Matthew entered their room and took off his glasses since it was dimly lit compared to the great hall. He looked at the familiar room with a new appreciation. He then saw Mary watching him quietly and that brought a smile to his face.
"How long do you have to wear that?" she asked, preferring him without them on.
"I'm not sure yet but hopefully not for long," he replied. "I only need them when I'm in a bright environment or outdoors."
"Are there any other precautions?"
"No," he assured her. "But it would help if you're not too cross with me." He had noticed that Mary was keeping her distance now that they were in the privacy of their room.
"I should be angry with you," she said, trying to look angry. "You almost missed Valentine's day. Anna said that a married man can consider his marriage dissolved if he misses this day." Now that she could see his eyes, she could read his mood in them.
"I'm so glad I didn't miss it then; it was supposed to be a surprise," he said. "Instead I was surprised by how it turned into a day of delays that I feared I wouldn't get home until tomorrow." He moved to sit on his side of the bed.
"What happened?" she prompted him when he didn't continue. She took his hand when he reached out for her and settled on his lap.
"The ship we were on couldn't dock because it was slightly longer than the berth at the port. Then when we docked, the gang plank was too short. Once we were on land, we raced to the train station but still missed our train so we had to wait for the last train. When we got in, the station master had already left so we had to find a place with a telephone to call for the car." He gave a quick account of his journey home.
"Why was the station master gone?" She found it odd especially with a train still due to come in.
"I suppose he subscribes to the same principle as Anna does," he joked.
"I'm just glad you made it home," she noted happily. "But it doesn't mean you're off the hook that easily."
"Well, I have Molesley to thank for that," he revealed. "He did everything possible for us to catch the train; he carried the luggage when we couldn't find a porter."
"If you think that makes up for his refusal to tell me where you were, you're mistaken."
"It's not his fault; if there's anyone to blame, blame me."
"I do blame you for leaving without a proper goodbye or involving me in the decision. You don't expect to get off the hook that easily even if you did get home today, did you?"
"Of course not," he said quite contritely. "I'm ready for my punishment."
"Before I sentence you, I want to know why you did all this alone," she asked finally. "Eye surgery must have been quite frightening.
"I had a brave example," he reminded her. "You had your little surgery alone."
"That was different," she argued. "And it didn't take me away from you for too long."
"It took longer because I had to go all the way to Geneva," he explained. "Before you say I shouldn't have done that, I did have to. Dr. Gonin pioneered the procedure and who best to perform the surgery."
"You still should have told me what you were planning," she said with an audible sigh.
"Now that I think about it, I suppose my reasons were trivial," he admitted. "But I just didn't want you or William to spend days in a hospital waiting to see if I will recover my sight."
"We could have figured something out together," she told him gently. "Something that was less drastic as leaving like that."
"You wouldn't have insisted on coming with me?" He watched her take a deep breath and knew she would have done just that. "Besides, it's over now and I suppose it will be easier to ask for forgiveness than permission."
"You're not thinking of doing this again are you?" she asked with concern.
"Certainly not," he quickly assured her. "I've realized one thing from this experience."
"What is that?"
"You're my strength," he revealed and gave her a quick kiss.
...
Carson was on his way to announce that dinner was ready when Anna stopped him to have a word.
"Mr. Carson, Lady Mary won't be joining the family for dinner," she informed him.
"Is she not feeling well?" Carson asked, visibly concerned for her.
"Actually Mr. Crawley had just returned and she went back upstairs." She saw Carson relax. "I'll take them something to eat if they ask for it."
"I'll tell his lordship," he acknowledged before heading in to tell the family.
...
"I think it's just us for dinner," Robert declared after he heard the news from Carson.
"Where is Mary?" Cora asked. "Did something happen to her?"
"Matthew happened," he replied with a smile. "I suppose they want some time alone first."
"That's wonderful news," Cora said. "And just in time for mama's visit."
"I just wished he came to say hello to us before heading upstairs," he noted.
"If he did come in, you wouldn't let him go until he answered all your questions," Tom said.
Robert looked at Tom and had to admit he was right.
"I'm just glad he's back," Cora said before leading them out to go have dinner.
...
"Are you hungry?" Mary asked.
"No, I ate on the train but I do have an appetite for something else," Matthew hinted with a mischievous smile.
"Aren't you worn out from travelling?" she teased him.
