"There's no questioning it now," Anthony laughed, coming up to Edith from behind as she cinched her dressing gown over the small but definite protrusion that seemingly appeared overnight.

"I suppose not," she smiled, watching in the mirror before them as her husband leaned against her back and laced his hand around her middle.

"And how are you feeling this morning, Lady Strallan?"

"Too large for my clothes, and mildly exhausted, and incandescently happy. You?"

"Oh let's see, too large for my clothes, for which I blame your recent baking streak, and mildly exhausted, also your fault for being so irresistible at night, and occasionally in the mornings. And, yes, incandescently happy."

"Is that my fault too?"

"No doubt, my dearest," he mumbled, nibbling lightly on her neck. Edith felt the familiar but never unwelcome tingle down her spine.

"If you keep doing that I'm never going to make it to Anna's, and I promised I'd be there by ten."

"Will you have Samson drive you? There's not much snow, but enough to make me worry."

"Aren't you supposed to be doing something with Papa and the boys later?" she asked.

It had become a sort of convention to refer to her brothers-in-law as 'the boys,' especially since all four of them were slowly forming a sort of club. Robert recognized a kindred spirit in Anthony, though he'd never before given it a chance, and Anthony had proven in various ways to be invaluable to each of them.

"Yes, terribly exciting. We're going to investigate some possibly compromised fencing down on one of Robert's older properties and then we're going to see the new motorized reaper Joseph Potter just purchased."

"I sort of miss the days I bounced around the farms with you," she mused, leaning her head against his shoulder and reaching up to touch his cheek. He looked at her reflection in the mirror.

"I miss having you with me. But Dr. Clarkson said you should be resting and keeping still."

"I loathe keeping still. I'm just longing for an adventure."

"You're having a baby. The rest of our lives will be an ongoing adventure."

Edith smiled broadly, turning to face him. No matter how familiar she became with every inch of his person, she would never grow weary of or immune to the curve of his nose and the blue of his eyes and the shape of his thin lips. She kissed him, not in a chaste or entirely innocent manner, opening her mouth teasingly, just enough to pull on his lower lip.

"If you drop me off on your way to Papa's, we wouldn't have to leave for another hour at least," she suggested breathlessly. Anthony was already pulling at the sash on her robe and backing toward the day bed in her dressing room.

"I suppose I could live with that solution," he sighed sarcastically as Edith deftly slipped open the buttons of his cardigan and the shirt underneath.

"You're a brave and sacrificing man, Anthony Strallan."

"My burden in life, dearest," he managed before her mouth was on his again, forcing him to silence.

They were descending the main stair a while later when Anthony suddenly stopped and let go of Edith's hand.

"What is it?"

"I almost forgot," he muttered, reaching into the pocket of his overcoat to pull out a little box. It was wrapped in gold paper with a tiny red ribbon on it. He handed it Edith.

"Anthony, what's this?"

"Today is December First. Christmas presents," he answered jovially.

Edith winced. "Oh, Anthony. You don't need to make gestures."

"I know that. This isn't for you. It's for the baby."

To that Edith had no argument. She opened the little package as Anthony watched in anticipation. Delicately cushioned in tissue paper was a sweet, silver raddle with two lambs engraved on the handle.

"Anthony, it's beautiful," she muttered.

"It was mine, actually. It seemed appropriate."

Edith scoffed at him, reaching up to hug him tightly. "It's far more than appropriate," she whispered into his ear. "It's utterly lovely. You're lovely."

"I am rather, aren't I?" he asked, giving her bottom a light smack that drew a surprised little noise from her.

"Come my Edith, don't want to keep your father waiting," he said, continuing down the stairs. Edith followed, in awe of her dear husband. He had an undeniable lightness to him these days, a gentle ease in all he did and a relaxed, cheerful manner in general.

"You're happy, aren't you Anthony?" she wondered, slowly trailing after him.

Anthony, several steps ahead, turned to her in surprise. He looked puzzled momentarily, his face all lit from within, and said with a shrug, "Darling, I feel as though I could run the length of the continent and back with happiness. Can one die of it? Because each time I look at you I think I may just burst."

