Disclaimer: I do not own Downton Abbey!

I want to clarify a few things before you read this chapter: The people I consider main characters are Lily (obviously), Mary, Matthew, Bertie, and William, and that is all...

Think about that (in context of what I said about main characters) and I hope you enjoy this chapter (:

7 years old…

Lily Crawley walked down the stairs of the house, having escaped her governess Emily for the day. She wasn't expected to be forced to answer in French or learn how to do other mindless things, today, was her seventh birthday. Today, her Mama and Papa said she could do whatever she wanted. Today, her Grandpapa and Grandmama were allowing her to eat at the dining room table. Today…

"Bertie! William!" she squealed as she made her way to the bottom of the steps and saw her brothers standing there. Before anyone could stop her she ran full speed towards them and jumped into William's, who was closest, arms. "What are you doing here?" she giggled as he spun her in a circle.

"It is your birthday, of course we are here," William, now thirteen, pressed a kissed to her cheek.

"What about me?" Bertie asked.

"Of course!" she indulged and threw her arms around him.

"Lily," she heard the voice of her governess practically shriek from her room upstairs. "Just because it is your birthday does not mean you forget all sense of manners I have EVER taught you." Lily rolled her eyes as Bertie kissed her cheek and chuckled at her.

"She obviously does not know our Lily," he nudged his brother. "C'mon, we did not get excused from boarding school to stand around here. Where are Mama and Papa?"

"I don't know, I've just come down," Lily informed them. "Did you hear, Grandmama and Grandpapa are allowing me to join you all for dinner tonight, not only luncheon?"

"You are seven now," William reminded her.

"And because you are seven you should heed your governesses advice, at least some of it anyway," a sharp voice interrupted them. Lily turned around and sheepishly grinned at Mary.

"Sorry Mama, but why didn't you tell me," she said.

"If we would have told you, it wouldn't have been a surprise," she walked over to her daughter and kissed her cheek. "Happy birthday my darling."

"Thank you Mama, where is Papa?" she asked.

"Settling something for your present," Mary's eyes sparkled excitedly.

"Really, what?" Lily gasped.

"You expect her to tell you Lil, really?" Bertie laughed. "Hello Mama, long time no see."

"My boys," Mary greeted and gathered them in her arms. "Behaving I hope?"

"Of course we are Mama," William chided. "And besides, not much has since you saw us over Christmas holiday."

"I'm sure," Mary rolled her eyes. "Have you two eaten breakfast yet?"

"Yes Mama, on the train, now can we know what Lily's present is?" Bertie said.

"No!" Lily hissed. "They will either ruin it or torture me!"

"Exactly little sister," William laughed at her and patted her head.

"Can we take a walk?" she asked.

"Later," Mary shook her head. "Boys why don't you go to your rooms and settle in. Lily and I will be in the sitting room, your Grandmama is waiting and your Grandpapa will be back soon."

"Where is Grandpapa?" she asked.

"Settling some things, from the Dower House," Mary said quietly and sighed as she saw her daughter's lips tremble slightly.

"I can hear her in my head sometimes Mama, scolding me for being too active while laughing and encouraging me all the same," Lily sighed. "Today is my first dinner in the dining room and she will not be there."

"Granny loved you very much, just remember that," Mary stroked her daughter's hair softly. "We all miss her dearly."

"Lily, happy birthday my dear," she heard Cora call from the sitting room as their voices echoed in.

"Hello Grandmama, thank you," Lily smiled.

"Can you ring for some tea Mary," Cora asked as Lily sat nicely opposite her grandmother. "Enjoying your first surprise I see."

"I've missed them so terribly much," Lily sighed. "They annoy me to pieces when they are here but it's so boring when they are not." Cora smiled at her as Lily raised her eyebrow in a very Mary type fashion. "First surprise, so there are more."

"You must wait my dear, until after luncheon," Mary reasoned. "Papa and Grandpapa will be back by then. There you will receive our presents but then you must wait for Aunt Edith, Uncle Anthony, Uncle Tom, and Aunt Rosamund."

"Well it is not their presents I am anticipating is it Mama," Lily giggled and straightened up excitedly.

"Where are the boys?" Cora asked as Alfred came in. "May we have some tea?"

