Richard frowned. Out of all the time he has known Thomas he has never once heard someone call him 'Tommy'. How close were they?, he found himself thinking. Thomas's focus was entirely on David, but Richard made an effort to appear unaffected by this unexpected arrival.

"I'm sorry I-," Thomas paused as he tried to stop himself from stumbling over his own words. "I was not expecting you here. I suppose you should come in."

"Thank you Tommy, but no need to be so formal. Come here!" David said, pulling Thomas into a big hug that Thomas did not expect at all.

Richard couldn't help but be amused by Thomas's reaction to this unexpected hug. Thomas didn't really do hugs, apart from with him of course and it showed when Thomas stood rigid looking awkward and not knowing what he should be doing. In his defense though, this was not what he was intending on doing with his evening. They had literally been about to leave to go home.

Thomas cleared his throat and was released from David's hug. "No one ever calls me Tommy David," he said.

"No, if I recall no one was allowed too, you always corrected them. I was the exception wasn't I?" David asked.

"You were, but only because I liked you. I would tolerate it from you," Thomas said, a smile breaking onto his face finally. "How did you know that you would find me here?"

"Something you said one of the last times we saw each other, and a bit of guesswork," David said, pushing the door shut behind him, silencing the sound of the rain outside. "You said you might look for work in service as it's what everyone was doing and that it would be a good place to hide in plain sight."

"Lots of places I could have been though," Thomas said.

"True," David said, folding his arms. "But you mentioned Yorkshire and well I heard that Downton Abbey has had a bit of a reputation for trouble and so I immediately thought this would be a good place to start!"

"Why? Do you think trouble follows me around or I search it out on purpose?"

"No, no of course not!" David insisted. "Sorry that was meant as a joke, not one of my best. Anyway, Downton seems to have caused trouble without your help from what I've heard. Look, I'm not judging, not at all. Merely stating that I had to start somewhere and I thought of this place first that's all."

Thomas relaxed, accepting David's explanation. David did always have a wicked sense of humor, he thought. "Well here I am."

"Indeed you are! Thankfully. I wasn't looking forward to asking for you at places where you weren't. People might think that a bit strange," David said. He looked at his old friend. In some ways he did not look too different. He had the same ink black hair as he did when he was younger, that came from Thomas's father. Thomas was still as defensive of himself as he once was, but David understood that. They both had a very good reason too. He was still very good looking too, but not in the same way as when they saw each other last, as they were both fifteen then. He had turned out rather well. Thomas looked good dressed smartly, black suited him. David then noticed the man standing down the hallway, he was handsome too, David thought. He also noticed though that he was watching his and Thomas's exchange closely, whilst pretending not to be that bothered. "So are you a valet then?" he asked Thomas.

Thomas huffed. "No, I'm the butler," Thomas said, once again annoyed that people don't think he looks like he's in charge.

David laughed, as though Thomas was joking. "You can't be! Far too young," he said.

"Well as much as I like you don't think i look old, I am indeed the butler and have been for years okay?" Thomas said. Thomas heard Richard snigger to himself behind him.

"Oh! Well congratulations on the top job, you've gone further than me," David said. He saw Thomas give the man, who was failing to hide his smile, a meaningful look. "Is he a valet then?"

"What? No, he's not dressed right for it obviously," Thomas said, rolling his eyes. "You really have never worked in service have you?"

David smiled. "Nope, you gonna introduce me then?"

"Right, of course," Thomas said. This was all very overwhelming. He's here. After so long. Another thought came into his mind then. Why? And why now? Richard stepped forward and touched Thomas very briefly on the arm, as if to ask 'are you okay?' David noticed the gesture too, and Thomas's glimmer of a smile in response. "David, this is Richard Ellis, my um-" Thomas hesitated, he never knew how to finish these introductions. He wanted to say something like, 'the love of my life', but it was not easy and he always had to be cautious. "-a friend of mine." If Richard was disappointed by that, he didn't show it, Thomas knew he would understand. "Richard, this is David Mortimer. We were friends when we were children, we grew up together." Thomas caught David's eye as David shook Richard's hand, they both knew it was more than that, but they would leave their history alone for now.

"Pleasure," Richard said, all charm and smiles. "What brings you to Downton?" Richard had asked Thomas's question for him.

"I was looking for Thomas if I'm honest. I had to get out of Liverpool rather suddenly and I thought I'd try and find him," David said to Richard.

"Are you in trouble David?" Thomas asked, concerned.

