A/N: I lied! After *this* chapter there are 5 chapters left. This is seriously giving me the worst anxiety. I don't know if I'm ready to say goodbye to this story yet.

Song: Black Mermaid - Esthero


The day was turning to night when Sybil finally returned home. It was earlier than it had been the past few days, and she was hopeful that Tom would still be waiting for her in the dining room with dinner, as he had promised.

She stopped upstairs first, checking on Maddie who was with Edith for the afternoon. Although such a thing was stressful, Tom and her were both eternally grateful for the help of the rest of the family in caring for their child. Sybil meant what she said almost a year ago about her child not ever being nannied. It just wasn't a sensible practice, and Sybil and Tom both really hated the word.

When Sybil received mail from the Branson family last month there was a note inside from Bridget. The girls did write sometimes, mostly talking about being mothers and the new life Bridget had found for herself in a little town outside of Liverpool. This particular note had Bridget rather teasingly asking Sybil if her and Tom were going to get a governess for little Madeleine. Sybil wrote back a nice reply ensuring the Irish girl that they most certainly would not.

After finding that Edith was all too happy watching her niece pull herself up onto her feet only to fall back down onto her bum again, Sybil left them. Edith shooed her out of the room, insisting that Sybil go have a meal with her husband for the first time this week. Sybil eventually gave in, but only after pressing a kiss to Maddie's forehead both out of love and to check her temperature. The child had been fighting a cold all week and while she looked bubbly now, Sybil was sure that she and Tom would be up late with the child the way they were the night before.

Her temperature seemed to be down though and Sybil exhaled knowing that the cold must be subsiding. She wanted to go change before dinner with Tom, but knew that she was already late. Besides, she was wearing a white headscarf, and she knew this was his favorite part of her old nurse's uniform.

Outside of the dining room, Sybil stopped to listen. Slowly, Tom was losing his cool, giving into this new man he was as it became harder to be the boy that used to work here, just like Edna.

"Edna, please," Tom begged, wanting to just shush the girl and send her back downstairs. He hadn't noticed but the napkin he held in his hand was fisted into a ball, highlighted when he threw his arm down to the table for emphasis.

It was then that Sybil entered, needing no more proof that this entire thing was getting increasingly out of hand.

"Hello milady," Edna managed, then went for the door.

Sybil was standing behind Tom's chair now, with one arm resting on her hip to create the sharpest angle jutting out from Sybil's otherwise soft frame. "Edna why is it that you have so much to say to my husband and so little to say to me? Surely it's not because I live here because Tom lives here too..." Sybil innocently cocked her head to the side, waiting for an answer she didn't care to hear. She was sweet and kind and caring, and all of those other things that people so often said about her, especially in this house, but she was protective too, and she hated that her husband was made to feel so uncomfortable in their temporary home.

Edna went to walk away but was stopped by Sybil's words. "Now, Edna! I am speaking to you. And let it be known that I have never spoken to another person this way, and I would never dream of raising my voice to any of the other housemaids but this is just getting ridiculous. You," Sybil emphasized, "are being ridiculous!"

Edna stopped and turned back to the woman. They were about the same height, but Sybil was far prettier, even in temperament. Tom stood between them, feeling cowardly, and knowing now that it shouldn't be Sybil to deal with this. But he allowed it nonetheless, and watched as Sybil grew more and more territorial. He had missed her discussion with Larry Grey on the night when he was drugged, and now, Tom was getting a glimpse of all of that and couldn't find it in himself to look away.

"You can fudge the lines but I can't?"

"What are you on about? You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about and how dare you," Sybil roared, "act as if you do. You were not there. And that is nobody's business but mine and my husband's…"

"Nevermind, ma'am."

Sybil stepped into the girl. She was a girl too. In age, they were probably not much different but Edna had a childlike naivete that Sybil remembered losing right after her coming out. Then again, Sybil had always been mature and she never understood the way other girls acted, especially around boys.

"Edna, I need you to listen to me, alright? I am sorry you are unhappy with your life and if this place makes you unhappy well that would be something you and I have in common. If you would like a reference out of here then please tell Mrs. Hughes. She would be more than willing to write one for you. I am sure of it."

"Lady Sybil, you must have misunderstood..."

Sybil remained strong. Her hand, resting on the top of Tom's chair had slid down to caress her husband's shoulder, kneading his broad build. "I have not misunderstood a thing!" She screeched.

