Edie and Aiden returned home after five days, the consultant satisfied that the baby was a good weight and was breathing easily without assistance. Tom temporarily moved into Sybil's flat in order to give Elaine his bedroom and to enable him to concentrate and work during the day. They glowed in new found confidence with each other, repeating endearments frequently and revelling in the novelty of hearing them from each other's lips. On greeting the chaos of baby paraphernalia within his flat, he wondered how he would ever be able to work there again; for one so small and delicate in appearance, Aiden seemed to have an extraordinarily powerful pair of lungs. The slightest disturbance while he napped would have Edie visibly tensing with frustration and anxiety, despite their mother's assurance that he was still finding his natural rhythm and routine. The young mother was easily tearful, her milk had come in a little later than usual due to his premature arrival and she was awash with emotion and the enormity of her task ahead. Tom popped in daily, but briefly, assuring both women that he would become more involved once Elaine had returned to Dublin.
Kieran came down to meet his nephew and enthusiastically reacquainted himself with Gwen in the comfort of Sybil's spare room. Their audible enjoyment sent Tom hiding under Sybil's duvet with embarrassment.
"Christ….can you just let me know when it's all over….?" he muttered in horror, as Sybil giggled and put her fingers in her ears.
"Please tell me that we don't sound like that in the throes of passion?" he asked pleadingly and Sybil slid down under the covers to join him, tears of mirth now brewing.
"Well Gwen has always been very…..um….vocal about what she wants in life…" she suggested.
"She needs to come with a bloody instruction manual….Jesus, I hope he's taking notes, it sounds exhausting!"
"You know, there's only one way to drown out the noise…."
Tom began to slowly lift her pyjama top and pressed his lips softly to her stomach. "Mmmmm, I guess….if you can't beat them…..then you just have to join them…."
The Daily Mail published Tom's article about miscarriage and the loss of funding for future research, which led to further comment and analysis in other papers, as well as a segment on BBC breakfast news. He was pleased that he'd been able to help Cora as promised and Sybil was grateful for the coverage, which had been well received by her colleagues and praised by Miss Dawson. He took more pleasure, however, from his second printed unsolicited article that month, entitled 'Leading by Inexperience', which was bought by The Independent. This tore apart the Conservative Party's selection policy for candidates who required no independent experience outside of the political field. While he acknowledged that there were similar isolated examples amongst other parties, he listed those Tories who had gained seats in the last election having worked solely for the party since their education. Describing an anonymous potential candidate for the future, he heavily criticised the lack of objective foresight available to represent the electorate in the future and the life of protected privilege from which he came. The issue was debated heavily in the press and on TV and the Prime Minister himself was called upon to defend his party's selection process. Sybil recorded and repeatedly re-played the section of BBC News in which the PM was seen leaving an industry visit and saying to the waiting press corps outside "Yes, I've read Tom Branson's article and I'd like to stress that the Conservative Party values candidates from all walks of life….."
Sybil received a furious email from Larry in which he threatened to sue for defamation. Tom scoffed at the suggestion. "I didn't even mention him. I've obviously tapped a nerve."
The Independent asked him to write a follow up article the following week, listing what attributes the public valued in their politicians and he received other offers of work on the back of it. Unwittingly one evening, as he and Sybil kept Edie and a restless Aiden company, he voiced the thought which had been floating around his head.
"Your Dad was right, I have benefitted professionally from knowing you…" He regretted it as soon as the words were spoken; Sybil's eyes flashed with defensive outrage.
"What do you mean?...What did my Dad say to you…..and when?!"
"Don't get angry with him Sybil, please…." he begged after he gave her a heavily edited version of his New Year conversation at Downton. "He loves you and he was just trying to protect you. He didn't know me from Adam…."
