Hellooooo!

Here is a little scene that I was sort of expecting to be in the first episode of Downton... them receiving the letter with the money in it. I pictured this to be at the very - well, not the very beginning - but near enough at the start.

Enjoy!

Dearest Mary,

I'm glad that you are all well and the planning for your wedding is going smoothly. Well, as smooth as it can; you know what these things are like! How is Anna? And Bates? We're terribly worried about them both. In your last letter it sounded like she was a woman on a mission, not that there's anything wrong with that it just sounds like she may be tiring herself out.

Tom and I are well, thank you. The baby is fine too; again, I am so sorry for not telling you before. I had to tell Mama but if it wasn't meant to be I didn't want too many people knowing. I know you understand.

Tom may have a development in his job. His boss tells him that if another one of his articles is so widely received again then he may have a real job for him, not just freelance work.

It is on this issue that I have to bring you the bad news. I sincerely do not want to say this and please to try to forgive us but we simply cannot come to your wedding. I am crying now as I write because we would come if we could. We cannot afford it; I am not working due to the baby and Tom doesn't get paid. Thank god for the money Papa gave us; that's what we have been living off. It hurts Tom's ego to do it but I know that he would rather die than see us living on the streets like so many do. We would use it to buy the tickets over – the price of tickets being the problem – but we would have none left for any security when we got home. Please, do not tell Papa! We would never hear the end of it, though it would be a rather nice change for him to write.

Anyhow, please pass along mine and Tom's love to all the family. Again, I am so sorry, that we cannot be there. Please do write back so I know you understand and that my grief and guilt doesn't grow.

Your loving sister,

Sybil

Sybil folded the letter, placing it in the slightly tearstained envelope and left to place it in the letterbox outside, holding her coat tightly around her to hide her sorrow that her family, well, Mary would soon feel.

Four days later...

A letter landed on the floor with quite a noisy thump, distracting Tom's attention from the article on his desk. Their flat wasn't large though it was large enough for three; it had three rooms, one large main room for the living room and dining room, a kitchen and their bedroom. He stood to go and retrieve it; the weight of it in his hand was far too heavy for just a letter. Though the letter was addressed to him and Sybil, the writing was far too grand; he walked through to their bedroom, where Sybil was resting and gave her the letter.

"I think it's for you," he smiled, sitting on the edge of the bed and stroking her hand. He could see the slightly dark circles under her eyes, making her appear tired but the truth was that she slept better than most. There was a gun fight about two streets away the day before, successfully waking Tom but not her. She dozed through the whole thing while he shook with worry.

He knew that she had been crying, ever since she had to write that awful letter to Mary saying that they couldn't come to their wedding. She smiled back, the smile not quite reaching her eyes. It turned to a frown as she read the front.

"But it's addressed to you and me," she questioned. He shrugged, getting up to leave when she held his hand, stopping him and pulling him back to sit on the bed.

"Stay, it might be important, plus, I didn't enjoy waking up alone this morning; this is the most I've seen you all day," she sulked, not eyeing the smirk that appeared on her husbands face. She tried to fight the urge but she caved; a small smile appeared on her face. She winked at him and ripped open the letter as she saw the postmark; it had come from England.

She pulled out the letter, well, she thought it was a letter, but instead it was bank notes. Rather large value ones. She frowned, pulling them all out.

"What on earth?"

Tom looked and felt delirious. He could physically feel his brain working out how on earth this amount of money landed on their doorstep and for what reason? Sybil finally found the small note at the bottom, in a hand that she didn't recognise.

Sybil and Tom,

Enclosed is the correct amount for two tickets, both boat and train, to Downton. Have a safe journey over and see you at the wedding.

A friend

She read it over and over. She couldn't believe it. She wanted to but it was impossible! How could anyone have known? She knew that Mary would have told her family that they couldn't come, possibly the reason, but nothing in her last letter told her that anyone was prepared to do anything about it. Mary would have, she said so herself, she said that if she could get the money without Papa's permission, she would send them what they needed and more.

She watched as Tom warily counted up the money. £100. It was all there.

"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed. Sybil would have swatted him but she couldn't get the internal message to her arm. She was stunned into silence. She slowly lowered her hands, allowing tom to read the note.

