Fulfilling the promise she had made to her mother, Sybil visited Downton in late January. This was her first visit there since leaving almost a year ago. What she didn't tell was that the real purpose of her visit, Downton was just a stop on her way to Manchester where she would meet with Tom.

Sybil arrived just in time for luncheon. She hadn't seen her father since she had moved to London. He had greeted her warmly hoping she would realize what she was missing by being away.

When Sybil commented she was surprised that Edith wasn't at luncheon, Mary countered "Edith is too busy during the day. She acts as if the convalescent home will fall apart if she is away. She often eats with some of the patients."

"Well I think that's wonderful. I'm glad she's found a purpose." Sybil replied.

"I do help out too Sybil. I just haven't become a martyr about it." Mary coolly replied.

"I'm sure any effort on your part is welcomed by the hospital staff as well as the patients" Sybil replied with a smile on her face but she did wonder exactly what effort Mary was actually doing.

In honor of her visit, Mrs. Patmore had made some of Sybil favorite dishes for both luncheon and the dinner to be served later that evening. Something that Sybil took noticed of and after lunch wandered down to the kitchen to thank Mrs. Patmore and Daisy. She also told them that although the food at the hospital canteen was nice, it was nothing like their cooking which was the one thing she missed most from Downton.

After talking to Mrs. Patmore and Daisy, Sybil walked around the house greeting some of the nurses she had worked with before departing for London. She found Edith writing a letter for a soldier whose arm was heavily bandaged. After she finished, Edith joined Sybil for a cup of tea and the two talked of Edith's work. Sybil returned to her room delighted that Edith seemed happy and content.

Because Downton was now being used as a convalescent home, it didn't feel like her home to Sybil. At least downstairs didn't, but her old room was the same. Knowing in her heart that she would never return to Downton to live, Sybil spent the rest of the afternoon going through her wardrobe and dressers. She wanted to separate her clothes into those she would eventually take to London, those she would leave at Downton, and those she would give away.

It wasn't until she was actually going through her wardrobes that Sybil realized just how many clothes she had. Of course when one changed clothes several times a day depending on the activity, the sheer number of clothes needed was astounding.

She had no need, and didn't foresee any, of the many fine gowns she owned. Her most favorite of course was the so called harem pants and she had those in London with her. There were a few that she was particularly fond of, like the sleeveless black dress with the gold thread trim, and she separated this and three gowns from the others. These she would keep for who knew maybe someday she and Tom would be invited to an elegant dinner party thrown by one of his bosses.

Dinner that evening was a pleasant affair much to Sybil's surprise and delight. Granny asked questions about Sybil's life in London but these seemed to be from a genuine interest rather than a grilling. Granny was especially intrigued of the concept of eating meals at a canteen. Sybil told them a bit about her close friends Margaret, Louise, Charlotte, and Annabella. She was also able to tell them about some of the sons of the Crawley family's friends and acquaintances whom she had seen as patients at St. Georges. This did please her mother who thought Sybil was seeing some of the right kind of men in London (although to Sybil it seemed her mother hadn't registered that they were patients not dates) and her father who was glad to hear of people he knew.

With the evening having gone much better than she feared, Sybil retired to bed in good spirits. But those feelings were dampened somewhat when Mary popped in her room.

"Are you really happy in London?" Mary inquired.

"I am. I really am" Sybil replied. "I love the work which must sound so bad considering many of the men are in great pain and severely hurt. But it's a wonderful feeling when you can make a difference for someone, to help them heal."

"Surely you can't spend all your time caring for the injured?" Mary asked.

"What do you want me to say Mary? What do you want to hear … That I hang around a group of other nurses none of whose fathers are titled? We go to the pub where I'll have a pint?" Sybil felt her temper rising. "That I see …" Sybil caught herself before saying "Tom" though she did pause long enough to think that Mary would die knowing that her actions regarding Tom had ended up having the opposite effect of what she wanted.

"What do you want to hear so you can go tell Papa?"

Mary looked like Sybil had slapped her. "Oh Sybil, I just … I do care about you. I do want you to be happy. I …"

Sybil rose out of bed, interrupting Mary. "How many times must I say it? I am happy. I have work I love. I have friends. I have a real life."

The air in the room crackled with tension. Staring at each other, Mary was the first to break. She sat on the edge of Sybil's bed trying to hide the tears forming with her hands.

"I do miss you Sybil. There's such an emptiness here without you"

"You still have Edith." Mary's head snapped up. Seeing the smile on Sybil's face, she also started chuckling.

"Is there anyone? A doctor or even an officer?" Mary asked sincerely.

