Life of a Lily Chapter 11

So I know I promised you all three chapters a week, but somehow my Bio exam Friday and finals all next week slipped my mind. That is the bad news. The good news is after finals are over, I am free for the summer to write as I please!

Here is the last chapter of Lily at three years old! Enjoy!

Life at the Abbey was slowly beginning to gain a sense of normalcy as the month went on.

"Lily darling please do be careful," Mary called as she sat in a bench under the shade. Today was her first day outside, her rash having disappeared almost completely from her body, and today was special too. Sybil and Tom had come over as well as Edith, Anthony, Theo, and Lizzie. In the distance she saw Robert, Matthew, Tom, and Anthony eying her carefully as well.

"Mama," she complained and ran away from Elizabeth who was chasing after her.

"Lizzie please come over here for a minute," Edith said. Elizabeth, who was three years old than Lily, marched over unhappily.

"What is it Mama?" she looked at her indignantly.

"I just wanted to say that you must be gentle with Lily, she is just getting over being ill and your Aunt Mary does not want her tired out or hurting herself, so that means no running," Edith informed her daughter.

"I am sorry Aunt Mary," Elizabeth said.

"It's alright Lizzie, it is not your fault, Lily is too adventurous for her own good," Mary reassured the young girl. Lizzie ran back to Lily suggesting they sit on the blanket and play with some of Lily's new dolls. Knowingly Lily threw a look in Mary's direction before agreeing to do so. Mary caught Matthew's eye across the yard and he smirked at her. "Thank you Edith. She has been eager to get back to normal but I am afraid she tires much more quickly, and Dr. Clarkson has warned us her immune system will be compromised still."

"I couldn't imagine it, what you went through Mary," Edith shook her head. "It is no trouble at. She is my niece after all. I do love her."

"I know you do," Mary smiled. " And you would have rose to it too Edith, but I thank god you did not have to," Mary reassured her. "It wasn't easy, but I feel like we are all stronger because of it. And perhaps Lily feels that too which is why her energy level is up even higher than usual and maybe that's why she's tiring herself out quickly."

They observed their daughter's closely, an older Sybil sitting down beside them gracefully talking to them but not playing with them.

"I wonder what Sybil would think of Tom letting Sybbie keep her governess for the rest of the year, she has turned into quite the little young lady," Edith commented. "She is going to the village school next year but she acts like a lady."

"Much nicer than one," Mary smiled fondly at her sister and they laughed.

"Thank god neither of us has two daughters, it's strange, that we both had no problem having boys," Edith laughed along with her.

"Mama look at me!" Lily trilled as she got up and began to twirl in circles. Mary closed her eyes and sighed, so much for her taking it easy. And it did not help that today was a fairly warm day and it had rained all week, even if Lily had not been sick they would have been going outside and Lily would be running around like a banshee.

"Lily please my darling, take it easy," Mary said.

"I can do it Mama, look at me!" she continued to giggle. She looked across the yard and suddenly saw where Bertie, William, and Theo had disappeared to. "Bertie! Will!" Her tiny legs took off in their direction and immediately Mary stood up.

"Lily Isobel get back here at once!" Mary called. Tom was closer to her than Matthew, and Mary watched as her daughter ignored her words and continued running towards her brothers, Tom jogged after her and picked her up.

"Woah there little lady," he chuckled, watching her legs kick.

"No! Uncle Tom! No!" she whined and Matthew jogged over to them.

"Lily, what have Mama and I told you?" Matthew said as Tom put her down. "You mustn't run, not yet. You must take it easy."

"But Papa I want to run," she complained. "I feel fine!"

"Perhaps it's time to bring her inside Matthew," Mary fretted.

"No please Mama," Lily wailed. "I just want to play."

"But darling you have not followed any of our rules," Mary bent down beside her. She took her little hands in hers. "I know you are feeling a lot healthier Lily, but that does not mean you are better. If you tire yourself out too quickly you could get very sick again. And you don't want that, do you?"

"No," she shook her head.

"Now do you want to go inside?" Mary asked her again. She reached out and brushed dirt away from her dress, she had certainly not been taking it easy at all if she was this dirty.

