A big thank you to Yankeecountess who helped me recall a detail from earlier in this story that I couldn't find! Thanks girl!

Also a huge thank you to everyone on Tumblr for your support the past few days, its been rough and im so thankful for each and every one of you who boost me and make me feel whole and happy. This fandom rocks!

And whoever nominated me for a Highclere Award…HOLY SMOKES BATMAN! You get a giant cake with your name on it in chocolate icing….unless you don't like chocolate….then you can have vanilla…but vanilla sucks so maybe ill make you eat the chocolate instead…. :)

Enjoy this one! Its for all of you who have patiently awaiting this meetup.

Sybil was pacing the entry way. Dinner was set to be at seven, but she had told Tom to come early for drinks before they went into the dining room. She knew she would certainly be grateful for a drink to calm her nerves.

The past week had flown by. She had been teaching long hours every day, last night she had barely been able to get a shower in before she was falling asleep. Today had been spent in the studio choreographing a new piece she was planning on setting on the older class next week. It felt good to be creating something again, something happy, which is how she had felt much of the week.

Tom had started his new job, gotten his first article and would be a seen in print by next week if the editor liked his work. It was a big step for him, and for them. They were still waiting to hear back on the house they were planning on renting, but Sybil was confident they would get it.

Now here they were about to embark on the very first big step in their relationship. He was going to meet her family. She had no fantasies about tonight going easily. She knew what a handful her family could be and how hard they were to impress, especially after what had happened. She knew Tom was charming and polite but she couldn't help but worry about what tonight would bring. At least Mary could be counted as an ally. She had told Sybil earlier she would try to act as a buffer if conversation went in a less than ideal direction.

Sybil heard a quiet but confident knock on the door and immediately bounced over to open it. Wrenching open the heavy wooden door, Sybil caught her first glimpse of Tom, adjusting his jacket while he waited patiently on the doorstep. He looked up at the sound of the door opening, straightening his body in a formal posture she hadn't seen him adopt since the first day she had met him.

He caught his greeting in his mouth when he noticed it was her behind the door, smiling widely at his attempt to appear very posh. He had a new suit that Sybil hadn't seen him wear, and suspected it belonged to Thomas. It was dark grey with a light blue shirt underneath. He had added a sensible tie that completed the outfit, making him look like one of the business men her father sat with in crowded boardrooms, discussing grand plans.

She couldn't contain the giggle that escaped, picturing him with a pair of dark framed glasses and a stack of important papers in a briefcase while he crunched imaginary numbers in an imaginary calculator. He raised one eyebrow at her, relaxing his posture and suddenly becoming her Tom again.

"Something amusing?" he asked, looking teasingly affronted.

She collected herself and leaned against the door, looking him up and down to indicate what had her so amused. He looked down at his attire and sighed.

"Is it too much? I just wanted to…I don't know…"

She smiled at him lovingly, "No darling, I think you look perfect. I like that blue with your eyes."

"That's what Thomas said too." He chuckled. She had been right then, they did belong to his best friend. She looked down at her own dress, it was a long soft fabric that swished when she walked, in a light brown that accented his suit very well. She thought they would make a handsome pair.

"Ready for this?" she asked with a gesture of her head to the direction of the family, eagerly awaiting his arrival.

He straightened back into his formal stance and saluted her mockingly, "Lead the way milady."

She laughed at him again before inviting him inside. He looked around the entry way, as if he hadn't been there before. But she guessed this was under very different circumstances. It was one thing to take in your rich employer's home and right it off, but when you were entering your girlfriend's parent's home, it was another thing entirely. He was looking at one particular painting of an older relative from sometime around the turn of century, poised in an intimidating stance, looking disapprovingly down from his high-backed seat above the foyer fireplace.

She saw that Tom was looking unsure of himself in his surroundings. She reached over and grasped his hand reassuringly. He squeezed back as she led him through to the living room. Taking a deep breath she felt much calmer with him near, more ready to face whatever happened and she hoped he was feeling better as well. She felt him take a deep breath as well before stepping through the living room door to face her waiting relatives.

Mary and her Mother were sat on one sofa, discussing plans for the next charity ball while Granny had taken up residence in her usual chair with the loud floral pattern. Her father was standing behind them at the portable bar Mr. Carson always rolled in before dinners that included Granny as she liked to start the evening with drinks. He was pouring what looked like scotch into a short glass as Granny was leaned back, probably commenting on his incorrect pouring technique or something just as trivial.

