Stephen snuggled into Daniel's bare chest as they lay together in the dim lamplight of Daniel's bedroom. This would not normally be possible due to Daniel's parents, however they had gone away to Manchester for a few days to visit some of Daniel's mother's family. Daniel had stayed in Downton as someone had to run the butchers shop he and his father usually managed. Stephen had no complaints with this arrangement, apart from the fact that Daniel couldn't get away to be with him during the day. Stephen, as a result, had spent his half day off in the afternoon reading a few books he had rented from Mr Ellis's shop. Mr Ellis had asked him if the usual one week rental period was enough and had offered to extend it if he needed to. Stephen was a quick reader if he was undisturbed, which he had been for most of the afternoon so this was not a problem but he appreciated the offer anyway. He had noticed now Mr Webster looked different and he reckoned he could safely assume that he and David Mortimer were doing okay. He was glad for him, for them both. He had hated seeing Mr Webster the way he was a couple of days ago when he was drunk out of his mind with sadness and anger at himself. Stephen was also glad that there was someone out there for him at last. Maybe it wasn't talked about, but he knew Mr Webster's feelings for Mr Barrow, he could see that on his face sometimes.

Stephen's lack of time with Daniel during the day didn't matter as he could spend the evenings and nights with him for a few days, as long as he left early enough to get back to Downton Abbey before it started to get light and with the evenings drawing in, this was made easier than it would have been a few months earlier. They had been lying in comfortable silence for a while. It was late and they couldn't put a brighter light on as the neighbours may notice two figures in Daniel's room otherwise, but they adapted. There was a thick blanket hung from the window behind the curtains. This was Daniel's idea and it was a smart one at that as it allowed them to have a small light on and not just be in the dark. "Are you going to the fields tomorrow to help bring in the last of the harvest?" Stephen asked Daniel.

Daniel sighed deeply, enjoying the all too rare feeling of Stephen's hair tickling his chest. He was sitting up ever so slightly, a few pillows behind him supporting him enough so that he was able to look down at Stephen who was using him as his own pillow. "I volunteered for that earlier today. Mr Tomlinson was too annoyed with the mechanical failure of the machinery he hired last year to bring it all in the modern way. He'll have to adapt to it sometime, but not now I suppose. Are you going to be there?"

"Might be able to get away for a couple of hours. It will depend on whether Mr Barrow can spare anyone I suppose." Stephen looked up at Daniel fondly, turning on to his side slightly so he could get a better view of him.

Daniel teased a smile. "Oh I think he will be able to spare you."

"You seem rather certain of that?"

"Well, I know Mr Ellis will be there, like he was last year and so I think Thomas will find a way of being around for a bit too. Mr Webster also. Not that he would be able to help physically but he's smart and I'm sure he will think of something so he could be around Mr Mortimer."

"How did you know about that?" Stephen had not told Daniel about what he knew about Mr Mortimer and Mr Webster, he had promised not to tell anyone.

"I thought that was obvious. Those two, sometimes they are more obvious than us!"

Stephen frowned. "You can't let it become too well known, okay? We owe him remember? His quick thinking saved us." Stephen recalled the incident in the book shop almost a year ago when he and David had been flirting a bit too openly. Mr Webster had distracted a woman who was too curious and had made her forget anything she thought she had seen.

"I would never dream of it, don't worry. I don't think many, or indeed any other than us lot, have noticed anything. People find it so strange that they never consider it as an option sometimes. So they don't see what we do, if that makes any sense."

"I know what you're saying."

"How long can you stay tonight?" Daniel asked.

"Until maybe an hour before sunrise. Maybe a bit before that to be safe." Stephen sighed and Daniel noticed.

"What is it?"

"Nothing much just...I'd rather not leave that's all."

Daniel couldn't tell him to stay, it was too much of a risk for both of them. "I know it's not much comfort but I don't want you to leave either."

"No, I like hearing you say that." Stephen felt Daniel shift beneath him as he moved away so Stephen was now lying on the mattress instead of Daniel's warm chest. His disappointment was short lived though as Daniel only adjusted his position so he could kiss him. "What was that for?" he asked as Daniel lay diagonally across his chest so he was half on top of him.

"You were frowning too much. We can't let things bother us tonight. I wanted to take that frown off your face and replace it with something nicer." Daniel gazed lovingly down at the man below him who was now smiling shyly.

"Better."

"What?"

"It's better not nicer," Stephen corrected.

