Author's note: Hope this chapter is okay, thank you for everyone who has reviewed, please continue :)

Jimmy ran through the corridor, tears streaming down his face, he felt sick. He stormed up to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him and throwing himself down onto the bed. After all this time of wishing Thomas would stay away, he was now wanting the older man's love, the though of being needed by someone else but now Thomas didn't need him, hew was over him and clearly no longer loved him but loved the Duke instead. He sobbed deeply into his pillow wishing he had had the courage to let Thomas close when he had had the chance. Would it really have been so bad Thomas was a good man better than most Jimmy had known, he had loved Jimmy deeply and would do anything for him, he was also handsome.

"Lovely ebony hair, ivory skin and lips like rubies" whispered Jimmy through the darkness to himself. "But it's to late now" he though to himself. "You pushed him away, made him feel un-human, hurt him again and again and now he's hurt you which is what you deserve".

Thomas was also pacing rapidly to the servants quarters desperate to escape what had just happened,

"Poor Jimmy" Thomas mused before correcting himself "What am I saying poor Jimmy for? He didn't want me, his loss"

He decided he would try to talk to Jimmy tomorrow and went to bed for the night, clutching at the pillow, needing the warmth of another man, preferably Jimmy surrounding him.

The next day was quiet at Downton; the family had travelled to London for the week so there were just odd jobs needing doing. The extra free time was pleasant as the week was a good one weather wise.

"Mr Carson, could us lot go down to the forest today? It'll be nice to get some fresh air" asked Alfred in a hopeful tone,

"I don't see why not as long as you don't carry on like infants while your there" Carson replied,

"I'll accompany them Mr Carson to see that they don't" chipped in Bates, "Mr Barrow you can join me and Anna, we will take a picnic"

"Oooooh a picnic, how simply exquisite" mocked Alfred,

"Thank you Mr Bates that's very kind" replied Thomas,

"Alfred, keep your ignorant opinions to yourself or you will stay behind and polish silver" boomed Carson.

Alfred looked at the ground sheepishly, blushing at being scolded infront of his peers.

Not long after most of the servants bar Mrs Hughes, Mr Carson, Mrs Patmore and O'Brien, all went down to the forest Thomas strode on ahead, somewhat the leader of the pack, they reached the stream, that glistened beautifully in the sunshine,

"Will here do, Mr Bates?" asked Thomas,

"Perfectly" Bates responded. Thomas and Bates were never going to be bosom buddies by any means but they were both glad of the shared equal respect they paid to one another since the Thomas/Jimmy incident. Bates had been key to forcing O'Brien to keep schtum about it.

All the servants found a place on the grass where they could bask in the golden sun, Jimmy couldn't help but continuously glance in Thomas' direction, when he took of his suit jacket and was stood in his shirt and waistcoat looking good enough to eat, when he ran his hand through his hair to brush any imperfect strays from his steely gaze, Jimmy just could not take his eyes off him,

"He keeps looking at you" Bates said to Thomas,

"Who?"

"Jimmy" Bates said as Thomas sighed. Bates lay back onto the ground saying no more on the matter. It was a pleasant afternoon, Daisy, Ivy and Anna sat gossiping, Anna occasionally focusing her attention on some sewing, Bates and Thomas read whilst lolling in the sun, Jimmy, Alfred and some hall boys were gathered in a bunch, chatting and joking, Alfred gazed over at the stream, the water looked appealing,

"Come on lads" he said, whilst stripping down to his underwear which horrified Jimmy, seeing the pale ginger lank in all his semi naked glory as he edged himself into the water,

"Its lovely, come in" insisted Alfred, whilst a few hall boys jumped in,

"Go on then" said Jimmy, taking off his clothes, Thomas caught sight of this and blushed slightly which Bates couldn't help but notice,

"You should join them, Mr Barrow" Bates said kindly,

"I couldn't"
"Of course, you could, I'll come in too if you're worried about it being awkward between you and James"
"Nothing's awkward between me and James but ok then, I'll get in if you do"

Bates removed his clothes and went over to the water, sliding himself in slowly. Jimmy was watching from the stream whether Thomas would follow suit, he wasn't disappointed as Thomas began removing his clothes, revealing a beautifully toned ivory torso decorated with dense black hair down his navel and across his chest, Jimmy revelled in he beauty of the man that had held a torch for him for months. Thomas clambered slowly into the water, staying in the shallow end of the stream at all times,

"Can the faggot not swim?" jeered Alfred in a spiteful tone,

"Shut the fuck up Alfred" snapped Jimmy, as Thomas smiled sweetly in thanks to him,

"I agree Alfred, leave Mr Barrow be or I'll report you to Mr Carson" defended Bates,

Jimmy and Thomas couldn't take their eyes of each others naked torso's, both of them taking in each other's every detail and there attraction to each other was obvious between the two, Jimmy could help but appreciate the beauty of Thomas as he watched t the under butler, dampen his hair in the water and let it fall to either side of his face resting just above each cheekbone. Jimmy paddled over to Thomas,

"I'm sorry about what you saw last night Jimmy" apologized Thomas,

"You don't much like swimming then?" asked Jimmy awkwardly, avoiding Thomas apology.

Thomas nodded in understanding of Jimmy not wanting to talk about witnessing his and the Duke's relations the previous night,

"I can't swim, not much anyway"

Jimmy smirked a little but not in a spiteful manner,

"Mr Barrow, a man of your age" Jimmy tutted sarcastically,

"What do you mean a man of my age, you calling me old, boy?"

"Maybe" teased Jimmy, "I'll show you how to swim"

"Isn't it dangerous, what if I drown?"

"As if I'd ever let you drown"

"Maybe a couple of months ago you would have"
"Never" said Jimmy sincerely.

Thomas smiled, Jimmy took hold of Thomas' forearms, rushes of desire running through both of their bodies, Jimmy guided Thomas' arms, directing them in which way to move and stroke,

Bates had got out of the water to sit with his wife,

"Get a load of the happy couple" he said jokingly to Anna,

"If only. Rather sweet together though aren't they" she replied,

"Certainly. What do you mean if only?"

"Well James is like Thomas and he likes Thomas, he just won't flaming tell him"

"Oh I don't know, I can see Mr Barrow's "happy ever after" coming soon enough and I hope I'm right"

"I hope so to" she said softly. They both gazed at Thomas and Jimmy, who although were only chatting and occasionally splashing each other in between Jimmy teaching Thomas to swim, they looked perfect together.

"Mr Barrow, can I come to your room tonight. I think we need to talk" said Jimmy realising he had entwined his fingers with Thomas' underneath the water. It felt good, he felt loved.

"I think that would be for the best" replied Thomas, staring lovingly into the young man's deep blue eyes.

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