"How are you feeling?"

Tom looked up from his phone. He had been waiting for their meeting to start and now that it was he somehow felt inconvenienced. His eyes remained trained on the glass of his screen even as he slid the device into his pocket. "Grand," he stated, rather honestly.

Dr. Frye smirked too. "Yeah?"

"Am I not supposed to feel good?" Tom paused, sharing momentary glances with Ben and William. "You all really thought I was going to die, din'ya?"

"No one thought you were going to die," William gave, rolling his eyes.

"We didn't know what was going to happen," Ben added.

"Well it's happened," Tom stated plainly. "I'm fine and I still feel fine and I can't wait to never have to come into this goddamn office ever again."

Dr. Frye, who had disappeared into the foreground to jot down several notes in Tom's file, stepped forward once more. "If it's any consolation, Tom, I can't wait to never have to see you again either."

Tom chuckled. "S'alright if you'll miss me."

"I won't," he promised. "But we all know you'll miss this."

Tom leaned back to show his offense. "This?"

"The attention," Dr. Frye explained.

"I get plenty of attention elsewhere."

It was the doctor's turn to laugh, giving Tom one last eye roll. "I'm sure you do." He shifted, his feet mimicking his eyes in an attempt to bring them all back to seriousness as he also changed the subject. "So what do you think? Do you want another month on your medication schedule or do you think you're ready to come off of it?"

"You mean I don't have to be on meds for the rest of my life? Are you feckin' codding me?"

"All depends on you and how healthy you want to be. Do you plan to smoke again? What about the drinking?"

"I've been drinking for awhile now...was that not supposed to be happening?"

"In excess?"

"Not…no." Tom's eyes caught on William's as if to acknowledge a night they'd shared just last week when Gwen and he had come over to see Tom and Sybil's flat and didn't leave until the following morning when their wine hangover was only beginning to dwindle.

"And the smoking?"

"No."

"Are you back at the gym?"

"I don't go to the gym," Tom gave frankly. "But if I did, then no...I'm not. You didn't tell me I could go back to exercising."

"You're not running?"

"Not very much. I was waiting for your approval."

"You can run, Tom."

Tom grinned. "Fast? Can I run fast?"

Dr. Frye's gaze narrowed in a mix of confusion and irritation. "Yes, you can run fast. You can resume all physical activity."

"All physical activity?"

It was William's turn to roll his eyes and now even Ben had to laugh as he and Tom both waited for an answer. "Yes, Tom. All physical activity. Running. Football—"

"Sex?"

"Sex," the doctor confirmed.

"Grand."

Dr. Frye continue to shake his head in quiet acknowledgement of Tom's predictable immaturity. "Anything else?"

"Nope."

He ripped at his notepad, extending a prescription script Tom's way as if to mark the end of the conversation. "Here. Let's go one last trial but on half dosage. If you start to feel different or if your chest pains return—"

Tom jumped down off the patient's table and was already headed for the door. "I know," he groaned. "I will give you a call."

Dr. Frye said nothing. As William and Ben exited the room, he turned his back to Tom who was now throwing his coat on. Though he did not see him, Dr. Frye felt the way Tom remained long after the boys were gone.

"Yes, Tom?"

"I, uh, I wanted to say thank you."

He finally turned around, now crossing his arms as he took Tom in again. "For what?"

"For all of this. For fixing my heart, I guess. I actually did think I was going to die and I'm glad I didn't."

Dr. Frye snickered. "I'm glad you didn't too."

"And I'm sorry that—"

Dr. Frye raised a hand as if to still Tom's tongue. "It's fine."

"It's fine now," Tom said, almost as if to agree. "But it wasn't and I'm sorry and I really appreciate what you've done for Sybil…"

"Don't mention it."

"Well I—"

"No, really, Tom. Don't mention it."

The Irishman was rendered speechless, especially as he was left alone again, this time when Dr. Frye left the room without so much as a nod in his direction. There was no need for either man to pretend that this was the end of their relationship. Sybil was nearly Dr. Frye's equal now, and their trip to Prague last month was one of many they'd take together in the next several years. Tom assumed Dr. Frye would attend the wedding they'd someday have and maybe soon the pair would be able to permanently exist beyond their roles of doctor and patient. This last check up was the first step toward that reality.