"Whatever, you read too much Stephen," Daniel teased as they kissed again, a light tickle of their lips at first before things intensified as Daniel felt an eager hand on his back pull him down closer to Stephen.

Stephen let Daniel move so that he was completely on top of him, their legs tangled below the sheets that were lying low down Daniel's naked back. Their kisses became more fervent as tongues clashed and Stephen gripped tighter to Daniel impatiently. The downsides of only having a single bed though were hard to ignore as, in his eagerness, Daniel wobbled and had to quickly reach for the wall with his hand to stop himself from falling out of bed and onto the floor into the narrow gap between the bed and the wall. Stephen chuckled into Daniel's neck as he rescued himself from an embarrassing accident. "You alright?"

"Yeah. Sorry." Daniel's embarrassment was short lived as Stephen distracted him with a deliberate kiss and nibble behind his ear. "Since my parents aren't here there is another bed available. It would make things easier?"

Stephen stopped tracing kisses on Daniels neck and looked at him shocked. "Are you suggesting-?"

"-I am."

"Daniel as much as I love you, I am not having sex with you in your parents room!"

Daniel smiled down at him with adorable mock innocence. "Why not? You had sex with me on my parents sofa downstairs earlier?"

"Bedroom is different. I would feel awkward. No, either you can have me here or I'm leaving." Stephen failed to hide his smile in his attempt to sound serious.

"Very well, as long as I can't persuade you?"

"No, now shut up with your silly ideas and kiss me." Stephen retained his composure just long enough to be able to reach for the light, not to turn it off, but to turn it up a little, he was very keen on seeing all of Daniel tonight.

...

Richard gathered up the post that he needed to take to the post office the following morning. He had a few parcels to send to customers who ordered books over the telephone. Not many did this as whilst telephones had been around for several years, they were still not common for most ordinary people. Chris had decided that they needed a few new shelves and had taken it upon himself to put them up on the wall. He had been working all morning, and all of yesterday, with an almost dreamy smile on his face, and a spring in his step. Nothing seemed to annoy him, nothing was too much trouble. Wilde had accidentally knocked over his tea earlier and it had not mattered in the slightest. He had just joked that Wilde was unusually clumsy for a cat, cleared the mess up and made another. Richard found it hard to see the man he was a few days ago and the days before. Something had happened and it was something very good for him by the looks of it. "I'll be about half an hour I reckon Chris. Only got these to post but it's mid morning and so there will be a queue most likely."

Chris whistled tunefully to himself as he fetched another nail from the box next to him. "No problem. I'll be fine." Chris turned to face the wall as he knocked another nail into the shelf securing it enough so it would not fall down now. He could feel Richard watching him curiously. He knew what he was wanting to ask and he didn't actually mind if he did ask it. "Something the matter Richard?"

"No, no, it's fine. I just...how are you doing?" Richard asked. "You don't have to tell me of course, but I can't help but notice how cheerful you have been lately."

"And you are curious as to the sudden change in your colleagues' temperament?"

"I am, but like I said, you don't have too-"

"-No, I want to actually. I've been wanting too for the past few days but we've been busy and I haven't had the chance and then when I did I chickened out." Chris put down the hammer in his hand. "Now I know I'm going to sound like some silly youthful fool when I say this but...David kissed me."

Richard couldn't pretend to be surprised, because he wasn't. If the cause of Chris's depression recently was his problems with David then it was very likely and basically certain that the cause of his sudden change in mood was due to those problems being resolved in the best way possible. Chris did have a youthful grin on his face, but that was expected too. After all, doesn't love make us feel young again? He was reminded of that very thought when Stephen had been in the shop yesterday. Despite telling him that Daniel was not able to spend his half day with him as he was busy running his father's shop for a few days, Stephen had been in a cheerful mood as he confided in Richard that he was able to spend the nights with him somewhere other than Downton in his room in the attics. Richard was glad for them both, he hoped that since they were the younger generation that maybe they would get more of a chance to see things change for them for the better some day. He did warn a giddy Stephen though that he must be careful not to attract too much attention by being a frequent visitor to Daniel's home and shop as people must not be given a reason to talk. "I'm happy for you. Even if you did take your time!"

Chris smiled and didn't mind Richard poking fun at his and David's relationship, not now that things were finally good. "Better late than never eh?"

"Indeed Mr Webster, indeed." Richard said, leaving Chris with a nod of his head and a wink as he put on his hat, before leaving the shop.

