I've got a nice long chapter full of all sorts of stuff for you guys! Thank you thank you so much for the wonderful reviews for Ch 37. I love this story and I love all of you!

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Tom

I spent the rest of the day in relative solidarity. Robert stayed only for an hour or so before leaving again. I didn't blame him. He wasn't the type that did well in situations like this one. I found I was more comfortable when it was just me in the room though. A nurse would come in every few hours or so to check on Sybbie and Dr. Taylor also paid a visit after lunch, but for the majority of the time we were alone in the room. I practically stood guard at her bedside, rarely moving away. I didn't give thought to much else in those long hours except for her recovery. She had barely woken when the nurse came in to feed her and surely wasn't coherent enough to even realize that I was there. The nurse assured me it was normal, but I still couldn't stop my heart from falling in disappointment.

As the day drifted on the night of no sleep caught up with me and by mid-afternoon I was fighting to keep my eyes open. I settled myself back in the chair and at some point must have fallen asleep because when I opened my eyes again the room was much darker and a small voice was calling to me from the bed.

"Da…"

I shook away the sleep away and forced myself to focus. Sybbie was sitting up in the bed staring right at me. "Da, I am hungry."

I laughed in disbelief and quickly went to her. Hurriedly I checked her over. Her eyes were alert, she was speaking just as well as she ever had and the look on her face was one of pure annoyance. I cupped her face within my hands and felt the tears of joy rise within me.

"Da, I want something to eat." She repeated. "Why are you not listening?"

I laughed again. "I'm sorry, Darling, what do you want?"

"Custard." She replied quickly.

"I'll see that you get it then." But I pulled her into my arms instead and gave her a sound kiss on the top of her head. Hearing the commotion, the nurse had come into the room and smiled broadly when she saw Sybbie. She left quickly to get the doctor and had him back in a record time. Not bothering to hide his amazement, he sat down and began to give Sybbie a medical once over…which irritated her further.

"I am hungry!" she told him.

He pulled one of his medical tools from a nearby tray and switch on the tiny light within it. "Follow the light with your eyes, Dear." He told her.

"No, I want to eat."

"Sybbie listen to the doctor." I softly reprimanded.

Dr. Taylor laughed, "I don't think there's any need. She seems right as rain to me. Get the child some food before she locks us all up for insubordination."

"Custard," she said.

"Yes, of course." The doctor told her. "Custard and cookies perhaps?"

Sybbie's face lit up. "Yes!"

Fifteen minutes later, her toes wiggling in contentment, Sybbie was happily scarfing down the vanilla custard the nurse had procured for her. I sat and watched in amazement as she finished it, then went for the apple that was also on her tray and then the cookies, while stopping to take deep gulps from a glass of milk in between. The color was coming back into her face and her movements weren't sluggish. She was acting as if she had never been ill at all.

"Children are resilient creatures." Dr. Taylor said to me. "It would take a grown man a week to recover from the same thing."

"She's really okay then?" I asked, unable to take my eyes off of her.

"I would say so." He replied with a pat on my shoulder. "I would like to keep her here for another day or so and then I advise for you to stay in London for a week maybe two after that. I want to make sure she's completely recovered before you do any traveling, even if it is just to Yorkshire."

I nodded, agreeing to the request. "Whatever you say. I worry for her. She was quite a small baby when she was born so I've always worried. "

Dr. Taylor listened and nodded. "I can imagine. Was she premature?"

I gulped and shook my head. "Her mother had Eclampsia. The doctor then told me it was a normal for her to be small, but still I've always worried."

"I hate to tell you, Mr. Branson, but every father worries. More so the older they get. It's a bothersome trait, but one I wouldn't trade for anything. I can tell you that Sybil seems to be a perfectly ordinary three year old. Though she may have a bit more an attitude than the others I've encountered."

I cracked a smile. "That she does."

