A/N: Here is the start of the Dublin adventure. Thanks very much for all the reviews, etc., I received since I last posted. Every single one is greatly appreciated. I love hearing from my readers about the story good or bad.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the posters on the Sybil/Tom thread on FanForum who helped me with various aspects of the Dublin portion of this story. Check out the thread, one of the rare Sybil/Tom safe havens around. :)

As always, many thanks to my ever patient betas, Tripp3235 and mswainwright.

Disclaimer: Not mine. All Downton Abbey characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 13

After they had boarded the ferry that would take them to Ireland, Tom couldn't believe how giddy Sybil was. She was so happy about everything. After they had stowed the luggage and the ship had left port, she wanted to check out the bow of the ship where they could feel the sea breeze on their faces and watch the ship cut through the water.

Looking out at the Irish Sea on a cloudy day, Sybil asked, "Isn't this wonderful? I haven't been on a ship since I was nine and we went to America."

"I'm sure that trip was more comfortable and memorable than this one," said Tom as he looked out over the water.

"Don't be silly," said Sybil with a huge smile on her face. "I have you here with me this time and I'll be starting a whole new exciting life when I'm get to Ireland. I cannot wait."

"I don't want to jinx this, but why are you so happy and excited this morning?" asked Tom perplexed. "Even the start of a new life can't have possibly put you in such a good mood."

"If you must know," said Sybil still smiling at him. "I woke up this morning in your arms very refreshed and realized how much I love you and how lucky I am to have you with me on this journey. I know that I don't say it very often, but I do love you very much and I can't imagine how sad I would have been if you had decided not to wait for me."

If they had been somewhere private, he would have kissed her, but being out in public, Tom just pulled her in closer to him in a half hug to show her how much it meant to hear her say those words. As Tom released her to look into her eyes, and said quietly "As I told you in the fall, I would have waited forever. I love you so very much. That's why I came back after the failed elopement because I couldn't stand the thought of not being near you. Regardless of all that, I'm just happy that you're here with me now."

After that they watched the waves billow against the bow until they were chased inside by the rain.

The rain that had started out in the Irish Sea continued to fall as they docked in Dublin late in the afternoon. As they got ready to get off the ferry, Sybil took out an umbrella from one of her suitcases. This was one of the items that she could not bear to part with and hence it had been one of the three mementos she brought from home. The umbrella had been a birthday present from Granny when she was twelve and since she abhorred getting her hat wet, it had been well used since then. So it was with a suitcase in one hand and the umbrella in the other when she walked off the ship onto the Irish shore.

As they proceeded with the rest of the passengers off the dock, Tom spotted his brother in the dying light and waved. The man in the distance saw them and waved back. As they made their way toward him, Tom leaned down and said, "That's my brother, Ciaran. Ma had written that he would be here to meet us. I just hope he has hired a cab."

As they approached the large, burly man with dark brown, curly hair and brown eyes who looked nothing like Tom, the man smiled and said loudly, "How was the ride over?"

"Not too rough, the sea was calm today despite the rain", said Tom as he shook Ciaran's hand. "Ciaran, this is my fiancée, Sybil Crawley. Sybil, this is my brother Ciaran."

Sybil put down her suitcase, held out her hand to shake and said, "How do you do?"

Ciaran took her tiny hand in his, gently shook it and said in more quiet tones, "Welcome to Ireland, Lady Sybil."

With a big smile, Sybil said, "Mr. Branson, since we are to be family soon, please do call me Sybil."

"Of course, La- Sybil," said Ciaran with a smile. "Please call me Ciaran. May I take your case?"

"Yes," said Sybil. "Thank you. You are so kind."

Taking her suitcase for her, Ciaran offered his arm to her and said, "I've got a cab waiting over there. Ma has dinner ready, waiting your arrival and Cathleen is very eager to meet you."

"Of course," said Sybil taking his arm and looking over her shoulder with a smile at Tom.

Turning to look at Tom, Ciaran said, "Mairin can't make it tonight. One of the little ones came down with a fever last minute, so she's home with them."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Tom. "I was looking forward to seeing her tonight."

