(this is it! Thank you to all who has read and reviewed!)
Edith sighed. "No papa I'm not leaving. We live in Soho and I am running the Sketch. I will not be looked down upon as the pathetic sister at Downton. I'm sorry but I can't and I won't do that." she said. She honestly didn't want anything to do with the Abbey but she had missed her family and if living in Soho meant seeing her family every once in a while then she was fine with that.
Mary couldn't believe it. Her sister refused to come home. Didn't she know how devastated their parents had been when she had left. She refused to watch her mother break into tears throughout the day or to see her father drink himself into oblivion. Her parents had been doing so well lately. Mary wouldn't stand for anything causing her parents to once again go into that awful depression.
Mary looked at her sister with disdain. "You are leaving after just coming back into our lives? So what was this? Were you simply going to show us how wonderful your life is now then leave?!" she yelled bitterly.
Edith glared at her sister. "I was invited here by our aunt. And I never said that I'm leaving. I said I won't come home. I live in Soho. I will give mama and papa my address and telephone number. I'll even come visit you at the Abbey. But I'm not like you Mary! I don't rub things in others faces to show how better I am than them! That sister is you!" she hissed angrily.
Cora sighed as she watched her daughters fight. Why did they have to fight so often? Didn't they realize that they were wasting valuable time with each other? Have they not learned how precious time is? While on one hand she agreed with Mary. She truly did want you baby girl to come home. But on the other hand Edith was an adult. She had a family of her own. They couldn't expect her to simply come home and drop everything.
Cora looked to Robert who was watching the two darling babes on the floor fondly. They had missed so much. So much time lost. And for what? To have their daughter once again out of their reach.
Robert had tuned out the girls fighting. He knew it was irrational of him to say that Edith was leaving. But her absence had hurt him greatly. It was one thing to lose a child to death but to lose one to life. That was hard. At least he knew what happened with his Sybil. But with Edith he was completely in the dark. Was she ok? Was she alive? Was she happy? What about little Marigold? Those had been the questions that swirled around in his mind for 10 years. And now that she was back it hurt him. She had been ok. She was happy. But she hadn't said or even sent word to them.
Robert looked up at his daughters and sighed. They still fought over who was selfish and what the best thing to do was. He only wished he had something to offer his prodigal daughter.
"That's enough! Both of you." Robert said sternly.
Mary and Edith both stopped and looked at their father.
Robert sighed. "Now I know you Mary. I know you want to protect your mother and I from being hurt again. I know you miss you sister and only want what's best for the family. I appreciate that. And Edith I understand you have a family. A life. I understand that you do not wish to be the talk of the village. But Mary your sister has to think about her family and life first. And Edith you have to realize that you are the daughter of an Earl so you will always be talked about. Now I have an offer for you and your family. One I hope you take into consideration. I would like for you and your family to move into this house. No one else lives here. We could visit you. You could visit us. You'll be near the office and close to some very nice schools for the children. And we'll send word when we come to visit." he said.
Cora smiled at her husband in encouragement. She thought it was a fine idea.
Edith went to retort when Ellis spoke up. "Edith love I think we should at least think about it. It would bring you closer to your family. The children would get to go to nice schools. I think we could think about it tonight." he said to his wife.
Edith sighed and nodded. "Fine. We will discuss it and give my family our answer later." she said.
Mary huffed and stormed from the room. She simply wanted her sister back. Didn't anyone understand that?
Edith sighed and hugged and kissed parents. "I will contact you by the end of the week." she said before her husband and herself collected their children and left.
Once everyone was gone Cora leaned against her husband. "Our baby is home." she said with tears in her eyes.
Robert wrapped his arms around her. "She is. But she's not coming home." he said.
Cora smiled sadly at her husband. "She's not. But she's not running again. We're not losing our red headed baby girl again."
(This is AU from the point where Cora and Rosamund went to London to retrieve Edith and Marigold. All recognizable characters, places, and events belong to Julienne Fellows. Please Read and Review!)