Rating: PG-13 (for kissing)
Spoilers: none since the story takes place in 1906

Summary: After enjoying Carson's "insomnia cure for young ladies", Mary has no trouble sleeping. She is unaware that she is about to be rudely awaken by her sister. Why? Overnight, Downton has been covered in a pristine layer of fluffy white snow, something which is apparently too irresistible for young Sybil.

Matthew comes to Sybil's rescue when her older sister is getting her revenge on her for waking her up. The three eventually end up having a delightful day enjoying the snow.

Note/Heads Up: If the thought of a fourteen year old girl receiving her first kiss from a fifteen year old boy bothers you, I suggest that you either close your eyes when you see that coming, or that you find something else to read.

Special thank you to the lovely Tambear for catching missing commas, odd grammar and offering excellent suggestions & advice!

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Author's Notes:

#1: A quick note on Austen. I absolutely do not have anything against Austen. I was just trying to make a point that Mary wanted to read other things than romance, and romantic drama.

#2: It appears that there is some issue with the ages of the Crawley children. i can't remember hearing them say for certain how old they are, and there have never been any birthday celebrations on the show. I used my memory of what I've heard on the show, for example Sybil's ball. If Sybil was born in 1898 she would have been 14 or 15 tops at the time of her ball in 1913 which seems very young IMHO. Still, i am not too worried about this. The story is fanfiction after all. Unfortunately I do not have the time to troll the internet to find out the actual dates. Please forgive me. I mean no offense by it, just that I do not realy care that much about this. Perhaps we cam all agree that Patrick is the oldest, then Matthew, Mary, Edith and little Sybil? I did change the year to 1906. It's still the same Christmas, just to compromise a little i pushed the story two years into the future. i also made Sybil nine.

No matter what i hope that you enjoy the story :D

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Thank you for reviews and comments. The posting/revising happens faster with feedback (it's a fact!). Love it, love it! .

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Chapter 3/9 – Downton in a Blanket of White

Sybil peeked inside the dark room. She covered her mouth, trying her best not to giggle at the sight of her sister who was obviously still in bed. Mary was sleeping, and almost entirely covered by the thick duvet, only her dark head and the long braid sticking out on the pillow could be seen. Sybil ran across the room and jumped on the bed.

"Mary!"

Mary groaned as someone bounced on her bed, shaking her shoulder. "Sybil, go away. I'm sleeping."

"Mary, Mary, Mary," Sybil chanted as she bounced on her knees on the bed. "It's snowing. Please get up. Pretty please."

Mary sighed and rolled onto her back peering up at her little sister. Sybil's hair was a tousled mess, her braid almost undone. She was in her nightgown, clearly having forgotten her dressing gown. Mary rolled her eyes at her and then grinned as she grabbed her little sister, tickling her until Sybil shrieked with laughter.

"Stop it!" Sybil shrieked and laughed more. "Mary!"

"What was that?" Mary said and grabbed Sybil's sides again. "More? Of course darling."

Sybil laughed and fought Mary's nimble fingers, tears streaming down her face.

"Help!" she cried out and laughed again.

"Did I hear a lady call out for help?" a voice said by the door.

Mary instantly let go of her sister and Sybil scooted away from her, gasping for air and wiping her face.

"Matthew!" Mary pulled the covers up higher at the sight of him standing in the doorway. "You cannot come in here! It's not proper."

Matthew shrugged and pointed at the door. "Your door was open and I clearly heard a lady calling out for help. As a true gentleman would, I came inside to investigate."

Mary made a face at him and Sybil laughed.

"You saved me," she said and looked up at Matthew with so much adoration that Mary laughed.

Matthew picked her up and she hugged him. They turned and looked at Mary on the bed. Two pairs of matching Crawley blue eyes gazing intently at her.

"Mary is really mean when she tickles," Sybil said and stuck out her tongue at Mary.

"Now Sybil, that is not very nice," Matthew said and gave her a look. Sybil giggled and rested her head against his shoulder.

"It's her own fault," Mary said smugly. "She should know better than to wake me up."

"But it's snowing!" Sybil said and threw her arm out, eyes wide, looking at Mary as if she was completely stupid, not understanding the appeal of snow.

"Do not wake up a sleeping Lady Mary in the morning unless you're prepared for grumpy behavior," Matthew mumbled to himself. "Good to know. Thank you Sybil, for the warning."

Sybil giggled and Mary snorted. "I am not grumpy."

