AN: Hello again, here's another update! I'm on a roll! Any ways, thank you for taking the time to read!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Downton Abbey
The week that they had together passed all too quickly. They had spent almost every day in bed together, rising only two or three times in a day. They talked, they laughed, and they loved each other. On the last morning, after they'd made love one last time they both rose reluctantly to dress.
"I wish that this week didn't have to end." Mary sighed as she picked through the dresses Anna had brought for her, all of which had gone un used. "I feel exactly the same way." Matthew agreed as he quickly dressed himself in his uniform, unwilling to call for Mosley and have to be parted from Mary for even a moment of their last few hours together. He turned to see her, only half dressed.
Matthew wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her pale white exposed shoulders. "Matthew, you must stop- or I'll never finish getting dressed." Mary complained. "Which is fine by me." Matthew murmured against the skin of her throat. The words sent shivers down Mary's spine as she rolled her head back against his shoulder "Matthew… we promised we'd stop by the abbey." Mary insisted as she broke away, and quickly dressed herself before she could become distracted again.
"Now, I think we ought to walk, and enjoy each other's company a while longer. Branson can drive us from Downton." Mary said as she quickly pinned her hair into a loose knot. "That sounds lovely." Matthew agreed kissing her once more. "I love you Mary." He sighed. "I love you." She took his hand, and gently kissed his fingertips. "We should go now… or we won't be able to leave." Matthew said, this time being the sensible one.
With laughter they walked down the stairs hand in hand. Outside it was lovely, the sun was shining, the sky was clear blue. The first few steps were taken in silence, both unwilling to talk about what was coming next. "Mary, what will you do, while I'm…away?" Matthew asked, avoiding mentioning the war. "I'll stay in my old room at Downton Abbey, and help take care of the soldiers. And I'll write to you every day." Mary decided. "And I'll write you as often as I am able to." Matthew promised.
"And I'll miss you very much." Mary sighed, as she felt her lips begin to tremble. "Not nearly as much as I'll miss you." Matthew argued. "I doubt that that would be possible." Mary argued stubbornly. "I'd hate for us to fight about something, even playfully this morning." Matthew objected, sensing the never ending argument that was coming. "I agree. You'll let me know everything, won't you? I don't want you to try to make things sound better than they are. I'm your wife, and I want truth." Mary insisted.
"I'm afraid that there will be very little pleasantry to report darling." Matthew objected. "Then I will have to be happy for the both of us. I'll write you letters filled with happy things, and cheer you." Mary smiled at the thought. "That would be wonderful. But if something is wrong, promise you'll tell me. It wouldn't be you if you didn't just complain about something trivial." Matthew teased and Mary smiled. "You know, you're right."
When Downton came close they stopped for a moment, and held each other close, and shared a deep, lingering kiss. "Are you ready to see everyone?" Matthew asked as he caressed her cheek "I suppose I am, though honestly in the past few days I completely forgot that people other than the two of us existed." Mary laughed as they began to walk again.
"I suppose we should knock." Mary said at the front door, the concept of knocking on the front door of what was technically her home still odd. "I suppose you're right." Matthew knocked on the door, which was answered by Mr. Carson who looked at the Newlyweds with a smile. "Welcome, Mr. Crawley, Lady Mary."
Mary quickly hugged Carson, who blushed "I've missed you Mr. Carson." She grinned, and took Matthew's hand again. "Now, where is my family?" "They're in the private section of the library." Carson said as he took coats and hats. "Wonderful, thank you Carson." Matthew smiled at the man who he knew had a soft spot for his wife.
Before they'd gotten three steps Sybil appeared in the hall, and stopped in her tracks "Mary! Matthew! It's so good to see you!" She grinned as she approached them and took both in her arms at the same time. Mary giggled "It's good to see you as well." "Oh Mary, later today, we've got so much to tell you- you'd be surprised about what can happen in a mere five days!" Sybil bit her lip to keep in the information she had. "Perhaps after Luncheon we can go to the garden, and talk for a while." Mary suggested to which Sybil nodded. "I'll tell Edith, but I'm sure she'll find this agreeable."
