Hi everyone, thank you so much for the reviews last chapter! You got me over 50! I'm glad you all liked the dialogue between Tom and Mary last chapter and I love reading what you guys have to say, I do read every single comment and I appreciate it guys. So…chapter 14. I'm thinking the story will be over at chapter 16 or 17, I'll see how it goes. Maybe over winter break an epilogue one shot or something, I don't know. I encourage you guys to write Mary/Tom stories (or anything really) since you guys are so thoughtful and convey your thoughts well, try it. I'm sad and excited about finishing this story but I honestly never expected to get as big as it has. Thanks for also following this story/me and adding this to your favorites. This chapter has a throwback song, well for me it is, I have no idea what age range I'm writing for but regardless I love this song. Enjoy loves.

How many heartaches must I stand, before I find the love to let me live again, right now the only thing that keeps me hanging on, when I feel my strength, ooh, it's almost gone

"You are what?" sputtered Lord Granthm, his face turning red. Dinner was over, Isobel and Violet had returned to their respective homes, and Edith and Rose were getting ready for sleeping.

Robert, Cora, Tom, and Mary stood in the library talking. Well, they were talking. Mary had thought it best to talk to her parents first so she had decided to not put on the ring yet. Afterwards they were able to pull her parents aside and they made more small talk at first. Then Mary said they had an announcement. She really wasn't sure how it would go. How did announcements of such importance usually happen between a lordship and his daughter? Furthermore how did they go when his daughter announced she was marry their old chauffer and widower of her youngest sister? It sounded rather ridiculous the way she was saying it now, in her head.

Apparently it went like this. Her father sputtering and his face turning redder and redder as he leaped off the couch in shock and anger. "You're what?" he asked again.

"I told you papa, Tom has asked me to marry him and I said yes," said Mary as she glanced over at Tom and a smile graced her face for a second.

"I don't understand," said Lord Grantham as he remained standing. Mary let out a huff of annoyance. This wasn't what she wanted at all. Of course she should have known he would not be ecstatic because she was not marrying the heir, she was marrying Tom Branson. The thorn in her father's side from the moment he said hello to Sybil. This was nothing like last time.

"Papa, Mama I have something important to tell you," said Mary as Edith has just announced she was retiring for the night and had left.

"What my darling?" asked Cora. Mary smiled and moved closer to Matthew who was sitting in the nearest chair. Her hand ran over his shoulder affectionately.

"Matthew has proposed. We're getting married," said Mary happily.

"My child, is this true?" asked Robert who walked closer.

"It only just happened today, tonight actually," said Matthew with a chuckle as his hand intertwined with Mary's gloved one.

"My darling, you have no idea how much this relieves me," said Robert as he pulled his daughter up and into a hug. Then he shook Matthew's hand before pulling him into a hug. "Indeed, this is the happiest I have been in quite a while," added Robert.

"Yes, oh my dear what a wedding you shall have," said Cora with a smile, tears threatening to spill.

"Papa, I do believe my happiness is far greater than yours in this instance," said Mary with a smile. All was finally well. As Matthew said, they were going to live the rest of their lives together.

"What brought this on?" asked Lord Grantham, a frown still present on his face.

"What do you mean? Mary and I understand each other better than anyone," interjected Tom.

"Better than anyone?" asked Lord Grantham.

"That isn't fair," protested Mary.

"I had one daughter run off with our chauffer and now I have another running off with the same man who is now the estate manager. I will not stand for this, the Crawley family is no mockery."

"I am not running off with Tom. We have a life here, of course we would look at other homes but for now this is our home. Tom has as much an appreciation for Downton as I do, he just displays it differently but it's true. You act as though we are doing this for some convenience," said Mary.

"Is that not exactly what you are doing?" asked Robert.

"I think that's enough yelling at Mary," said Tom as he reached out to hold Mary's hand.

"Don't you dare touch my daughter. What are you trying to achieve?"

"That is quite enough, Robert," said Cora as she stood up also. "Tom is a part of this family and you have no right to talk to him in such a way. Do not question our daughter's sensibility either. Robert, we should be glad Mary is happy again, glad that they are both indeed happy again. You and I know exactly the kind of man Matthew was, that he would not have thought his memory is sacrificed because Mary chooses to marry again. And we both know our darling angel would want her sister and Tom to be happy again, to be loved again."

"Oh mama," whispered Mary, who was close to tears.

"Cora, dear, think of what the county would say. Think of what our friends and acquaintances would say. Never mind Tom's job. The fact she is marrying her sister's widower-"

"We do not choose who we fall in love with," interrupted Tom.

"It's not as if Tom is a chauffeur still, he is estate manager which is very respectable you and I both know that. Our acquaintances are too busy sending scheming young men Mary's way. We can trust Tom," said Cora as she smiled warmly at Tom.

"This is not opened for negotiation," interrupted Mary. Everyone stared at her in shock but she continued, "I've spent so many years of my life complying with other's rules and wishes. Half the time they were of no benefit to me and just made me miserable. I, I cannot waste more of my life especially about whether or not I'll get an invitation to Lord Grey's annual ball because Tom will be escorting me. I want to spend my life being happy and I hope that's something you can understand. Downton is secured, and I feel alive again."

"My love," whispered Tom as he held Mary's small hand.

"My dear, are you truly happy?" asked Robert.

"More so Papa than I have been in months," she replied.

They stood in silence as Lord Grantham paced back in forth. Cora smiled and hugged her daughter and hugged Tom.

"I suppose, all I can say is congratulations," Robert said.

"Papa?"

"You'll have the wedding reception here of course, like all Crawley's do. We can start right away."

"Oh thank you Papa. I love you," whispered Mary as her father embraced her.

"I suppose drama never escapes the Crawleys. You are one of the finest gentleman I know Tom Branson. Quite like Matthew in that aspect."

"A wedding," said Cora as she gazed around the room.

"Will you announce it to the rest of the family tomorrow?"

"Yes, we can invite Isobel and Granny over for tea. You know how they both hate to receive secondhand news," said Mary with a laugh.

"My darling, I am unbelievably happy that you are so happy again. You know, it's as if they never left. Because they haven't. I am so proud of you darling, for never giving up."

"So the noble quest comes to an end," said Mary with a half-smile.

"So it does, am I to be crowned king for my noble efforts and success?" asked Tom with a laugh.

Mary paused and a serious look came across her face. Everything would change. Everything.

"What is Tom's roll since he is marrying me? With George and everything else?" asked Mary. Her parents and Tom just stared back.

I remember mama said you can't hurry love, no you'll just have to wait, she said love don't come easy, it's a game of give and take

I'm so sorry this is so short compared to my last 3 chapters. I have no idea why it ended up so short. Next chapter will be better since from the first paragraph it will be drama, drama, drama.

General question: I do want to get this as close to right as possible so (if) Tom ends up married to Mary, all said and done then is he still referred to as Mr. Branson? And does he become "owner" for lack of a better word of Mary's money that she inherited from Matthew?

If any of you know the answers to the questions please review with the answer, I'm doing research but I'd just like to be as close as possible. As always, none of this is mine. All credit to Julian Fellows.

The song: You Can't Hurry Love by Phil Collins (originally by The Supremes)