The December air was as chilly as it could be in Yorkshire. Downton Abbey had been successfully decorated with it's finest ornaments since the beginning of the month, but on Christmas Day was when it came to its prime glow. Everyone was often amazed by how, every year, the decorations seemed to become more and more beautiful.

However, for Cora, it was the first time experiencing the very much talked about Crawley Christmas. Robert had told her all about his family's traditions dated to centuries before, and how his mother became especially more difficult to handle during the Holidays. Violet was the hostess of the biggest party of the region, on which, every Christmas Day, the friends and relatives would gather together to celebrate, drink, dance, exchange gifts and so on. Usually, (according to Rosamund, at least), the Ball would go on throughout the evening, with everyone singing carols and furiously drinking whisky. This was Patrick's favourite day ever, and both the Crawley parents would compete into who was the best at giving presents. Also, there was this whole moment of the evening on which people would just sit anywhere in the drawing-room and play all sorts of games, including charades and ibble-dibbles.

It wouldn't be very different from what Cora experienced with her own family in New York and Newport. The Levinsons were famous for their exquisite parties and guests from all over the country that came to spend the night at their huge manor. Cora loved Christmas. Much more than New Years, for sure. She loved how everything was better with snow, how she and Isidore would have their little traditions (like invading the kitchens and baking Babushka's secret pryaniki cookies (that every year they thought was good, but never as good as Babushka's) and hide Martha's presents in all sorts of unimaginable places around the house. For her, Christmas was meant to be celebrated with the people you love, friends, dear ones. But now, she was at Downton Abbey, with her scary mother in law who for sure despised her for breathing, a husband she was too scared to admit to love and another party full of strangers. Vivian wouldn't be able to attend the Ball because Nigel's family was throwing an equally immense party in London for his family at the same time. So, it was down to her, Rosamund and Marmaduke, and Robert.

On the 25th, Cora woke up with the sound of bells coming from downstairs, at what seemed to be around dawn. According to Violet's schedule, they would have breakfast, then attend mass, followed by a small tea gathering to exchange the family's presents, then luncheon, a small break and the big dinner party. Not yet ready to tell herself for the millionth time that week she wasn't in New York (come on Cora, it's been what? Ten months? she'd tell herself), she woke up to find Robert peacefully sleeping by her side. How couldn't he wake up with those infernal bells sounding below them, was a mystery. Her breakfast would be served upstairs - thank God, one less meal to find Violet with dreadful nerves - at any minute, and she couldn't help but think that, at that same time at home, Martha would be hiding their presents under the socks by the living room's fireplace pretending she was Santa Claus.

Harold and Cora were old enough to know that Santa Claus wasn't a real person, but Martha and Isidore made so much effort for them to believe in it, they just kept forgetting to forget they weren't supposed to know the truth. And now, for the first time in 20 years, Cora missed it. In New York, things were… magical. She could sense the delicious Christmas spirit all over the place, through every snowflake, smell and part of the day. Perhaps it was the British way of life, she thought. They were all so sceptical, so 'real' all the time, she even considered what would be like for her future children with Robert on Christmas time. Would Violet just look mortified at her toddler and say 'Don't be ridiculous, Santa Claus is just silly folklore for peasants.'?! Being caught up on her thoughts, she felt an arm hold her by the waist.

"Good morning, my dear." Robert smiled, still a bit sleepy, and placed a gentle kiss on her shoulder.

"Good morning, darling." Cora smiled back at him. He pulled her back to his embrace and kissed her cheeks and collarbone, making her chuckle. "Robert! Stop! It tickles!" She said, still laughing, but too amused to protest.

When her face turned red, he stopped, kissing her now on the lips. "Happy Christmas, my love" His smile was so gentle, she almost felt as she'd fade away in his hug.

"Merry Christmas, Robert." She kissed him back tenderly. It was chilly outside, and staying in his arms was so cosy Cora felt like a little fat cat, ready to purr at any moment, so comfortable she was.

"I..." Robert started again, sitting on the bed but still looking at her. "I know this is your first Christmas away from..." Home, she thought. "Your parents, but… I wanted to make it special since it's our first Christmas together as a married couple."

She smiled again. How come she deserved him? Robert was so sensitive and kind… he genuinely worried about her. It only made her think again about her present, and become more nervous about how to deliver it to him later that day. He loves you. You'll be fine. He loves you.

"So," He proceeded. "It told Mama we wouldn't be a part of the whole schedule she put up for us." Cora's eyes went huge. They wouldn't?!

"Robert, but-"

"No buts." He kissed her forehead and she almost melted away again. "Everyone knows this is a big moment for you, a big step and you must miss your family terribly, and so, for that said, as I'm your family, we're going to have our own Christmas with our own little things and future traditions and everything else you wish to do today."

Cora was about to cry. No one had ever done such a thing for her. For Robert to truly understand her, even without the need of her to manifest it verbally, was just… perfect. She thought a million times that minute whether or not she should give Robert his gift then, but she didn't. The moment had to be exact. Not yet, she thought.

