AN: Thank you all for the kind reviews. I hope you keep enjoying the story! This next chapter is pretty long, and also rated T for sexy Time, so skip if you aren't into it. Keep letting me know what you think!

1 January 1900

My dear daughter,

I hope you are bearing up during what I can only imagine is a very trying time. I would extend an invitation to you and the girls to get away from it all and come to New York, but from what you describe in your letters, it seems you are kept quite busy. Perhaps i will make plans to visit you sometime in the spring. Save you from that stern mother in law of yours.

News of the war is...not good here. I keep Robert in my thoughts and pray for a speedy and safe return. I don't want to add to your headaches dear, but I worry, and I want to make sure you aren't blindsided should something happen. How has he provided for your future should he not come back? Won't any of your father's money go back to you? Where will you go once Downton is turned over to that cousin of his? Really, the English have a very peculiar way when it comes to taking care of one's own family. Anyway, just because you are a woman doesn't mean you should be kept in the dark about such matters. I hope that Robert has a plan in place for you and the girls.

Take care dear,

Your loving mother

Cora slid into her bedroom, shutting the door firmly and leaning against the ornate wood, her mother's letter crumpled in her fist. Hand at her stomach and the other covering her mouth, she tried to pull herself together. But in the loneliness of her room, away from the eyes of everyone, hot tears fell down her face.

It had been almost three weeks since Robert's last letter. She had told herself that perhaps he was on the move, or the war office was bogged down with transporting correspondences. His silence coupled with her mother's words snuffed out the optimism she could usually muster. What was left was a growing fear that ate away at her nerves, leaving her defenseless to thoughts of the worst. A harsh bark of a sob escaped her lips, followed by a another and she hunched over, trying to muffle the sound.

"Cora?" Startling upright, her breath stuck in her chest, and her legs began to shake as Robert appeared from around her washroom door.

Robert rushed to where Cora was standing, holding her arms. "I wanted to surprise you," he explained. "I see now it was not the best idea. Please don't faint."

"What...how…" Cora couldn't pull her thoughts together as Robert led her over to the bed. She reached out to trace the puckered, pink scar that she noticed now peaked through the hair above his right ear.

"What happened to you?" Cora demanded. Robert took her hand away from the injury and kissed her fingertips, wrapping his other hand around her waist as they sat close, legs pressed up against each other.

"Just a flesh wound, darling. It's fine." Robert explained, leaning in for a proper kiss. Cora's hand on his chest stopped him.

"How can you say that? This is from a gun, isn't it? Someone shot at your head!" Cora's voice rose.

"Cora, please don't. I'm here, isn't that what matters?" Robert caressed the side of her face while pulling her tighter.

"Oh God, Robert! I've been so worried." Cora gripped his shoulders, finally falling into him and pressed her lips to his.

Her kiss began hungry and hard and grew desperate still, needing to feel the reassuring warmth of his mouth around hers. Robert responded with greedy passion that left her gasping. He rubbed his hands roughly over her breasts, the casing of her clothing dulling the touch to a teasing agony. Cora leaned back, pulling Robert down onto her. She wrapped her legs around his waist. The weight of him made her groan, with pleasure or relief she couldn't tell. Robert pushed up the skirts of her dress and petticoat. The metallic unhinging of her garter clips caused Cora to writhe as Robert quickly worked to remove the barriers that kept her from feeling him fully. Finally pulling her knickers off, her bottom half exposed, Robert fumbled with his own belt and trousers before sinking into her, both of them grunting at the contact.

Furiously Robert unbuttoned the top loops of Cora's dress, pushing away the fabric and exposing the gentle hills of her breasts peeking over her chemise and corset. He dipped his hand over the top, wedging it between her flesh and the boning that held her, cupping her as best he could and pressing, his calloused hands a new kind of roughness that made her whimper. Their movements became more frenzied as they clung to one another.