"Unless he's at the least an Earl's son would the family approve?" Sybil bristled.

"Just so he's not a servant" Mary countered. Like that the atmosphere in the room took on a great chill. Whatever progress Mary hoped to make with Sybil completely vanished.

Before catching a late afternoon train, Sybil had lunch with Isobel at Crawley House. This gave them some time alone to talk. Of all her family, Sybil thought Isobel was the only one she was truly honest with. Isobel was pleased to hear that with Sybil's work and the training classes she had taken at St. Georges, she was now a qualified nurse not just a volunteer auxiliary nurse.

While Sybil didn't tell Isobel that she was on her way to meet Tom, she did tell Isobel that she had met with Tom in London and that he was working as a journalist for the Manchester Guardian. Isobel said she had seen the name Tom Branson on some articles in the paper and wondered if it was Sybil's Tom. Sybil beamed with pride when Isobel told her she had been so impressed by his story on the changing role of women due to the war that she had written a letter to the editor praising the article and the writer.

Tom met her at the train station greeting her with a deep kiss and hug. Tom was so intent at greeting Sybil he didn't realize that she had not just her large suitcase but also a trunk. When he picked up her suitcase, took hold of her hand, and turned to leave the station, Sybil had to tell him "Wait Tom. I also have this" pointing at the trunk.

He looked at the trunk and then at her and then trunk again before remarking with a grin "I thought you were just coming for the night. I didn't think you were moving here. Or are you planning on changing clothes every couple of hours like at Downton?"

"Good thing I was able to borrow my cousin's truck. I do think we'll need a porter to help me get it to the hotel" he continued while looking for a porter to help move the trunk.

Sybil knew that Tom's cousin had moved to Manchester where he worked in a garage. If Tom ever got the full time job with the paper and moved to Manchester he would live with his cousin. When Tom came to Manchester to meet with his editors if he had to stay overnight he'd stay with his cousin rather than spend the travel allowance on a hotel room.

But Sybil's face was serious. "I've started cleaning out my things at Downton. I know that whatever happens I won't be going back there to live."

Without pausing Sybil continued, "I have so many clothes that I just don't need. We always went through our wardrobes in the beginning of the year and we'd determine which clothes we wanted to keep, which to give to Anna or Daisy or some of the housemaids, and which to give to the church charity boxes."

"Yesterday when I started sorting my stuff, I realized that your sisters might be able to wear some of my clothes. Some things might need adjusting but with your mother a seamstress that shouldn't be a problem. I even included some things that are out of date but the material could possibly be used by your mother to make …"

Sybil wasn't able to finish before Tom interrupted her. "My family is not that poor Sybil. We don't need your charity" he surprised her with the obvious hurt in his voice.

"Tom, I don't mean to insult you or your family. I just thought that since I was giving away the clothes regardless, rather than not knowing what actually happens to them, I thought of your sisters and mother especially Rosie since you said in one of your letters that she's starting a new job as a bookkeeper in a nice office." Sybil had never given a thought to how this gesture would hit Tom's pride.

"If I wasn't wearing a uniform every day, I would have more need of some of these things. But seriously Tom, how many sweaters or blouses do I need? Some days I go from my nurse's uniform straight to my night clothes." Sybil continued hoping this would appease Tom but his facial expression was unreadable.

"But if you're so offended, we could just drop the trunk at a charity shop here in Manchester."

Tom looked at Sybil with her earnest expression and knew that he shouldn't be hurt. The clothes were a reminder that Sybil was wealthy or rather came from a wealthy family. They were a reminder of the differences between them, of what he had asked her to give up when he had proposed back in York.

"I'm sorry love. I shouldn't have taken such offense. I think Rosie and Maeve will be delighted to have some new clothes." Tom conceded but silently thinking he wasn't sure how his mother would take Sybil's generosity.

After the rocky start to their meeting in Manchester the rest of Sybil's visit passed in harmony. Tom had taken a hotel room rather than stay with his cousin. Since neither Tom or Sybil was familiar with Manchester they didn't know what sights the city had to offer and with Sybil's early evening arrival in Manchester it was already getting dark.

"Actually Tom, it's rather cold to be sightseeing anyway. Why don't we just find a nice pub, have a good meal, drink a pint" Sybil offered. "I might even let you try to beat me in a game of darts."

"A challenge I'll take willingly" Tom laughed.

After dropping Sybil's suitcase and trunk at the hotel, they walked a few blocks to a pub recommended by the hotel clerk. There they passed a few very pleasant hours with Tom even winning one game to Sybil's three.

It was almost ten went they returned to their hotel. By now both knew what pleasures the rest of the evening would bring.