I gave the tumblr Downton Canon Prompt Challenge by mistressdickens another try, because some of those quotes are really more beautiful every time you read them.

It's another Molesley/ Baxter scene extension, of course, because apparently, according to some people, there isn't enough Baxley out there.

I always felt that their „goodbye scene" when Molesley tells her that he's made a decision on becoming a real teacher was rather unfinished, so I decided to give them a little more time.

„My life began with you, and my future goes on with you – there's nothing else."

- James Hilton, Random Harvest

„While you were away, I -", he approached her in the hallway behind the kitchen with the strangest mix of reluctance and enthusiasm that was just typical for Mr. Molesley.

„Decided to accept Mr. Dawes's offer", Miss Baxter interrupted him, before he even had time to contemplate how to put the news into coherent words, and smiled up at him. The promptness of her reaction made it clear that she had expected nothing else. Still, she pointed out the obvious. „I knew you would, and I'm glad."

Lately, the natural soft tone of her voice had become accompanied by a light-heartedness of someone who didn't have any troubles in the world. Which most likely was, how she must have felt, now that she had left that whole Coyle business behind her, Molesley pondered.

He was happy for Miss Baxter, because leaving her past behind her gave her the opportunity for a new beginning. Still, a tiny part of him thought that it wouldn't have hurt her to sound a little bit less enthusiastic about his leaving. It was then that he noticed the similarities: Both of their lives had taken a turn for the better, recently. His new start as a teacher held as much a chance of happiness in store as her forgetting Coyle did.

Miss Baxter had once told him, that his strength had made her strong. But he knew that she had been the source of his strength at least as much and he knew if there was one thing that he didn't want to change, it was the friendship they had built up. She had been at his side, encouraging him and guiding him when he, himself, had been at a loss for words, and it made her dearer to him than he could allow himself to voice in a corridor with maids and hall boys possibly lurking just around the corner.

Still, Molesley had to make sure that she somehow knew how important she was to him. What would his future be without her, when it had been her who had made him look forward to his future in the first place? Molesley had been used to feeling left out his whole life, that is until Miss Baxter had called him lucky and assured him that his life was worthwhile.

„Oh, we won't lose touch, I-I'll walk up here often", Molesley stuttered in a high-pitched voice, barely concealing his nervousness.

„No, we won't lose touch. You can be sure of that." It was said with a simplicity that anyone passing by would have thought it nothing more than a silly reassurance. But to Miss Baxter it was more of a silent promise and by the look of it, Mr. Molesley had understood it as such.

He smiled but the look in his eyes was downcast and almost regretful, and she wondered if he was having second thoughts about leaving Downton for good. She knew she was sad to see him leave. But the melancholic feeling of letting him go was overcast by a much more positive emotion – she was truly happy that his dream had come true in the end. As she had told him once before, this was his moment. Finally, Mr. Molesley would be where he had always wanted to be and she would make sure that his goodbye from service was going to be a cheerful affair. She wouldn't stand in his way.

After all, they would still see each other, just like he had said, of that Baxter was sure. She imagined herself walking to the village between luncheon and tea to visit him at the schoolhouse, or Molesley helping out from time to time during large dinners at the Abbey.

She hoped against hope that this would be enough for her when she knew it wasn't. Thoughts were running wild in her head, now, of Mr. Molesley starting a new life in his cottage, meeting new people, moving on. And slowly, they would be losing touch – they wouldn't be able to keep their promise, no matter how much they wanted to.

Baxter realized suddenly that she had to do something soon or Molesley would turn around and leave to polish some silver or serve dinner or something, and the moment would be gone.

„Mr. Molesley", she called him, reaching out her arm to grab his sleeve, but then paused in mid-air, unsure if the touch would be welcome. „I want you to know, I will miss you when you're gone. It won't be the same without you."

„Oh, but I won't be gone. I told you I will be around", Molesley reassured her.

„Still, it will be strange not being able to talk to you every day. It was your support that gave me the chance of a new beginning, after all." Baxter wanted to tell him all the things she would miss about him and how much she really would miss his company. But even if she had found the words to express her feelings, she wouldn't have had the courage to say them. Their relationship was so dissatisfyingly undefined that every possible step forward seemed too bold.

Being the nice, unsuspecting person that he was, Molesley shook his head in disbelief when he replied, „You're strong on your own, and with Mr. Barrow gone and – well,...you left the other thing behind you, too – you don't need support."

„Maybe not", Baxter sighed, and added after a short moment, „Maybe it's just you I need."

Molesley blankly stared at her, his mouth slightly open. He blinked. He didn't say a word. In fact, he showed no reaction whatsoever up to the point that Baxter wondered if she had said those words out loud or if he was still waiting for her reply.

After a minute or so, the situation was on the edge of becoming rather ridiculous. Apparently, Molesley was at a loss for words, whether that was a good sign or a bad one, Miss Baxter couldn't say. To spare them both any further embarrassment, she sighed loudly and wanted to make her way back to the servant's hall when his words stopped her.

„Phyllis... I-I mean, Miss Baxter, I don't know what to say", stating the obvious was such a silly, Molesley thing to do that Baxter found his rambling endearing, „it's just, this was unexpected."

„Was it, though?" Baxter asked him, slightly taken back. „Because the thing is, you didn't only change my life, my life really began with you. And I want my future to go on with you – because there's nothing else, nothing else I want more than to be with you. But if this is not what you want, if you rather want things to remain as they were, then that's okay. Then I will be your friend forever, because I want you to be happy." It had been a long time since Baxter had been anything but comfortable around Molesley but in that moment, she was more than nervous. With her little speech she had given him the power to decide where they would go from there.

This time, though, he didn't take as much time to give her an answer as he did before and for that alone she was thankful. Also, this time he was much more confident and his voice was steady.

„I must admit, I'm still overwhelmed because this literally was the last thing I expected", Molesley gave her a one-sided grin and she nodded, gesturing him to move on, „You are so much better with words than I am. I could have never expressed it so accurately when in fact, I feel exactly the same about you. And I'd be the happiest person, if you had me. Not just as a friend."

Baxter hadn't even noticed that she had been holding a breath. Molesley beamed at her, most likely reflecting her own stupid grin that was plastered on her face. It must have been a pretty stupid picture, Molesley standing there in the deserted hallway with his arms dangling around him and herself across from him, clinging to one of her Ladyship's dresses, both smiling like children who had been offered candy for dinner.

As if on cue, to prevent any improper behaviour, Mr. Carson's voice reached their ears, „Mr. Molesley, should I ask the dinner party to come down to the kitchen and help themselves? You are not being paid to entertain the ladies maids!"

Molesley's head shot down immediately and his smile froze. When he hurried to the kitchen to fetch a tray, Baxter noticed how red his ears had turned at Carson's reprimand. Thank God, Carson didn't have the slightest idea that his scolding might have been anything but innocent.

Let me say thank you again to the people who reviewed „Smile", special thanks go to Teresagreen, whom I can't reply to in a PM because she's only a guest. I really appreciate that you are a devoted reviewer.

- lizzie