Thank you to all who reviewed! I decided to concentrate on getting the next little bit out rather than responding to each review but I do really appreciate your kind words. Now on to the story...

Edith awoke in the village hospital to the worried faces of her parents. She had the feeling of being sore but was feeling little pain. Slowly as her mind cleared, she realized she must be heavily drugged. As she looked at her mother more closely, Edith saw that she had been crying. "Mama?"

Cora took her daughter's hand in her own and spoke softly. "Yes, my darling?"

"I remember…" and then it came back to her, the crash and the feel of her baby being ripped from her. "Robbie…he….he…"

She saw her father gasp and tears gather in his eyes. Her mother squeezed her hand again. "He was thrown from the car," she said weakly.

Edith tried to sit up; she had to go to him. Her baby needed her. "Where is he? I need to look after him."

"Oh my darling…" Cora started but her voice broke.

Robert stepped closer and with an equally broken voice said, "he… he didn't survive."

Edith stared at her father. He looked so sincere but he must be wrong. "No….no, it isn't possible. William? Where's William? He will find our son…"

Cora was openly crying. "Edith, William is with…Robbie. He…well, Dr. Clarkson said he didn't suffer; everything happened so fast, neither suffered."

With a shriek of grief, Edith collapsed back into the bed and didn't move for hours. She wasn't asleep exactly, nor was she aware. All that she knew was that her baby had been taken from her and her world was darker than it had ever been.

Dr. Clarkson allowed her out of the hospital long enough to attend the funerals of her husband and son in Somerset. But then she was ordered back to bed, although he did let her go back to Downton instead of returning to the hospital. A nurse was hired to look after her as she continued to heal from her own injuries.

The days passed into weeks and although Clarkson was content with Edith's physical progress, he was worried about her mental state. "She really must begin to move around, not spend all of her time in bed," he told Cora. "Perhaps if she were to get up for and hour or two in the mornings and again for tea…"

"Yes, I should think spending time outside of her room would be helpful," Cora suggested.

"Yes, of course. And as she feels stronger, perhaps a ride in the car some afternoons. Get her out and back into the world…slowly, but back all the same."

Cora agreed whole heartedly and promised the doctor that she would see to it. So the next morning, against Edith's protests, Cora had the nurse help her and Anna was sent to help as well. The two guided Edith downstairs to the library where the family had gathered. Edith shuffled to a chair by the window and sat looking out over the lawn, ignoring everyone. A different view was refreshing, she thought. But as she watched some birds playing in the grass all she could think was that her little Robbie would never romp on the lawn as she had done as a child.

She heard Mary speaking behind her of the arrangements for the nursery and fought back the tears that formed in her eyes. Less than a year ago, she had been planning the nursery for Robbie and now all that was gone. But of curse, Mary would be the center of everyone's attention, so Edith thought it safe to dwell in her memories. Consequently, she was surprised when she felt her father settle in the chair across from her.

"Edith?" he asked gently, his concern obvious on his face.

"I'm alright, Papa. I was just…remembering."

Tentatively, he reached across and wrapped her hand in his larger one, giving it a little squeeze. "There is no pain worse than losing a child," he said quietly. "And to lose your husband at the same time is unimaginable. But you will survive," he said gently.

Edith glanced down at his hand and then up into his worried eyes. "Yes PaPa, I will survive. It seems I have no choice. William was kind to me and I did care for him, but I'm afraid it is the loss of Robbie that hurts the most."

"Yes," Robert said awkwardly. "Your mother and I…are grateful that another of our children wasn't taken from us. But we are saddened about Robbie. He was such a joyful little chap." Robert smiled weakly as he spoke.

Edith returned his smile. It wasn't one she felt strongly but it was somehow comforting to know that someone understood her pain and would miss her baby too. "PaPa, who found us that day? How did anyone know we were …hurt?"

Robert's expression grew somber. "Sir Anthony Strallan," he said flatly. "He was driving home from Ripon as well…must've been just a few minutes behind you. He …well, old Carl, his driver said he was like a madman once he realized it was you at the bottom of the hill. Somehow he managed to scramble down and fetch you back up, bad arm and all. And when you called out for Robbie, he went in search of the boy. He sent Carl to the village for help. When Clarkson arrived with some men, Anthony was holding you and crying…" Robert took a deep breath. "He'd found Robbie…and William. He'd brought Robbie up the hill but…he was already gone. You were unconscious and quite unaware."

"Antho….Anthony was there?" Edith was overcome with the mental picture her father had drawn for her.

"Yes. He wouldn't leave you until we arrived at the hospital. Then he just…disappeared."

Edith looked out the window and then back at her father. "He must have been terribly upset. He really is quite sensitive."

"Yes, he was. I'm sure…well, Robbie must have reminded him of his own son. Rumor was that he came quite undone when the infant died just after his wife."

"Has anyone spoken to him since?"

"He sent a note asking after your health and I replied. But no, we haven't spoken."

Edith took in her father's words and his watchful expression. "When I am stronger, I intend to visit him…to thank him for his assistance."

Robert looked at her curiously and then nodded. "Yes, perhaps that is a good idea," he said simply. Glancing over his shoulder at the occupants of the room, he turned his attention back to his daughter. "And Edith, if you and Anthony choose to…well, I was wrong not to be more supportive…before. I won't make that mistake again."

"Thank you, PaPa. But I'm not sure if I … if …" Edith's mind floundered for the right words to express the emptiness she felt.

"It's too soon to be thinking of those things, I know," her father said softly. "But once you're feeling better …well, whatever you decide, I will support you, I promise."

Edith looked into her father's eyes and saw his sincerity. "Thank you, PaPa." But she truly doubted that she would feel anything beyond numb ever again.