AN: I do hope I'm not updating too often. This is quite addicting! Thank you for all of the lovely reviews. Please keep them coming, I love reading what you all have to say. So without further ado, here's the newest chapter of "Unconventional".
Tom grinned as Mary rolled back onto the bed. They had finally escaped the dinner and came together in an ecstasy of heated passion. She stretched out on the bed and sighed contentedly as he turned on his side to face her.
"Well that's a happy face if ever I've seen one!"
Mary laughed as she ran her finger through his chestnut hair, an action which she had recently discovered was a favourite of his. He brought her small, pale left hand to his lips and placed a tender kiss on each finger until he reached her ring and grinning again.
"I still can't believe this," he met her understanding gaze as she flexed her hand and admired the ring.
"That Granny approved or that I said yes?" She jokingly asked and raised a dark eyebrow.
Tom leant in to kiss her and replied seriously "both, sweetheart,"
"Well," straddling him as he lay back, "I am very fond of diamonds,"
He laughed as his passion grew and they repeated the dance that was becoming so familiar but would was still be as exciting as the first time.
Mary walked out to the garage after being told by her father that Tom was "reliving the past" or words to that effect. She came to a stop as she saw her fiancée tinkering with the engine of one of the cars.
"Branson," she called, "I need the motor at eleven, you need to bring me to York,"
He jumped at the voice of the old Lady Mary Crawley, before so much had changed her, before Matthew had softened her. He grinned and wiped his hands on a oily rag.
"Of course m'lady."
Mary burst out laughing and shaking her head walking over to him.
"I wasn't that bad when I asked for the car was I?"
He looked conflicted, torn between the truth and sparing her feelings. Instead of answering he planted a kiss on her rosy lips.
He'd decided to spend the morning in the garage for two reasons. Firstly the current chauffeur was ill and the car needed mending and secondly, tomorrow would be Sybbie's fifth birthday. Five years since he lost Sybil. Working on cars always relaxed him. Mary knew what was on his mind, of course she did. She herself had gone riding for an entire day on the eve of George's birthday.
He was pulled from his reverie by a comforting hand on his arm.
"I've had an idea. Why don't we bring Sybbie to London tomorrow for her birthday? We can spoil her in Harrods and get away from...memories,"
Tom smiled at her wonderfully thoughtful plan and replied, "That's a great idea sweetheart." he looked down at the floor and then met her trusting eyes. "I don't think I'm up to visiting the grave anyway,"
Tears welled in Mary's eyes as she nodded, "Of course darling. But don't feel too guilty, Sybil wouldn't begrudge you not visiting her grave. She always loathed graveyards. I know I do. She'd want you to remember her through her daughter,"
"I feel closest to her when I'm with Sybbie," he smiled.
"Me too, she's exactly like Sybil was at her age," as she leaned against the glistening black of the Ford.
"We'll have our work cut out for us in a few years in that case!"
Mary laughed as she nodded her agreement. Tom jerked his head and said "come on sweetheart. I think I'm done here,"
Taking her hand, they walked back to the Abbey.
Tom already felt better, Sybil would always be with him, just as Matthew would always be with Mary. Each lived on in the child they left on earth.
He looked back into the garage where they had shared their first kiss and said to himself, "Remember her Tom, remember her always. But now it's time to let her go,"
Walking away from his past, with his fiancée on his arm, he felt free and ready to face anything life threw at him.
As long as he had his Mary by his side.