Author's note
Thank you so much to everyone who has read/followed/reviewed/favourited this collection so far! I always love to hear from you.
I wrote this drabble based on a missing line from episode 2.08, which repmet kindly shared on Tumblr from her copy of the script book. As soon as I read this particular line (from which I named the story), I wanted to see this moment on screen so much. Since I couldn't, I decided to write about it.
Through the front door
Almost nine o'clock - it's time.
Tom checked himself in the mirror over the sink again and glanced over at a pair of packed suitcases near the cottage door. Then, he headed outside into the cool night air.
He made his way automatically towards the kitchen courtyard, towards the door he had been through so many times, before stopping himself -
"No, dammit. This time, you're going through the front door."
As he walked around to the other side of Downton Abbey, a litany of phrases ran through his head:
You are as good as any of them…
She loves you and will be your wife…
You have every right to go through the front door - you're not a servant now…
She wants you to come…
All those months, all those years of waiting, and it all came down to this. After tonight, the world would know of his love for Lady Sybil Crawley, and hers for him, and of their determination to marry and build a life together, no matter what.
He squared his shoulders and knocked. As luck would have it, Carson answered the door himself, and the older man's eyebrows rose sky high at the sight of the chauffeur out of uniform, at the wrong door.
"What on earth are you doing here, Branson? You haven't been called for!"
"I've got something important to do, Mr Carson, the most important thing I've ever done in my life, and I'll trouble you to let me pass, please, so I can do it."
Without a backward glance, Tom pushed past the surprised butler and made his way to the drawing room. He hesitated for a minute before going in, running his hands over his hair and straightening his jacket, wanting to look as smart as he could, a worthy husband for an earl's daughter, for anyone.
He turned the door handle and walked in. His confident stance belied the slight apprehension he felt at the scene to come, while the expression on his face showed his determination to stand his ground.
Robert Crawley shared his butler's surprise at Tom's arrival. The soon to be former chauffeur stared the earl down -
"I'm here."
If you have to, be ready to fight for her…
He looked for his future wife in that hostile room. As their eyes met, he knew he was ready, and so was she. She stood and walked towards him, smiling at him and taking his hand before turning proudly to face her family with him.
Grasping her fingers tightly, he knew he was not alone and realised what that meant. Sybil would stand with him, that night and always. The Bransons would fight for each other, and for the world they believed in, together from now on.