Here's the epilogue – finally! Sorry it's taken me so long, exams and such! But here it is, it's short, sweet and highly predictable, but I didn't really have a plan of where I wanted it to go, and well, this is just where it led! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed reading my first fic!

"Arthur…Come to Papa!" Matthew was knelt in the soft, green grass in front of the Abbey, gently encouraging his son to walk to him. Arthur Reginald Crawley had recently discovered the use of his legs, and was becoming quite deft at toddling away from his chatting relatives.

Mary had been watching her husband and son playing intently, finding it much more scintillating than the conversation. After a few minuets she separated from the small group taking tea on the lawn and came to stand beside Matthew. She let her hand rest lightly on his shoulder. She sighed mockingly, both watching their son's intense concentration on remaining upright. "I don't know, what am I to do? As soon as my back is turned you two manage to get yourselves into some mischief or another…"

Matthew chuckled, watching his son take tiny, tentative steps across the luscious grounds. Occasionally bending down, and wobbling precariously each time he did so. Enjoying the sun on his back and the pleasant weight of Mary's hand pressed at his shoulder, he replied wistfully "Indeed, I think he's going to be quite the trouble maker, don't you?" He stood slowly, stretching his legs he turned to his wife beaming.

A smile spread over Mary's lips as she looked indulgently over her husband. She leaned in and said playfully "Do you think so darling…I think he rather takes after you" She chuckled and pressed a swift, chaste kiss to his cheek before gracefully striding across the lawn in pursuit of their son.

He observed Mary kneel in the grass, regardless of her dress or propriety, to pick up their boy up into her arms to comfort him after he had stumbled. Matthew watched as she rocked him and wiped the tears from his cheeks and spoke soft soothing words in his ear as she wandered further from him.

"You know, I never thought of Mary as the maternal type…" Robert approached his son-in-law, stopping next to the younger man; both stood watching for a while. "But she is a truly wonderful mother. There was a time when I didn't think she had it in her!" He chuckled. "But then, I've never been the expert on women. After raising three daughters, they are still quite the mystery to me."

Matthew smiled "I think Mary has surprised us all…" He didn't elaborate, he'd never doubted that Mary would be a brilliant mother, but she'd exceeded his expectations in every way during their married life.

Mary had lifted Arthur up and settled him comfortably on her hip. She pressed a kiss to his head, breathing in the smell of his blond hair, which had started to curl into ringlets. His familiar chocolate eyes staring inquisitively back at her, the tears were subsiding and he laid his head his mothers shoulder and started fiddling with the lace of her collar. He began mumbling incoherent words contently as she set off back across the lawn. Heading to the bench under the old cedar tree, she could see Matthew and her father strolling back to join the small party engaged in an animated conversation, no doubt about the estate or some such matter. She set the now tired Arthur down on her knee, supporting him with her arms as he fought against his closing lashes. She looked down at her darling boy, so much like his Papa, although he had inherited her eyes and pale complexion he was every inch of Matthew to her. His little hands balled into fists holding onto the fabric of Mary's dress as the day caught up with him and he fell asleep. Mary stroked his cheek and smiled, today was the day. She'd been waiting for the right moment, and it had presented itself in the form of this sunny day spent in the company of her family. Her hand slipped from Arthur's cheek and down to rest on her abdomen, yes, she'd been keeping this sweet secret far too long. It had been confirmed recently, but she'd known herself long before that. Amongst the feelings of pure happiness and joy nestled the niggling guilt, when she looked down at her son, who she'd spent nearly every waking moment with since his birth, how an earth would she be able to prioritise one over the other? She didn't dwell on this thought; there would be time to think about all of that later, today was a happy day. She smiled as Arthur stirred in his sleep, even if she had to divide her time, at least she wouldn't have to divide her love, for she had far more of that than she knew what to do with.

Later that evening, after bathing Arthur, they set their sleeping son down for the night. Matthew watched as Mary lovingly ran her fingers through his hair, she was completely engrossed in the task as if it was only her and Arthur in the room. It had not gone unnoticed by Matthew that she was becoming far more reluctant than usual to leave him during the night. He watched her for a while longer before saying "I was thinking, of redecorating the nursery…You know, now that he's getting a bit older…"

Mary turned to Matthew, she had almost forgotten he was there; she looked back down at their sleeping son and withdrew her hand. "It's funny you should say that…" Nervous excitement washed over her as she smiled at her bemused looking husband in the dim light of the nursery. She reached out and took his hand, guiding it down and pressing his palm firmly against her flat abdomen, holding it there with her own hands. Mary beamed up at him "You see, I don't think we should redecorate the nursery, just yet…" She caressed his fingers with hers and exhaled a long breath.

