When Tom and Sybil had finally succeeded in leaving their bedroom at the Grantham's arm, dinner's time had already started. The staff was busy serving and only the housemaids and Mrs. Hughes who were sitting and drinking tea in their room saw two giggling figures edging through the service hall.

"Wasn't it…?" Began Anna, stunned by the people she thought she saw.

"Sweet Jesus!" Exclaimed Mrs. Hughes, getting up to check she hadn't dreamed.

She came out just in time to see the couple running up the stairs and still giggling like two kids.

"Yes, I think it's definitively Lady Sybil AND Mr. Branson. Who knew", she sighed, sitting down again.

She shared a knowing look with Anna.

"I think that some people upstairs are about to have the surprise of their life", she breathed to the housemaid.

"I'm sorry I can't see that. I don't know why or how but I'm sincerely happy for Lady Sybil and Eirin."

"We both are", smiled the other woman.

At the same moment upstairs, the couple was entering the big hall to make their way to the dinning room. Sybil was about to open the door when Tom stopped her suddenly and took her in his arms.

"I want one last kiss", he breathed once she was against him.

"Why a last one?" Chuckled Sybil.

"Because", said Tom after placing a quick kiss on her lips." Once we're in there, you father could very well kill me for real."

"Don't be silly", she laughed, stroking his chest.

"I'm very serious, Syb. Your father didn't like me so much before and I'm not sure he'll like me more now that I'm coming back from death! And to top that, we're late for dinner".

Without waiting for an answer, he deeply kissed her. Sybil couldn't contain a long moan from satisfaction when his tongue met hers. After a few moments, they drew apart.

"We should enter now", she said with some regret in her voice." It won't do any better if Carson had the idea to go out now and find us like that."

"You're right. Let's go. The sooner, the better. So after that, we can go see our daughter…If I'm still alive."

"Everything will go well", answered Sybil, stroking his cheek. "And remember that I don't care about what they think."

Tom nodded his head and Sybil reached for the door's handle with one hand and for Tom's hand with the other one.

"Ready?" She asked.

"Ready", confirmed Tom with a slight smile.

Sybil opened the door sharply, ending the conversations that were happening in the room. Everyone looked up to see what interrupted them and eyes went wide when they saw the couple standing there.

"Good evening everyone!" exclaimed Sybil happily. "Sorry to be late but we had a lot of things to…catch up with", she finished while glancing saucily to her husband.

Tom felt his cheeks reddening in hearing the lake of subtlety from his wife and cleared his throat before speaking.

"Good evening, everyone. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"Tom!" Exclaimed in unison the women in the room.

"I'm back", he added with a slight smile to them.

"Yes, Tom is back", confirmed Sybil kissing him on the cheek.

Cora got up first and went to him.

"It's a miracle", she murmured shaking her head.

She opened her arms and Tom accepted the unexpected hug.

"Welcome back home."

"Thank you, Lady Grantham."

Mary and Edith followed their mother. Only the Dowager Countess and her son stayed sat down.

"You will please excuse me, Tom. But this entire bustle isn't good for my old bones."

Tom smiled at her and nodded. He then turned to Robert who seemed to find his plate more interesting than his son-in-law's return.

"Good evening, Lord Grantham", Tom said politely.

Robert nodded without looking at him before turning to Matthew who was trying to be forgotten.

"I understand that you knew about this unexpected come back", he said coldly.

"As a matter of fact, yes. Not for very long but yes, I knew."

"I see. May I suggest we all calm down and go on with the dinner?" He said, turning to the small group gathered near the door. "I'm sure that Bran…I mean Tom has a lot of things to tell us."

"Later, Father. For now, we want to go up and see our daughter. I can't wait for her to see her father", laughed Sybil.

Robert frowned seeing the merry face of his own daughter.

"Are you drunk, Sybil? You're acting weirdly. A true Lady would know how…"

"Yes, I'm drunk with love and happiness", she interrupted him, not wanting to hear the same speech all over again. "I have my life back and I can breathe freely again! Now, if you'd please excuse us."

She took Tom's hand in hers and began to move away when the rumbling voice of her father stopped her in her track.

"Sybil! You can't just come here like that with your presumed dead husband, interrupt our dinner then leave without any explanation."

Sybil challenged him with her look.

"Yes I can. And I will. My family needs to be together after what we went through this past year."

"I would like to remember you that we're your family too", replied Robert, hurt by his daughter's words.

"I meant to say, MY family. The one I choose", specified Sybil. "And if you want some explanations right now, then ask Matthew. He'll explain it all."

Robert's eyes went wide from his daughter's impertinence while the other people all had their eyes in their plates. The rest of the evening sounded like it would be rather tense. When Tom and Sybil had disappeared in the hallway, Robert turned to Matthew.

"Well? "

"Well, it seems like Matthew is gonna explain it all", he answered with an awkward smile.

After seeing his cousin so beaming, he really couldn't resent her for placing him in this position with his father-in-law. So, he sighed and looked up to Robert and the others and began with his story…

At the same time, a couple was going up the stairs to the nursery, hand in hand, running and still chuckling.

"It was rather rude", said a breathless Tom to his wife.

