A/N: Not beta'd, so apologies in advance for errors.

Song choice for the next couple chapters: "Make You Feel My Love" - it may sound strange as it's typically lauded as a romantic love song, but I feel it's multi-faceted. :) I hope you all agree. Spotify ChelsieSouloftheAbbey/Chelsie Potpourri.

Thank you so much for the reviews you've all left for me. They've kept me going - kept this entire story going, in fact - and I'm not sure you realize how much they mean. Special thanks to the guest reviewers, to whom I cannot respond in person.

xx,

CSotA

When the rain is blowing in your face,

And the whole world is on your case,

I could offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love.

The walk was a long one but, despite the chilly mist at the outset, Daisy refused to have a cart come and fetch her. She needed the time to think, and Mrs. Hughes had certainly given her a lot to think about.

She and the housekeeper had somehow not seen one another much over the two days since their chat. It hadn't been intentional, but everyone had been busy with an upcoming dinner party and overnight guests. It was life in a big house and in many ways Daisy loved it, but it afforded her little time to be inside her own thoughts. The fresh air, brisk temperature, and clearing sky all provided a much-needed respite for her to collect her thoughts. She'd decided to speak to the only person she could think of who would offer a completely unbiased opinion about the situation, friendly support, and gentle encouragement: her father-in-law. And so, on her day off, Daisy found herself walking to the Mason farm, her basket full of all of Bill Mason's favorite foods.

Upon arriving, Daisy stopped to pet the head of her favorite horse, then reached into her pocket to retrieve the apple she'd brought for him.

"Good boy," she said softly, petting his warm head as he finished chewing the treat. "I love all the rest of 'em, too, but you know that you're my favorite." He whinnied in reply, nuzzling her sleeve with his nose.

Daisy took a moment to look around and take it all in: the animals, the land, the fields strewn with droplets glistening in the recently-emerged sunlight, sparkling that would soon be from a gentle morning frost rather than mist. In some ways this place was so similar to the environment in which she'd grown up, but in most ways it was worlds away from all of that. The Mason farm had always been tended with love; the scenery called to mind many things for her: peacefulness, beauty, calm, pride. There was none of the fear and hatred from her youth, and she didn't have to be that scared, shy little girl when she was visiting Mr. Mason. She mused that it was perhaps the only place on earth where she felt whole, and she filed that thought away for later.

"Daisy!" came Bill's voice. "There you are!" She turned at the sound of his voice coming from the field and headed out to meet him halfway. "I don't know why you didn't send for me to bring the cart."

"I'm sorry I'm late," she replied, "but Mrs. Patmore needed my help with something before I headed out. And I needed the walk."

"Well, no matter, as long as you're well. It did give me a chance to get some of the afternoon chores out of the way, so now we can have the better part of the day for your visit. What've you got in here?" Bill asked, taking the basket from her.

"Only all of your favorites," Daisy said with a smile. "And there's a lovely chicken that Mrs. Patmore insisted I bring along - she knows how much you enjoy it."

"Yes, well, that was kind of her," he answered gruffly, and Daisy saw a slight blush appear under his whiskers, one which she adamantly ignored. They'll work it out themselves one day, I daresay …

"Do you think we might we spread a blanket and eat outside today, if it's dry enough now? It's getting warmer now the sun's high, and I fear it's one of the last nice days we'll have before the deep frosts set in."

"That sounds fine," Bill replied. "You said you had something you wanted to ask me about? I do hope everything is alright …" he added.

"I think it is," Daisy answered with reserve, "but it sort of depends on me, on what I decide."

Bill looked at her with no small amount of love. His darling Daisy, the greatest happiness of William's life, and all that Bill had left of a family. It had long been his desire to have her take over his tenancy, but he could see the writing on the wall. The world was changing, and their part of it would be no exception. Tenant farms were becoming a thing of the past - the true reason which Bill had been encouraging Daisy to push herself in her career and studies. He would love to leave the farm to her if possible, but the fact that she could have other options suited him just fine.

Yet something was troubling her today; her usual innocent, carefree demeanor was muted by some dilemma or other, and he needed to help her get to the bottom of it.

They spread a thick blanket in her favorite spot, overlooking the fields below. Daisy laid out their luncheon: cheeses, pastries, the chicken, and a few other treats. She took the time to organize her thoughts and rally her feelings, something at which she was rather rapidly becoming adept.

"Now, Daisy, what is it that's troubling you?"

Daisy took a deep breath and looked out over the landscape. She remained quiet for a moment, and then decided to just get to the heart of it instead of beating around the bush.

"I've had quite a shock this week and I'm hoping you can help me decide what to do. I don't want to hurt anyone, but I can't see a way out of that."

"Oh, my, that does sound serious," Bill replied softly. "And what was this shock?"

Another deep breath. "I've discovered that the people I always thought were my parents weren't, and I know now who my real parents are - the ones who I was born to, anyhow. And they're at Downton." She waited, and saw on his face the instant the truth dawned. It took only seconds, but there weren't many options, after all. He looked up at her face, into her eyes, and he knew his suspicions were correct.

