16. If You Don't Wanna Cry Like I Do

"Robert..." she whispered, looking up through her eyelashes at him. "Take me inside-"

Carson gave a loud grunt and cleared his throat, his customary signal meaning he wished to speak.

"Err, my Lord... Might I suggest I send for Mr Bates?"

"Yes... quite right Carson," Robert nodded, though unmoving from his wife's arms.

"Come see me after," she said quietly.

"Of course," he smiled, reluctantly he released his hold on her and turned around to see a wave of eyes quickly avert to the floor. But sudden movement in the car drew new attention.

"Hey!" Matthew shouted.

"Sir, I think we should- umph!"

There was a scuffle going on in the vehicle as it rocked from side to side with the motion of moving bodies within it. A moment of still silence and then Thomas fell backwards out of one of the passenger doors, looking most disgruntled. Matthew jumped out of the front seat and ran around to get into the back of the car but Napier was already free and fast hurling himself back towards Robert for round two.

Cora clung to Robert, holding him so forcefully it surprised him. Napier halted, his run becoming a slowed walk until he stopped completely and simply stared at her.

"How can you still want each other?" he asked incredulously, looking from Cora to Robert and back in disdain that narrowly hid his heartache.

"I love him," Cora said faultlessly. Next speaking almost soundlessly, her words formed on her lips but barely met his ears. "I could never love you."

"I think you better leave now," Robert said, his arms finding themselves around Cora again, making a protective stance against Napier.

"Are you going to make me, Lord Grantham?" Evelyn spat.

"Now look here," Matthew intercepted on coming back to stand beside Mary and Lavinia. "I don't know what your reasons are for coming here but you've insulted my family and I think that before we inform the police, you should leave."

"Police? At Downton milord?" Carson asked, turning to Robert.

"I think you should stick it, nancy boy," Evelyn growled at Matthew.

"Don't start picking a fight with me-" Matthew warned.

"Oh, we'd all love to see that one. Please do," Richard said smoothly, watching with a raised brow.

"Why are you even still here?" Matthew turned on Carlisle.

"Matthew!" Mary said startled.

"What? He's about as unwelcome as Mr Napier is. I'd happily wrestle him off the estate myself, given half the chance-"

"You're all talk," Richard pushed past everyone to stand before Matthew. "Here's your chance, dandy."

Matthew went quiet, everyone watched, horrified for what might ensue - again.

"Don't do it man, he's not worth it," Tom said.

"I agree with Branson, Matthew," Robert agreed, forgetting to correct Tom's name.

"Yes, let's listen to the great Lord Grantham and his scrubby chauffeur..." Richard drawled. "Argh!"

Evelyn, remembering his own target took the distraction of Matthew and Sir Richard's fight as a change to instigate another of his own. He pulled Robert away from Cora and whacked him straight in the jaw with his fist. Robert went backward, reeling in the dirt in shock.

Evelyn laughed, blood still on his teeth as he grinned widely at Robert. A few feet away, Carlisle and Matthew were being yanked apart by Tom - whom it seemed, had no reservations about firing a few of his own punches in order to separate them. Carlisle got up and smoothed back his hair, walking straight for Mary.

"Tell it to me straight," he panted heavily, glaring at her intensely. "Are you still in love with that fool of a man?"

Mary flummoxed at the question, frowning and shaking her head despairingly, without answer.

"Get off him!"

Everyone's attention quickly drew back to the original fight: Evelyn was beginning to start on Robert now he was down again and this time there was nobody to restrain Cora from doing something quite unexpected and unladylike...

Before anyone could register how the outcome had come to be, and just how Napier - accidentally or not - had misguidedly released his fist on the wrong person, it was over. It happened in a matter of seconds, one moment Robert down, Napier attacking, Cora stood. But then stance changed. Robert attacking, Napier stood... Cora down.

Napier was practically unresponsive to Robert's posing threat as he stalked forward to unleash into combat again. He hadn't seen Cora yet.

"Mama!" Sybil was the first to move or say anything, she hurried over to her mother and got to her knees. Robert stood stock still, fist raised, his eyes moved to the ground beyond Napier where Cora was gasping, muttering, her hand pressed to her stomach as she sharply drew another breath.

"Cora," he breathed, shoving Napier out of the way and running over to her.

"Robert..."

"I'm here, darling, I'm here."

"The baby..."

"I swear I didn't mean to hit her, I-I thought-" Evelyn stammered.