Mary noticed their entrance first, taking in Tom's clothing with an approving smile directed at Sybil. Sybil resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Mary's superficiality but she couldn't deny that having them accept him in whatever capacity was a win for them, even if it was just for the brand of suit he had on. She cleared her throat and announced their arrival.

"This is Tom. Tom this is my father, my mother, my sister Mary and Granny." She said, her voice shaky with nerves.

Her father was closest to them so he placed the decanter back on the cart and walked over to them, extending his hand out. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Tom"

Tom dropped her hand to shake her father's as he said in a surprisingly strong and charming voice, "I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Crawley. Thank you for opening your home to me, I'm very grateful."

Her father looked satisfied by his response and replied, "No need for such formalities, call me Robert."

He stepped back and returned to the drink cart, "Please have a seat, can I get you something to drink?"

"Whatever you have out is fine." Tom said.

"Scotch it is then. Sybil? Usual white wine?" Robert asked his youngest.

"Yes papa, thank you." She said, trying to infuse her words with the gratitude she felt at his effort to support her in this and his ability to remove the tension in the room by a few well-placed words.

They took the empty sofa across from her Granny's seat as her father prepared their drinks. Her grandmother was looking at Tom intensely and Sybil was wondering if she had spoken too soon about the tension in the room when her mouth opened. "Sybil tells us you're a writer, Mr….?"

His confidence wavered for a moment before he replied, "Branson, Tom Branson. Um…Yes Ma'am, I just got hired on at the local paper actually, I've got an article coming out next week."

She narrowed her eyes and Sybil suppressed a groan at that familiar look.

"The local paper? Well that can't be very exciting for a young man like yourself. What could there possibly be to write about around here? There can't be that much opportunity this far out from the city. Wouldn't you do better writing for something in a larger city perhaps? Something with more potential for someone so young?"

"It's a good starting position, a good place to learn. There's a lot more of a chance to write about real people and real life further from the politics of a bigger city, which is where my passion is, the people. Plus, there's plenty of opportunity if you work for it, I could possibly be editor someday." He replied, nervously, running his hands down his pants as he spoke. Sybil ached to grip his hand to help provide him with some measure of support but didn't dare when Granny had her hawk eyes out.

"Oh, well editor of a local paper. Hmm yes, that is something." Granny said and she could feel Tom tense next to her, catching onto the condescending tone just as Sybil had. Throwing caution to the wind she reached out and grasped Tom's sweaty hand in hers, clutching it tightly as she looked over to Mary, pleading with her eyes to intervene before it got any worse.

Mary placed her wine glass on the table and asked, "So Tom, you're from Ireland? How exciting that must be to grow up in such a beautiful place." Sybil mouthed a thank you as she felt Tom relax slightly.

"Well it spent most of my life in the city, I didn't get to see much of the beauty of the countryside until I got much older and started exploring on my own. I think that's why I enjoy it out here so much, I spent my whole life in the bustle of the city so it's nice to be able to really relax and enjoy life at a reasonable pace."

Her father had finished making their drinks, delivering them with a wink at Sybil and taking the chair on the other side of Granny as he listened to the conversation.

"What kind of work did your parents do?" Cora spoke for the first time since they entered the room. She seemed like she was silently observing, looking for something to set off the alarms waiting on stand-by in her mind.

Tom sipped his drink and said, "My father was in the army and my mother did a bunch of odd jobs when I was growing up. Laundry, cleaning, cooking, a bit of everything. She always took me with her when I was young, she said she wanted to make sure her boys were raised with an idea of how to keep a home, that they couldn't rely on the belief that woman ran the house, not anymore." Tom laughed and Sybil couldn't help but smile, imagining a small boy, helping to fold laundry while his mother looked on encouragingly, telling him how strong and independent women were allowed to be.

Mary and her father joined in with a light laugh while Cora sat silent and Granny pursed her mouth in disapproval.

"That's very true. I'm not sure all of my girls know how to run a washing machine on their own." Her father said.

"What's the point, when almost everything I own is dry-clean only anyways?" Mary said primly.