"Certainly your ladyship," he nodded and left the room.

"They are settling in, they are only here for two days but have brought enough for a week," Mary explained. "I think they believe we will ask them to stay longer but I want them to get a proper education."

"As you should," Cora nodded. "There are tough times ahead of us and who knows what they will need to do. I am thankful for Matthew's money for keeping us going while the Depression has given a hard blow to us, speaking nothing of America. And Germany has me worried."

"Oh Mama," Mary sighed at her. "It is not like the Great War, it will not come to that."

"But all the same," Cora said and then turned to Lily who was watching them with wide eyes. "I'm sorry Lily dear; we mustn't bother you with this on such a day as today."

"But it is interesting," Lily piped up. "Go on."

"We shall do no such thing," Mary shook her head as Alfred returned with the tray of tea. Lily grasped hers gratefully.

"Thank you Alfred," she said sweetly and giggled as the footman winked at her.

"You are welcome Miss Lily, and happy birthday," he nodded, handed Mary and Cora their tea, and made his exit.

"Tomorrow you must go downstairs and thank Mrs. Patmore for your dinner Lily," Mary reminded her. "And your dessert."

"May I know what that is or is it a surprise too," Lily rolled her eyes and sipped her tea carefully.

"Careful Mama," William announced, walking into the room. "The older she gets the smarter her mouth is."

"It is chocolate cake Lily," Mary rolled her eyes right back at her daughter and Lily giggled excitedly.

"Hello Grandmama," William greeted Cora, kissing her cheek. Bertie followed suit in the room, doing the same.

"Is it time for luncheon yet?" Bertie asked.

"Oh hush, it is my birthday, you do not get everything you want on my birthday," Lily wrinkled her nose at him.

"Oh Lily," Bertie sighed as if he was a lot older than eleven years. "When will you learn that I always get what I want?"

"Never if I have it my way," Mary narrowed her eyes at her sons. "Once Lily is finished her tea she may go on that walk with you two but if you are not back by luncheon…"

"If you say she won't get her presents then we will make sure she isn't," William ruffled Lily's hair.

"William," she protested. "Now it's a mess."

"Wow, little Lily has become quite a lady since we have been gone, hasn't she Master Crawley," Bertie nodded, teasingly, in a superior tone.

"Very much so," William said. "She'll have absolutely no need for our present anymore."

"Stop torturing your sister and get out of here," Mary shooed her sons. "Lily, you may go with them if you wish."

"Only because I do miss them even though I hate them," she sighed and put her tea down. "And I will still get my presents, right?"

"Yes my darling, go with your brothers," Mary laughed.

"Cleo," she whistled and the dog suddenly bounded upstairs from being down in the servants hall and went to Lily's side faithfully. Mary smiled as she left and turned to her mother.

"You do know your father is upset with you for stealing his present," Cora reprimanded her daughter lightly.

"She was given Cleo by him," she reminded her.

"She is the family dog, or at least your family's dog," Cora protested.

"Oh Mama, did you see how that dog came only for her," Mary laughed. "She's Lily's dog wholly and completely. There's no doubt about that."

"I suppose so," Cora sighed.

"Mrs. Patmore has made all your favorites today Lily," Robert told her.

"Carson, can you please thank her for me," Lily piped up, looking up from her luncheon, to the butler and he nodded.

"Of course Miss Lily," he nodded at her. They enjoyed their luncheon talking mostly about William and Bertie's second semester, Lily ok with it because she could only talk about her boring days for so long. Besides, unless Miss Emily had another plan for her, she usually ate luncheon with the family anyway.

Luncheon was going terribly slow as Lily finished but noticed several members of her family were not.

"I feel as though a certain little girl is rather eager for her presents," Matthew narrowed his eyes at his daughter and she giggled into her napkin.

"I can wait," she said, though her body language said otherwise.

"Careful Lily, you don't want to be too disappointed if it is not everything you wished for," Mary shook her head. "We did just celebrate Christmas."

"I can wait Mama," she said pointedly, as if she wanted to prove she would not be immature about it, she was seven after all.

"You shouldn't have to," Robert said, getting up. "C'mon, let's go to the library." She giggled as her grandfather winked at her and jumped up out of her seat.

