NOTE: I posted two chapters on Sunday, but second of the two which covers Mary having the baby has only 1/3 of the normal amount of reads. If you have not read Chapter 25, you may want to read it before you read this chapter.

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More Than Duty Chapter 26

"Sergeant Stevens!" Matthew yelled as he returned to the trench with the body of a wounded soldier slung over his shoulders.

"Sir?" Stevens responded quickly.

"I want every wounded man taken down the line before it starts to get dark. We've bloody well lost enough of them for one day," Matthew ordered, handing the wounded man off to the medics. Wiping the sweat from his head, he walked to his bunker. They had so lost many men, but the damn battle that had raged on for months seemed to be winding down. Four and a half months of hell, of death, for a few bloody miles of advancing?

God, his throat was parched and he desperately needed a drink. At that moment, Davis entered, caring a pitter, cloth, and a telegram.

"When did this arrive?" Matthew asked, reaching for the telegram first.

"Sir?" Davis asked as Matthews face lit up reading the message.

"Good news. We will be relieved today by the Devons. The men can finally get some rest, and I've got a few days leave coming to me," Matthew said.

"Crawley, did you hear?" Ned yelled as he came in waving his telegram.

"Yes, finally a leave," Matthew said, pulling a picture of Elizabeth from his pocket. One could have easily guessed that the picture that Mary had sent him only three months ago was several years old from the wear it had received in that time. Not a day had gone by when Matthew had not had it in his pocket and pulled it out several times a day to look upon the only image he had ever seen of his daughter.

"What'll you do with your leave sir?" Davis asked.

"What do you think he'll do?" Ned said with a laugh for any fool would know exactly what Matthew's plans were.

"Head north naturally. There are two ladies I am eager to see," Matthew said as he stared at the photo he had already committed to memory.

"No stop over in London to remind yourself what real food taste like?" Davis asked.

"Not when these ladies have been waiting months for me," Matthew said, knowing he needed to see his girls much more than he needed a decent meal, although he certainly wouldn't pass up some real food once once he had seen his girls. "Davis, send a telegram to Downton immediately telling them to expect me the day after tomorrow."

"Wake up Crawley," Ned said the next morning as he smacked the wall near Matthew's head.

"What?" Matthew demanded as he jumped out of bed.

"The Devons have arrived early. If you hurry, you can make the morning train and with any luck, you can be early this evening," Ned said, beaming that he was able to bring Matthew the good news that he would be able to get home a full day early and have a little extra time with his family. Matthew was on is feet immediately cause Ned to laugh as he set out to help his friend gather his belongings so he could make the train in time.

Matthew relaxed as soon as he settled into his seat, realizing that in only a matter of hours he would be home. When he reached London, he had a half hour before his next train and wondered if perhaps he should telegram or call home to let them know he would be arriving a day early. No, he decided, he would rather surprise Mary. He did some quick calculations and realized that he would be arriving home just before dinner. Perhaps he could catch her unaware as she was dressing for dinner. He couldn't help smiling at the idea.

Arriving in Ripon, he walked swiftly to the Abbey.

"My lord, we didn't expect you until tomorrow," Carson said, attempting to cover his surprise at seeing Matthew when he opened the door.

"I had a bit of luck and was able to get away a day early," Matthew said as Carson took his bag. Glancing around the entrance, he saw no sign of his wife. "Where is Mary?"

"She is upstairs in nursery putting lady Elizabeth to sleep," Carson replied.

"Mary is putting the baby to sleep?" Matthew asked, very pleasantly surprised that Mary didn't leave such a task to the nanny.

"She does every night my lord. She ordered dinner service be moved back by an hour so that she is able to do so and ended the ringing of the dressing gong for fear that it could disturb Lady Elizabeth's rest," Carson informed him.

"Where is the nursery?" Matthew asked, eager to see his wife and daughter but realizing that he had no idea where the nursery was located.

"Allow me to show you my lord," Carson said, motioning Matthew to follow him.

"No thank you Carson. I'd like to go on my own. Just tell me where it is," Matthew replied.

"Up the staircase, to your left, the sixth door on your right," Carson informed him.

"Thank you Carson," Matthew said, as he hurried in the direction Carson had suggested. He was nearly to the nursery door when Sybil rounded the corner. Sybil's jaw dropped momentarily, but as she was about to greet him, Matthew brought a finger to her lips, nodding toward the nursery door. Sybil, realizing his meaning, gave him a conspiratorial grin and retreated down the hallway silently.

He eased the door open, taking care not to make a sound and stepped inside. The sight before him took his breath away. Mary had her back to him as she kneeled on the door with the baby in front of her. She had the baby in a sitting position with Mary's assistance.

"Okay Elizabeth, let's try this one more time," Mary said gently as she moved her hands away slowly. The baby grinned at her for a moment before promptly toppling over, causing Mary to laugh when the little girl laughed at finding herself laying on her back. "Alright darling, that is enough practice for tonight. You will be able to sit up on your own soon enough," Mary said, lifting the baby into her arms and kissing her cheek as the baby laughed and reached for Mary's hair. "Tomorrow is a big day my darling. You finally get to meet your Papa, and we both want to look our very best for him, so perhaps you could do Mama a favor and let me sleep tonight."

"Perhaps she will let you sleep tonight my darling, but I can't promise the same," Matthew whispered, having snuck up behind her.

Mary startled at the sound of his voice and the warmth of his breath against her neck. Spinning around, she saw him standing there smiling at her. "You're here," she gasped one of his arms came around her waist and the other one reached out cautiously toward Elizabeth.