"Oh no! Nothing too bad. Not anymore as long as I keep my distance for a while. It's a bit complicated but I thought, fresh start and all that, why not try and find you. I never forgot about you, I have wondered about what happened to you, hoped you were okay," David said. Richard thought Thomas didn't know what to say to that latter tender remark, and Richard was now wondering how close he and David really were. He seemed to recall Thomas mentioning someone called David before.

Thomas was not entirely convinced at how David quickly laughed off any of his worries. "So are you staying here? In Downton I mean. Or are you moving on?"

"I thought I'd stay for a bit. I'll confess I've been here all day but it took me all that time to pluck up the courage to see if you were here," David confessed.

"Have you got anywhere to stay tonight?" Thomas asked. Richard knew what Thomas was about to offer. It was not that he didn't like David, on first impressions he did, but to invite him into their home, was a risk if they didn't really know if they could trust him.

"I will sort something but I don't suppose his lordship has a spare room?" David joked.

"Well he does but not really," Thomas said. "You could come back with us if you like?"

"Us?" David asked. He felt his heart warmed by the fact that his initial suspicions seemed to be true about his friend and Mr Ellis, but they live together? Must be serious, he thought.

"Yeah, we share a flat. Cheaper than having our own," Thomas said.

David was about to give his answer but Richard interrupted him, "Thomas can I have a word with you in private please?"

"Back in a bit David, are you okay waiting here?" Thomas asked.

"Sure, go ahead," David said.

...

"Richard what is it?" Thomas asked.

"You can't ask him to stay with us. We don't even know him, we have no idea if he can be trusted!" Richard said.

"You don't know him. I do, and I can tell you we can trust him, absolutely," Thomas insisted as they stood in his office behind its closed door.

"Just because you knew him once doesn't mean you can trust him still, you both said yourselves, it's been decades!" Richard said, trying to stop himself from raising his voice.

"Well I trust my instincts that he's okay alright? Be honest with me Richard. What are your first impressions? Does he look like this is an elaborate lie?" Thomas asked, challenging him.

"Honestly, yeah I like him, seems like a decent bloke, but he's only here because he's escaping something that I think he's still afraid of," Richard answered.

"He is decent, yes. We all have our pasts. He was-" Thomas trailed off. "He was the only person I trusted back then and he only had me."

Richard saw Thomas focusing unnecessarily heavily on the desk behind him as though he was looking at a distant memory instead. "Thomas," he asked gently. "Who is he to you really?"

Thomas hung his head and sighed. "He's the reason I had to leave home. I loved him and he loved me. We were young and maybe we had no idea what that even meant, but I know that feeling."

"Am I going to be jealous?" Richard asked. "Because I believe we've been in a similar situation to this before when one of your ex's have shown up out of the blue and you've asked them to stay, am I right?"

Thomas knew Richard's tone meant he was teasing but maybe he just wanted reassurance too. "You won't be. I love you, and I don't think he's interested like that. But that's not entirely true though. Chris is not my ex, Richard and you know it."

"Yeah I know sorry, I can't help but see similarities that's all. When Chris showed up almost a year ago, we had the biggest argument and I broke a tea cup," Richard said.

Thomas smiled, despite the situation. "Yeah you did. I found pieces of it in between the floor tiles for weeks! It all worked out though didn't it? You and Chris are friends."

"It mostly worked out, he's still in love with you," Richard said.

"Not his fault," Thomas said.

"No, I know that."

"Look, this isn't about Chris. It's about David, he won't cause me any trouble okay? Trust me please?" Thomas asked.

"Okay fine, but he's going to have to know everything, unless you or I sleep in the living room tonight," Richard said.

"I know. He's smart though, I reckon he probably has figured us out already," Thomas said. "You put your hand on my arm earlier and he saw."

"It was only a slight gesture, but sorry."

"It's good really, Richard. Like I said, whilst we don't know why he's here or how long he will be here for, I trust him. I trust him with the most precious thing to me- you and our relationship," Thomas said. "So are we good?"

Richard sighed. "We are," Richard said, kissing Thomas briefly before they left the office together.

…

"Looks like you'll be coming back with us Mr Mortimer," Richard said to David.

"Thank you, you won't even know I'm there, I promise," David said cheerfully.

"I'll just be a minute. Got to fetch my coat from the laundry room. Charlotte put in there earlier to get the worst of the rain off it," Richard said.

"Okay, we'll wait here," Thomas said as Richard walked off down the hall.

"Thomas, are you sure it's okay I come back with you? I don't want to cause any trouble between you two," David said.

"You aren't. Richard was just being cautious, that's all. It's not you, really," Thomas said.