The three of them made light chatter as they walked to the blocked off section of the library. "Mary my dear, we're glad to see you." Robert smiled as his daughter and new son entered. "Thank you Papa, I'm glad to see you as well." Mary and Matthew took a seat on the edge of a sofa as Cora entered "Mary, Matthew, it's lovely to see you!" Cora kissed Mary's head as she went to stand beside Robert at his desk.
"Yes, we thought we'd come by on the way to the station, and let Matthew say goodbye." The words hurt Mary's heart to say. Cora and Robert nodded in understanding. "Is my mother here?" Matthew asked. "Yes, she should be in the drawing room." Cora responded. "Do you mind if I see her alone?" Matthew looked at Mary with his brow raised. "No, of course not." He kissed her once on the forehead and left the room.
"Papa tells me you'll be staying here while Matthew is… Away. Is that true." Sybil asked, moving closer to her sister, and taking her hand. "Yes, I'm afraid you're not rid of my just yet." Mary teased. "And I hope not ever! We are sisters, and where I am is where you ought to be!" Sybil teased in return. "I'll always be there for you little sister, you know that." Mary kissed her sisters cheek lovingly. Sybil smiled at her hopefully… "Maybe she would understand me. And that would help everyone else to understand."
"Marriage suits you well darling. You've never looked better." Cora observed, causing Mary to blush "Thank you Mama, very much." "Will you be able to stay for luncheon?" She asked, and Mary shook her head "We do wish we could, but we wouldn't make it to the train on time." "Oh, that's quite a shame." Robert sighed, his own heart breaking for his little girl, whose life would be so badly affected by the bloody war.
"Mary, are you ready?" Matthew asked as he reentered. Mary nodded and stood to join him. "I just want to say thank you, Cousin Robert, Cora. These last few days have been the best of my life. Thank you for giving me your daughter, and please, take good care of her." Matthew asked, almost begged, wanting so badly for his wife to be happy in his absence. "Of course we will my boy." Robert promised.
"I'll be back soon." Mary told her parents, and then looked to Sybil and mouthed "After Luncheon?" and Sybil nodded with a smile. "Branson is ready to take us to the station." Matthew told her as they walked away. "Do you have all of your things?" Mary questioned. "I suppose I do." Matthew responded as they exited the house.
They were silent, as any other words they might say now would only be ones of sorrow, and of parting. Matthew helped Mary into the car, and Mary held tight to his hands, holding him closer "Mary, if I don't come back," "Matthew you will come back." Mary interrupted. "But if I don't" "Matthew Crawley, don't you dare say anything like that in my presence." She insisted. "Mary, please, listen to me." Matthew begged, looking deeply into her eyes. She sighed, and then nodded, but looked down at her lap.
"If I don't come back, please, make certain that my mother is taken care of." "Of course I will, she's my mother now." Mary promised. "And take good care of yourself. Don't fall into a deep depression over me. Marry again, and be happy." Matthew said softly. "I'll never be happy without you now. And I won't have to. Because I know you'll be back- you've got my good luck charm, and you must return it, without a scratch." Mary protested. Matthew shook his head gently, knowing that it was pointless to try to convince her otherwise.
All too soon they arrived at the train station, and where let out of the car by Branson. "I'll miss you, every minute of every day." Mary whispered as they wrapped their arms around each other. "Not nearly as much as I'll miss you." Matthew's voice was filled with Sorrow. "I love you, Mr. Crawley." The train whistle blew, and both cringed.
"Now, you wouldn't go off without giving your wife a kiss, would you?" Mary asked, keeping her voice pleasant to hide the fact that her heart was breaking. "Of course not, Mrs. Crawley." Matthew smiled, and pulled Mary flush against him, not caring who saw, and kissed her lovingly on the lips. "I must be going now, darling." Matthew sighed as the whistle blew once more. "Well, off with you then. And such good luck!" She had to hold back her tears as she held him tightly against her for one last moment. He kissed her eyelids, and then pulled away, boarding the train quickly before he had the chance to look back.
