Mary had been dreading the arrival of the day that she agreed to leave the hospital. She paced back and forth at the end of Matthew's bed. She wondered how she could delay her departure one more time. She knew that her son needed her but she also wanted to be by Matthew's side. She was torn between them.

"He just won't settle down," Anna said as she carried a wailing baby in her arms. She had tried to calm the baby before she returned him to Mary.

"I suppose he knows something is wrong," Mary said, taking her son into her arms. She started to sing him a lullaby and it quickly calmed him down.

Anna was amazed at how instinctive mother and son were bonded. She knew that Mary would be a good mother and this was clear proof.

"What am I going to do Anna?" Mary asked. "I promised papa that I'll be going home today but Matthew's still here."

Anna had no bright idea to suggest. She really wished she had knowing how much Mary wanted to stay.

Mary had resumed singing to her son and turned away slightly so she missed seeing Matthew's hand start to move. Anna who was watching him didn't miss it and watched him intently in case she was mistaken.

"Milady," Anna called her attention when she saw the hand move again. "I think he's moving."

Mary turned and watched as Matthew ever so slowly opened his eyes. She handed Anna her son to move closer to Matthew.

"Matthew," she called him and held his hands in hers. "Matthew, you're back."

"Mary?" he managed to croak. Before he could say anything else, he felt Mary's lips on his. He was glad for the familiar feel and warmth of her kiss.

"Get Dr. Clarkson," Mary said when she finally was sure that he was awake. She turned to Anna and took her son into her arms. "Look, your papa is awake."

"Mary, what time is it? Why are we in the dark?"

…

Dr. Clarkson examined a much alert Matthew while Mary, Isobel and Anna stood around him. He was pleased that Matthew seemed in fairly good condition except for his sight. He was stumped because he couldn't see any physical damage to his eyes.

"What's going on?" Robert asked when he entered the room. He found his answer when he saw Matthew sitting up on his bed. He smiled but quickly realized all was not well when he saw Mary's worried look.

"I don't know what could possibly be wrong," Dr. Clarkson admitted.

"Perhaps we can consult with a specialist?" Isobel suggested. "But do you think it's temporary or permanent?"

Dr. Clarkson shook his head in response since he didn't know.

"Can we take him home?" Mary asked, more concerned about getting him home than anything. She felt that Downton would be a place where Matthew could fully recover.

"I can't see why not," Dr. Clarkson replied and was rewarded by a smile from Mary.

…

Mary helped Matthew get into their bed when they returned to Downton. Anna hovered around them trying to help and anticipate what Mary might need.

"Are you comfortable?" Mary asked.

"Yes, I am fine," Matthew responded, settling into his side of the bed.

At that moment, the clock chimed to announce dinner time.

"It's dinner time already?" he asked for confirmation.

"Yes darling," she answered. "Anna, we'll have dinner here after I've finished nursing."

"Why don't you go down and have dinner with the family?" he suggested, not wanting her to stay cooped up with him.

"They won't be expecting me," she assured him and nodded to Anna to dismiss her.

"You don't have to do that," he insisted. "I don't want you to miss out on anything because of me."

"I don't think I'll be missing much and I'll still be spending time with my family. Besides, who is going to feed you and the baby?"

"I can feed myself," he insisted.

"Really? And how will you cut up your food much less spear them with your fork?" she challenged him.

"I'll ask for sandwiches then," he replied.

"Heavens, don't let Mrs. Patmore hear you say that or she will never make you another one of your favorites."

"I just don't want you to cut yourself off from the family."

"I'm not," she assured him. "Now that we're home, we're surrounded by them. It was more difficult when we were at the hospital."

"How long were we there for?" he wondered out loud.

"It doesn't matter now," she said, standing up after attending to the baby. "What matters is that you're home." She walked over to Matthew and gave him a quick kiss on his forehead while her son wriggled in her arms.

…

After the baby was settled in for the night, Anna brought in dinner for Mary and Matthew.

