Actually, this is my first DA fanfiction. It is a modern AU and features almost every upstairs and downstairs character from the beginning. I hope I manage to finish the fanfic and apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes.

After a terrible accident Robert Crawley has lost his wife, his heir and their fortune with them. The only way to save the family's property is the marriage with York's hospital owner Cora Levinson. Furthermore, is the oldest daughter Mary forced to marry the new heir Matthew Crawley to keep the hospital in charge of the family. But the engagement of Robert and Cora comes along with problems. Will the staff of Downton and the Levinson's employees get along? Is there a future for the three Crawley daughters and the men they're in love with? Can the little village hospital survive? And what relationships will develop throughout the time?

Chapter 1

"Robert? I know I might seem heartless but we must save the hospital", Violet said while she was looking at her son. Robert turned around from the window and sat down on the chair next to his mother: "I know that we mustn't lose it. But what could we possibly do?" His mother just waited for this question. She started to explain her plan to her son. There was the Levinson's hospital in York and they needed more space for their equipment. Furthermore, the boss there, Cora Levinson, was only a few years younger than Robert and heir to a big fortune. But the most important thing was, she was single. Robert immediately got what Violet wanted him to do: "You want me to marry her?!" "I know it's hard. But I want you to at least consider the possibility. I'll invite her and her family to dinner next Monday, along with the new heir and his mother." She laid her hand on Roberts shoulder before she made her way to the door.

He knew that his mother didn't want to be rude but it was only a month ago when that terrible accident happened. His wife Christina was on the way to the lawyer with their heir Patrick and his friend William Mason. They wanted to fix the formalities in the case of Roberts death. However, they didn't come back home in the evening. Mary and Edith just arrived at the house when they saw the policemen's car standing in the driveway. They informed Robert, their sister Sybil, Violet and William Masons wife Daisy and his father Mr Mason. As soon they were all at the Crawley's house the police told them what has happened: they wanted to cross a street but couldn't see another car coming closer from their right. Christina and William died before the ambulance arrived, while Patrick's heart stopped beating after several operations at a London hospital.

After the sudden death of her mother the youngest daughter Sybil decided to become a nurse. Mary, the eldest, was in the fourth trimester of becoming a doctor just like her father and grandmother. The middle daughter Edith was rather like her aunt, Rosamund, fascinated of the world of journalism and studied in the first trimester. When the sisters realized their mother was gone, they supported each other trough this hard time. Even Mary and Edith, who didn't get along very well. Edith was terribly shocked of her mothers and especially Patricks death because she was in love with him. Her older sister was equally shocked but not because their death was so sudden it was because she couldn't seem to cry about Patrick. They were almost engaged but she did not love him. In the end Mary even wanted Edith to marry him, however, Patricks father James didn't approve this idea and Edith wasn't to know about all of this. So, of course, she was angry with Mary.

Now, after his death, they tried to be nicer, at least for a while. This "while" seemed to end in that exact moment.

"Oh, just shut up and stop blaming me!", Mary shouted at her sister. Edith responded a bit more calmed down: "How couldn't I? I loved him and you knew. You didn't give a shit about my feelings!" Unbelievingly, Mary shook her head and went to take her coat. When she wanted to leave the house, Edith shouted after her: "Now there she is again. Mary Crawley running away from facing the truth. You know what? You're a coward!"

Mary turned around with anger in her eyes. But not only anger. The always though Mary seemed to be hurt of her sister's words: "Do you really think that?" Edith didn't really know what to say. She was torn between believing her mostly nasty sister or her own instincts. She did want to believe her but she couldn't. Too much happened between the sisters in the past. That's why Edith answered: "I am afraid I do." Mary had to swallow. She knew she treated Edith not very sister like these last few years but it wasn't only her fault. It was Edith's as much as Mary's. However, she would have refused Patrick. She didn't love him the way her sister did. And there was a reason why.

With a shaking voice Mary made her point: "I would have refused him, you know. I was at his place, waiting for him. But he didn't show up. And when I came home and realized what the police told me, I felt ashamed for not telling him, I felt ashamed for not being as sad as I should be, because…" Edith just looked at her confused. She never saw her sister blaming herself for something. So, Edith wanted to know: "Because what?" Mary looked up at the ceiling and tears were rolling down her cheeks: "Because I am in love with another man!"

She finally took her blue coat and made her way to the door. She stepped out into the cold and snowy December night. She rummaged in her pockets and opened her silver Mercedes. She drove along the street full of snow until she stopped her car next to a little coffee shop. It was the only house with lights turned on in the street.

Mary pulled the shop door and entered the café. There were only six or seven tables but that made the atmosphere quite familiar. She went to one of the tables in the corner, where a blonde haired, good looking man with blue eyes was already waiting for her. "I'm sorry. I am late, aren't I?", she apologized. He just smiled at her: "Never mind. All that count is that you're here now." She sat down next to him and took his hand in hers. "Is it sill Monday then?", she asked. "I'm afraid my mother and I got an invitation for dinner. Maybe tomorrow instead?" They smiled at each other and he pulled her into a kiss. She whispered at his lips: "Oh Matthew, I love you so much!"

Meanwhile Sybil arrived after a hard day at the hospital. She went to the kitchen and put some food from yesterdays dinner out of the fridge. "Papa?!", she shouted, "Do you want to come down and eat with me?" She started to prepare the little table, when she heard footsteps coming down the stairs. A few moments later her father stood next to her: "Let me help you:" "No, no I'm doing it!", she insisted. As the youngest of the sisters her parents took especially care of her little one. But she always wanted to show them that she was able to built a life for herself, take care of herself.

When the food was warm enough, she put it on the table. Robert didn't eat so much. He wasn't very hungry the last days. "So, what was going on earlier? Edith seemed a little bit distracted when I came home."; Sybil wanted to know. Annoyed Robert rolled his eyes and Sybil knew everything. There must have been an argument between her sisters. Robert shared his thoughts with his daughter: "I hoped they would get along better than the last years. At least for their mother's sake." Tears formed his eyes and Sybil saw it. She felt so sorry for her father, especially after Violet informed her about Cora Levinson. She didn't know the hospital had such problems. Furthermore, she found it too early for her still grieving father to marry again.

But she wanted to know what Robert thought about all of this. "Granny called earlier. We talked about her plans with the Levinsons…" He kept starring out of the window and Sybil tried to encourage him: "you know we will support you, Mary, Edith and I. No matter how you will choose." "I know my darling.", he gave her a sad smile. With her work at the hospital and the classes at school she was quite busy, but her father must think almost every second of his late wife. He finally started talking: "I do want to keep the hospital. It's in property of the Crawleys since 1875. But it's only a building on the other hand and I'm not keen on marrying someone I don't even know." "I understand…", was the only thing Sybil said. He stood up and placed a soft kiss on his daughter's forehead before he left the kitchen and made his way upstairs to his room.

Sybil stayed in the kitchen and carried her plate to the sink and polished the table. After that she chose a book and sat down on the couch. But she couldn't really focus on the pages in front of her. Sybils thoughts kept wandering to the hospital's new ambulance driver Tom Branson. He started the job a few days after her and immediately caught her eye. Branson wasn't like the other men she met before. He was funny, very handsome, stood up for his principals and did it in such a charming way… She let out a sigh. Was she really falling for a driver? What would her grandmother say? Honestly, she didn't mind what her grandmother thought, not at all. If she loved him, if she really and truly did, she would fight for him. Finally, she managed to concentrate on her book but it wasn't very useful. Because within half an hour she fell asleep.