A/N – This is a complete one shot, which needed to be written because the idea was distracting me from my next attempt at a story. A songfic, based on 'If I were the only girl in the world', because I just heard the amazing Alfie Boe singing it on Radio 2. This was written in 15 minutes, in the kitchen while making cookies – so apologies if I've accidently written a bit of the recipe in there!

Julian Fellowes owns the characters, and Nat D. Ayer and Clifford Grey the song (according to Wikipedia).

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Leaning casually, arms folded, against the wall at the back of the room, Tom allowed Lady Mary's surprisingly lyrical voice to wash over him and direct his thoughts.

Sometimes when I feel low
and things look blue
I wish a boy I had... say one like you.
Someone within my heart to build a throne
Someone who'd never part, to call my own

A selfish part of him wished it was he who was missing. If he had left to fight bravely in the fields of France, only to disappear without a trace, then maybe she would be falling apart now. Maybe she would be living on the edge of her nerves, desperate for any news of him, as Mary and little Daisy so clearly were. He pictured her, chewing at her nails, pacing the library in anticipation of a telegram. But no. Desperate as he was, he couldn't ever really wish her any pain. Not pain, only joy. Joy that he knew he could give her, if only he were given the opportunity.

If you were the only girl in the world
and I were the only boy
Nothing else would matter in the world today
We could go on loving in the same old way
If you were the only girl in the world
and I were the only boy

Wouldn't that be perfect? He and Sybil, the only people in existence. No society to limit their emotions. No families to disapprove, to stop her in her rightful path. Free to choose, free to live, free to damn it all. Wouldn't that be perfect? He had knowingly positioned himself directly behind her, so he could breathe in her essence undetected. Now, he turned his gaze to her, taking in the curl of her hair as it fell past the nape of her neck. If only he didn't have to resist the urge to kiss that neck. To grab her and drag her away from all of this. To make her admit that she was glad he wasn't a soldier.

A garden of Eden just made for two
With nothing to mar our joy
I would say such wonderful things to you
There would be such wonderful things to do
If you were the only girl in the world
and I were the only boy.

God, he wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her, and hold her, and love her. But more than that, he wanted to make himself into her everything. This firecracker, this impulsive, impetuous Lady; he wanted to marry her. She was the only girl in his world; he wished he were the only boy. If only there weren't strings of young men more suitable and more pleasing to her family. He was teetering on the edge of moroseness these days, and now he felt himself slipping over the edge. But then, saving him again, his girl turned to him and gave him a smile. A smile which said 'If I were the only girl in the world, and you were the only boy…'

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A/N – Ok, so I know that Matthew makes his appearance half way through this song. But I couldn't quite get that to fit in with what I wanted to write. So for once I'm just going to ignore His Floppiness. Apologies! Have a happy Sunday. SS x