A/N: After I read a few Baxley stories with one or both of them getting drunk I wanted to give that a try as well. I had this outlined a little while ago but never got to actually write it until now. I blame it on the particularly period/ canon mood I'm in at the moment.

This takes place on the last night of Molesley working at Downton, with Mr. M hopefully being as lovely as can be and Baxter...well, just being her which should be enough to love her.

„When one door closes, another one opens." - Alexander Graham Bell

It was the last evening of Mr. Molesley's employment as a footman at Downton Abbey. The family had already gone up to bed and so Mr. Carson had allowed them to throw a small farewell-party downstairs. Of course, he wouldn't be gone completely, Mr. Molesley had told her a few days before when he had noticed Miss Baxter's downcast state of mind while she had been sitting in the servants hall, half-heartedly doing some mending. He wouldn't be out of the world, he had said, and that – if the occasion arised – he would come back to help out as a footman. Thankful as she was at the attempt to lighten her mood, she had graced him with a small smile. But it didn't reach her heart. He would still be gone and she would be left at the big house.

Everyone around her seemed to move forward these days. Anna was expecting and who knew if she would ever really come back to work or if she'd rather stay at home with her little one for a while? Daisy had finally taken her exams and if she wasn't mistaken, everything in the sweet girl's life was leading to her moving to Mr. Mason's farm for good soon. Hell, even Thomas had found another occupation after the struggle he'd been through at Downton Abbey recently.

It was a strange feeling that the world around her changed while for her time seemed to stand still and every day was like the other. The biggest change for her to come would be the fact that soon, she would spend her evenings in the servants hall alone, with no one next to her to read her from the newspaper while she was patiently sewing some buttons back onto her Ladyship's nightgowns over and over again. She didn't want to pity herself because it warmed her heart that Mr. Molesley had finally gotten the chance to do what made him happy. Teaching really was his true vocation, she would have to be blind not to see that when, in the past few weeks, it had been all he had talked about and his whole demeanor had changed in such a positive way. Still, Baxter wasn't able to shake off that small tinge of melancholy that creeped its way into her mind that night.

The small party was a lively affair and by the looks of it, everybody felt as happy as could be. Of course, they would be. Almost everyone downstairs had witnessed Molesley's path from butler to valet and then his career's downwards turn to a footman, before Daisy's enthusiasm about gaining knowledge herself had influenced him up to the point that it had given him the opportunity to change his own fate, too.

The Carsons were dancing merrily as were Andy and Daisy. Mrs. Patmore and Anna were laughing with Mr. Molesley at the far end of the table while Mr. Bates was seated across from them, smiling silently at his wife. He was happy for completely different reasons, but he was happy nonetheless.

They could laugh, they could be cheerful. They wouldn't lose their best friend. Within moments, everything around Miss Baxter seemed to become a blur. The music that was coming from the old gramophone faded out as well as the chatter around her. She was glad that no one took any notice of her, sitting by herself at the table, when silent tears began to make their way down her cheeks. Those three glasses of wine had most definitely made her sentimental, she reprimanded herself while she was ruthlessly brushing the tears away. She knew she shouldn't let it get to her like that but she had always hated good-byes. And this one would leave her particularly lost. It shouldn't, because he was nothing more than a friend, a companion for some time and now they would each go back to living their own lives. Maybe it was the unusal amount of alcohol she had had or maybe it was just the situation in general that made her admit, though only to herself, that he was really so much more than a friend. There had been a time not too long ago when Miss Baxter had sworn to herself that she would never let a man get as close to her heart again, but that was before she had come to Downton. Before she had met Joseph Molesley, the kindest soul in the world who had nothing but good intentions towards her. From the beginning on he had supported her in every way he could, he had given her the strength to speak up against Thomas, a strength she hadn't even known she had posessed. She had found herself liking that man far too much far too soon for her own liking, but had been afraid to acknowledge the true extend of her feelings until now because she feared where it could lead her.

In one way, it was unreasonable because if she was ever sure of one thing it was that Mr. Molesley would never intentionally do anything to harm her. But on the other hand, he had never given her the impression that his feelings might exceed friendship. What good would it do to tell him how she really felt when it might result in losing such a trusted and precious friendship? She couldn't bear losing him, that much she was sure of.

She couldn't bear the cheerful atmosphere any longer, either. Everybody except Thomas was engaged in some conversation or another and if the underbutler did indeed notice how she shakingly got up and slowly made her way outside he was for once kind enough not to mention it.

Just outside the servants hall, Baxter realized that those few steps had already exhausted her. She really was more than a little drunk, she thought horrified. She would definitely not make it all the way upstairs in that deranged state so she slumped down on the stairs in such an undignified manner that she was more than relieved all the others were occupied elsewhere. For a moment she closed her eyes and leaned her head to one side, resting it on the cold stone wall. She sighed, not being able to think of anything at all, so lost was she in her own world. When she inhaled deeply after some minutes to keep herself from crying again, she noticed the familiar scent of peppermint tea. Confused, she opened her eyes only to look into the frowning face of Mr. Molesley.

„I noticed you leaving, you looked rather unsteady so I thought you might want a cup", he said, his voice full of concern when he put the cup of tea on the step behind him.

„I think I've had a little much to drink", she whispered, clearly ashamed of the fact that she was noticably drunk.

„I noticed that, too", Molesley stated with a twinkle and continued trying to lighten the mood, „But who's to blame? It's not everyday that we have a party down here and everybody is so happy."

