Title: The Boy and Mr Barrow

by: alternativebrooke

Warning: potential Downton Abbey series 1-3 spoilers and M/M

CHAPTER 4

It was a freezing cold night at Downton, Thomas made his way outside and leant against the nearest wall lighting up a cigarette as he went, he inhaled the smoke deeply and exhaled when Alec walked through the door, blowing the smoke in Alec's direction. Thomas watched as Alec moved closer to him, stopping about half a metre away.

"I hope Carson didn't work you too hard during dinner" said Alec who gave Thomas a small and somewhat nervous smile.

"I can never be worked too hard Alec" replied Thomas

Alec felt his cheeks redden with the way Thomas spoke without even the smallest break in his serious expression, Thomas noticed Alec blush which is exactly the reaction he had hoped for.

"What do you think of me, Alec?" questioned Thomas whose piercing blue eyes were now boring into Alec's

"What do you mean?" replied Alec unsure of how to word his response properly.

"I mean..." Thomas sighed as he struggled to find the right words to say " When you first saw me outside of Downton, what did you think of me?".

"Well... I.. wondered who you were and I... I thought" muttered Alec while running his hand nervously through his thick brown hair.

"You thought what?" asked Thomas who dropped his cigarette to the ground and moved closer to Alec stopping only when they were a few inches apart.

"I thought you were incredible" replied Alec who now looked upon Thomas' face which was now very close to his own and saw the most vulnerable expression he had ever seen on a grown man, an expression that he could have never believed was Thomas'.

"I thought.. How can a man with a face this perfectly structured even exist" Alec said running his finger across Thomas' jaw and cheek noticing Thomas' breath hitch when Alec ran his thumb across Thomas' lips.

Alec slowly wrapped both of his arms around Thomas' neck and tilted his face forward. He could feel Thomas' hot breath on his lips.

"And finally I thought.. What would it be like to kiss a man who looked like this?" whispered Alec as he closed the remainder of the gap between he and Thomas' face until their lips met.

Thomas and Alec's lips fitted together perfectly the kiss at first was slow and gentle until they found a rhythm that suited them both, Thomas wrapped his arms around Alec's waist and pulled them even closer together as Alec further parted his lips to deepen the kiss, Thomas responded by parting his as well. Alec moved his hands back onto either side of Thomas' face as their lips continued to move together, The kiss was wet, passionate and perfect. Thomas was the first to pull away, resting his forehead on Alec's as they breathed together, Alec gently pushed Thomas' face back with his hands so he could look at him. Thomas' face was flushed and had a grin on it that Alec hadn't seen before.

"And I thought you looked beautiful the first time I saw you" said Alec smiling "But I don't think anything could compare with how you look right now".

Thomas just stood there arms still around Alec's waist He could hardly believe what he was hearing, and for the first time in a long time he was speechless.

Thomas and Alec could hear footsteps coming from inside nearing the door. "MR BARROW?" Alfred yelled from inside, They hurried to let go of each other as Alfred burst through the door.

"Mr Barrow, you and Alec are suppose to be inside for dinner, Carson had to send me out to find you!" said Alfred impatiently.

"Calm the bloody hell down Alfred, we'll be in soon" said Thomas whose expression was back to serious and professional.

"You'd want to be! before Carson has all of our heads!" said Alfred looking Alec up and down before storming back inside.

"We should really be heading inside, I haven't known him very long but Mr Carson seems like the type you don't want to make angry" said Alec who was now standing half a metre from Thomas again.

"Yes, we should" said Thomas as he walked over to the door to open it for Alec.

Alec went through the door and waited on the other side for Thomas. They walked together with every step they took the noises of the dining room became louder and closer. Upon entering the dining room Thomas went to take his usual seat at the end of the table, Alec was following his lead only to realise there was no empty seat available next to Thomas, instead the seat was taken by Ivy who smiled politely at him. Alec stared around the dining table for a free seat, the only available one being on the other side of the table next to the Blonde footman who was chatting to Alfred. Alec made his way to the other side of the table looking back at Thomas unhappily as he went, he sat down quietly trying not to disturb the blonde footman and Alfred's conversation.

"So you're the new Games keeper then?" asked the blonde footman who was now looking directly at Alec.

"Uh yes my name's Alec Scudder" Alec replied nervously.

"I know your name, Alfred's told me about you" said the blonde footman who was now smiling, which was a sight Alec had not seen on the footman's face since arriving here. "I'm Jimmy Kent, first footman here, and you've already met Alfred he's the second footman" Jimmy said pointing to Alfred whose eye twitched when he heard the words 'second footman'.