"Actually I'm invigorated now that I have you near me," he teased back.
"Yet you decided to leave me behind," she reminded him, running her fingers through his hair. She missed doing that.
"That was the hardest decision I had to make," he confessed. "I was thinking of you the whole time."
"And I'm supposed to just believe that?" she asked, feigning doubt.
"I can prove it to you, I got you something. Let me get it for you." He shifted her so he could get up.
"Tell me where it is because you are not leaving this room," she ordered.
Matthew told her what to look for and sat back down.
...
Mary entered the dressing room just as Molesley finished unpacking Matthew's bag. He stood still with an armful of clothes and waited for Mary to say something.
"Are you just going to stand there Molesley?" she asked when he didn't say anything.
"I just came for Mr. Crawley's clothes," he managed to say. He held on to the clothes tighter hoping it would somehow spare him his job.
Mary nodded and let him go about his chores. She waited for him to finish before speaking up. "Molesley, I'd like to thank you for getting Mr. Crawley back home."
If he wasn't so nervous about his job, he would have jumped for joy at that. Instead he awkwardly said something to her that was his attempt to say he was glad to do it.
Mary watched him hurry out the door before turning to Matthew's bag to find the box he described that contained the proof he was thinking of her. She quickly found it but also found other more sentimental things in his bag. She saw the framed picture then picked up the toy dog that meant so much to her and apparently to him as well. She had let him keep it but hadn't realized he still carried it with him.
"Mary?" Matthew called from their room. "Did you find it?"
"Yes, I'll be right there," she said and headed back to him.
...
Molesley was coming down the stairs when Anna was heading up. He stopped to let her pass.
"Welcome home Mr. Molesley," she said. "It's good to have you back."
"I hope I get to stay," he said, still unsure about his post. "Would you know if Lady Mary is still angry with me?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "You might want to steer clear of her for a while." She knew that Mary would eventually forgive him if she hadn't already.
"I already saw her in the dressing room when I got these," he revealed. "She didn't look angry and she thanked me for getting Mr. Crawley home."
"That's a good sign," she said. "But I'd suggest that you not get on her bad side for a while."
"Welcome back Mr. Molesley," Mrs. Hughes greeted him when she saw the two. "I'll have a place set for you at the dinner table."
Before he could respond to her hospitality, they heard Carson from behind clear his throat. That quickly dispersed the group and cleared the stairs.
"You could show him some mercy," Mrs. Hughes suggested to Carson.
"What did I do?" Carson asked innocently.
"We both know that you hold him partially accountable for keeping them apart," she hinted.
"He should have dissuaded Mr. Crawley from his plan," he said. "Or he should have told Lady Mary about it."
"Would you have done that if it was his lordship? Would you have told her ladyship what he was planning?"
Carson thought about it for a moment and had no good answer.
...
"What took you so long?" Matthew asked when Mary returned to their room.
"Molesley was unpacking your bag so I waited for him to finish first," Mary explained. "And don't worry, I didn't ask him to leave."
"Thank you. So you found it," he said, seeing the black velvet box in her hand.
"I also found this," she revealed, showing him the toy dog. "I didn't think you still had it."
"Of course I still have it," he said, gently taking both things from her. "It always brings me good luck and reminds me of you."
Mary smiled and was glad he didn't hide his sentimental side from her. She could guess what was in the box but thought that his taking the toy with him was a definitive proof he was thinking of her.
"When I saw this, I immediately knew you'd like it," he said, opening the box and presenting the necklace with heart-shaped pendant. The combination of small diamonds and a solitary ruby sparkled even in the dim light.
"So you were really intending to return today," she said. Before she could say anything else, they heard a knock on the door.
"It's me milady," Anna announced herself before entering. "I was wondering if you would like some dinner brought up for you and Mr. Crawley." She turned and smiled at him.
"No thank you Anna, we're going to skip dinner," she replied. "And Anna, you can leave for the night after your meal."
"It's good to have you back Mr. Crawley," Anna said before heading out.
"Are you sure you won't get hungry?" Matthew asked when they were alone.
"I had a late luncheon today," she told him. "I had hoped you would be home before then so I had Mrs. Patmore prepare a picnic basket. When it got late and you hadn't showed up, I ate half of it."
Matthew wondered if Mrs. Hughes had told her and spoiled his surprise.
