Cora Crawley was already expecting the worst case scenario as they head to the grand hall, where her grandchildren claimed to have heard something scary...

...until, before she could even process what she saw, a group then suddenly shouted

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAMA!"

Cora was startled, causing her to close her eyes and cover her face with her hands. Her grandchildren then laughed at her reaction, and gave her a hug

She then looks up again, and the first thing she saw her children. All three of them, complete on her special day. She didn't even noticed tears running down her cheeks as she saw all of them

Robert sets Caroline down for her to give a hug as well, and then went to his wife, chuckling softly and gently her back

"Are you alright, Darling?" He asked, looking at her

"I am. I just had some...tears of joy" Cora then laughs softly, and wipes her tears. They then looked at their children again, who are laughing as well as they watch her process the surprise they made

"Awww...Mama!" Edith then went to them, followed by her siblings, who then all gave her a big hug

"Thank you so much for this surprise" Cora then said, and looks at her children "But the greatest surprise us that three of my beautiful children are here together"

"Well, we all had a lot of free time in our hands" Alex joked, making the rest of them chuckle

"But we really made this day free just for you, Mama" Mary smiles

"We all did" Robert then smiles, watching them nearby as Tom and Bertie headed to the dining room with the children "We all wanted to spend time with you"

"You planned all of this, didn't you?" Cora then looks at her husband

Robert chuckles softly "As much as I wanted to have all the credit...It was our children who planned all of this"

"Since last month, actually" Alex added

"It was mostly Alex's idea, but we all contributed in our own way" Edith said

"Did you really, Alex?" Cora looks at her son

"Yes, I did" Alex replied, smiling "We haven't really done a surprise for birthday in a long while, so we came up all of this"

"I am very, very touched by this!" Cora laughs again softly "But let us first eat breakfast before continuing, shall we?"


They all had a wonderful breakfast, with the little children sitting alongside with them for the first time, and clearly enjoying the cake that they helped design

"How is the cake, Mama?" Alex asks from across the table "Is it good?"

"It is, yes! And it's chocolate cake too, which is my favorite!" Cora smiles happily "You all made this, too?"

"We did" Mary replied "And the kids helped in designing, all while eating the remaining icing"

Robert chuckles "I suppose your plan is a success then?"

"It is, but it's not yet finished" Alex smiles "There's still a picnic later at the grounds"

"At the grounds? Really?" Cora was surprised, and excited at the same time

"We also got invite Isobel and Dickie, and Granny as well" Edith added

Their father looks up at his children, surprised as well "How did you even get to invite your Granny for a picnic?"

"Well, as long as there's food and wine, she'll come" Alex chuckles

Robert nods in agreement "Sounds like your Granny, all right"

"I heard the servants gave you gifts, Mama" Bertie then said

"Oh, yes. There's some cards and flowers, and Andy even wrote a poem for me" Cora smiles, showing the paper where Andy's poem was written

"I didn't know your valet was a poet, Alex" Mary told her brother

"Well, it's because you never noticed him yet" Alex said "He's actually a good writer of poems and short stories, and I've read some of those when he shared them to me. I'll think he'll be a great poet one day"

"That will be really wonderful. A poet in our household" Tom commented

"Our household is quite a diverse group, indeed" Robert smiles, before finishing the rest of his cake slice


Afternoon then came along, and the entire family had a picnic outside in the gardens. Hours before the picnic, the kids all helped in setting up the table and chairs, as well as the tents and the food before the seniors arrived

Cora was having the time of her life, surrounded by her family while celebrating her special day. She also watch her children and grandchildren have fun, playing and running around the grounds in which they've grown up. She is grateful for her children as well, and is still surprised on how much effort they did to pull all of this off. She was right after all, that she and Robert raised all of their children well and happy

"Can I join you two up for a walk?" Alex said as he jogged to his sisters, who are walking along the grounds, far away from the picnic party

"If you want to, of course" Mary said, before both her and Edith held both of Alexander's arms

"A penny for your thoughts, ladies?" he then asked

"Nothing much, really" Edith replied "We just wanted some fresh air, and let the adults have their thing at the party"

"But aren't we adults?" Alex chuckles

Mary chuckles along "Not today, no. We're Mama's kids, so we are technically kids this day only"

They then all walked in silence again before Edith spoke

"Alex...have you ever thought of being at war? Fighting for the country?"

"Not really..." Alex replied, looking at her "Why?"

"I just thought of Papa and Matthew. Both fighting in wars. Coming home very tired, and at one time, injured"

"I remembered Papa coming home with a broken arm after the war" Mary then said "It had Mama very worried, and the three of us were quite said, because Papa can't carry us all at once"

"Papa fought during the World War?" Alex asked, a bit confused

"No, not the World War. It was called, if I remember correctly, the Boer Wars"

"I'm surprised you knew about that" Edith was surprised at her sister's knowledge

"Of course, but I am surprised myself in remembering it" Mary chuckles

"How long was he injured?" Alex asked

"Just a few months, really. And thank goodness it was, since Mama was very worried" Edith said

"Well...I suppose I could see me fighting" he then answered his sister's question "I am not saying I would want to have another war. I just...want to fight rather than being a reserve member"

"I suppose Papa would allow that: you are fighting on the front" Mary said "But I know you will worry Mama very much"

"Of course. That's part of it, really" Alex smiles "As if I haven't worried her too much already"

"But...in whatever you're going to do, know that we will support you, not matter what" Edith assured him

Mary nods in agreement "Edith's right. We will support you in everything you will do. Just...don't be too much chaotic"

"I'll try my best" Alex chuckles softly, and smiles at them "But thank you for the support. I really needed that"

"Now, let's head back. Granny might be worried sick now" Mary smiles and ruffles Alex's hair

"Hey! I just combed my hair nicely for Granny!"