Later after she had finished eating and the doctor and she had been given a bath by one of the nurses, I helped Sybbie into a clean nightgown and settled her back into the bed. "Da," she said as I tucked the covers around her. "Where's Mama?"

I stopped. "Darling, you know your Mama is in Heaven. We've talked about that."

"No, not that Mama, my new Mama."

For a moment my mind became muddled in confusion. Her new Mama? Then I remembered that while she had been here Kate had acted as if she were my wife. No doubt at some point the doctor or one of the nurses had referred to her as her mother in Sybbie's hearing and being as young as she was she had just assumed it was true.

"Sybbie, darling," I corrected her gently, "Kate isn't your Mama."

"Yes, she is." She rubbed her eyes. It wasn't bedtime, but the last few hours had been filled with more activity than she was used to. It was understandable she would be exhausted by it all.

I knelt down closer to her. "Why do you say that?"

"She loves me and she makes me feel better, that's why." She laid her head down on the pillow. "She's my new Mama."

I couldn't properly describe the conflict of emotions that rose up inside of me at her words. She didn't realize what she had said. To her the word was black and white. Kate had given her comfort and love. She had taken care of her as well as any mother and in Sybbie's eyes, that's what she was. To a child in made perfect sense, to her father who had struggled to give his child some kind of understanding of the mother who had died giving her life, it felt like a harsh blow to the gut. I loved Kate and I loved that Sybbie had embraced her as a permanent fixture in her life, but it felt…foreign. I couldn't say whether it was right or wrong. For so long all I had wanted for my daughter was her mother. I had prayed for it despite the impossibility and now it seemed my prayers had finally been answered…just not in the way I had intended.

I wondered then how Kate would feel about the new moniker. Her initial thoughts on being a step mother were mixed. She didn't have to say how the title of "mother" made her uncomfortable. Now in the matter of a few days she had gone from being "Katie" to "Mama".

My thoughts returned to Sybbie and I looked down at her. She was completely unaware of what her words had done to me and was laying down paying close attention to the loose string on the sleeve of her nightgown. I could tell from the slight droop in her eyes that she was about to fall asleep again and she soon was. I checked my watch as her steady breaths signaled her slumber. It was only six-thirty. I then remembered with a wave of guilt that somehow within the last few hours I had forgotten to call Kate. I had promised her I would if Sybbie woke and here she had and I had completely broken my promise. Sighing with irritation, I rose from my seat to get a nurse to sit with Sybbie while I found a phone when the door to the room opened.

It was Mary and Matthew, Cora and Robert were close behind. All four moved into the room quietly, Cora and Mary stopping to hug me as they went to Sybbie's bed.

"How is she?" Mary asked as sank down carefully on her goddaughter's bed. I saw her eyes take in the red rash that was still rather prominent on Sybbie's cheeks, and frown.

"She's better." I told them. "Much better. In fact she only just fell asleep after being up for a few hours, She ate a good meal and sassed the doctor and nurses." I added that last part with a reassuring grin.

Cora's eyes were wide. "That is amazing. I feared the worst, I must say." She took a seat in the chair I had been in and ran a hand over Sybbie's curls. "You hear the words Scarlet Fever and your mind conjures up the worst. Surely Sybil was looking after her all this time for her to pull through so successfully."

"I'm sure the doctors and nurses helped as well, Mama." Mary told her practically.

"Even in her sleep she looks better than she did this morning." Robert remarked.

"You on the other hand," Matthew said to me, "Look exhausted. Have you slept at all in the last two days?"

"No." I admitted.

"You should go back to the house then." Mary replied from her place by Sybbie. "Mama and I had already planned to stay the whole night with her."

"Are you sure?" I asked. I didn't want to leave Sybbie, especially since I felt like I had just arrived, but the idea of sleep was overly appealing.

"Of course." Mary answered. "Go on. We will be fine."