"Can I sit with you and Aunt Edith?" Lily raised her eyebrow and Mary laughed outright, her daughter had somehow managed to match the expression she usually wore when she wanted to compromise. Everyone else saw it too and began to laugh along with her. Mary set Lily down and held her hand firmly to keep her from running away.

"Lily," Robert said. "I have a surprise for you tomorrow, so if you do not tire yourself out today or tomorrow morning, it shall give you something to look forward to." Lily's eyes brightened considerably at this.

"I hope it's not another stuffed dog," Mary looked at her father incredulously, because he hadn't even informed her of this surprise. But at least it made Lily slow her pace as they walked back to Edith, Lizzie, and Sybbie. "Because after she refused the first six I do not believe seventh times the charm exactly works."

"Oh Mary, it's much better than a stuffed dog."

Mary's eyes narrowed at her father as he, arm in arm with her mother, lead Mary, Matthew, and Lily to the stable; Bertie and William not excused from their studies today. Today it was just for Lily.

"One, two, three…" Matthew chuckled.

"UP!" Lily giggled as Matthew and Mary, who had Lily's hand secured in theirs, swung her up. Her hair flying wildly in the air, Mary caught a brief glimpse of the only section of skin that bore sign of how sick Lily had been.

"That's enough," Matthew said. "No more."

"One more time, please Papa," Lily pouted her lip.

"Oh fine," Matthew gave in easily and Mary's eyes sparkled with amusement. "One, two, three."

"UP!" Lily squealed at the same time Mary muttered under her breath.

"Push over."

"One more, pleaseeeeee," Lily begged.

"No Lily you mustn't tire yourself out," Mary shook her head.

"Papa," Lily cried and Matthew sent an apologetic glance to Mary, it didn't take much of Lily's begging at all when it was something as innocent as this that she wanted to get away with.

"One, two, three-"

"Up," Robert interrupted as they swung her up; he somehow managed to catch her in the air and held her in his arms. "Would you like to see the surprise Grandpapa has for you?"

"Yes please," Lily giggled and kissed his cheek sweetly.

"Although I'm not sure Mary and Matthew will approve," Cora looked at her daughter and son-in-law hesitantly.

"Oh goodness, what could it be?" Mary joined hands with Matthew where Lily was no longer. They watched as they disappeared into one of the buildings.

"PUPPIES!" Lily squealed, and despite how well she had been the rest of the day before and the morning, Lily ran towards the dogs that were piled near Isis in the stable. They were all yellow labs, similar to Isis, and as they entered behind them, Mary watched as several of the puppies barreled into her knocking her down.

"Papa," she hissed.

"Look Mary, she's positively happy," Robert smiled as Lily continued to giggle despite being on the ground and lost in a sea of puppies.

"When are they going to all go?" Matthew asked, having known about Isis' litter before. "Surely you already have owners for them all."

"I did," Robert nodded Mary let out a sigh of relief. "Until a few days ago. Now I have one puppy left and no buyers I'm afraid. I might have to just keep her, I'm sure Isis would be happy."

"She's a dog Papa," Mary rolled her eyes keeping a watchful eye on Lily. "I don't know if happy is the right word."

"Or you can take her," Robert suggested.

"What?" Mary exclaimed. "We live in the same house Papa, you would-"

"But for Lily?" Robert asked, Lily, hearing her name, sat up and looked in the direction of her Grandpapa.

"Yes Grandpapa?" Lily perked up. Robert looked at Matthew and Mary for a brief second before bending down beside his granddaughter.

"Would you like to keep one of the puppies Lily, so we could have two dogs at Downton?" he suggested. Lily's eyes lit up.

"YES!" she gasped in surprise. "YES! YES! YES!" She jumped into Robert's arms and kissed him on the cheek over and over. "Thank you Grandpapa, thank you!"

"Lily I-" Mary stuttered but looked at how happy her daughter was. It was the happiest she has seen her look since she got sick. She turned to Matthew. "I guess we have a dog now."

