Thank you for all your supporting reviews and I hope you all like the second chapter. Because some of you were asking about Edith, you'll find out more in the third chapter.

Have fun:)

Chapter 2

She slept on the couch until the morning came. Sybil turned around on it to avoid the sunlight which was shining through the window. She pulled her blanket, of which she didn't even know where she got it from, a little closer that she wasn't freezing. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder and heard Marys voice: "Sybil, Sybil darling. You should probably get up."

When she opened her eyes, she had to blink against the glare sun: "What time is it then?" She found her sister putting in her earrings, as she had opened her eyes entirely. While being focused on herself inside the looking glass she answered: "It is only 7.30am. But I thought, in case you want to meet your handsome chauffeur before you leave for school at noon, you should get ready." Speechlessly, Sybil stared at her sister. Was she being so obvious? She talked to him for several times, but there was nothing more about it. Well, she tried to make herself believe that there was nothing more about it.

To be honest, she knew that secretly she enjoyed every moment she spent with him. Marys voice brought her back: "Oh don't look at me like that. It is quite obvious that you are soft on that Branson guy." Sybil could feel her cheeks getting red and she lowered her head. When she calmed down a bit she wanted to know: "Where are you going, by the way?" Meanwhile Mary was fixing her hair and answered: "Anna and I are off to York before our shifts start. Granny wants us to visit the Levinsons hospital." "So, Granny already told you", the younger sister noticed, "What do you make of it?" Mary made her point: "I think we're not living back in 1912 when they married because of money. And to be honest I hope it's just Granny being dramatic, but that sort of making joke is not her style."

She took her jacket and held it with her left hand. Before she left the house the shouted a quick "See you later" in her sisters' direction.

From the living room Sybil could watch Mary getting into Annas red car. The blonde-haired woman drove the car out of the street on the motorway. They were both very curious how the hospital and especially the people who were working there would be. And that wasn't Marys only problem. She wasn't sure how much her grandmother actually approved the marriage. "Why?", Anna asked, while sitting next to her. Mary responded: "I am afraid they're American." Anna had started her work as a nurse at the hospital about two years ago. That was when Mary started her studies at the university. Because the Crawley daughter got the chance to work at the hospital in her trimester holidays the two women met. Since then they are best fiends and trust each other witch their inner fears and secrets.

Anna was the first, and until a few hours, the only person to know about Marys feelings towards Patrick and Matthew. Kind of in return Anna had told Mary of her hard childhood. During the further ride they discussed several relationships of the staff. Especially the newest love story between Sybil and the ambulance driver led them to gossip.

However, they finally arrived at the Levinsons hospital after a 20 minutes car ride. The hospital did seem to be quite small and not as big as Downton. But far more modern. They got out of the car and looked at each other with a sceptical stare before they entered the building. At first, they were a bit lost but after a few seconds Mary asked a red-haired nurse where to find Cora Levinson's office. Unfortunately, the girl wasn't a real help, she was rather impolite: "I don't know. Just find it yourselves." Great start, Mary thought, if they were all like that the whole merger could get quite difficult. The nurse left them standing there alone in the hall.

But before she could leave entirely a brown-haired, middle aged woman walked towards them: "I must apologize Ethel. She isn't quite herself today. I am assistant doctor Baxter. How can I help you?" Mary was relieved. There seemed to be nice people, either: "I'm Mary Crawley and that's Anna Smith. We've come from Downton to talk to Cora Levinson." The woman nodded with a smile and wanted them to follow her. She led them through the hall into one of the three possible floors. Even though it was, just like Violet said, not very big. When the assistant doctor stopped in front of a door she knocked twice.

Then they could hear a "Come in" from the other side of the door. Again, a brown-haired woman appeared. But this one had had a bun and a curled fringe. Not before welcoming them she spoke to the doctor with a threatening voice: "Baxter shouldn't you be with Thomas?!" "I should be then", she turned around to Mary and Anna to say an insecure goodbye. Then she left the room. "I'm sorry", the brown-haired started, "you must rather have a bad first impression of our hospital" Mary just said: "Well, I think we should talk about such things now, Miss…" "…O'Brien. Sarah O'Brien. Miss Levinsons assistant. If you might wait another moment." Ms O'Brien disappeared through door in the middle of the room and returned only a few seconds later: "She's expecting you"

Mary nodded carefully and stepped into the other room. Followed by Anna.

While they were talking to Cora Levinson, Sybil hurried to the hospital. She had missed the first bus, so she had to run if she wanted to catch him before she took the next train to London. When the bus arrived at the station Sybil rushed out of it and tried to get to the hospital as fast as she could. But what if there was an emergency and he wasn't even there? She mustn't think so. He would be there. She ran to the back door of the hospital. Sybil hurried around the corner and ran into her ambulance driver.

