A couple of people have asked how many chapters this story will now be – it's grown to 14 plus an epilogue, so still a little while to go!

NB: I have Tom and Sybil travelling to Ripon station, because I would imagine that the branch line to Downton would have been closed in the 1960s under the Beeching proposals.

Tom met Sybil at Kings Cross station in the early afternoon of New Year's Eve, after she had finished her shorter than usual shift at the hospital. It made sense to take the train rather than travel south to Clapham in order to pick up one of their cars, especially as the party was beginning at 7pm.

"I enjoyed meeting Fiona and Niall last night" Sybil began after they had settled in their seats and the train pulled slowly away. "They're really lovely."

"Yes, well they were very complimentary about you too. Apparently, you make me a far nicer person…."

"Were you not a very nice person before, then?" Sybil started laughing and Tom stuck out his lower lip in jest.

"I thought I was, but it seems my sister thought otherwise. Charming, isn't it?"

"She's much quieter than the rest of you."

"I know, she always was. I think she just never managed to get a word in edgeways and it carried on that way. She wouldn't say boo to a goose when she was little, just used to follow me and Kieran around everywhere. Edie was louder than her, even when she couldn't talk. Mam thinks that Fiona got overlooked a bit, with two boisterous boys and Edie being the baby of the family. Anyway, she's come out of herself a lot more in the last couple of years. I think Dad's death knocked the stuffing out of her for a while, but she seems to be doing really well in her job and has the love of a good man, I guess."

"He's certainly devoted to her"

"Good, so he should be…he was in the year below me at school actually, he always was a nice guy."

"And they don't seem to mind not having a wild night out on New Year's Eve…"

"Well they knew the score when they arranged to come over. They have a stack of DVDs, lots of Marks and Spencers' nibbles, bubbly for them, some fancy juice drink for Edie, so they'll be alright." Tom put his arm around Sybil and kissed the top of her head, " I'd have been quite happy to share it all with them, but I'm glad you invited me instead."

Sybil smiled and squeezed his knee. "So Mary is going to pick us up in Ripon, apparently." She glanced sideways at Tom's neutral expression. "I hope you have a better impression of her after this trip."

"So do I. I want to like her, but she wasn't very friendly last time."

"She was trying to suss you out, but she was very impressed with the effort you put into my Christmas present, so I think she's warming to you. She never seems to like anyone when she first meets them."

"Why? That seems quite a destructive way to be, in my opinion."

"She doesn't like to be disappointed by anyone, I think. She wants people to prove their worth and then, when they do, she's really loyal and supportive."

"What about Matthew, did she not like him either at first?"

"No, she was horrible about him! I remember her coming home and saying that she'd met this third cousin and that he was bound to want to attach himself to our family now that he knew her. Mum and Dad invited him up for a weekend and we all loved him, because…well, you've met him, he's just friendly and enthusiastic to everyone. And I think he was slightly in awe of Mary, but not really interested in her romantically and then that became a challenge for her, I think."

"So then she pursued him, is that what happened?"

"Sort of, although very subtly. Mary wouldn't do anything that might make it look as if she was after a man; she sort of chipped away into his heart…."

"…until he was worn into submission?" joked Tom, although he was yet to understand what Matthew saw in her.

Sybil smiled "Something like that, but they seem very happy now. He definitely brings out her better side."

"Christ, what's her worse side like?...Sorry!" Tom lifted his hands in apology and changed the subject. "So tell me about Anthony, he's a lot older than Edith, isn't he? Not that it matters of course…."

"He's over 20 years older; he's only 5 years younger than Dad. We've known him for years, his family used to have a big house in the area, but they lost a lot of money when he was a child and they moved to a house in the village. He was married and then his wife died of cancer, about 12 years ago. She was only 30, I believe."

"Oh God, that's awful…."

"I know and they had two little boys, so he's brought them up on his own and done a wonderful job. One's at university now and the other is in the sixth form. They'll probably be there tonight, I should think. I don't think he had much time for relationships while they were growing up, but he did an evening class with Edith about two years ago and it all started from there."

"An evening class in what?"

"Furniture restoring, I think. Edith was always doing different classes, I can't keep up with them. She never stuck at anything for long, but they just hit it off and he's helped channel her into doing the shop and settle down a bit.

"And your parents don't mind the age gap?"

"I think they were a bit anxious at first, but they've seen how happy he makes her, so I guess that's reassured them. I do often think that it must be a bit odd for Dad though….you know, he sometimes had a drink with Anthony in the village and now he's…..well you know what…with his daughter."

