A/N: This chapters basically the stuff happening for the end next chapter, so it's quite a lot of dialogue and things happening quickly (ah sorry that wasn't very coherent). Also sorry to introduce another character (although he's only in it very shortly next chapter and I need him to make things happen) Oh and a very small amount of slash


~Thomas' POV~

"Edward?" Thomas asked, crawling onto the bed and giving the unresponsive ex-solider a nudge. "Edward, you've been lying like that for near on an hour." Thomas said gently, "are you going to tell me what's wrong?"

At first Edward was silent, drawing his knees up to his chest to lie in a fetal position, ignoring the other man's words. At the feeling of Thomas' finger poking him in the ribs again he made an irritated groan, swatting his hand around in the air, before reluctantly shifting onto his back.

"Do you really want to know?" Edward huffed in response, staring forward blankly, and crossing his arms against his chest in distemper. Thomas rolled his eyes slightly, "Yes, of course I do!" he replied, desperate to know what had happened to put Edward in such a foul mood. Then again, maybe it wasn't worth thinking that it was something else; the morning's activity of playing suitor to the less desirable ladies of Oxford was enough to put anyone in a grump. He mentally reprimanded himself for his own foolishness; of course that was why he was angry. Despite them being there less than a week, somehow Edward's family's cruel behaviour had almost grown to be the expected norm.

It turned out there was more. As Edward went on to relay the information of his brothers taunting about loss of inheritance, he went on to explain the story in its entirety, his face frozen into a scowl throughout.

"Well…Shit" he said after Edward was done for lack of anything better to say. Edward merely nodded in response, scowling towards his legs. "Well-" he began, not actually knowing what he was planning to say, until deciding on "Come", whilst tugging at Edward's arm, sliding off the bed. "Let's go for a walk round the grounds, a bit of fresh air will do you good."


As they made their way towards the front door, Gregson lifted a slaver and walked towards them, holding it out for Thomas to take. Upon it sat a single letter addressed to Edward, which Thomas took as he moved past, nodding his thanks.

"You've got a letter." He stated simply, holding it out to open as Edward latched onto his arm as they walked. "You're meant to be using your stick" he said, noticing the absence of it. Edward tightened his grip.

"Yes, well…" Edward began awkwardly, "is it so much to ask that I hold onto you? Besides, I don't actually know where we're going, so even if I did have it with me it would be of little use" the former lieutenant explained.

"Fair enough" Thomas replied calmly, guiding them round the corner towards the gardens at the back of the house. They wondered along the grass until they came to a large oak tree, with tall, out stretched branches providing a shady coverage for them to sit under.

"Do you want me to read you your letter?" he questioned, shifting slightly against the trunk of the tree, before turning his head to look at Edward seated next to him. He smiled as he watched the other man move a hand forward in search of him, before resting it on his thigh, rubbing lightly.

"Yes" Edward responded laconically, tilting his head to rest on his shoulder, whilst bringing his other hand to wrap around him, grabbing softly at his hip.

"Alright then" Thomas said, ripping open the envelope and taking the paper out.

"Dear Ed,

I'm sorry I haven't written to you in such a frightfully long time, life on the front has been keeping me busy, as I'm sure you can imagine. Speaking of the war, I wrote to the hospital-Downton was it?-in hope of contacting you there, and was most displeased to hear that you had been discharged and the hospital would not be sending you my previous letter. I do hope this one arrives safely, and I assume rightly that you have returned home to Oxford.

I have written to tell you that I have some leave and will be returning to England in a week or so, and will be visiting the house to pay you a visit. I haven't seen you in such a long time-why not before the war-and would very much like to catch up and see how you are fairing. I would ask you here how you've been coping but I'd much rather do so in person.

Yours sincerely,

Capt. Sam Woodgrove"

Before either man could say anything, Lady Cornelia came rushing up to the tree, hands clasped at her chest.

"Oh there you are Mr Barrow!" She said smiling brightly, bringing her hands to rest by her side. Thomas glared up at her annoyed, as Edward withdrew his hands from his body.

