Don't mind me, I'm just popping in with this little bit. I have been very neglectful and I am truly sorry. Just so much going on right now! Nothing bad, thank goodness, but things have been a juggling act for a couple of months. Anyway, this one is short and hopefully sweet. Still, it comes with my very best wishes for a wonderful New Year for everyone!


An hour later they were at Locksley, facing Agatha and Alistair and hoping their news would be better received than it had been at Downton.

Their news did receive a better reaction at Locksley, even though it was easy to see that Alistair and especially Agatha were caught by surprise. "But are you certain this is what is best?" Agatha eventually asked her brother, her eyes questioning but not unkind.

"Yes, I am. At least, for me," Anthony assured her.

"And you, my dear?" Agatha asked as her attention turned toward Edith. "I cannot see how this will be in your best interest. I love my brother and know he will be a good husband to you, but he is terribly wounded and… well, he is also quite a bit older than you. Are you certain about this?"

Edith smiled at her soon to be sister-in-law and nodded. "Oh yes. I understand that there will be challenges for us. Isn't that true in any marriage? But I've never been so certain of anything in my life. Wounded he may be, but Anthony, with his manner and his consideration, is … well, just perfect for me. Do you know, he is the only person who has listened, truly listened… and even been interested in what I think about things? And as awkward as we both can be at times, somehow I never feel awkward with him. We are alike in so many ways and complement one another when we are not. And I believe Anthony is the only person who has ever understood me and accepted me as I am. How could I not be certain about him when he is so ideal?"

"Well then my dears, if you are confident then you have our support in this madness!"

Anthony saw Alistair grinning and nodding subtly behind Agatha and relaxed. His sister and her husband weren't as confident as Edith, but they would be supportive. And for him, it was as if he could breathe. The doctor's agreement to their plans hadn't be especially supportive and the Crawleys would all be against them if Robert's reaction was any indication. But they would have some support none the less. And for Anthony, that made a huge difference. Perhaps their plans were not so outlandish, or in his case selfish, after all.

The two couples chatted a little while longer. Or at least Agatha and Edith did. Alistair seemed content to smile and nod at what the ladies were discussing, while Anthony simply watched in awe. The vivacious young woman who was so thoroughly involved in conversation with his siter had just said the most wonderful things about him. She really did find something in him that was... what had she said? Ideal. Yes, she saw him as ideal for her. She had said something about his acceptance of her. For the life of him, he couldn't think of anything about her that was not acceptable. She was quite delightful, in fact. And he was a very lucky man that she should want to marry him. Was he being selfish? He felt less so after listening to her response to Agatha's question. Perhaps their marriage would be good for her also. Perhaps he was, or at least could be, the man that she deserved by her side. As he gazed at her chuckling over something Agatha said, Anthony knew with absolute certainty that he would do everything in his power to be deserving of her presence in his life. And with that, his mind quietened and he began to let it wander over their future together, the one they would build in this house.

Anthony settled languidly in the car next to Edith for their return to Downton. Agatha had been tearful as they'd said their good byes and he'd promised many times that he would write and let her know how things progressed. Alistair shook his hand vigorously and smiled. "Well done," the older man whispered conspiratorially as he glanced past Anthony to Edith. "You will send us a note when the deed is done so that we might drink a toast to your happiness?"

"Of course," Anthony replied. And with that, he climbed into the car.

Edith traversed the drive carefully and turned into the road toward Downton before smiling. "That went well. Much better than with my father," she said happily.

"Yes. Yes, it did." Anthony replied, just as happily.

Shooting a glance at him, Edith chuckled. "And you are looking quite pleased with yourself, I might add."

Anthony straightened up in his seat and gleefully replied. "My dear, I am engaged and soon will be married to the most delightful nymph, a fairy goddess, who seems to adore me almost as much as I adore her, although I can honestly say that I can't really fathom why. But I am learning to accept that my little nymph is real and I am quite excited for what the future with her will bring. I sat in the parlor contemplating our future while you were sat giggling with my sister, and once we are past some initial obstacles, I can see us very happily settled at Locksley. So of course, I am pleased, quite pleased."

Edith pulled the car to the edge of the road and stopped. "Are you? Are you really? You can see it now, our future? Oh Anthony, that makes me so very happy. I've felt like I've been pushing you into something you didn't want. But to hear you talking like this…" Edith's gaze left his and settled on something between their seats as a slight blush rose in her cheeks. "Oh, I just can't wait until we are married. It is going to be wonderful; I just know it is!" And then suddenly she was leaning into him, her lips on his and for Anthony, heaven was in the front set of that car.

After a lengthy series of kisses, Edith finally settled back into her seat, blushing and smiling. Anthony felt a bit flushed himself as he watched her retreat. "You know, my sweet, while you and Agatha were walking arm and arm to the car, your heads together, Alistair was giving me a bit of brotherly advice."

"Oh? What advice did he give you? Or will I have to wait until after our wedding to know?" She blushed again which enlightened Anthony about where her thoughts were leading, as if his were not already there. "Ah, no…" He paused to give his words a desired effect. "He suggested Gretna Green. He told me to chuck it as far a church ceremony here with your family breathing down our necks and leave for Scotland tomorrow, stopping in Gretna Green."

His heart leapt at the expression Edith's face took as she digested Alistair's advice. "Really? Gretna Green? Yes, oh definitely yes! We can leave tomorrow, just as he said. That will give us almost the whole time that Dr. Rivers gave you before reporting to him for us to be… together."

"Quite right. And we'll need to find you a flat near the hospital, so the plan has a very practical reason too. At first, I thought Alistair was being a bit… well, romantic in his advice but the more I think on it, I really do believe it is the best course of action. That is, if you are sure?"

"Oh, I am absolutely certain," Edith said.

"You won't regret not being married here, in the church, with your family there?"

"After they way they have behaved? No, not at all. And really Anthony, all I want is for us to be married. I want us to begin our life together. If my family really cared, they'd understand. So no, I'll never regret marrying you at Gretna Green or anywhere else. I'll never regret one moment as your wife."

Anthony smirked. "I hope you still feel that way in twenty years, or even ten. I might hold you to it."

"You do that, Anthony Strallan. You hold me to it, just as long as you are holding me, I'll be happy."

Abruptly she turned her attention back to the car and started the ignition. "We need to get back because I have some packing to do," she declared merrily as she pulled back into the road.