"He's worried I'm still interested in you and that you might be tempted right?" David said quietly.

"What! No, where did you get that idea from?" Thomas asked, but only so he could give the appearance of innocence.

"Really Tommy?" David said, giving him a knowing look. "Come on, the way you two are, for those of us who know what to look for, it's written all over your faces. Plus you live together and he adores you, I can tell."

Thomas looked down the hall in the direction Richard had gone and then back at David. "And you don't mind?"

"Tommy, I'm hardly one to judge, am I? Surely you remember that?" David asked.

"No I know, and yes I remember, of course I do," Thomas said tenderly. "I meant you don't mind me and him. You didn't come here hoping that I'd be available did you?"

"No, don't worry about that. You'll always be special Thomas, first loves are, but it's been too long and I think we both have moved on several times over right?" David asked.

"Yes, maybe not several times, but yes," Thomas confirmed. "Did you leave anyone behind in Liverpool?"

"No one I don't mind never seeing again. I think I may have missed my chance, but I'd be happy if I can call you a friend once more Tommy?" David asked.

"If I learned anything since being here, it's that it's never too late. And I'd like that, as long as you don't make it too known that you call me Tommy alright? I have to maintain some dignity," Thomas said, lightning the mood.

"Sure, though I still can't believe you're the butler. I was sure they were all supposed to be old and grey," David said.

"Well I'm the exception I think," Thomas said as Richard joined them again.

They walked out into the dark and the rain, though the rain was becoming lighter now, more like a heavy drizzle. Thomas locked the door and pocketed the keys and Richard put up the umbrella that he had brought up for him and Thomas. "We will have to squeeze together a bit if we are all to get under this," he said.

"You two have it, I don't mind the rain. It's refreshing," David said. "Besides these cases will get in the way," he said, holding two cases that he had hastily packed several nights before.

"How are you with cats Mr Mortimer?" Richard asked.

"Oh fine, I like animals, they are usually a lot less trouble than people are, and you may as well call me David," David said.

"He's a natural with them," Thomas said to Richard. "We found a stray cat when we were children. My parents told me to leave it, as did his, but we fed it in secret until it was strong enough to fend for itself again."

"You have a cat then?" David asked. "You really do have this domestic lifestyle worked out."

"He knows," Thomas said to Richard, who nodded.

"Course I do, and no I'm not jealous or about to steal him away from you Richard, I'm happy for him and I'm not just saying it," David said. Due to the darkness he didn't see Thomas's face at how cheerful he sounded. "Oh I almost forgot. Thomas, while I was waiting for you I saw Phyllis. I had no idea she was here too. We had a small catch up. That was a nice surprise."

"Yeah, she's her ladyship's maid. She hasn't been here as long as me, but she's been here a long while now. She's a good friend also, I owe her a lot," Thomas said. Maybe he would tell David about that one day, but not now. He didn't need to know about his past pain.

...

David stood by the window of Thomas and Richard's spare room watching the tiny droplets of drizzle floating around in the soft glow of the street lamps in the street below. The breeze would pick them up and whirl them around in several directions before they eventually fell to the ground. Lost in his thoughts David wondered if some of them were ever allowed to rest on the ground or if they were caught up in the wind forever? He looked out beyond the lights. Downton was an idyllic little place, a world away from the busy ever thriving Liverpool docks where he had spent a lot of his life after leaving home. He liked the countryside, and he liked it here. Maybe he could start over here? Maybe he could call this place home? They would never think to look for me in a little place like this, David thought. It was something he had been trying to ignore since he had come here and found Thomas again. He wanted to escape his demons.

There was a soft tickle against his ankles suddenly and he looked down to see a beautiful black cat with white paws staring up at him with large round black eyes. He chuckled and bent down to stroke the creature. "You must be Wilde, your friends told me about you," David said as he tickled Wilde behind one of his ears which had an old tear in the top of it. When he had arrived home earlier with Thomas and Richard, they had both told him about Wilde and had wanted to introduce him but unfortunately, Wilde was nowhere to be seen. Thomas suggested he was probably out hunting and would turn up later. "Any luck with hunting tonight?" he asked the cat. Wilde just purred and pushed his head further into David's hand as if to say, 'I'm not saying anything until you give me more tickles'.

"I see you've been introduced then?" Thomas said from the door.

David may not have the desire to be loved by Thomas like he once did but he couldn't ignore how fine he looked dressed more casually, his tie removed and his sleeves rolled up to the elbows. Richard is a lucky man. "Yes, he seems to like me, which is good," David said, standing up.

