Note: This is a one shot idea that takes place after my other fanfic 'Coming Home' and before my next multi chapter fanfic.
'Coming Home' is best read before this one shot as the characters and events spoken about will make more sense.
*Disclaimer: Downton Abbey tv series and movie and/or the characters are not owned by me*
It was still dark. Well of course it is. It's early, very early and it's still technically winter, Thomas thought to himself as he stirred awake one cold and very early morning in February. February the fourteenth to be exact, not a day that he would normally be too bothered about, not until the past few years anyway. He was awake early to allow himself enough time to get up to Downton in time for breakfast of course, but also because he had some important work to do downstairs in the kitchen before Richard, who was as usual sleeping soundly next to him, got up as well. He had done something he reckoned he had never done before, he had ordered a present for a certain someone for Valentines day, which was still in its hiding place in a bin outside. Thomas slipped as quietly as he could out of bed, his body instantly complaining about leaving the warmth below the covers and entering the cold air of the rest of their flat. As tempting as it was to kiss Richard while he was sleeping (an action that turns out a lot better these days, than it did with someone else years ago), the whole success of Thomas's plan rested on Richard not waking up.
Thomas crept down the stairs, avoiding the parts of the stairs that were known to creek, and opened the door to the kitchen as quietly as he could. The clock in the kitchen said five in the morning, giving him enough time to set up his present for Richard. He pulled on some shoes and slipped outside the door and down the alley outside to a gate that led to their small garden. Richard said that when the weather improved and began to warm up he would make a start on the garden. Thomas signed in relief to see that the roses had not died overnight, either from the cold or from not having any water. It was tricky as he couldn't leave them in water as the water would have frozen overnight into a solid block. He had ordered them from a catalogue. He had never known it was possible to order flowers through the post and it certainly made it easier than trying to think of some excuse to tell the head gardener at Downton as to why he needed to 'borrow' a bunch of roses. He took the flowers back inside and rolled out some newspaper on the kitchen table and started to cut them to size. He had never really arranged flowers before, apart from once for Andy and Daisy's wedding, but after a while he stood back and looked pleased with his work. Richard's mother had given them a vase when they moved in as apparently 'every house needs flowers in it', and Thomas found it under the sink, he filled the vase with water and arranged the roses, deep red in colour, and placed it in the middle of the table. He knew roses on Valentines day was very stereotypical but he was counting on the hope that no one has ever given Richard Ellis flowers on such a day before. He was hoping he'd be the first. He was pleasantly surprised that his plan had gone so well. Richard was still asleep, the flowers were looking great and not dead and they had arrived on time and without Richard noticing. The latter success he had Chris to thank for. Richard and himself had gone out for the afternoon yesterday and just before they were leaving, Chris had brought a parcel in from the shop to which it was delivered asking if he should take care of it, probably thinking it was stock for Richard's shop. Richard at the time had been upstairs so Thomas had been able to ask Chris not to tell Richard about it and to hide it away somewhere. Chris said no more on the subject of the parcel. He wasn't an idiot and knew who it was for.
Thomas snapped out of his thoughts and put a card next to the vase and shut the door to the kitchen again, satisfied that his work there was done. He headed straight to the bathroom to get ready for the day and when he re-entered their bedroom again, fully dressed, Richard was just waking up. "You're up early," he said sleepily. "How long have you been up?"
Thomas leant over to kiss him. "A while, couldn't sleep," Thomas said, telling a necessary lie but also a truth.
"Anything wrong?" Richard asked as he yawned.
"No, I'm fine," Thomas said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, anyway you would know if I wasn't," Thomas said.
"Mmm," Richard murmured in agreement. He was clearly not ready to get up. He was getting used to the luxury of not having to wake at a stupid time every morning.
"I'll be going in a few minutes okay?"
"Yeah," Richard yawned again. "You'll be back for tea this evening though?"
"Course," Thomas said. "Happy valentines day." Thomas kissed him again.
"You remembered?"
"Of course, you make it hard to forget."
...
