A/N: Thank you for your reviews. This chapter is a bit more family focused which I hope you'll enjoy. Please leave your thoughts, I appreciate any kind of feedback :)
August 1923
It was the perfect day to celebrate two birthdays in the middle of August.
Not a cloud was in sight and the sun was shining brightly over their heads as Mary stepped out of the great hall. Her eyes scanned the few feet away to where she and her family would be spending the afternoon until it was time for tea. Three tables were set up outside on the lawn, one with chairs to accommodate all the family and another two smaller ones which housed the birthday presents for the children. One table for Sybbie's and the other table for Charlie's. Mary knew that Mrs Patmore was busy in the kitchens preparing the luncheon to celebrate the children's birthdays and she had already seen the two birthday cakes that had been made and they looked utterly delicious thanks to the hard work of Daisy and Mrs Patmore.
Mary stood in the doorway, adjusting her hat to shield her view of the sun above her, recalling how a year ago today she had brought Charlie into the world. She couldn't believe how fast the last year had gone as she stood in this moment staring adoringly at her two sons. Today, Charlie was a year old. In a months' time, George would be turning two. Even Sybbie was three in a few days' time. Thanking Nanny, she held her son in her arms and kissed Charlie on the cheek before the family headed across the lawn to sit down for luncheon.
"Happy birthday my little love." Mary cooed.
The baby gurgled and smiled at her as she was joined by the rest of the family, and they strolled out on to the lawn before taking their seats as James and Carson served the food.
"They're all growing up so quickly." Isobel smiled.
"Too quickly." Mary agreed.
"At least George has gotten over his jealousy of Charlie." Matthew added.
"I suppose you'll leave it a while longer before you add another child to the family?" Rose asked.
"We have no plans to have any more children yet." Mary confirmed.
"I think three grandchildren are delightful." Cora gushed.
After luncheon was finished, they watched as Sybbie and Charlie opened their birthday presents, consisting mostly of new toys and clothes that had been gifted from members of the family. One was a new ball for Charlie which all three children took their turn rolling and throwing it between themselves, Matthew, and Tom.
"So, when does Edith plan on returning from the continent?" Mary asked.
"She'll be back in time for George's birthday, I believe." Cora replied.
"Has there been any news on the ongoing search for Mr. Gregson?" Rose asked.
"Not much. Edith is ever so sad about it all." Cora sighed.
"Isn't it time we help her move on from it all?" Mary asked curiously.
"I think it should be Edith's choice when it's time to move on, darling." Cora replied.
"Even so, she's chasing a ghost. There must be some young man who can aid in making Edith happy again." Mary mused.
"Most of your generation died in the war and the ones who didn't are lame." Violet added.
"I doubt Edith would mind. She would've married Sir Anthony Strallan if he hadn't jilted her at the altar." Mary said quietly.
"Can you two please stop plotting to fix Edith up with a man? She's not ready yet." Cora instructed.
"It doesn't matter if she's ready. Chasing the editor who has disappeared without a trace only wastes away her youthful years. If she wants a family of her own, then she needs to open her eyes and stop hoping where there is no hope to be had." Violet stated.
The topic of Edith ceased as Mary rose from her seat and went over to where her husband stood with the boys.
"Mama, kick the ball!" George requested.
Mary looked down at the ball her eldest son placed in front of her feet. She could see Charlie waddling towards her. Smiling, she kicked the boot gently with the side of her foot and watched as her youngest son squealed in delight as the ball came rolling towards him. The ball knocked into Charlie who fell on his backside, laughing hysterically as he pointed at the ball.
"We have some games to play, Grandpapa wants to play pin the tail on the donkey!" Tom said enthusiastically.
Mary laughed as she watched her father hold up a large stuffed donkey toy and handed the ripped off tail to Sybbie who was blindfolded and spun around until the girl walked unsteadily to Robert and stuck the tail on Robert's suit jacket. Sybbie pulled off the blindfold, her blue eyes lit up mischievously as she looked up at her grandfather.
"Donk!" Sybbie laughed.
Robert chuckled as he ruffled his granddaughter's hair and handed the tail to George so he could have a turn. Watching the children play the game with their grandfather made Mary happy. To see something so simple bring so much joy to her boys made her ever wonder why she had ever doubted if she would be a good mother. Her sons' happiness was of paramount importance to her, securing their futures at Downton with her husband was important to her. Ensuring that her children were surrounded by loving family members was important to her. But most of all, she found that she would rather spend her time with George and Charlie rather than pay as many calls as she used to.
She laughed as she watched as her father was chased around the lawn by the three children, just as Matthew walked to stand beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"I can't believe it's been a whole year since Charlie was born." Matthew mused.
"I know. And nearly two since we had George." Mary sighed happily.
