A Blessed Wedding
Disclaimer: I don't own Downton Abbey.
This is set during A New Era, after Tom and Lucy's wedding, but before the Crawley's sail for France.
Tom grinned as his new family entered Saint Anne's Catholic Church in Ripton. He hadn't stopped smiling since the wedding; he was so full of joy that Lucy fitted the man he was now and Sybbie perfectly.
"Will they all know I'm Anglican?" Lucy said softly, her eyes darting around nervously to the other parishioners.
Tom touched his new wife's hand in comfort as the three of them sat in the pew. His new wife wasn't nearly as confident as Sybil had been, but he thought she was overcoming her anxiety from being illegitimate more and more. "They will be quite welcoming, Lucy, because you are my wife. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to be Catholic to enter this church. Just remember not to take Communion."
Sybbie nodded enthusiastically. "Everyone here is nice, Mum. Especially Father Johnson. He always has a blessing and a hug for me." Tom nodded, loving the relationship that had developed between his daughter and their priest. They weren't as close as Sybbie and her Donk, but he was another important figure in her life.
At that, Lucy smiled at both of them. "Thank you. I know we've discussed this already, but…" she sighed.
"No need to explain," Tom said, patting her hand in comfort again. How many times had he been anxious about attending fancy events with the Crawley's over the years, even though it had been explained to him previously?
Just then the organ music began, and the choir chanted. And Tom was immersed in the Latin rites of his Catholic roots.
OOOOOOOOOOO
The recessional hymn finished, and the organ ceased a little over an hour later, and most of the parishioners left the pews. "So, we are going to see Father Johnson now?" Sybbie said, standing up with a large smile that reminded Tom so much of his Sybil.
"Are you ready for this?" Tom said to Lucy, hoping his voice didn't sound too forceful. She'd been quite nervous about entering the Catholic Church this morning. But he desperately wished his marriage to be blessed by the priest.
Lucy nodded firmly, her eyes bright. "Yes, Tom. You agreed we could be married in the Anglican Church, so now I will honour your faith." Tom's grin widened in response. Compromise seemed easier with Lucy than with Sybil; perhaps it was because their relationship was still new or maybe it was because he was a bit older and wiser.
Or maybe it was because Sybil's death had changed him so much. Gone was the stubborn, rebellious, passionate man and in place was a calmer person who still struggled with his identity sometimes. Calm, sweet Lucy who also struggled with her identity, considering the secret of her birth, fit him perfectly.
So Tom took Lucy's hand as they approached Father Johnson. He was a middle – aged man, a bit younger than the priest who had Baptized Sybbie; Father Johnson had taken over the church when Sybbie was quite young after the other priest had retired.
"Hello Father Johnson," Tom said carefully, holding Lucy's hand tightly, so to inspire her confidence.
"Father Johnson!" Sybbie grinned, almost running toward one of her favorite people.
"May God bless you, Sybbie," he said prayerfully and patting her on the head, as he always did. Then he embraced her with a hug. Tom's heart melted at the sight, reminding him what a loving man this priest was. Certainly, their request would be granted, although it was rather unusual.
"This is my new wife, Lucy," Tom said, looking directly at Father Johnson. "We were married last Saturday, at the Anglican Church, and we'd like your blessing as well."
Father Johnson smiled but didn't answer. Of course, traditionally in a Catholic wedding, both parties should be Catholic; the priests had made a fuss about that because Sybil wasn't Catholic as well. They'd finally been able to wed in St. Paul's study, but it hadn't been a fancy wedding.
Lady Bagshaw was desperately trying to acknowledge Lucy more, inspired in part because of Sybil's decision to marry Tom, and wished her daughter to have the fancy wedding Lucy deserved. Lucy, honored by her mother's gesture, had asked that Tom accept.
And of course, he did. Tom knew exactly what it was like to be honored and feel loved by such a gesture, as the Crawley's had given him the same for years.
"Would you be willing to Baptize your children Catholic?" Father Johnson asked Lucy in his gentle voice that was impossible to be offended.
Lucy sighed. Tom knew this was a much more difficult question for her than Sybil. Sybil had been rebelling against her family and eagerly embracing her new life in Ireland when she was asked that question, so she agreed easily. Lucy was happy to remain English and hoped to make her mother happy with their future children.
But Lucy also understood very well why Tom struggled with his identity as an Irishman living with English aristocrats, as she also struggled with it as an illegitimate woman living among aristocrats. And she knew Tom's roots were more important than most people realized.
So, she said, "We have spoken about it at length, and I can accept that."
To Tom's immense relief, Father Johnson nodded. "Kneel down, please."
Tom and Lucy did so.
Making the sign of the cross, Father Johnson then prayed the traditional Latin blessing.
Tom and Lucy stood, grinning. Sybbie hugged both of them. "Now you're truly my mum!" she said, as if she couldn't ask for anything more.
Lucy hugged her in return, and Tom couldn't ask for anything more, either.
As much as I wish they hadn't killed Sybil, I love Tom and Lucy as a couple in the movies. But I was disappointed there was no reference to Tom being a Catholic at their wedding or after.
This is my attempt to fix that while still keep the canon.