Sybil ranted at the injustice of such allegations, but he kissed her hand and whispered. "You know, if we ever have a daughter, I'll do exactly the same…"
The Political Editor of The Guardian emailed him and asked him to come into their offices for a chat. One of their Westminster correspondents was moving to Brussels in order to cover the EU later in the year and they wanted to know if he might be interested in applying for the vacant post. He was elated, but refused Sybil's offer of a celebratory meal out. "Nothing's in the bag until they hand me an offer" he clarified. "They're legally obliged to advertise it externally and we don't know who else might apply…..But it's a good sign that they're asking me to."
As a result of the additional work available, he finally handed in his notice at the garage. Dave was sorry to see him go, especially as another member of staff had asked to go part time in order to retrain at college.
"Kieran was asking me about job opportunities down here, so I mentioned that to Dave" he told Sybil, whose eyes nearly popped out of her head with excitement.
"Really, is he thinking about coming to live in London?"
"Just considering it at the moment, yes."
"Is this to do with Gwen?"
"I think she's an added bonus, rather than the primary reason behind it….No, he said at Christmas that he was considering moving on."
"I thought he liked Liverpool?"
"I don't think he hates it…..but he says that his life just hasn't moved on in the five years he's been there and he's getting a bit tired of doing the same job, going to the same pubs with the same mates…."
"Does he know anyone else here?"
"No, but that won't bother him, he'll talk to anyone. He talked a lot about the importance of family over Christmas…..I think he's growing up a bit….maybe Aiden's arrival has made him think….he's asked a couple of friends in Dublin about job options too, so it's a toss up between there and here….depends what comes up, I guess…..Dave said that he should give him a call though"
"Would you like him to be in London?"
Tom was thoughtful for a moment "Yes, I would….I mean, Mam would love to have him home, of course, but yeah, it would be good to have him here…..I couldn't wait to get away from him when I first came over, he was getting into all sorts of trouble, but I think going to Liverpool was a good move at the time…..it got him away from a bad crowd at home."
He paused again. "Maybe it is having the next generation arrive, but it feels right to have my family here with me…..and you of course…..it feels like life is slotting into place."
Robert was in the House of Lords for a couple of days in late February and he invited Sybil and Tom out for dinner with him and Cora. Tom was pleased to be included but felt rather tentative about the possible reaction to his second article and the publicity it had received.
"I'm so grateful for your help, Tom" gushed Cora as they toasted the increased activity and support offered to the Miscarriage Association since the discussion surrounding Tom's piece.
"So, what do you think of Tom's other recent article, Dad?" asked Sybil in a challenging tone. "Even the Prime Minister has been talking about him…."
Robert sipped his wine slowly and nodded before looking directly at Tom. "I think you made some interesting…..and relevant points." There was an uneasy silence before he continued.
"It's created rather a hoo-ha really….suddenly there are potential candidates being told to go and get a job for a few years and some of the researchers who thought this was the easy ride to Parliament are now reconsidering their careers…..Really, it's given the whole system a good shake up and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing."
The corners of his mouth suddenly twitched and he glanced fondly at Sybil.
"And apparently, Larry Grey is absolutely furious, so I think that deserves another toast, don't you?"
Sybil tentatively raised her thoughts about medical school to her parents, who were surprised but after hearing her well thought out argument, offered their unconditional support. Sybil didn't want to let them know about her reprimand at work and the reasons behind it, but the incident had added fuel to her interest in studying further.
"I know that Miss Dawson was right and that I'm not experienced enough to make the bigger decisions at the moment" she had told Tom one weekend "but I want to be making them some day, I don't want to be the one who has to pass it over to somebody else."
"I told you before that I'll support you if you want to do it." he assured her "but you can see how hard Gwen is working and if that doesn't put you off…."
"Well as long as you know that I'd still make time for you, regardless….I mean, I'd have to study at weekends and some evenings, but it wouldn't change anything fundamental…"
"You'd still love me…..?"
"Always….."
"You know, for someone who's sharing a flat with a relatively new born baby" suggested Sybil a few weeks later "you're looking remarkably refreshed."
Tom shrugged and looked a little abashed. "Well it isn't really affecting my sleep patterns, to be honest…if Edie hadn't been able to feed him herself then I'd have offered to do some night feeds….but she has, so there's not a lot I can do….I hear him cry and then I'm afraid that I just roll over and go back to sleep."
