A Home for Saint Patrick

Disclaimer: I don't own Downton Abbey.

I find it rather odd that no one has written any St. Patrick's Day Tybil stories, but I hope you enjoy this one.

This takes place in the same universe as "Love and Freedom," but you should be able to read it without reading the first if you wish.

It was odd, going to church on a weekday, especially as it wasn't Christmas, but apparently that was what everyone did on St. Patrick's Day in Dublin.

Still, Sybil enjoyed the excitement of everyone who entered the church. More cheerful chatter than she'd heard since the Black and Tans entered Dublin floated past her ears, and several enthusiastic shouts of "Happy St. Pats!" could be heard by all. Even more people wore green than normal. Even Sybil wore Tom's youngest sister, Sheena's old green maternity dress, and Tom wore his best green suit.

But what Sybil loved best was the family atmosphere. All of Tom's family grinned widely as she and Tom sat in the pew and eagerly asked about the baby. "I hope your ready for your first St. Patrick's Day," Sheena said with a grin. "It's fun, but sometimes it can become wild." Her eighteen-month-old son, Jimmy, squirmed in his mother's lap, showing how wild he could already be.

Sybil smiled back as the organ began to play, prepared for anything. "I know I'm ready."

OOOOOOOOOOO

Tom and his brother, Kieran, as well as Sheena's husband Nolan, almost jumped out of the pew when the Mass ended, as did several other young men. Sybil smiled, realizing more of what Sheena meant about "wild." But she couldn't fault them, considering this was still the happiest she'd seen any of them since the Black and Tans arrived.

"So, we're all ready for the pub?" Kieran asked, glancing at Nolan and Tom. Slapping Tom's back he said jokingly, "I hope you can still handle St. Pats after all those years in England."

Tom grinned back and slapped his brother in return as they exited the church. "You haven't seen nothing yet."

Sybil's heart warmed at the exchange. A part of her wished she could go, especially as they were joined by several of their cousins, both male and female, but not while she was pregnant. At least Sheena appeared to stay near Sybil, walking her young son carefully. Meanwhile, Tom's Mam shook her head in disappointment. "I wish you wouldn't do that; you shouldn't be drinking alcohol during Lent." It took Sybil a moment to realize that St. Patrick's Day fell in the middle of the period of fasting and abstinence before Easter.

Kieran sighed, obviously used to this argument. "Mam, of course we're going to the pub on St. Pats!" With that he, Tom, and Nolan all disappeared down the street, despite the men with British uniforms still staring at everyone and stopping many for questioning.

Mam still shook her head. Then she smiled slowly, looking directly at Sybil. "I've been thinking a lot about Saint Patrick's story the last few days. We're so used to him thinking of him as our patron saint, I think some of us forget he was born in Britain."

Sybil's heart skipped a beat. "He was?"

Sheena nodded as she watched her son walk closely, holding tightly to his little hand. "He was."

Mam's smile grew a little, as she still focused on Sybil. "Yes. His father was a landowner there, back in the fourth century. Originally, he was kidnapped and sold into slavery here, but he later returned to Ireland because this is where he was meant to live."

Sybil's heart skipped another beat and she smiled herself, understanding the comparison. "Where a person is born is not necessarily where we are meant to live."

Mam nodded, as the wind whipped across her face, but she paid no notice. "Yes. There are a lot of legends about St. Patrick that many like to focus on, but I prefer to remember why he is our patron saint. He introduced us to Christ, and Ireland became St. Patrick's home because he loved the people here. And I admit, it took me a long time to see that the same could be said for you."

Sybil's eyes widened at such a direct statement. Ever since she and Tom had announced their pregnancy, Mam had treated Sybil like a part of the family, but Sybil understood this was different. She was accepted for herself now, rather than just for her child.

Mam reached for Sybil's hand and squeezed it, as a gesture of love.

Sybil squeezed the older woman's hand in return, as a gesture of forgiveness. "I do love the people here." The wind blew her hair, but she paid little attention, either.

"And we love you, Sybil," Sheena added with a grin, her eye still on little Jimmy as he toddled through the street.

Sybil's smile grew even wider and her heart almost burst from her chest.

OOOOOOOOOO

In the next few days, Sybil asked Tom about the legends of St. Patrick with a wide smile on her face. He eagerly told her the story of St Patrick banishing all the snakes from Ireland as his eyes shined with passion. His voice grew with even more excitement when Tom discussed the shamrock to help teach the people of Ireland, and the myths of leprechauns associated with shamrocks as well.

And Sybil immediately kissed him, loving his passion as always and growing even more connected to Ireland and its people.

My "Lady Sybil Lives" story should be up in another two weeks.