On his way downstairs Thomas almost bumped into Chris who was arriving that morning at the shop. "Why you are early and don't even have to be I will never understand," Thomas said. According to Richard, Chris seemed to have a bit of a routine when he arrived stupidly early. He would make himself some tea first, sit and drink that whilst reading the paper at a relaxed pace, then he would go out to the village bakery and buy himself something for breakfast and bring that back to the shop to eat. Thomas reckoned that Chris did all this because he liked being in the company of others, or to put it simply he didn't like being alone.
"It's become a habit I'm afraid," Chris said. "Besides, I don't like to waste any of my day, may as well be here." Chris looked at the neatly arranged roses on the table. Thought so, he had a feeling it would be roses.
"I thought you asked Richard for the day off?" Thomas asked.
"I asked for the afternoon, the chap I'm meeting can't get out of work until the afternoon," Chris said. He saw the look on Thomas's face. "You seem surprised?"
"What! No of course not, I didn't know you had anyone, that you're seeing anyone," Thomas said. "Richard never said why you wanted the day off."
"Well he doesn't know why I asked and he didn't ask me why either. We did have that agreement when he employed me that he would ask no questions and he is keeping to that, although I don't mind if you and him know, not really."
"Is it serious?" Thomas asked.
"Oh no! Nothing like you two believe me, we are just two men in need of like minded company once in a while. It's causal, we have an understanding, that's all," Chris explained, a little pang of jealousy threatening to rise as he wished he could have more.
"He's a good guy though?" Thomas asked.
"Yeah he is, it's nice to know you care," Chris said.
"You know I do," Thomas said softly. "Where you meeting him?"
"York, he works in a jewelers in Thirsk but we agreed to meet there," Chris said.
Can't be, Thomas thought as he remembered Michael who he bought Richard's ring from last December. He didn't voice his queries though, as he didn't want Chris to feel uneasy. It would fit though, Michael was never the sort of man to want anything too settled from what I remember. "Have you met him before?"
"Yeah, I wasn't just sitting on my own on boxing day last December you know," Chris said.
"Well don't do anything I wouldn't do, or even better don't do anything stupid," Thomas said, adding that last part as he has done plenty of foolish things before.
"I won't, promise. I learnt my lesson the hard way," Chris said as Thomas made to leave. "Is Richard still asleep then?"
"Wouldn't expect him down for a while yet," Thomas smirked.
...
Richard came downstairs finally at eight. He was getting used to getting to sleep for a more 'normal' amount of time, though it did help that his commute to work merely consisted of walking downstairs and through the kitchen. Chris was nowhere to be seen, probably out buying breakfast as he normally does, he thought. "Oh Thomas," Richard said to himself quietly as he saw the impressive arrangement of deep red roses in his mother's vase sitting proudly in the middle of the kitchen table. He'd never received anything like this for Valentines day, or any other day come to think of it, before. There was a card propped up against the base of the vase and unlike many of the other notes and letters they have sent each other over the years, this one was signed.
It read:
For my dearest,
Firstly I should point out that Downton's head gardener is not wondering where some of his best roses have gone. I found alternative sources for you on this day. (Richard laughed at this to himself)
I hope you don't think these are too stereotypical, you will have to forgive me if they are too predictable but I am counting on you never receiving these before. I do reckon I've done a good job of arranging them, but you can tweak my efforts if you so desire.
Sorry for my rambling, not used to doing these sorts of things today, but I suppose all I can say is that I love you and I hold you most dear always.
From your darling,
Thomas
Perhaps roses on Valentine's day were stereotypical but Richard had never received anything like this before or really been thought of by too many people in a special regard on this day, save one or two past lovers and of course his mother who always sent a card, despite him being a grown man. "So that is what he was doing this morning," Richard said. Unknown to Thomas he had woken a little when Thomas had risen a bit earlier than normal earlier in the morning, but had been so comfortable and sleepy that he had fallen asleep pretty much straight away, without giving Thomas's actions too much of a thought at the time. He sat down with a cup of tea and wondered about taking the flowers upstairs, but decided to indulge himself just this once by leaving them where they were. No one else would be likely to see them, apart from maybe Chris and he would be out for most of the day anyway.
