A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, etc., since the last chapter was posted. All of it is, as always, greatly appreciated. I value every single one.

Thanks to those who noticed a typo in the last chapter. It has been fixed.

I want to especially thank my wonderful betas: Tripp3235, mswainwright and _livingfree (on Twitter) (in absentia for this chapter due to school work). Without these wonderful people, who listen to me gripe and have the patience to slog through chapter after chapter despite their busy lives, the quality of every aspect of this story would be much poorer indeed! :)

To provide a time reference for the weekly readers, we pick up in this chapter near the noon hour of Sat. May 31, 1919.

Disclaimer: Not mine. All Downton Abbey characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 36

When Tom and Sybil exited the bus in front of the hotel at a quarter to twelve, Tom looked up through the rain from under the umbrella at the tall building. "This is a new building. I don't think I've seen it before."

"My sisters have the suite on the top floor," said Sybil, looking at him. "As for stairs, I wouldn't worry. The building has a lift. Shall we go in?"

Tom nodded and they proceeded into the building.

When the hotel footman opened the door to the suite for them, Sybil stepped in followed by Tom, only Anna was waiting for them near the doors. Anna took the wet umbrella, Tom's cap and their overcoats. "Mr. Branson, how have you been faring in Dublin?"

"Very well," said Tom with a smile. "How have you been holding up with the situation with Mr. Bates?"

"As well as may be," said Anna, smiling wanly. "Lord Grantham has been very generous and sending Mr. Pratt to take me to York to see him on my half days."

Tom smiled and nodded rather than give his opinion on the generosity of Lord Grantham. "I don't believe I've had the opportunity to congratulate you on your recent marriage."

"Thank you, Mr. Branson," said Anna.

Edith appeared from one of the rooms at that moment and Anna left with their wet things.

"Good morning," said Edith, smiling. "Delighted to see you again, Tom. I hope that Dublin has been treating you well." Edith held out her hand for Tom to shake.

"Edith," said Tom, shaking her hand, still uncomfortable with addressing Lady Edith by only her first name. "It has been wonderful to be in my home country, again. Thank you for coming to the wedding. Have you enjoyed what Dublin as to offer since your arrival?"

"We've seen some of it," said Edith, leading them to sit on the sofas. "I look forward to seeing some sights when Mary and I are left to our own devices on Monday. I hope that your trip here didn't take too long, especially with the rain. Luncheon is to be served in the next few minutes. Mary ordered it first thing this morning."

Sybil and Tom both sat on the sofa opposite of Edith. "Tom took me on a tour of Dublin, so we've been on a bus or tram since about nine o'clock," said Sybil, smiling at Tom.

"A tour on public transportation in the rain?" asked Edith, incredulous.

"No, not exactly," said Tom, sheepish. "We just took a number of buses and trams that wound their way around the city, so that Sybil could get familiar with the lines if she needed to get somewhere on her own."

"We went past Christ Church Cathedral, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the University of Dublin," said Sybil, defending their trip. "I would call it a tour and it was lovely despite the rain. What's for luncheon?"

"I believe that Mary ordered some fish and chicken," said Edith. "You'll have to ask her." She then turned to Tom. "Sybil showed us your latest column the other day. I hadn't realized that the Irish had set up a government."

"Yes, we have, from the candidates who were elected in the Westminster election of 1918," said Tom. "But the it's not currently recognized by any international government and hence not able to rule effectively."

Mary exited her room and approached the group on the sofas. Tom stood up. "Mr. Branson," said Mary, extending her hand out to shake Tom's.

"Lady Mary," said Tom, shaking her hand. "Thank you for coming. I hope that you've found Dublin to your liking?"

"Indeed we have," said Mary. "The play last night at the theatre was delightful. We met Dr. Byrne there last night. Her plans for the clinic were quite fascinating."

"I'm afraid that I've not had the pleasure, my lady," said Tom, plastering a smile on his face.

Before Mary could sit down, a footman could be seen bringing the first course to the buffet. A second footman approached Mary. "Luncheon is served, milady."

"Thank you, Peter," said Mary. Turning to the group, Mary smiled. "Shall we?"

Sybil put out a hand discreetly to hold Tom back. Until they were married, Mary and Edith still took precedence in a family situation. When they headed toward the dining room, Sybil took Tom's elbow and let him escort her to the table.

"Please take a seat," said Mary, gesturing at the empty chairs.

Tom waited beside his chair until the sisters were seated. Sybil had given him a quick refresher in dining room etiquette on the way to the hotel and it had been useful. He had served at table in the past but it had been a few years.

Once they were all seated, the footmen began to serve.