Ciaran nodded and guided Sybil towards the waiting cab and Tom now followed behind them shaking his head. It took Sybil less than a minute to disarm his older brother who rarely minded his manners. I just hope that she's as good at disarming the rest of the family.

As they got to the door of Mrs. Branson's home and knocked, Ciaran, who normally says no more than three polite words, said, "I'm sure that Ma's place isn't much in comparison to your home but it's where we all grew up." He had also been conversing politely with Sybil through out the cab ride.

"Please, Ciaran," said Sybil. "I am very grateful for your mother's hospitality. Offering her home to someone she's never met is an exceptional kindness that I cannot hope to repay."

That was when the door opened and a young woman's head with Tom's hair colour and brown eyes popped through. She smiled, closed the door to release the chain while yelling, "They're here."

When she opened the door again, she let them into the front hallway before closing and locking the door again.

She curtsied in front of Sybil and said, "I'm Cathleen. You must be Lady Sybil."

Before Sybil could reply, Tom spoke up and said, "This is Cathleen, my younger sister who is just out of school and forgotten her manners. Cathleen, this is my fiancée, Sybil Crawley."

Sybil looked at Cathleen sympathetically and said with a smile, "Please call me Sybil and don't listen to Tom. You have excellent manners. He's just cross because it's been a long day of travel and it's been raining since about ten o'clock this morning."

Cathleen smiled at Sybil and said, "Sybil, may I take your things to hang up?"

"Thank you very much," said Sybil as she handed Cathleen her umbrella and took off her coat and hat before handing them to her.

After he took off his cap and hung it up on a hook, Tom took Sybil's hand and walked her into the parlour where his mother and Connor were waiting and made introductions.

"Welcome to my home, Lady Sybil," said Mrs. Branson, a neatly-dressed, short, older woman. She had grey hair, neatly-styled, and blue eyes like Tom. "While I still think you're both very foolish with this notion, I do support my son's decision."

"Thank you so much for your warm welcome, Mrs. Branson," said Sybil with a smile. "You have already done so much for us. I am still in awe of all that you had accomplish in the two weeks after you received our letters, and all this Lady business is only due to whom I was born. I never worked for it. Please call me Sybil."

"Very well, Sybil," said Mrs. Branson. As she sat down on the sofa chair, she gestured at the sofa and the other chairs around the room and said, "Please do sit down. My knees are not as good as they used to be. Rheumatism and the rain doesn't help."

As Sybil sat beside Tom on the sofa, she asked, "I'm sorry to hear that rheumatism bothers you. Do you treat it at all?" The others all sat in various chairs about the room.

"A few herbal salves," said Mrs. Branson as she gestures at her left knee, surprised by Sybil's interest in her ailments. "But they don't always work very well."

"Have you tried aspirin?" asked Sybil, genuinely interested in helping. "It is an analgesic as well as an anti-inflammatory."

"What does it do again?" asked Mrs. Branson as she looked straight at Sybil.

"It's an analgesic," said Sybil. "A painkiller, and it also helps because it brings down the swelling."

"No, never heard of it," said Mrs. Branson.

Turning to Tom, Sybil said, "Do you think you could pick up some aspirin from the apothecary's tomorrow? I think that it should help your mother when the damp weather aggravates it."

"Of course," said Tom as he smiled at her.

"Tom," said Mrs. Branson. "I don't want to trouble you for my rheumatism when you've just got home."

"No, Ma," said Tom, quick in Sybil's defense. "It's no trouble and I trust Sybil's nursing abilities. I've seen her at work. She's very good."

"How was the trip over?" asked Mrs. Branson as she looked at them.

"Was good until it started raining around ten o'clock," said Tom. "After that we were stuck inside."

"Still we had a lovely time," said Sybil. "I haven't been on a ship since I was a little girl."

"Been raining here since yesterday," said Cathleen unable to contain herself. "I wish it would stop. I'd rather have a nice Easter weekend."