"Papa you indulge her too much," Mary shook her head.

"She is my youngest grandchild," Robert answered. "And I'm not getting any younger."

"Papa, why did Gran Iz not come over for luncheon?" Bertie asked.

"She invited Dr. Clarkson over for luncheon today," Matthew laughed.

"Gross," Lily muttered under her breath before she shuffled ahead of her grandfather.

"Alright, who first?" Mary said. "Mama?" Lily perked up, she was hoping for a new dress for a while and although she had gotten one Christmas, she had already worn it for the servant's ball and New Year's Eve. Lily felt bad for wanting a new one but she knew her family's financial situation was not as rough as some other aristocrats who have suffered from the Great Depression.

"It's not much," Cora apologized but Lily was excited anyway as she pulled out exactly what she wanted, and it was red too.

"It's beautiful Grandmama thank you," Lily got up and kissed her grandmother a thank you.

"Let her open ours next," Bertie said.

"I don't know what you are talking about ours, this explanation is all you," William rolled his eyes.

"You are both children sometimes, I swear it," Lily smirked and Mary and Matthew laughed at the expense of their sons.

"Here," Bertie huffed as he handed his sister their present. "It's a diary, we figured we'd give everyone left here at Downton a break from your chatter box mouth, maybe write some of those thoughts down instead of blurting them out for a change." Lily glared at her brother.

"You are a prat sometimes you know that?" she growled.

"Lily Isobel Crawley," Mary snapped. "That is enough out of you unless you want Miss Emily to be informed that those words came out of your mouth."

"Sorry Mama," Lily sighed and turned to her grandfather excitedly.

"My present has several, completely unrelated parts," Robert explained, pulling out several gifts. There were a few books that she informed him were lacking from the library that she wanted to read, there was a new collar and leash for Cleo, and finally a beautiful locket with the letter L on it. Lily bit her lip to conceal her disappointment at the lack of the gift she thought she would receive from him. The same one that Sybbie and Lizzie had received on their seventh birthdays from their grandfather, and the boys whenever they had expressed interest in it.

"Thank you Grandpapa," she was an excellent actress and she hid it well, because after all, she wasn't expecting the locket and it was beautiful. "I love it all, although I'm not sure Cleo will thank you." She rose to her feet and kissed him, and he hugged her tightly, showing a knowing grin to her parents that were behind her.

"Alright, our turn," Mary smiled at stood up, holding out her hand for her daughter. "Follow me."

"What Mama?" Lily turned back to her.

"It's your surprise," Mary answered.

"You must close your eyes, darling," Matthew smirked. "And you mustn't cheat," Mary added.

"We'll make sure she doesn't open them," Bertie laughed, desperate to get her back for the prat comment.

"Where are we going?" she asked, sighing as she closed her eyes and felt her mother tug her slightly urging her to walk forward while her father put a hand on her back to guide her.

"Patience is a virtue Lily," Matthew said.

"Papa you sound like Miss Emily," Lily would have rolled her eyes if they were not shut. "Honestly." She felt a cool breeze on her and her heart pounded in anticipation. "We are going outside."

"Yes," Mary said.

"But what for?" Lily insisted.

"I swear she does not understand the meaning of surprise," Bertie laughed and suddenly he saw his sister's brown eyes opening. "LILY!"

"What?" she hissed. "I had something in my eye I needed to blink."

"I'm sure my darling," Matthew said. "It is a shame we do not believe you."

"I'll keep them closed," she grumbled.

"But there isn't a reason to anymore, open your eyes," Mary said as Lily gasped as she did exactly that. They were at the stables and her heart leapt as in front of her loomed a beautiful black horse.

"Oh Mama, Papa," she gasped and immediately jumped into Mary's arms and kissed her cheek. "Thank you ever so much!" She turned to her father next.

"Happy birthday sweet girl," Matthew chuckled.

"And he's black," Lily gushed. "Just like your old horse Diamond Mama, oh thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"This is why this is usually my present," Robert grumbled as Lily approached the horse and began to examine it closely. "I've been outshined."

"I'm sorry Papa," Mary sighed. "But you gave her Cleo; she will be her companion for everything else just think of that."

"Oh but Grandpapa I love your necklace," she reassured him.

