Starting Forever

A/N- This is an AU Sybil/Branson story, it'll start sometime during the first season, but it will not follow the storyline of the show. I hope you like it.

A/N 2: DO NOT READ THIS A/N IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE 2012 CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.

I'm really hating Downton right now and that's something I never thought I would say. Tonight's episode was just too much! Needed to write this to go back to the good days, when things were happy.

- - - - - - - - - 3

'Darling what is wrong with you, you've been acting strange all day.' Mary sits alongside her sister on Sybil's bed. 'Are you feeling unwell?'

'No I'm quite well, I just feel,'

'Feel what darling?' Mary asks worriedly.

'I just…we're leaving for London in two days, for my first season.'

'Yes, but why should that make you behave so distant?'

'It's just that…do you think Mama would be terribly upset if I…stayed here.'

'You can't be serious, Sybil darling it's your first season. Mama will be more than disappointed, so will Papa. I wouldn't give the idea another thought, they'll never allow you to stay. Why on earth would you want to?'

'I'll miss Downton.' She says quietly, I'll miss Branson she adds silently.

'Oh darling honestly we won't be gone long, besides I think Granny has plans to have you married off by the end of the year, and so you'll need to go to London to attract the attention of some handsome man.'

'What if I've already attracted the attention of someone?' Sybil looks at her sister, wondering how much she should reveal.

'How could you have done that?' Mary narrows her eyes, 'Are you telling me that you have a secret relationship?'

'No of course not!'

'Then what is it you're trying to say?'

'It's nothing; I hardly know what I'm feeling.'

'Feeling about who?'

'Nobody I shouldn't have said anything, can we just forget it?'

'I'm not so sure I can now; you aren't doing anything foolish are you?'

'No.' Sybil replies, 'Nothing bad has happened.'

'Well see to it that it doesn't. I do wish you wouldn't be so cryptic.'

'I don't mean to be.' Sybil smiles sadly, 'I am sorry.'

'It's alright darling.' Mary looks at her carefully, 'Are you sure you're feeling well?'

'Oh yes I'm fine.' Sybil smiles sweetly.

3

Branson is working on the car when he hears footsteps approaching, he peers out from under the car and sees the hem of a dress, and he smiles happily and pulls himself out and into a standing position, smiling at Sybil.

'I haven't seen you in a few days.' He says wiping the oil from his hands.

'No, I'm awfully sorry.'

'I was starting to think you were avoiding me.'

'No…I wouldn't ever do that.' She steps a little closer, 'I wanted to see you before we leave this afternoon.'

'I'm glad you came.' He smiles at her.

'I wouldn't have left without saying goodbye.'

'Are you looking forward to being in London?'

'Not really.' She looks down at the ground, 'I hate leaving home.'

'You'll have to leave someday, when you're married.'

'I won't be leaving home once I marry.' She raises her eyes to meet his.

'Oh no?'

'No…once I marry my home will be wherever my husband is.' She smiles, 'That's the way it should be if you love someone, they become your home.'

'Well I can't argue with you on that.' He steps an almost unnoticeable bit closer to her, reaches out and brushes his fingers across her cheek.

'Branson, please don't,' she looks up to him with pleading eyes.

'I can't help it, Sybil what I wrote in that letter I meant it, all of it. I'll always be yours…if you want me.'

'Oh Tom,' she pulls away and shakes her head, taking a few steps backwards.

'I know…it's not possible, but I can dream.'

'But that's all it can be, a dream.'

'Sometimes dreams come true.'

'Sometimes they don't.' She replies.

'I suppose you'll be going off to London to find yourself a better man.'

'There is no better man.' Sybil surprises herself by saying, and then immediately reprimands herself for saying it, because she can see the spark of hope in his eyes, 'But that won't matter to my family.'

'But surely if you,'

'My family matter to me Tom.' She cuts him off, 'I can't hurt them.'

'No.' He looks down at the ground, 'I don't suppose you can.'

She looks at him with sadness in her heart, her feelings for him confuse her, she knows that they've crossed a line somewhere, become too close, and now she knows that he loves her, only she isn't sure what she feels, not truly.

'Will you promise me something?'

'Anything,'

'Promise me you'll be here when I get home.'

'I'll be here,' he smiles sadly, 'now will you promise me something.'

'Of course,'

'Don't come home engaged.'

'I won't, I promise.' She gives him one last sad smile and then walks out of the garage, her heart pounding.

A/N- Just a short one this time. I hope you like it.