"Thank you so much, Robert." her eyes got smaller as her smile grew bigger. "You don't know how much this means to me! Truly!" She kissed his cheek, as Robert squeezed her tighter in his arms.

"So, first of all, if you wish, of course, I want for you to tell me everything about your Christmas in America. Yesterday we almost lectured you on Downton's traditions and etc etc, but, something tells me things were quite different back there..."

Cora smiled and caressed his cheek with her soft palm while sitting up. "Yes, they were quite different indeed, but not too different..." His eyebrows frowned, a bit confused, so she continued. "Well, we had a huge party at the manor, and it was nice, but during the day we did all sorts of things!"

"Like what?" He asked, genuinely curious.

"Like..." She licked her lips, thinking. "For instance, we didn't have a big luncheon. We had all the food planned and reserved for later, so the food we'd have on lunchtime would go to the servants and their families." Cora smiled. "The children would come, and Poppa and I would give all of the employee's children some gifts saying they were from Santa who dropped them by during the night."

"Santa?" Robert frowned again. That was a very cute tradition, but he had no idea of who that Santa was.

"Santa Claus!" He still had no clue. "Oh God, you don't have Santa Claus here?!" She looked mortified. "Santa Claus, Robert! Saint Nicholas! The nice man who comes every Christmas Eve bringing gifts to well-behaved children!"

"AH!" Finally, she thought. "You mean Father Christmas?" Robert said, sitting properly as well.

"Fatha Christmus" Cora tried copying his British accent, but it went wrong, making them both laugh again. "I can't believe you call Santa Claus 'Father Christmas'!" She rolled her eyes, making him wide his eyes.

"Santa?! Really?! That's kind of odd. 'Santa Claus'..." He repeated to himself. "It has a ring to it, I have to admit it..."

A huge smile grew on Robert's face as he pictured a little and adorable version of Cora opening presents from 'Santa Claus'. He liked to think their future child would inherit her love for little things and special moments such as these. Oh, how much he wanted to be a father to Cora's children. Just the thought of making a little human with all of her incredible features, wit and beauty made his heart grow with love. How he loved her.

"Also, Poppa and I would spend the evening in the kitchen trying our best to make pryaniki and hope it would taste as good as Babushka's but they never did and I always ended up with flour all over me!" Cora remembered giggling, at how when she was seven, they had made such a mess her hair got white with a mix of flour and sugar.

"Ah, yes! Your grandma's Jewish, isn't she?" Robert asked again.

"Yes, but if you ask her, she'll gracefully deny it," Cora admitted and they both chuckled. "It's quite funny actually since at home she's very much Russian and Jewish, but if she's out of the family circle she becomes a whole different person!"

"She seems to be an extraordinary person, Cora."

"She is. Babushka says her first full sentences in English were the Holy Mother prayers..." Robert smiled. "But even by making my father grow up with Christian traditions, and with it, me and my brother, she never hid from us our heritage. Harold and I used to be as excited for Hanukkah and all the dinners she would cook just for us. My mother wasn't a huge fan of us engaging on Jewish festivities, but Babushka always made it so fun!"

As if it was possible, Robert fell even more in love for Cora at that moment. Her words were so comforting, personal and intimate, that made him feel like some sort of lucky intruder to her heart and memory.

"Poppa would always be so happy during Hanukkah and the Passover! It was a big thing for him, you know… very serious, very important, but always immensely fun. We loved it!" She continued. "I remember once when I was about 10 or something, on which I asked him if Hanukkah was the Jewish Christmas, and he told me this whole story on the Maccabees and all of that, and it was the first time I felt like 'oh this is it. I'm part of this. These were my ancestors, and because of them I'm here today.'. I have never wished on being something other than Christian, but all of those old stories and traditions just made me so… proud, you know?"

Her eyes were filled with happy tears now. Robert embraced her again, making Cora rest her head on his shoulder. His fingers traced light paths on her bare arms, almost imperceptible so gentle they were. She sniffed a bit, before cleaning up the tears from her cheeks and smiling again.

"What else do you want to know?"

Cora lay on her elbow, looking at Robert with a playfull expression. He couldn't seem to think of any other moment on which she had been that adorable. Her eyes were still puffy because of her lack of sleep, as her tangled hair that escaped briefly from her long raven tresses. Her nose was a bit red like her cheeks because of the chilly Yorkshire weather. Outside, Robert was sure it was snowing, and soon someone would pop out bringing their breakfast.

"I…" His breathless look at her marvellous figure made her shiver.

"Stop looking at me like that…" She whispered shyly, still smiling.

Robert hugged her again and sniffed her neck. "Like what?" He simply asked, making her chuckle.

"As if I'm a little child! Which I'm not." Her playfull face made him laugh loud. "I am a woman, Robert. A very nice, polite, a Viscountess, even. And will not be seen as cute."

Even Cora couldn't keep her straight face for long. They both started laughing again, and she received a nice surprise of his kisses all over her face and arms.

"No, darling, you're the most wonderful woman I've ever met. In every way." He winked at her and pushed her to be on top of him, making her raise her eyebrows playfully.