"Sweet Jesus, Cora," Robert exhaled before burying his tongue in her mouth, tasting her eager kisses. He was so close and by the way she panted under him, head rocking on the pillow, back arched impossibly high, she was on the brink as well. Robert sucked at the tops of her breasts as he drove deeper within and then she was moaning and trembling around him and pulling him over the edge.

"Someone will come looking for me, Robert," Cora mumbled, naked and groggy. Their second coupling had been softer, more reverent as they took the time to undress and become reacquainted with bodies they knew as well as their own.

Robert played with the loose curls on her head as she pressed light kisses onto his neck. His body felt heavy, satisfied, his limbs liquid and incapable of movement. The tension that had coiled his muscles since leaving that autumn dissipated as he lay under Cora's body.

"No one will come. I gave Carson strict orders." Robert replied, his eyes closed.

"You told Carson you were coming home and not me?" Cora scolded, leaning up.

Robert gazed at his wife, smirking at the indignation on her face. "Well, I needed to arrange for someone to get me at the station."

Cora's face became serious. "I know you wanted to surprise me, but please, Robert, don't wait so long again before writing. You don't know the horrible things I imagined."

"It was stupid of me," Robert conceded. "I didn't think, my darling." Robert reached up and wrapped a stray strand of Cora's hair around his finger. Cora closed her eyes and leaned her head into the palm of his hand.

"What is it?" Robert urged as Cora's brows knitted together and her chin quivered.

Cora shook her head, frown deepening. "The news that reaches us is terrifying, Robert. They say the Boers have been clobbering the British, that casualties are high. I just...I didn't fully appreciate how difficult this would be."

Robert stared into Cora's eyes before pulling her back down, massaging her shoulder. "We are ill equipped and ill advised. It will be a much longer fight than anyone realized."

They fell silent, holding one another. "How long do we have together?" Cora asked faintly.

Robert stilled before answering, "Four days."

"Well there you are! I thought we would need to send Carson to look for you." Violet commented as Robert joined her and Cora in the library for a nightcap.

Robert's responding smile was wan as he went to the liquor tray and poured himself a generous brandy. He stood staring into his glass before bringing it up to his lips and taking a long sip. Cora rose from her spot near Violet and crossed over to where Robert was rooted. When she placed a gentle hand on Robert's arm, he startled slightly and his eyes slowly lost the haze that clouded them.

"What is it?" Cora asked lowly.

Robert drew in a deep breath, covering her hand with his own and giving it a squeeze before motioning her toward the sofa. Violet looked at the couple expectantly. "Oh dear, you look quite forlorn."

"I've been going over the documents of the entail." Robert sat down heavily.

"Oh, whatever for?" Violet inquired with confusion.

"To see," Robert paused, taking Cora's hand in his, "if there was any concession made should I die before we've had a son. Something carved out for Cora and our daughters."

Violet sat up straighter and observing Robert's grim expression she interjected, "I am assuming that there is not, by your face."

The shake of Robert's head was barely perceptible. He chanced a glance at Cora, who kept her gaze on her knees. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "I've failed you."

Cora looked up quickly, "No you haven't Robert. It isn't your fault."

Robert pulled away from her and stood up, pacing agitatedly. "Of course it is. I should have thought of this scenario."

"We were both very young when we signed those papers," Cora gently pointed out.

"Cora," Robert's voice came out harsher than he intended, "James will have no obligation to provide for you once he becomes earl. All of your fortune will go to him. And you very well all can't live in the Dower House with Mama."

Cora bit her lip, feeling her panic rise but swallowing it down as Robert's distress rose. "We'll go back to America."

Robert froze. "What?"

Cora nodded, "My mother would take us in. My father tied up the rest of his money as tightly as yours did, so she wouldn't be able to send me an allowance but she'd certainly take us in."

"God, what a mess!" Robert lamented, rubbing his forehead.

"There is a solution that wouldn't require the Earl of Grantham's children suddenly becoming Colonial." Violet interrupted, breaking her silence.

Both Robert and Cora turned to her expectantly. "And what is that?" Robert wondered.

"Promise Mary to Patrick." Violet stated.