Richard had his own plans for Valentines day of course. It was their first and so he wasn't going to do this by halves. He had already arranged a gift for Thomas and had hidden it away somewhere where, hopefully, it wouldn't melt. He had been planning on giving it to him when he came home this evening, but he then decided that he didn't want Thomas to go through the whole day wondering if he'd be receiving something. Just then Chris came in through the door that led to the shop holding a pastry of some kind. "Morning," he said.
"Smells good," Richard said in reference to the pastry. That reminded him that he hadn't yet eaten.
"Got you one," Chris said, handing Richard a paper bag.
"Oh thanks," Richard said, his stomach rumbling in approval. Chris looked at the flowers again, he didn't comment on them, Richard didn't expect him too. "What time are you leaving later?"
"Oh um, probably about midday, no point me getting there too early in the afternoon and I'll probably eat on the train," Chris said.
"Oh that's good, I was hoping you'd still be here in the morning. I need to run an errand," Richard said.
"An errand that involves Downton and it's butler?" Chris asked, making himself his second cup of tea that morning.
"Well yes, but I'm hoping to avoid him. Surprises won't work if he knows about me being there," Richard admitted.
"You could have posted it," Chris suggested.
"I know, but I had planned on giving it to him myself, and I don't trust the post with something that is fragile," Richard said.
"You know, I am surprised we have any money to run this place after everything you spend on him Richard," Chris said.
"It's not too much of an expense I assure you," Richard said, remembering that Chris after all, is in charge of the finances. "Where are you off too anyway, if you don't mind me asking?"
"I don't, despite our agreement. And I'm meeting someone in York," Chris said.
"A friend?"
"Something like that," Chris said. Richard didn't push him on the details as it was not how things were done for them.
...
"Post Mr Barrow," Albert the hall boy said, handing Thomas a larger than usual pile of envelopes.
"Thank you Albert," Thomas said taking the post and flicking through it for anything urgent or important. He took them to his office and put the post concerning the day to day running of Downton in one pile and the other post, which were addressed to various members of staff, in another. That pile contained a substantial number of cards as well as the usual letters. It was Valentine's day and he had dealt with this many times and had taught himself over the years not to expect anything for himself as he never received anything. Though for the past four years he had received something. Letters at first and then a card, unsigned, except for a little heart drawn in place of a signature or name. He knew who that was from every time. He had wondered about whether there was any point in sending Richard a card in the post as he could just give it to him, but he reckoned Richard would like the novelty of getting a card with the other post so he had sent one the other day. As he looked through the pile of staff post he saw that Richard had done the same thing, as there was an envelope addressed to him. He decided to wait a bit until opening his card, savoring the moment he supposed. He decided he would give out the rest of the post first.
Thomas hence took on the combined role of cupid and the downstairs post man that morning. He gave out various letters and cards to the few staff in the servants hall and then the kitchen. When he gave a card to Charlotte she gave an unusual reaction. "Oh for goodness sake!" she exclaimed.
"Are you not pleased to be in someone's affections?" Mrs Patmore queried.
"I'm not. It's a joke from my older brother. Last year I sent him a series of secret Valentine's notes and cards from his secret admirer as a joke, and he fell for it. It's okay as we always played practical jokes on each other. This is his way of getting back at me," Charlotte explained.
Thomas left the kitchen then, Mrs Patmore most certainly telling her that it served her right. He handed out a few more cards, one to Mr Bates, which Thomas found a bit awkward, another to Anna later on, which confirmed in his mind that he and Richard weren't the only couple who lived together who still sent cards via the Royal Mail. He then smiled to himself when he referred to him and Richard as 'a couple'. "Ah Miss Baxter, got something for you," he said, meeting her on the stairs.
"Really?" she said, sounding surprised.
"I bet I know from whom, but I'll let you discover that," Thomas said. He looked at two of the last cards in his hand, both addressed to Stephen, which was interesting. "Haven't seen Stephen around have you?" he asked her.
"I think he's in the boot room. Are those for him?" she asked.
"Might be," Thomas said.
"Well if they are, don't delay giving them to him. He's been looking a little down today and could do with cheering up."
"No, thank you Miss Baxter," Thomas said as he headed back down the stairs to find Stephen.
...
"Ah there you are Stephen," Thomas said, finding Stephen in the boot room alone as Phyllis had suggested. "I was trying to find you."
