A/N: Thank you once again for the wonderful reviews, I am glad you are enjoying! Here's the next part!

Chapter 5

Matthew had found the journey back to Downton Abbey unbearable, the car seemed to be going so slow that he had wanted to leap out and run all the way. He had sat with his Lordship who also seemed very eager to get home and even poor Bates sitting up front seemed jittery although Matthew couldn't understand why.

He had never felt such sweet relief than that he had felt as he stepped off the platform at Downton. Suddenly the end of the war actually seemed real and for once he dared to hope that he may be able to return to his old life.

As the car came to a stop Lord Grantham was first out and straight into the arms of his wife. Matthew had to smile especially at old lady Grantham's reaction to that, she looked positively repulsed!

Matthew had only just got out of the car when he saw her, she ran down the steps towards him and before he realised it she was flinging herself into his arms. It felt very good to hold her again, to breathe in the scent of her perfume; he wrapped his arms around her tightly as if his life depended upon it.

They pulled back smiling only to notice that Lord and Lady Grantham were smiling happily at them, even old Lady Grantham seemed pleased by their greeting and so they walked back towards the house hand in hand.

Inside, his Lordship made a speech to the rest of the family about how the world was now in a better place and how everyone could now live safe in the knowledge that evil had been defeated.

"However I must now take time to say a few words about you Matthew." His Lordship said turning towards him with a smile, "The bravery you displayed during this conflict was commendable, I am honoured and proud to call you my heir. The dedication you showed towards your men was beyond the call of duty and I am truly proud of you. We all are."

Matthew felt himself blush slightly as the whole family smiled at him. It was true, he had been dedicated and you could say he had been brave especially when he'd saved the life of one of his men and a family of civilians. It hadn't seemed brave or honourable at the time; it had just seemed a necessity.

As the group disbanded and began to talk to each other in smaller groups he found Mary standing at his side,

"Papa said you were very brave. He said you could have been killed in that French town but you were determined to save that family and soldier." Mary said clearly impressed.

Matthew coughed slightly, "Well anyone would have done the same. The boy was only eighteen and the family had young children. I couldn't leave them there to die."

"A true hero!" Mary smiled.

Matthew couldn't help but smile, "Don't mock me!"

Mary smiled coyly, "Who says I am mocking you?" She sipped her wine suggestively, "Every family needs a hero and you can be ours."

Matthew smiled widely, "What even your hero?"

Mary lifted a finely manicured eyebrow, "If you want to be….and I shall be your heroine!"

Cora caught her husband's eye and smiled at him; he raised an eyebrow and smiled back. This was looking promising.

Mary placed her glass down on a nearby table and walked towards the window away from the group and her parent's prying ears. Matthew followed and stood gazing out of the window onto the fine grounds of Downton.

"I've missed this place." He sighed, "Life here always seems so much better; there were times when I thought I'd never see it again. No I truly missed it."

Mary said nothing, she watched him curiously, he seemed older and there were lines around his eyes and frown lines seemed to plague his forehead. Hardly surprising the stress he had been under. But still he was remarkably handsome and Mary wondered why she had ever thought twice of marrying him. He seemed to be reading her thoughts for he turned and said.

"I missed you too. I missed our arguments!"

Mary gave a smile and looked away, her hand playing with her necklace. "I missed you too!"

Matthew looked back out at the grounds; it was hard to believe he was truly home. His mind thought back to their last conversation out in the garden, just before he left for war. The day they had kissed and she had promised him he was all she wanted. He hoped that was still true.

He turned to her seriously and took a deep breath, "Mary if you still feel how you did before I left for war then tell me so now. I need to know….I need to know if you love me or not."

Mary was taken aback by the abruptness of his statement; she glanced back at her family and noticed that nobody was watching. They were all lost in their own conversations or at least pretending to be. She turned back to him,

"Oh Matthew…." She began, "What I said back then, I meant every word and I still do. I was a foolish girl not to accept you straight away, I see that now. But being apart for all this time has only made me love you more. It is still only you that I want."

Matthew felt his heart soar; he had barely dared to hope she would respond in this way.

"That is, as long as you still want me, now you're a big hero….!" Mary smiled jokingly.

He laughed happily, "Of course my feelings have not changed. Mary you have been the only thing, the only light during those dark times that has kept me going. Returning home to you is what kept me alive."

His hand reached for hers and squeezed it firmly, she met his eyes and they shared a moment together, their eyes saying everything else that needed to be said.

"So, we're going to do this? We're going to marry?" Matthew asked, his fingers caressing her soft hand.

Mary leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek, "Yes, it would seem that we are!"

Matthew smiled and glanced across at a watching Lord Grantham who quickly averted his eyes. "Then I had better go and speak with your father!"

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it, "I shall return as soon as I can!"

Mary couldn't help but beam happily as he moved away towards Lord Grantham. She caught her mother's look and smiled at her, Cora returned her smile in understanding.

As Matthew left the room with Lord Grantham he was the happiest man alive for now he was safely home with a family who loved him and was about to gain the most wonderful and beautiful wife he could have ever imagined. Matthew was not afraid, he knew he was truly blessed.