"Of course," he whispered. "Mrs. Hughes … and Mr. Carson, I presume?"

She nodded, and she felt the dam that had been holding back all of her fear and hope and uncertainty burst wide open. "Yes, and I found out quite by accident because, you see, they weren't going to tell me, only Mrs. Hughes couldn't keep it a secret anymore how she brought me to the Abbey all those years ago when Mr. Carson didn't want to - well, he's fine about it now - but now he doesn't because he's different now, you know, because of the accident, and then they didn't know about telling me and it made Mrs. Hughes so upset to see me around all the time and she couldn't say why, and then there's Mrs. Patmore and how she's always -"

"Daisy!" he interrupted. "Slow down, love." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, offering it to her. She gratefully accepted it to intercept the tears that had threatened to fall. "That's it," he soothed her. "Now try and start from the beginning … slowly."

"Well, it started when I was bringing tea for Mr. Carson. I approached his door and it wasn't closed tightly. I didn't mean to overhear, but Mr. Bates and Mr. Carson were speaking, and I heard my name, and once I heard what they were saying - about how I was really Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson's daughter - I dropped the tray. I just … it was a shock," she finished meekly.

"Yes," Bill nodded, "I imagine it was quite a shock. Were you hurt? When the teapot broke, I mean."

"I was, but not badly. Then Mrs. Hughes came when she heard the crash, and Mrs. Patmore was right behind her. It was Mrs. Patmore who took me away to tend to the burn. She had no idea what had really happened," Daisy told him. Then she hesitated, needing a moment before continuing with the story. "I lied to her. I've never done that before, not about something important anyhow."

"Well, Daisy, that may not have been a bad idea. It sounds as though there was more than enough difficulty in that corridor without her finding out at the same time," Bill mused. "Have you spoken to any of them since?"

Daisy told him about visiting Mrs. Hughes in her room and asking for details about what had happened, about how she'd craved the details about the history they all shared. Without betraying the housekeeper's confidences or telling him the personal details that had been shared with her, Daisy managed to tell Bill that Mrs. Hughes had visited the Macinroy farm when Daisy was just a babe, how she'd had been her 'Auntie,' and how she still remembered the lullaby from all those years ago. Daisy also told him about the baby photograph that had hung in the housekeeper's office and how, upon remembering it, she'd asked Mrs. Hughes about it, and that the woman had confirmed that it was, indeed, Daisy.

"I know she wants me to be her daughter now, in some way," Daisy said. "She said as much, said that she regrets that we never had that, regrets that I had such a difficult time of it …"

Her voice trailed off, and Bill remained silent. He wasn't sure of all the details of Daisy's past, but he knew she'd lived with her parents for a short time before being sent to another family that had treated her poorly; he'd gotten that much from William. He was loathe to ask her about it, so he tried a different tack.

"And do you wish for that, a 'proper' family?" he asked, his voice not betraying his fear at the thought that Daisy could now have a true father who wanted to care for her.

"Maybe," she answered. "Yes … oh, I don't know! I feel I've had that, at the Abbey. I met William there, of course, became his wife there." She stopped abruptly, suddenly remembering Mr. Carson's insistence that he should accompany her to a William's bedside, walking her down the aisle in his own way. She shook her head to shoo away the memory.

"Mrs. Patmore has always treated me special, and of course I have you. I don't want anyone to think that you both don't matter to me anymore, or that I ever felt it wasn't enough."

"Don't you worry about us," Bill soothed, patting her hand. "But you're a grown woman now, Daisy. It would be possible for you to have some kind of relationship with them, surely? Especially if it's what you all want?"

"But Lord and Lady Grantham might find out … oh, although, perhaps that might work out alright …"

"I'm sorry?"

"Lady Violet knows," Daisy told him. "The woman that I lived with, the not nice one, she wrote to her. She told her about Mrs. Hughes, asked for money to keep quiet." She barked out a laugh. "Lady Violet had her arrested - she's in prison now! But if Lady Violet was willing to do that, maybe she'd stand up for us if his Lordship had any issue with it all?"

"She is rather fond of Mr. Carson, I know that from what William used to tell me. He was always talking about life at the big house - his stories always made his mother proud," Bill said wistfully. "And if the Dowager Countess was willing to do all that for Mrs. Hughes, then perhaps you're right."

"I just don't know what to tell Mrs. Patmore," Daisy whispered. "She's been almost like my Mam for such a long time now, and I think she feels that I'm like a daughter to her. I don't want to hurt her."

Bill sighed. He pursed his lips and looked out over the farmland, thinking as he finished his drink.

"I know you don't, Daisy," he finally said, some hesitancy in his voice. "But you wanted my opinion?"

"Yes, very much, please."

"My advice is this: tell Mrs. Patmore, but not at the big house. Bring her here. Could you manage a day off together?"

She thought about it for a minute. "Yes, actually, I think we could. Next week the Granthams are heading to London for a couple days. We discussed that when looking ahead at the menus."