"I very much doubt that your Dad dwells on that thought."

"No, you're probably right. Anyway, you're also going to meet my two grandmothers, which will be like being between a rock and a hard place, but don't be intimidated by either of them, they'll respect you far more for it."

"Wow, you're really selling this to me…." he smiled. "I am a man of words, I can hold my own."

"You haven't met them" muttered Sybil.

"Holy shit….." murmured Tom as Mary's car turned into the drive and he viewed the Abbey's magnificent profile at the rise of the hill.

"Impressive, isn't it?" said Mary, her voice filled with satisfaction.

"You know, " began Sybil "I probably take my family's situation for granted at times, but I will never, ever tire of this view. I love London and my flat and everything, but when I turn that corner and see the house, I just know that I'm home."

Tom couldn't stop looking up at all the spires and windows as he took his bag out of the car, feeling in awe of its history and beauty. An older man, dressed in a tuxedo came down the steps to greet them.

"Carson!" greeted Sybil and kissed him on the cheek. "This is my boyfriend, Tom Branson."

"Mr Branson" nodded the man respectfully. "May I take your bag?"

"No, I've got it, you're fine," Tom said awkwardly. He didn't want a man older than his father would be, carrying his things.

"He wants to, that's his job" hissed Sybil as they walked up the steps behind him.

"Is he the butler?" asked Tom, feeling confused. He had mistaken him for an early dressed party guest, who was simply offering to help. Sybil nodded. "But you kissed him?"

"I've known him all my life, I always kiss him when I see him" she whispered.

They entered the magnificent hallway where a middle aged Scottish woman came forward to greet them.

"Lady Sybil" she said warmly and also accepted a small kiss on the cheek. "And you must be Mr Branson. How do you do?" Tom shook the proffered hand.

"I'm Mrs Hughes, the housekeeper here. We're all a bit busy as you can imagine with so many people arriving and getting everything ready. There will be some tea served in the drawing room at 5 o'clock. Lady Sybil, are you happy to take your bag to your room? Mr Branson is in the Tulip Room."

"Of course, I'll let you get on. Do you know where my parents are?"

"Your mother is downstairs, trying to help Mrs Patmore and your father is in the library with some of the guests. Do you want me to let them know you're here?"

"No, that's fine. We'll see them later, thank you." Sybil turned her head to her sister.

"Thank you for the lift Mary" she kicked Tom gently on the ankle.

"Er, yes…thanks Mary, much appreciated."

Mary tipped her head slightly and smiled coolly "You're very welcome. I'll let you both settle in while I go and find Matthew. Don't forget Sybil…the Tulip Room!" and she gave a little laugh as she walked away.

"What's so funny about the Tulip Room?" asked Tom as they started to climb the imposing staircase.

"I forgot to tell you, but we're in separate rooms."

"Uh…OK."

"My parents believe that we can do what we want when we're in our own flats and houses, but while we are in their home, we live by their rules. And that means no sleeping with boyfriends."

"Fair enough, I suppose, it's their house."

"But I sort of let it slip to Mary on the phone that we've been…..well you know….."

"No, I don't know. What did you tell her?" asked Tom mischievously

"Well, I told her that Brussels marked a change in our relationship and that well…" she began to whisper now "that we've been quite active in that department ever since…" Tom smirked before she continued "…and now she keeps teasing me about not being able to stay away from you.

"Are you going to sneak in on me in the middle of the night and seduce me?"

"Granny is about two doors down from you, so probably not. I think it's her who insists that this rule continues. Mum's a bit more liberal."

"Shame" said Tom grinning. He couldn't believe the size of the room he was staying in, it was almost as big as his flat. And he'd never slept in a four poster bed before, he was tempted to take a photograph.

"You're going to have to tell me what to do and when to wear what, Sybil. I feel a bit out of my depth here."

"Well we don't have to do anything now, it's just tea in the drawing room. We'll have that and say hello to anyone who's here and then come up and get changed for the party."

"Isn't it a bit of a drag sometimes to only have tea at certain times? Don't you ever just want to go and boil a kettle and get yourself one?"

"It's not always like this. We would usually do just what you say, go down to the kitchen and get one. But today isn't a normal day and Mrs Patmore won't thank us for going downstairs and getting in her way. I shouldn't think she's very pleased about Mum being down there, her and Mum's idea of help differ somewhat."

