As usual I don't own Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes does. Please see Pride and Prejudice from chapter 58 to the end and North and South chapters 51 and 52 if you want to read what I have written that Mary reads. They can be found on Online Literature. I don't own them either. I like doing literary comparisons. I've recently uploaded a oneshot for Upstairs Downstairs please read it and review it. It is called Daisy and Edward Come to Tea.

I hope this is what you've all been waiting for. The Wedding

Please rate and rewiew.

Chapter 14 The Wedding Day

Mary's POV

I couldn't sleep that I was certain. I woke early and stared at my wedding dress that hung on my wardrobe door. It was 5am. 6 hours till I became Matthew's. I looked at my books on my bedside table. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I decided to read the last few chapters of each book as the main protagonists had their happy ending. Chapter 51 and Chapter 52 in North and South and Chapters 58 to 61 in Pride and Prejudice. The stories were so similar and yet so different. As I was reading I had fantasies that Matthew was my Mr Darcy and Mr Thornton but he wasn't he was Matthew. My Matthew. The one and only Matthew. Darcy and Thornton was dark. Matthew was light. The only similarity was their beauty and yet as I read all three merged together. Before I knew it, it was 7am. I wondered what Matthew was doing.

Matthew's POV

My wedding day. I thought I'd never get there. My uniform was hung on the wardrobe door. I would be wearing it for the first time since the war had ended and I was still in the wheelchair. Molesley had taken it out. I'd put on a slight amount of weight since the war. I put it down to Mrs Patmore and Mrs Bird's cooking. Most of it was on muscles I didn't know I possessed especially in my feet which was down to driving. I decided to go for a bike ride to clear my head. I didn't bother Molesley he had enough to do that day. I was glad that John, Madeline, Peter, Tobias and Fiona were staying at the 'Big House' so I could have my last night as a bachelor in peace and quiet something that I rarely had when Tobias, Fiona, John and Madeline were about. I put on a collarless shirt and trousers with some thin shoes. My bike was stored in a small out building in the garden. It felt good to ride. My hair flopped around a little. I rode to the church and then round the village and back to the house. It calmed me and made me realise how much I wanted 11am to come. Seeing my suitcases in the hall packed for my trip made me sad and happy at the same time as I was going to spend the next month in solitude with my wife. My wife. I never thought that Mary would be my wife. I hoped that I wouldn't let her down. She of all people didn't deserve to be let down. My marriage to Mary would be different to the one I would have had with Lavinia but it wasn't the day to dwell on what could have been it was a day to focus on what was to come. I walked up to my room or our room as it would be when we returned. We'd decided to follow her parents and not have separate bedrooms. Molesley was in there sorting out my uniform. I ate my breakfast of jam, toast and an orange. Molesley was placing my two medals onto my dress jacket. I wasn't vain about them. My wedding day was the only day that I would wear them in public. I would keep them safe and when the time was right either hand them down to my children if I had any or give them to a museum. It was time to prepare.

Mary's POV

Sally came in with my breakfast tray at 7:30. Anna was sleeping in the room where she had had her wedding night with Bates. It would be strange for her to be waited on and dressed. I'd asked Edith and Anna to come into my room to dress. I'd decided to let them leave their hair down. This was an unfussy country wedding. I looked at my engagement ring and smiled. I ate my breakfast of tea and toast. There would be no breakfast in the dining room today because of the wedding. I wasn't hungry but I was nervous like any bride so I forced myself to eat. I was happy. I was going to marry the man I loved. I went over to my dressing table and stared into the mirror. Many a time I had sat down and stared into the mirror thinking of Matthew. I unconsciously started to un braid my hair taking my time with every strand. Soon my hair was loose around my shoulders. It felt nice. Not since I was 14 when it was decided that I should pin my hair up had I stared at my hair in the way I had now. I was feeling girlish and while looking at my hair I decided that as I was letting Anna and Edith leave their hair down. People were cutting their hair so it was always down. I knew something was certain. I would never cut my hair.

"Lady Mary?" I heard Anna's voice. She got me out of my trance.

"Anna I'm sorry I was daydreaming. Shall we get dressed?"

"Can I suggest that we wait for Lady Edith?"

