continued...

now things get exciting... War has been declared...

Chapter Seven

Early September, 1939

"George? Are you sure about this?" Sybbie watched her cousin carefully. He glanced at her with his light blue eyes and then looked back at the train that was slowly chugging away from the platform.

"I am sure." He sighed ever so slightly. He was going to be in a heap of trouble with his grandparents for this but hopefully he could catch the next train and could speak with them before they were shocked by what he had done. "I should send a telegram to Downton to explain though. Donk and Granny are going to be upset with me."

"You aren't kidding about that..." Sybbie couldn't help but grin at the expression on his face. She wasn't sure if George had ever really been in trouble with his grandparents. Today might be the first time, but Sybbie was sure he could charm his way out if it. And she agreed completely with what he was doing.

The cousins both looked in the same direction at a shout of their names. The young Irishman they both adored so much came running towards them with a package in his hand.

"Hiya! If we can make it to the office before four, we can pick up the rest of it today and we won't have to come back to London. Who knows when we'll be able to make it back again. If the bombing takes out any of the tracks we might be stuck at home for awhile so we should hurry."

James stopped before his fiance and gently ran his fingers down her lapel. He gently took the ends of her pink scarf and tied them a touch tighter around her slender neck. She smiled at him and it warmed his heart, like it always did. He leaned over to kiss her gently on the cheek. She closed her eyes for just a moment and smiled deeper.

"We have to make another stop before we go as well." James winked at Sybbie and took her hand while he grinned at his friend. "What are you waiting for? Christmas?"

George shook his head and grinned. "You two are impossible." He tagged along behind them, pulling his collar up against both recognition from the many people milling about the platform and the chill wind that had stirred up.

"I have to stop and send a telegram..." He spoke it loud enough for the two in front of him to hear and James stopped suddenly, sending George slamming into his back.

"What man! Are you trying to drop me?" George twisted to avoid completely tumbling over his friend.

"Do you hear that?" James paused only long enough to look quickly at his counterparts. They both heard the air sirens starting up in the distance as well. "We have to hurry."

"James! We should take cover." Sybbie didn't look scared exactly, but her newly trained nurses mind was already analyzing how best she could be useful is this wasn't a false alarm.

As though reading her mind, James reassured her.

"I'm sure it's just a test. Don't worry. You'll be back to the hospital before dusk, you won't even be a minute late. I promise." He stared at her deeply in the eyes and tried to be convincing. He tried not to let his true feelings at her refusing to come home be seen, but they were there.

James and George had come to London the previous day to drag Sybbie, if necessary, back to Downton at both her father's and her Grandfather's request. She had adamantly refused to leave the hospital where her practical had begun a week earlier. Casualties were already overwhelming the staff and Sybbie would not leave her post, no matter how hard George and James had tried to convince her. James was not happy about her decision but respected her for making it. He knew she would not be convinced otherwise while she felt a certain way. He knew her well enough to know that for certain.

Another plan of action had come up while they had been trying to persuade her and George had jumped at the opportunity. He would go home without Sybbie, but what would await him there now terrified him just a bit.

His Grandparents largely were the cause of his greatest concern.

There was a chance they would be livid at what he had done, but he was old enough to make some decisions now. His birthday was only a few weeks away and he would be legal age. If his Grandparents had preached at him to start acting like an adult, he had jumped into the role with a vengeance. He would brave the storm that would likely follow his arrival back at Downton.

The three of them ran away together to get their errands completed before they ran out of time to get Sybbie back to her dormitory as well as James and George back on the next train. The air siren was blaring loudly now and most of the crowd around them was heading underground but they were heading up. They knew of a post office up the street just a short way and Sybbie led them in the right direction. James said he would run and do the other errand while George sent the telegram to his Grandparents. Sybbie stayed with her cousin and watched her fiance run off as fast as he could. She smiled.

George took her by the sleeve and led her inside.

"He'll be back in no time, can you bear to be away from him for so long?" His sarcasm was not lost on her, but his often-present charming grin made her pretend to swat at him. He laughed.

He took a deep breath and stepped up to the operator.

"These could be my final words to them you know." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Stop being dramatic. You are doing the right thing." She put her gloved hand on his arm to assure him.

"I certainly hope so."

James met up with them about an hour later with a very important piece of paper tucked into his jacket pocket. He was grinning from ear to ear and George wondered if they would have time to make the one more stop they needed to make. It was approaching three o'clock and he knew the next train would leave in about an hour. The three of them discussed what they would do and it was decided that they couldn't risk the time it would take to do the final errand.

They headed back towards the station and were shocked at the number of people heading to the underground safety and protection from the imminent bombing. There were murmurings from many people around them that the siren was no test. That London was going to be bombed in broad daylight. George noticed at one point just how calm everyone seemed to be. Everyone was slowly and carefully marching down into the tunnels away from the street. As they approached the platform, George and James both commented that there was no train waiting. Sybbie held onto the hand of her fiance tightly, trying not to seem scared, but she was.

"What do we do?" James asked his friend.

"I suppose we take cover." George shrugged.

The three of them followed a small group of crowd breakaways down off the platform and further into one of the tunnels. James wrapped his arm around Sybbie when he felt her shudder and she tried to smile at him. The three of them stayed close. Sybbie looked behind her and smiled at a little boy holding onto his mother's hand. She smiled at the mother too. Everyone looked so very nervous and she found a bravery that she didn't know was in her and was determined to be strong no matter what happened.