"I feel so blessed. Three years ago, I found out that you had that operation and I thought that it was my fault we weren't conceiving a child," Matthew said quietly so only she could hear him, "And in three years we've had two children. Time can really surprise you."
"We probably would have had more if we hadn't made a decision together." Mary said teasingly in a low voice.
Matthew turned his head and looked at her, she looked up at him with a knowing smile.
"Are you trying to tell me something?" he questioned curiously.
"No. I haven't changed my mind. Yet anyway. I was merely stating that if we hadn't made the choice to prevent another pregnancy, I would probably be pregnant with number three by now." Mary answered quietly.
"What makes you think you would be?" Matthew asked with a smile.
"Well I'm lucky enough to have a husband who can't seem to keep his hands to himself." Mary flirted.
"Can you blame me? You, my beautiful wife, know every trick in the book to entice me." Matthew teased in a whisper.
Mary leaned in and kissed his cheek but quickly turned her attention back to the children. Her brown eyes lit up in surprise as she saw Charlie stand up by himself and start to take uneven steps towards them.
"Charlie! You're walking!" Mary gushed.
"Mamamam." Charlie babbled; his blue eyes lit up happily.
Mary knelt to the grass, holding her arms out. Charlie mirrored her action, holding his little arms out in front of his body as he waddled across the grass. His feet slowly moved in front of the other until Charlie fell onto his backside, his blue eyes wide as he felt the tiny shock of the fall. Mary laughed as she picked her son up into her arms and kissed his forehead.
"Well done my little darling." Mary praised.
Charlie smiled, trying to grab hold her earring until she handed the baby to Matthew. She knelt down at her husband's instructions, watching as Matthew shuffled a few feet away from her and helped Charlie to stand on his feet.
"Go to mama, Charlie." Matthew said encouragingly.
"Papapa, Mamamam." Charlie babbled.
"Come on Charlie, you can do it." Mary encouraged.
She held her arms out wide, sitting on her knees and not caring if she was getting grass stains on her dress. Charlie held his arms out to her, smiling his little toothy smile as he placed one foot in front of the other slowly.
"Mama!" Charlie called.
"Come to mama my dear boy." Mary called back.
Her youngest son took a few more steps, not even hesitating as Mary and Matthew took turns to praise and encourage Charlie to take those steps until the baby fell into his mother's waiting arms. Mary and Matthew cheered, and Charlie clapped his hands and laughed until Mary placed him back on the ground and turned him so that he faced Matthew.
"Go to papa, Charlie." Mary instructed softly.
"Papa!" Charlie laughed.
And Mary watched as her son walked to his father. The look in her husband's eyes made her heart flutter as Charlie feel into Matthew's waiting arms. She smiled as Charlie placed his hands on Matthew's face and as Matthew placed a kiss to their son's cheek before the baby cuddled into him closely.
"What?" Matthew asked with a chuckle.
"I'm just thinking. You're right." Mary replied quietly.
Matthew looked at her confused.
"Right about what?"
"That we're blessed. I feel blessed right now. In this moment. Watching you with Charlie makes me wonder what I could have possibly done to be so lucky."
Matthew grinned, shuffling on the grass until he sat next to her.
"Say it again." Her husband requested.
"Say what again?" Mary asked quietly.
"That I'm right."
Mary rolled her eyes.
"Perhaps I should stay silent," Mary suggested, "As to not inflate your big head."
Matthew grinned again.
"Sorry darling, but it's not so often I get to be right. I have to savour my victory." He whispered.
"A victory without a prize I'm afraid." Mary stated.
"I already have my prize. A beautiful wife and two dashing boys. Perhaps one day, we'll have a third." Matthew smiled.
"Perhaps. One day. Not anytime soon, though." Mary agreed.
Matthew nodded, giving her a quick kiss before they stood up from the grass and walked over to where Robert was playing with George and Sybbie.
Her thoughts drifted to the idea of her and Matthew having another child one day, something which they had agreed would happen but not just yet. In truth, she wanted to wait a little while longer, perhaps this time next year she would feel ready to start trying for another baby. Just seeing Matthew interact with the boys they already had was something that brought out thoughts and feelings within her that surprised her. The idea of a larger family wasn't so unappealing to her as she had once thought it might be. She was picturing George and Charlie playing with another brother who was identical to them in looks. She was picturing a little girl with raven hair wrapping her papa round her little finger to get what she wanted, much like she did with Matthew. The number of children that she and Matthew would have was something that she was uncertain about. But another two wasn't unappealing to Mary.
But the one thing she was certain about was that the current timing of adding to their family wasn't the right time. She still wanted a bit of a bigger gap between George, Charlie, and any future siblings she would give her sons. For now, she was content in preventing a pregnancy with her and Matthew's preventative measures, enjoying the time she and Matthew made love together.