"Sybil?!", he couldn't believe who was standing in front of him, "What are you doing here?" She needed a moment to catch her breath: "I thought, I thought I'd miss you. Or my train." Branson kept looking at her with confusion. Until, finally, a smile appeared on her face. And a smile appeared on his, too. For some moments they just stood there, looking at each other. They stopped smiling when they heard the back door getting opened. It was Dr Carson the consultant cardiologist of Downton Abbey who raised an eyebrow at the look of them.

"Good morning Dr Carson", said Sybil polite. He greeted her equally: "Ms Crawley." And turned to Branson: "You should better get to the ambulance." "of course, Dr Carson." Carson left the two and made his way to the car. When Branson wanted to do the same Sybil stopped him: "Wait!" Of course, he turned around to face her: "What is it?" The youngest Crawley daughter was in need of words she couldn't really find. After a moment she put herself together and told him: "I… I just wanted to say goodbye. I'm leaving for school, you know. So… goodbye…" At the point before Tom went to the already calling Dr Carson he replied: "Goodbye then. And…good luck." He gave her a soft and caring smile and got into the ambulance, where Carson was already waiting.

Either Mary and Anna reached the hospital after their talk with Cora Levinson. "Sybil, I don't think your train is waiting for you.", Mary advised her to go. Sybil took her mobile out of her bag to check what time it is: "Oh my god, shit, I'll miss my train!" Mary just rolled her eyes and offered her car keys to her sister: "Just… don't bust it!" "Thank you!", she said to her sister, while taking the keys.

Afterwards the friends made their way through the back door in direction of the staff room. On the way they had to greet Ivy, one of the nurses, and her friend Daisy Mason the canteen cook and also William Masons widow. At first the girls didn't get along very well but after Williams death Ivy supported Daisy. However, when the y arrived at the staff room Dr Hughes was already expecting them. "I've been waiting for you two.", she said. Unfortunately, was Mary very busy: "I'm sorry Dr Hughes. But I am afraid you must make do with Anna. I am off to a meeting with my father and grandmother." Mary only hung up her jacket and put her mobile out of her bag before she left Anna with Dr Hughes.

"What is it you need me for, Dr Hughes?", Anna wanted to know. The hospitals neurologist wanted Anna to follow her. They walked through half the hospital until they reached the office wing. Anna was more than a little confused. What was she supposed to do in this part of the hospital? Only Dr Crawley and his mother had offices. And because of Mary talking to them she doubted that they were the aim. "What am I doing here?", she probed. Instead of getting an answer the elder woman knocked at the door on her right.

When the person on the other side of the door allowed them to enter, she opened the door. A man in his forties turned around from the window. "Anna, this is Mr Bates. Dr Crawley new assistant", Dr Hughes introduced him to Anna, "I want you to help him settle in." "Of course, I'll help.", Anna smiled at the new assistant, who returned it. Dr Hughes gave each of them a thankful glance. Then she left the room to look after some patients.

In the meantime, Mary, Robert and Violet, the leading figures of Downton's past, present and, hopefully, its future, were having a talk about how to deal with the new situation. "I wonder why you even approve, Granny?", Mary admitted to her grandmother, "I mean she a woman with american ancestors" "Let's not talk about that now. We should rather discuss tonight's dinner", Violet insisted. But both, her son and her granddaughter, kept staring at her. They remembered Violet talking about a dinner with the Levinsons and the new heir on Monday, not that evening.

"Granny, I am afraid I can't join you. I'm meeting a friend tonight.", Mary interjected. "Then you must cancel it!", made Violet clear. "But…", Mary tried to contradict but her grandmother interrupted her. She made clear that they must focus on what is important. According to the senior boss the major priority was to fix the engagement between his son and the Levinson daughter so they can start to move from York to Downton within the next two or three weeks. That would be around January 2nd. The last thing Mary wanted, was to upset her Violet, so she tried to help: "Alright, I'll call Edith and Sybil. But I doubt Sybil will make it. She just left to London." Violet was, in a way, very thankful for her granddaughter's support.

The next hour they started to plan things for the evening. Robert called the restaurant and reserved a table for ten people: the three Levinsons, his daughters, his mother, the heir and his mother and himself. Mary arranged a staff meeting Monday morning to inform the employees about the merger and what advantages and complications such a merger can bring. After that she called Edith. As far as she knew her grandmother had already told her sister of the marriage.

Mary was quite sure that Edith would be rather shocked. Her sister had a very close relationship with their mother. And was, next to Robert, the daughter most desperate after her mother's sudden death. While Mary was talking to her sister, Violet started a little research. She wanted to know every little detail about the Levinsons. When Violet was finished, she asked Mary: "Is Edith coming tonight?" Mary nodded but also disappointed. As she guessed, she couldn't reach Sybil. However, Violet would try everything to make her youngest granddaughter attend the dinner. Then, they were finally finished with their planning and moved quickly back to work.