„I'm not happy", Baxter softly sobbed. Tears had formed in her eyes again. „How can I be happy when you will leave?" It took her all self-control to stop herself from saying 'when you will leave me'. But it wouldn't do for her to say something that personal to him.

Molesley tried to calm her down even when he knew it most likely wouldn't help. She was drunk. A sad drunk, he concluded when she began to shake with sobs, tears flying down her cheeks.

„Shh, it'll be okay", he soothingly said, softly rocking her next to him, „I told you I'm not out of the world. We'll still see each other often, I promise. I'll not leave you."

Molesley was glad for a moment that his friend was drunk and crying. He hoped she wouldn't pay too much mind to his exact words or else he would have blushed terribly after saying that last sentence. He didn't even know why he voiced it like that, but somehow he was sure that this was exactly what she needed. Miss Baxter was so much more to him than he could ever express to her. She had become the best friend he had ever had in those last few years, but she had also captured his heart in a completely different way so fast that at first, he hadn't really been able to grasp it. In fact, it had been far too soon into their acquaintance that he had developed those deeper feelings for her, and he had chastised himself for being so silly. When he had learned, later, what she had been through in the past, Molesley had felt bad for harbouring those feelings for her when all she needed was a good friend. So he had been patient and he had been that friend. And now, he would leave Downton and his chance of them ever growing into something more was lost.

Molesley shook his head to get rid if those foolish thoughts. Miss Baxter had never shown any signs of feeling anything else than friendship towards him. Why would she fall in love with him now? It was stupid. He was being stupid.

The shaking of Molesley's head must have alerted Miss Baxter somehow, because she was suddenly looking up at him with a watery smile. She was still clinging to him, their faces were so close that it made him feel slightly uneasy. He had always loved her big, brown eyes but being so unusually near he could literally get lost in them.

Molesley was so distracted that he almost failed to hear her soft voice saying, „I don't want to lose you". Neither of them knew how exactly she meant those words. There was no time to think about it any further when the next thing Molesley felt was her hand on his cheek, pulling him even closer. He swallowed hard when she closed her eyes again and slowly moved her head forward. It was only a matter of a split second in which he contemplated whether to give in to the sensation and kiss her or pull himself together and stop this.

Before her lips could brush his in the most gentlest of kisses, Baxter felt his hands on her side, pushing her away gently but firmly. She blinked and quickly turned her vision down. What an embarrassing situation, she thought, ashamed of herself for letting the alcohol influence her so much to almost give in to the urge of kissing him. This was the worst thing that could have happened – not only would she have to live with the rejection but she had ruined this wonderful friendship as well. Still shaking a little, Baxter got up from the stairs as fast as she could. She wanted to run away, no matter where to. Just far away from Mr. Molesley. Kind and unsuspecting Mr. Molesley who must have been shocked to hell by her attempt to kiss him.

The object of her thoughts was still sitting there next to her on the stairs. He hadn't said a word since he had pushed her away and almost looked as if he was in some kind of trance. His head snapped up though, when Baxter turned around and had to put her hand to the wall to support herself because she still felt dizzy from all the wine she had had earlier.

Molesley jumped up, much faster than she would have expected him to be able to and grabbed her arm before she could make her way up the stairs.

„Miss Baxter, wait please!" He called at her.

Well, she thought, she might as well hear him out, how much worse could it get?

„Yes, Mr. Molesley?" She couldn't bring herself to say she was sorry just yet. Not when she knew that an apology couldn't take them back to before she made that horrible mistake.

„Miss Baxter", he started again, this time a little less demanding. He was smiling at her when he said, „Miss Baxter, I'm sorry for giving you the impression that your... approach was unsought for, when indeed it wasn't. I just feel – well, I know you indulged in a little too much of that wine tonight and if anyone knows what strange things alcohol can make us do, it's me. I just don't want you to do anything you might regret in the morning."

That man was really incredible! He didn't want to push her into anything she might not want when it was so clearly her who had initiated the almost-kiss. And he had wanted to kiss her, too, if she hadn't been as intoxicated as she was. Baxter couldn't believe her luck. She knew she didn't deserve such a wonderfully, truly honorable man like Mr. Molesley and yet, here they were. She wished she had indulged in too much wine earlier as it seemed to make her bolder. Then, they wouldn't have had to wait until his last night at Downton to be able to let each other know their true feelings. Baxter looked up again and knew for certain that she wouldn't want to waste another single moment.

„I'm feeling rather sobered up, now, after all this. And I definitely know what I want." She didn't even have to wait for a reply. The beaming smile Molesley was presenting her was enough for her to pull him towards her for the second time that night and kiss him. It was just like she had imagined it, so soft and a little hesitant at first but also strong and full of love. Just like him.

When they pulled apart after some time, it was Mr. Molesley who spoke first. „I hope you know that we now have to thank Mr. Carson for letting us have the good wine tonight in the first place."

„Oh, don't you dare give Carson any credit when it's you I'm so absolutely, icredibly in love with", she replied playfully yet completely honest.

„I love you, too, Miss Baxter", he answered, just as equally truthful.

„Phyllis", she said, nodding encouragingly in a way to tell him that it was alright for him to address her by her given name, „I suppose it is okay if you call me Phyllis, now."

„Phyllis", he agreed. It was an incredible feeling to have him call her by her name in such a loving way. Never before had she felt so loved, so entirely complete. What had looked to become the saddest good-bye had turned out to be the best way to start something new. He would leave Downton the next morning, but he wouldn't leave her.

Please, please let me know what you think. I'd hate for it to be too soppy.

- lizzie