Apparently, it's taking me years to finish this story. Just came across this chapter that I had finished, and had forgotten about. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 4

There was much excitement when Matthew and Lady Mary arrived home at Downton Abbey with the newest Crawley, with everyone gathering in the library, wanting to get a peek at the wee one. Well…almost everyone.

Protective Matthew, with his hand on Mary's back, escorted the happy, but tired mother t the chesterfield so she could sit down with the baby in her arms.

Despite Margaret's initial disappointment that she wouldn't get a little sister, she took one look at her little brother, and instantly fell in love.

"Oh, he's so tiny! May I hold him, Mama? Please, please, please?!" she pleaded, jumping up and down.

Mary replied, "I'll tell you what, Margaret. Why don't we wait until later, when we bring him to the nursery where it's a little quieter?"

"But why can't I hold him now?" Margaret whined.

"Margaret…" cautioned Matthew. "It's important that you listen to your Mama. We know you're very excited about the baby, but now is not the right time." Kneeling down in front of her, he said. "Newborn babies are not like dolls. They're very delicate. And because he is so tiny, we have to be extremely careful with him. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Papa."

"That's my girl." he said, smiling at her.

"Does he have a name yet, Mama?" asked George.

"Yes, he does. Oh, Matthew, we forgot to choose his middle name….well, we can discuss that later."

Everyone looked at her in anticipation.

"This…is David."

Isabel exclaimed, "David Crawley. Oh, Mary, it's lovely."

Cora frowned. "But there aren't any Davids in our family."

"Mama, there weren't any Peters either."

Cora continued, "I just thought…well, wouldn't it be nicer to name him after a family member?"

Isabel spoke up. "There are many great men named David. The Prince of Wales, David Lloyd George…"

"Oh, good God. You didn't name him after a Liberal, did you?" scoffed Robert.

Mary chuckled. "No, Papa! The biblical David. It was Matthew's idea."

Robert replied awkwardly, "Oh…well…it's a fine choice then."

Matthew refrained himself from rolling his eyes. "Thank you, Robert."

Looking around the room, Mary asked, "Where's Peter?"

Everyone looked around the room, but he was difficult to spot. Peter was shyly leaning against the door frame of the library. Not entirely in the room, but not out of it either. He awkwardly shifted his feet, his head lowered.

"There he is." said Matthew, "Peter, my dear boy, come see the baby."

Everyone's heads turned. Peter didn't move.

"Peter. Come meet your little brother." Matthew said more sternly.

Peter shook his head.

Matthew was about to give him a lecture, when Mary stopped him by placing her hand on his arm. She silently shook her head at him, then said quietly, "It's all right, Matthew. All in good time."

Matthew let out a sigh of frustration, and said under his breath, "All right."

Trying to change the subject, Matthew asked the children, "So…what we did miss when we were away?"

"I'm almost finished Treasure Island. And I want to read The Land That Time Forgot next."

"That's wonderful, George!"

Margaret took Matthew's hand and looked up at him. "Miss Joad has been reading me The House at Pooh Corner. But she doesn't do silly voices like you, Papa."

Looking down at her, in a high, squeaky voice, Matthew exclaimed, "Doesn't do silly voices?! That's a travesty!", sending Margaret into giggles.

She said excitedly, "And yesterday, Peter and I played pirates!"

Matthew furrowed his brow with slight concern, "Really?"

Cora explained, "Well, Miss Joad confiscated the sticks, and put an end to the sword play before anyone was hurt."

"Ah." said Matthew. "So, why don't we head up to the day nursery? And we can talk in all the silly voices we want."

"Then I can hold David!"

"Yes, Margaret. Then you can hold David."

"Oh! And I can show him all of our toys and books."

Matthew and Mary smiled at one another.

Mary replied, "I'm sure he would love that."

As they were walking out of the library, George turned to his father, "Papa, did you know there's a Railway Museum in York? Granny Isabel was telling me."

Before Matthew could reply, Isabel interrupted, "I thought it would be wonderful for you and the boys could take a trip down…perhaps on a weekend."

"Yes, well…thank you, Mother." Said Matthew, feigning politeness to hide his slight irritation at her controlling ways.

"I did not know about the museum, George. I don't see why we couldn't go some time. Perhaps in the New Year."

"Matthew, certainly you could go sooner than the New Year."

Matthew raised his eyebrow, looked at Isabel. "Mother."

Wanting to engage his other son in discussion, Matthew asked, "Peter, how would you like to go to the museum sometime?"

Peter shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe." he mumbled.

Matthew nodded. Peter was acting oddly, which concerned him. His son was usually bouncing off the walls, always wanting attention. But today he was sullen and quiet. Perhaps Mary was right that he should ease up on him. Goodness knows that he had exhausted himself in trying to discipline the child.

Mary turned to Isabel and asked her to hold David for a moment. Then she approached Peter and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him on top of his head.

"I missed my little rapscallion. How are you, dear one?"

"I'm fine." Then he returned Mary's hug, by wrapping his arms around her tightly.

"Careful, my love. Mama is a little tender."

Peter stepped away from her and frowned, not understanding the situation.

Mary explained gently. "Mothers are always sore after they have a baby. Just as I was after you were born." Mary brushed his hair off his face. "Don't worry. You'll be able to hug me tightly soon enough. Now let's go on upstairs, and perhaps Papa will read you all a story."

Peter silently watched her as she turned to Isabel and took the baby in her arms, then he followed behind her and Matthew, as they climbed the stairs.

*END OF CHAPTER*