He said it so plainly, so matter-of-fact, as though it was the most natural thing in the world to be so incomprehensibly caring.

"You're a fool," she said, tears streaming down her face.

"Undoubtedly, my sweet one, but as the old adage goes, we are all fools in love."

"How true," she muttered, taking the hand he offered her and following him downstairs. "Incidentally, I am as well."

"A fool?"

"No, absolutely bursting with happiness."

"Is that what this is?" he joked, rubbing the belly that was hidden under her dress.

"Something like that," she sighed, tucking against her husband as they stepped into the brisk December morning.

"Well you have to tell them sometime soon," Anna said, setting Jack in his moses basket on the table between them "Your clothes aren't going to help for forever, you know."

Edith smiled and looked down at her stomach. The new fashions had allowed her to put off the announcement, but she was already fourteen weeks or so. It wouldn't wait much longer.

"I think perhaps at Christmas luncheon. Or right after. Everyone will be in the best sprit then, and feeling generous. What better time could there be really?"

"Why are you so afraid to tell your family? I should think they'd be glad for it, given what the past several months has been like. Mr. Bates says the whole house is still suffering and his Lordship has been a little down ever since Mr. Branson and the girls moved out to the Manager's cottage. Maybe this'll be just the thing."

Edith shrugged and looked over at the cozy kitchen fire. It was a small room, but very clean and neat, with a stone floor and walls and bright oak cabinets. Anna had displayed the china Edith had given her as a housewarming gift on the mantle and the window above the sink looked out onto the happy garden, now covered in a thin blanket of snow. It was a happy kitchen, because Anna was happy. Like Locksley, it felt like a home.

"Downton has never really felt like home to me," Edith muttered, following her train of thought. "I never belonged. I suppose, in a way I don't feel like sharing this with them yet. Not yet."

Anna sighed, dropping her head to one side and offering Edith a sympathetic smile. Both friends looked down as Jack, fat and cheerful, began babbling at them. Anna's face lit up as she put her knuckle in the baby's mouth to let him gnaw on it. "I don't believe he's cutting his first teeth already," she sighed. "He's just three months."

"How do you know he's teething?"

"Well, he's a bit fussy, which isn't like him, and he's got a mild fever, and he's drooling like mad, and his cheeks are all rosy."

"But how did you know that meant he was teething?"

"I don't know. I suppose I learned it from my mother."

And suddenly Edith was crying. "Oh Anna, I don't want to send my children off to a nurse. I want to know them and raise them, and I haven't ever had anyone show me how."

"Your mother loves you," Anna said forcefully.

"As all mothers must, I'm sure. But we always had nurses and governesses. I have no idea how to be a mother."

Anna stood, scooping little Jack out of his basket and planting a kiss on his forehead. Then she moved around the table and put him right into Edith's arms. Alarmed at first, Edith quickly relaxed, propping her elbow against her crossed legs and rocking instinctively.

"You see? I think you're going to be just fine," Anna declared, hands squarely on her hips in her usual, confident fashion. "What you don't know already, you learn. Where there's a willingness to learn, there's a way to learn it. And you have the added benefit, as I do, of having a kind and loving husband to help you. You worry too much, but then you always have done."

Edith looked up and laughed. "Funny, I say the same thing to Anthony."

"Nothing wrong with caring too much," Anna sighed wisely. "Nothing wrong with it at all."

Edith looked back to the baby wrapped in her long, pale arms, and at the little diamond ring on her hand, and thought of Anthony; the way his hand could bring such comfort, the way they managed to understand one another completely, with or without words, the peace and security she felt lying against him at night. In that moment she knew Anna was right.

Edith smiled serenely.

"I think," Anna said, scrutinizing Edith's expression with narrowed eyes, "Yup—you just officially became a mother."

"About bloody time," Edith responded wryly, failing to mask her deep gratification.

A/N: Thank you all for continuing to read. It thrills me to no end that you're interested in my Edith and Anthony. I hope things are moving forward tolerably and that I'm doing your loyalty justice. :) I think the next chapter may just be Christmas day!

And as always, I so appreciate your reviews. They make my day!