Chapter 6

Sybil had waited so long for him to come home. She had waited every day for him and on the day of his return she had risen early and waited. It was also the day her father and Matthew were coming home so it really was a day to celebrate.

She had written often to Branson and he had always replied although recently his letters had become less frequent and vaguer but she put that down to him being busy and trying to keep safe. It must have been terrible out there! At least though he was coming home and they could start their lives together!

Her father had returned home with Matthew and Mr Bates, the rest of the men were following from the station. Sybil realised she had no reason to be stood outside and so had to follow her family in, she would just have to make an excuse to leave as soon as she could.

Matthew and Mary had taken themselves off to a far corner of the room and Sybil could do nothing but smile. She hoped it all worked out for them, they deserved each other. She sat next to her mother daydreaming about seeing Branson again when her father's voice cut through her reverie.

"Such a nuisance though, we shall have to find a new chauffeur…"

Sybil's head snapped up, "What?"

Her father turned and looked at her with a bemused smile, "We need a new chauffeur. I had a note from Branson, he wants to leave. Damn nuisance really, he was good!"

Sybil stood up, her heart hammering hard against her chest, "What do you mean he's leaving?"

Lord Grantham's bemused expression turned to a frown, why was she so bothered by this news?

"He's going back to Ireland apparently, no doubt for some political reasons!"

"But he can't!" Sybil cried, her face paling at the prospect.

Even her mother seemed bemused now, "Why ever not?"

Sybil realised the group were staring at her, she swallowed hard before saying, "I mean…who will drive us into Ripon?"

Lord Grantham laughed at his daughter, "My dear do not worry, we will find a replacement!"

Sybil forced a smile in return and her father turned his attentions back to her mother. Sybil couldn't bear it, she had to go and find him, and she had to ask him why he was going. Maybe he wanted her to go with him? Her heart lightened at the thought!

"Excuse me." She said eventually, "I've got a headache; I think I should go and lie down."

She made a move towards the door and only stopped as her mother said worriedly, "Would you like me to come with you?"

"No, no Mama! I shall be fine after a lie down."

As soon as she was clear of the room she ran towards the servant's staircase and ran down them. She practically ran straight into Daisy,

"Oh I am sorry!"

"Your Ladyship!" Daisy gasped.

"It's Daisy isn't it?" Sybil asked. The young girl looked terrified.

"Yes your Ladyship!" She stammered.

"Have all the men come home now?" Sybil asked, "Only I'm looking for Mr Branson."

Daisy gawped at Sybil, "Erm…yes they all came home a while ago. Mr Branson's in the chauffeur's cottage, he's gettin' all 'is things together."

"Thank you Daisy!" Sybil smiled kindly and set off for the door, it was only as she reached it that she understood Daisy's words. He was getting his things together…..she turned back to question Daisy further but she had gone.

She ran outside and across the yard towards the cottage. Sure enough he was there and to Sybil's horror he was carrying a bag out of the door. He put it down and smiled at her,

"Your Ladyship." He greeted.

Sybil smiled in return, "Really Branson, I thought we had stopped all of that!"

Branson shifted awkwardly and smiled, "Sorry…Sybil."

"Papa says you are leaving, is this true?" Sybil's heart began to pound again, of course he was, he had his bags packed!

Branson looked at the floor, "Yes it's true. I'm sorry I was going to tell you before I left but time hasn't been on my side."

Sybil was shocked, he was leaving and he was leaving without her!

"What about us?" She finally managed to ask.

Branson sighed; war had changed everything for him. He wasn't the same man that had left Downton all those years ago. He had left her with promises, promises that could never be fulfilled.

"Sybil, there can be no us." He said simply, "You must see that."

Sybil felt tears prick at her eyes, "But…we wrote to each other! I love you Tom! We love each other!"

Branson sighed and stepped forward taking her hands, "Yes, we do. I really do love you but we cannot be together. Those promises we made, they were pipe dreams, they could never come true!"

"The world has changed though Tom!" Sybil said, almost pleaded.

He shook his head sadly, "Not enough though, it's changed in so many ways but still not enough for us to be together. Not in this lifetime."

"Of course we can be together! You hear about it all the time, social class should not matter and it doesn't matter to me, not a jot!" Sybil cried passionately.

"But it matters to your family." Branson said simply. "Sybil, if we were together I would be asking you to give up your family for they would never accept me as your husband. You would be cast out."

Sybil shook her head, "I don't believe that, they would come around to it….eventually."

Branson smiled at her, "You know that's not true! The shock alone would kill your Grandmother and your father would literally kill me."

"Then I shall run away with you!" Sybil cried.

Again Branson shook his head sadly, "No you won't. Your place is here with your family. It's where you belong."

"But I love you!" Sybil wailed, "We belong to each other!"

"I know, but what can we do? We cannot be together; it's as simple as that." Branson said gently.

Sybil dropped her head and let the tears fall, despite everything she had to admit he was right. Her father would never accept it and he would never let her go. But she loved him and he loved her!

"Can't you just stay here?" She asked hopefully, if she couldn't have him at least she could still see him every day!

"No, that would not be right." He answered, "I need to go home, it's for the best."

"This is so unfair!" She moaned,

Branson lifted her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles, "But it's for the best, deep down you know that. If I took you away from your family you would only end up resenting me and hating me, I couldn't bear that."

"I wouldn't!" Sybil protested

"You would….." He said sadly, "This way, we leave each other knowing we loved each other."

Sybil closed her eyes, this really was happening. Branson leaned towards her and kissed her cheek,

"Goodbye m'lady."

"Goodbye…Tom."

Branson picked up his bags and set off back down the drive, he knew he was walking away from the first woman he had ever loved but he knew it was for the best. She deserved better than him and he would only hold her back. He didn't look back; it would have torn him apart.

Sybil watched him leave, her heart breaking. She didn't hear Edith approaching her until her sister's arms wrapped tightly around her.

"My poor darling." She soothed.

Sybil cried into her sister's shoulder, she didn't believe she would ever love again. But she would, one day she would but she would always think back to Tom. The lovely Irish man who had stolen her heart when she was just a girl.

At the end of the drive, the young woman waiting under the tree stood up. She had her travelling coat on and a bag in her hand.

"How was it?" She asked.

Tom shook his head, "Awful. It's for the best though."

She nodded and looped her arm through his, she knew he might not love her as deeply as he loved Sybil but she hoped one day he would. She hoped one day she would be the only woman in his affections, until that day came she was content just to be with him, wherever it took her.

Tom smiled down at her; he did love her he truly believed that he did. She wasn't Sybil but she cared for him and they had so much in common, they were from the same class for one thing! She might not be Sybil but he promised he would forget about her, or at least put her out of his mind and concentrate on his new life.

"Come on Gwen," He said with a smile, "A new life awaits!"

A/N: Pllllleeeeaaaasssse Sybil/Branson fans do not hate me! I know how much you want them to get together but this was my honest thoughts on how it would play out for them. Also, I blame a certain RP game that put this ending into my head! :D *hides from things that might get thrown*