"I'm sure Granny won't mind at all"

"I hate you, Mary"

"I love you too, Alex. I don't say it much, but I love you too"


Nighttime then passed, and the children all decided to gift their last surprises to their mother for her birthday

"Come in" Cora said as she and Robert settled down on their beds

The door then opened, revealing the children, holding gift boxes

"We still need to give one last surprise to you, Mama" Alex said as they all sat on their parents' bed. He then looks at his sisters "Ladies first"

Mary then gives her present to their Mama. Cora then opens the box, which revealed a new bracelet for her. The bracelet was engraved with hers and her siblings' names, as well as their birthdays. It also had George and Caroline's birthday cards for her inside

"Henry and I had the bracelet made when we were on our honeymoon" Mary said "It isn't really much, but I hope you love it. Happy birthday, Mama"

"Oh I love it very much, Darling!" Cora smiles happily "Thank you so much for these"

Edith then gave hers next. Along with Marigold and Sybbie's cards, was a heart-shaped locket. Cora then opened the locket, revealing the last photo of her four children all together, which was taken during Mary's wedding. Alex, who was only five years old at that time, was front and center while his three sisters were behind him.

"In that way, you can always have the four of us close to your heart wherever you go" Edith said, and kisses her mother's cheek "Happy birthday, Mama"

"Thank you so much for this, Darling" Cora smiles, and kisses Edith's cheek "I will promise to always wear this"

It was Alex's turn of giving his gift. As Cora opened the box, she saw two crochet shawls: one was designed in the shades of blue, with small stars at the end; while the other was in the shades of brown, with small flowers as its design. She also saw the bouquet of flowers that he promised he'll give to him, adorned with her favorite flowers

"I...crocheted the shawls" Alex shyly admits to her "I learned them from Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. Bates a little over a year ago, so I do hope you like them"

"I do love them very much. And I am actually impressed in you having a new skill learned" Cora smiles, and kisses her son's forehead "Thank you for these, my Darling boy"

"I...have one last gift" Robert then spoke, and reaches out for the small, rectangular box on his nightstand "This was actually my idea, but this is a gift from all of us"

Cora was curious at first, but slowly opens the box. Inside was framed photo. But it wasn't just any photo...it was a photo of her family. Robert was sitting in the middle, and beside his daughters Mary and Edith, who were sitting as well. Henry and Bertie stood behind their respective spouses, while both Tom and Alex stood behind Robert. They were all smiling happily at the photo as well

"We all did this last month, after Alex's last day school" he then explained "I was trying to find a unique way to give you a gift, with their help...until I thought of giving you a new family photograph instead"

"Oh, Darling" Cora was crying again, touched by all the gifts she received "These gifts...all of these gifts, I really love it. This is the most memorable birthday I have ever had in my life. Thank you so much"

"Are you happy, Mama?" Alex asked, gently rubbing her hand

"Of course, I am. I am very, very happy" His mother smiles as she wipes her tears "But the greatest gifts I've had were the four of you...and your father, of course"

They all chuckled softly before giving her a big hug

"I do have one more gift for you" Robert said to her "I'll give to you once the kids are gone"

"PAPA!" their kids said in unison, surprised about what they heard, making their father laugh softly

"Come on now," Mary was the first one to stand up "Let's leave them be"

"Oh, yes. They'll be up late again tomorrow, I believe" Edith added

"I heard nothing! La la la la!" Alex covered his ears before closing the door

As he closes the door, the three of them looked at one another...before laughing loudly at the hallway

"I suppose they're going to have fun now" Mary said, catching her breath

"As if they don't do that every night" Edith wipes her tears from laughing

"Seriously! Saying it right in front of us!" Alex added

As they calmed down, the three then stood by the hallway for a moment, admiring the grand hall from above

"I'm glad Mama had fun for once" Alex then broke the silence

"Yes...she really does deserve it" Edith smiles "After all she did for us and what she's been through"

"Sybil would've loved this plan of ours as well" Mary added "She would've been excited and happy about all of this"

"She's always in our hearts" Alex said, smiling at her "And she's probably smiling somewhere above"

The three of them held hands as they remembered her for a moment, smiling at one another as well

"I suppose we should call it a night now" Alex smiles, and kisses both of his sisters' cheeks "Good night, sisters"

"Good night, little brother" Mary and Edith said, kissing his cheeks as well before parting way

As Alex walked back to his room, he then heard steps running behind him. And before he could even turn around, he was engulfed in a bit hug while his hair was messed up as well

"Stop!" Alex laughed as his sisters messed up hair. They then all shared a laugh as well before hugging him again

"Good night now" Edith then said, smiling

"Good night, my Darling sister" Alex smiles back at her

"I bet you five pounds that Mama and Papa are up late tomorrow" Mary chuckles before letting go of her embrace

"I'm pretty sure you will win, but it's still a deal" Alex chuckles along softly

"Alright then," Mary nods, and kisses her cheek again "Good night, Little Prince"

"Good night, dear Queen Mary" Alex smiles as he watches his sisters head to their rooms before heading inside to his own room for the night