I hesitated a moment before I finally agreed. I gave them a quick update on who was who in the hospital and when Sybbie had fallen asleep. I wanted them to be prepared just in case anything were to happen. They both listened carefully and I felt like I had left her in good hands when I stepped outside the hospital a few moments later. I hailed a cab and climbed in, but hesitated when the driver asked me for an address. After thinking on it for a moment I gave him Alec's address. As tired as I was, I needed to see Kate first.

Kate

The soft wrapping on my bedroom door pulled me sharply from my deep sleep. I looked up and took in my surroundings with a sleepy gaze. I was in my room at Alec's and still in the same spot I had been in when I had come home that morning. Yawning, I sat up and switched on the lamp at my bedside and then the knock came again.

"Come in." I said, rubbing my eyes.

The door opened and Alec, dressed in his finery, came into the room. His lips twitched at the sight of me. "Oh you are alive. I was beginning to wonder." He shut the door behind him and came the rest of the way into the room, coming to a stop beside my bed. "I haven't seen or heard from you in close to eight hours."

"Yes, I'm a horrible guest." I mumbled, not in the mood to be chastised like a child.

He sighed and changed the subject. "How is the child? Is she well?"

I ran my hands through my tangled hair and looked up at him. "Yes, she's much better… at least that was the state of things this morning. Has Tom called?"

He shook his head. "Have you eaten?"

"When would I have had a moment for that?"

"Don't get curt with me, I was simply asking. You shouldn't forget something like that, you know."

"Yes, mother, I know." I replied dryly. I laid back down on the bed and turned away from him. I didn't want to show it, but his mention of food had made me queasy.

I felt him move and sit on the bed behind me on the bed. "So, mother was right then."

I spun over and stared at him. "What?"

"She suspected you were pregnant, I'm thinking she was right. I can't even mention something as simple as a meal without you turning green."

Apparently I hadn't been that good at hiding my nauseous thoughts. "I could be ill." I snapped.

"But you're not."

I glared at him, but as he was right I didn't have any room to make any more objections on the matter. Slowly I sat myself up in the bed and let my posture sink in guilt. What an awkward position I had put Alec and his mother in. Harboring an unmarried pregnant woman in their home. That would set the tongues wagging in London society. "How long has she known?" I then asked. Lord, I had only just found out myself…

"She told me the morning after we all went to the Lotus Club."

"I didn't even know then."

He almost laughed. "Mothers know. Bloody hell, she's had enough experience. Did you know she comes from a family of six children? She could probably deliver it for you." Then he sobered. "Does Tom know yet?"

I shook my head.

"Well I do suggest you tell him sooner rather than later. This isn't one of those things you can keep to yourself for years, you know." He pointedly said, referring to the secrets I had kept so well guarded until recently.

"Of course I'll tell him." I paused before adding. "It wasn't planned."

"I had a feeling."

"We haven't even had the chance to discuss children yet. I have no idea how he feels about it and truth be told, I don't know how I feel either." I barely got the last word out before I felt the tears come on. Alec was quick to throw outside his humorous attitude and took me into his arms. I sobbed into his shoulder for a good long while. I cried tears for all of the obvious reasons, plus more and he sat there and patted my back and attempted to see me through them with whispered reassurance.

"Everything will be all right, Kate." He told me when I finally pulled away to take a breath. "This type of thing happens far more often than you might think."

I nodded, though I didn't believe him.

"It will be." He assured, knowing me too well, "If it isn't, I'll marry you myself."

The simple statement broke through the tension of my upset and I found myself breaking into a smile. "No, you wouldn't."

"You're right I wouldn't." he winked, "But it won't come to that thankfully."

I nodded again, hoping he was right about that. I wiped the tears from my eyes while he looked on.

"Are you sure you can't eat a bit of something?" he asked, back to the original subject.

I thought for a moment. "A sandwich maybe."