"Mr. Branson," said Mary, taking the first helping. "I must thank and compliment your mother on the dresses she designed for us for the wedding. She is quite talented."

"Thank you for the compliment," said Tom, still uncomfortable in this family situation. "My mother is quite extraordinary in many ways."

"Yes," said Sybil, smiling. "She's taught me almost all that I know about managing a household in such a short time and there's still so much to learn."

"What type of things has she taught you?" asked Edith, curious.

"Cooking, sewing, cleaning, washing, purchasing" said Sybil, taking her portion of the first course. "Just about any aspect you can consider. When I came here, all I knew how to do was make tea and boil an egg. Now I can find and buy the food, and cook a whole meal on my own thanks to her patient teaching." Glancing lovingly at Tom, Sybil added, "I owe her much."

"We understand that your mother is widowed," said Mary, before taking a bite.

"Yes," said Tom. "My father passed away almost fourteen years ago. My older brother and sisters were all working then and my younger brother and sister were younger than one and three respectively."

"How did she manage?" asked Edith, after swallowing her food. "Especially with such young children in the home."

"She took in more sewing and we all helped out," said Tom with pride. "My mother believes in getting things done."

"It is rather amazing what she gets done in a day," said Sybil, cutting another piece. "She's normally up and dressed by six o'clock in the morning to do a little work on her client's dresses before she starts on breakfast at seven. Then once Cathleen and Connor are off to work and school respectively by eight, she then starts on any sewing machine work unless there's baking to be done. I don't recall being so productive before nine until I came to live with Mrs. Branson."

"Didn't you have early shifts at the hospital during the war?" asked Edith, taking a piece of bread.

"I did, but they were only the odd shift," said Sybil, taking a sip of wine. "And I had breakfast served and Tom to drive me to the hospital. Mrs. Branson does this every day."

"Did you perhaps have chance to discuss who would be walking you down the aisle?" asked Mary, changing the topic.

Sybil looked at Tom. "We spoke of it this morning and I will be walking down the aisle alone."

"You can't do that!" said Edith, wide-eyed.

"I can and I will," said Sybil, putting her utensils down after the last bite of this course. "Papa chose to attend to urgent business and I choose to walk down the aisle alone. When I reach the altar, perhaps you or Mary could be involved with giving my hand to Tom. We can discuss specifics with Pastor Whelan tomorrow. We would also like for one of you to do a reading during the ceremony."

"A reading?" asked Edith, moving so that the footman could remove her plate. "What sort?"

"There are two biblical readings, which Tom's sister, Mairin, and his brother, Connor, will be doing," said Sybil, looking at her sisters. "The other is sonnet 43 from Sonnets of the Portuguese."

"Poetry at a wedding?," said Mary, taking a portion of the next course. "Well, that's certainly novel. Actually, I am surprised by the novelty of the entire service. What denomination is the church?"

"Congregational, though Pastor Whelan prefers the term Independent," said Tom, taking a sip of water. "He follows the theory of union by Robert Browne, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs."

"A Brownist," said Mary, taking a forkful of the second course. "How interesting."

"I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the pastor's sermon tomorrow," said Sybil, spearing a piece of food. "It's not what we're used to from Reverend Travis."

"Sermons unlike those of Reverend Travis ought to be interesting," said Mary, looking at Sybil.

"Well, Granny had many things to say about him when she was trying to convince him to marry William and his sweetheart," said Edith, knowingly. "None of which were very complimentary."

"Edith, I don't think Mr. Branson cares to know what Granny thought of Reverend Travis," said Mary, shooting her a look before steering the conversation to a more neutral topic. "Does it always rain in Dublin, Mr. Branson?"

The awkward conversation continued throughout the remainder of the luncheon.

Tom was never so glad to leave somewhere as the Crawley's hotel suite after luncheon. Conversation had continued to be awkward throughout the meal. Fortunately his experience in serving at table was helpful as he knew when he was being served and how he was to take food from the plates. When they said their goodbyes to the sisters, Sybil asked him to wait downstairs as she had some last minute things to discuss with her sisters and he was more than glad for the escape. He waited for her in the lobby as he tried to look busy with not much to do until she arrived.

After what seemed like an hour but was only ten minutes, Sybil exited the lift and Tom approached her. "Ready to look for a ring?"

Sybil smiled at Tom when she took the arm he offered. "Let's go."

Walking out the front door of the hotel, Tom asked, "Did you want to look in this neighbourhood or the one where the church is located? We might find something different here or there."