Tea had been a fairly painless affair. Tom was introduced to various friends of the family and happily reacquainted himself with Matthew while he observed that Mary smiled and laughed with those she knew well. Sybil's American grandmother seemed quite a character, he was intrigued to meet the Dowager Countess who hadn't yet arrived from her own home. Edith entered late, flustered from closing up the shop and having to evict her last two customers who had shown no sign of leaving.

After going up to change, he led Sybil cheerfully down the staircase once more and gratefully accepted a glass of something bubbly from an expressionless waiter standing at the bottom. He thought that Sybil once again outshone every woman in the room, although he acknowledged that he was somewhat biased.

"How many of these fancy dresses do you have?" he'd asked as she had glided into his room in a calf length gown of shimmering silver, hair pinned up and diamonds dripping from her ears and neck.

"It's not fancy" she laughed and put her finger to her lips "shhhhh it's from Zara actually, don't tell anyone. You just think that all my clothes are more expensive than they really are."

Downstairs, Sybil took his hand and brought him forward to meet her grandmother. She had told him on the train that despite his opposition to aristocratic titles, it would make his life a lot easier if he would break his own rule on this one occasion.

"Lady Grantham" he obliged and shook her outstretched hand, sitting down next to her as Sybil indicated. He politely answered her questions about his job and how he was enjoying Downton.

"It's really beautiful, I'm finding the whole building quite breathtaking to be honest." She smiled her approval before he continued. "It must have been hard for you to leave when your husband passed away."

"Yes, well, Robert didn't throw me out immediately" she replied somewhat curtly. "This should be a family home as well as a house and he had a young family when he inherited. So it was right that I stepped back and made my home elsewhere…..However, I do enjoy coming back to stay now and again." She looked him directly in the eye.

"I believe that tonight I am staying just down the corridor from your room, Mr Branson."

"Oh, call me Tom please. Yes, Sybil mentioned that."

"Then I should let you know that I am a very light sleeper. I wake at the slightest sound."

The corners of Tom's mouth twitched and he nodded at her, "Point taken". Then, he could have sworn that he caught sight of the faint glimmer of a smile as she turned her head and greeted an incoming guest.

"And how's my favourite goddaughter?" came a familiar sounding voice from behind him and as Tom turned his neck, he saw Piers Donaldson walking towards them with his wife. After kissing Sybil on both cheeks, he turned to Tom and wagged his finger in the air.

"A-ha, I do recognise you! Aren't you the chap who wrong footed my Junior Minister over the borrowing rate figures a couple of months ago?"

"Er, yes. Sorry about that" Tom replied awkwardly, although impressed that it had been remembered.

"Well you were just doing your job and my man hadn't done his properly. I gave him a complete bollocking when he came back to the Treasury. Anyway, good to meet you properly, Tom" and he provided a hearty handshake, while introducing his wife.

"So do you play golf then? Going to give us a challenge tomorrow?"

"I'm afraid not, I've played it about twice, I think. I wouldn't want to embarrass myself. I'll just walk round with you, if that's OK?"

"No problem at all. It'll be good to have some younger company out on the course, eh Robert?"

Tom hadn't seen Sybil's father walking up behind him and he held out his hand in a friendly manner. "Nice to see you again, sir."

Robert accepted it, but simply nodded solemnly and then immediately glanced at Sybil, before turning his head again to Piers. "I believe that Matthew might join us this time as well."

"Excellent! came the enthusiastic response. "Well, I will see you two lovely people over the course of the evening. Enjoy yourselves!"

Robert nodded at them "Excuse me" he said politely and walked towards Cora who was waving him over to another corner of the room.

"So how does your family know Piers?" Tom asked " He's completely different in real life, he seems so dour when he's at press conferences and on the TV."

"Well, the country's finances are a heavy load to carry, I guess, regardless of whether or not you think he's doing it correctly. He's just very good at switching off when he's away from it all, I think that's the only way he can cope with it. Dad went to school with him. They've been great friends ever since"

"Eton, by any chance?"

"Harrow actually."

"Ah….."

"It's not all nepotism and buggery, you know Tom. People do actually form meaningful relationships there and get a good level of education."

"I don't even want to consider the first part of that sentence…."

The party was soon in full flow, with a delicious buffet laid out and a jazz band performing. Guests began to dance in the main ballroom and out in the hallway and Sybil dragged first Tom and then a reluctant Edith up to join her. After chatting amiably to Anthony for a while and being introduced to his two sons, Tom excused himself and went to the toilet. As he was walking back, Robert appeared from the opposite end of the corridor and Tom smiled at his approach.

