A/N: I wasn't sure about writing another Sybil and Tom story. This idea came to me when I was writing a scene for The Past is the Past and instead of putting that scene in that story it became the Prologue to this story. Thanks so much for the reviews and hope you'll leave comments on this chapter. It's been a very tough week for me and writing has allowed me to escape real life.

Fourteen Months Earlier

Sybil, standing at the foot of her bed, bent over to put the carefully folded blouse into her open suitcase lying on top of the bed. She rubbed her hand across the cotton fabric of the blouse as if smoothing out any wrinkles. Finished with this task she lifted her head and looked around the room that had been her bedroom since she was twelve. It was a bright and cheery room with its pale yellow paper on the walls and colorful flowered drapes flanking the tall windows. She had always loved this room and was convinced she had done a much better job of decorating her bedroom than her sisters. She thought Mary's room with it red flocked wallpaper was dark and depressing while Edith's room was better with its beiges but rather drab.

How many nights had she spent in this bed reading her books until late into the night and dreaming of faraway places? How many mornings had she stood before one of those windows watching the sky lighten as the sun rose? Her eyes fell on the carousel music box, from one of her New York visits. How many times when she had been upset or angry had she escaped to this room and listened to its melodic waltz? She had been tempted to pack it or at least one or two other mementos of her childhood but in the end decided it would be too much to take such things. Maybe once she and Tom were settled into their own flat she'd send for them.

Their flat. She smiled at the thought of their flat. She knew it wouldn't be anything grand, maybe only two or three small rooms, and the furnishings wouldn't be the fine mahogany pieces like her writing desk and wardrobe here in this bedroom and the drapes wouldn't be of fine silk but whatever it was it would be what she and Tom chose.

The chimes of the clock on the fireplace mantel alerted her to the hour and she took a deep breath. Now would probably be a good time to find Mama alone.

xxxxxxx

She slowly opened the door to her parents' bedroom. With the drapes pulled almost closed the room was dim belying the afternoon hour and Sybil tiptoed into the room in case her mother was sleeping.

"O'Brien" her mother called softly.

"No it's me Mama" Sybil softly answered.

"Better" Cora responded as she sat up.

Although she couldn't deny that O'Brien had been a great help to her mother, rarely leaving her bedside during the worst of it, Sybil still felt a pang of relief that the odious O'Brien wasn't here now. Standing at the foot of her mother's bed Sybil was glad to see her mother was sitting up, her back leaning against a mound of pillows. The bed tray over her lap held a bowl, a small plate with piece of toast, another empty plate, and a glass of a liquid Sybil couldn't quite decipher in the dimness of the room.

"It's too dark in here" Sybil said as she moved towards the curtains. "It's a beautiful day today." Without waiting for a response from her mother she opened the drapes. "I think everything always looks better when it's sunny."

Sybil turned towards her mother and as she sat down on the edge of the bed smiled "I think that might be something you always said."

"So you do pay attention to what I say" a smiling Cora responded.

"Well …" Sybil got that look on her face, that beguiling or what Cora often described as roguish look that always let Cora know her youngest daughter had something up her sleeve. Looking down at her hands in her lap, Sybil barely shrugged her shoulders.

Raising her head she once more looked at her mother. "You are looking so much better mama. You'll …" she paused "you'll be able to come for the wedding" her tone sounding hopeful.

Cora reached out her right hand and gently rubbed the side of Sybil's face. "Marriage is such a big step are you sure?"

Sybil quickly batted away her mother's hand and jumped to her feet. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?" her voice louder than she intended. "Why can't people realize I'm quite capable of making my own decisions?"

Cora took a deep breath. How could she not have known about her daughter and the chauffeur? What signs had she missed? "Sybil marriage is such a big step and this seemed to come out of nowhere."

Sybil glared at her mother. "That's just it Mama. It hasn't been some quick decision. I've loved him for a long time but couldn't" she again gave a slight shrug "wouldn't admit it to myself. It's taken me two years to accept his proposal-"

"Two years!" Cora was genuinely surprised.

Seeing her mother's face Sybil couldn't help but smile. "I told you it wasn't a sudden decision. Even though I thought I loved him I wasn't sure I could leave" she looked around the room "leave my home … leave my family." She sat down once more on the edge of the bed. "That's something you should be able to relate to."

"So what made you decide?"

"When the war ended I knew I didn't want to go back to the life I had before. I'm not cut out to be the lady of the manor Mama."

As Cora listened to Sybil describing what she wanted from life, what it was that attracted her to the chauffeur, she realized Sybil hadn't made this decision lightly.

"This morning after the service for Lavinia Papa gave us his blessing. I hope you will too Mama."

Cora reached out with both hands and took hold of Sybil's hands. "There will be bumps in the road for no matter how much you love someone you'll be tested often by things out of your control. All I've ever wanted for each of my girls is to be happy."

"Oh Mama" Sybil leaned in and hugged her mother tightly as Cora gently kissed her daughter's forehead.

"Now just to be practical" Cora stood up and walked over to her vanity table. She opened the bottom drawer and pulled out an envelope. "I keep this for" she shrugged. Since her marriage she received a monthly allowance from her father's estate. It was the only money that was hers to spend however she wanted. With the war raging there had been no frivolous shopping, no need for new hats or evening gowns or those items that had seemed so important before the war. It had been months since she had spent any of it and the pounds had accumulated. Turning around to Sybil she offered her the envelope. "You have a wedding to plan and a gown to buy. You'll have a place to furnish. Think of this as a wedding gift."

