"Uncle Alex, catch me next!"
Sybbie Branson called out as Alexander just sets George Crawley and Caroline Talbot down in his arms after catching them and spinning them around in his arms
"Oh, I'll get you now Sybbie!" Alex then sets George and Caroline down and chases her around the library
Alexander loves spending time with his nieces Sybbie and Caroline, and nephew George in every opportunity he can. He does miss his other niece, Marigold, as she just moved to Brancaster Castle along with her mother and stepfather
Sybbie then laughs as her uncle finally caught him, and spins her around in his arms as well before carefully setting her down again
"Now, we will catch you!" she then said, and they all run towards him
"Oh, no!" Alex said, and they all run around again before the kids finally caught him, wrapping their arms around his legs
"We got you!" they giggled
"Yes..." Alex smiles, and gently ruffles their hairs "You all finally got me"
The library door then opened, revealing Cora and Robert
"Granny! Donk!"
The kids then ran to them, and hugs both of them
"Hello, darlings!" Robert smiles as they hug them bac
"What are you doing here with Uncle Alex?" Cora asked
"Uncle Alex was playing catch with us!" George told excitedly while Caroline nods in agreement
"Really?" Robert chuckles softly
Alex then chuckles along "We've been playing for about half an hour now
"But now I believe Nanny has to take them for a bath now" Cora said
"Awwww!" the kids pouted, not wanting to end their playtime just yet
"Don't worry, we can continue playing later at teatime" Alex smiles at them
"Really, Uncle Alex?" Sybbie aske
Alex nods, making the kids cheer and hug him before rushing back upstairs for their baths.
"Just don't break any vases" Robert teased as he sat down by his des
"We'll try our best not to" Alex chuckles softly
"Alex and I will go for a walk before tea" Cora smiles, and kisses her husband on his cheek
"Alright then. Have fun, you two" Robert smiles
"We will, Papa" Alex smiles, and kisses his cheek as well before offering his arm to his Mama
"Shall we, milady?"
"We shall, milord"
They then both laugh as they headed out to the gardens.
Robert chuckles softly to himself and smiles as he watched his wife and son go out for a walk. He is glad that his son has grown to a gentleman that he wished he would. With his and Cora's four children, they were all more free and happier than his and Rosamund's childhood combined. Growing up in a traditional household, they weren't given much of the freedom and had to obey by the customs and the rules of their society
Whenever he and his older sister gets freedom, it is usually from running away at balls and parties, or sneaking out of the house whenever their parents are away. They both like defying the rules their Mama give them, which is no wonder why Violet is disappointed with them most of the time
He is happy that all of his children, despite the traditionalist in him overshadow sometimes, ended all happy with their lives:
Their eldest child, Mary, married twice, and both to the men that she loves the most
Their second daughter, Edith, became the highest-ranking member of the family when she got married, despite having a daughter from another man
Sybil...oh their darling Sybil. Even though she married a chauffeur, she; like her older sisters, married the man she loves
And as for his son Alexander, he hopes that one day, he'll marry for love as well. His son is a good man, and he can see that one day, he'll be a great man, probably even greater than him.
But of course, all of this wouldn't be possible without his wife, Cora. If weren't for her, he would've been like his mother. Robert does admit that his wife softened his heart, and made the traditionalist mindset in him gradually fade away. He became less strict, and gave their children more options and freedom as they grow up...most of the time
He thoughts went elsewhere, and looks at the settee nearby their fireplace, the same settee where he remembered that one night where Alex stayed up late with him in the very same spot...
March 1920
One night, Robert was staying up late, already in his sleeping robes and reading a book. He then heard a knock on the door, revealing Nanny and his five-year-old son, Alexander
"Nanny. It's quite late for you to be up at this hour" Robert said, quickly standing up from the settee "Is something of the matter?"
"Everything's all right, milord" Nanny said "Is just that Lord Downton wants to sleep with you and Lady Grantham tonight"
Robert looks at his son, who was hiding behind Nanny
"Of course, he can sleep with us" Robert replied "But if he wants, he can stay with Papa for a while before he heads up to bed with Mama. Is that all right?
Alex nods, before running to his father and holding onto his leg, making Robert chuckle softly
"I can take care of him now, Nanny. Don't worry" Robert smiles and carries his son up in his arms "Say good night to Nanny now, Alex
"Good night, Nanny" Alex said shyly
"Good night, Lord Downton. Good night, Your Lordship" Nanny smiles back at them before heading upstairs again
Robert smiles looks at his son "Now, what do you want to do, Alex?
"Read me a story, pwease...?" Alex asked adorably, making his father chuckle again
They then head to their bookshelf, and found the section where all the children's books are kept.
"Choose which story you like, then I'll read it to you" Robert said, and lets Alex browse over to the many children's books that they have. He then finally gave his father one small, blue, hardbound book with the title: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
"Ah, yes...a classic one" Robert then sat back down with Alex in the settee nearby the fireplace, prompting his son to sit on his leg. The little boy then laid his back down on his father's chest
As soon as he saw his son is comfortable in his position, he then opens the book, and starts reading to him
"Once upon a time, there were three bears—Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear..."
Halfway through the book however, Alex yawns sleepily. Robert then pauses and closes the book before looking at him
"Do you want to go up now?" he aske
Alex nods sleepily. Robert then sets the book down on the table before gently carrying up in his arms.
"I love you, Papa..." Alex said, completely falling asleep in his arms after
Robert felt his heart melted, not by the warm fire, but what his son had just said. Although it was not the first time he heard him say that to him, it was the first time he said it with just the two of them alone
"I love you too, my darling boy" he then quietly whispers to his ear before kissing his little forehead and head upstairs to his wife's room
Robert snaps back to reality when he heard Cora and Alex's laughter outside. He turns to the window and saw his son making his mother happy and smiling, to which he smiles as well
He thought about his son's decision on going to another school aside from Eton. From his experience, Eton was a good school: the most traditional and posh school in all of England. Of course, belonging to high society, it was somehow already planned that he go there. He didn't really have any other options, as he was aware that every elite young men like him is required to go there
Of course, he wanted his son, his heir, to go there as he and his fathers before him did. He never expected Alex to have another option. He was aware of Harrow School. He knows that Harrow is as prestigious as Eton, all but with one difference: Harrow isn't as strict and as traditional as Eton
Robert is now regretting his initial reaction to his son. The way he said that he was a bit disappointed in him. In reality, he was not disappointed. He was proud at his son's bravery of defying the rules of society at a very young age. He now blames the traditionalist self for emerging once again
That...and another thing: his fear of his mother's disapproval. Violet is now the most traditionalist person in their household, and if she hears that her grandson is not going to Eton...well, she wouldn't be just angry at Alex, but to him and to his wife as well. He now must find a way not just to stand up for himself, but for his family as well
He now has a final decision to give for his son. Never mind the consequences he'll face on his mother. If there is anything he has learned in his 61 years of living, is that as long as his children are happy, he will be happy for them...no matter what