"Can I have a word please Tom?"

Surprised but not feeling unduly concerned, Tom nodded and followed him through a nearby door, which housed Robert's study. As soon as he closed the door behind him, Robert swung round to face him.

"So, I understand that you're interviewing Piers tomorrow?"

"Well, it's not an interview as such, just a chat really, so that I can do a profile piece."

"So you're using Sybil in order to further your career?"

"No!" Tom was horrified by the allegation, "It was actually all her idea, I wouldn't have ever suggested it."

"But you're happy to take advantage of her position and benefit from it?"

"I don't think that's at all fair" Tom protested, trying to speak calmly despite feeling inwardly furious by Robert's implication. "I had absolutely no idea who she was when I first met her and didn't know your family's connection to him until she brought it up. As I said, I wouldn't dream of asking her to pull favours for me, she's suggested this out of the goodness of her own heart." He paused for a moment. "I'm here because I want to spend New Year with Sybil, not because I see something in it for me professionally."

"And what are your intentions towards her?"

Tom gave a brief, incredulous laugh "I'm sorry, have I walked into the pages of a Victorian novel by mistake?" Robert's expression remained impassive and Tom realised that the question had been entirely serious.

"Are you asking me if I'm intending to marry her?"

"Well, are you?"

"I don't know" Robert gave a quiet snort of satisfaction and Tom found himself clenching his fists as he tried to keep his voice level.

"With the greatest of respect, Lord Grantham, I have known her for less than three months. Can you in all honesty tell me that you were certain you would marry Cora within 12 weeks of meeting her?"

Robert glanced at the floor silently and posed his next words carefully, "Sybil has been badly hurt in the past…."

"I know that, sir. I am fully aware that Larry Grey behaved appallingly and I can understand how protective you feel towards her."

"I want you to promise me that you won't break her heart."

"I can't do that…"

Robert's face started to turn red with fury before Tom continued more calmly "…no more than she can promise at this stage, not to break mine." He paused momentarily while he chose his next words.

"We haven't made any declarations to each other, although I can tell you that I feel more for her than any other woman I've known in recent years. I'd like to think that she feels the same way, but I don't actually know for certain. I can't make promises for the future without having that conversation with her first." He took a deep breath and glanced at Robert, whose eyes were watching him intently. "What I can promise you though, is that whatever happens, I will treat Sybil with honesty and respect, just as I hope she will with me. I give you my word on that."

Robert paused and considered Tom's declaration. "Very well. I shall have to hope that what you say is true…..However, if I find that you have gone behind my daughter's back in any way…."

"You won't" Tom interrupted sharply.

"Then we'll leave it at that for the time being." Without apologies, Robert strode past him, opened the door and walked out along the corridor to join the other guests. Tom stood where he was momentarily, trying to let the whole indignant episode sink in, before making his way back. Sybil saw him as he entered the hallway and almost skipped over, smiling,

"Were you just with Dad?" she asked looking expectant.

"Um, yes."

"What was it about?"

"Oh, nothing significant…He was asking me about the golf tomorrow….I think he thought I might have a secretly low handicap that I was keeping from them."

'I'm lying to her already' he thought with reluctance. 'I've only just walked out of the room and the first thing I've said to her is a fabrication.' However, he knew that Sybil would be furious if she discovered the truth and the last thing he wanted was for her to confront her father about their conversation and be the cause of further dispute.

The unexpected allegations left a sour taste in his mouth for the remainder of the evening, but he tried his best to push it to one side and at least outwardly return to his previously enthusiastic appearance. He drank a little more than he had intended and chatted to others less than he would previously have expected, however he was attentive to Sybil and ensured that she could have no doubts about his desire to spend the evening with her. Shortly before midnight, the guests gathered outside of the Abbey's front door, freshly poured glasses of champagne in hands and watched fireworks light the night sky over the gardens. Tom wrapped his arms around Sybil, not an entirely easy feat while holding a full glass, and pressed his lips amorously to hers.

"Happy New Year, gorgeous girl" he whispered and smiled to himself as she put her hands on his backside and pulled him close.

"I'm so happy I met you" she replied and he placed his forehead on hers while looking questioningly into her eyes.

"Did you make a wish?" he asked.

"Of course"

"Are you going to tell me what it was?"

"Definitely not, then it won't come true!" she offered a coy smile and continued "but you featured heavily..."