Matthew could feel Mary's deep breaths where his hand was resting, entwined with hers; after a long moment of holding her sparkling gaze he grasped her meaning… "You don't mean? Are you…?" He watched Mary's smile widen as she nodded. "My darling, this is wonderful news!" he chorused.

"Shhhhhhh! You'll wake Arthur!" Mary held a hand out to silence her husband and glanced over at their sleeping son, who luckily had not stirred. When she returned her gaze back to her him; their eyes met and their smiles spread with the unspoken excitement that sparked between them. Matthew reached out and took Mary's hand, lacing their fingers and leading her quietly out of the nursery. When their bedroom door shut behind them Matthew pushed her gently back against it and captured her with lips in a passionate kiss.

Mary was taken by surprise as her husband trapped her softly with his body against the door, but willingly melted into his embrace. When the kiss broke, she stared at him wide eyed "…Matthew!" They both dissolved into quit laughter, hands still entwined and breaths shallow. "So…" Mary grinned "You're pleased?" There was no trace of the nerves that she had felt the first time she told her husband a little under two years ago.

"Am I pleased? Mary…" He chuckled lightly and inclined his head to take another kiss from her lips, enjoying the advantage of keeping her lovingly trapped against the door. "I'm overjoyed!"

It was Mary this time, bracing her hands on his strong arms and pushing up on to her tiptoes to press their lips together. It was slow, un-laboured and glorious. Matthew broke the kiss and once again laced their fingers, pulling her gently to the middle of the room, where they continued their celebration.

Mary took him gently by the lapels of his jacket "I'm not sure why you're so happy darling; I seem to recall you trying to spend most of your time avoiding me in the later months…"

Matthew chuckled, although he couldn't deny it, they were inexperienced and newly married back then. "We muddled through though didn't we?" He cocked his head regarding his wife's amused smile, he added "And you were terribly grumpy most of the time…"

"Grumpy?" She laughed in disapproval "Oh Matthew, you're going to regret saying that for the next nine months!"

"Yes, I know you had every right to be grumpy darling…" Matthew placated mockingly.

"Good, so don't complain when…" She was about to list the things that had caused arguments when she was pregnant with Arthur. But she stopped when Matthew threw her a cheeky smile before dropping to his knees in front of her, trailing his hands from her shoulders, down her arms to rest on her hips. "Matthew, what are you doing?"

"Hush…" Matthew settled on his knees, stroking a hand across her flat abdomen. "Now, I am your Papa…" He leaned in closer to Mary and started whispering so she couldn't hear.

Mary tried to swat his hands away ineffectually "Matthew, you're being ridiculous!"

"Shhh! This is a private conversation, you're not invited…" He returned to his secret murmurings.

Mary looked down at her husband affronted "A private..? Matthew!" When he continued to ignore her she let out an exasperated sigh, really, sometimes it would be so much easier if they weren't both so stubborn.

When Matthew had finished he got up, gave his wife a swift peck on the cheek and a smile before declaring that he was going to get changed and that he would join her soon. Leaving Mary rather stunned in his wake.

She slid into the cold bed, not waiting for him to enter before extinguishing the lights, however, when he slipped into the bed, she could feel the warmth radiating from him. She gave into the urge and snuggled up to him, he put his arms around her in the familiar embrace. They laid in silence for a while, contented in each others arms, Matthew was dropping off to sleep when Mary almost whispered.

"What did you tell him, or her?"

The corners of his mouth turned up, his eyes still closed; she'd waited longer to ask than he anticipated. "The same thing I told Arthur…"

"What?"

Matthew chuckled deeply and moved to whisper in her ear; he repeated the words he'd said to his son on the night of his birth, and to the child that Mary now carried…

Mary listened in awe at the beautiful words her husband was sharing, tears collected in the corners of her eyes as his promises warmed her from the inside out. When he had finished, he didn't move back, but sprinkles light kisses along her ear and her hairline. She turned to face him "Oh Matthew, I love you!"

"I love you too my darling…"

Well, that's it! Thanks again for reading!