"How observant of you Lady Elphinstone. Is there something you wanted?" Thomas said patronisingly, tugging at Edward's arm to make him stand up with him. "Before we go back inside?" Thomas added in hopes of getting the girl to leave them alone.

She was undeterred, although momentarily looked put out. "Oh well I was going to ask you whether you'd like to accompany me in a walk around the grounds-"

"No, I wouldn't" Thomas said curtly.

"Well I suppose I'll just walk on back with you to the house" she added, falling into stride with them as they hastily retreated. As they left the shady cover of the trees, she grabbed onto his arm, gazing up at him coquettishly, then to his side where Edward clung, frowning into the distance.

"Say, where's his stick? Does he still not know how to use it?"

"I know how to use it!" Edward bit back angrily, tightening his grip on Thomas' arm.

She seemed unaware that Edward had spoke, and continued on. "You must be ever so brave Mr Barrow; getting injured in the trenches and then coming back home to continue work after all that's happened." She said, stroking a hand up his other arm, "Loyalty is ever so attractive."

Thomas wiggled his arm out of her grip, "it was nothing." He said plainly, walking faster. Nothing she said should have mattered, but still her words reminded him of his own cowardice; Edward was certainly a damn sight braver than he ever was, and he didn't deserve the compliment, even if it was just from some silly girl.

"Oh, there's no need to be so modest, Mr Barrow!" said Cornelia, moving forward, quickening her pace to catch up to them. "Say, why don't you and I talk later. I'll come to your room. Yes?"

"No."

"Yes." She said more firmly, before spotting Jack approaching the group, and shuffling away slightly.

"Cornelia," he said with a smile, "what are you doing out here?-" Jack continued warmly before looking to the side of her where Thomas and Edward stood with a frown. "-with Edward and Edward's doctor friend?"

"I was just making my way indoors when they caught me up," Said Cornelia, passing Thomas a coquettishly smile, "and Mr Barrow offered to walk me back to the house."

Jack nodded cautiously, glaring daggers at the two men, before taking Cornelia by the arm and leading her away.


As Thomas and Edward made their way to their bedrooms, they passed the library door, stopping when they over-heard a heated conversation between Jack and Lady Cornelia.

"Why were you walking with them?" Jack demand, his voice muffled slightly by the wood of the door.

"I've already told you, Mr Barrow offered." Cornelia replied swiftly.

"But you didn't have to accept!"

"But it would have been rude to decline."

"He's only Edward's helper; you needn't worry about his feelings. Anyway, he's not the kind of man you should have in your company."

"I think he's very gentlemanly."

He heard Jack snort. "Hardly."

"He's more of a gentleman than you." he heard Cornelia retaliate, before the door swung open and she swept out, Jack following after her, scowling as he saw Cornelia beam up at him on her way past.


Soon enough, the daytime turned to evening and Thomas found himself going downstairs to fetch their dinner from the kitchens. Technically, he could ask one of the servants to do it-and if it was any other case, then he would-but he liked caring for Edward, and found, underneath it all, the master and servant attitude hard to break. Although, never before had he enjoyed playing servant to someone, and he absolutely despised it when he was with Dukes and Lords and was treated like he was below them (even though he always was, in more ways than one);but with Edward it felt different, it was different. He couldn't really explain it, nor did he want to if he were being quite honest. The feelings he felt were powered by love and he daren't question their motives.

"Here you go, Mr Barrow" said the footman, once he got downstairs, just outside the kitchens. He looked mildly uncomfortable, and Thomas supposed that wasn't surprising, it was hardly the norm for live-in guests, or family friends or whatever the hell he was to collect their own food. Although, Edward's family didn't put up much of a fuss at this arrangement, but that could have been predicted what with them not really considering Edward part of the family.

He nodded his thanks as he took the tray, two plates sitting covered with a silver plate coverer, along side a bottle of wine (yay wine!) and two glasses. The upside to this whole ghastly arrangement was that he at least was eating good food, and getting the same meals as the rest of the family.

As he made his way into the main hall, towards the family stair cases (he had decided, ever since he got there really, that he was going to take advantage of not being a servant, and avoid their stairs as much as possible, only vowing to use them in dire circumstances.) he stopped sharply as he heard his name being wailed from behind him. Turning around, he saw Cornelia rested against the wall, a hand placed across her stomach.