"A friend?" Sybil whispered in disbelief. "This is…so generous! How the…what the? I just don't know what to say,"

Tom nodded, frowning. He didn't like this, not at all. He was grateful, most definitely, but the way that it was sent and the mysteriousness of this generous 'friend' that knew about all this. He concluded that it was someone from Sybil's family. Probably Lady Cora; she seemed to be the one who liked him and had the power to send money over.

Sybil, sat up straighter then and jumped out of the bed. She hugged her husband tightly, kissing his cheek in glee.

"It was Papa!" Sybil smiled widely. "It had to be! Why would anyone else disguise their writing and their name if it wasn't him?"

Tom was still confused, surely Lord Grantham would announce himself, make his presence known and have this act of generosity scare Tom's ego and once again, have it seen and made obvious that Tom, once again, couldn't provide for Sybil.

"I'm not so sure darling," Tom murmured, causing Sybil to stop at the door, and turn, her eyes alight with fire and not a good one.

"What? Why wouldn't it be Papa?" She snapped. "Have you lost faith completely?"

The last was said rather mournfully, before she stormed from the room. Tom read the note again. A friend. That word held so much in it but had very few possibilities; he honestly though that they had no friends from Sybil's side of the family. She had left them, disgraced them and that was that.

"I'm just saying love that, I don't think that he would be so secretive. Your mother however-"

"It wouldn't be Mama – Papa would know, which is why I think it's him."

Sybil was adamant and she stomped over to Tom's desk, pulling out a pen and some paper for the return letter.

"Wouldn't your mother have the power to send money on her own? Considering it's hers anyway,"

Sybil sighed, shaking her head.

"No, for all intents and purposes, it's Papa's and she can't take any out that's more than usual without telling him or the bank telling him."

Tom scoffed, shaking his head. He began to understand more and more the real reason why Lady Cora wouldn't come to their wedding or why she hadn't visited…because she would. Sybil had cried many times over letters sent from her mother that seemed to display his mother in laws need for travel but they always concluded with an excuse that could easily be seen through; he began to see beneath the façade of fairness that Lord and Lady Grantham lived under. They were still living in the dark ages as far as he was concerned.

As silence fell over them, he leant against the doorframe crossing his arms over his chest. He eyed her and smirked when her head came up and the pen stuck in her mouth, deep in thought. He let out a breathy chuckle, making his wife turn and narrow her eyes at him.

"Not sure what to write? Oh dear," Tom chuckled, making Sybil turn away from him.

She didn't understand why he was being like this. He was just as disappointed as she was when they told Mary that they couldn't come. She knew that his ego was badly bruised, as during the days afterward he worked himself to the bone, desperately trying to gather any money together; he didn't come close, which made the vicious circle start again until Sybil hid his keys from him, banning him from leaving so he could rest.

She stuck her tongue out at him; the many childlike gestures which had been suppressed at Downton had all resurfaced in her marriage. To be honest, when not working and completely at ease, Sybil thought that Tom was just a big kid. He smiled back, crouching down next to her. He pulled the pen from her fingertips, taking the hand that held it and brought it to his lips. She didn't want to smile, but she did; he knew the ways to make her give in and give up her anger.

"That's not fair," Sybil pouted, making her husband laugh.

"Whoever said that I played fair?" he murmured, his eyes alight with mischief. He kissed over her wedding ring, marvelling the silver band by turning it round on her finger.

It didn't used to do that, he thought. The baby must be making her sick, she's not eating much.

She smirked, taking her hand away from his grasp and turning away from him, taking full advantage of Tom's distraction.

She stared at the blank page in front of her, wondering what on earth she should write and who on earth she should send it to. Mary? Granny? She didn't know, she couldn't decide.

"Tom, do you want to go to the wedding?"

He looked up, stroking her cheek to bring her out of whatever daydream she was having. Her eyes looked tired, sadness looming over them. He stood then, wrapping his arms around her shoulders gently and pulling her close to his chest. He felt her grip his arm from underneath, her thumb stroking his bare forearm.

"Of course I do," He answered softly. "If they want me there, then I won't insult them by not going, especially not now that we have this opportunity."

Sybil chuckled, resting her head on his ribs.

"Oh please make up your mind dear," she commented, huffing dramatically. Tom laughed, albeit feeling slightly insulted.

"When did I say that I didn't want to go?" he asked, shrugging his shoulders. "All I said was that I didn't think that it was your father that sent the money,"

He kissed the top of her head before walking away, deciding to make some food for his wife to treat her slight malnutrition.

