First and foremost - I'm very sorry for the long wait. It was a mixture of several reasons (including lack of muse). Thank you once more for all the reviews, favourites, and follows :) They're greatly appreciated and make my day! ;)


The Big Event 1919


"Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God." - Ruth 1: 16-17

It's this day. It's this day. In three hours I shall become Mrs. Sybil Branson. I still can't believe it. I was so scared to even dream about this a few years ago… Now it's reality... How can I not burst from joy? I'm marrying the only man I can ever love, my soulmate, the love of my life… How did I get so lucky? To meet such a man, to fall in love with him and to be loved in return… I've never expected that you can love this way. So deeply, so madly… How could I marry anyone else? It would not be possible. If I couldn't marry Tom, I wouldn't marry anyone... But I am marrying him, I truly am!

Sybil felt that her chest could burst from happiness and excitement. To her surprise, there was no cold feet involved. She had been dreaming about becoming Mrs. Branson for too long to have any second thoughts now. Today.

She stood in front of the mirror. Mary, Edith, Mrs. Branson and Megan were helping her to get dressed. It was a difficult job because the bride-to-be was too excited to stay patiently in one place. The dress was simple, but elegant, just as Sybil had wanted it to be. She hated any sort of extravaganza, but at the same time did want to look special on this day as well as express her high respect for the institution of matrimony.

At one point, Mary left the room only to return a few minutes later with the Crawley family tiara in her hands.

"Here, darling, Mama asked us to take it for you."

Sybil couldn't help but smile at her mother's thoughtfulness, though it had also make her feel a bit awkward because she knew that she couldn't wear the tiara. "I'm very grateful, but I can't wear this tiara today," the young woman finally managed to say. Seeing shock on everyone's faces, she clarified, "It's not because I do not value or respect the family heirloom… but I've chosen my life and it is different from the life that this tiara symbolizes. I can't wear it. Besides, it does not suit the rest of my wedding outfit."

Mrs. Branson looked at her appreciatively, Megan gave her a sheepish smile, Edith looked a bit surprised, and Mary… well, she seemed to be rather displeased, but that did not discourage Sybil from doing what she thought was a right thing to do.


It's this day. It's really happening. I'm going to marry Sybil Crawley…

It seems so improbable…

I've never thought that I could love anyone in SUCH a way. But I do. And she's marrying me. Even though she's a lady. I remember… when she said nothing back in York, how my hopes and dreams seemed shattered then. Now she'll be my wife… I truly, truly can't comprehend this. She sacrifices so much for me…

I just feel her love. It's odd, but I always felt it even when my mind doubted it.

Our connection is so incomprehensible, but oh so beautiful…

Today…

Tom was grinning like crazy when he was getting dressed for his own wedding. He glanced at himself in the mirror and decided that he looked appropriately smart. Now all he needed was to wait for Liam, his friend who was also going to be his best man.

It's truly, truly today.


When Sybil and Mary remained alone in the room, there was palpable tension in the air.

Sybil was the one who broke the silence. "Mary, listen. I'm grateful for your coming and bringing the tiara with you, but…"

"But?" the eldest Crawley sister's tone was now icy and demanding a clear-cut answer.

"I told you, it does not suit the life I'm embarking on today!"

"So, do you want to give everything up? Including your family? So completely?"

Sybil was lost momentarily for words before replying, "I think that we've had this conversation already? I'm not giving anyone up. I wanted all my family here, but not all of them accept my choices. It's them who are giving me up. But you know what? I can understand their behavior and do not judge them. They need time. Mary, please don't judge me as well."

Mary bit her lip nervously. "I'm here, aren't I? I wouldn't have come if I wanted to judge you. Though I can't deny that the path that you're choosing is far from the one that I want to follow. I don't understand how one can reject a family heirloom…"

"The fact that I'm choosing a different life to the one the rest of my family lead does not mean that I'm rejecting them."

"For me, family heirlooms are part of one's identity…"

Sybil groaned. "Mary, let us agree that we do not see eye to eye on this matter, all right?"

Her elder sister sighed, "Stubborn as always, but I don't want to enter into any quarrels with you on your wedding day, darling."

"Glad that we agree at least on this matter," Sybil teased to relieve the tension.

"I know that I won't convince you to change your mind, so I intend to be on your side and support you through what you're going to do. I'm your sister, after all."

"I'll do what I can to support you as well… but tell me… how are things between you and Sir Richard?"

Mary's face turned into a blank mask, dignified and emotionless. However, Sybil could sense strong feelings of dissatisfaction emanating from her sister's expressionless demeanor.

