A/N: I love hearing what you think of this story, so thanks very much for the reviews I received for the last chapter. I'm also going to take the opportunity to shamelessly plug the Sybil/Tom one-shot I posted for Valentine's Day - With Love From Dublin. Set in 1920, Sybil and Tom celebrate Valentine's Day as they await the birth of their first child. Set in the same universe as this story. Many thanks to my patient betas, Tripp3235 and mswainwright.

Disclaimer: Not mine. All Downton Abbey characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 9

Friday morning arrived and it was overcast, when Tom looked out the window of his room. Five more days before we can leave. Just as Tom went downstairs, the telephone rang behind the bar. Tom waited to see if it was for him. The barkeep answered it before waving Tom over.

Picking up the telephone, Tom said, "Hello?"

"Good Morning, Tom, It's me," said Sybil cheerfully.

"Good Morning, Sybil," said Tom with a smile. "You're sounding much better this morning."

"After getting a full day's rest, I'm feeling much better," said Sybil. "I expect that I'll be ready to go around half past nine."

"I'll be out front waiting for you," said Tom. "I suspect that Mr. Carson won't let me in. One other thing, I was wondering whether you could sign out a couple of books for me from the Downton Library? I need to check a few of my references for my article."

"Of course," said Sybil. "Which books do you require?"

"I need Unto This Last by Ruskin and Utilitarianism by John Stuart Mill and I don't have either in my collection," said Tom.

"I'll go find them and bring them with me this morning," said Sybil.

"Thank you," said Tom. "You can probably bring them back with you by the end of the day."

"I'll see you soon," said Sybil. "Good bye."

"Good bye," said Tom before putting the receiver back on the hook.

Quickly checking his pocket watch, Tom ordered a smaller breakfast as he wanted to get a quick start on his walk to Downton Abbey.

Sybil had been ready with the books Tom wanted since nine o'clock and she'd been pacing one of the empty upstairs guest rooms that faced the front when saw Tom walking up the gravel driveway. She didn't wait until he was at the front door and instead got ready and walked out the front door to greet him with a huge smile.

"Good morning!" said Sybil immensely happy to see Tom.

"Good morning, my love," said Tom as he offered his arm to her. "Are we ready to go?"

Taking his arm, she said "Yes, let's go. Here are the books you wanted."

Tom took the satchel from Sybil and slung it over his shoulder. "Thank you. Now I should be able to send off the article before we leave."

As they walked down the long drive, Sybil was just enjoying the physical contact. She had missed him keenly, especially the night Lavinia died, and she wanted to do more than just link arms, but they were still in full view of the house. Tom, for his part, was unable to take his eyes off Sybil. He had not seen her the last two days though it seemed much longer. Finally, Tom said, "I'm sorry to hear about Miss Swire. She was always polite and kind."

Looking up at Tom, Sybil said, "Yes, we were all surprised. She had a mild case at first, but then she took a turn for the worse suddenly Wednesday evening and died. Her funeral is on Monday in the village. It will be in the papers today."

"I'll find the details in the paper so that I can pay my respects," said Tom. "How is Mr. Matthew?"

"Not good at all," said Sybil sadly. "Papa told us he was at Downton yesterday and looked like a ghost. I hope he doesn't die of grief."

"I understand how he would feel," said Tom as he looked at her. Poor Mr Matthew, to get so close to marrying, only to be separated by death. "I don't know what I'd do if you died."

"Please don't say that," said Sybil. As much as she loved him, she didn't want him to follow her to the grave. "I'd hope that you'd go on living and find someone else with whom to be happy. I wouldn't want you to die of grief for me."

Realizing the morbidity of the conversation, Tom said, "Let's talk of happier things. How is Lady Grantham?

"Mama is better," said Sybil with a smile. "She felt well enough to sit in a chair in her room for a half hour last night."

"That's good news," said Tom.

"Yes, it is," said Sybil. "I expect that she will be well enough to attend the funeral on Monday."

"Are we still looking to leave next Wednesday then?" asked Tom, anxious to know whether there would be a delay in their departure.

"Yes, I believe Mama will be well enough by then and I should have enough time to pack," said Sybil. "Though I do wish that we were leaving on better terms."

"As I've said before, they will turn around some day," said Tom. "At least we didn't elope like we had originally planned. If you need something happier to consider, Cathleen is looking forward to meeting you. I heard from my mother yesterday. Apparently, Cathleen has been talking her ear off about you. As well, my mother has a lead for you for a nursing position in Dublin."

"Your mother is incredible," said Sybil. "I only hope that I can live up to her expectations."

"I'm sure she will find you to be beyond her expectations," said Tom with a smile.

"I rather doubt that," said Sybil before suddenly guiding Tom off the road. They had just entered the woods beyond the front gate.

"Where are we going?" asked Tom rather puzzled by this sudden change in route.

Sybil ignored him and continued off the road. Once in the cover of the trees, Sybil pulled his head down to her level for a kiss. They kissed for at least a minute before Sybil pulled back and looked to the ground suddenly shy. She had never been so forward before and hoped that Tom wasn't unhappy with her unladylike behaviour. When Tom didn't say anything, Sybil spoke up, "I'm sorry to be so forward, but I've missed you. I didn't realize how much until I couldn't see you the night Lavinia died."

Tom at first was stunned by Sybil's actions and then her words. When he recovered, he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes with love before leaning in to kiss her. When he broke the kiss shortly there after, he said, "I've missed you, too. We'll be together starting Wednesday, my love."

"Yes, we will," said Sybil with a smile as she put her head on his shoulders. "I can't wait."

Tom kissed her temple and savoured the moment as he held her. Eventually, Tom thought to ask, "On Wednesday, will you meet me in the village or should I come and collect you at Downton?"

Looking up at him, Sybil said, "Perhaps I can convince Edith to drive us to the railway station."

"Would she?" asked Tom.

"I think so", said Sybil. "She's been nothing but quietly supportive since we announced our intentions to the family. She's even asked how you were doing in the village."

"I'm surprised that any of your family would ever ask about me," said Tom.

"Edith's changed since the war," said Sybil. "She's much nicer than she used to be. I know she's grateful that you taught her how to drive."

"She was quite determined to learn just as you were determined to be a nurse," said Tom. "And over the years, she's become quite skilled. She even learned to change the oil recently, though I doubt that she will ever have to do so."

Sybil smiled at the thought of Edith tinkering with the motor. Looking at Tom, she said, "We should probably get back on the road."

Leading Sybil back onto the road in the forest, Tom said, "Speaking of your family, I should mention that your father came on Wednesday morning to try to bribe me to leave."

"He what?" said Sybil blinking in surprise.

"He tried to bribe me with a large sum of money and when I wouldn't take it, he asked me to leave the village at once," said Tom. "I told him that you'd come the moment I call."

"And I would have," said Sybil. After a momentary pause, Sybil continued incredulous, "I just can't believe my father tried to bribe you. Why does he not understand that neither of us want any money from him?"

"Because he can't imagine happiness without it," said Tom. Looking at the road ahead, he continued, "He told me that I was ruining your life and that I couldn't provide for you. What he doesn't understand is that we will be happy because we'll be together, not because we have the sums of money that he has."

Thinking on what Tom said, Sybil added, "What they all don't understand is that I've been thinking about this for years before I made my decision to elope with you."

"Have you told them that?" asked Tom, looking at her.

"I told Mary and Edith," said Sybil emphatically. "But Mary seems to think that I will change my mind with time. Some days I feel like I'm talking to a brick wall with her. And while Edith is being quietly supportive, she won't speak up on our behalf."

"I know you're frustrated, but think of the bright side, we're not hiding our relationship any more," said Tom as he strokes her hand about his arm to soothe her. "We may walk about as we please. I can buy you a meal and when we're married, we can live together and there can be no objections. I predict that we will be deliriously happy which I can say is more than what most married couples have."

"I suppose you're right," said Sybil. "Being happy is the best way to show them we made the right decision."

"Are you getting excited at the prospect of going to Ireland?" asked Tom. "I know that you've been to America before, so a trip to Ireland is no comparison."

"I am excited," said Sybil with a smile. "I'm excited by your prospects as a journalist, I'm excited by the prospect of living in a different country, I'm excited by the prospect of meeting your family and I'm excited by the prospect of being your wife."

"Have you thought of what to pack for the trip?" asked Tom. "Unlike your family's trips to London, we won't have the ability to bring more than a couple of suitcases for you."

"I thought I would pack as I did for my training in York and leave all my finery here, except for the dress that had been made for Matthew's wedding, which I will wear for our wedding," said Sybil. "I will be bringing the nurses uniforms as I will need them for my work. I would like to bring a few mementos of home, but I'm not sure which yet, but they will be few and small."

"Is that why you asked me to look at fabric swatches last month?" asked Tom finally figuring out that puzzle.

Sybil giggled and said, "Yes."

"So you had that trip planned from the beginning?" asked Tom.

"Maybe not right from the beginning," said Sybil. "I knew that I needed a wedding dress and a dress for Matthew's wedding as all my clothes are from my season before the war and I wanted to spend some time alone with you. In the end, it felt like the perfect solution to combine it all."

"I think that was somewhat devious on your part," said Tom with a teasing smile, "But I can't complain, as I liked the trip very much." Tom leaned over to kiss her cheek.

Sybil ducked her head shyly. She was still not used to taking compliments from Tom. Once Sybil regained her power of speech, she said, "You mentioned that you started another article for publication when I spoke to you yesterday. What is it about?"

"The peace treaty and the common worker," said Tom. "I've been reading talk of the peace treaty in the monthly circulars that I receive, but none of them have linked the benefits of the treaty to the common worker, so I thought I'd give it a try."

"That's an excellent topic," said Sybil. "To which publications will you be sending the article?"

"The usual," said Tom. "I'm hoping that what I get from publishing it will pay for my stay at the Grantham Arms."

"Oh Tom," said Sybil looking at him with surprise and shock, her free hand at her mouth. "I never considered that when I asked that we tell my parents when you got the letter. I'm so sorry it's eating into your savings."

"What's done is done, love," said Tom, looking at her with a small smile of reassurance. "Without your plan, I wouldn't have a job offer waiting for me in Dublin."

"Still," said Sybil as she bit her lip. "I should have considered the consequences. Let me pay for the remainder of your stay there."

"No, Sybil," said Tom. "I can pay my own way. If you want to help, perhaps you can read the first draft of the article and tell me if you see something amiss."

"Absolutely," said Sybil. "I can look at it today, but I insist on paying for any meals we have together from now on. I will not be a burden."

Tom stopped them and turned to look at her. "So long as you love me, you will never be a burden that I'd not be willing to bear."

The intensity of the love in his eyes for her made her suddenly shy again and she looked to the ground in an effort to process her feelings on the matter. She loved Tom with all her heart and yet it was still difficult for her to express her feelings for him. When she thought back to the number of times she was drawn to initiate their interaction in the past after his declaration, she realized that in her own way, she had been expressing her feelings for him even then and Tom had been right all along when he accused her of being too scared to admit to being in love with him.

Tom looked left and right on the road to the village. Seeing no one, he lifted her chin up, leaned in and gave her a kiss.

Though she loved him greatly, she broke the kiss quickly as she worried that someone might see them on the road. The look she returned to him said all that she need without words and they walked companionably into the village.

A/N2: One more chapter before the funeral. I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter good or bad, so please do review. :)