Matthew raised an eyebrow at Sybil and she nodded. "Seems that the majority feels otherwise," he teased.

"She needs tea and strawberry jam before she gets nice again," Sybil whispered to Matthew.

"Sybil!" Mary exclaimed and blushed furiously.

"Perhaps a ribbon too," Sybil said as an afterthought. "She likes ribbons."

Mary folded her arms and leaned back against the headboard. "If the two of you are just going to insult me I think you should leave," she said and raised her chin.

Matthew let Sybil down. He rested his hands on Sybil's shoulders and smiled at Mary. "We are very sorry if we upset you, aren't we Sybil?" he said and looked at Sybil.

Sybil shook her head, but laughed when Matthew wriggled his eyebrows at her. "Oh Mary," Sybil said and ran over to the bed, hugging Mary. "I do love you. You're the best big sister ever, and the prettiest. Now will you please come outside and play with me?"

Mary laughed and pointed at her cheek. Sybil grinned and kissed her soundly on the cheek.

"All is forgiven, darling," Mary said and pinched Sybil's cheek affectionately.

"What about me?" Matthew said and came closer.

Mary just stared at him, pulling her duvet a little higher. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, only lingering perhaps a fraction too long for what was really appropriate. Sybil cheered and clapped her hands. Mary blushed and looked away.

"I guess you're forgiven too," she whispered.

"And all is good in the world again!" Matthew said cheerfully. He held out his hand to Sybil who eagerly took it. "Come Lady Sybil, we must make haste and let Lady Mary get dressed so she can accompany us for a delightful romp in the snow."

Sybil giggled and covered her mouth. "You talk silly," she said. "You sound like Granny or Sir Anthony."

"Silly you say?" he said louder and grabbed her, tossing her over his shoulder. Sybil shrieked and her feet kicked.

"Matthew! Let me down," she yelled and laughed.

"Will you two just get out?" Mary said and rolled her eyes.

Matthew put Sybil down and the two looked at each other and laughed. He took Sybil's hand again and with a last wave they left Mary's room, closing the door securely behind them. Mary let out a deep sigh and then giggled. She jumped out of bed and ran to the window. Sybil was right. It was snowing and it was absolutely beautiful. Eager to get dressed Mary rang for her maid.

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Mary took the smallest bites possible of her toast and chewed very slowly, all while watching Sybil squirm across from her. Sybil had only recently been allowed to sit at the big table downstairs. Granny of course had been very upset, arguing that Sybil was much too young to eat with the adults and that she should be returned to the nursery. Robert had brushed his mother's objection aside saying that Sybil would learn faster to behave if she could watch her sisters and parents. Not to mention that he enjoyed having all his girls at the table in the morning.

Knowing that very little stood between her sitting at the table and being sent back to the nursery, Sybil was trying very hard to be a lady and sit still. She frowned at Mary, wishing that she was not so mean. Surely Mary was only eating like that to tease her.

"Cousin Robert," Matthew said and smiled at Lord Grantham. "I wonder if it would be all right if I take Sybil and Mary for a walk this morning. It is so beautiful out there and I would greatly enjoy their company."

"Of course," Robert said and smiled.

"Thank you!" Sybil said and laughed, then closed her mouth and chewed on her lip waiting for the reprimand. Robert gave her a look and she smiled, covering her mouth. "Sorry Papa," she whispered.

"I should go upstairs and change," Mary said quickly before her mother could say something to prevent their morning adventure.

The men rose as she got up to leave. Sybil looked at her father for permission to leave and he nodded, making a gesture for her to run along. She grinned and jumped down, running to catch up with Mary.

"Sybil, no running," Cora said and sighed.

Robert laughed and smiled fondly at Cora. "She's the last one. Let her be a child a little longer. She will be a young lady soon enough and you know that you will miss this."

"I know," she said softly and took his hand.

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.

Mary smiled at Sybil who was holding her hand, swinging their arms as they walked down the driveway. Matthew had a firm hold on Sybil's other hand. He looked at Mary over Sybil's head and they smiled at each other.

"It's like a little family," Sybil said and gazed up at Mary. "You're the mother and Matthew is the father and I am the pretty daughter that you love so, so much."

Mary snorted. "The naughty little daughter who will get her bottom smacked if she doesn't behave."

Matthew chuckled and winked at Sybil. "I promise you, I would never hurt you and I will do everything I can to keep you safe from your evil mother."