Sybil did roll her eyes at that. "Well I do, and I'm sure Edith does as well."

"Edith is your other sister?" Tom asked Sybil quietly for confirmation.

It was Granny who answered, "Yes, but she's a lesbian now and finds the country lacking a certain….flair. She spends most of her time in London with…oh goodness, now I've forgotten the homosexual girl's name…it's something very odd isn't it? Iggy? Ignatius? I can't recall."

Tom almost chocked on his drink while Robert grinned at his mother's bluntness. Sybil giggled with Mary as Cora answered, "Imogen."

"Oh yes, that's right. See, frightfully odd name."

Tom had recovered and was looking at Sybil in panic, wondering how to respond to that. She shook her head, indicating he need not answer when Granny got going like that.

Just at that moment Mr. Carson entered and announced, "Dinner is ready sir."

"Just in time." Her father said to Tom conspiratorially. Tom chuckled in response, while Sybil beamed at how easily accepting her father could be. "Thank you Carson. Shall we?"

As the family stood to enter through to the dining room Sybil caught Mr. Carson staring at Tom rather intently. She saw the moment recognition kicked in and she felt her pulse rise in panic.

Tom had told her earlier that week that he would rather her family not know that he was the man hired as her driver, if they could avoid it. He didn't want to be seen as taking advantage of her in any way. She was supposed to be under his protection, funded by her father and he didn't want what happened between them to be seen as him seducing her in some unseemly way, for money or position.

They both knew that nothing like that had occurred but they could both see how some could view it that way. He didn't think they could keep it hidden forever but he wanted her family to know him, and to know his intentions towards her before it came out. Looking at Mr. Carson's shocked expression now, she could see their plan falling about their ears.

It was already a struggle getting them to accept Tom into the house in the first place, she could just imagine the chaos that would unfold if her mother were to discover truly how they began. Tom was walking ahead of her, Mary behind her. Sybil grabbed Mary, pulling her to her as everyone was engaged in conversation in front of her, Tom talking politely to her father about what tours Tom's father had been in.

"Mr. Carson met Tom! He knows he was my driver! Mary, what am I going to do? This is just what mother needs to write him off completely before he's even been given a chance!" Sybil whispered to Mary as they approached the dining room.

Mary looked thoughtful for a moment before pacing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Calm down dear, Ill speak to him. Carson could never deny me anything, even now. Ill handle it." Sybil hugged her sister before Mary called out, "I'll be right in. I just forgot something in the other room." She rushed back into the living room where Mr. Carson would be putting away the drink cart.

Her father indicated he heard her with a wave of his hand as he ushered the family in through the doorway. Tom looked at her questioningly but she just shook her head. If he hadn't picked up on the situation she didn't want to burden him when he was looking more comfortable with every minute.

The table was outfitted with long candlesticks, bathing the room in a soft glow. Plates were laid out at each seat. As they sat down, Tom to Sybil's right, he grabbed her hand underneath the table. She smiled at him secretly beneath her lashes as she placed her napkin on her lap. Her father sat at one end of the table with her grandmother occupying the seat of honor at the other end. Her mother was seated directly across from Tom and Mary rushed in to sit across from Sybil right as Alfred entered carrying a tray with plates of salad.

Mary gave Sybil a slight nod, and Sybil felt her body relax in relief. Tom looked at her again, imploring her with his eyes to tell him what was wrong but she brushed him off again, squeezing his hand before reaching for her wine glass.

The conversation turned to business as Mary discussed plans for the charity ball while Tom sat quietly nodding as was needed. The salad was replaced by a fish course with a lemon caper sauce. Tom seemed awkward with how to deal with Alfred and the serving dish but Alfred just smiled encouragingly as Tom dished out his own portion. Her mother had such a look of distaste that when Sybil caught her eye she gave her a questioning look. Pleading with her to play nice. She huffed in annoyance and straightening her back, nose in the air, pretending she wasn't just caught being rude.

"So…Tom, How did you two meet again? I'm a little vague on the details." Her mother asked across the table. Tom wiped his mouth with his napkin before taking a drink of water before replying.

"Well, I was staying with a friend in town while I was doing some research for a piece to add to my portfolio. I just so happened to be doing some interviews with the local arts community when I met Sybil at the dance studio. We got to talking and I begged her to let me take her out for a bit to eat and I guess, the rest is history." He smiled at the table.