"Should be finished soon Mr Barrow. Sorry if I've been here too long." Phyllis was right, he did look rather miserable and Thomas thinks he could guess why. He'd worn that same expression many times himself.
"Don't worry about that, we're in no rush," Thomas reassured him. "This came for you," he said, holding out one of the envelopes.
Stephen took it and looked at the writing. "Oh that will be from my mum. That's her handwriting," Stephen said. He sounded disappointed, Thomas in the back of his mind would have loved a card or a letter or even a note from his mother but he never received such a thing and didn't ever expect too. However, he reckoned Stephen was hoping for a card from someone else other than his mother.
"Well there is also this one, I doubt your mother would send you two cards, so it makes us wonder who this might be from," Thomas said, giving Stephen the other card before making to leave the room to give Stephen some privacy to read it.
"Mr Barrow," Stephen said, stopping Thomas in his tracks. "Thank you. It's from... him."
"Glad to hear it Stephen," Thomas said truefully.
"Um, I have one for him too but it's not as if I can walk into the butchers and give it to him or send it to him in the post, not while he still lives with his parents," Stephen said.
"Are you asking if I could find a way to get it to him on your behalf?" Thomas said.
"Well I couldn't ask you to do that, but I would be grateful," Stephen said.
"I could see what I could do," Thomas said, thinking. "Any idea of where he spends any of his spare time?"
"He does go to the Grantham Arms sometimes after he finishes working, usually in the late afternoon before it gets too busy. We meet there sometimes," Stephen said.
"Well that could be possible," Thomas said.
"But how would you give him that without anyone seeing? It would look suspicious," Stephen asked.
"I have my ways," Thomas said, thinking of a lie he could tell that would make this good deed work. "Leave it with me."
...
After a rather routine morning, aside from the annual Valentine's day excitement, Phyllis Baxter was in need of a bit of a break and was intending to finally sit down for a bit when she stepped out into the yard outside the back door. It was raining. Not heavily, but a light dusting that would probably become heavier later. She was just disposing of some wilted flowers when she heard a noise from behind a pile of wooden crates near the wall. "Hello?" She called out. She was rather surprised to see Richard Ellis's face poke out from behind the crates. "Mr Ellis! Why are you hiding behind there?"
"Ah, glad it was you. I thought you might be Thomas, and I didn't want to come across him right now," Richard said, pushing a few strands of damp hair from his forehead. He had been there a while.
Phyllis's smile on her face fell. "You two haven't fallen out have you? Hiding out here won't solve things you know."
"Oh no! We are fine Miss Baxter, no problems, quite the opposite. I understand it is a rather peculiar thing you catch me doing. I have this to get to Thomas but I rather like to surprise him with it. Just wondering how to get it into Downton without him or anyone else knowing I'm here. It's not easy with so many comings and goings," Richard bashfully explained whilst holding a parcel wrapped in brown paper.
"Right I see, Downton is not the best place to try and sneak into," she said, amused. "Tell you what Mr Ellis, I could take it in for you and put it away somewhere and let Thomas find it himself later on?"
"Oh that would be very helpful thank you. I was getting a bit tight for time. I've got to get back to the shop before midday," Richard explained, handing Miss Baxter the parcel. "It is rather fragile. Don't keep it anywhere too warm or it might melt."
"Well now I think I know what this is Mr Eliis. Thomas will love them, he has got a bit of a sweet tooth," Phyllis said, taking the parcel.
Richard smiled fondly. "That he has. I'll bid you good day," he said, tipping his hat. "And thank you."
...
Chris stood across the street from the pub he had agreed to meet Michael in. Michael had suggested the place and Chris hadn't thought it would bother him being back here after over four years but now he was having doubts. He was glad now that he had chosen to kill some time after he got off the train a few hours earlier, wandering the city instead of just waiting here for Michael to show up. He couldn't be sure he wouldn't have just chickened out and left.