"Thanks Anna," Mary said gratefully as she positioned the tray of food between her and Matthew on their bed. "I'll ring when we are done."

"The people downstairs would like to say that they're happy you're back Mr. Crawley," Anna said before starting to leave.

"Thank them for me," he replied.

"You're well liked downstairs," Mary teased when Anna had left. "They've sent their collective wishes for your recovery daily while you were at the hospital."

"I suspect Carson lead that collective," he added as a joke and was rewarded when he heard Mary's soft laughter.

"Be that as it may, it just shows how essential you are to Downton."

"I don't know how essential I'll be now," he said grimly, wondering how he would manage with the loss of his eyesight.

"Don't think that way Matthew," she warned gently. "You've been through much worse."

"What if this is permanent?" he asked, sounding ever pessimistic.

"I'm sure it isn't. They've been wrong before," she replied, reminding him to be optimistic by gently running her fingers through the side of his head. "And if it were, you can count on me to be your eyes."

"Mary, I …" he wanted to object but was silenced by the piece of meat she gently pushed through his mouth.

"Enough arguments," she said with finality. "I'm hungry and so are you."

…

Matthew woke up in the dark when he heard some soft clatter of cups in the room. It was then that he remembered he had lost his vision. He couldn't remember much about the accident and Dr. Clarkson assured him that was normal. But waking up in the dark still took a little getting used to. He felt a warm body move beside him and knew Mary was starting to wake up.

"Hello Anna, is the baby awake yet?" Mary asked as she slightly pulled away from Matthew.

"He's been wailing for you milady," Anna confirmed. "I just came to see if you were awake first."

Matthew felt Mary jump out of bed and knew what she was about to do. He secretly smiled knowing that he was right about her being a wonderful mother.

"Why don't you bring him here?" he suggested.

"He'll be very very noisy," Mary warned him. "Papa says he has the lungs of a swimmer."

Matthew chuckled at that. He was glad that his son was showing signs of good health.

"It won't bother me," he said.

"Alright, don't say I didn't warn you." Mary nodded to Anna for her to bring her son to their room.

…

"May I hold him?" Matthew asked Mary when she was done nursing.

"Of course," she said, walking over to him and gently placing the baby in his arms.

"He's heavier from when I first held him," he marveled, gently tracing his free hand over his son.

"He's been growing by leaps and bounds. I'm quite amazed."

Matthew suddenly looked sad which Mary noticed. She knew what he was thinking.

"My darling, you'll see him grow," she assured him. "What's important is that you're here with us."

"I'm sorry if I'm acting all gloomy," he apologized. "I will be thankful for what I have." He raised his head towards Mary to show her his boyish smile.

Mary was quite relieved that Matthew had snapped out of his self-pity state and kissed him as his reward.

…

Upon Matthew's insistence, Mary decided to join the family in the library. She had argued against leaving him alone but in the end, she gave in to Matthew's wishes. She strolled into the library to find a new face amongst familiar faces.

"Ah, Mary," Robert greeted her when he saw her. "This is Ms. Nightingale. She's here to help nurse Matthew back to health."

"Why wasn't I consulted?" she objected harshly. She thought in a different circumstance, she would've found the nurse's name fitting but all she could think of was to dismiss the woman standing before her.

"Mary, she's just here to help care for Matthew," Cora reasoned, seeing how hurt Mary looked. "With the baby and all, we just thought you can benefit from her qualified help."

Mary took a deep breath to calm herself before she said something she would regret.

"Would you please give us a moment," she addressed the nurse with a forced smile. "I would like a word with my family."

The nurse bowed slightly and stepped out of the room to wait outside. She was surprised by Lady Mary's reaction since she was usually a welcome relief to families with an ill family member. She looked at Mr. Carson who huffed as he passed her.

"Mary, we are just looking out for you," Violet began her logical reasoning. "You must see that."