Alone Tom was able to leave the moment behind him. He had tossed his jacket on without thinking, perhaps out of nervousness, despite knowing he'd likely be in this hospital for several more hours. He now tapped at his phone screen, and when he saw Sybil had yet to text him back he dialed her number and brought the device to his ear. It rang once, then twice, coaxing Tom into an alcove where he was distracted by the city life below while he waited to hear her voice. Just as he was ready to disconnect the call he saw her, all of her petite form clothed in her typical teal scrubs appearing in a blur as she passed by. Tom grabbed for her wrist, shocking Sybil but procuring a smile from her lips before he was able to replace her grin with a kiss.

"Mmm, hiii," she sang as he pulled away. Just being in his arms had her softening, and the fact that the hallway was empty and without noise found the two stumbling back against the wall for privacy they didn't seem to need. "How was your appointment?"

"Good," Tom nodded, all before kissing the tip of her nose once more. "How was your day?"

"Bollocks," Sybil stated without hesitation. But her gaze remained on his lips, only causing herself to smile once more. "It's better now."

Tom smirked before nipping at her lips again. "Dr. Frye said we can have sex."

Sybil giggled. "Oh did he?"

"He did. I didn't even have to ask."

"Well I hope you didn't tell him we've been having sex for a couple weeks now…" Sybil's voice faded into Tom's skin as she pressed a kiss to his pulsepoint. They had been running late for work that morning, leaving them both unsatisfied when it was only a simple kiss they'd exchanged before departing on the tube.

"No," Tom chuckled. His hand were on her hips now, stroking the soft expanse of skin beneath her shirt. "Of course not." Soon his mouth was on her neck as her own fingers danced on the straight line of his belt, tapping at the leather as if to tease.

"We have to go," Sybil managed through ragged breathing.

"Almost. I missed you."

Her voice was caught in her throat and for a moment Sybil felt the moment still while she continued to take him in. All of this was so easy now and yet she was forever breathless hearing him tell her such lovely things. Sybil couldn't even reply; she only submitted to the way he held her, kissing her lips in a way that only echoed his words.

Finally they detached. Tom buried his nose in the crook of her neck while Sybil's hands rubbed up and down his back, keeping him close. "Have you gone down yet?"

"No," Sybil gave with a laugh as if to show how ridiculous his question seemed. "I told you I'd wait."

Tom grabbed for her hand, slowly pulling them out of the alcove and down the hall. Still clasping her fingers, he kissed her knuckles as they continued walking out of the cardiology wing toward the elevator.

They rode the lift to the fourth floor, holding hands the entire way. It wasn't until they reached Mary's room that they detached, if only to fit through the door and reconnect when they both waited, effortlessly close to one another, for the happy couple to look up. In Mary's arms she held their newborn baby boy. The eldest Crawley girl was so elated she didn't seem to care that strangers were seeing her barefaced. Her hair was pulled back with the help of a thick headband, revealing freckles Tom had never seen before. The past few weeks found Tom spending more time with Mary and Matthew, but even this was different, as if the moment they were about to share was a silent nod toward Tom's status in Sybil's life going forward.

"My goodness, he is precious," Sybil sang as she stepped toward Mary and instantly bent down so she was at the child's level. She stroked at his forehead, feeling the warmth beneath her fingers as the baby repositioned in his mother's arms. Mary and Matthew now watched Sybil with as much amusement as they had their firstborn.

"Do you want to hold him?" Mary offered.

Sybil's eyes widened. "Yes! Obviously!" she gave in excitement. Slowly Mary shifted, pulling her baby boy from the crook of her arm in a way that would make the tradeoff an easy one. He was fast asleep and as he settled into his aunt's arms, baby Max seemed to be none the wiser. Even as Sybil rocked the child gently against her frame, he kept his eyes shut. It was only when Tom approached, that he opened his eyes, blinking in a rather pronounced way.

Sybil giggled as her eyes darted back and forth between her nephew and her boyfriend. Tom was wonderful with children, but Mary and Matthew did not know this, meaning their own attention was devoted in a similar way. Both watched as Tom leaned down to smile at the boy, giving the child permission to grab at his finger. His digit seemed massive compared to the petite grip of Max's bright pink hand. Even as he towered over the child, Tom felt quite small in his presence. It had been years since he'd been around a child so small and with Sybil holding a baby, he found himself making plans far beyond this hospital room. Tom couldn't disguise this as the case either, shown mostly when he pressed a kiss to the crown of her head, all before returning his smiles toward the child.

