The First Snow
A/N: Hello and welcome to my very first drabble from the ALtwL universe! This fluffy little drabble came about due to a prompt on Tumblr by kehlana, and will (hopefully) serve as a nice antidote to the recent scorching angst of Be with Me Always.
Enjoy …! :)
December 1921
Crystalline snowflakes floated gently down in the frosty air, a gentle yet sharp Christmas breeze nipping at their faces as the little family strolled leisurely around the borders of the snow-covered grounds of Downton's estate. The few, speckled brown leaves that still clung to the trees were caramelized with icy sugar; the shorn branches splitting open the onion-white sky. The baby's little arms waved frantically in the air as he fought fruitlessly to escape the confines of his pram, which he evidently found rather restrictive.
"My little darling," Matthew chuckled fondly, "I rather think he's enjoying it."
"His first Christmas," Mary said, a soft smile lighting her face, as she tickled affectionately at her son's chubby, rosy cheek. "And – darling, it's the first time he's ever encountered snow …"
They smiled shyly at each other at the truth of that; their eyes shining with adoration for their dearest little chap, who giggled and flailed wildly in the soft, cushioned interiors of the little pram which Mary pushed around. Their beautiful George - how perfectly marvellous it was that he seemed to love the winter so. How fitting, since it was in the midst of floating snow like this that her dearest Matthew had knelt down, not so very long ago, to ask for her hand, and they had pledged themselves to each other that night, bursting with passionate affection that only seemed to have intensified now, that they had an angel born of their love … It had only begun to snow a day or two ago; prior to that, biting winds had pounded on the windowpanes and whirled across the grounds – and early one morning Downton had awoken to find itself blanketed in white. It was nearly Christmas – and the hall was in the process of being bedecked in all its finery, and shimmering paper and coloured balls of light, while warm scents of rich stews and pudding floated from the downstairs kitchens.
"It's so beautiful, isn't it," Mary breezed happily, as they wheeled the pram slowly ever forwards.
Matthew chuckled quietly. "Very much so." But when she turned to look at him, she found his eyes fixed upon her (her lips, more precisely) – they seemed to him to stand out against the shimmering white, pale pink and familiar and so very, very inviting – his darling face graced with that soft, shy smile she knew so well – and she couldn't resist leaning forwards to press them languidly to his, kissing him softly, his warmth enveloping her, seeping into her, filling her with an inexpressible sense of calm and comfort and happiness.
Mary tucked her coat more snugly around her, and they both watched adoringly as a particularly large snowflake drifted languidly past them, and George's little fist waved ever more helplessly, his tiny fingers opening and closing as though desperate to catch it. The breeze manipulated the snowflake which so enthralled him, his darling blue eyes watching its dancing movements intently – and it caught him quite by surprise when it landed on his nose.
He sneezed suddenly, and the adorably disgruntled expression upon his face at his having been unable to catch it melted Mary's heart.
"Oh, my darling," she said, stopping the pram in its tracks, and lifting him gently out of the pram, and up into the sharp, wintry air to cradle him against her. "Perhaps you do like it much better out here, don't you?"
Matthew bent to kiss his tiny forehead, his warm blue eyes glittering with affection and adoration. Part of him couldn't quite comprehend how the last three months had simply whirled by; certainly, as his life had adjusted itself to revolve now around the two people who meant the world to him, he couldn't remember ever being happier – and, God, how he adored them both. Mary eased the baby into Matthew's waiting arms – and he felt the familiar ache of hopeless love in his breast as George nuzzled into his neck, a string of incomprehensible gurgles escaping his lips.
"My little prince," he breathed, "it's your first snow, darling, do you know? Perhaps you'd like to go in now, so Mama can read us both The Shoemaker and the Elves – you'd enjoy that, wouldn't you, darling? Yes, you would, my little chap …" Matthew gazed lovingly into the bright blue eyes that entirely reflected his own, uncomprehending yet glowing with the warm trust in him, and his overwhelming affection that his dearest little chap could feel, if not understand … He bounced the laughing baby gently in his arms, crowning his golden-brown head with the tenderest kisses, the sound of his giddy, squealing giggles warming him better than the richest winter coats.
"I think we'd better go in now," Mary murmured regretfully, as she eased her little prince back into his sanctuary. "Nanny will be driven to distraction if we don't return soon – I told her we'd be back by noon. And it's getting quite chilly, I suppose we ought to warm ourselves up …"
Matthew nodded. "I suppose so, darling," he sighed, pressing a swift kiss to her cheek. He smirked. "I can think of quite a few ways to warm you up …" He cocked her eyebrows at her suggestively, and his wife responded by shoving his arm. Oh, yes, he was so looking forward to warming her up quite thoroughly (he shivered in anticipation at the prospect) … and his heart beat thickly at the promise of … that, and an afternoon spent with his beautiful baby boy curled safely in his arms, and his darling Mary at his side … with his family.
A/N: Thanks a ton for reading!
