A/N: Hello again everyone! So this past week was February 16th, Cora and Robert's anniversary! So this chapter is kind of a tribute to it. Anyways, the story is moving along and I'm so glad to have such lovely readers. Thank you so much and happy reading!

February 16th, 1915

"Sir, I hope you don't mind me asking, but are you quite alright today?"

Robert let out a long sigh at the personal question. No, he really wasn't alright, it was February 16th. His wedding anniversary, his and Cora's. It was their anniversary and he wasn't with her, his pregnant wife was alone today. As she was every day, and it hurt him deeply to think such thoughts. Here he was, in his tent, not at Downton, not with her.

"No Thompson, I'm definitely not alright." His tone, he noted, was a bit too sharp as he saw the way the young man recoiled at his tone.

"I'm sorry for asking sir."
"No no, I don't really mind, not in this situation at least." To be perfectly honest, Robert didn't really mind the young man. He didn't share a friendship with Thompson as he did Bates in the Boer War, but the young lad made good company. Robert would often think of himself when he looked at the bright young soldier. Thompson was only eighteen, far too young to be in this wretched place, Robert looked after him in a sort of fatherly way. Robert let out a long sigh before speaking again. "It's my wedding anniversary today."

"Well, congratulations sir. It must be hard, being away from your wife."

"Yes, the world is very different without her. She's American so she adds a certain excitement."

"Were you a frequent traveler to America, sir? Is that how you met her?"

"No. She was brought to London for her first season by her mother. I met her at a ball that summer. She was the only lady in the ballroom that was worth looking at." Robert chuckled softly. "I still remember when I first brought her to Downton."

"Sir, do you mean Downton Abbey?"

"Yes I do."

"My sister lives near that village with her family." Thompson scratched his hear for a moment as if he was trying to remember something. "Ah yes, the Earl and Countess of Grantham would be you and your wife then. I knew the title sounded familiar."

"Small world it seems."

"Oh, of course my sister speaks of only good things sir."

"I should hope so. Say, the next time you find yourself in Downton, let us know. However the house is soon going to be very busy."

"Of course, I remember you mentioning your wife being pregnant." Robert could only manage to nod in response. It made him feel better, talking about Cora. Somehow, it made him miss her less, it kept her feeling real. Sometimes, Robert would feel as if she was too good to be true, that she was only a figment of his imagination. Though talking about her, made him remember her beauty in all of this madness, keeping her close to him.

"Well Thompson, I'm afraid I must be getting on for the day. I shall see you later." With that, the boy left the confines of Robert's tent. Robert could finally focus on his work, though he couldn't help thinking about his letter. He'd sent it a couple days before their anniversary in hopes that it would arrive for her today. He knew it would brighten Cora's spirits, which she needed. In her last letter, Cora had described how utterly uncomfortable she was and her extreme exhaustion. He would often be the one to massage her back for her during her pregnancies. He was the one to help feed her cravings in the middle of the night. It was him who would help her wake up and fall asleep. Without him there, could she make it on her own?

Violet wasn't always a fan of Cora, even now, the two of them were more allies than friends. When her son had told her he would marry this American, she thought he was playing some boyish joke, though he was telling the truth. He had proposed to Cora for all of the wrong reasons. She was beautiful of course, but Robert couldn't seem to see behind the large fortune that came with her. She had always worried for the couple, thinking that they were ill suited and doomed to a life of misery. When Cora had Coke down the aisle at the wedding, her poor boy looked frantic. He was so scared, so nervous. He seemed fine to everyone else, but Violet and her late husband, Patrick had noticed his distress. Though now, looking at that same woman stride around the house, she was having trouble remembering the scared young lovers. No, now she saw something else, it had been the same since about 11 months after they married. They loved each other. And now, seeing Cora celebrate their anniversary alone, pregnant again, she felt a pang of empathy for her. Violet knew what it felt like to be separated from your loved one. Cora didn't deserve that, Robert wasn't done on this earth quite yet. No, her son had so much more of his life to live, with Cora by his side.

Dinners nowadays were awfully dull, Cora of course wasn't awfully chatty. Mary, Edith and Sybil were both too exhausted because of grief to make any sensible conversation. Most of their close friends were part of the war, and they were falling fast. The poor girls were constantly receiving bad news. Mary, had Matthew to worry over, and they still weren't on good terms. Cousin Isobel had even been distant lately, and she was usually one to start a rowdy conversation. The servants would stand around awkwardly, the only thing to hear being the sound of cutlery. The minute dinner was finished, Cora was quick to get away from the family. Violet decided to follow her for once, it was time they did something other than bicker with each other. Violet opened the door to the library to find Cora on the couch, gazing at the fire. The younger woman didn't bother to look up, her gaze was hollow as if her mind was in other places.

