"Honestly Mama, a registry office is perfect." Mary sighed, placing a deep burgundy hat on her head. Cora and Mary were in London, shopping for Mary's trousseau.
"But Mary, you're still a lady. This cannot just happen out of convenience," her mother muttered, handing her daughter a pale blue cloche hat, dismissing the other one.
"Convenience?! Well now we know your true feelings." Mary's pale face grew red in anger as she challenged her mother.
Cora clicked her tongue. "Now you know that's not what I mean. You're just simply dodging the whole matter of religion,"
Mary raised a perfectly arched eyebrow and replied sarcastically, "Well then I'll become a Catholic and we'll elope because Papa would certainly never accept it."
"Well he wouldn't, so I'll surrender on this count Mary." The ageing woman furrowed her brow and a look of puzzlement crossed her face.
"What is it?" Her daughter questioned worriedly, "Is the blue not right?"
"No, no it's lovely. But what about your children? I mean Sybbie's a Catholic because Sybil wanted her to be one. How do you feel about it?"
Mary turned to the side, admiring her flowing pale blue day dress in the full length mirror, hoping her minuscule bump wouldn't make an appearance before next Friday.
If she was honest, the thought had never crossed her mind. She would have to ask Tom. Deciding that she'd had enough she snapped, "We'll worry about it when the time comes, let's go, I am famished,"
Tom greeted his fiancée with a kiss on the cheek as she sashayed through the foyer of Downton.
"How was it?" He asked, taking her hand and leading her into the library.
She smiled weakly, squeezing his hand.
"Exhausting, and I missed you terribly."
They took their usual seats in the library as Robert spoke of the possibility of getting another dog.
"So you've recovered after Isis then?" Edith enquired sensitively.
"The poor girl, she was terribly old though." He looked away from the others, hoping they would not notice his hurt expression at the mention of his beloved dog.
"Have you always kept Labradors Mary?" To asked, diverting the attention away from his former and soon to be father-in-law.
"Not always. Grandpapa had a lovely Golden Retriever. Oh do get one of those Papa. They're so gentle, great for around the children!" She self consciously placed her hand on her stomach as a sharp stabbing pain coursed through her.
"Tom!" She panicked, her eyes grew wide as she was close to tears.
"Oh God, Mary. What's wrong?" As she bent forward, clutching her abdomen he knelt on front of her. "Mary, please tell me!"
Suddenly, he was transported back to when his darling Sybil, the first woman he had ever loved, lay on her bed unable to breathe. No, he couldn't think like that. Mary was going to be fine, the baby was going to be fine.
"Tom, Tom what's happening?" She gasped as another shooting pain shot through her slight form.
"Get Clarkson, now!" Robert's booming voice called to Carson.
Edith's shocked expression asked the only question that was relevant and her answer came when Tom nodded. She immediately rushed to her sister's side and wondered if they should move her.
"Please," she looked into Tom's worried eyes, "I need to go upstairs,"
"Mary, you're going to be fine. You're both going to be fine. Please," he held both of her hands and ignored Roberts repeated questions regarding "both?!"
Mary let several tears fall as Tom carried her gently into her bedroom. What if she lost the baby? Was it the trip to London? She did have such bad luck with trains!
But this baby was meant to be a fresh start, a new beginning. She recalled Tom's overjoyed reaction to her announcement of her pregnancy. Now, she looked at him and saw a terrified, upset man. She rubbed his cheek gently as her pain subsided some.
"Sweetheart, Clarkson's coming up now," he lay her gently on the bed and sat down beside her, holding her hand. "Whatever happens I love you, please remember that,"
In that moment, when a small life hung in the balance, Mary felt that something had been altered. She knew that her whole heart belonged to Tom.
AN: Sorry if this was difficult. I would just like to address a quite demeaning review for a second. Dear reviewer, I obviously know that Mary and Tom loved their respective spouses. However, in this story I have chosen to focus on LIFE and not keep harping back to dead husbands or dead wives. Yes, this couple has felt extreme sadness. I want to give them happiness. I have not therefore "forgotten" a basic element of the show!
Anyway thank you for reading and keep reviewing! Which direction should this ark go in?