Guys, firstly let me apologize for not updating for over a year. I have been really busy with my Masters course with assignments, internals and semesters. But now I am back for good and with another chapter. Hope you haven't forgotten me!

A Lot to Consider

Thomas Barrow had always anticipated that he would be very good at his job. Sure, he had the training and the skill required to be a fine butler. So he was more than eager to prove to himself more than the Colfers that he was the ideal butler for this job. But there was only one problem-the staff doesn't like him. Whilst working at Downton, he had begun to understand that without the support of the staff a butler cannot function. Mr. Carson's success was due to the fact that everyone at Downton loved and adored him. So next morning, he was all the more keen to make everyone like him, something he never imagined doing.

The first person who greeted him was Betsy.

"Good morning, Mr. Barrow. Hope you had a good sleep", she said, smiling. Betsy smiled a little too much, he thought.

"Yes, it was pleasant, good morning. Where is everyone?" Barrow asked.

"Everyone's in the kitchen waiting for breakfast. Is it true you went to the village yesterday, Mr. Barrow?" Betsy asked.

"That is correct", Barrow said.

"Did you see a lot of it? Did you like it?" she asked.

"I, er, mostly spent time at a cake shop. Cakes and Sweets it is called".

"Ah yes, Alison's shop", said Betsy which made Thomas curious.

"You know Alison?" he asked.

"Of course. Nice girl. Very pretty and good cake skills. She came to the mansion once and served her cakes to Lord and Lady Colfer. They were impressed."

This impressed Thomas very much. Alison never mentioned it to him yesterday. She must be very good at her trade because she managed to impress Lord Colfer, who according to Thomas was a difficult man to impress. Betsy was still talking.

"…and the frosting is the tricky part but I am trying to learn how to make one without it being too sweet because sweet frosting just doesn't taste right", Betsy continued.

"Okay yes thank you Betsy. Let's get inside for breakfast", suggested Barrow.

Thomas and Betsy entered the eating area of the staff to see most of them were not seated. Mr. Stark was reading the paper. Mr. Chapman had, it seemed, already left that morning without even telling him because his room which was beside the eating area had been cleared out. The head cook Mrs. Crook was placing the little bowls of soup and plates of buttered bread on the table.

Do I need to ask everyone individually to join in at the breakfast table? Good Lord!

"Well, let's all have breakfast and begin the day shall we?" suggested Barrow. Nobody moved from their original positions. This annoyed Barrow.

He straightened up, looked firmly at everyone and said, "Look, I know that none of you like me. But since I am the new butler here lest try and tolerate me shall we? Or I will have to resort to strict actions."

This drew everyone's attention. Mr. Stark folded the newspaper and took his seat at the table. So did everyone else. Heather, the lady's maid even requested Barrow to take his seat after seeing everyone had taken theirs.

That was a promising start

Then work began. It was slow and monotonous but Thomas had to make do. However, he was particularly looking forward to taking a trip to the village.

During evening, when Thomas had finished his work, he checked his watch for the 50th time that day to see the time was 6pm. Alison must be at the shop packing up. It's going to close soon.

"I am heading to the village for some work", he told Heather and Mrs. Crook. "Just in case anyone enquires."

Thomas wore his coat, wrapped a scarf round his neck and headed out.

It was the summer before Alison left for London. One of the local boys, John had got married to a girl his parents arranged for him to marry. The whole village was invited to the church. Reception was in the church itself. Thomas' father was talking to other parents about himself and how his son will one day make him proud by carrying his legacy. It made Thomas ill in the stomach. He always resented his father. So he wondered off in the church only to find Alison sitting on the staircase alone with no one around.

"I thought you were with your friends", he said to her.

Alison looked at her and smirked. "They are childish babies. Boring and obsessed with the rich clothes."

"And you're not?" asked Barrow.

"Everyone is. But I prefer to be self independent first and then be obsessed with rich things. Things that I will earn myself."

"Sounds ambitious", exclaimed Barrow and took a seat beside her on the stairs.

"Do you ever wonder how your life is going to be like if you ever get out of here? Away from your father?" asked Alison.

"Ofcourse I do. Who doesn't?"

"Me too. Away from this place. My own cake shop. With you as my first customer", she smiled.

"I would like that very much", said Barrow. He really enjoyed her company.

"But honestly, do you ever wonder what your life will be like after this? Like having a family with a person you admire, a stable job all that sort of thing?" asked Alison.

Thomas was perplexed. He did not expect Alison to be suddenly so serious, asking all these questions about the future.

"Are you all right, Alison?" asked Barrow. "Why are you taking so seriously about things?"

"Nothing, its just that seeing John today made me realize a lot of things. You know, how John is? He is silly, not smart not sporty. And yet here he is, all married to a pretty girl with a stable career and here I am."

"Are you seriously comparing yourself to John?" Barrow was surprised.

"Why not?"

"Well for instance you are much better than John. You are beautiful, smart, funny, intelligent and you are more capable than anyone I know."

"Anyone other than you", Alison smiled.

"You are better than me and even you know that", said Barrow.

Alison suddenly closed the gap between them by taking his lips into hers. Thomas was taken aback instantly but did not push her away. He enjoyed the touch of her soft lips in his. They kissed for a long time.

On the way to the village from the Colfer mansion, Thomas continuously thought about the kiss. He had kissed quite a few men in his time but nothing really felt like his first kiss with Alison. I was childish he agreed but still. Something happened that day. Something happened from that day.