Chapter Twenty-One
Sybil woke and stared around the room, taking everything in. Violet and Isobel left them and Dr. Clarkson picked the baby up and examined it. He cut the cord and sucked mucus from the baby's mouth and nose.
"Why isn't my baby crying. Matthew, make it cry. Please." He voice was weak and croaky, trembling slightly. Matthew just stared at .
"Doctor. What.." But he was cut short by the cries of a baby. Sybil fell back in relief.
"You have a healthy, beautiful little boy. Here you go." He handed the baby to Matthew, who was stunned.
"Sybil, try to sit up. He's okay." He told her. Sybil sat up and - when he sat beside her - said,
"Oh, he's lovely. He's okay?" She asked, but never taking her eyes off her baby.
"Yes. There are no signs of the flu." He said. "You're very lucky. I need to examine you, though. Matthew, would you please get the baby cleaned up. Ask Mrs Crawley to help." Matthew nodded and let Sybil kiss the baby before leaving.
He went downstairs and said,
"I'ts a boy. Will you help me clean him up?" He asked his Mother, who nodded.
"Is Sybil alright?" Robert asked.
"Clarkson's just examining her now but I think so." He admitted.
Isobel bathed the baby and dressed him. He passed him to Matthew and he realised that the baby had Sybil's blue eyes and blonde hair.
"He looks just like you when you were born." Isobel said. "Beautiful."
The baby stared at Matthew and took his finger. Dr. Clarkson came down the stairs.
"How is she?" Matthew asked.
"Weak. She has slight traces of the flu but she's going to be okay. It is slowly leaving her system." He said. They all breathed a sigh of relief. "She wants to see her son, though. Congratulations."
Matthew thanked him and made his way upstairs.
"Here you go." He said, handing her the baby.
"Oh, he really is perfect. What shall we call him?" she asked.
"You choose?" He said.
"Harry. Harry Robert Crawley." She said.
"Yes, that suits him. Perfect." He kissed her then the baby's nose. "Our little Harry."
They stayed that way for hours, parting only for Isobel and Edith to clean up Sybil and Harry to passed around.
Maybe 1918 was going to be okay after all.
. x .
Christmas 1918 was the happiest Downton had seen in a very long time. Harry was now smiling slightly and his biggest fan was his Great Grandmother. He had spent most of the day laying in her lap, staring at her happily.
"I think we have a babysitter for now." Matthew declared as everyone was ready to leave. "Let's go to your old room for a catch-up on sleep. They'll come to get us when we're needed."
"Good idea." She said.
"I love you." He told her. "Merry Christmas."
"The same to you." She said.
. x .
At just after midnight, Violet decided she would go home.
"Where's Sybil? I need to give this baby back to her. I shan't be taking him with me." She declared.
"Pass him to me. I shall take him up. Goodnight Mama." Robert said.
He looked at his Grandson and felt immense pride. Matthew and Sybil wouldn't have any problems with an heir, not like he and Cora had.
He saw Sybil at the top of the stairs.
"Pass him here Papa. He can come to bed with us." She said, taking her Son and kissing him.
"You aren't having a Nurse then?" He asked.
"No. We want to do it all ourselves. What's wrong with that?" She asked.
"Nothing, my dear." He declared. "Absolutely nothing."
. x .
"I am glad your Father isn't annoyed we don't want a Nurse." Matthew said as Sybil placed Harry between them.
"As am I. But, it's up to us. Nobody else has a say." She said.
"It's strange, Molesley not being here. What a way to die though, of that flu." He said sadly.
"Well, I'm awfully glad it wasn't any of us three." She told him seriously.
"As am I." He said.
"Here's to a night of no sleep." She said.
"Here here." He agreed.
. x .