A combination of emotional exhaustion and an excessive amount of alcohol meant that Tom slept soundly and had forgotten to set his alarm for his excursion to the golf course. He dreamt that he was lying on the stern of a boat, floating away from the shore and that Sybil was calling to him. Eventually she climbed up a ladder and appeared next to him, stroking his head and kissing his face. Her hand caressed his chest and he rolled into her with desire, leading her to explore further down his body until he….

"WHAT? Sybil….Jesus!" he shouted, sitting bolt upright in bed, his head pounding. Sybil was sitting on her haunches beside him, grinning suggestively.

"What the hell are you doing?" he asked, still torn between reality and fantasy.

"What do you think I'm doing?" she laughed and started to push him back down on his back.

"Your grandmother!" he hissed, feeling more than slightly panicked that Violet or even worse, Robert might stride in at any moment and carry him off the premises.

"Relax, I've just seen her go down to breakfast. Nobody is going to check up on us. They'll all be going off for golf in about 40 minutes, so you need to get moving…..no, no, don't sit up again….plenty of time, this won't take long….you'll still have time for a quick fry up before you go, just relax….."

Feeling a lot perkier after two paracetemol, a pint of water and Sybil's personal hangover cure, Tom went downstairs and was greeted enthusiastically by the other participants before they all headed off to the local golf course. Matthew fell into line with him, asking how he'd enjoyed the evening and admitted that he had only recently started playing himself. "I've found it's quite a good way to get in Robert's good books, so if you want a tip…." he suggested.

"I personally am with Mark Twain on this one" admitted Tom, "a good walk ruined, but never mind, I'll happily talk to you if you don't mind. I don't want to monopolise Piers all day."

Matthew was good company and Tom found himself laughing and chatting quite easily, despite noticing Robert staring at him broodingly on frequent occasions. Piers called him over after the first couple of holes and was surprisingly open about the stresses of his job and the ways he found to recuperate. Questions were posed on both sides and Tom got a good impression of the Chancellor away from his desk. He couldn't help but ask some probing questions about the spending cuts and Piers fielded these with ease, blaming the previous government but putting together a reasonable defence for many of the decisions he'd made. They bantered back and forth and Piers acknowledged that Tom made some good points for his side of the argument. He was clearly used to this type of questioning and began many sentences with either 'this is off the record, Tom" or "you're free to quote me on this." pausing while Tom scribbled hastily in his notebook. Tom hadn't expected to warm to the man quite as much, although he was fully aware that they would spare each other no mercies if they met at a press conference in the future.

After the final hole, they all strolled towards the clubhouse and Piers stepped back to walk alongside Tom.

"I understand that Robert gave you a bit of a hard time last night?" he said kindly.

"Sort of" admitted Tom, not sure how much Sybil's father might have shared.

"Don't think too badly of him. He loves his girls and would do anything to protect them."

"I can understand that, I'm just sorry that he thinks so badly of me."

"He's seen his family taken advantage of before; for their money, titles and position. And he's seen Sybil hurt in the past. I mean, every parent worries for their children, but I've only got boys and I think a man probably feels additionally protective towards daughters." Tom nodded before Piers continued,

"Look, I've made it clear to him that this whole interview or profile or whatever you want to call it, was Sybil's idea. It was obvious to me from how enthusiastic she was on the phone, that it had come from her and not you. We all know that a connection or two can sometimes help, but I don't see you as being a gold digger, either financially or professionally."

"Thank you, I appreciate that."

"And I realise that I'm slightly more detached from it, but I can see how Sybil is glowing at the moment. Now part of that may well be down to her job and new found independence, but I think much of it is probably because of you. So as her godfather, rather than as her biological father, I say just bide your time and he'll come round. Once he can see how much you care for each other, I'm sure he'll welcome you just like he does with Matthew."

After a rejuvenating drink in the bar, the group headed back to Downton Abbey where a full roast dinner was served for the forty or so guests who had stayed the night. Edith offered to drive Sybil and Tom back to Ripon station and agreed to drop another couple off in a town en-route. As family and friends gathered in the hallway to say goodbye, Tom walked forward to shake Robert's reluctant hand.

"Goodbye, I'll no doubt see you again soon" he said with as much positivity as he could muster. Robert nodded his head and leant forward so that only Tom could hear.

"As Sybil's father, I will be watching you very closely. Do you understand?"

Tom stood straight, looked directly into his eyes and nodded. "As her father, I would expect nothing less."