"He usually sleeps in here at the beginning of the night and then comes in with us later on," Thomas said. "So I suppose, he's wondering who is in his bedroom."

David laughed. "Possibly yeah. Thank you for this Tommy, I will try to stay out of the way though."

"You don't need to do that, join us for breakfast tomorrow?" Thomas asked.

"I'd like that, yes. But don't you eat at Downton Abbey?" David asked.

"Sometimes, I alternate between there and here. I'll stay here tomorrow," Thomas said. "How long are you staying in Downton David?"

"I'm not sure. I'm not really sure what I'm doing in general to be honest. I need to find somewhere else to start over, I would like it though if that place could be here. I did always like the countryside," David said.

"Are you okay?" Thomas asked. "I'm just getting the feeling you're running from something?"

"I was, but I hope I can stop that now," David answered cryptically. "I don't want to hide everything from you and Richard. The least you two deserve is the full story, but if you don't mind, I'll tell you all tomorrow?"

"Whenever you're ready, it's fine. We all have our secrets," Thomas said. "Goodnight David."

"Goodnight Tommy," David replied as Thomas pulled the door closed, but not shut, presumably so Wilde can get out if he wants too. Wilde jumped onto the bed and started licking himself in the beginning of a bedtime routine. "Hope you don't snore," he joked, looking at Wilde.

...

David woke up early. He had a restless sleep. Maybe it was because of sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, or maybe it was because of the events of the past day, probably more likely to be the latter. The light in the room was dim, the sun was about to rise outside, and Wilde had left the bottom of his bed, a small cat shaped depression in the covers at the bottom of the bed confirming he was there for a few hours last night. He decided to get up and hoped Thomas and Richard wouldn't mind if he got himself a glass of water. After refreshing himself and getting dressed, he made his way downstairs. All was quiet so they must have still been asleep when he crept along the hall, through the living room and down the stairs into the kitchen behind Richard's book shop. They had talked a little last night before going to bed and David had found out that Richard and Thomas met when the King and Queen stayed at Downton over five years ago. Richard had been second valet to the King back then and after maintaining a long distance relationship over many years, he had quit his job and moved to Downton to be with Thomas. David filled up a glass at the sink and leaned against it as he drank it leisurely. He thought today he might have a bit of an explore around the area, just to see what's what. If staying here was possible for him, he should get to know the area a bit. He finished the water and washed out the glass before leaving the kitchen. He was about to go upstairs again when he heard them both talking. It seems they were awake after all, he thought as he loitered at the bottom of the stairs, his back to the open kitchen door. He couldn't make out much as their voices were quiet and muffled but he picked up the odd bit. "Were you two kicked out at the same time?" David heard Richard ask Thomas.

"Yeah, we were careless, got caught. Not much more to say really, that was the end of that," David heard Thomas say sadly. David really did intend to go upstairs and was about to, feeling bad for listening in on a private conversation, even though it was about him, when suddenly he was forced back hard against the wall at the bottom of the stairs by a man he didn't recognise, who now had his arm against his throat. David was caught so unaware by the stranger's actions that he wasn't even that concerned for a few moments.

"What are you doing?" the man hissed angrily...

...

A few moments earlier...

Chris strolled (as well as a man with a limp could stroll anyway) along the main street in the village towards the shop. Despite last night's discoveries and the memories that were brought to the surface as a result, he felt in a good mood. He had decided to bury those thoughts of times gone by and the things he had to do, and start the day afresh. It was in the past, nothing he could do about it now so he was going to forget about it, or at the very least, ignore his troubles. He saw Wilde trot across the street in the direction of the shop and disappear down the alley down the side where the other door was, and was just in time to see him jump over the garden fence. Wilde had ignored him, as any cat would when they were on mission to terrorise the local mouse population. He smiled to himself as he took the key to the shop door out of his pocket and unlocked the door. They would have to keep an eye out for any 'presents' that Wilde might decide to bring in later. From within the shop, which was being dimly lit by the rising sun behind closed blinds, he heard the tap in the kitchen running before switching off. They're early this morning, he thought. After tidying a few things away in the shop, slowly as he was not in any sort of rush, he eventually entered the kitchen. The kitchen was empty and quiet and he heard Thomas talking in the room above him, he heard Richard too after, which was concerning as until that moment, he assumed the shadow cast by the sun coming through the side door into the small hallway at the bottom of the stairs belonged to either Thomas or Richard. With a jolt of fear, he realised quickly it was neither of them. He put his bag down quietly on the table, not taking his eyes off this intruder as he crept slowly, so as to keep his footsteps as silent as possible, over to the open kitchen door. His memories of creeping around peoples houses at night in York came back once more. He wasn't sure what his intentions were, all he knew was he had to keep them out of danger. He could see now that the person was a man, although he had his back to him so he didn't see his face, and that this man seemed to be listening in on Thomas and Richard's conversation. He was listening very intently, it seemed, as when Chris made his move and sprung around to pin the intruder up against the wall, he didn't seem that bothered, almost like it hadn't sunk in yet. Chris didn't care. He knew he would not have the upper hand in most fights and so the element of surprise was his best card to play. "What are you doing?" Chris asked angrily. The man was still staring wide eyed at him, right back at him as they were of equal height. He didn't answer. He just looked bewildered. Chris tried a different approach. "Who sent you? Or are you here on your own thinking you can invade people's privacy and get off on it? What are you going to get out of this? I warn you if you so much as consider repeating anything you have seen or heard to another soul I swear I will make you live to regret it! I have not come all this way to see him hurt by the likes of you!"