"And you Edith, what do you say?" Mary asked her sister. She knew she had no one on her side on this matter but gave her younger sister an opportunity to voice her opinion.

"I think you should decide Mary," Edith said softly, showing unprecedented genuine support for Mary which took everyone by surprise.

"Edith," Cora warned with both her voice and her eyes. "You don't know how tired Mary must be caring for both a baby and Matthew."

"Are you saying I can't handle it mama?" Mary asked, her anger rising again. "If you recall, I cared for Matthew when he was injured during the war."

"But that was before you had a baby," Robert reminded her.

"Anna and the nanny are helping me with the baby," Mary argued. "And I'm quite ready to go the distance with this."

"But who will take care of you?" Violet asked calmly. "Wouldn't that be our role - to know what's good for you."

"I'm grateful granny," she replied in gratitude. "But I'm quite capable of taking care of myself as well. I won't allow anyone else to care for Matthew, not as long as I'm able."

"Hello," Matthew greeted the family when he arrived. He heard raised voices outside as he was guided by Tom into the library. He was concerned especially when he heard Mary's upset voice.

"My boy, what are you doing here?" Robert asked, gently guiding Matthew to the couch with Tom.

"I thought I'd come sit with you today," he said with a smile. He didn't know who were all in attendance but turned his head around to acknowledge them nonetheless.

"Are you feeling better?" Edith inquired to break the ice.

"Much," he replied. "Thanks to Mary." He extended his hand to let her know he wanted her beside him.

Mary gave her family a mix of petulant and proud look that made them reconsider their position.

"What's the matter?" Matthew asked when he didn't hear any more of what was being discussed moments ago.

"They've hired a nurse for you," Mary said with annoyance. "And I'm refusing it."

"Is she qualified?" he asked, quickly placing a hand over Mary's to silence her objection.

"Yes, she comes highly recommended," Cora answered.

"I see," Matthew said thoughtfully. "May I have a word with Mary?"

The family moved away from them to give them a private moment.

"You're not seriously asking me to allow this," Mary whispered to him in alarm.

"You could use some help," he suggested. "I don't want you to be worn out taking care of me and our son."

"Haven't I proven I'm quite capable?"

"Very much," he confirmed. "If you're sure then we'll send her away but only if you're sure."

"Yes! I'm sure."

"And promise me you'll tell me if you need help?"

"I promise." Mary was glad to see that Matthew was on her side. "You can count on me on both."

"Thank you for your concern, but I think for now, we won't be needing a nurse," Matthew announced their joint decision. "When it becomes necessary, Mary has promised to let me know and we will hire one."

Robert wasn't too happy but conceded to Matthew's wishes. He looked at Mary's triumphant smile and knew she was dedicated to him.

…

"Are they still upset that I agreed with you?" Matthew asked, waiting for Mary to join him in their bed.

"I think granny and papa aren't too pleased," she said, watching Anna leave with their empty dinner plates. She was quite happy that Matthew had eaten each morsel she had given him. He had quite insisted that he fed her as well to be sure she was eating so with her help, he was able to spear food with his fork and offer it to her. It had become quite a nice routine between them feeding each other.

"I suppose they'll be less pleased when I start doing things for myself then."

"What do you mean?"

"I'd like you to show me how to get around on my own," he explained. "I can't be cooped up in here for eternity and I should get used to doing things with as little help as possible."

"And what are we to do about the stairs?"

"I'll avoid them and wait for you," he joked. "I wouldn't want to take a tumble."

"That's good, and what about bathing?" she teased. "Am I to be deprived of that privilege as well?"

Matthew thought about the first day she had given him a bath. Much to his protestations, she had insisted to bathe him. She reminded him calmly that she, like him, have seen him naked. He thought it was much better to have her deft hands help him than the alternative.

"Well?" she prompted him when he hadn't responded.

"I suppose that is one of the things I can't do on my own," he said sweetly. "Now please, come back to bed with me. It's daftly cold without you here."