"Good. Then invite her here, and I'll support you when you tell her." He paused. "I can't imagine her being angry with you, Daisy, but she's likely to be a bit hurt that she never knew. And it would be good to have her away from them when she finds out," he said, thinking of Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson's feelings.

"You'd be willing to do that? For me?" Daisy asked.

"I would," he replied with a soft smile. "You're still my daughter, too, regardless of all this. Our William made sure of that. And family sticks together - particularly Masons. It's who we are."

Daisy nodded. "Thank you for that. I'll talk to Mrs. Patmore about a visit when I get back." She smirked at Bill then. "I don't think she'll need too much convincing, really."

"Yes, well," he muttered. "Then I'll look forward to that."

Daisy collected their things and repacked the basket. They headed back to the farmhouse, Bill filling her in on how the animals and the crops were faring, how preparations were going for winter. Daisy was pleased to discover that, once they'd arrived at the house, she could quickly look over his paperwork and notice how the numbers were tallying, could make predictions about the future that he agreed with.

"Ah, you're coming so far, Daisy - well done!" Bill praised. "If it's in the cards for you, you could easily manage this place someday."

"Oh, I don't know," she worried. "I've still so much to learn. Mrs. Hughes also struggled with maths, though - she told me. And now look at her, running the household and all the accounts!"

"See? I told you, you've just got to put your mind to it and you'll be just fine," Bill reassured her. "Whether you end up living on and running this farm, or living in and running the kitchen at Downton - or any other big house, for that matter - you'll do just fine. The world is changing, Daisy. It's going to be in your hands to decide where you'll land once it's done."

"I know," she said, a modicum of awe in her voice. "It's just … well, it's a lot of pressure, innit? To make such important decisions. I just don't know what I want yet."

Then Bill remembered something. "That reminds me … how is it coming along with that new footman?" he asked.

"Andy …" Daisy said softly. "I'm not sure."

"But he's sweet on you?" Bill pressed, a twinkle in his eye.

"I think so. Maybe." She sighed, shaking her head shyly. "Oh, I don't know."

"Well, you've got to make no decisions about that now," he told her. "One thing at a time."

Daisy hummed her agreement, nodding. "I need to be heading back," she said.

"Why not let me take you? Then we can ask Mrs. Patmore about next week."

"Alright - and thank you ever so much. I feel better about it all now." She paused. "I do want to talk to Mr. Carson. I think I do want to get to know them better, even if nothing more comes of it. I've been wondering … it was hard to hear at first that my life had been somewhat of a lie, that the things I'd thought were true really hadn't been. But I know my parents, the ones that took me in when I was born, loved me. I think, now, that the ones that gave me to them did, too, in their own way … and I think that must have been so hard, particularly on Mrs. Hughes."

"I'm sure it was," Bill said quietly, "and it's good of you to think of that. You're a sweet and kind woman, Daisy Mason."

"Thank you." She turned and looked at her father-in-law then, and saw the wistful look in his eyes. She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

"You know, no matter what comes of it all, you'll always be my Da, thanks to William. I'm so very glad I have you."

Bill's eyes misted, and he unashamedly brushed at them. He realized in that moment that she'd seen his inner fear: that, despite his reassurances a moment ago, he worried that he might lose her, the last of his family, if Daisy decided the housekeeper and butler would be her "new" parents. He found he wasn't ashamed, though, as he'd thought he might be, but rather grateful that she'd seen it. Bill had learned long ago that nothing good ever came from hiding the truth.

"Thank you, Daisy. And I'm so glad I have you, too." He opened his arms and she let herself get wrapped up in his hug, drawing her strength from his own … ever so grateful for him, indeed.

They didn't talk much on the way back to the Abbey, Bill busy controlling the reins and Daisy lost in her thoughts. The more she pondered it all, the more excited she was to open up to the idea of having Mrs. Hughes as a mother.

She was a bit more reserved about the butler, though. Despite Mrs. Hughes having assured her that it had been his desire to tell Daisy the truth, she felt that he'd almost resented her presence at Downton, that he never much cared for her. That changed a bit when she married William, of course, and then there was that day not too long ago when he'd stood up for the idea of her pursuing an education. She needed to speak to him, get a few things off her heart that were currently weighing heavily … things about how he could possibly have sent Mrs. Hughes away, how he could have chosen to not welcome his own child. She took comfort that he'd not asked Mrs. Hughes to do the unfathomable, to end the pregnancy, and hoped that was a sign that, in some small way, he'd cared for them both even then. She intended to find out.

He certainly seems to have always cared for her, though, Daisy mused. And since that awful accident, he certainly is kinder toward me. Daisy knew that she certainly wasn't going to judge him for the changed feelings, though; if anyone at Downton understood how easily a person could change over the course of the years, it was Daisy.

She thought that maybe, just maybe, this accident had been a blessing in disguise for them all. Well, she amended silently, except, perhaps, for Mrs. Patmore.

I just LOVE Bill Mason, don't you? Please drop me a wee little review and let me know what you thought! xx