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 had a craving for some Sybil x Tom fluff today, hence this drabble. I'm dedicating it to the lovely shana-rosee to thank her for everything she does for our fandom every day, including her work on the Highclere Awards and sharing her own awesome stories and positive attitude. You are a superstar, my dear. :)
A joyful moment
Dublin, early 1922
Stamping his feet against the cold, Tom climbed the stairs to their flat. He opened the door, and the sight before him made him feel instantly warmer – Sybil was sitting at the kitchen table, with Aislín in her lap, and they were reading a story together.
At the sound of his key, Sybil looked up and he saw her face light up with love for him.
"Aislín, look – it's Da! Go and say hello."
The little girl slipped from her mother's lap and ran unsteadily over to grab Tom around the legs.
"Da, hug!"
Tom bent to pick her up. Aislín's arms came around his neck and she planted a sloppy kiss on his cheek as he cuddled her close. Sybil stood up to follow her daughter across the room to him.
"How are you, my darling?"
"Now that you're home, Tom, everything's perfect."
Tom leaned across Aislín's head to kiss Sybil tenderly, noting a certain tiredness around her eyes and mouth. Is it what I think it is?
They spent the next couple of hours eating a simple meal and getting their lively toddler washed and ready for bed. Once Aislín was tucked up and sleepy in her little cot, the two of them settled in to relax for a while. Tom sat in an armchair by the fire and pulled Sybil onto his lap.
"Sybil, is there something you want to tell me?"
She blushed, looking down and then back up. "You know me so well, Tom – I can't hide anything from you, can I?"
"Not a chance, my love. Did you really think I hadn't noticed?" They exchanged a smile.
"When?"
"Sometime in the late summer, the doctor says. I was worried at first, after what happened when Aislín was born, but he said that as long as I am careful this time, everything should be fine."
He kissed her once – "Sybil, you don't know how happy you've made me!" – and then again.
"Yes, I do, because I feel the same, darling. One more of us to share our love – luckily, we have more than enough to go around."
He pulled her head gently down onto his shoulder, wrapping his arms around her. There were no more words between them for a while after that – their hearts said all they needed to know.