"Then I hope you like our riding outfit we also bought you," Cora said. Giving in she ran to her grandmother again and hugged her. To her grandpapa she hugged him tighter.

"I know you would have bought me it if they'd have allowed you to," she turned back to her horse, her eyes shining at her Mama and Papa.

"What's his name?" she asked.

"That's for you to decide," Matthew informed her. She looked at her still slightly despondent grandfather.

"Grandpapa, could you please name him for me?" she asked. "You named Cleo, it is only right for you to name my horse as well."

"Why does she always sound so sweet when she talks to him?" William rolled his eyes. "Although it is probably best, she'd name the poor beast Heathcliff if she could." Lily narrowed her eyes at her brother menacingly.

"Grandpapa please," she added going up to him and leading him to the horse.

"All right," he chuckled and patted the horse. "Good choice Mary, exactly the horse I'd have chosen."

"Of course Papa because it's practically the same horse you chose for me," Mary reminded him.

"What about Zeus, the Greek God, from that book you insist I buy you?" Robert suggested. "Look at that." He pointed to the top of the horses muzzle where a white patch was seen, at if you squinted it almost looked like a lightning bolt.

"Perfect," she stood on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. "I love it."

"Now when can you start riding him?" he asked.

"Not today," Mary warned. "And not tomorrow either because Miss Emily has plans for you tomorrow."

Lily rolled her eyes. "Wednesday then?" she asked.

"I have no objections," Mary said. "And I shall come with."

"Oh Lizzie he's beautiful," Lily gushed to her cousin as they sat in the drawing room waiting to go in to dinner. "I absolutely cannot wait to start riding."

"I'm sure," Lizzie told her younger cousin dismissively, as if she had heard enough about the horse.

"Don't be a spoil sport Lizzie," Sybbie reassured Lily. "I'm sure he is and I'm sure you'll be a brilliant rider, you shall take after me."

"You?" Mary said. "And where do you think you got that skill from?"

"My Mama of course," Sybil chided. Mary smiled sadly at her.

"Your Mama could ride, just never as well as I could," Mary informed her.

"And what about you Mama," Lizzie called from across the room. "Could you ride as well?"

"We don't like to talk about your Mama's experiences with horses," Mary whispered loudly enough for the whole room to hear.

"Oh Mary must you?" Edith rolled her eyes.

"I think I must," Mary said. "The first time your Mama got on a horse she slid off the other side and-"

"That's enough," Edith hissed.

"Lily darling that necklace is gorgeous," Isobel said referring to her locket.

"It was one of my presents from Grandpapa," she beamed at her grandfather.

"Are you excited to have dinner with us?" Isobel continued.

"Of course," she giggled and sat up straighter. "But I mustn't get used to it I suppose."

"You never know my dear," Mary sat down next to her and patted her knee gently.

"Dinner is ready your ladyship," Carson suddenly announced at the door and Lily's heart was bursting with excitement as everyone rose to their feet and she followed them into the dining room that was set beautifully for the occasion and Lily was happy she was seated right between her mother and Sybbie. It was almost overwhelming as everything began to unfold, no amount of preparation from Miss Emily could have prepared her for finally no longer feeling like the baby of the family, she felt like she belonged.

Carson began to pour wine into everyone but her glass and her Grandpapa looked around the table proudly.

"Let us raise our glasses to our Lily and drink to her health," Robert said.

"And many more birthday's to come," Matthew added, Lily blushed as she felt her Mama's hand grab hers proudly.

"To Lily," everyone said raising their glasses. Lily kindly sipped her water but looked around to everyone drinking wine.

"May I try some," she smiled hopefully and Mary looked sternly at her daughter.

"Absolutely not," she hissed. "You may be getting older, but not that old."

Yes so, Violet died offscreen. I unfortunately could no longer find places to fit her in as well as the fact that this is 1934 and I realized that there was no way she would still be alive, so it was a choice, but a very hard choice.

Lily has gotten a horse, what new antics (besides those I write with Cleo that you shall see eventually) could she get into now (:

Please let me know what you think of this chapter, Constructive criticism, what you like, whatever you want as long as it is not too hard and unkind. Thank you all for reading! Good news, finals week is almost over (: