then Thomas might be the one to help you dress."

Sybil giggled as shuttered and made a disgruntled sound "I would have gone without then."

Sybil draped her arms over his shoulders and stood on her tip toes and kissed him Tom wrapped his arms around her waist and pull her flush against his body. "I know you don't like these dinners but just think the soon we get down the sooner we can get back upstairs"

Tom smiled and began to back her towards the bed while running his lips along her neck and jaw "I wish we could just stay here."

Sybil whimpered and pressed herself further into his body but she knew they had to stop this and go down to dinner"we need to go down"

Tom groaned and slowly pulled back "I know besides we have to feed you and the little one."

Sybil could feel Mary's eye on her constantly but whenever Sybil tried to make eye contact with her Mary looked away. Sybil took another sip of water and looked around the room and it stuck her how much her feelings for this place had changed she loved her family but more and more she came to realise that she no longer considered this to be her home.

Mary's voice pulled her from her thoughts "so I understand another baby is on the way"

Sybil almost dropped her glass and looked over at a very confused Tom.

"What" Robert looked at Cora but she looked just as confused as the rest of them.

Matthew looked down the pain in his wife's voice broke his heart "Mary please"

Mary ignored her husband's plea and glared at Tom. "No, really how could you be so irresponsible you live in a small shed in Liverpool and you barely make enough to support your wife and daughter now so how do you expect to support another child."

Sybil fought to hold back the tears she knew Mary was hurting but for her to talk about Tom and their live like that made her. Mary had been such a great support to her and Tom whenever they were at Downton Matthew and Mary had accepted Tom in the family sooner than everybody else and for her to speak about them like that made her furious.

Tom threw his napkin down and short up from his chair "just because we don't live in some version of Downton it doesn't that we're not happy. And I do support my family and I will work day and night to make sure that they are safe and well. "

Mary snorted "what about when the baby comes it almost killed Sybil the first time so how dare you risk her life again."

Tom felt as though he had been kicked in the stomach he looked across the table at Sybil and his heart sank the sadness in her eyes overwhelmed him. Before he had a chance to react Cora shouted "Stop it right now Mary."

Sybil hadn't noticed that Tom had walked over to her until she felt his hand on the small of her back; she leaned into his touch fearing she wouldn't remain standing if he didn't support her.

"Tar mo stór" the soft Irish tones made her look up, he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to him. She followed him without a word as they walked past Robert he held out his hand to stop them but Tom shook this head and just led Sybil out of the dining room.

Tom watched as Sybil stood by her vanity removing the few pieces of jewellery she had worn to dinner he had torn of his dinner jacket and bowtie and thrown them on the bed. He walked over and stood behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist letting his hands rest on her belly.

Tom leaned in and rested his cheek against her wet tear stained cheek "all my life I've seen her and Edith do battle but I honestly believed that she was on our side."

Tom tightened his hold on her trying to ease her tension and Sybil leaned into his body "I knew she would be upset but I never thought she would behave like this."

Sybil turned around in his arms bringing her hand to his cheek she could see the affect of Mary's word in his eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes had been one of the first things she noticed about him; he had really kind eyes that seemed to change shades to match his mood and feelings. "I can't understand why she can't see how happy you have made me."

Sybil threw her arms around his neck and pulled his body flushed against her "I love you so much."

There had been times during the first year of their marriage where Tom had questioned his ability to give her the life she deserved. Accepting that Liverpool was their best option now that they were forced to remain in England had been hard on her.
She knew her was a good journalist he was and she couldn't understand why his Irish background was a problem even for the most liberal paper. When the situation in Ireland had begun to change they had talked about the possibilities of returning to Dublin but for now they were still stuck in England.

"Will you unzip me please?" Tom ran his hand down her back slowly unzipping the dress and helped her undress leaving her in only her chemise. Without a word she began to unbutton his shirt Sybil leaned in and kissed him just below the ear and as she slowly pushed the shirt of his shoulders she continued to kiss down his neck and on his chest.

Tom tried to put his arms around her but he realised that she hadn't removed the cufflinks and his hands were stuck in the sleeves. Tom groaned as she moved her hands to his pants zipper and he frantically began to struggle against the shirt and when he finally freed his hands he lifted Sybil into his arms and carried her over to their bed.

He lay her down gently Sybil reached up and cupped his face in her hands "I am so happy with you and our life, never doubt or forget that."

A quick knock on the door made them pull apart Tom rested his forehead against Sybil groaning at the interruption. He got up from the bed and pulled open the door intending to get rid of whoever was on the other side as fast as he could. Mary was surprised to be met by her half naked brother in-law and as a reflex of her upbringing her eyes dropped to the floor.

Tom crossed his arms over his chest "what do you want now?"

Mary looked up "I want to apologize to the both of you."


Translation

"ar chóir dúinn dul agus a fheiceáil má tá Mrs. Patmore a briosca ar do shon?" - Should we go and see if Mrs. Patmore has a biscuit for you

tá da - Yes da

Tar mo stór - Come my darling