It was then that Sybil saw Edith carrying Maddie at the door. Behind her was Mrs. Hughes, and a very unamused Carson. She continued though, allowing her own frustrations to propel her words forward. At the same time, they all needed to hear what she had to say. "I have watched you for gawk at my husband for the past three months as if he is available goods. Yet for someone that seems to be so infatuated you insult him by constantly questioning his former life. We are not demigods. We do not change overnight. The life he had then may be different but it's still the life he has now. And now it is my life as well. So for you to treat my husband like this is to treat me like this. This is our life," she emphasized.

"Ma'am, I-"

"Let me give you this piece of advice: It does not matter where you come from in life, it matters where you go. And if one day you wake up and find yourself pleased and happy with the outcome you say thank you and then keep your mouth shut. It does not bode well to always be asking why."

"But-" Edna turned to the door, looking for a source of support. Everyone seemed to be standing on Sybil's side, even in their position at the door.

"I am done here, Edna. I was up all night nursing a sick child and I spent all day doing the same at work. You may think I think I am better than you or even my own husband but I know where I stand in this world and right now I'd just like to share a meal with my family in peace. Good day."

Sybil's face softened as she sat down, immediately grabbing her napkin from its place at the top of her plate Edna walked quickly out of the room, past Carson and Mrs. Hughes, and past Edith and Maddie who were now entering.

"Sybil, was all of that true?" Edith asked. Tom reached for Maddie and Edith gave her up before joining her sister and her brother-in-law at the long oak table. Sybil had mentioned Edna's odd behavior to Edith when they went into Ripon a week or two ago, but Edith had no idea it was this bad. And it must have been this bad, because as Sybil even said, she was never one to talk to someone like that.

"Maybe we should be asking Mr. Branson," Carson began. Mrs. Hughes had gone off downstairs to find the girl. She would no doubt reinforce everything Sybil had said. The Crawley were a kind family, especially in their treatment of the help. It made Sybil's words all the more necessary, but Carson wondered why they weren't coming from Tom.

"Because this put me in a really difficult position, Mr. Carson. I'm sorry but you need to understand that I used to work in this house. I know how it is."

"You were never naive and stupid the way she was," Sybil commented, cutting into her chicken breast. As far as she was concerned, this all was over and done with. But as she looked up, bringing her fork to her lips, she saw that Tom was more bothered by this than he had originally let on to be. It made her swallow quickly, and then reach out for him across the table. "Tom?"

"Well you know we don't tolerate intimidation like that, even amongst the downstairs staff," Mr. Carson began. "Mrs. Hughes will take care of her."

"You know," Edith began. Her words were sure, and just like Tom, she was suddenly unsure if it was her place to have such a thought, much less reveal it in front of her family and butler. "If this is about you and Sybil, there is no comparison. None that I see. Yes, you happened to work here and Sybil happened to live here but that's where the similarities end. You two went on for nearly six years without anyone in this house being any wiser. I mean, I know Mary knew, but that wasn't until four, almost five years in. You two were different and I'm sure Sybil has told you that."

Sybil didn't look away from Tom. "I have," she whispered over to her sister. Her hand had found Tom's atop the table and she played with his fingers, running a soothing hand over the top of them as they flat against the smooth surface of the wood.

"We were different, but that's not for any of you to know. And you've all been very good and accommodating and for Sybil and Madeleine's sake, I am very grateful, but you have to know this is all so foreign to me. I can only play along for so long." He sighed. "Back in Dublin I would have had no problem telling her exactly where to go, but here, I can't be that man. I'm like stuck in between being upstairs and downstairs and I am sorry but none of you will ever understand that."

"Mr. Branson, if we have made you-"

"No Carson, it's fine. It's done now."

"Right. Can I get you and Lady Sybil anything? Or Miss Madeleine."

Sybil brightened. "Can you send someone up with her porridge please? And maybe some apple slices as well?"

"Of course, milady."

Carson disappeared and Edith soon followed, leaving Tom and Sybil alone in the dining room with Madeleine.

"I know you're mad," Sybil began, breaking the silence and with it, the tension between her and her husband. She reached out to touch Tom, but he turned away, showing her just how mad he was. "What is wrong, Tom?"

"I told you not to say anything. I told you-"

"You did not!" Sybil said in reply. "I told you that if you didn't handle this then I would and you didn't protest!"

