Author's Note: Thank you so much for all of the reviews! I love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for reading:)

Special thanks to my amazing beta Oiseaus.

Chapter 8

Matthew walked around the grounds of Downton, thinking.

He thought about the war, Downton, his family, and Mary.

Mary.

He thought about his friendship with her, and he thought about his budding love for her.

It had only been a few days ago when he had realized that he was falling in love with her. He didn't know when it had started.

Who could tell?

At first, of course, he had been struck by her beauty. But after, when she had decided to be nice to him, he had found what a good person she was.

She might put on her haughty act in front of everybody, but he had found a way to her heart.

He knew who she was, her weaknesses, and her strengths; and he loved every one of them. The way she looked down on Edith, the way she was so nice to Sybil; the way she always looked down on people, whether she knew them or not; and then the way she was so generous to the servants.

You could go on and on about all of her bad and good when it came down to it, Mary was a good person. Heavens, it had taken him a long time to find that hidden heart inside her, but it did exist.

And, he was in love with it.

He was in love with her.
_

Mary was sitting upon a sofa in the morning room when Carson announced the arrival of Matthew.

'Good morning, Cousin Mary!' he said, smiling.

'Good morning!' she replied, also smiling.

'Would you like to go for a walk?' he asked, indicating the outdoors.

'Yes, I would actually. Let me just fetch my coat and hat,' she accepted.

Once they were both properly dressed, they set on the well-worn path to the rose garden.

Since their friendship had begun there, it was a fairly significant place to walk.

After a few pleasantries had been exchanged, Matthew said: 'I've decided to join the army.'

'What?' Mary whirled around so that she was facing him, an expression of shock clear on her face. 'But- you can't!' she said with a hint of desperation in her voice.

'I must,' Matthew said calmly, 'It's my duty to do so.'

'You also have your duty to your family- and Downton. Dying isn't part of your duty,' Mary countered.

'I won't die. And it is my-' he was interrupted by Mary again.

'Have you seen the papers? Hundreds of soldiers have died every day! Oh Matthew! You can't join the army!' she pleaded.

'I am afraid that I have already made up my mind. I begin training in two weeks.'

'Two weeks?' she looked at him in horror.

'Yes, two weeks,' he concluded grimly.

_

'Are you going to join the army?' Sybil looked at Tom as he cleaned the car.

'Yes, if they'll accept me. I might be Irish but I can still fight for England,' he said without looking up from the task at hand.

'I think I am going to become a nurse,' Sybil declared.

'Really? I thought that aristocrats were above that kind of thing,' Tom said the word "aristocrats" with contempt clear in his voice.

'Not all of us, Tom,' she said softly.

They had become closer over the past few weeks, with the war and all, and she had started to call him by his first name. He looked skeptical about what she had just said, but refrained from commenting.

'Anything else you need, milady?' he asked.

'No,' Sybil said, before turning and leaving with a thoughtful expression on her face.
_

'Mary,' Sybil greeted her as she entered her older sister's room.

'Hello, Sybil,' Mary smiled at her sister who plopped onto her bed.

'I've decided that I want to be a nurse,' Sybil declared proudly.

'A nurse?' her older sister asked, surprised. Sybil merely nodded.

'Well,' Mary began, 'that's rather ambitious.'

'That's all you have to say? Won't you support me?' the youngest sister looked dejected.

'As long as you don't go to France, and instead stay here, I shall support you.' Mary said after a few seconds.

'Really?' Sybil asked incredulously and, upon seeing her sister's nod, ran up to her and gave her a hug.

'Oh thank you Mary! You're the best sister in the world!'

Mary smiled indulgently at Sybil's enthusiasm and gently patted her back.

'It's late dear, and we have to tackle Granny and Papa tomorrow. Go to bed,' Mary said.

'Thank you, Mother,' Sybil said, grinning, before practically skipping out of the room.
_

Mary watched Matthew converse with Sybil and a sense of jealousy came on. Why did Sybil love him? Except that she had no claim on him, she was engaged! Mary then remembered the letter she had received earlier, telling her that her fiancé had gone off to war.

She had been neither pleased nor displeased. She had been indifferent. She still if they died? Evelyn she could bear, but Matthew? She might have denied it, but she was fond of Evelyn, however much of a bore he might be; he was a sweet and generous gentleman.

But then there was Matthew.

Matthew, the only one who challenged her; the one who never let her get away with anything; beautiful, sweet, kind Matthew.

No, she wasn't falling in love with Matthew.

She already was in love with him.

Coincidentially, the same night that Sybil had chosen to announce her plans to become a healer, coincided with Matthew's decleration of his plans to become a soldier. As you can imagine it was a fairly eventful night.

'A nurse?' Granny asked incredulously. 'Have you gone mad?'

'Granny,' Sybil began patiently. 'It is something to help the war with. I'd rather do that than just sit and listen to the news of men dying. I want to help!'

'But my dear, don't you see?' Gramny said, 'That's what we have lower class women for. Aristocrats don't become nurses. Even in war.'

'Especially in war!' Sybil looked around the table for support. Surprisingly enough, Matthew came to her aid.

'I must say that I absolutely agree with Cousin Sybil, we must try to help the war whichever way we can. I plan on helping by going to the front.'

That was when all hell broke loose.

PLEASE REVIEW!