"Robert George Crawley!" She hissed, pretending to be ashamed. "Don't be naughty on Christmas Day or you won't get any presents!" She touched his nose first with her index finger and then placed a small kiss at that very spott.

Robert pretended to be offended, and sat up, with his hands still on her waist. "Me?! Naughty?! Never…" His tone went a bit lower, making her shiver again. "Only if you ask me to…" He stole a quick peck on her lips, making Cora smirk in response. She adored the way he seemed so comfortable and flirty around her. She felt safe, and cherished, and most of all… loved.

She looked at him with her sparkling sapphire eyes and whispered close to his mouth. "Kiss me." He was a bit slow still, but looked at her like confirming her pleading. "Kiss me, Robert." She demanded again, and he wasn't a fool to deny her anything.

So he kissed her. A hot, yet tender kiss, full of passion and fondness of one another. Robert's hands wandered around his torso, making Cora moan little hmms and hmhms, that he found so delightful. The friction of their bodies made him shiver, and completely forget the cold air that came from outside. His hands traced her figure, now stopping at her almost bare bottom, covered only by her sleep undergarments. At the moment their tongues collided in a delicious rhythm, Cora let go of his lips.

"Robert, wait." He opened his eyes as if that was an alarm, paying full attention to her. "Before we do anything, I wanted to tell you something." He sat up again, very focused. "Actually, give you something. Your gift… I… can I?"

"Of course!" He smiled, making her a bit less nervous for what she was about to do. "I'll go get yours, while you get mine. Just a second." He pecked her lips again, and Cora quickly got up to look for his surprise gift. Under her drawer, wrapped in silver paper with a bright blue ribbon on top, laid her perfectly picked present for Robert.

After a few minutes, he emerged from the little door that connected their rooms - more like their room and Robert's dressing room - with a red box wrapped in a typical Christmas paper. Cora noticed there was a little note on top that said 'To Cora' with his handwriting.

They both stayed a few inches from each other, sitting at the satin settee near the bed.

"Can I go first?" Robert said, visibly excited to show her what he got.

Cora smiled and nodded. How could he be so handsome and kind at the same time?! Robert handed her the red box, and Cora started unwrapping her gift. It wasn't a big box, so it shouldn't be something huge. She was guessing it was something like jewellery or a pocket book. After tearing down the ribbons and the rest of the paper, she found herself looking at a fine wooden box. Cora glanced quickly at Robert, who looked at her expecting her reaction, nervous for her judgement. She had never received anything that beautiful before. It was a diamond brooch, with her initials - two Cs and a M -, carved in sapphires, exactly the shade of her eyes. Along with it, there also had a pair of diamond pendant earrings inside a red velvet box. The little card on top said:

'Hope you'll find it to your liking, so you can wear it at the Ball tonight.

Happy Christmas!

With love,

Robert.'

Cora couldn't say a word. It was all so beautiful and well thought. Blue was her favourite colour, and the fact that he thought of it as something so personal and yet so gorgeous, made her emotional. She got up and kissed him soundly on the lips, trying to make him feel how much she loved his gift. Feeling small tears stream down her cheeks, he pulled her face closer and kissed her temper with kindness.

"I loved it, Robert." She smiled, honestly. "I really did. And of course I'll wear it tonight! It perfectly matches my dress!" She kissed him again, but quickly enough to get up and pick his gift from the other side of the settee.

"I… this is a bit less… extravagant." Cora said in a shy tone. "But… well, open it." She handed him the package and he kindly took it.

Obviously her wrapping skills were immensely better than his. The box was soon unwrapped, the blue ribbon on the floor, along with the rest of the silver paper. It was a book. A beautiful hardcover in blue leather of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', with Robert's name printed on the cover. His eyes filled with tears again, not being able to keep it straight. It was so brilliant! It was the book he was holding when they met, almost two years ago, at Lady Aylesford's Ball. Robert traced the cover with his fingers, and something inside of him whispered open it. And so he did. On the first page, along with the title, there was a little note written with Cora's beautiful handwriting.

'Dear Lysander,

On this Christmas Day, I wish you all happiness and joy. Hope we get to spend other thousands of beautiful Christmasses together from now on.

From yours truly,

with all my love,

Persephone.'

Wait. Did she-

No. Robert read it again and again that tiny sentence that made his heart almost combust with joy. 'With all my love'. Looking back at her, Cora's eyes also filled with tears, he took her hand and held it tight pressed to his heart.

"Cora, is this…" He was so happy he could barely speak. "Is this true?"

She just nodded and held his face, for him to look at her in the eyes, when she, at last, took a deep breath and said:

"I love you, Robert Crawley. I think I ever have, but… I was so broken back then and so… uncertain of everything… but I know now that my heart was always yours. I love you. For ever, and ever and ever and ever and so on."

Neither of them could keep themselves from crying. She said it. She finally said it. And so, after a year of marriage, on their first Christmas spent as a married couple, they made love for their first time. In love. Completely, utterly in love with one another, and should feel as so for the rest of their days.