"That's my girl." He smiled. "I'll let the kitchen know. In the meantime, you need a bath and I need to get to my dinner engagement." He stood up and for show, swept the sleeves of his jacket. "I don't expect it to be an early evening so you'll have the house to yourself with Mother off to see Aunt Irene this week. Stay out of trouble, all right?"

I gave him a small smile. "I will."

Tom

I was thankful that Alec's butler remembered who I was when he opened the door.

"Mr. Branson." He gave a slight bow. "Come in."

I stepped inside, thanking him as I removed my hat. I started to state my reasons for coming when Alec appeared on the staircase.

"Well speak of the Devil." He said upon seeing me.

"Sorry?" I replied with a look of confusion while he came the rest of the way down the stairs.

"Oh nothing." He answered coming to a stop in front of me. "How is your daughter?"

Finding myself on even ground again I told him, happily, that she was doing much better. "I promised I would telephone Kate if there were any changes and completely forgot to. I thought I would amend it by coming to tell her in person."

He nodded, "Good idea. She has retired for the evening though." He then looked to the butler before I could respond. "Bennett, you and the rest of the staff may take off the rest of the evening. I can let myself in when I return tonight."

The middle aged butler bowed his balding head and thanked Alec before walking away and disappearing behind a corner.

"Yes, well as I was saying." Alec turned to me again, grabbing the coat and hat that had been left for him on a nearby table, "Kate is in her room. My mother left for the country to visit my Aunt Irene on Friday, I'm off to the Ritz for a late dinner with some colleagues and as you've just heard, I have given my staff the evening off. If you still wish to tell Kate about dear little Sybbie, you'll have all the privacy in the world in which to do it."

"Um…thank you."

"You're quite welcome." He shrugged on his jacket and put on his hat. "Go on up." He opened the door, "You remember where her room is." He then added with a wink before stepping outside and shutting it behind him.

Kate

After soaking in the tub for nearly a half hour, letting the scented lavender salts relax my senses, I finally pulled myself from the now lukewarm water and stepped out onto the cushioned mat, pulling on my robe. Grabbing a towel from the hook I gave my damp hair a good fluff and wiped the moisture from my face.

I felt better. Still tired, but the soup and sandwiches Alec had sent up earlier followed by the relaxing bath had definitely helped. I reached for the hair brush on the vanity and began to run it through my long tresses, catching my reflection in the mirror. When I was done I carefully put the brush back down and then turned to cast my profile in the reflection. I brought my hand down to my middle and tried to imagine what I would look like a few months from now. It was a hard image to conjure. There was nothing about me at that moment that would indicate what was happening inside of me, unless…and my gaze floated up…if you happened to look at my chest. The robe I wore, which had always been a comfortable fit, now seemed to be straining against my chest.

I cursed under my breath and turned away from the mirror. I yanked open the door that led directly back to my room and was so focused on my irritation that I nearly screamed when I saw Tom sitting on my bed. He rose quickly as if he felt guilty for it.

"What are you doing here?" I asked after I had managed a breath.

"I'm sorry. Alec told me to come up. I knocked on the door, but then I heard the water running in the bathroom and decided you couldn't hear me, so I just came in." he focused on me. "Are you mad?"

"No, no I'm not." I replied honestly, "You just surprised me. I thought you would stay at the hospital."

"I was going to. Cora and Mary arrived though and said they would stay with Sybbie. I wanted to come by and tell you, in person, that she woke up."

My heart filled with happiness at his words. "She did?" I asked with a smile.

He smiled back. "Yeah. She had herself a very unhealthy dinner of custard and cookies and talked my ear off for a good few hours before falling back asleep. Dr. Taylor seems to think she'll be back to normal in no time."

Forgetting everything else, I threw my arms around him and let him sweep me off the floor in a joyous hug. When he set me back down on the floor, I gave him a kiss.

"I would love to go back and stay with her, but I am still so tired."

He laughed. "Don't worry, so am I. In the morning we'll both go. I think we deserve a rest. You especially."

