Rating: PG-13 (this chapter)
Spoilers: Season 1 & 2 trough the Christmas Special

Disclaimer: Any names off characters you recognize from Downton Abbey are not mine. All original characters do however belong to me. Fanfiction is in my opinion the ultimate form of flattery to a screenwriter :)

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Chapter Summary: Edith comes to Downton for a visit with her children and Mary gets to meet her niece and nephew for the first time. As the three children are playing in the nursery four year old Violet Strallan poses a loaded question that William is uncertain how to handle.

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

Thank you so much for reviews with insightful comments, favoriting and story alerts. It's very inspiring to know that you are interested in this story. I've tried to respond to all of you, and I'm sad that I cannot respond personally to all the guests who were kind enough to leave a comment. Still, always know that I love to hear from you. As a writer, I especially enjoy hearing about the parts which spoke to you the most. It helps me in the development of future scenes and dialogue.

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The Rightful Heir

Chapter 6: Fathers, Sons & Daughters

Mary sat by the window in the library, reading, now and then glancing at William who was playing with Sophie on the lawn outside. Her father's new dog was barking and jumping around with them. Old Isis rarely left Robert's side these days, preferring to sleep by his feet or close to the fireplace.

She chuckled when Sophie took of her bonnet and handed it to William, then burst out laughing as her son proceeded to put it on the dog.

"I'm glad to see you smiling," Lord Grantham said as he entered the room.

"Perhaps you should hold that thought until you see what exactly has me so amused," she teased.

He came closer and looked through the window. "Dear Lord! Is that my dog?"

Mary burst out laughing. "Doesn't he look pretty in his bonnet?"

Lord Grantham huffed and opened the doors to the outside. Mary sat up straighter, wondering what he would do, and ready to intervene should he try to punish her son. To her amazement William ran to Robert. She could tell that he was laughing. The dog followed, barking happily, wagging its tail at the sight of his master.

Robert caught his grandson and tossed him in the air. The boy squealed and laughed, his little legs kicking in the air.

"Again Poppy!"

Mary smiled from the door as she watched her father play with her son. Feeling someone behind her she looked over her shoulder. Matthew was standing a few feet away. She held out her hand to him and he quickly crossed the floor. Her eyes fluttered shut when she felt his arms around her.

Hearing the sound of a car coming up the driveway, Mary walked outside. Edith was coming over with her children and she was looking forward to meeting them. She watched as the door to the car opened and a little girl jumped out. She ran towards Robert.

"Grandpapa!"

Mary flinched when she felt a coat being placed over her shoulders.

"I didn't want you to get cold," Matthew said, looking a little embarrassed at the caring gesture.

"Thank you."

"Mary, Matthew."

Mary waved at her sister coming towards her, a small boy on her hip.

"Hello Edith." Mary smiled at her nephew. "And this must be Martin."

The boy just stared at her and then burrowed his face against his mother's neck.

"He's a bit shy," Edith said with a smile. "Give him a little time and he'll come around."

The four of them walked over to Lord Grantham who was holding Violet. William was standing watching them, slowly petting Zeus' head. When he spotted Mary he ran to her, but last minute changed his mind and opted for Matthew. Matthew caught him and lifted him up.

"William," Mary said and stroked his hair. "This is my sister, your Aunt Edith."

"Hello Aunt Edith," he said and smiled at her. "Is that your little boy?"

"Yes it is," she said and smiled at him. "This is your cousin, Martin."

Martin and William looked at each other, blue eyes sizing the other up. William was the first to say something. He smiled at Martin and squirmed out of Matthew's arms.

"Do you like cowboys?"

"I don't know," Martin said softly.

"Cowboys ride horses, and they have guns so they can shoot the bad guys," William said excitedly.

"Like in the war?" Martin asked with a frown.

William shook his head. "Train robbers and Indians."

Martin's eyes widened. "Indians?"

William nodded and then made a noise that sounded like a battle cry. He moved his little hand over his mouth to show his cousin. Martin struggled in Edith's arms and she put him down. She stroked his blond locks.

"How did you do that?" he asked William.

William started to explain and soon the two boys were racing around the lawn making Indian battle cries. Sophie laughed at them and caught William, claiming that he was now a prisoner. He laughed as she put him over her shoulder to carrying him off.

"I'll free you!" Martin promised.

Mary and Edith laughed so hard tears were running down their cheeks as the little boy ran after Sophie. He could barely reach her waist, but obviously was successful enough to tickle her. The girl laughed and screamed as Martin's little fingers poked her side. She put William down and he and Martin ran back, laughing.

