It was about four thirty in the afternoon when they all exited the train onto Downton Station and walked to the cars waiting for them, Anthony had rushed ahead of everyone and all the ladies looked at Edith as to say ("what's happening,") and all Edith could do was to look back at them just as puzzled as everyone, everyone excepted for Matthew, who had a smirk on his face, the only one to notice was Edith but she didn't say anything as she was wanting to know what her husband was up to, as they walked out of the station to the cars, Anthony was standing next to his open top Rolls Royce with lots of different bouquet's of flowers in his arms, she gasped and ran up to him and whispered in his ear,

"You romantic fool, My romantic fool, this is another reason why i love you so very much, you make me feel so cherished; are they all for me?"

He looks in her wonderful chocolate brown eyes and says " Don't you mean OLD romanic fool?," she looks at him rather sternly and says "How many time's do i have to you, you are not old, well not to me and you certainly weren't old last night or this morning," and she gave him a wicked smile, he had to clear his throat as his mouth suddenly went dry, "these are for you, sweetheart" and hands her the biggest bunch of deep pink roses (just like the ones he had sent her that day when she had returned from The Ritz with her Grandmama, the only differents the colour) and kisses him, the kiss was chased, she put her arms around neck as the kiss ran deeper and she lifted her foot off the ground, he then reply's to her question,

"I got all the ladies their favorite flowers." he steps forward and starts to hand out the flowers, Mary got White Calla Lilies, Isobel, purple Hydrangea's, Martha, white Magnolias and Sybie got Sybil's favorite pink Sweet Pea's, then it suddenly dawned on her why Anthony and Matthew had disappeared at King's Cross and she just smiled inwardly at the thought of him being so thoughtful, caring and she thought her heart mite explode with love for this dear, sweet man; she then notices he had another two bunches of flowers and a bottle of whiskey, iris's and deep pink Peonies, "I presume those are for Mama, Granny and the bottle of whiskey is for Papa?"

"Yes, the iris's are for your Grandmother; i mean the Dowager Countess and the Peonies are for you Mother, do you think they will like them?"

"Well, Mama will, but Granny and Papa's another story;" And you wonder why i married you when you do sweet wonderful things like this

~§~

As they went into the cars, it was decided that Mary, Matthew, Martha and Sybie went into the Downton Car and that Isobel should go with Edith and Anthony in his Rolls, he did offer to sit in the front seat but Isobel had said she preferred to sit in the front, she asked "where they would be going on their honeymoon;" Anthony leaned forward slightly and said

"We are thinking about going to America but we still have to talk to Mrs Levinson, to see if it is alright with her." as they got closer to Downton they got more anxious.

~§~

As everyone got out of the cars, Edith and Anthony stayed back a little, as Anthony asked his Chauffeur Evans, to take the car and their luggage back to locksley, they gave each other a ("here we go then") look and held hands (as usual Edith was holding Anthony's wounded hand, he had the two flower bouquet's and a rare bottle of whiskey in his working hand) As they joined everyone outside Downton. Cora had a big smile on her face and hugged Edith and said "Welcome home darling, i've missed you; you know that this will always be you home, even if you do have anew one with your husband, well my new son in-law; welcome to the family, Anthony." and she gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, Anthony handed over the bunch of Peonies and Cora said "there beautiful how did you know there my favorite's."

"I have my spy's everywhere, Lady Grantham." and the three of them laughed.

"Oh, please call me Cora, we're family."

Then they turned to face Robert, Edith briefly let go of Anthony's hand and went up to her father and gave him a tiny hug and simply said "Papa." Robert gave her a long hug, kissed her on her forehead, smiled at her and said "i've missed you, my darling girl." Edith was shocked at the welcome she got from her Father, but when she looked at her parents she could see a change in them; they both looked tired and stressed; it was probably to with how the estate was being run, with fresh idea's; but especially and more importantly the sudden death of their youngest daughter pray on their minds.

Robert held his left hand out to shake Anthony's hand and Anthony handed him the bottle of whiskey and then shook Robert's hand, Robert looked at the bottle and said Laphtoaig 20 years old single islay malt whiskey, but where did you get this from i have been looking for a bottle of this for quite some time." Anthony just shrugged and replied " well i notice the last time i was hear that you were running low so i decided to bring you a bottle and as your wife said, we're family, aren't we?"

Robert just stared at the gentleman standing in front of him, holding the hand of his middle daughter and then looked at Edith and in that moment he suddenly realized that they were in love and perfect for each other; he smiled at them both and said "yes; yes, you are family, welcome to the family Anthony, all Anthony did was to say "thank you Robert."

Cora chimed in and said "Shall we go in and have some tea?"

Just as they where all about to go into the house; they where all startled by the sound of a car horn beeping, it was Tom coming up the drive in Edith bright red Lagonda, (the wedding present from Anthony)Tom had a big bright smile on his face, it was the first bright smile anyone had seen on his face since Sybil's death.

Robert looked shocked to see it was Tom in the sports car and said " Good god!, is that Tom's car, i think i might be paying him to much, if he can afford that kind of car."

Edith piped up "Papa it's my car, Anthony gave it to me as a wedding gift."

Anthony stepped forward and shook Tom's hand and asked "How did you get on?, i forgot to ask Matthew, what time did you leave this morning?"

Tom smiled and said "The car went like a dream, i left this morning about eight o'clock, the reason why i'm late was i stopped for lunch and later on i had to stretch my legs, all in all it went brilliantly, i might have to ask for a loan of the car from time to time, if that is alright with you?"

Anthony had returned to Edith's side and said "you'll have to ask the Boss, it's her car after all."

Edith poked him in his ribs and laughed.

Then Matthew shouted "get in line." with a cheeky grin on his face and Mary playfully rolled her eye's at Edith as to say (Boy's and their toys) and she nodded in agreement with her older sister and giggled.

Then Robert chimed in and said "yes i see what you mean, i might have to ask for a shot myself; if that's alright with my charming, lovely and wonderful daughter."

Edith just rolled her eye and said "if i had known that a car was going to be the linch pin to my father changing his mind about my husband then i would have asked Anthony to buy the car long ago." Edith, Anthony and Robert laught

"I think we will have to have a ledger in the garage, so that they can take the car when ever they like." Anthony said through his laughter and then everyone started to laugh.