"Which one is mine Grandpapa?" Lily smiled up at him and he pointed to the smallest, the runt of the litter, the one that was chasing her tail wildly.

"I was thinking for her name, Cleopatra?" he lifted Lily onto his knee. "What do you think?"

"Cleo!" Lily clapped and she scrambled over to the dog. She was so happy Mary and Matthew didn't even have the heart to tell her to take it easy.

"Mama, Papa, meet Cleo," Lily giggled. "Grandmama too!" Matthew chuckled as Lily gathered the puppy in her arms and sat down with a bump, petting her back gently.

"Remember when I first got Pharaoh?" Robert chuckled. "Mary wouldn't let the poor thing walk for days."

"Oh dear," Mary chuckled. Matthew bent down and pet the puppy.

"And who is caring for her?" he looked at Robert.

"The staff of course," Robert shrugged. "I'm sure James and Alfred will have quite the time letting her out."

"And where is she sleeping?" Mary inquired.

"In a cage in the servants hall until she is old enough to- well then that is your decision," Robert made light of the situation.

"And I assume everything is all ready for us?" Mary said dryly.

"Back at the house," Robert nodded. "She didn't want a replacement stuffed dog, so how about a real dog?"

"Only that logic makes sense in your head Papa," Mary shook her head but laughed as Lily stood up, struggling to carry the puppy who was desperate to lick her face. "Well our lives will be interesting from here on out, won't they?"

"And Grandpapa says that I will learn to walk her, and to feed her, and that she will follow me around everywhere like Isis does to him because she will be very loyal," Lily babbled. Mary looked amused. Violet and Isobel had come to dinner early to see Lily, but Mary was not sure this was exactly what Violet had in mind as they sat in the library.

"Really?" Violet said, pretending to be intrigued. "Have you told your Gran Iz this yet?"

"No, I haven't," Lily giggled and scurried off to the other side of the room to pull on Isobel's dress.

"I'm sorry Granny, she's-"

"She's better, I suppose that's all that matters, though I do not remember her being this active before," she chuckled.

"Oh you have never seen her after nap time Granny," Mary shook her head. "If not for Mrs. Jensen to help calm her, she would have even Sybil beaten as the most rebellious child."

"So my daughter has talked your ear off about her puppy, has she Cousin Violet," Matthew smirked, coming to stand beside Mary a hand on her shoulder.

"Indeed she has," Violet nodded. "My son can be an idiot sometimes."

"I was shocked initially," Mary said. "But now we are just treating Cleo as the family's puppy, not just hers, although she does not see it that way. We would have gotten one eventually."

"And I can do it all by myself, Grandpapa said," they heard Lily explain. Isobel was actually intrigued to hear what the young girl had to say.

"She doesn't mean that, right Mama," William laughed from where he was sitting next to Sybil and Tom. "We are to help too, right?"

"Of course darling," Mary smiled. "Just do not break it to your sister just yet."

"Labradors are loyal Mary, they will pick a favorite," Robert said proudly.

"Grandmama, thank you for my dress," Lily giggled as she twirled in the newest dress she had on. "Mama let me where it today!"

"I see that," Cora smiled. "It is a shame you have already eaten dinner, isn't it." Mary covered her mouth to control her laughter as Lily, ever the dramatic, threw an eye roll.

"Yes it is," she sighed and the whole room burst into laughter. Knowing it was her who amused them Lily smiled proudly before she covered her mouth to try and hide a yawn.

"Someone is tired," Mary said.

"No Mama," she shook her head but Matthew already moved to ring the bell.

"I'm sorry my dear but our dinner is almost ready," she said.

"But Bertie, Will, and Sybbie get to join you," she whined.

"Only William and Sybbie do my dear," Cora said. "And only three times a week." Lily pouted and sighed as Mrs. Jensen arrived.

"Say goodnight to everyone my darling," Matthew said. Lily dutifully made her way around the room, kissing each member of the family on the cheek before going to Mrs. Jensen's side.

"Mama and Papa will be up in just a moment Lily girl," Mary promised, allowing Mrs. Jensen to bring her up, bathe her, and change her into her nightclothes. She was already tucked into bed when Mary and Matthew opened the door.