…

Chris continued with completing several odd jobs that needed doing around the shop while Richard was out. He finished putting up the shelves, then put some books on those shelves, arranging them in the correct order neatly. He then cleaned the windows on the inside as Richard had done the outside the day before and was now cleaning the wooden countertop and polishing it with beeswax polish. It was not too much of a chore, these things needed to be done and he was happy enough to do them. He felt good and he knew that he was seeing David again later this evening after it got dark, so nothing could put him out of his happy mood. He still had the occasional thought in his mind causing him to question why David wanted him, but it was so much easier to dismiss those thoughts with minimal effort now as he knew for a fact that David did want him.

Chris was crouched down behind the counter when cleaning the draws below it when he heard the bell above the door ring. He had emptied out several of the draws of clutter that had found its way there over the past year. He had been sorting through the mass of papers and files and broken pencils, putting things that they needed to keep in one pile and things they could throw out in another. Richard's not back already is he? Maybe time has passed quicker than I realised. He stood up slowly, feeling a little stiff in his legs as a result of kneeling on the floor for too long, and placed his hand on the newly polished countertop as he pushed himself up. His heart tumbled as he saw that it was not Richard that had just walked into the shop, but David.

"Hey you, " David spoke softly as he sauntered over to Chris, a little pleased with himself that Chris was looking ever so slightly flustered at his unexpected arrival.

"You're early, we agreed on nine later didn't we?" Chris let himself smile at him, there was no one else around to hide his pleasure at seeing David again from. He kept his hand on the counter though, as though if he let go he would crumble.

"We did and I look forward to it but...well I couldn't come into the village without stopping by to see you, not when you occupy my every thought." David couldn't resist gently laying his hand on top of Chris's own. It was foolish and dangerous, but could easily be removed quick enough before anyone else had the chance to see. So he took the risk. Chris looked down at their hands and then over to the shop window. He was understandably cautious about such actions but did not move away.

"As do you with me. Richard noticed, he knows. I told him, I hope you don't mind?" Chris wished the counter between them would disappear into thin air right now, as it was all that separated them.

"No, of course I don't. I am glad you did, makes it more official." David felt how Chris had moved his thumb over his own so he was holding onto him now as they stood with their hands in an embrace. "You are causing a distraction though, and it is becoming problematic. I have made a few careless mistakes since we kissed. Poor Hector was given chicken feed in his bowl instead of his usual food, when I fed him earlier this morning. He gave me such an odd look, I think he reckons I have gone mad!" David tittered as Chris showed a dimpled smile.

Chris found himself caught in the way that David was looking at him now. His lips were tempting and slightly parted, and his gaze kept shifting between looking at his eyes and his mouth. If he was able to allow himself the luxury of throwing caution to the wind he would pull him over this counter right now. Middle of the day, shop open. You are annoyingly more sensible than that. "Do you want a drink?" Chris only asked as he couldn't trust himself to say much else other than something mundane.

David gave him a slight shake of the head. He leaned closer to him. "I want to kiss you. I desire nothing but the taste of your lips." His voice was low and full of lust.

"No." Chris said. His lips uttered the two letters without the permission of his mind.

David's smile faltered. "No?" Chris straightened up and took his hand off the counter and opened the door behind him to the kitchen. He then saw Chris's enticing smile.

"No, not here." Chris didn't need to ask David to follow him. He took the hint gladly. Once they were both inside the kitchen away from the prying eyes of the shop and the village streets beyond its large windows, Chris pushed the door shut, hearing it click satisfyingly shut. With that margin of safety, he dropped a feather light kiss on David's jaw and then another on his lips as he felt David's hand on his waist and then on the small of his back as David kissed him back. His kiss was reserved at first but grew with intensity in no time at all into one more amorous.

David breathed into Chris's kisses as Chris guided them both back to the wall next to the door between the kitchen and the shop. Chris smelt of polish from the counter top in the shop he's been working on and David found it intoxicating. He felt his back hit the wall and Chris moved his hands to his hip and his shoulder. David felt Chris push himself closer to him as he moaned into his mouth in response to Chris's tongue tickling his front teeth and then the roof of his mouth. "We've been here before haven't we?" David said as Chris gently nipped his earlobe.

David moaned again and Chris was encouraged although he was aware in the corner of his mind that the door was still unlocked, so with one hand he reached over and fumbled with the key in the lock, giving them more security. "God I've wanted to do this ever since I first had you against the wall." Chris knew his voice was raw and lustful. Maybe he sounded needy? He didn't care. He pushed open the door to the office with his foot, and led David away from the wall and inside the small room.