"Hush, Cathleen," said Mrs. Branson. "If we wanted to know your thoughts on the weather, we would've asked you. Now Tom, what are your plans for the next few days?"

Looking at Sybil, Tom said, "Since tomorrow's Good Friday, we had thought that we would get our bearings first and do something in the morning before attending Mass with the family in the afternoon." Turning to the rest of the family, he added, "Perhaps go and see the church you found. What are the plans for Easter Sunday? Are you making luncheon for the whole family like you do every year?"

Before Mrs. Branson could reply, Cathleen spoke up, obviously not cowed by her mother's previous admonition. "Nothing's changed since you left, Tom. You should know that you can set the clock by Ma's holiday luncheons."

"Excellent," said Tom with a smile at his mother. "I missed your Easter feast when I was in Yorkshire." Turning to Sybil, he added, "Will also give you a chance to meet my sister Mairin and her family and Ciaran's family, too."

"That would be lovely," said Sybil with a smile. "I'm looking forward to meeting everyone."

After a quick look at the clock on the mantel, Mrs. Branson said, "Here we are talking about me and my aches and Easter luncheon, when the two of you have been traveling all day. Are you hungry?"

Tom and Sybil looked at one another and Tom nodded for them.

"I have dinner warming on the stove just waiting for the two of you to turn up," said Mrs. Branson. "Why don't we move to the table and eat? I know that Ciaran will want to head home soon after dinner. Maeve has been feeling poorly, poor babe, and Aileen in the family way again."

At first, the talk at the dinner table was mainly Mrs. Branson asking Tom and Sybil about their plans and Yorkshire, but as Sybil put Cathleen and Ciaran at ease answering questions, the conversation flowed more smoothly and soon even Connor felt comfortable enough to ask a few questions of his brother. He had only been eight when Tom left for Yorkshire and even younger when Tom started in service, so it was a change to have his other brother around.

After everyone had eaten their share, Ciaran announced that he and Tom should be heading out. As they headed toward the door, Mrs. Branson gave Tom a key to the flat so he could come and go as needed. Sybil went with them to the front hall to say goodnight to Tom. Sybil had only been in the country for two hours, but the way that she had gotten along with his mother and Cathleen at dinner made Tom feel comfortable enough leaving her there.

Ciaran stepped out with Tom's valise to give Tom and Sybil some privacy and said he would meet Tom on the stoop since the rain had stopped. In the background, they could hear Mrs. Branson directing Cathleen and Connor to clear the table and wash the dishes.

Tom put his hand on Sybil's chin and then stroked her cheek. "Will you be all right here?"

Sybil leaned into his touch and said with a small smile, "I'll be fine. I like your mother and your brothers and sister."

"I'm glad," said Tom as he drank in her features. "I'll be back in the morning and we can figure out what we need to do to get ourselves sorted. I love you." Tom then leaned closer.

"I love you, too," whispered Sybil before closing the gap and kissed Tom.

They kissed a bit before Tom pulled away and said, "I don't want to keep Ciaran waiting. I'll see you tomorrow and sleep well." Tom opened the door and stepped through.

Sybil leaned on the door as she was about to close it and said, "You, too. Goodnight, and don't forget the aspirin from the apothecary."

"I won't. Goodnight," said Tom before Sybil closed the door.

When Tom got outside, Ciaran was waiting for him. As Tom took his bag from his brother, Ciaran said, "That's a fine lass you got yourself there, Tom." As they started walking down the street, Ciaran continued, "She's mighty pretty and smart, too. You and she will have to be careful. Things have not been good since the Rising and the elections last year haven't made it any better. She'll have to stay away from certain parts of town. The sound of her voice will tip 'em off."

"Well," said Tom. "I wouldn't take her to certain parts of town even if everything was good. I know that we'll have to be careful, but thanks for the warning all the same."

"So, how have you been keeping all those years in Yorkshire?" asked Ciaran. "Well, aside from snatching your employer's daughter." Ciaran chuckled as he jostled Tom with his shoulder in jest.