He kissed my forehead to seal the promise and I smiled up at him. He replied with own equally warm smile before dipping his head again and capturing my lips. "You know," he said when we parted, "Alec seemed to assure me as he was walking out the door that you were going to be completely alone here tonight."

I cast an eye at him. Alec was meddling. I knew exactly why he had told Tom that, but Tom being as oblivious to the situation as he was, seemed to see another reason for it entirely. "Oh he did, did he?" I asked.

"Yes" he replied with a smile and another kiss.

"I'm very tired." I told him as he left my lips, but even as I spoke the words he had begun a path of sweet kisses down my neck and to the tender spot behind my ear. Quickly I put my hands up against his chest to stop him. In truth I was exhausted. All I wanted to do was crawl beneath the covers of my bed and sleep, but the added fact of the pregnancy made it all the more important that I put a stop to his actions. I wasn't ready to tell him yet. "Really, I am tired."

He closed his eyes briefly and sighed. "Then I'll hold you while you sleep."

I smiled, feeling slightly regretful over disappointing him and gave him a peck on the cheek before going back in the bathroom to put on my nightgown.

Tom

Hours later I felt myself yanked from a deep sleep by the soft rumble of thunder outside. Kate's window had been left open and the rain accompanying the storm was falling in soft waves outside of. Careful not to disturb Kate, who slept snuggly against me, I reached over and grabbed my watch from the nightstand. There was just enough light in the room to show me that it was a little after four am. I figured I still had an hour or so before I needed to leave or risk running into a startled maid or footman. I put the watch back down and settled back down next to Kate, draping my arm back over her. She was in such a deep sleep she didn't even flinch at my touch.

I closed my eyes and snuggled against her. She smelled wonderful, like a field of lavender. The moment and the overwhelming tug at my senses brought me back to those nights we had spent together in Dublin. I had missed those, especially after going back to Downton. I couldn't wait to marry her and end those awful lonely nights permanently. Warmed by the thought, I kissed her neck. And then without thinking, I took advantage of where her nightgown strap had slid down over her shoulder and pressed my lips to the exposed skin. Before I knew it my lips were making a trail against her sweet smelling skin, completely consumed.

I felt her stir when my hands began to wander. The v-neck of her nightgown gave me a teasing glimpse of what I really wanted to see and I couldn't resist bringing one hand around the front to caress her, my lips still caressing her neck. That woke her up completely.

"Tom—"but I was quick to cut her off with a hot kiss against her lips. I pushed her down on her back into the bed and deepened the kiss. She shifted under me and attempted to speak again, but the words were lost between our lips and soon she seemed to relax and give up her objections. I was free then to let my hands travel the familiar path up and down her body and soon my lips followed, nipping and caressing from her lips down to her chest. Just as I had hooked a finger in the strap of her nightgown to move it aside her hand came up and grabbed mine fiercely, stopping it dead in its tracks.

"Stop." She told me.

I looked up. "What?"

"Just stop, please."

Rising up on an arm I moved to get a better look at her face. The color seemed to have drained from her completely and she was struggling to catch her breath. Worried, I watched her close her eyes and attempt to will whatever it was that was bothering her away.

"Kate?"

Her eyes opened and she seemed to have calmed. "I'm fine. I just-"and then she paled once more. "Get off of me!"

"What?"

She kicked the sheets and blankets aside and gave me a good shove which pushed me to the side while she sprang up from the bed and ran into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Kate

When I emerged from the bathroom later, it was with a heavy heart. My throat burned and my stomach was turning and I knew without a doubt Tom had heard everything from outside the door. I slowly opened it after cleaning myself up and found him sitting in the chair on the opposite side the dresser. His expression was grim and he looked up at me with complete knowledge of the situation.

"You're pregnant." He stated after a long pause. It wasn't a question. There was no reason to ask. He knew just as well as I did now.

Slowly I nodded. "I am."