A/N: Thank you for the lovely reviews and for being so patient! The next chapter is the epilogue!

From Yorkshire to New York

Chapter Fourteen

Mary was surprised to find her father waiting at the steps of the courthouse, pacing back and forth between two impressive columns up at the top of the stairs. "We'll give the two of you a moment to talk," Mama said shortly after they climbed out of the car. She kissed Mary's cheek, smiling as if oblivious to Mary's shock. "You look beautiful, my darling daughter. I wish you and Tom all the luck and happiness in the world."

Soon Papa was walking down the steps to meet her, Mama and Edith climbing upward. She felt rather stunned as he smiled at her. "My darling girl, how lovely you look."

"Thank you," was her response, staring at him. Truth be told, she hadn't expected him to be so congenial so soon. She expected the iciness would thaw later, maybe even after the announcement of the baby.

Papa stood, awkwardly, until after the chauffeur had pulled away. Mary sensed he had something he wanted to say, something he didn't want anyone else hearing. There were people walking down the sidewalk approaching them as well, but after a few moments of stilted silence Papa decided instead to gather up his courage then. "Would you ever let me walk you down the aisle today?"

Mary blinked, throat seeming tight before she nodded. "I'm surprised you want to," she choked out.

Papa looked dismayed but answered, "You are my daughter and today is your wedding day. Of course I want to." He paused before saying, "To say I have been unsupportive has been an understatement, but I have been reevaluating my position over the last few days... and I've come to realize that unless the two of you weren't serious about this, it would never be happening." He paused. "You loved Matthew very much."

Mary nodded, ignoring the tears stinging in her eyes as best she could. "I did," she confirmed with a nod. "I should have loved to grow old with him by my side."

"I know. I think every one of us wishes that. The two of you had something wonderful that so few people are lucky to have... and since his death, you haven't paid the slightest bit of attention to any other man." He sighed. "I can only come to the conclusion that you and Tom have been fortunate enough to find a great love for a second time. I don't see what good it does to fight that... especially when we all know that love is meant to conquer all."

Mary blinked more rapidly now. "Do you mean that, Papa? Do you truly?"

Papa nodded. "I do. I am sure we'll have something of a scandal on our hands once we return home, but it's a small price to pay, I think, when I know two people that I love very much get a chance to be happy again."

It was so unlike her but Mary threw her arms around her father. Papa let out a laugh as she hugged him, her eyes clenched shut to rein back her tears. "Thank you," she whispered to him, forcing the words past the lump in her throat.

Her elation at Papa's acceptance was quickly paled by setting her sights on Tom once again. He was dressed in a nice suit; not a morning suit, as she was sure certain members of her family were likely lamenting, but a smart one all the same. He looked very handsome, in her opinion, and wore a look of unabashed reverence the moment his eyes came to rest on her. Though she had had plenty of fears before today about the true depth of his feelings, she had no doubts now. She never would again, promising always to remember this moment.

The ceremony itself was a short one, with none of the fanfare of her first wedding— it wasn't even nearly as elaborate as Tom's first wedding. Nevertheless, none of that mattered, not to her, not when he was standing beside her. As long as she had the right groom, everything about this day was perfect.

When it came time to exchange the rings, Mary nearly gasped. Tom slid a beautiful silver ring onto her finger bedecked with a single solitaire. She met his eyes, finding his wide smile. She tried to silently question him with her eyes before the officiant proclaimed that it was time to kiss the bride.

Mary wasn't sure if anyone clapped or cheered for them (though she was fairly certain they must have), because all she could think about was Tom's lips on hers. A day apart from one another had felt like eons and she was pleased to finally kiss him again. It was a chaste kiss, perfectly respectable, but it seemed to last a lifetime. When he drew back, Mary met his eye and realized she was now looking at her husband— and she smiled.

The room was dark as Mary lay curled up by Tom's side but she wasn't tired, despite their long, event-filled day. They had celebrated their marriage with a small reception dinner at Grandmama's before setting off on the first leg of their honeymoon to Niagara Falls. They were staying at a new hotel nearby, though thus far they had yet to see the falls for themselves. The second half was to be spent at the cottage in Newport (where they would acquaint themselves with what would be their home for the next year or so) and would officially come to an end when Mama, Papa, and Edith would join them with the children so they could begin their new lives together.