"My God Mary, she is beautiful," Matthew whispered as he softly touched her cheek, terrified that she would start crying. The little girl briefly hid her head against Mary's shoulder, but was soon peaking out to look at Matthew.

"Don't be afraid, she will warm up to soon," Mary encouraged him as she kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "Everything is already Elizabeth, it is perfect really. This is your Papa," Mary murmured to their baby as she felt Matthew's lips brush softly against her forehead. When Elizabeth reached her hand up and touched her mother's face, she seemed surprised when Matthew kiss her hand, but after a moment she smiled at him. When his baby smiled at him for the first time, Matthew let go of a breath he had not realized he was holding thinking.

"Would you like to hold her?" Mary asked.

"Do you think she would let me?" Matthew asked. Mary just smiled at him, and passed him their daughter. Elizabeth looked a little unsure about being passed off to a stranger and looked toward her mother who stroked her hair and continued to tell her that all was well. Pretty soon, the baby seemed to relax and turned her gaze back toward Matthew.

"Talk to her. She likes that," Mary gently suggested.

"Hello my darling girl. You cannot know how happy I am to finally see you," Matthew said, careful to keep his voice soft so as not to frighten her.

"Sway a little - she likes movement," Mary prompted. She didn't want to be overbearing, but she so desperately wanted this first meeting between father and daughter to go well.

Matthew followed her suggestion and soon Elizabeth was smiling at him. "What a beautiful girl you are," Matthew said. He continued to sway and talk to the baby as Mary looked on until Elizabeth yawned and snuggled in against his shoulder making his heart melt. Matthew looked toward Mary wondering what he should do as the baby's eyes closed and her head rested against his shoulder.

"Keep swaying for a few moments to be sure she is fast asleep," Mary said, moving in closer to wrap an arm around Matthew's waist. Laying her head against his chest, Mary softly rubbed Elizabeth's back as she hummed a lullabye. Matthew closed his eyes wondering how less than a day ago he was in hell and yet he had never felt closer to heaven as he did in this moment when he was holding his wife and daughter. They stayed like that for several minutes until Mary softly informed him that Elizabeth was safely asleep. Matthew kissed Elizabeth gently before allowing Mary to lift her from his arms and lay her in her crib.

"She is perfect," Matthew whispered in amazement as he looked down at the baby as she slept.

"She really is," Mary agreed.

"And you are perfect with her," Matthew added, pulling Mary into his arms.

Mary laughed softy at his assertation. "Oh I am far from perfect with her. You just haven't had a chance to observe my mistakes yet."

"What mistakes?"

"Well, she likes to be lifted high in the air. I did that once too quickly after her feeding, and she got sick all over me."

Matthew laughed briefly as he brought a hand up to caress Mary's face. "Little mistakes like that are bound to happen, but really Mary, you are perfect with her, such a wonderful mother."

Mary smiled at his compliment and leaned in to kiss him properly. Matthew pulled her closer to feel her body flush against his as he deepened their kiss. When he finally pulled his lips away, he leaned his forehead against hers. "I suppose we ought dress for dinner, but honestly sitting across from you counting the minutes until we can be alone is about the last thing I want to do right now," he confessed.

"What is the first thing you want to do right now?," Mary couldn't help but ask even though look in his eyes gave away the answer.

"All sorts of things," he replied, pulling her back to him.

"Well then," Mary said as she swallowed hard, eager for all sorts of things herself. "I suppose we could skip dinner."

Taking her hand, Matthew led her from the nursery, down the hall, and to their bedroom. When they entered, Anna was waiting inside to help Mary dress for dinner.

"Anna, I am afraid Lord Grantham and I will be unable to join the family for dinner. Please make our excuses," Mary instructed, her face turning slightly red.

"Yes my lady," Anna said. "And welcome home my lord," Anna added, before slipping quietly from the room.

"You don't know how much I have missed you my darling," Matthew told her as he closed the gap between them.

"Oh, I think I have an idea," Mary replied, closing the final distance between them as her lips met his. Their need for each other was too great to go slowly and soon hands were pulling insistently at clothing. When Matthew laid Mary on the bed and was about to divest her of her last scraps of clothing, she suddenly stopped him.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his mind hazy with desire.

"I am afraid you will find my body has been changed since last you saw me," Mary said, not meeting his eyes.

"Changed?" he asked, thoroughly confused as he looked down at her. "You look as beautiful to me as ever. No one would ever guess by looking at you that you had so recently carried a child."

"Perhaps not from afar, but up close, there are marks," Mary informed him, thinking of the tiny lines left where her skin had stretched during her pregnancy. "Perhaps we should put out the light."

Matthew just shook his head softly and whispered "Show me."

Mary hesitated but seeing the look on his face, she closed her eyes and brought his hand to the place on her stomach where she knew the lines were.

"You are worried about these little things?" Matthew asked a moment later.

Mary opened her eyes again to look into his. "You mean you don't mind."

"No, I don't mind. Mary, these are your battle scars. You got them giving us Elizabeth," he said, brushing her hair out of her face. "Do you remember what you did to my battle scar?" Matthew asked. Her eyes went wide and she nodded before Matthew kissed her lips one more time and began slowly kissing a trial downward toward the marks she now realized she never should have worried about him seeing.

TBC

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am just wondering because the readership of the last chapter fell by 2/3s and I am not sure why. Anyway, up next will be more of the leave, how the war has affected Matthew, and some father-daughter time.