Sybil peeked into the envelope. Seeing the many pound notes inside she looked up at her mother saying "Oh Mama" and once again hugged her.

xxxxxxx

Her trunk and suitcase had already been taken to the station so Sybil, dressed in an unbuttoned navy overcoat, sensible for the vagaries of springtime weather, over a dark blue skirt and flowered cotton blouse,

breezed down the grand staircase. It was the sort of outfit she imagined would fit her new life in Dublin. In one hand she carried a small valise that held mostly odds and ends like a brush and hat pins and a few pieces of her jewelry. In her other hand was a wicker basket that Mrs. Patmore and Daisy had prepared containing food for her long journey to Ireland as well as a few jars of her favorite preserves and pickled vegetables, a small smoked ham and a tin holding a small pound cake that was Tom's favorite. It was a thoughtful gift and Sybil was greatly touched by their kindness.

Reaching the bottom of the staircase she decided to say a final goodbye to her father who would surely be in the dining room even at this early hour, a plate set before him and the newspapers spread out beside him. However to her surprise only Carson was in the room fussing about at the sideboard.

"Hasn't Papa come down yet?" Her question, or was it her presence, caused a surprised Carson to rattle one of the silver lids but as the ever punctilious butler he quickly gained his composure.

He glanced at her, this young woman he had known since her birth. She had been a charming baby, an impish and mischievous child with such an engaging smile that made it easy to overlook her escapades. She had grown into a beautiful young woman full of sweetness and kindness that shrouded a steely determination. He knew she was still all of those things but he just couldn't understand how she could throw away all the privileges of her station for a life with him.

"He's already eaten my lady" came his reply.

"He's finished this early?" she looked perplexed and then a look of hurt flashed in those bright blue eyes and he thought maybe even a tear clouded her eyes before she looked down at the floor. Her sight still focused on the floor she slightly shook her head and softly mumbled "he gave us his blessing."

Carson might be fastidious and fussy but he wasn't totally heartless and he was moved by her obvious hurt. "I believe he had some matter to attend to."

He knew she didn't believe him and after a moment or two she sighed and raised her head. Nodding at him she turned to leave the room but after taking two steps towards the door she turned around. Surprising him she quickly stepped to him and standing on her tiptoes reached up and kissed his cheek. "That's for the apple caper and the lost shoe escapade and all those other times you didn't tell on me." Then just as quickly she scampered out of the room leaving behind a startled Carson.

xxxxx

As Sybil emerged from the house the sun was barely above the tree tops and the morning air was crisp in a reminder that spring was only just beginning. On a hill overlooking the house Robert watched as his youngest daughter walked through the grand doors and out to the waiting motor car. Despite offering his blessings he couldn't bring himself to see her off this morning. He couldn't smile and kiss her goodbye when his heart was breaking. Cora had accused him of not realizing who Sybil really was and maybe she was right for he couldn't understand this decision she had made. But his reluctance this morning wasn't just about the choice she had made.

She was his youngest and although he knew as a father he shouldn't have favorites she held a special place in his heart. Her antics at times might have exasperated him but she had brought so much laughter and joy into his life. She was the daughter with the kind heart and sunny disposition. He would miss her exuberance and the house would be quieter without her. He would miss her.

No sooner had Sybil settled into the motor car than she heard the crunching of gravel. Turning towards the house she saw Mary running towards the car.

It was on her lips to scold her sister, to tell her again that once and for all her mind was made up, but the words died unspoken as Mary indicated for her to scoot over and a breathless Mary uttered "I was afraid I might have missed you" as she sat down on the seat.

"I know we said our goodbyes last night" Mary began. The three sisters had gathered in Sybil's bedroom far into the night. It had been much like when they were younger and shared the nursery, an evening of conversation on trivial things and reminiscences of a shared past. "But I just wanted to … well … someone should be there to properly see you off."

Sybil chuckled. "Only you would be concerned with proper etiquette."

"Well one of us has to be" Mary retorted in her best imitation of their Granny. Turning to face her younger sister she added "What did you say to Carson. I glimpsed at him as I flew by and he was looking out the doorway rubbing his cheek and I would swear he might have had a tear or two in those dark eyes."

Sybil laughed. "He might have been thinking about a lost shoe."

"A lost shoe?"

Grinning Sybil flicked her hand in the air "just something from the past."

Still not quite understanding Mary shook her head. "Well I have a more immediate issue."

"Oh?" a curious Sybil replied.

"How can you leave me alone with Edith?" Mary's indignation filled the motor car.

"Now Mary" Sybil sighed. Ever since she could remember she had been a buffer between her sisters. She had never really understood the friction between the two, maybe it was because although neither would ever admit it they were quite alike in many ways. "Maybe you'll discover Edith's finer points. She does have them you know."

Unconvinced Mary rolled her eyes. "If you hear that I've been arrested for murder know it's your fault."

The motor car came to a stop in front of the railway station and from the back seat Sybil scanned for sight of Tom. She broke out in a broad smile seeing him as he rounded the corner of the station and she was out of the car before Mary could say good-bye. Mary watched as Sybil and Tom greeted each other, their love so apparent, and Mary couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy no not jealousy for she could never resent Sybil's happiness. Envy … that's it she thought for she knew she would never feel about Richard as Sybil obviously felt about Tom.

Mary couldn't hear what Sybil was saying to Tom but he nodded and took the wicker basket and small valise from her. Sybil turned back towards the car and Mary got out and stood beside the motor car. The two sisters embraced warmly and many would have been surprised to see a tear or two cloud Mary's eyes but Sybil was smiling, her blue eyes sparkling.

"You'll be over for the wedding." It was more a statement than a question.

"Of course darling" Mary replied.

Once again Sybil pulled her sister close for hug. "Mary" she whispered "you shouldn't settle in marriage. Follow your heart."