He had arrived in York in the mid afternoon with around two hours to kill until he had agreed to meet Michael. He knew the city well having spent most of his life here, all of it give or take a few years in France in service of 'King and country' not that he reckoned the King would be personally grateful or even know or care of his existence. He had walked familiar streets and even seen a few familiar faces, though he made sure those faces didn't see him. Friend or foe it didn't matter. He didn't want to be recognised by anyone. He even found himself outside the shop he used to work in, before everything went wrong. His former employer was still there, as was another man who Chris reckoned was his replacement. He lit up a cigarette and just watched as memories of the past clashed with images of the present. There was something in him that made him want to walk right on in to the shop just to see the man's reaction, but that would not be a wise decision so before he could do anything rash and stupid, he snubbed out his cigarette and left.
Chris hung back for several more minutes after five, not wanting to appear too eager or to be there before Michael. Michael and him had crossed paths a few times before. He first met him not long after he came out of prison in a makeshift bar behind an abandoned bakery in another shady part of York. They had met up once or twice before Chris had finally plucked up the courage to find Thomas in Downton. They had a connection, not just a physical one but an emotional one too, not one full of love or feeling, but they were good for each other when they needed company. They could talk freely, and that was something that neither of them had many opportunities to do. Chris took a deep breath and crossed the street and pushed open the door whilst being hit by the smell of beer and smoke. Michael was there already, in the same place that Chris had seen Thomas sitting before they spent that fateful evening together. "Alright," Chris said as he sat down next to Michael.
"Was wondering how long I could sit here without people wondering what I was up too," Michael said. "You took your time?"
"Thought it best too, and this place brings back too many memories," Chris said. He was grateful that due to the time, the pub was beginning to get busy, making conversations less likely to be overheard.
"Oh? You've been here before?" Michael said.
"Is that so odd? I've lived here a long time," Chris said, not telling the real reason.
"You don't look that comfortable here, worried you might be recognised?" Michael said into his glass.
"Why?" Chris asked.
"Just a feeling. Not judging you though mate, not in a position too. We could go 'elsewhere' though if you feel like it?" Chris caught onto what 'elsewhere' might be.
"Let me have a drink first, then you lead the way."
...
Thomas slipped out late that afternoon and headed with Stephen's card to the Grantham Arms. He didn't really have time too, but he would have to have a drink whilst he's there in case Daniel wasn't there so that it appeared his visit to the pub had purpose. Even if Daniel was there he reckoned he should stay for a while, it would definitely grab people's attention if he just gave Daniel a note and then left again. He had a good idea of how to slip him the card without raising eyebrows though. His luck was holding up, it seemed, when Thomas entered and saw Daniel right where Stephen said he would be. Daniel looked up at the sound of the door opening to what was a mostly empty pub. It would be another hour or so until things got more crowded. Thomas put his hat on the counter, whilst sitting a seat down from where Daniel was. "Don't usually see you down here at this time Mr Barrow," the barman said, filling a glass for Thomas. "Downton causing trouble is it?"
"Nothing I can't handle, though I will handle it much better after a few of these," Thomas said, nodding in the direction of the glass. Necessary small talk out of the way he then turned his attention to Daniel.
"You know it's a good job that you are here Mr Jones," Thomas said, addressing Daniel by his surname. "Saves me a trip tomorrow."
"Oh? How's that Mr Barrow," Daniel asked.
"Well I'm afraid I was going through Downton's accounts and I saw something was missed in the way of payment for some of the supplies for the Christmas celebrations last year. Not much but I don't want it to look like Downton is not paying their suppliers," Thomas said.
"My father hasn't mentioned any outstanding payments Mr Barrow though I could check tomorrow if you like?" Daniel said.
"No need for that. I double checked and I am certain of it, I can pay it now. Will save any inconvenience on either of our parts tomorrow," Thomas said, switching seats so that he was now sitting next to Daniel. The barman had left them alone, since the conversation was nothing he could add too.
"If you're sure?" Daniel asked.
"I insist Mr Jones," Thomas said, pulling out a banknote and the card from Stephen from his inside coat pocket before placing them on the counter, the banknote hiding the envelope from view. He slid them both across the counter to Daniel. "You should find that everything you would expect to be there, is."
"Thank you Mr Barrow, but what's-" Daniel cut off when he recognised Stephen's handwriting. Daniel felt his heart flutter, So he did remember and he got mine, he thought. He wanted to thank Mr Barrow for once again, being a friend to them but all he could do was offer a smile and slip it into his pocket.