Sybil was smiling as well, but hers was more forced as she had noticed Mr. Carson entering just before Tom answered. He was standing behind her father's chair, refilling water and looking at Tom with such indignation. She feared he would say something but his old school training wouldn't allow him to speak out of turn during a family dinner, she did dread that he would talk to her father later though.

She caught his eye when he moved around to fill her mother's glass and she put the saddest face on she could manage, appealing to his hidden softer side when it came to her and her sisters, hoping he would go easy on her and keep their secret. He looked at her sternly before he caught Mary's look as well.

Against one he could remain firm if he wished, but against two Crawley sisters he was doomed and he knew it. He inclined his head in agreement that he would keep quiet but his look still indicated that he didn't approve. She smiled widely at him.

The rest of the dinner continued without incident, until dessert. Somehow they got on the subject of politics and society, her father and Tom discussing something that had just occurred over seas in America when her grandmother mentioned, "Oh yes, weren't the younger Greys going to travel with some of the royal party when they vacationed there later this year?"

Sybil's molten chocolate cake turned to ice in her mouth as she realized who her grandmother was talking about.

"I think Richard mentioned something about that." her father replied dismissively, trying to change the subject before it got too intense for Sybil.

"Do you still see much of Rose dear? You two were so close while you were with Larry." Her Granny persisted. They had thought at the time to spare her from more of the gruesome details of her break-up, but she had gathered enough to know that it ended messy she just didn't know how truly messy it was.

"Um…no Granny, I don't." Sybil said quietly, trying not to remember the last time she saw Rose while out shopping that first day with Tom and had a panic attack.

"Oh, well that's unfortunate. She was always such a sweet girl, I thought you two really got along. I guess that's what happens though when relationships end, you never do keep the same circles afterwards." She finished with a raised eyebrow towards Sybil and Tom. She was sure she heard an insult towards Tom in there somewhere but she was feeling the panic start to rise in the back of her neck, the air whooshing through her ears, she couldn't focus.

Just as she felt her vision start to blur she felt Tom's hand on her arm, rubbing soothingly as he whispered low so no one else could hear, "Its ok, love, your safe. I'm right here."

She looked over to find him, head bent, looking at her with love and concern as he emphasized his breathing. She focused on the rise and fall of his shoulders as she controlled her own breathing, stopping the panic in its tracks. She began to notice her heart rate slowing and her hearing return, catching bits of a conversation between Mary and her grandmother about her aunt and her newest beau. She was thankful Mary had noticed what was happening and distracted Granny before she caught onto the effect her words had on her youngest granddaughter.

Tom smiled at her encouragingly and said, "That's it. Your fine. Everything is ok." His hand moved from her arm to thread his fingers through hers as she held tightly to him like an anchor.

She reached to take a sip of her water and caught her mother staring at her in disbelief. She had caught the entire exchange between them, saw how deftly Tom had comforted her and how much trust she put into him. It was like her mother was seeing her for the first time in months. She saw how much progress she had made since she had arrived broken and weak to the house. Her mother turned her head to stare at Tom, a look of admiration on her shocked face. She ducked her head, Sybil suspected, to hide the tears she saw gathering in her eyes moments before.

Something relaxed inside of Sybil, watching her mother finally recognize who Sybil was now, in this moment, and the role Tom played in that. He didn't realize, talking with her father again as he remained holding her hand, that he had just won her mother over. He had won them all over it appeared. Even Granny had called him Tom as she left, making sure to tell him to notify her if he ever wished to do an article on something worthwhile, like an interview with a very "witty widow". They had all laughed as she departed, Sybil breathing a sigh of relief that the night was coming to close, finally.

Her father had invited him to join their charity cricket team, as they needed one more before the match next month which had Tom agreeing enthusiastically while her father smiled. A moment later Tom leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I don't know how to play cricket!"

Sybil giggled and whispered right back, "Well you better learn! Papa always wins and he won't thank you for dragging the team down." He gulped guiltily in response, probably wishing he hadn't agreed so quickly.

Mary had wished him a good night, and quietly offered to call Matthew and have him show Tom a few basics of the game if he needed it. Sybil made a note to ask her sister later if she and the family lawyer were dating again but chose to simply give her a questioning look to which Mary just shrugged. Oh, they would be talking later!