"You can hold him too, Tom," Mary offered softly.

Tom shook his head. "Oh, it's fine."

Mary looked to her husband then back again. "Alright well we'd like you to."

Matthew stood up straight and placed a reassuring hand to Mary's shoulder as he joined the conversation. "The child should know his godparents..."

Sybil's eyes widened as she looked to Tom then immediately to her brother-in-law. "What?"

Mary rolled her eyes. "As if you thought I'd give the title to anyone else."

Sybil was so shocked she effortlessly passed the child to Tom, giving him no other option but to cradle Max against his chest. Even amongst Mary and Matthew's news, he found himself distracted by the small life he held swaddled in his arms.

Mary was ignoring her sister, moving instead to crane her neck so she could get a better glimpse of her son. "I hope that's alright, Tom. We've been meaning to ask the both of you but time has escaped us. I figured…"

"God, I...thank you," he chuckled nervously. "He's...he's a handsome babe. Very happy, it seems. I'm honored."

"No need," Mary dismissed, "Just return the favor when you have kids."

Tom looked to Sybil. She looked away and he let out a stunted laugh to show his discomfort. "We're a bit far from that now."

"Good," Mary said quickly. "Give Mum and Dad the traditional marriage they want, Sybil. Don't announce your pregnancy on the altar in front of two-hundred of Mum and Dad's closest friends."

Sybil grinned. "We wouldn't steal your thunder like that."

"No," Mary gave lowly, "you'd do something insane like not getting married at all which—"

"We'll get married," Tom promised.

The answer had everyone caught off guard, even Sybil who was more emboldened by his courage than surprised at hearing him share their plans. Already she wore his grandmother's wedding band on a chain around her neck and yesterday evening they had their second appointment with the jeweler to design what would soon become Sybil's engagement ring. No one in this room knew any of this; Sybil was hesitant to share her love as loudly as she once wished she could. It wasn't because she was afraid Tom would leave again but more because she was still so shocked to find him by her side and for such a thing to be so incredibly effortless.

The moment faded to nothingness and when Robert and Cora arrived, Sybil and Tom were huddled in a small mass on the sofa, both whispering comments about their godchild as if they were the only ones in the room. Their exit came sometime after, with Sybil reluctantly handing her nephew back to her sister, all with a promise that they'd be making the family dinner the following night when Mary and Matthew returned home from the hospital with Max. Tom shook Robert's hand and even gave Cora a hug before departing. All of this happened so quickly Tom was forced to remind himself that his feelings for Sybil, in all of their intensity and resilience, had existed for such a long time that the speed made sense.

They didn't discuss their past now, at least not the parts that were still raw and seemingly always would be. They did, however, open up more when it came to all of the other lovely memories they'd created before their falling out. It was freeing to share those stories and to remember, if only for a few moments, how insane it felt to be that in love at such a young age. It was almost as insane as the reality that currently defined them where such a long was so strong it existed even now.

As they walked out of the hospital and toward the garage, Tom made no small task of grabbing Sybil's hand. As her fingers wrapped around his own, he pulled her in. She beamed, accepting the kiss he placed to her cheek. It was only when they were at their vehicle did Sybil keep Tom from opening her door, instead gripping his arms so she could taste him once more.

Pulling away, she was hesitant to open her eyes and greet the fleeting night. "You better be careful about what you tell my family. They'll take you for your word and—"

"And what? I mean I assume they'll be invited to our wedding, no?" Tom jested, all with a kiss to Sybil's pulsepoint.

She raised her brows in question. "A wedding? When is this wedding?"

"Does it matter?" he tried again, this time spending time just behind her ear. "They'll be a wedding and they'll be babies."

"Oh will there?" Sybil smirked. "When?"

Tom smiled too, almost in challenge. "I don't know. We've always done things at our own pace."

Sybil was giddy with Tom's hands strong on her hip bones. "We have," she agreed in a whisper.

This wasn't ever meant to be a very long/heavy chapter so I hope that's not what you were expecting. Just something sweet to tie up loose ends. Do I have a sequel planned? Well this world continues to exist in my head, sure. Maybe I'll do a few one-shots…

Until then — THANK YOU so much for the love and support this story has received! Thanks for believing in these two and sharing your kind thoughts as I took them on this wild ride. I hope their ending (this ending...a temporary one...maybe) did not disappoint.

x. Elle