"You make sure that you look after that won't you? Be careful with it," Thomas said. Daniel knew he was talking about the card and not the money.
"I will of course," Daniel said.
"Good," Thomas finished his glass. "Well I'd better be getting back before they realise I have gone. You give that money to your father and I will see to it that it is noted in the accounts that payment has been made by Downton in full." Thomas got up and left, leaving a slightly starstruck Daniel at the bar. He felt rather proud that his plan went so well. Yep, still got it, he thought to himself as he pulled on his hat and stepped out into the cold.
...
Thomas put the accounts ledger away, the correct alterations made so that, if for any reason questions were asked about the money, he had the paperwork to back them up to cover both himself and Daniel. He told Stephen when he got back that everything had been sorted and Stephen asked if he could have a few hours off after tea in the evening, to which Thomas could not say no too. He had an hour until he would be needed upstairs again so made himself some tea (Mrs Patmore told him to make his own as she 'wasn't his slave' and he knew better than to argue with her when she was in the height of food preparations) and sat in his rocking chair in the servants hall. The chair was technically anyone's to sit in but it was known that he liked to sit in it the most. He had the company of a few others, Mr Bates who was keeping himself to himself to Thomas's relief, Charlotte and Miss Baxter and Stephen who still was looking pleased as punch. "Mr Barrow, sorry to disturb you but I found this in the mail cupboard and it's addressed to you," Albert said coming into the room holding a brown parcel. Phyllis was silently cursing herself for not hiding that parcel somewhere better as now Thomas would have to open it in front of others and she wondered if he would prefer not too. "I'm not sure how I missed it this morning, I'm sure there was nothing else there."
Thomas hadn't expected a parcel though he had a feeling he knew who had sent this. "Don't worry about it Albert. It's here now," he said, taking the parcel from Albert. He would know that writing anywhere as he looked at the label. Is he ever discrete these days?
"What is it Mr Barrow?" Charlotte asked. Mr Bates looked up curiously from behind his newspaper, though Thomas could tell he was pretending to be indifferent.
"Mr Barrow might want to open it in private. None of our business what it is or who sent it," Miss Baxter said. Thomas smiled appreciatively at her.
"I could open it here Miss Baxter," Thomas said. "But thanks for your concern." He untied the string and pulled off one layer of paper only to reveal another also tied with string. He's been thorough, he thought.
"Oh it's like pass the parcel! Used to play that at birthday parties," Charlotte added.
Thomas smiled, he liked unwrapping a present in front of others. He can't recall when he has done that before. He untied the second knot and slid off the second layer of paper which revealed what Richard had given him today. "Oh-" he said, feeling blessed. There was a fancy looking square box with a red ribbon wrapped around each side and tied on top in a bow. Across the box written in fine flowing print was 'Thorntons quality chocolates'. Slipped in under one piece of ribbon was a note in a small envelope. Thomas opened that though he kept the words out of view from the others.
The note read:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
I am the world's worst poet
But I love you
It is true I am not gifted with poetry, but I think this would make you laugh at least. (Thomas did laugh, which was not a common sound to he heard so naturally gained everyone else's curiosity)
I hope you have guessed who this is from (I will be very disappointed if you have not!). You are always after chocolate and all things sweet so I thought these would suit you perfectly.
I came across this lovely sweet shop in Sheffield (I was not completely honest with you in regards to my whereabouts a few weeks ago when I was 'seeing my parents', I hope you'll forgive me?) and I had to get you these.
I wanted you to receive a parcel today, hence why I didn't give these to you personally. I am rather fond of these too though so if you do forgive me for telling a lie, then save me a few?
Forever yours
R
The 'R' Richard left in place of his name was written within a heart.
"Who are they from?" Charlotte asked.
"If you would like to have one Charlotte you will have to swear not to ask me any more questions," Thomas said, pretending to sound annoyed but the joy of the situation making it practically impossible.
"Fine," Charlotte said.
Thomas put the note in his pocket and untied the ribbon. "Help yourself, but leave something for me. I imagine Mr Ellis would also like to be left a few as well," Thomas said allowing those present to take a few.
"Did someone say chocolates?" Albert asked, coming into the room again.