"I never had a chance to ask," began Mary, "but where on Earth did you find this ring?" As if it weren't obvious which one she was speaking of, Mary held up her hand and showed it to him.

"Do you like it?" Tom asked, almost hesitantly.

"I love it," she answered. Then, to make things perfectly clear, she added, "I would love anything, as long as it came from you, my darling."

Tom smiled. "I had money saved up," he said, wrapping his arm around her. Mary could feel the band of his ring against the bare skin on her shoulder, the ring she had given him just that afternoon. "For the flat. But since I didn't necessarily need it... I decided to make a stop at Tiffany's."

Mary's eyes widened as she ogled at the ring before turning back to him. "Tiffany's?" Tom might not have lived in chauffeur's wages anymore, but Mary was well aware the difference in their financial situations, even as he enjoyed some of the benefits from their family. Before he could say anything, she was saying, "Oh, Tom, you didn't have to do that—"

"I know," he replied, kissing her cheek. "But is it so hard to believe I wanted to?"

"Well, I doubt it was cheap," said Mary, flexing her fingers as she eyed it again. There was a bit of moonlight (or perhaps it was simply a street lamp, which wasn't nearly as romantic) streaming in through their window, and the diamond was able to catch the light.

"Never mind the cost of the thing," answered Tom. "I wanted to get you something you would wear."

"I'm a married woman now. I would wear any wedding ring my husband gave to me," she insisted. "You could have tied a string to my finger for all I cared."

Tom let out a laugh. "That doesn't sound much like you."

"Your love has changed me," she told him, letting her hand rest on his bare chest, right over his heart. "Truth be told, I'm just so glad we're finally married."

"God, me too," whispered Tom, kissing her forehead. Mary let her eyes fall shut, resting her chin on his shoulder. She was focused only on their breathing and the steadiness of his heart before he said, "I'm sorry I put us through all that."

"I'm happy, darling. Don't apologize."

"I'm not— at least not for the way things have turned out. I only wish I had realized sooner how I felt, that way I could have spared you any pain... and that we could have done all this sooner." His hand came to rest over hers. "There's another reason I picked that ring."

"Oh?" Mary lifted her head.

"So we would have something to remind us of our time in New York forever." He smiled at her. "After this, we'll be at Newport, then we'll go back home to Downton after the baby's born. I know it all started in Yorkshire, but it ended in New York, and I want us to remember it always."

Mary shook her head. "It didn't end. It's only just begun." She leaned forward, brushing their lips together before deepening the kiss. Tom's hand moved to the back of her neck before she climbed overtop him, their free hands intertwining.

"You're right," Tom said as they stepped into the foyer at Newport. It had been some years since Mary had last been here as a very small child, but it was just a resplendent as she remembered it. Her husband soaked in all its splendor, with the marble floors, the grand staircase, and large fireplace, but she only had eyes for him. "It is more like Downton."

Mary hummed in response. Of course, she was rather partial to her beloved home, but this would do until they were ready to return to it.

"I know it's supposed to be a cottage, but it's a bit bigger than the one I lived in when I first started out at Downton," continued Tom, grinning.

Mary couldn't help but smile back, amused by her husband's joke. If someone had told her younger self she would end up married to the chauffeur, she wouldn't have believed them... though right now, Mary couldn't imagine her life any other way. Marriage, it seemed, agreed with them both. Even though it had been less than a week, it was safe to say they were blissfully happy. "Would you like a tour of the place?"

"Certainly," Tom answered, still admiring the grandeur of the foyer.

"Very well. Would you like to start downstairs or should we start with the upstairs? I can show you to our room." It was still their honeymoon, after all...

Tom glanced over at her, first with surprise then with a lascivious grin. "Why, Mrs. Branson, that sounds rather indecent. I'm starting to think I've corrupted you."

Mary couldn't help but love the way her new name sounded, especially in his voice. "That doesn't answer my question, Mr. Branson. Upstairs or downstairs?"

Tom hesitated but only for a second. "We can wait to do the grand tour later," he said, eyeing the steps. "Let's go upstairs and rest for a while."

Mary arched an eyebrow before taking his hand and leading him towards the staircase. "I wasn't exactly planning on resting, you know," she murmured to him, quiet on the off chance one of the servants was lingering about.

"Don't worry," Tom said back, voice low in her ear in a way that made shivers go up her spine, "Neither was I."