Sybil opened her umbrella to shelter them from the rain. "Perhaps the neighbourhood where the church is would be better," said Sybil, brightened by the thought of going somewhere new to find the perfect ring. "Considering the opulence just in this hotel alone, we're not likely to find something we like in our budget here."

"Very well," said Tom. "Let's take the bus there."

Sybil nodded and they walked toward the bus stop. Tom kept the conversation going with some trivial remarks. When he noticed that Sybil wasn't really answering, he stopped talking, caressed her hand at his elbow, and waited for her to gather her thoughts and speak. It was a few minutes before Sybil looked up at Tom. "Thank you for coming to luncheon with my sisters. I know that they didn't make it easy for you."

Tom looked lovingly at Sybil. "No need to thank me. I would have done anything for you."

"They promised that they will be more affable to you and your family tonight and tomorrow night." Sybil drank in his features.

"Was that what you spoke to them about after you asked me to leave?" asked Tom, smiling at her.

"That and other things," said Sybil, ducking her head. "I told them that regardless of what they have to say, I was marrying you on Thursday and that they could choose to be affable to the people who were going to be my family for the remainder of their time here and see more of me in the future or choose to make everyone uncomfortable with their remarks and see less of me in the future."

Tom leaned down so he could whisper in her ear. "I'd say that's rather bold of the youngest daughter of the Earl of Grantham, who's known to be kind and compassionate."

Sybil blushed at Tom's words and looked up at him. "It was rather bold, wasn't it?"

Tom nodded and leaned down again to whisper. "And I love you all the more for it."

Sybil desperately wanted to kiss Tom there and then, her heart was so filled with love, but they were in the middle of the street waiting for a bus, so she passed the umbrella to her other hand and interlaced her now free hand with his and caressed it with her thumb. Looking up at Tom, Sybil said in the softest voice, "I love you, too."

Their bus arrived and they let go of one another to get on.

The bus deposited them in front of the first jewelry store they saw after they entered Rathgar. It was a quaint shop nestled between a tailor shop and a haberdashery. Upon entry, an older gentleman with thick glasses looked up at them. "How may I help you?"

"We're looking for a wedding ring for her," said Tom, taking his cap off. Sybil was closing the umbrella.

"I see," said the gentleman. "Do you have a particular look in mind or were you looking for a plain band?"

"We're open to suggestions, though we are on a budget" said Tom. "What do you have on offer?"

"Come this way," said the jeweler, gesturing to the display case to one side. When Tom and Sybil were standing in front of the display case, he pulled out three wedding bands: one, a plain band of gold, two, a simple gold claddagh ring, and three, a gold ring with an intricate design interwoven into the band.

Both Tom and Sybil were drawn to the gold ring with an intricate design. "How much are they?" asked Tom, weary that the cost would be much too high.

The jeweler smiled at them. "The simple band is £10, the claddagh ring is £15 and this wedding band in an older style is £30."

"May I try them on?" asked Sybil, eager that the costs were very reasonable.

"I can see that you're eying this one," said the jeweler, handing Sybil the intricate band. "The design takes some time to complete and is very eye catching, but you won't see too many that are this intricate anymore."

Sybil slipped it on and it was significantly larger than her finger, but she was sold on it. Sybil looked up at Tom, holding her hand closer to him. "What do you think?"

Tom looked at Sybil and the ring on her finger. "How long would it take to make one her size?" asked Tom.

"Two weeks at least," said the jeweler. Seeing their faces fall, he asked, "When is the wedding?"

"Thursday afternoon," said Tom.

"I'm sorry but I cannot make that one by Thursday," said the jeweler. "Perhaps you're interested in one of the others?"

"Are there others like this one that you can make by Thursday?" asked Tom.

"Not on a budget, I'm afraid," said the jeweler.

"Thank you for your time," said Sybil, taking off the ring.

Sybil and Tom exited the store in search of another jeweler. They went to two others in the neighbourhood and one other in an adjoining neighbourhood before it was time to go back to Mrs. Bransons. None of them could come up with a ring in their budget that they both liked enough by Thursday afternoon.

They were waiting the bus to take home when Tom looked at Sybil. "I'm sorry we waited to the last minute to come this way. I just never thought it would be so difficult."

"You did say your mother had a solution if we didn't find one," suggested Sybil.

"She did," said Tom.

"Has she ever led us astray?" asked Sybil.

"No." Tom said, smiling.

"Let's have faith in your mother," said Sybil.

Tom and Sybil returned to Mrs. Branson's flat at five o'clock. They could smell the food even before they entered the flat. When they came into the main area, other than the kitchen area, the flat was spotless. Mrs. Branson was cooking with two teenaged girls helping. Cathleen and Connor were nowhere to be seen.