Once inside David decided to push things a little further. He took control and gave Chris a shove backwards, just enough for them both to hit the desk and the chair in front of it. David pushed the chair out of the way and Chris let out a low and seductive chuckle as he backed up against the desk. Pens and paper were pushed aside and fell onto the floor into a jumbled scatter as Chris was perched on the desk, his legs either side of David's as their kisses burned hot. They hadn't done anything yet, it had only been a couple of days since the kiss at the farm. David considered how this was not really the right time and questioned whether this is how they want it to be the first time? A fumble in an office? Maybe he shouldn't over think it?

"What is it?" It was easy for Chris to notice that the enthusiasm David had pocessed until just then had lessened. The grip of David's hands on the waistband of his trousers had loosened and he had stopped burrowing his mouth into Chris's collar bone below the shirt collar that had been loosened at some point between being in the kitchen and in the office. "Is this too much? Too soon?"

"Neither, why should we wait if we both want this?"

"You do want it?" Chris doubted.

David's words were husky. "Oh I really do. But...um...not here or like this. We're not two strangers after a desperate shag in a dark corner. We're-" David noticed Chris's smile.

"-More than that?" Chris finished David's words, as perhaps they had both been considering the same, but without wanting to disappoint the other.

"Yeah. But I don't want to-"

"-You aren't disappointing me. I think we both want something more...special?" Chris blushed. "If that doesn't sound too ridiculous."

"It's not and despite what I just said I don't mind waiting, because you, my dear, are worth every moment." David gently caressed the back of Chris's neck with his hand as Chris kissed him again, not hesitant but not rushed either.

...

Richard shut the shop door behind him as he returned from the errands at the post office. He was a little longer than he had expected. He had indeed been held up in a queue at the post office. The conversation between the two women at the desk in front of him apparently was too important, or more likely too intriguing, to be paused so he could simply send off a few parcels as special delivery. The shop was empty and quiet. The scent of beeswax polish and soap hung in the air. Richard looked around, the shelves were now up and the windows had been cleaned of any smudges on the inside. Richard put his bag down on the chair on the other side of the counter by the cash register and saw an open draw and three piles of paper on the floor. One sheet of paper was lying aside from them as though it had been abandoned mid thought. Chris was nowhere to be seen and Richard wondered what had caused him to so suddenly abandon his meticulous work? There was the sound of stationary falling onto the floor and the scraping of chair legs came from the other side of the wall. Richard's first concern was that Wilde had brought another mouse in and was now chasing it all around the kitchen and the office. However when a hungry moan followed, the mystery as to the noises, Chris's whereabouts, and the reason for his absence became clear. David, of course. Richard shook his head and chuckled to himself. He decided to leave putting his things in the kitchen for a while and besides, Chris had locked the door from the inside anyway.

A little while later Richard tentatively opened the side door from the hallway into the kitchen as he didn't want to disturb anything. "Only me," he called out.

There was whispering, some shuffling of feet and rustling of clothing before David poked his head out of the office door. "Hello Richard." Richard smirked, thinking David looked a little worse for wear. Chris then emerged looking bashful, his cheeks blushed pink. He wasn't the neatest either.

"You've been busy in the half hour or so I was out Chris," Richard mentioned as he filled up a glass with water and began to drink it, leaning up against the sink.

"We er-" Chris rubbed the back of his neck. He felt a little mark near his collar that wasn't there before.

"-I was talking about the shop Chris, looks great."

"Oh right. Um thanks, I will finish the papers on the floor after lunch. It would have been completed earlier but I er...got distracted."

Richard raised an eyebrow as he noticed how David was looking rather pleased with himself. "I gathered you had."

"Um, I'll be going. Got to get back really," David uttered. "I'll see you around Richard. And I'll see you later." David kissed Chris gently before leaving the building via the side door.

Chris looked like he was in a dream, following with his eyes where David had just walked. He then shook his head quickly, seemingly to snap out of his daydream. "Before you go in the office, I'll tidy up the floor."

"Oh? What happened to the floor?" Richard folded his arms and teased a smile. He knew of course, it was not the first time things had been knocked off that desk by two people. The first time Chris has perhaps, but he and Thomas once broke a coffee mug in their late evening activities in that room. He smiled to himself knowingly at the memory.

"Just some things got knocked off the desk. No big deal."

"No, not at all. You want a sandwich for lunch?" Richard asked. He enjoyed it a bit too much maybe, teasing Chris. He thought Chris would be grateful for the change of subject.