"Since you made the discovery, here take one," Thomas said.
...
"Mr Barrow," Phyllis called as Thomas was leaving his office later on. "I want to apologise."
"Whatever for?" Thomas asked.
"Your chocolates. Mr Ellis entrusted them to me earlier today, asking me to give them to you later. I'm afraid my hiding place was not the best. I reckon you would have preferred to open that alone?"
"I might have. But as it turns out I rather enjoyed the company, and it has stopped me from eating most of them straight away," Thomas said.
"You and Richard have enough left?"
"Plenty thank you," Thomas said.
...
"This is the place," Michael said to Chris as they stood in the rain outside a less than inviting guest house down the end of a narrow street that was getting darker by the minute.
"Looks stylish," Chris said sarcastically, as the building looked anything but.
"Yeah well, I would love to get us a room at the Ritz but this seems to be our lot," Michael said. "I'll go in first, I've already booked a room, number fifteen. Follow me in after a minute."
"I do know how to do this Michael," Chris said.
"Yeah sorry, I'm the bossy sort," Michael said.
Chris waited and then went in, standing behind Michael as he collected his key from the man behind the reception that had seen better days. "Charlie Wilson," Chris said as he booked a room not far down from Michael's. Michael turned and raised his eyebrows and smirked at the name as he went upstairs.
...
"So, what's the story behind Charlie Wilson?" Michael asked Chris as they both lay in Michael's bed a few hours later.
"What, you didn't give a fake name?" Chris asked.
"Yeah course I did. You're looking at Jack Tucker," Michael said.
"You don't look like a Jack," Chris said.
"Well I didn't give the name much thought but I'd reckon you have," Michael said, lighting a cigarette and then leaning over to light the cigarette hanging from Chris's lips with his own lighter.
"It's a combination of the names of two former superiors of two friends of mine," Chris said.
"Oh I see, well I hope they will be flattered by such an attractive man as yourself using their names to spend time with an equally handsome man such as I," Michael said.
"Hey I like you Michael but don't flatter yourself," Chris said.
"Oh thank you. You see 'Mr Wilson', now I am hurt, deeply," Michael said, placing his hand on his heart and playing at looking downcast.
"I don't think they would appreciate it either. Never met Wilson, but Charlie is not exactly our friend," Chris said. "You know actually that is putting it mildly. He wouldn't get over the shock knowing that a man using his name was in a place like this, with a man like you, enjoying such scandalous acts of pleasure."
Michael burst out laughing at that and had to quickly cover his mouth with his hand to stop his laughter being too loud and attracting unwanted attention. "Well it's his loss. I find you exhilarating Chris or Charlie or whatever."
"You do?"
"Hey did I sound like I was complaining earlier?"
"Well no."
"There you go then. You need to give yourself more self credit Chris. You need to think more of yourself," Michael said, reaching over to pour them both a glass of whisky.
"What so I am vain like you?" Chris teased.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Michael said, handing Chris a glass. "No shame in self worth. This is how I see it. You are handsome, relatively young- not as young as some but still a lot of life in you yet, charming, smart and as I said, exhilarating. Quite a catch really in my books."
"Yeah well, maybe before, but not so much now. Not sure when a limp became attractive?"
"Plenty of injured men walking around this world after the war," Michael said. "And anyway, what happened to you was not your fault and you didn't deserve it. I reckon the guy who lost two teeth because of you has got more issues in the looks department than you do. I didn't know you before you didn't walk like you do now and we are still here for the fourth or fifth time."
"Sixth," Chris corrected. "But I wonder if he might have chosen me if I didn't have so much baggage?"
"Who?" Michael asked. "Oh the guy you're sweet on."
There was no use denying it. "Yeah that one," Chris said. He wondered what Thomas was doing now. Richard would have bought him something equally as romantic as the roses that Thomas got him, he bet. "You know what, forget that. He chose him way before me." Chris drained his glass, Michael took it from him as soon as he finished and refilled it. He has it bad, poor guy, Michael thought.
"Why do you stay working for 'Mr E' then? Why not go somewhere else, and start afresh? You could," Michael said. He didn't know who 'Mr E' and 'Mr B' were and he wasn't going to ask either.