"I saved you," Martin said with a big grin.

"You did."

"Who are you?"

William turned to face the girl standing there. "I'm William Crawley."

Violet frowned, her little fists on her hips. "I'm Lady Violet Strallan. You may call me Lady Violet."

"Why?" William asked confused. "Why can't I call you Violet?"

"Because I'm a lady!" she huffed. "It's just how it is."

"Violet, dear," Edith said to her daughter. "William is your cousin. There's no need for him to call you Lady Violet."

Violet tilted her head and her long blonde curls danced around her head. "I suppose." Noticing Matthew standing behind her mother she smiled at him. "Hello Cousin Matthew."

"Hello Violet," he said and smiled. "You're just getting prettier and prettier every time I see you."

She giggled and walked over to him, kissing his cheek when he bent down to hug her. "Thank you, Cousin Matthew."

Mary bit her lip when she noticed the look on her son's face. William was not amused at how Matthew paid attention to Violet.

The group had returned inside once the chill in the air became too much. Cora had joined them for tea in the drawing room. It was a loud affair with three young children happily laughing and talking. When it became clear that the three were bored and would sooner rather than later end up knocking something over, Mary suggested that they head up to the nursery. William raced out the room with Violet in tow, Martin struggling to keep up with them.

"So far, so good," Edith said amused as she watched the children on the stairs.

"William is used to playing with other children," Mary explained.

"I'm afraid Violet and Martin are not."

"Well, as long as they don't tie Sophie to a bedpost all should be fine," Mary said with a chuckle.

Edith burst out laughing and the sisters shared a knowing look. "Dear God, Mary. I can't believe you still remember that."

"I'm sure Nanny never forgot," she muttered.

"Papa was so cross with you for tricking her into that."

"I know," Mary said and sighed. "If I had been a boy I'm sure my backside would've smarted that night."

Matthew having overheard the last words stared at Mary. "What happened?"

Mary smiled and took his arm. "Edith and I were playing a game and I convinced Nanny that I needed to tie her up so that we could rescue her. I was nine I think and Edith seven." She glanced at Edith for confirmation. Edith nodded. "Unfortunately we forgot Nanny as we got distracted into another game."

"Oh God!" Matthew exclaimed and laughed. "Poor Nanny."

"It was not until almost an hour later when a maid passing by the nursery heard her calling for help," Edith said and laughed. She shot Mary a glance. "Mary got into a lot of trouble once Nanny told Papa."

"For some reason I don't think it was the only time Mary was in trouble," Matthew teased.

"Matthew!"

"You're right, Matthew," Edith said a little smug. "Unfortunately I was on the receiving end of many of her little pranks."

"Suddenly I'm very happy for having been an only child," Matthew said and made a face.

Mary and Edith laughed and Mary hugged his arm a little tighter. "It just means that you're still innocent, Matthew. Watch out, you might still be on the receiving end of a prank."

He smiled fondly at her. "As long as you promise to make it up to me afterwards, I'm sure I won't mind too much."

Edith blushed and hurried up the stairs leaving her sister and Matthew on the landing.

"I will have to think about that," Mary purred next to his ear.

Matthew swallowed hard, suddenly feeling a bit warmer.

"Who's your Papa?" Violet asked.

"I don't have a Papa," William explained.

The little girl frowned. "Of course you do. Everyone has a Papa."

"Mama says I don't."

"Perhaps he's dead," Violet said seriously.

"I don't think so," William said after a moment of silence.

"My Papa is wonderful!" she said and smiled. "He loves me so much."

William nodded silently. He moved his toy car closer to the stables. "I think my Papa will maybe come and see me some day," he whispered.

"How could he?" Violet said with a frown. "You just said you don't have one."

William shrugged. "Perhaps he remembers me and wants to meet me?"

Remembering something she had overheard the servants speaking of, her eyes widened. "Are you a bastard?"she gasped and stared at him in horror.

William jumped up. He knew the word and that it was a very bad thing to say. "No I'm not!" He ran out the room leaving a gaping Violet behind.

To be Continued…

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*** TEASER ***

The story continues in Chapter 7: William Learns the Truth. Mary finds herself consoling her child as he lashes out in response to the upsetting words from his young cousin. Matthew gets caught in the middle, but Matthew being Matthew, he manages to use his charm to diffuse the situation.

Later Cora convinces Mary that she must tell William the truth. Dreading the moment she has postponed for so long, Mary sits William down and tells him everything. Knowing the truth, will William accept Matthew as his father?