"Nice to meet you Jimmy" Alec said holding out his hand, Jimmy looked slightly surprised as he shook it.

They both focused their attention back to their meals, Alec moved his bowl closer to himself and began eating his stew it was tasty, Downton had some of the best food he had eaten in his life. His eyes drifted along the table at all the staff, Carson was in the middle of the table talking away with one of the hall boys, Jimmy and Alfred were both eating their meals and Ivy was chatting to Daisy.

Alec then looked to the end of the table at Thomas who was drinking tea and seemed to be staring off into space, Alec watched Thomas move the teacup to his lips and take a sip without moving his eyes, he watched the Adams apple in Thomas' throat bob up and down with every swallow of his tea, Thomas' face was no longer flushed like before, his skin was again a beautiful porcelain colour, his hair was more tousled than the first time he saw it, it was no longer perfectly slicked back but instead there were a few pieces of raven hair on his face some pieces lying close to his ice blue eyes. he is definitely one of the most if not the most beautiful man Alec had ever seen.

Thomas shifted his gaze to meet Alec's a small smile tugging on the corners of his mouth when he noticed Alec was already looking in his direction.

"Ok everyone as soon as you finish with your meals head upstairs to bed, most of us have an early morning tomorrow Lord Matthew and Lady Mary wish to head into town quite early and I expect them to be properly prepared before the morning train". Said Carson loudly as usual.

Most of the staff stood after what Carson had said, some began clearing their plates away, saying goodnight to each other and heading upstairs. Alec followed everyone else's actions by also standing and clearing his plate from the table. He looked up to see Carson and Thomas talking to each other on the other side of the room.

"Do you know where you are staying, Alec?" asked Jimmy who was now standing right next to Alec.

"Yes, I'm staying upstairs in the servants quarters" replied Alec

"Good you can walk up with me then" said Jimmy who began making his way out of the dining hall.

Alec followed Jimmy outside but not before looking back at Thomas again on his way out, but upon seeing his face he became unsettled. For the first time Thomas looked worried.

Alec and Jimmy walked alongside each other upstairs and into the servants quarters.

"You'll like it here Alec, Downton's a good place to work" said Jimmy smiling again.

"Yes, I've only heard good things from the other members of the staff" Alec said smiling back.

"By other staff member, I assume you mean Mr Barrow?" asked Jimmy whose lip twitched when he mentioned Thomas' name.

"Well.. yes, I haven't had much of a chance to speak to everyone else yet" replied Alec.

"Hmm.. well I'm off to bed anyway I'll see you tomorrow at breakfast, feel free to sit by Alfred and I again" said Jimmy who gave Alec one final smile before heading into his bedroom.

Alec watched Jimmy enter his room 'why did he flinch when he mentioned Thomas' name' he thought to himself as he walked to the end of the hall and opened the door to his bedroom.

"Alec" Thomas softly called from the other end of the hall as he made his way over to Alec's side.

"Carson's just told me I'm to head into town with Lord Matthew and Lady Mary tomorrow morning, Lady Mary wants to pick out a new clock for her bedroom, so Carson making me go with them seeing as I'm the only one that knows anything about clocks around here, which means we'll probably not see much of each other until the late afternoon said Thomas who seemed kind of sullen with the fact. "Are you going to be okay with finding your way around tomorrow without me? asked Thomas curiously.

"I should be okay, I'm sure some of the other staff will help me find my way around, that footman Jimmy seems nice maybe I'll ask him" replied Alec noticing Thomas' face drop when he mentioned Jimmy.

"Yes, Jimmy is quite nice.. has he.. uh said anything to you at all?" asked Thomas whose face looked serious but was obviously on the verge of worry.

"Nothing really, just that I'll like working here" replied Alec.

"Good, good... well I'm going to my room now but I'll see you later tomorrow, yes? asked Thomas who was now smiling again.

Alec looked around the servants hall to make sure no one else was around. "You certainly will, Thomas" Alec replied as he leant up and planted a quick kiss on Thomas' cheek.

"Goodnight" Alec whispered into Thomas' ear and then went to his bedroom door and shut it keeping his eyes on Thomas the whole time.

"Goodnight" Thomas said quietly as he turned to go to his bedroom, he knew grinning like an idiot but he didn't care. He entered his room and shut the door behind him.

Authors note: Hope you guys liked this chapter! Hope you didn't mind the cheesiness of it haha.

Be sure to leave me reviews to let me know what you thought of it. and again I apologise for any spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.

Thanks again for taking the time to read. :)