The crowd all gathered close together and as minutes passed, eventually everyone started to sit down on the cold ground, with no regard to the state of what their trousers would look like when they stood back up again. Someone commented that they were probably going to be there for awhile, so everyone should just get comfortable.

Sybbie sat on James' lap and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. She was grateful for the warmth he provided and leaned back into him for comfort. George sat next to him so that their shoulders touched. Someone else sat as close to George on his other side, and he didn't mind at all. The closeness amongst the strangers made them all feel a little better as they waited for something. Anything.

They didn't wait long.

It started as a loud rumble, and then was followed quickly by more of them. The lights swayed and the walls erupted with dust and the occasional crack appeared in the wall opposite them. As ceiling rubble crashed down around them, George leaned over both his friend and his cousin and shielded them with little concern for himself for what felt like hours. He learned later that it was only two, but never had time passed so slowly for him. Or anyone near them.

It was terrifying not knowing when it was going to end and George had noticed that a number of large chunks of the ceiling had fallen about them. Some of the lights hadn't broken so they could all see the faces of each other while they sat perfectly still once the bombing had apparently stopped. No one made so much as a peep and once it had been silent foe some time, George and a few others stood up and looked around.

The dust was starting to settle and the light that had emanated from the opening of the tunnel seemed significantly dimmer than it had before.

George helped up Sybbie and James and looked both of them over carefully. Despite being very dirty, the three of them were unharmed. Sybbie heard a crying from the little boy she had seen earlier and made her way over to him. She noticed immediately that the boy's mother had not fared well. The upper part of her body was was covered by a large chunk of the ceiling and Sybbie knew there was no hope for her. She picked up the little boy and shielded his eyes from having to look any longer at the site. She hurried back to James and handed him the boy.

"We have to get out of here. People are going to need help." She made sure James had a good hold of the little one and nodded in the direction of the tunnel opening.

James took her hint and took the boy out to safety as fast as he could. George was helping an older gentleman and his wife make their way back. Once they reached the platform again, they saw that a number of people were hurt and that rubble was all around. One thing was for certain, there was no way they were getting out of London any time soon.

His grandparents and Tom would have to deal with what he had instigated, and he didn't envy their reactions. It was going to be a long night for everyone that he knew.

After passing off the little boy to someone else, James helped the man and the woman that George was escorting up onto the platform and George headed back into the tunnel to see where he could help.

James caught up to him and the two young men worked all night to make sure everyone was safe and evacuated from the tunnels. Sybbie used her nursing skills as best as she could remember and helped a great many people with minor injuries, and she did what she could for those more severely injured. By the time the three of them emerged into the dawn light together, they hadn't realized it until that moment, but their young lives had just changed.

Forever.

Barrow came into the drawing room and found The Lord and Lady of the house sitting on the sofa by the fire. The fire was built up quite large and the Butler made a mental note to tell the kitchen maid that she was stacking the wood too high. Lord Grantham turned towards him and held up his empty brandy glass to his long-time Butler.

"I'll have another Barrow." Robert winked at his wife when she gave him a disproving look. She said nothing though. If he wanted a second drink before dinner who was she to say. He had been terribly worried the past few weeks and with good reason.

"This arrived for you Sir, just moments ago." Barrow handed the old Lord the piece of folded paper, and took the empty glass. He walked away to fill it while Robert read the telegram carefully.

He read it again.

"What is it my dear?" Cora saw the colour fade from her husband's face and she reached out to touch his arm.

"It's from George. I'm afraid he's done something very rash, and spent a great sum of money to do so."

Cora grabbed the note from her husband's hand and scanned it quickly to see for herself what had shocked him so. She felt the colour drain from her own face.

"He can't be serious. This has to be some sort of prank." She held her hand over her heart and stood up quickly.

Robert stood up as well and made his way over to the radio and turned it on.

They both listened in horror to the reports of the bombings in London and knew instantly that what George had orchestrated was likely true.

Barrow came back into the room with the filled glass and was surprised by both of them standing by the radio.

"What is happening Sir?" Barrow was confused.

"Barrow, you had better assemble all the staff you can muster, it seems we're about to receive some unexpected guests." Robert took a large swig of his drink and leaned against the table.

Barrow nodded. "How many should we prepare for?"

Robert held the note up to his line of sight again.

"Approximately one hundred and seventy two."

Barrow only stared. "And when shall we expect them?"

Lord Grantham looked at the large clock on the mantle.

"In about an hour. And they'll need to be fed. You should probably fetch Mr. Branson and his wife as well. Hop to it man, we've no time to lose." Robert clapped Barrow on the back as he walked past him.

"I would be prepared for more. It seems that our Grandson seems intent on evacuating London of it's children on his very own." Cora spoke sweetly to Barrow. His life was about to be turned upside down rather suddenly. "I would guess that Sybbie may have had something to do with this as well..."

Barrow had just a slight look of pride overcome his paled face.

"Aren't you just so proud of him?" Cora stood briefly in front of her husband and steadied him after he stopped by the door of the room. Shock had hit him rather suddenly.

"Of course I am. It's about time all these empty rooms were filled again. And for what better cause than to protect the children of this country." Robert looked proudly at his wife. So much they had seen together in their lives. And more was to come.

The two of them were silent, staring at each other, wondering to themselves about the condition of their three oldest Grandchildren. Two of them in London, which was being bombed as they stood there, and the third who had seemingly vanished from the face of the earth after being traced to Switzerland.

War was upon them, and the world was on fire.

Family was out in it.

to be continued...

thank you for reading. xo