"I didn't want to start an argument-"

"Too late," Sybil spat.

"You practically castrated me in front of them."

Sybil could only let out a laugh. She leaned forward. "Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not, Syb! They already think I'm a lesser man for taking you away, then they think I'm a lesser man because I can't pay for you to go to your sister's wedding, then they think me a lesser man for knocking you up and leaving you in Ireland…"

"That was almost a year ago, Tom…"

"And they don't forget! They never will! I will always be the chauffeur to them, don't you see that?" He softened when he saw how much this was hurting her. Instinctively, he reached out to stroke her hands, paying special attention to the ring she wore so proudly on her left hand. "I'm sorry, love. It's just...this is another thing for them to throw in my face."

"Tom, they didn't see it like that. And I didn't speak up to castrate you. Do you think I want some woman flirting with my husband?"

"No, but you're also better than to be threatened by someone I clearly have no interest in. What is this, Syb? We don't get jealous. There's no reason, love…"

"You think I'm jealous?" Sybil stood up and went to walk away from the table but stopped herself, taking one large step back so she was practically on top of him. She stood, quite firmly, with each hand flat on the table. Their voices were still calm but their body language spoke volumes on how loud they wished all of this could be. "I am not jealous, Tom! I know you love me and I love you too. Don't you get that? That's why I stood up for you. Because you are my best friend and my husband and most importantly, my equal! I do not like people making you feel inferior so if I ever thought my own actions would do that, maybe I'd think twice, but I will not apologize for saying what I said. She was out of line. You are a brilliant, kind, and handsome man. I could go on and on about all of the things I love about you. I do not need some girl working in this house to make you forget all of that. You have this life because it is what God has given us. Whether that be forever or for the next few months, we need to accept it, alright?"

She sat down next to him and reached out to hold his hand in her lap. He accepted, still holding their daughter on his knee with his other hand. "And if we accept it, then the rest of this house needs to as well. I will not have our love and the hard work you've put into this house to keep our family happy belittled on account of some naive child!"

There was silence, and then Tom spoke up. "She's older than you, I believe."

Sybil smirked. "Well she behaves like a child!" she responded, now causing them both to laugh. They separated as the electricity between them died off. Tom continued to bounce a now animated Madeleine on his knee. She pulled herself up with the help of Tom's vest and was jumping on his lap now, sending both Tom and Sybil into a fit of laughter.

"She's going to be athletic," Sybil commented, reaching out to caress her daughter's back. "She loves to move."

"All babies love to move, darling."

Sybil rolled her eyes at her husband. "But she's standing on her own and she's beginning to walk. You saw her last night…"

"I did," Tom managed, still holding a strong grip onto their daughter. "Was I too harsh with Carson? I don't want him to think…"

Sybil softened. She got up and stood behind Tom, wrapping her arms immediately around his neck to rest lazily on the lapels of his jacket. He leaned back into her, and for a moment they forgot where they were. "I've let this place ruin you. You've become a part of it and that's not fair."

"Sybil…"

"No, it's true. It's eating you alive, I can see it. I'm just sorry I didn't notice sooner, what with work and all-"

"Please don't be sorry, my darling. I can manage."

"But you shouldn't have to."

Tom sighed and turned his chair to face her. He placed Maddie down on the carpet, and immediately she was under the table, using the low hanging tablecloth as her own fortress to hide within.

"Sybil, we're here because of what I did. And your father and mother and everyone have been so good to us. And I'm sure it's because of you and the baby, but I'll take it because I like not having to worry about my girls," he said simply.

Sybil pouted of her lips and he nipped at them, tasting her and everything she had wanted to say in return. The pull away was slow, and both Sybil and Tom rested their foreheads against one another, needing so much more contact than this room would ever give them. "I'm ready to go back, Syb. And the time is soon. We're so close to independence."

She caressed his cheek with a bended hand, letting her knuckles run passes over the stubble beginning to form near his chin. "I know, love, I know."

She kissed away his tears and they remained like this, curled into one another as their daughter played underfoot. Sybil and Tom talked about work, and when that settled down, about the night they spent a few months ago, laying in bed naked with one another pretending they were back in Dublin. Soon, he promised her with a kiss to her hand, they wouldn't have to pretend anymore.


Seriously can't thank you guys enough for reading my story! It's still so surreal to me the amount of feedback this has gotten.

x. Elle