"Cora?"

"Oh, Mama, I'm terribly sorry I didn't see you there."

"No no, it's fine." Violet eyed the empty space next to Cora and her daughter in law and Cora nodded in return. Violet sat down on the sofa, immediately she noticed Cora's features. The dark circles under her eyes had reappeared since Robert had left in January. Another odd pang of sympathy blanketed Violet.

"I would like to apologize for our argument the other day. I don't even remember what it was about, but I'm pretty sure I instigated it."

"My dear, don't worry about the quarrels we have. You wouldn't be able to keep track of them all." Violet noticed the small smirk wash over Cora's face. Though her daughter-in-law quickly went back to staring into the flickering flames of the fire.

"He will be back Cora, you shouldn't stress so much, it's not good. The most important thing for you to do right now is look after yourself."

"Look after myself." Cora huffed at her words. "How should I look after myself, if you haven't noticed, I am not as oblivious as all of you are and I care for more people than just myself." Violet was astonished by the tone Cora was using with her. The hormones were probably playing a large roll, but still, the words that Cora spat almost stung a bit.

"I'm sorry." She apologized. "That was so terribly rude of me, I didn't even truly mean it."

"I understand my dear, really. However what you must remember is you sitting here like this isn't going to help, you can't help Robert from here. Worry about yourself and the baby for now, and let Robert direct himself." Violet slowly stood up, ready to head home. She quickly studied Cora once more in hopes to see if her spirit had been lightened, sadly the same empty gaze remained. As Violet headed for the large door, she patter Cora's shoulder ever so slightly, leaving a small bit of reassurance that everything would be alright.

Robert loved being able to kiss her, to touch her endlessly. Let his hands roam her soft and delicate curves. This is how he wanted to spend his anniversary, stealing kisses in the dark of the house, with his fingers caressing her waist. This year, the two of them went away for their anniversary to have some time of their own. Of course part of it was wanting to avoid waking everyone with their late night endeavours. Robert had teen her to the gallery, they'd simply gone for long strolls, had romantic dinners. Everything was so perfect. He considered himself a lucky man, who had a lovely wife, family and home. Who had seen more happiness than he had sadness, yes, he was very lucky. Robert decided it was finally time for sleep to claim him, and so he let it.

Cora was suddenly gone, so was their romantic candlelit room. Robert now found himself in the middle of the village square, back at home. He was awfully confused, wasn't he just with Cora? Why was everyone dressed so strange? This was obviously not 1915. The people bustled around him, but no one seemed to notice him. Perhaps they can't see him, or even hear him? He stood still for a moment, wondering where to go first. What was different in this strange world from his own? Robert soon noticed something familiar that gave him something to do. He made his way towards the church, he could see Mary and Edith standing there. He could recognize his beautiful daughters from far away. As he got closer he was flabbergasted by what he saw they were looking at. Two graves. One for Cora and one for him. They weren't new, they must be a few years old, and the date carved into them was 1915. That would explain the odd fashion, this was the future. The two girls both had tears in their eyes, and they both looked so tired, worn out by grief. They were not the same daughters he knew now. Robert then heard the melodic voice of Sybil came from behind him, but she seemed to be talking to someone else. Mary and Edith fled the graveyard and Sybil took their place. However with her, was a little boy. Who looked to be about four years old. They both stood in front of the graves and the boy clutched Sybil's dress ferociously.

"I can't Sybil. It gets harder every time."

"I know William, but it's important to visit Mama and Papa, it will help us to cherish them." Robert felt tears ready to cascade down his face. It was William. His son. His and Cora's.

"But Sybil, I don't have any memories to cherish." The boy started to cry vigorously, his body shaking and tears dripping down his small face. Robert wanted to pick the boy up and never let go. How could this be? His own son never knew him, or Cora for that matter? What went wrong?

"You have the pictures William, so that's better than nothing." The little boy nodded at his sister's soft words. Obviously, Sybil had experience calming him down. William reached out and touched both graves with his hands, his long fingers tracing the letters of his and Cora's names. Robert tried to touch him, but he couldn't. He couldn't feel his little son, and it was all wrong. This couldn't be the future could it? No, no it was simply a dream. Nothing was laid in stone. Yet what Robert wanted to know was how did this horrible future come to be? Did Cora give up? Did he? All Robert could think of was one thing, the two of them would have to be brave. They would have to fight and never lose hope. This was not their future, but then again neither was his perfect world. Like he said before, nothing was laid in stone.

Once again, anything you may recognize from Downton Abbey is not owned by me.