She called again, "Oh Mr Barrow, please help!" whilst bringing a hand to her forehead wearily.

He approached her cautiously, placing the tray on top of the cabinet next to her as he asked, "What's the matter?" eying her suspiciously.

"I'm suddenly feeling terribly unwell." Came the reply, followed by a pained wince.

Taking a step forward, he stood in front of her. "What exactly are you feeling?"

Without warning, she stroked a hand across his cheek, her entire demeanour changing. "Hungry." She whispered, leaning forwards, bringing both her hands to rest on his shoulders.

Please don't kiss me. Oh god, get away.

What is it with girls fancying the pants off me? Maybe it's the uniform?

Before he could even think about pulling away, an angry voice broke into his thoughts, "Cornelia?" Jack growled, "What's going on?"

Lady Elphinstone stepped back, smoothing her dress down with her hands. "I was feeling rather unwell and felt unstable; Mr Barrow came to assist me, letting me rest my weight on him"

Jack glared at Thomas, before turning back to his fiancé. "Dinners ready now, come in."


"God, what a whore." Edward said, between mouthfuls of pre-cut food.

Thomas snorted at his choice of words. Ah, I'm training him well.

"How gracefully put."

Edward hummed, "You can't deny it's true though. She's engaged to be married and she's flirting with you. What does that say about her?"

Thomas contemplated this. "That Jack has no taste in women?" The medic asked with a grin.

"He's always gone with the worst sort of girl. It's like some kind of obsession for him. I've seen it myself; he'll go to a dinner party and end up picking out, and playing suitor to the one girl who is completely all looks and absolutely no charm." Edward took another mouthful of potato, swallowing before saying, "It takes a certain amount of skill to be that much of a fool."

When the pair cleared their plates, Thomas put all the things back onto the tray and left it outside the door, ringing the servant bell on his way back in, which had become a kind of custom in the small handful of days they'd been there.

Guiding Edward to his feet, he proceeded to wrap an arm around his waist, pulling him into an embrace, kissing along his neck, up to his ear, whispering inside "How about you and I…go to bed?"


~Jack's POV~

As they all stood up to retreat to the drawing room for after meal drinks and conversation, Cornelia announced that she wasn't feeling well and was going to retire to bed.

"I should probably stay with her." Jack said after a moment, watching the door she had just left from minutes before, placing his untouched brandy on the table, nodding his goodbyes.

He was immediately overcome with suspicion as he watched Cornelia, already at the top of the stairs, heading in the wrong direction, into the west wing of the house.

Edward's room…Edward's doctors room.

Without even having to think he followed her, making quick work of the stairs. He could see her about ten paces ahead but decided to let himself go unannounced, curious to see what she would do.


~Edward's POV~

"Oh Thomas" Edward moaned, gripping the bed sheets, as Thomas kissed along his stomach, down towards his crotch. As he mumbled incoherently, he felt a strange gooey liquid on Thomas' fingers rub lightly at his entrance.

"You ready?" Thomas asked breathlessly, pressing kisses on his thighs, continuing the circular motions with his un-gloved hand.

Edward tilted his head up from his lying position, "Of course I'm ready! God knows I've been waiting months for this moment!"

Thomas pushed one finger in, "hm, well I personally hope God doesn't know; it would give him quite a nasty shock if he knew that you were thinking about this."

Arching his back, Edward threw his head back against the pillow, screwing his eyes shut, waving a hand around in the air in search of Thomas head. As the skin of his palm made contact with the medic's hair, he grabbed it, panting "Please hurry up!"

"Now, now, don't be impatient." Thomas mock-scolded, withdrawing his hand, making Edward whimper at the loss of contact, before pushing two slicked fingers inside him.

"Oh God Thomas, oh God, oh God, oh God" he muttered under his breath, as the fingers slide in and out of him at an ever increasing rate. "I'm ready, I'm ready."

"What's the magic word" Thomas goaded.

"Please." Edward begged.

Thomas laughed under his breath, "Well, alright then…if master insists then I guess I'll just have to comply!"