Sybil laughed and made a face at Mary. She let go of their hands and ran ahead, then stopped and twirled around, her arms held out wide and her face tilted up at the sky. Mary shook her head at her.

"I would like to have a daughter like Sybil some day," Matthew said softly next to her. He turned his head and smiled at her. "I know that a man is supposed to wish for sons, but I think a little girl would be just darling. I would spoil her so much."

Mary smiled. "I'm sure she would absolutely adore her Papa."

"And I would adore her, and her Mama of course," he said and smiled. He held out his hand to her and she took it. He tugged her a little closer and she blushed. "Perhaps just for today that I will pretend that you're my fiancée," he whispered.

"Matthew!" she gasped.

"I need to practice," he said with a teasing grin. "Will you not allow me to, my darling?"

Mary blushed an even darker pink. "I don't know if it is really proper," she whispered.

"Mary! Matthew!" Sybil shouted. They turned and looked at the young girl who was a little further up ahead, jumping up and down with excitement. "Can we go to the stables?"

Matthew looked at Mary and she nodded. "Certainly, my darling girl," he said loudly to her.

Sybil laughed. "Thank you, Papa," she said cheerfully, still playing her little game.

"Silly girl," Mary muttered.

Matthew squeezed her hand and she looked up at him. "If you were my wife I would be allowed to kiss you," he said.

"Matthew," she whispered and her eyes widened.

He gently touched her chin, tilting her face up to place a soft kiss on her rosy lips. She sighed against his mouth and her eyes fluttered shut. The kiss did not last long, but she kept her eyes closed after he moved away from her, savoring the feeling of his lips. Not until his glove-clad finger stroked gently down her cheek did she open her eyes again. He smiled at her.

"So many crushed hearts," he whispered.

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The three had eventually ended up at the stables. Sybil had introduced Matthew to her pony and then taken off to find the kittens, leaving Matthew and Mary alone.

"So where is your handsome man Diamond?" Matthew asked.

"This way," Mary said and walked further down the row of boxes. "Diamond," she called softly to the horse.

Matthew stood behind Mary and watched silently as a dark horse head appeared in the open box. Diamond shook his head and his long dark mane fell in waves over his neck.

"He is magnificent," Matthew said in a gentle voice.

"Come here, darling," Mary said and took off her glove to give the horse a small apple.

Mary laughed as Diamond took the treat from her hand with a gentle nibble. Eager for another one he pushed her in the chest and she stumbled back, landing laughing in Matthew's arms. She smiled up at him and he grinned at her as he tightened his grip around her waist. Mary trembled as he kissed her cheek. Unsure what to say she took a step away from Matthew and looked around. To her relief they appeared to be alone. She yelped when Diamond pushed her again, this time sending her into Matthew's arms, face-to-face.

"It appears that Diamond wants us together," Matthew teased. "He's a clever horse."

Mary blushed and looked down, nervously playing with the lapels on his coat. He gently tilted her face up and kissed her. She sighed softly at the intense feeling of his lips pressed against hers.

"Mary!"

They flew apart at the sound of Sybil's voice. Mary brushed her skirt and turned towards Sybil who was just coming around the corner. She frowned at her sister and Matthew.

"What were you doing?"

"Oh nothing," Mary said quickly and smiled at her.

"Come see the kittens," Sybil said and grabbed Matthew's hand, tugging at his arm.

Matthew laughed and looked at Mary over his shoulder. She shook her head and silently followed them. She touched her lips, reliving the tingle of his kiss.

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So Lady Mary received her first kiss, and from no other than Matthew Crawley. Very innocent, but a girl's first kiss is still her first kiss! What will happen next during these magical and happy days between Christmas and New Year's in 1906?

The story will continue in Chapter 4 with more fun in the snow, a missing mitten, and a young man walking in on a young lady in a "compromising situation" and gets kicked out in the process. Whatever goes on at Downton, there is never a dull moment; well, with the exception of when Sir Anthony Strallan pays a visit perhaps…

Please let me know what you think so far. Is Sybil the best/worst matchmaker ever? Diamond? Are you as smitten with little Sybil as Matthew? She really has him wrapped around her little finger! Not that he would ever complain! What about Robert wanting all his girls around at all times, even if the Dowager Countess rolls her eyes at his strange, modern ideas?

BTW, my first language is Swedish so any comments in Svenska/Dansk/Norsk are also welcome! :)