"I know. But I didn't want to hear the same old story all over again. It would have taken hours to my father and Granny to stop their rambling. And, it's a little true", she added as they were reaching the landing. "I feel like drunk from happiness."

She turned to him and kissed his lips.

"Now, stop complaining and let's go see our daughter."

"As you wish, milady."

Sybil rolled her eyes and pulled him after her to the nursery.

Tom was eager to see his daughter again but also worried about the welcome she would give him. He was, after all, like a stranger to her.

"Wait!"

Tom pulled Sybil's hand to stop her as she was about to enter the nursery.

"What's going on?" She asked, seeing his worried look.

"What if she doesn't like me? What if I scare her?"

Don't be silly! She'll like you. And I shown her pictures and talked about you every day. I'm sure all is going to go well. Come on now."

Comforted by his wife's certainties, they entered the room. They found the nanny seated on the floor and playing with Eirin and cubes. Seeing the dark curls of his daughter and her focused look, Tom's heart missed a beat. She was so cute. Hearing footsteps, the nanny looked up and smiled at them not without a startled move after recognizing Tom.

"Good evening, Mr. And Mrs. Branson", she said. "Look who's here, Eirin", she added, letting her hand slid in the little girl's hair.

Eirin looked up, upset for having been disturbed while with her game before a wide smile appeared on her face when she saw her mother.

"Ma !" She exclaimed before reporting her attention on the man standing at her mother's side.

"Hello, Sweetheart", answered Sybil, getting closer.

"Da" ! Exclaimed then Eirin reaching for him at the surprise of the three grown up.

Tom felt tears coming to his eyes because of his daughter's reaction and he thought then that all the hard work of his wife did pay: his daughter hadn't forgotten him.

"She seems happier to see me than your father", breathed Tom when he passed near Sybil to take Eirin in his arms.

The little girl chuckled from delight to be back in her father's arms and placed her chummy little hands on his face.

"Yes, My Darling, your daddy is back home."

Sybil, who was watching the action while standing a few steps back, felt the emotion grow in her. Her family was complete and together again and she seemed to just only realize it now. Since Matthew's announcement this afternoon, things had been so intense that she really hadn't taken the time to think about the consequences of Tom's return. Yes, they were finally back together. Her life had been given back to her: they were going to go back to Dublin and she will finally live the life she always wanted to with the man she loved. She discreetly wiped a tear and cleared her throat.

"You can have your night, Judith. We're going to take care of her from now", she said to the equally moved nanny with a voice more hoarse than usually.

The nanny nodded before adding:

"I'm sincerely happy for you all", she said even if she knew she probably just lost her work.

"Thank you, Judith."

"Thank you", answered Tom too.

He was now seated on the couch with his daughter on his lap.

Once the nanny was gone, Sybil took off her shoes and went to sit at her husband and daughter's side, curling her feet under her. Tom put his free arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer.

"You know", he said softly while making faces at his daughter as to start off this little giggling that he already fell in love with. "When I was in this cell and thought about what our life could have been, I was always seeing us like this: the three of us curled in front of a fireplace. Well, not at Downton I have to confess. But it's this picture of us that made me hold on."

Sybil gulped to make the lump of emotion stuck in her throat go down.

"Well, it's not a picture anymore", she answered kissing his neck. "It's the reality, and it's wonderful."

"Yes, it's the best feeling in the world", added Tom letting his hand slide in his wife's dark curls.

Seeing that the full attention wasn't on her anymore, Eirin cried her dissatisfaction and the two parents chuckled seeing her scowling look.

"Ok, little one", said Tom still laughing. "Do you want your daddy to read you a story before bed?"

Eirin squealed from delight.

"Alright, alright. Here we go, he said reaching for a book resting on the little table near the couch. What story do you want?" He added while going through the pages.

"You can read her anything", answered Sybil. "She's happy as long as she hears our voices. It lulls her to sleep. "

"Alright then…"Once upon a time…"" Began Tom.

When Matthew came up a few moment later, that was the picture he met. A loving family gathered in front of the fireplace, all squeezed together and all fast asleep. And that was warming his heart up. He once promised to look after them and he did. And it was a very satisfying feeling. He wished he could live some moments like that when his baby will be born, something so simple. But he doubted it. Even if he was sure Mary would be a caring mother, he knew deep down that because of her Lady status and the way things were handled at Downton, she would never allow herself something so familiar. And he would deeply regret it. But for now, he was glad for his cousin and his friend and was even gladder for what he had planned for them in Dublin. He knew that Tom will maybe fight it a little bit but, in the end, he would have no other choice than to accept it. Because, after all the troubles he had to go through with Robert downstairs, the two lovebirds here couldn't refuse him anything.

The life they always wanted was waiting for them in Ireland and Matthew was glad to help them a little bit to have it.

THE END

AN / I know that some of you were expecting angst but I just didn't feel like write it. I need some lightness after what they went through. Also I want to thank you all of you that reviewed/read/favorite this story. It's been quite a ride for me as a non English native. I almost give up a few times because of nasty and unconstructive reviews I've got but I'm glad today to have keep writing. I have a few ideas for an epilogue, mainly because of Matthew's surprise for them but I don't know when I'll have some time to put it on a paper. Thanks again. xo