"Story?" she asked hopefully.

"It must be a short one," Mary told her.

"Cleo?" she continued to ask.

"Absolutely not," Matthew chuckled. "The nursery is no place for a puppy my sweet girl, you know that already."

"Fine," she sighed. "May I just go to bed then?"

"You were just trying your luck, weren't you?" Mary smiled sitting down on the edge of her bed and cupping her cheek. "Goodnight my darling, sweet dreams."

"Goodnight Mama," Lily giggled as Mary leaned over and kissed her cheek, hovering for a second to catch her daughter's eye before sneaking in another kiss eliciting another laugh from Lily. "Goodnight Papa."

"Goodnight Lily," Matthew said leaning over and kissing her on the nose. Immediately she wriggled it and smiled up at him, turning over and grasping her bear tightly in her hand, her doll that Mary won was now in the toy chest, better for playing than sleeping with. They returned downstairs, nodding to Mrs. Jensen as they left.

"Robert, I hope you realize that she tried to get us to bring the puppy into her room," Matthew shook his head at his father-in-law.

"All little girls should have puppies," Robert said proudly.

"Unless Tom Branson is their father," Tom chuckled and looked at Sybbie who pouted.

"Or Sir Anthony I'm afraid," Cora added.

"So there we have it darling," Mary smirked. "It's because you never made it clear to Papa you did not want a puppy means that now we have one."

"I never said I didn't want one," Matthew protested. "I was initially worried that Lily was not up for it yet, but other than being rather excitable, which is no longer a unusual occurrence, she handled it very well."

"Well thank god for that," Violet said. "Though I do not suggest you ever let that girl try tea or coffee, she will run all of our ears off from dawn to dusk."

"Just wait until she gets to join us for dinner Granny," Mary laughed.

Lily opened her eyes and was not surprised to find Ivy in the corner of her room, mending the fire. She hadn't made a noise, Lily was sure of it, she just wanted to see her puppy.

Once the kitchen maid left the room Lily smiled and made her was stealthily out of the room. If Ivy was still mending the fires, she did not wake up the servants yet, and she knew for a fact that her room was one of the first she ever did, so Lily had a wide open stretch of quiet house to sneak through and get her puppy.

She was unaware exactly where her grandfather put the cage, but she knew it was in the servants hall, so she made her way there.

"Cleo," she whispered in the darkness and she suddenly heard a quiet yelp coming for her puppy. She stumbled on the cage completely by accident; it was next to the piano. Lily smiled and reached in to pet the puppy and realized suddenly that she did not know how to open the latch. The puppy barked again. "Shhh. Cleo we must be quiet." Her tiny fingers fumbled with the latch until she heard a click and the puppy barreled into her. "Yay!" Running wildly, Lily giggling, Cleo and her wrestled on the ground for a few seconds before she tried to gather her in her arms. "Let's go upstairs and wake up Mama and Papa!" The puppy was small enough that she could carry her, but she was also rather active and was not keen to be picked up by a three year old.

When she got to the top of the steps, she decided to climb the main stairs instead, because they were closer to her Mama and Papa's room. Unfortunately, her grip loosened on the puppy before she could get upstairs. "No, Cleo!" she hissed as the puppy took off running towards the library. "Uh oh!" Lily's eyes widened as she lost side of the puppy and heard something crash. Someone was bound to wake up to that so quickly she scurried up the stairs, abandoning the puppy and trying to save herself.

Lily crept into her parent's room and went to her Papa's side of the bed and poked his shoulder.

"Papa," she whispered. "Papa, wake up."

"Good morning my darling," Matthew smiled sleepily. "Isn't this a sight for sore eyes. Back to wanting to snuggle with your Mama and Papa in the mornings?" Lily bit her lip, she was going to tell him what happened, but this seemed so much more enjoyable. She nodded and scrambled on the bed, climbing over him and landing in the bed with a bump that woke Mary.

"Lily," Mary's face broke into a smile. They had sorely missed sharing the bed with the little girl in the mornings.