"What?!" Cora demanded, looking from Robert to Violet, incredulous. "She's eight years old!"

Violet shrugged off Cora's comment. "My mama's marriage was arranged before her fifth birthday."

"That was practically a hundred years ago! It's a new century now." Cora scoffed.

Violet pierced her with her blue eyes, "Don't be impertinent, Cora. It isn't becoming. You have two days to change your status as a mother without a son. If that isn't enough time, I suggest you take my option under advisement."

"Now who's being impertinent!" Cora muttered, directing her eyes towards the fire and trying to quell the sickness to her stomach that all of this maudlin talk had created.

Robert leaned against the nursery door, watching his girls as they played unaware of his presence. He couldn't believe how quickly Sybil had grown in the short time he had been away. His eyes softened taking in how she lovingly rocked her babydoll, passing a soothing hand over the doll's head, mimicking a gesture he had seen Cora do on one of their children hundreds of times. His youngest resembled his wife more and more, in looks and sweet demeanor and it wasn't a surprise to him that Cora found such solace in her presence during his absence.

Edith sat on the floor, fitting the pieces of a puzzle together, chewing her bottom lip in concentration. She had been quiet during his short reunion with them, often avoiding his eyes, as though suddenly shy around him and it made his heart hurt that he had to coax a kiss or a hug from her. Cora was convinced that Edith was just protecting herself from having to say goodbye again, but Robert wondered if she didn't resent him for going away.

Mary was at her desk, scribbling away at her lessons. She had shot up a few inches at least since autumn and he couldn't quite get used to how close she was to womanhood. Could it really have been almost nine years since she was born? He remembered the event so vividly, of course, his anxiety, his excitement. It was the only thing Mary had done in her short life slowly, but true to her stubborn nature, she had not made her appearance until she was ready, no matter how long her poor mother had labored. Cora had been apologetic when he was finally allowed in her room, but her eyes told him how deeply in love she already was with their little daughter and he tumbled head long after her when he laid eyes on Mary's perfect face.

Cora had been wound up tightly by Violet's words the night before and it had taken Robert a good portion of the night to talk her out of her anger. After she finally gave herself over to sleep, Robert couldn't help but stare at the canopy of her bed, blinking in the night, and worrying about the future of his family. Now that Violet had presented the option, Robert couldn't help but to ruminate on it. Cora seemed adamantly against it, but perhaps in time, she could be won over to the idea.

"Hello darlings," Robert called out, betraying his position at the door. Sybil squealed with delight, running over and jumping into his arms. Edith peered up at him, a ghost of a smile before returning to her task.

"Hello Papa," Mary greeted sedately, already the prim little lady of his mother's making.

Carrying Sybil with him, Robert moved deeper into the room and took a seat near Mary, glancing at the figures she was working on.

"How are your studies going? You're minding the governess I hope." Robert raised an eyebrow as Mary rolled her eyes.

"Of course Papa," Mary replied.

"Mary, I have a very important request for you while I'm gone," Robert lowered his voice in seriousness. At the change in his tone, Mary sat up a little higher and folded her hands in her lap, giving him all her attention.

"It's a big job your Mama has here. I need you to help her as much as you can. While she takes care of everything I want you to take care of her." Robert placed his hand on Mary's. "No more haircuts in the nursery."

"Papa, it wasn't my fault!" Mary whined.

"Mary," Robert warned, "you're a lady now, and Edith and Sybil are still children. Your Mama needs you and I am asking you to be a big girl on my behalf. It's a big task but I think you're equal to it."

Mary nodded her head confidently. "I can do it Papa. You needn't worry."

Robert's smile grew large, "I knew you could. You're a good girl, darling." Robert placed a kiss on her forehead and then stood, placing Sybil back down on the floor to play. Ruffling Edith's hair as he walked by, Robert paused in the doorway and turned.

"Mary," he called, "how do you find Patrick?"

Mary's eyes squinted with puzzlement and she shrugged her shoulders. "He's fine I suppose. Why?"

"Just curious," Robert said before leaving the girls.