"Of course we shall. Now against convention let me brush your hair." I got up and Anna sat down. I took the hair brush and started brushing Anna's thin blonde hair. It felt nice to do something for the woman who had done so much for me. Edith came in and Anna brushed her hair then Edith brushed mine. It felt good to have my two bridesmaids around me. I felt like I knew them better than before. I was ashamed to say that about my own sister. Anna slipped on her bridesmaids dress. She looked beautiful. I could tell she was happy but hurting inside as Bates wouldn't see her in it. I would see to it that Anna had a photograph to take to Bates of her in her dress. I would also see to it that Edith had a photograph with Peter. Edith looked pretty along with Anna. She was no longer the plain Crawley sister. As I put my dress on I felt like I was walking on clouds. It was perfect. I couldn't ask for anything more. We laced each other's hair with poppies and daisies which matched my bouquet. Poppies were significant to all of us but they were my favourite flower.

"Mary you look beautiful. Matthew won't be able to keep his eyes and hands off you." Edith said as she finished my makeup.

"Mr Crawley is a lucky man." Anna added.

"Thank you both. You all look beautiful. There can't be two more beautiful bridesmaids in the empire." I said. There was a knock on the door. It was Papa.

"My what a trio you all make. You are all simply lovely. Anna, Bates would be proud of you. Edith I can see men fighting over you. I have noticed Peter Applewhite paying you attention. You will be fighting them off. Mary I am very happy for you and Matthew. He won't be the only man vying for your attention. You maybe marrying but I am not losing a daughter I am gaining a son. It is nearly time to go. Your mama has already left with the ever increasing Sybil, Tom, John and Madeline, Tobias and Fiona and Peter. The others stayed with your grandmother last night so I hope they haven't killed each other yet. Your Granny and Grandmamma have a hard time getting on with each other just being in the same family let alone the same house for a few nights. It is just us. I've asked the servants to make their way down as well." Papa said. I laughed at the thought of Granny and Grandmamma killing each other metaphorically and literally. Anna secured my veil with two combs that were a present from Carson. Papa offered me his arm and we descended the stairs. We all got into the car and I was secretly glad that Edith wasn't driving. After 4 years and rescuing Sybil I still didn't trust her in the driving seat. I could hear the bells ringing from the church as soon as we entered the village. My heart jumped as we pulled up outside and Papa handed me, Anna and Edith out of the car. They straightened my dress and adjusted my veil. Peter and Tobias were there to greet us. They took Edith and Anna's hands respectively and Papa said

"Are you ready Mary?" My stomach churned as I said "Yes I am." We then entered the church as I looked at my destiny.

Matthew's POV

I heard Lohengrin start to play. I looked to John who patted his pocket as reassurance that he had the rings. I looked down the aisle to see Mary walking in on Robert's arm. She looked exquisite. She was at angel. I beamed at her. My nerves disappeared as I looked at her. Luckily the aisle was short. Robert placed Mary's hand in mine and the vicar began.

The service was over quite quickly and Mary and I were announced as man and wife. We signed the register with Peter, Edith, Anna and Tobias standing as witnesses. I looked at my wife. Mary was my wife after all this time. We made our way to the waiting car. I could hear the raucous applause but all I thought about was Mary.

"Are you happy?" I asked as we set off back to Downton. I'd noticed Peter smiling as he helped Edith into the carriage.

"Yes. Very. Are you happy?"

"More than you'll ever know." I remembered my task for the reception. If we were to get to York that night we couldn't stay past 4pm and it was 12:30 when we returned back to the house. I had to allow 30 minutes for Mary, Anna and I to change clothes. We had 3 hours to circulate and eat. I never ate a lot especially if I was driving. The next month would test my abilities both as a driver and as a conversationalist. I just hoped that Mary had got better with her navigational skills after that trip around the villages with John and Madeline. The food was served and we cut the cake. I wanted the dancing to begin. I'd claimed Mary for the 1st dance, Anna for the 2nd, Edith for the 3rd, Cousin Cora for the 4th, Mother for the 5th, Cousin Violet for the 6th, Martha for the 7th, Fiona for the 8th then, Madeline for the 9th then, the last one I would endeavour to dance with Mary again. I didn't know if my feet would be able to cope with the drive to York and dancing a full 10 dance set but, then using my new position as Mary's husband I could demand she give me a foot massage when we got to the hotel. I was feeling wicked. I'd asked Anna to slip the parcel of the first set of directions and map on top of her 'going away' clothes.

Next up- Departing for the Honeymoon.