"Been keeping up with world events," said Tom as he nudged his brother back. With Ciaran, it was like he'd never left. "Couldn't believe it when they shot the Tsar. While I'm a socialist, you know I'm a pacifist. Shooting a whole family with young girls is not my cup of tea."

"Well, some of the more radical bunch at the docks were saying that the Tsar had it coming and that they couldn't very well let them get away," said Ciaran. "Well, for now, I'm just keeping my head down and doing my work. I've got another mouth to feed soon and if we strike again, I'll need to save some money to sit it through."

"Let me give you something to cover my staying with you and Aileen until the wedding," said Tom. "I've got some extra saved up and I have an interview for a job at the end of the month. I don't want to be a burden on you when you have another one coming soon."

"That'll be mighty fine, Tom, if you can spare it," said Ciaran. "Aileen has been feeling poorly already and missed a few days of work and now with Maeve being sick, money is tighter than I'd like it to be."

"Think no more of it," said Tom. "I do appreciate you letting me stay with you while we get things settled. Sybil and I had talked about it before and on the way here and we agreed that we don't want be freeloaders."

"Your lass is something else," said Ciaran. "When Ma first got your letters about coming here, Mairin was worried that she'd come here on her high horse and sneer down at us like them landowners, but Ma pointed out that she wrote that you and she would be a partnership of equals and that she would not be a burden. Ma let me read her letter. She writes mighty fine."

"Yes, she does, but I didn't read her letter to Ma," said Tom. "She was surprised that I didn't, but I trust her. So I have no idea what exactly she wrote to Ma."

"Well, we know that you're Ma's favorite," said Ciaran more as a statement of fact. "But even you couldn't have spurred Ma to get as much done in such a short time without your lass."

"I know and I strive everyday to be worthy of her love," said Tom with a smile.

After a few moments of quiet, Tom said, "I know I just got here, but I was wondering if you could be my best man at the wedding?"

"Me?" asked Ciaran, a little incredulous. "Would have figured you to have asked Joe Maguire. Weren't you and him best buddies before you left?"

"Yeah," said Tom. "But I haven't been in touch with him for six years. Seems awfully rude to come back and say, 'I know we haven't kept in touch in the six years since I've been in Yorkshire but would you be my best man?' Don't you think?"

"What about me?" asked Ciaran. "You ain't written to me in six years and you're asking me."

Tom gave his brother a look and said, "When did you find out about Sybil?"

Ciaran gave Tom a resigned look and said, "Ma's been telling everyone about her for a couple of years now. Fine. I'll be your best man."

"Thank you, Ciaran," said Tom with a smile. "I appreciate that."

When Sybil finished washing the dishes with Cathleen, Mrs. Branson showed Sybil her room as Cathleen started to pack up. Mrs. Branson said, "This is normally Cathleen's room, but she'll be sleeping with me while you're here."

Seeing that there were two beds in the room, Sybil said, "No, Mrs. Branson, I can't possibly do that to Cathleen."

"Why?" asked Mrs. Branson wondering what Sybil could be requesting. "You're our guest."

"Because there are two beds in here," said Sybil. "She can sleep in her own bed and I can sleep on the other. Please don't disrupt things too much for me. I couldn't sleep if I knew that I was occupying a room with two beds on my own while Cathleen had to share yours."

"Didn't you have a room of your own at home?" asked Cathleen surprised by the request.

"I did," said Sybil. "But I shared a room with another nursing trainee while I was on course in York and the room was much smaller than this one and we are friends to this day."

Cathleen looks at her mother imploringly. Sharing a room with Sybil would be so much fun.

Seeing that both girls were eager to share the room, Mrs. Branson said, "Very well. If you insist, Sybil, and Cathleen, don't talk her ear off."

A/N2: Sybil is now ensconced in Mrs. Branson's home. What will Good Friday bring? (In case you're wondering, Good Friday 1919 is Friday, April 18, 1919, which is when the next chapter is set.) In any case, I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter good or bad, so please do review. :)