Some Things Are in Flux

by PrincessAndula

Please, no flames on my lack of research. This was more or less canon when I wrote it other than changing the canon with time travel, but all was explained in the story . I wrote this BEFORE series 2 came out in the United States, so it is now AU.

10. Chapter 10

A/N: Here comes another time jump. This takes place during the final episode of series 1 of Downton Abbey. "John Smith" and Donna did deliver Vera/Fideslia's message to Bates and he is now pursuing Anna, while she went home to die peacefully in her sleep. The Crawleys have now returned home and received the news of her ladyship's pregnancy, which is putting a strain on Matthew and Mary's relationship (as he believes her reluctance to give him an answer is due to the entail being in question). You know the scene: Cora wants a bath. O'Brien is angry because she thinks she's about to be sacked, so when Cora drops the soap…

"Sarah O'Brien, this is not who you are! My lady if you could just wait…"

The sound of Lady Grantham's voice screaming comes from the bathroom. Sarah's eyes slide shut. What have I done? The silence following the scream is terrifying. Have I killed her? O'Brien runs to the bathroom.

"My lady! What happened?"

Cora is still in the tub, huddled under the water, a look of utter shock on her face. She seems to regain her voice at that moment. "What are you doing in here?"

A red head pops up from behind the tub. "Just tidying up a bit," Donna says cheerfully. "I'm a maid; it's what I do." She saunters over to O'Brien and hands her the soap. "Here, you dropped this."

That was the last time anyone at Downton saw Donna Noble, or John Smith for that matter.