"Everyone is different. My situation may be incomprehensible for you, but it's all right for me. I don't approve of your choices, but I try to understand you, and I hope that you can do the same for me, " Mary finally uttered. It may be not my dreamt reality, but a bearable one. I can find some satisfaction in it even though it will not be a life from a fairy tale. I may be happy, don't you worry about me. I'm not you.

Sybil merely nodded and rushed to offer Mary a comforting, sisterly embrace.

And Mary accepted it.


"So Tom, who even as a boy did not dream to marry a princess, weds one after all. How do your socialist beliefs agree with it?" Liam teased his best friend.

"Political beliefs mean nothing when it comes to love, " Tom replied simply.

"Maybe, but still, an English aristocrat? As I said, even as a young boy you had socialist leanings and never dreamt about princesses, and now…"

"Just get better acquainted with her, and you'll understand. Her politics are more similar to mine than to her family's. Actually, it was politics that turned us into friends in the first place."

"From what I saw of her, she seems like a nice lass, " Liam smiled at his friend encouragingly.

"She's very nice, I can assure you, " Tom said decisively, "actually, why not get our wives better acquainted with each other? Sybil needs to have some friends here."

"Good idea, we can arrange a meeting for the four of us. And then our children will get married, " Liam chuckled, and the two friends exchanged a warm hug.

"Good luck!" Liam whispered into Tom's ear.


Soon, just get to the church, say the vows and you'll be Tom's wife…


Soon, I will be Sybil Crawley's husband…


"I, Tom, take you, Sybil,"

My darling, I'm really taking you as my wife…

"for my lawful wife,"

Bound not only by law, but most importantly in our hearts...

"to have and to hold, from this day forward,"

I could hold you in my arms for eternity…

"for better, for worse, in sickness and in health,"

I'll never leave your side no matter what…

"until death do us part."

Love like ours binds even after death.


"I, Sybil, take you, Tom,"

It's always been only you…

"for my lawful husband,"

Society has to treat us seriously… we're lawfully joined from now on, you and me, dearest…

"to have and to hold, from this day forward,"

I never want to be parted from you, never…

"for better, for worse, in sickness and in health,"

Together we can deal with everything…

"until death do us part."

For eternity.


The vows were exchanged, the mass ended, and the radiant newlyweds left the church hand in hand. They were both an image of utmost happiness, holding each other lovingly and looking at each other as if the world around had ceased to exist.

All the guests felt that the wedding they had just attended was a celebration of love.

Outside the church, the couple decided to kiss quite passionately in front of all the guests. Even though there was a number of older ladies present, no one showed any sign of indignation. Mary and Edith, despite having been brought up in an environment where displays of affection were rare, did not even notice that anything improper was going on – it was all so natural and charming that no one could question it.

The reception was a quiet one. It was held at Megan's house and attended only by the Branson family, their closest friends, and Sybil's sisters. The food was prepared by Mrs. Branson, Megan and the bride herself because Sybil had not wanted to burden the two women with even more work as well had thought it an excellent opportunity to have more cooking lessons. The music was provided by a band consisting solely of the Branson family's friends and acquaintances.

Mary and Edith could experience first-hand how much an Irish wedding differed from an English one. Edith soon joined the merry dancers, whereas Mary decided to sit and watch, but she was polite to everyone, so Sybil did not have to worry about any tension between the two newly joined families.

She and Tom also showed everyone a real Irish dance to a large applause and huge approval from the Branson family.

Ultimately, the newlywed couple felt that they needed some privacy and headed for the small adjacent room. There, Tom was finally able to take his bride into his arms.

"Finally, just the two of us," sighed Sybil contentedly.

"We must return shortly or they'll be worried."

"I know, but let me delight in this moment for a while," his wife (HIS WIFE!) whispered and laid her head on his shoulder.

"You know that I meant every word today? I want to hold you forever," Tom murmured tenderly.

"I know precisely what it feels like," Sybil smiled at her husband (HER HUSBAND!) and gave him a sound kiss.

A moment later they had to break the kiss in order to breathe, but they still didn't want to let go of each other.

"From this day forward," Tom whispered as he began showering his bride's face with ardent kisses. Sybil could only grin like a Cheshire cat and relish in feeling Tom's lips throughout her face.

"Where are they? Where are the newlyweds?" was suddenly heard from the nearby room. The young couple understood that it was time to go back to their guests.

"From this day forward," said Sybil as she outstretched her hand to Tom, who took it and brought it to his heart.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.