A/N: Thank you all for the lovely reviews. I'm thinking of doing a couple of more chapters with Thomas and Sybil and/or Sybbie.

January 1904

He entered the library carrying a tray filled with plates of dainty sandwiches and small slices of cakes. As he set the tray on the table he looked at the plates containing three different kinds of sandwiches. His mouth watered at the sight of the salmon sandwiches, the wafer like slices of raw smoked salmon topped with a sprig of dill and arranged so prettily on the thin bread spread with a layer of crème fraiche. For their tea in the servants hall, there would be no such fancy sandwiches, certainly not smoked salmon, not even the egg and watercress nor he wasn't sure what the third sandwich was on diagonally cut dark bread, not unless there were some leftovers from these plates.

He was arranging the small plates of sandwiches on the table set for tea along with the two small plates of cake slices when she bounded into the room. He didn't need to turn his head to see, he knew by the sounds that it was ten year old Lady Sybil. While her sisters would walk quietly, Lady Sybil often ran or jumped or, like today, skipped into a room.

"Oh Thomas" she called out breathlessly. "I have the most wonderful news."

He turned his head to look at her and smiled. While so many of those who knew him found him so cold and calculating, for indeed he held so many of those around him in contempt, he had a bit of a soft spot for this young lady abandoning his usual jealousy and resentment of those in her position. He certainly didn't feel that way about her older sisters who even as young girls often exhibited the haughtiness so common of the aristocracy. There was something different about this one though, a friendliness of sorts that enabled her to talk to him, to all of them really, as people and not just as servants.

"And just what would be this most wonderful news?"

"Mama says I can come to the Servants Ball!"

Thomas' first reaction was to say something snarly, as if attending the Servants Ball was such a treat, but looking at her wide beaming smile that light up her face and the gleam in her bright blue eyes testament to her belief this was indeed wonderful news, he couldn't be so unkind.

Without waiting for his response she continued cheerfully and enthusiastically, "it's my first ball! I'll get to dress up and to dance."

She paused, looking directly at him. "You will dance with me won't you Thomas?"

He tried to look quite serious. "Well I'm a very good dancer and I-"

"Oh" waving her hand she cut him off "I've been practicing."

"We've been taking dancing lessons." Looking around the room before turning back to him she lowered her voice to almost a whisper. It's really supposed to just be Mary and Edith but I've sorta … well I … I just happen to be in the room too." She giggled which he found surprisingly sweet.

xxx

Dressed in a pale blue silk dress, a hand me down from one of her sisters, her long hair held off her face by a dark blue ribbon that matched the sash of her dress, he had to admit she looked quite lovely and it wasn't hard to see that she'd be a real beauty in a few years. He imagined she'd far outshine either of her sisters not just in physical beauty but in personality too.

When the band struck up a two step number he wandered over to her. "May I have this dance or would you prefer to wait for a slow waltz?" he teased.

She giggled first and then tilted her head up in that way aristocrats so favored reminding. "I can quite manage this."

He had to chuckle. She could turn on that aristocratic snooty voice and manner like her sisters but he thought she was usually just play acting the part.

What she lacked in finesse she certainly made up in enthusiasm. "I think those dance lessons are paying off" he teased her as they moved around the dance floor. "You've only stepped on my toes a few times.

She looked up at him with a smile that matched the sparkle in her eyes. "But I wanted to" she said to him. "It's to keep you alert."

January 1919

With the war just ending a few months ago, so many people thought it was time for things to go back as they were before the war. Probably no one thought that more than his lordship. With all traces of its recent use as a convalescence home gone, Downton Abbey had reverted back to its former self and so for the first time since the war began the Crawleys held the servants ball.

He was so used to seeing her in the long gray dress and white apron of her nursing uniform that it seemed odd to see her in such finery. He had admired her desire to be treated as any of the other nurses, pitching in to help without having to be asked, no task deemed too demeaning that he often forgot of her position. Just as she did with the servants, she had an easy way about her with the patients and he was sure that many left the hospital never realizing their brows had been wiped or their medicines administered or their bed pans had been cleaned by a real Lady.

But seeing her now dressed in the black and silver gown there was no doubt she was Lady Sybil just as there was no doubt the little girl had grown into quite a beauty.

"May I have the honor of this dance Lady Sybil" he said as he stood next to her.

She smiled as she walked with him to the dance floor. "It seems strange not to be called Nurse Crawley by you."

"Do you miss it?"

"Of course I do" she replied. "I mean I'm glad the war is over. But I miss the days of being busy … of being useful."

"Well I'm sure you'll soon find something to occupy your time." His words caused her to pause, a bit of panic appearing on her face before delving into something unreadable. Unprepared for her stopping he stepped on her toe.

Embarrassed at his gaffe he mumbled "I'm sorry my lady."

She shook her head. "It was entirely my fault."

There was a moment of awkward silence between them as they stood there no longer dancing.

"Do you remember my first servants ball?" she asked breaking the silence, her face no longer a mask. "I was so excited."

She smiled at him. "I think I stepped on your toes so many times."

He laughed. "I remember how proud you were of your dancing ability … you told me you had been taking lessons."

Although this ball was supposed to be for the servants, to thank them for their hard work and service for the past year and to give the servants a chance to mingle with the family, as with all things at Downton there were strict protocols to be followed such as a particular order in which staff could ask the family members to dance. Some staff such as the lowly hallboys or lower footmen were not to ask the family at all instead. And there was the protocol that the male servants didn't usually dance a second time with one of the family.

It was that last protocol that Thomas noticed was not being adhered to by the chauffeur. He had seen the way Branson had mooned over Nurse Crawley when he brought her lunch or dinner at the hospital. He had noticed how the chauffeur always seem to know when her shift was over and would be waiting to drive her back to the house even though it was a fairly short walk. But he had never noticed her showing the chauffeur any particular interest. That is until now … there was something about the way she was looking at Branson, laughing with him, the two looking so relaxed as they talked while drinking punch. Surely it just had to be her natural friendliness Thomas thought. Surely it couldn't be anything else …