AN: Hello from the future! I have recently fallen back in love with Downton after seeing the new movie, and I really wanted to come back to this! That being said, when I read through it, I noticed it was a bit... rough. I am going to be updating/replacing the existing chapters with a few tweaks here and there to make things flow better and remove any horrible spelling/grammatical errors (there were a lot of them). Thank you for being so patient! I fully intend to finish writing this story as soon as I get the updated chapters in order! If anyone is still out there, thank you for being loyal to me and this story for so long! I'm excited to breathe some new life into this work! Please review! :)

Robert gazed out the window of the library, watching the water droplets cascade down the window and the dark gray sky lighting up with an intense flash. The weather was dreadful, but it held nothing in comparison to the storm raging within him. Where did I go wrong? What have I done? The scotch in his hand remained untouched as his stomach churned from the events of the night before, his headache pounded as he remembered that hurt look that had been on her face. He leaned heavily on the windowsill to support himself as he closed his eyes, brooding.

"Robert, are you quite alright," a gentle voice sounded from behind him. Robert did not turn to face his father; he just tightened his grip on his drink. "Son, please, talk to me. Is it Cora?"

The mention of her name sent a shudder through him as he finally allowed himself to confront the emotions waging war inside of him. His grip tightened further, allowing shards of glass to pierce the tender flesh of his hand as it shattered. Robert didn't care, didn't even feel the pain, nor did he acknowledge the blood cascading from the wounds.

"For God's Sake, man," his father shouted as he lunged forward to grab his son and sit him down on the settee, "Carson!" The first footman all but burst through the door, gaping at the sight before him. He hurried off to send someone for the doctor, returning with some bandages to slow the bleeding. As His Lordship and Carson fussed over his hand, Robert paid no attention to them, for the tears had begun to sting his face and his body shuddered with sobs as he realized what a fool he had been.

"Cora," he knocked on the door to the bedroom, "Are you ready yet?"

"Come in, Robert," her voice answered through the door. As he walked in, he didn't notice that she was in a new dressing gown. He simply made his way into the room, removing his dressing gown and beginning to unbutton his pajama shirt. She smiled at him, and he smiled back, but as he came over to the bed, he immediately pulled her into his kiss. The heat between them was there already as it always was, yet a crucial piece was missing- his heart.

He pushed her back gently and crawled over top of her, kissing her until he felt it was time to begin. Though everything was very pleasurable for them both, after he rolled off and pulled his bottoms back on, he kissed her goodnight, before leaving for his dressing room. As he closed the door behind him, he just barely heard her sob. He stopped just inside his dressing room, listening to her cry. He knew she wanted him to stay with her and sleep with her, but he was scared. He knew how badly she craved his love and affection, but he didn't know how to give it to her. The sound of her despair ate at him until he walked back into the room. "Cora, I'm sorry."

She didn't try to hide her tears, for this had become her routine. She gave him her all, but he was incapable of reciprocating her feelings, and it hurt her more than she admitted to him. He didn't know how it felt to have a spouse that didn't love back, and it was tearing her apart. "What are you doing here, Robert? We both know what this is. I am your wife and it is my duty to help you to conceive an heir. I shouldn't expect you to want to be here with me, or spend any time with me for that matter."

"Now that is hardly fair! You know very well how busy Papa has kept me with the running of the estate lately," his voice rising along with his temper, "This is our home, and I will do what is necessary to keep from running it into the ground!"

"I understand, Robert," her eyes swimming with more tears, "I know your duties all too well. I just wish that my efforts in our marriage were more appreciated."

"Cora, I know that you love me, and I'm working on it, I really am, but with the way things are going with the estate right now, I just haven't had the time for such nonsense." The look on her face said it all. He stopped speaking as he watched her heart break, and it was all because of him.

She struggled to speak evenly, but managed to whisper, "Of course, Lord Downton." The use of his formal title set off alarms throughout his senses as her icy words chilled him to the bone. "I won't be your distraction anymore."

"That is hardly what I mea-," he began, his temper beginning to rise once more.

"JUST GO!" She threw the spare pillow, his pillow, at him and buried herself under the covers as hysterical sobs coursed through her. Robert knew he should do something, but the only thing he could think to do was the thing he was best at, withdrawing. As he returned to his dressing room, he sat down on his bed, shocked from what had just transpired. As he collapsed back, he fell into uneasy sleep, knowing that he had just made one of the biggest mistakes of his life.

"Robert," a voice shouted at him, pulling him out of his trance, "What is wrong with you?" His father stood before him with bloodstained bandages, and Carson stood at his side with a bowl containing the gruesome shards of glass. Robert knew that he needed to conjure an answer, but no words would come. His father shook his shoulders, snapping him out of it.

"I-I ruined everything," he sobbed, managing the only words he could for the moment. His father took a seat beside him, placing his arm around his severely shaken son, attempting to calm him. Carson exchanged a glance with him, and then eagerly left the father and son to their troubles, giving them privacy. Seeing the young heir in any emotional state was uncomfortable for him to say the least, and he simply did not know how to handle it.

"There, there, my boy," he patted his son's back. "Judging by your current state, I can only imagine that you have once more failed to tell that poor girl your true feelings for her."

Robert looked up at him in shock, "B-but, Papa, I-" he started, sniffling through his tears. He was silenced by the older man's powerful voice.

"Robert, you can try to deny it all you like, but I've seen the smile you wear on your face when that she is near, I've seen the way you strive to protect her from danger, but, son, I swear that you are the greatest danger to her right now. Be considerate of her situation. We have stolen her here into our foreign world, far from the people she knows and loves, and what for? Her fortune? To give you an heir? That is hardly the case. I know that you love her, and it is time that you act accordingly and tell her."

Though the words were harsh, they sunk into Robert's skin, and he felt truly ashamed of himself, "I know that you're right, Papa. I just don't know how to fix it."

"Show her how you feel, son. Please do not simply recite the words, for that will only push her further from you. You must wait for the right moment, and then confess your love to her. Start small, Robert, or I do fear you will only increase the space between you. Now, go, son. Find her and just hold her, kiss her, do whatever it takes to earn her faith in you back."

Robert nodded and stood, wincing as he tried to move his hand, "Send the doctor up when he arrives, Papa. I cannot risk infection at a time like this." As he climbed the stairs, he sighed, nervousness eating at him. He raised his hand to their bedroom door, allowing himself a breath before his knuckles collided with the wood. Here goes nothing.