They were reading the newspaper in Sybil's living room one Saturday morning, Tom revelling in not having to get up early and work in the garage. Sybil seemed rather restless and was flicking rapidly through the magazine supplement, getting up and then sitting swiftly back down again.
"You know…..Edie's going to find it hard having Aiden in her bedroom after a few months, when he starts getting mobile…"
"Well she's not going to have much choice" Tom replied "Even if I do get that job at The Guardian, I can't stretch to a three bedroomed flat yet and nor can Edie once she's paying out for nursery fees."
"I know, but I was wondering….."
"What….?"
"How about…..when she's a bit more sorted….you move in here with me…..?"
Tom's face broke into a broad smile "I can't think of anything nicer than waking up with you every single morning, but Edie can't afford to stay there on her own, Sybil"
"She wouldn't have to…..you know this place is all paid off…" she looked awkward, aware of the financial advantage she possessed and its relative injustice. He nodded, encouraging her to continue.
"So you could just contribute to the bills and still pay half of the rent at your flat…."
"And what would your Dad think about that, do you think? I mean, it's his flat and he already thinks I've taken advantage of you for my career…"
"It's not his flat anymore"
Tom looked at her quizzically "How come?"
"Because he's signed it over into my name….he sent me all the documents last week."
Tom raised his eyebrows "Wow….that's quite a present…."
"Well, I knew that he probably would eventually…..he did the same for Mary when she first went to Manchester."
"But don't you think that he'll still mind, even though he technically can't do anything about it? I don't want to be the cause of any bad feeling between him and you…."
"You won't…..he's given you the seal of approval."
Tom gave a little laugh "What, did you ask him about me moving in before you even asked me?"
Sybil shook her head "I didn't have to…..hang on a minute, let me get his letter and read it to you." She went into the spare bedroom and returned a couple of minutes later, holding a sheet of thick, expensive looking writing paper.
"The flat is for you to do with as you wish, darling" she recited. "I expect that you will want to make a home with Tom before too long and Mum and I want you to know that we are happy to welcome him into our family." She looked at him pointedly for a moment and smiled.
"I….I'm shocked.."
Sybil continued. "You may want to buy something bigger when you start a family of your own and so you are free to sell the flat and use the money as a deposit on something you buy together."
"Honestly….I'm flabbergasted….I don't know what to say…."
Sybil gave a brief grin "He then also enclosed a document on the importance of pre-nuptial agreements, but I can tell you for a fact that he sent Mary one of those as well, so don't think it's personal."
"He's thought it all through then…."
"Seems to have done, yes."
"He's a step or two ahead of me already, though."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, pre-nuptial agreements…does he have a timeline in mind for all of this?"
Sybil chewed her lower lip and looked at him thoughtfully before he continued.
"Because I'll ask you to marry me when I'm ready to do so, not when he thinks I should…..what are you grinning at?"
Sybil looked coy "So you're going to, are you….propose at some point?"
He took her hand and pulled her down towards him on the sofa. "Possibly…" he murmured. "When I think it's the right time…..and when you're not expecting it in the least…and when I'm absolutely one hundred percent certain that you'll say yes…."
"Oh I don't think you need to worry about that…" replied Sybil as she wrapped her arms around his neck and leant in for a long and loving kiss.
THE END
Coming soon(ish)….
Walls Come Tumbling Down - a sequel to Perfect Delivery, a modern AU.
Just as Sybil Crawley and Tom Branson have settled into their relationship, the lives of their siblings appear to be crumbling….
Featuring Tom/Sybil, Mary/Matthew, Kieran/Gwen, Edie/Aiden (added bonus – some Tom/Matthew bromance)
Thank you all so very much for your support.…I honestly did not expect such an overwhelmingly encouraging and positive reaction to my first foray into fiction after so many years. I've loved writing it and have fallen in love with my version of Tom and Sybil. I thank Mr Fellowes for lending them to me, but I'm not giving them back just yet….