Once seated looked out the window, and what he saw broke his heart. Mary, his strong, beautiful, wonderful bride, standing with her hand pressed over her mouth, eyes red, obviously trying to hold in her tears. He made eye contact, and mouthed "I love you." Which she saw, and smiled "As I love you." She mouthed back, her tears burning her eyes.
When the train began to pull away, Mary watched, keeping eye contact with Matthew until he was out of sight, and then letting herself cry. She turned back to the car, and Branson opened the door. "If you don't mind, Branson, I'd like to sit up front. I could use the air." Mary smiled at him. "I don't mind at all, Lady Mary." He felt very sorry for the lady- he knew he would hate to be parted from the woman he loved…
Later, after luncheon, which Mary hadn't attended, the three sisters sat under the shade of a tree, on a spread out blanket. Edith and Sybil noticed their sister's sorrow, and quickly began trying to distract her. "Edith's met a boy!" Sybil blurt out quickly, causing Edith to blush. Mary looked up from her hands and smiled. "Oh? Who is he?"
"He's a doctor. Doctor Gregory Lowe." Edith smiled. "When did you meet him?" Mary asked. Sybil and Edith looked at each other, unsure if it would be suitable to bring up the subject of Mary's wedding when her husband had just gone away to war. "Oh… about Five days ago." Edith said subtly. "At my wedding?" Mary asked quietly. Edith nodded and smoothed out her skirt. "It's alright to talk about it in front of me, there isn't any reason at all you shouldn't." Mary explained lightly.
"In that case, he's one of Matthew's friends, a doctor he met in France, who happens to live rather close by- and Mary, he's very handsome, and young!" Edith explained joyfully. "I'm very happy for you Edith, he sounds pleasant. I'll have to meet him soon." Mary giggled halfheartedly. "I've got no doubt you will, he's volunteered to help take care of the soldiers who are staying here, and he's a doctor, and a captain, so needless to say his help was accepted quickly." Sybil jumped in. "You will have to point him out to me the next time we see him." Mary smiled at her sisters sweetly, glad to hear happy news.
"Mary, may I ask you a rather, um… personal question?" Sybil asked with a blush. "I suppose that would be alright." Mary laughed, already guessing what was coming. "What is it like?" Sybil leaned in a little as if she was afraid to be over heard, as did Edith who was curious as she could now see a possible marriage on the horizon. "It's like nothing else I've ever known." Mary said, unable to think of words to describe how being with Matthew had felt.
"Was it terribly painful?" Edith asked her. "At first, there was some pain, but it disappeared quickly." Mary admitted. "And was it entirely enjoyable?" Edith asked, surprising herself, causing Mary to laugh. "You've certainly become less shy!" "It's because she's smitten with Gregory, and wants to marry him!" Sybil giggled, earning a bright blush from Edith. "To answer your question Edith, yes it was quite enjoyable. I do believe saying its only enjoyable for the man comes from women who married not for love, but for money, or title." Mary admitted.
"Then Edith's got nothing to worry about, as Gregory is of moderate wealth, and has no title." Sybil teased her sister gently, remembering words her sister had used once. "He's a perfectly respectable doctor." Edith insisted. "I'm sure that he is dear, and I cannot wait until we've met." Mary smiled and Lay back on the blanket. Her sisters followed in suit, and stare at the sky. "So, it's honestly wonderful?" Sybil asked, knowing her own marriage might not be so far off. "Yes, you girls have nothing to worry about." Mary insisted as she stared at a cloud. "I'm glad everything went so wonderfully." Sybil yawned, feeling suddenly tired, her nursing having worn her out. "As am I." Edith yawned.
Soon, the three girls fell into a light and dreamless sleep, side by side, and hand in hand.
AN: I think this is my longest chapter yet! I know it's a slightly more sad chapter than what I've written, and I've had requests to keep the story "Positive" And believe me, there will be a lot of positive elements, but it does take place during a world war, and I wanted to keep it sort of realistic.