"Look mate I don't want any trouble believe me!" the man said. He didn't sound like he was intimidated by Chris's actions. He sounded confused by them.

"And why would I do that?" Chris said, pushing the man back further so that he was now pinned back against the wall by Chris's hand on the wall by his head and his other arm at his throat still. Chris was close enough to be able to feel the other man's rapid heartbeat.

"Yeah why would you? Fair enough," the man said, who seemed to be rather calm considering. "I'm not intruding, I'm a guest here. Thomas is a friend of mine."

"Like hell he is! He's never mentioned you!"

Chris was vaguely aware of two pairs of footsteps on the floor above and then on the top of the stairs. "Chris! What are you doing?" Thomas exclaimed. He and Richard had been getting dressed when they heard raised voices below them and they rushed down to see what was going on. Thomas did not expect his friend to have his arm to the throat of his other friend.

Chris didn't take his eyes off the man he was restraining, who was now starting to feel the force of the arm to his throat. "Found him listening in on you. If it's not enough for them to threaten us in public now they come into our homes! I won't have this!"

Thomas exchanged a brief glance with Richard who agreed the same thing Thomas was thinking. Chris doesn't know who David is, of course this looks bad to him. Thomas was not expecting Chris to react this way though. He never seemed to be the violent type. Thomas had to stop this, before David started being starved of air. "Chris it's fine," he said, quickly descending the stairs to Chris and David. "He's right. He is a friend of mine, I invited him back with us last night okay?" Thomas put his hand on Chris's arm and Chris jumped and his attention left David.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I haven't seen him for a very long time. It's a bit of a long story," Thomas said reassuringly. "David is okay alright, trust me." David watched Chris's reaction to Thomas's touch and then realised how Chris had only said 'him' not 'them' when he was threatening him just now. Three's a crowd? he pondered.

Convinced, Chris removed his arm from David's throat. His hand that was on the wall remained there and he put his other hand on the wall on the opposite side of David's head, as he sighed deeply whilst hanging his head, and caught his breath as he tried to calm down as the fear that was pumping through him began to disperse. He now started to notice the man in front of him. He was roughly the same height as him with keen blue eyes and messy blonde hair that looked as though it hadn't been brushed so far today. He was muscular too, but obviously a much more relaxed character than he ever was as he never made a move to fight back, and by the looks of him he clearly could have. His skin was fair but slightly tanned so it was a bit of a mix between Thomas and Richard's by comparison. David moved his head and some of his messy blonde hair fell onto his forehead and Chris found himself surprised by a desire to push it away from his eyebrows. "So that's all cleared up then!" David said cheerily. Chris was still only a few inches away from his face and David hadn't looked away as he spoke. "I may have been a little sleepy earlier but I can say that I am definitely awake now, thank you Chris."

I attacked him and he's thanking me? Acting as if nothing has happened? "You're welcome?" Chris said, unsure.

"Well as much as I'm enjoying this Chris, do you think you can let me go now so I can go and put some socks on?" David asked with a small smile.

Chris looked down. He hadn't noticed that David was bare footed before. He cursed himself, What kind of intruder would come in without shoes? "Um, right yeah, sure," Chris mumbled as he stood back and David brushed himself off. "Sorry I'm Chris Webster, I work here, in the shop, with Richard."

"David Mortimer. I'm the long story that Thomas was talking about," David joked.

"Right," Chris said. There was an awkward silence which Richard broke.

"We were about to have breakfast, you two joining us?" Richard asked.

"Sure," both Chris and David answered at once. Behind Richard, Thomas smiled.