Her mother's goodbye was by far the most surprising. She had hugged Tom unexpectedly in the foyer as Sybil was walking him out. She had whispered something to him that Sybil couldn't hear but Tom pulled back and replied, "Of course. Always."

Her mother had gave him a gentle pat on the face and said, "Good. We'll see you soon then."

He smiled widely and said, "Yes, Ma'am."

"Call me Cora, please." Before she walked back into the living room, squeezing Sybil's hand as she passed.

Sybil looked at Tom in shock. He just chuckled and shrugged, not giving her mother away. She walked him the rest of the way out, following him out and closing the door behind her as he walked towards his waiting car. The sky was clear ad Sybil could make out all of the familiar constellations, marveling at how beautiful the sky was this far from the city. Tom was leaned back against his car, his feet braced apart so that he was nearer to Sybil's height as he pulled her to him, lacing his fingers with both of her hands.

"That went….well?" he asked laughing.

"I guess it does feel like that a bit. Good but…it's always hard to tell with them. I think they really like you though."

"What's not to like?" she smacked his chest at his cocky reply.

"Seriously though, you did very well." She said, playing with his tie.

"Good, cause I felt like an idiot about half the time. Tell Alfred I'm sorry about the gravy, I really didn't mean to catch his sleeve with the spoon, I just couldn't sit and serve myself like that, it was such an awkward angle." He said, recalling the beef and potatoes and how he accidently got some on Alfred's shirt. No one had noticed and Alfred covered it well to limit his embarrassment which Sybil was very grateful for.

"I will. Papa was very charmed. An invite to the cricket team after one dinner? I think that's a record. Mary had Matthew around at least three times before he was asked."

"Then I better learn how to play the damned game hadn't I?" he groaned dramatically. She laughed at the situation he had put himself and excited to know that her family truly did accept him as much as they could. She would tell them about her plans to move in with him, possibly before the cricket match if things continued to go well.

She reached her arms to loop around his neck as she leaned her face into him, running her nose along his before saying against his lips, "Thank you, for everything tonight." Her breath whispering over his lips before he closed the distance between the, claiming her lips. She ran her fingers through the soft hair at the back of his head, her nails running along his scalp as she felt him drag her more fully against him. She could feel the hard planes of his body against hers as his arms wrapped around her. She pulled back, gasping in breath as she rested her forehead against his, breathing him in as he calmed his own. She continued running her hands through his hair as his hand rubbed soothingly down her back.

"Do you know how much I love you?" he whispered, eyes closed.

"As much as I love you?" she asked. She saw his mouth curve up in a smile as he pulled his head back and looked into her eyes.

"More, Mo shíorghrá." He said placing a chaste kiss against her lips, his hands framing her face lovingly.

She smiled widely as she stepped away from him, watching as he got into the car and pulled away, one hand placed at her heart as she waved at him with the other.

She didn't know at the time but an uptight house manager stood watching from an upstairs window. He had been passing by and had wanted to glimpse the pair to see what measure of man had been able to break through to Sybil when they had all been so hopeless in the effort.

He recalled Sybil as a child, so open, so caring and so free with her love. She had made sure everyone was looked after but had never had someone look after her so completely, with louder more demanding siblings around, not much attention was left to devote to the youngest Crawley daughter. And then she had returned after all the horribleness with Mr. Grey a shell of the carefree child she had once been.

This past week though he had caught glimpses of that girl, the one with the wide smile for anyone who passed, who picked flowers from the garden to brighten his room when he had been taken ill. It was like she was being awoken and brought back into the light. And it had seemed much of that to be due to this newest addition to her life.

He had been distrustful of the young man's attention on her tonight after realizing who he was. He was fully prepared to speak with Mr. Crawley tonight, even after Mary had begged him not to. But as he watched, the young man stroked her hair sweetly, kissing her lovingly before leaving. He handled her with such care, so delicately, like she was his whole world. He recalled just how he had spoken to her in the dining room during dessert and the complete trust she had placed in him, and how well he had made her whole again. Tears glistened in his aged eyes at the pure love he witnessed between the two young people below.

He changed direction, heading to his own sleeping quarters rather than disturbing his employer, confident that the young lady was in good hands.

Mo shíorghrá –my eternal love