"Get out of my sight before I strangle you," Robert roared. "Do not contact my family again."

"But... the baby?" Evelyn faltered.

"Is fine," the doctor confirmed as Robert enquired some time after Cora had been examined. "Lady Grantham just needs to take extra care and bed-rest from now until labour - there are other complications with this pregnancy as I'm sure you understand..."

"Yes... thank you," Robert nodded, sighing with relief as he went to knock on the bedroom door.

"And Lord Grantham?"

"Yes?" Robert turned.

"I'll drop off an antiseptic later... for your hunting ailments," the doctor gave a slightly suspicious tone on the excuse Robert had given.

"Err, yes... thank you doctor."

The doctor nodded and swiftly took leave. Robert knocked on the door and listened.

"Come in," she called. He went in and closed the door, returning her smile as he entered into the room. The drapes were drawn, only one lamp flickering away to provide a ghostly light at her bedside. She was half-sitting, seemingly tired but relaxed, her hands folded over her bump.

"May I?" he asked, she nodded her assent. Though fully dressed, Robert climbed across the bed on his side and settled on top of the covers, he put his arm around her and she adjusted to cuddle into him.

"Are you alright?" he whispered, stroking her hair lovingly.

"Mm... are you?" she moved back, turning her worries to his injuries while he rolled his eyes.

"I'm fine... Bates has sorted me out."

"...What did you to do to him?" she asked. Robert opened his mouth to say something but couldn't quite restrain himself a grin. "Robert!" she admonished, giving him a playful swat on his arm.

"Well you don't need to know all the details... but I came off better - clearly," he chuckled, seemingly reliving the moments leading up to Napier's departure.

She sighed and moved her head back to his shoulder.

"You worried me," she said.

"And you did me! What were you doing going at him?"

"Like I said, I was worried about you."

"I could handle him," Robert said casually.

"Mm, it really looked that way from where I was."

Robert 'hmm'ed his indifference. "Anyway, it's all done. We can relax now," he said.

"Not entirely. What'll we tell people in explanation?"

"Mama is already onto that. Nobody close to us is any the wiser... unless Napier starts to spread things but we can take care of that. Sir Richard left this afternoon too."

"Oh good... alright," she yawned and relaxed against him, releasing a sigh of contentment as she closed her eyes. Robert smiled, wetting his lower lip he attempted to lean in at angle so that he could reach her lips but found himself unsuccessful. He frowned, finding no manoeuver helpful. A little agitated that she seemed unbothered by his fidgeting, he settled for annoying her back. He blew softly against her hair but got no reaction. Blowing harder against her cheek she let out a little moan of frustration and opened her eyes.

"What?" she asked lazily.

"Can you move?"

"Why?"

"I can't kiss you from here," he complained. She had to admit herself a smile at this. Reluctantly she moved from her comfortable embrace against his chest and settled down against the pillow, one arm behind her head, she looked up at him expectantly. He flushed a gentle pink and changed position aswell, lieing down on his side next to her and taking her hand in his. Feeling the flutter of butterflies creeping in on her, Cora tried to keep her nervousness contained. Every kiss since falling back in love felt a first, the sensation was superlative.

He leant in and found her. Her eyes fluttered closed and she waited all of a second before she received the warm and tender touch of his lips. Her mouth parted to accept him, her eyebrows raised in gentle surprise as the feeling of flying butterflies moved up through her chest to her throat, causing her to release a slight but welcomed moan. Robert smiled against her mouth, revelling in the dampness of her tongue as it met with his, sparking her taste in his mouth. One of his hands went to her head of curls, softly fisting them appreciatively as he took her lips again.

"Robert," she breathed, her chest heaving slightly as he moved his affections to the nape of her neck. She smiled, indulging in his attention and the warm feeling filling her up that accompanied it. "Robert," she whispered again.

"Yes, my love?" he stopped sucking at her throat and stayed still, waiting for her to speak.

"Baby's kicking," she laughed lightly in relief. It sounded beautiful to his ears.

"Where?" he lowered himself a little further, his hand moving across her bump. She put her palm to the back of his hand and guided his touch to where she'd last felt it. Moments later the baby moved again. A broad smile spread across Robert's face, he reached up and kissed her again, settling down with his head on her chest, one of his hands to both of hers. There they stayed the rest of that night, comfortably, securely and perfectly together. Until day broke and with it came the flying hoards of morning post...