Sybil nodded, smiling and thanking whoever it was that sent the money. Her smile gre and she leapt up out of her seat, tottering into the kitchen to hug her husband. He laughed in surprise and held her close to him.

"Thank you," she whispered tearfully, peppering his shirt covered chest with kisses.

"For letting us go,"

He laughed louder, kissing her head and pulling her back slightly to look at her properly.

"Me let us go? Do you really think that I had a choice, love?" he laughed, kissing her brow, nose and then lips. "Your happiness is the key to my decisions, why would I do something to disappoint?"

Sybil giggled, resting her head against his shoulder.

"I want some of that sandwich by the way," she ordered, breaking the loving silence with a laugh.

Mary was greeted by a letter next to her place at the breakfast table. She recognised the wonderfully scrawled handwriting of her youngest sister, blotches on ink dotted on the pages; it was probably written in sadness Mary thought. She sighed, feeling the gaze of her father, who gave his deep frown whenever word came from Sybil, staring at the side of her face with great intent. She opened it slowly, knowing that whatever she read was one of two things: One, her husband had died and two, the news that Mary wouldn't be an aunt any time soon.

She shook away the negative thoughts knowing that it probably wasn't either of those things; Sybil wouldn't write to Mary to impart those saddening news stories.

"What's that?" her father grumbled, even though he already knew.

"It's from Sybil. Hopefully it contains much nicer news than the last letter I got from her. Poor dears," Mary sighed, unfolding the paper.

"Dears? Plural?" her father asked, shaking his head slightly. Mary ignored him, his resentful character beginning to grate on Mary's last nerves.

Dear Mary,

I know that it has only been a few days since my last letter; I don't expect you to have replied to the last one but I have some brilliant news! Ignore everything said in the last letter and tell everyone this.

I can come to your wedding!

Someone, we don't know who, it was incredibly strange – this random letter, the writing of whom neither of us recognises, was sent through our door, with all of the money we needed for the trip over!

Isn't that wonderful?

Again, do not tell Papa – tell everyone else by all means – just not him, I know that he will resent us coming, especially Tom. Yes he's coming too – there was enough money for him too! Mary I'm so happy. Tell me…was it you? I won't be angry because I know that I told you about Tom and mine's troubles; in fact I an elated!

We cannot wait to see everyone again and we have arranged to come a few days before the wedding so our visit isn't so fleeting; we will arrive on Wednesday, hopefully before dinner.

Thank you Mary, Iif you were our secret benefactor but please, if not, pass along our thanks.

See you on Wednesday and I wish to hear everything about the wedding – I'm fed up of baby business (don't tell Tom that whatever you do!)

With love,

Sybil

A wide smile spread on Mary's face and she heard her father sigh, suppressing a resentful groan.

"What is it?" he said sullenly.

"Just that she's coming after all…and Tom too," Mary smiled and stood to leave. Just as she reached the door she muttered, "So you can out that in your pipe and smoke it,"

She didn't care if her father heard it; she wanted sister there as it wouldn't be right without her. For one fleeting moment, Mary frowned at the thought of Tom coming, but that turned to a smile as she knew that he would be the price of Sybil coming over. Truthfully, when she and Edith went over to Ireland for Sybil's wedding, Tom was more welcoming than they deserved; Mary especially. She actually felt guilty for disapproving of him in the end and extended the invitation to them both.

Turning the corner, she noticed her grandmother walking toward the breakfast room.

"Good morning Granny! What are you doing here so early?"

The Dowager kissed her daughters' cheek, letting Mary hug her lightly before replying.

"I just wanted to hear of any news before I went out for the day. Waiting until tomorrow nights dinner is not an option!"

She sharply shook her head, her hand making the same movement dismissing any kind of alternative.

"Just that Sybil and Tom are coming after all – though it is a little secret saved for tonight. So hush, hush!" Mary jokingly chided, smiling sweetly before walking away.

"Excellent," The Dowager whispered, smiling widely before placing a mask of absolute horror on her face at the prospect of Sybil attending, which would be greeted by her son and hopefully believed.

A/N: Was it good? I hope so :)

Rather excited for the third episode :D - I loved last nights!

I felt a little cheated that we didn't get to see Matthew and Mary's wedding, the whole thing - vows and all. The same goes with Tom and Sybil - the while of series two was building up the that moment and we didn't even get to see it! It's a shame :(

Tell me what you think!

GMJ xxxx