"Morning Mama," she giggled and kissed her Mama happily.

"Come here my darling," Mary breathed and gathered the three year old in her arms. The last time she had been in their bed was when she was hot with a fever, throwing up, none of them aware at all that she was as sick as she truly was. Lily sighed and closed her eyes contently, burying her face into her Mama's chest. Matthew reached out an arm and began to rub her back, much as they did that night. But this time they were trying to lull her back to sleep, not comfort her from an illness.

"I've missed this," Matthew admitted.

"She's so calm now," Mary said, amused. "I see no trace of that little terror she's been."

"Don't let her hear you say that," Matthew chuckled.

"She's asleep Matthew," Mary shook her head; cuddling with her daughter and wishing she could do the same. Matthew saw with a trained eye that his daughter was simply feigning, only because of the slight twitch of her mouth that tried to conceal a smile.

"Are you sure?" he said. Lily shifted slightly and Mary giggled.

"Oh yes Matthew, I'm sure," Mary smirked. "She could not even feel this if she tried." Before Lily knew what was happening Mary was tickling her wildly on the stomach.

"No!" the little girl squealed, wiggling out of her mother's arms but unable to escape the tickles. "Mama! No!"

"I'm sorry my darling but you tried to trick me," Mary laughed.

"Papa help," Lily attempted.

"Like this?" he asked and joined Mary in the tickling.

"Papa," Lily continued to giggle and writhe in the bed before she jumped up and folded her arms. "No!"

"No?" Matthew raised his eyebrow. "But I'm your Papa." Lily smiled and sat down on his chest, putting her face near his and grabbing his face with her hands.

"No," she shook her head and giggled, while squeezing his cheek and making his head shake as well. Matthew laughed, grasped her sides, and threw her in the air for a few moments before setting her back on the bed between them.

"You are a very silly girl," Mary poked her nose. "Would you like to continue to snuggle?"

"Yes please Mama," Lily now curled up against Matthew, Mary scooting closer to also take the little girl in her arms. Lily almost forgot the real reason she came up here until there was a large crash and a yell from downstairs.

"What on earth," Matthew sat up and Lily gasped.

"Matthew what was that?" Mary asked.

"I haven't the faintest idea," he looked at her seriously and his eyes widened as there was another crash. "Lily my girl did you see anything when you came in here?"

"Nuh uh," she shook her head quickly, looked down, avoiding her parents eyes. Mary sat up and looked seriously at her daughter.

"That was a lie Lily Isobel," she warned and picked her up, set her on her lap, and tilted her chin up to meet her eye. "Tell me the truth, do you know what that was." Lily nodded fearfully.

"Lily, you tell us this instant," Matthew commanded in a loud voice.

"I'm sorry, I just wanted Cleo," she blurted out crying. "She ran upstairs and-"

"She's a puppy, she cannot run up stairs, stop lying Lily," Mary's voice was hard and sharp; and Lily was not a fan of it. She saw the disappointment in her mother's eyes. "And I know for a fact she was put to bed last night, in her cage."

"I carried her upstairs," she whimpered.

"Even though you were expressly told not to!" Mary snapped.

"I'm sorry," she wailed pitifully and Mary couldn't help holding her to her chest for a few brief moments and comfort her before she was likely to hand out a punishment.

"Mama, Papa!" they heard William call. "Cleo is running wild downstairs and she's broken-" He was cut off by a loud crash.

"Uh oh," Lily cried.

"Uh oh, is right," Matthew narrowed his eyes at his daughter.

Yes, now that Lily was better, everything was getting back to normal.

Or perhaps back to chaos.

So now there is a dog in the mix, always very amusing especially you can imagine with Lily as a child (: Poor Matthew and Mary, god knows what trouble she shall get into with a new companion!

Once finals are over and I am back home, updates might actually come three times a week so look forward to that!

Thank you all so much for the reviews, I always feel bad because I never reply directly to them but once I have more time on my hands (and I will have a lot more so far in the summer because I am only taking one summer class and no summer job yet) I will be sure to give you all due credit where it is deserved.

Please continue to review and let me know what you think/what you want to happen!