"Thing is, they were kind to me when I had nothing and I have a home there now. They are my friends, and their people aren't too bad either. I feel safer there than I ever have. I suppose I have a life there now," Chris said thoughtfully.
"Can I give you some advice then?" Michael asked.
"You're going to anyway aren't you?" Chris said dryly.
"Yep. Give yourself time. Trust me, eventually things will be easier with what you feel for him."
"You have experience of that?" Chris asked
"Yeah. Remember the corporal I told you about? The one I met in France? Well I was playing it down, he was more than just a handsome face," Michael said, caught in a distant memory. "But anyway, you strike me as the sort of man who could have a more settled life with a man. Maybe not right now but at some point."
"Ha! Right! Never thought I could settle with anything," Chris said.
"Well you've settled with a job and friends. I'd say that's a start."
"You know as well as I do though that it is most likely that our type will just live and die alone," Chris said.
"You're friends aren't though. I'd say if Mr E and Mr B can make it work then why not you?"
"What about you though?" Chris asked.
"Oh I'm not sure if I'm meant to settle with anything, I'm good with what I have," Michael said. "Whatever though Chris, you'll always have me. Until you find someone more worthy of your attention then I will happily spend Valentines day like this."
"Yeah," Chris said, his attention shifting to the sound of dripping near the window. "Maybe we could think about that room at the Ritz next time?"
...
Richard heard the side door shut, a gust of wind from the stormy weather outside momentarily howling in the hallway. "Ah you're home," he said as Thomas came into the kitchen putting the box of chocolates on the table. "Hope you saved some for me?"
Richard was cooking and it smelled delicious. "Just be grateful Downton doesn't have the same number of staff as it did ten years ago as then you and I would have none," Thomas said, putting his arms around the front of Richard's waist as he stood and kissed the side of his neck from behind.
"What's cooking?" Thomas asked.
"Chicken pie and apple crumble," Richard said. "Pie's almost done. Crumble can finish while we eat. I'll set things out down here and you get changed. Your hair is wet."
...
Thomas came downstairs ten minutes later to find the kitchen in near darkness, apart from the light of several candles on the table. "Richard have we had a power cut or something?"
"Thomas! You are always so practical. There was me thinking I was making an effort to be romantic?"
"Oh! Um sorry."
"You silly thing," Richard said affectionately.
"I love it really. All of it," Thomas said as they kissed next to the table, Richard put down the plate he was holding so he could hold Thomas instead.
"I'd take you out somewhere but this isn't too bad as a second option right?"
"If it all tastes as good as it smells, then no," Thomas kissed Richard again.
"Thomas," Richard murmured between Thomas's lips that were reluctant to leave his. "Thomas you have to let go of the chef for a bit or else the chicken pie will be no more than a cinder."
"Oh right," Thomas said, cursing the chicken for having Richard's attention more than his own, even just for a little.
...
"Delicious," Thomas said, putting his spoon down. "You and the meal."
"Charmer," Richard said grinning.
"Just stating the truth," Thomas said.
"I know this is probably not the right time, but you got a letter from Jimmy today. The rain had soaked the envelope and it was open when I retrieved it. I read a bit only by accident," Richard confessed, whilst changing the subject.
"He sent me a letter on Valentines day?" Thomas asked.
"Yeah I know. Talk about timing."
"Well I'll read it tomorrow. But from what you read is there anything important?"
"No, I don't think so. Only that he has been travelling a bit. But it got me thinking about what we talked about at the servants ball last year. We need to get away sometime," Richard said.
"Still waiting for that opportunity though. But what were you thinking exactly?" Thomas asked.
"Somewhere by the sea maybe. Not anywhere too crowded, somewhere more secluded. Maybe a little cottage?"
"The ideal picture eh?"
"I live in hope." They just looked at each other, the candles causing light to flicker off every surface.
Thomas stood up and took the plates and put them in the sink. He walked behind Richard's chair, slowly running his hand across from one shoulder, across the back of his neck and then to the other. "Come upstairs?"
Richard stood, and blew out the candles, before taking Thomas's hand.
Note: This was quite long but I hope you enjoyed it. Next story will be a multi-chapter fanfic that I will start work on soon.