"Need any help, Ma?" asked Tom, seeing the number of pots on the stove.

Mrs. Branson looked up. "No, we've got it under control. Sybil, have you met Libby and Nora?"

"No, not yet." Sybil smiled at the girls. "Hello!"

"Libby's in the grey and Nora is in the brown," said Mrs. Branson, referring to the colour of their dresses.

The girls nodded at Sybil and returned to their respective tasks.

"Where are Cathleen and Connor?" asked Tom. "I thought they were helping, too."

"I sent Cathleen out to get some flowers for the table ten minutes ago," said Mrs. Branson, looking at the clock on the mantle. "Connor's in his room doing his homework."

"Would you like me to set the table?" asked Sybil. "I can do that once I put away my things and wash my hands."

"Wait until we're done with the bread," said Mrs. Branson. "Did you have any luck with the ring?"

"No," said Tom, looking deflated.

"Sybil, why don't you put away your things and come to see Tom and me in my room when you're done?" asked Mrs. Branson, washing her hands in the sink.

"Yes, Mrs. Branson," said Sybil, heading into the room she shared with Cathleen.

Mrs. Branson wiped her hands on a kitchen towel. "You girls can manage for five minutes?"

"Yes, Mrs. Branson," said Libby and Nora.

"Tom," said Mrs. Branson. "Come with me."

"Yes, Ma."

It had been at least six years since Tom stepped foot into his mother's bedroom. It was larger than the other bedrooms in the flat and on one wall was the same double bed on which he and his brothers and sisters had all been born. His mother's vanity with a small mirror was on the opposite wall in between a chest of drawers and a wardrobe. A number of pictures sat on top of the chest of drawers including a picture of his father and mother on their wedding day, a picture of just the older children when Tom was two, and a picture of the whole family just before his father passed away. By the window was a table where a bowl of scent sat "to keep the room smelling fresh". So little of it had changed that it reminded Tom of when he was still the baby of the family and he'd sneak in to get an extra cuddle from his mother early in the morning.

Mrs. Branson opened a drawer in her vanity and pulled out a small envelope, which she handed to Tom. "I should have given this to you earlier, but in the hustle and bustle of the last few weeks, I completely forgot about it until a couple of days ago."

Tom took the envelope from his mother. "What is it, Ma?"

Sybil joined them at this juncture.

"It's the claddagh ring your Da gave me," said Mrs. Branson. "I want you to have it to give to Sybil."

Tom's eyes grew wide as he stared at the gift. He then held it out to his mother. "But Ma, that's yours. I have the money to buy a ring."

"No, my boy," said Mrs. Branson very seriously. "It's not a matter of money. Your Da has been long buried. It's time it was used again for a living marriage and I can't think of a finer girl for you to bestow it on."

"Are you sure, Ma?" asked Tom. Shouldn't you be giving this ring to Niamh or Cathleen?"

"Yes, I know that the tradition is for it to be passed from mother to the first daughter married, but Mairin didn't want it," said Mrs. Branson. "She preferred a wedding band. I wrote Niamh about it when I first got your letters and she thought you should have it since it's her intent to stay in service for life. As for Cathleen, she doesn't remember your Da much and I want someone who remembers the marriage I had with your Da to have it. I've been thinking about it since I got your letters and after having Sybil here for the last month, I know it's the right decision."

"If that's the case, then I accept and thank you for considering us worthy of it." Tom smiled at his mother. He took out the gold ring from the envelope to admire it.

"I do." Mrs. Branson returned her son's smile.

"We've looked at a few claddagh rings," said Tom. "But this one means so much more." Turning to Sybil, he added, "Ma and Da were devoted to one another and very happy. I want that for us."

Tom took the ring our of the envelope. He then took Sybil's left hand and placed it on her ring finger. "Now I believe that we're officially engaged."

Looking at the ring which fitted surprisingly well, Sybil said, "It's beautiful. Thank you, Mrs. Branson." Sybil gave her a kiss on the cheek. Moving to Tom to kiss his cheek, Sybil said, "Thank you, Tom."

Mrs. Branson looked between them. "Let's get back to kitchen and get ready for this dinner."

A/N2: Now the awkward luncheon with Mary and Edith is over, and Sybil now has a ring. Next up is the dinner at Mrs. Branson's.

As always, please feel free to point out any typos and grammatical errors. Sometimes no matter how hard you or your betas look, these things get missed. Also, please feel free to point out cultural misnomers or anachronisms, I live in Canada and I know that our terms are often different than those in the UK and Ireland. As always, I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter good or bad, so please do review. :)