Author's note -

It's been a long time since I last posted a story to this collection, sorry... but a prompt on Tumblr inspired me!

Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed these stories in the last while. Hope you enjoy this slice of 'domestic bliss' for our babies.

You are my home

The key turned smoothly in the lock. Sybil pushed the door open and stepped through it, into a small hallway.

"Tom? Where are you?"

"In here, sweetheart."

She followed the sound of his voice through to the largest room in the flat. The table over by the open window was set for a meal – embroidered linen cloth laid, mismatched plates and glasses waiting, fresh flowers in a china vase moving slightly with the breeze.

"There you are at last, Sybil. Look, it's all ready for us."

She felt Tom's arms come around her from behind, his lips pressing against the place where her neck and shoulder met, her skin tingling at his touch.

Turning in his embrace, she stroked her fingers along his jawline, resting them on his chin as she leaned in kiss him.

"Thanks to you. Everything looks perfect."

"Nothing but the best for your ladyship," he said, smiling into her eyes. "Come on, let's eat. I'm starving."

Tucking her arm under his, he led her to a chair, which he pulled out and set ready for her with a flourish. She sat down, looking back up at him and returning his smile. Then, he walked behind her, sliding her chair in to settle her at the table, resting the back of his hand against her cheek for a moment before moving to take his own seat.

Lifting the covers off the plates, he revealed a summer picnic – slices of ham and tomato, crusty bread still warm from the oven, a wedge of cheese. Nearby stood a saucer with a pat of fresh butter, and a bottle of cider to wash it all down, its sides filmed with dew.

"Good enough for the daughter of an Earl?" he winked.

She picked up a knife and began making sandwiches as he poured the drinks. "Good enough for anyone, I'd say, Mr Branson." They exchanged grins and began to eat. "How was your day, darling?"

"Oh, the usual – my editor cut my latest story to ribbons. Sometimes I wonder if I'm ever going to be good enough for him."

Sybil reached out across the table, resting her hand on top of Tom's.

"Of course you will be. Your editor wouldn't take that much time with your work if he didn't think you had potential. He wouldn't have offered you the job at all!"

He nodded. "Thanks, love. Sometimes I need to be reminded of that!" They kept on eating for a couple more moments before he spoke again. "How about you? How did you spend the day?"

She dropped her gaze, then looked back at him, smiling. "The hospital was really busy today, I hardly had a moment to myself. But I really love it – I'm learning so much."

He nodded. "You're a wonderful nurse, I'm sure of it."

They stared into each other's eyes. Then, he raised his glass to her in a gesture of congratulations. "Here's to the beautiful Mrs Branson – the finest nurse in all of Dublin."

She lifted her own glass to clink it with his. "Perhaps one day, Mr Branson." She was blushing as she spoke, her face warm not only from the cider.

They finished eating, and he lifted a napkin to wipe his mouth, then quirked an eyebrow at her. "Would you like me to run you a bath?" He reached his hand across the table. "Come on."

Sybil took it, and together they walked across the room towards the bathroom door. When they got there, she stopped, turning towards him. "Do you really think I can do it? Be a proper nurse, I mean?"

"Of course you can. Whenever you set your mind to something, Sybil, you can accomplish it. I really believe that." Tom lifted their joined hands up, kissing the back of hers, before sliding his arm around her waist.

She looked into the bathroom, saw the carefully folded towels, the cake of soap resting on the corner of the tub, the razor on the sink.

"You did such a beautiful job, unpacking everything, surprising me with all this. I can't believe this is really going to be our home in just one more day." Then she looked back at him. "Only one more day until I really am Mrs Branson."

"The day I've been waiting for, dreaming of, hoping for since I first laid eyes on you," he said. "I wondered if this day would ever come, but at last, it's almost here."

Sybil blushed again as she spoke. "There is still one room you haven't shown me."

"I wonder what you mean by that, milady?" Tom, his arm still around her, was already leading her towards another door, which opened into the bedroom.

Her gaze was immediately drawn to the low double bed, covered with a patchwork quilt made for them by his mother and sisters as a wedding gift. She saw the two down pillows set at its head, the knitted blanket laid over the chest at its foot – all complete. Waiting for them.

They looked at the bed, then at each other. No need to speak. She knew they were both thinking the same thing.

This time tomorrow…

She walked over to the bed and sat down, then patted the covers, looking back up at him through her eyelashes. When he sat down beside her, she moved closer to him, pressing her face into his shoulder and breathing him in. He kissed the top of her head, then turned her face up to his. Their eyes met, and she put her arms around his neck.

As they kissed, Sybil felt a tightening in her belly, a rush of heat to her face. She realised that, soon, she'd be able to explore the source of those sensations more deeply... in this room, in this bed, in these arms.

By the time they broke apart, they were both flushed and breathless. When Tom spoke again, his voice was hoarse and his eyes were glittering.

"Until everything is settled…" he teased her.

"It will be, soon. Not soon enough for me."

"I can see I'm going to have a minx as a wife!"

"You are, so be ready!"

"I've been ready for years, Sybil. Just you wait and see…" He smiled at her, then gestured around the room. "It's not much. Not compared to Downton Abbey, anyway."

"Who wants Downton Abbey, when I can have this? When I can have you, I mean."

"You do have me, you always will."

"I know, and you have me, too. I mean it, Tom – I can't wait to live here with you, to be your wife, to build the life we've dreamed of, together."

"Oh, my darling…I do love you so much." He stood up, taking her with him. "Come on, I'd better take you back home. Mam will be worrying where you are."

"As long as I am with you, I'm already home."

This time their kiss was a blessing, a promise, a hope for the future. Their future, together, as husband and wife.