~Cornelia's POV~

As Cornelia walked along the corridor, she was pleased to see the empty trays sitting outside one of the doors, marking which room one of them must own.

They must have both been inside, as she heard talking and laughing, and hoped that Mr Barrow would come out to see her in private without too much of a fuss. Although, never before had she had to worry about a man resisting her-it just didn't happen-and she prayed dearly Thomas Barrow would be no exception.

How's a girl to resist those cheekbones?


~Thomas' POV~

Slowly, Thomas pushed himself inside, groaning at the tightness and pressure around his cock. Underneath him, Edward moaned lowly, tightening his legs around his neck.

"I love you" Edward whispered, more to himself, than to Thomas. Never the less he replied swiftly in a mummer, "I know, I love you too."


Cornelia brought her hand to the door to knock, before changing her mind, and going in unannounced.

"Surprise-oh gosh!" she exclaimed at the sight before her, staring open mouthed as the two men pulled away from each other, Mr Barrow lifting the sheet on the bed over them both.

After a beat, Jack appeared behind her, gawking at the sight before him. "Well, I say, really Edward, you could have at least locked the door" Jack said, looking over his semi concealed body. After one last look at the incriminating sight before him, he turned his head to look at Cornelia, who was visibly shaken by what she had just witnessed. "Come dear," he said, taking her elbow, "Let's get you to bed, and I'll notify mother of this new development."


~Thomas' POV~

Hurriedly, Thomas got redressed, making quick work of finding his clothes and putting them on, whilst Edward, on the other hand, after swatting his hand around on the floor, unable to find any of the garments he had flung off in haste, proceeded to sit naked on the edge of the bed, rocking backwards and forwards.

"What are we going to do?" Edward wailed, his head in his hands.

"There's not much we can do," Thomas replied honestly, "at least not right now. We've got to just wait and see what your mother says and act from there." Feeling a strange sense of calm in contrast to Edward's panic; it was like all his life he had been half expecting this day to come, and now it had, there was no element of surprise or not knowing what to do next.


~Jack's POV~

"What on earth do you mean 'they were in bed together'?" Mrs Courtenay asked with a confused frown, looking up from her after dinner drink to stare incredulously at Jack by the door.

Jack gave a heavy sigh of exasperation, not particularly enjoying the idea of explaining it to his mother, but knowing the end result would be worth while.

If I don't find a way to get rid of him, he's going to be stuck in this house-my house-for years.

Encouraged with preventing this unwelcome thought from happening, Jack sauntered up to the chair gracefully, sitting himself down upon it gently. Opposite him, on the other side of the room his father stood fuming; he understood what Jack was getting at.

"I mean…Edward and Mr Barrow were in bed…together…" Jack made a flamboyant gesture with his hands, "Copulating."

She stayed very still for a moment, letting the new information process slowly in her mind. "Is that even possible?...Wait…you mean…Edward's…he's…with Mr Barrow?"

Jack gave another sigh. "Homosexual mother, yes."

"Oh good Lord! Thank God it was you who saw and not poor Cornelia."

Jack paused, gritting his teeth slightly at Cornelia sneaking of to their room. "Actually, it was Cornelia who saw…she wanted to get…" he stopped in thought, "borrow a hot water bottle. She got quite the fright so I sent her back to bed."

"Oh, the poor girl! We'll discuss what happens to Edward in the morning after we've thought about the best solution; God knows we can't have this information getting out. Jack, go tell Edward what is happening, and that he is not to leave the house."


~Thomas' POV~

Edward hid his face in the crook of Thomas' neck, his voice muffled by his flesh.

"What's going to happening to us?" Edward asked weakly, his voice wavering slightly. Thomas gave a large sigh, closing his eyes, and wrapping one arm around Edward's back to hug him to himself tightly. "I don't know, but I promise you we'll be okay, I'll make sure of it."

"You can't make a promise on something so uncertain."

Thomas laughed lightly under his breath, "You, or anyone else might not be able to, but I can. Where there's a will there's a way, and very shortly after that comes the accompanying scheme. We'll be fine. Now shut up and go to sleep." Thomas said with a kiss to Edward's head.