"Why didn't you call if you planned to come home today?" she asked, confirming that Mrs. Hughes had kept his secret. "We could have sent the car ahead instead of you having to call for it."
"Because I had hoped to surprise you," he replied. "If things went according to plan, I would have been home early and found you at your usual spot to surprise you."
"And I'm supposed to just run into your arms to welcome you home?"
"You just did my darling," he reminded her. "Or have you forgotten?"
"It was a reflex response," she said, trying to trivialize her action. She certainly didn't want him to get off the hook so easily.
"Maybe I can find other things that will elicit the same response from you," he said, moving closer to her while she backed away until she was at the edge of the bed.
"I'm still angry that you never called especially when your son was sick," she said, trying to keep him away.
"I didn't know," he admitted, choosing not to reveal why to avoid making her angry with Molesley. "I'll make it up to you both if you'll let me."
"You have to be punished for what you've put me through," she demanded. "I can't just pretend it never happened."
Matthew understood how difficult it must have been for her and was willing to accept anything she meted out. "I'm ready to be sentenced but I hope you will be merciful."
"First you must promise that you will never do something like that again," she pleaded.
"I give you my word, I will not leave like that again ever," he pledged sincerely. He had to admit it was just as hard for him as it was for her.
"And you will call me if we should be apart for longer than a day," she continued. She watched him nod his agreement before proceeding. "Then your punishment will be a month of doing what I say."
"Don't I already do that most of the time?" he teased.
"Without questions," she added. "Whatever my reasons are, you will agree with them."
"Very well," he agreed to her terms. He had a feeling she had something in mind but decided it can't be that bad. "Does this mean Molesley can stay on as my valet?"
"Two months then," she amended her previous sentence. She was half expecting him to object but was glad when he didn't.
"That sounds fair," he agreed. "Anything else; because I think we've talked enough." He leaned in to see how good her reflex responses would be.
...
Matthew woke up in the middle of the night and realized Mary wasn't in bed with him. He opened his eyes and tried to find her in the dark. When his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw she was sitting by the window looking out.
"Mary?" he called out to her.
"I'm here darling," she replied, turning to look at him. "What's the matter?"
"Why aren't you here with me? Is something bothering you?"
"Nothing," she lied and climbed back into bed. "Go back to sleep." She placed a hand over his shoulder to push him back.
"Mary, my darling, I know you better than that. Please tell me what's on your mind."
Mary sighed before proceeding. "I was thinking about what you said long ago about how we may be cursed." She didn't want to think it but given their near misses, she couldn't help it especially with Blackwell still at large.
"I didn't mean that," he apologized. "I shouldn't have said it; I'm very sorry." He wrapped her in a tight embrace.
Mary relaxed a little and was glad that Matthew was home at last. She didn't understand why she was succumbing to her fears now all of a sudden.
"You don't have to be strong alone anymore," he said, planting a kiss on her forehead. "I'm here to ease your burden."
"I don't know why I'm acting this way," she admitted. "I should be very happy that you're back and can see again." That's when the answer hit her; she was happy.
"What can I do to make you truly happy?" he asked, willing to do anything to make it so.
"That's the problem," she said. "I am happy. But I'm afraid something might happen tomorrow that would ruin it again."
"Darling, we can't be afraid of what tomorrow brings," he advised her. "If we did, then we would never be able to be happy and enjoy our lives."
"It's just that I'm afraid what Blackwell might do," she said and told him about her encounter.
"I'm sorry I ever brought him here," he said regretfully. "I should have been more careful as you always remind me to."
"Then promise me you will listen from now on and be careful."
"I promise," he said earnestly. "But we can't lock ourselves up to stay safe. As much as I love Downton, I don't believe we should hide away."
"You're right, I'm just being silly," she said, settling next to him as they tried to go back to sleep.
"You can be silly anytime with me," he said, kissing the top of her head.
"I know," she replied before quickly falling asleep.
...
"You're up early," Cora noted when Robert came in all dressed up. "Are you excited mama is coming?" She couldn't help teasing him about it.
"I'm always excited to see your mama," he replied.
"Of course you are," she continued. "But I think you're more eager to see Matthew before anyone else."
"I would like to see for myself how he is," he confirmed. "Carson said Molesley and Thomas told him that Matthew has recovered his vision which is good news indeed."
"Isn't that good enough for you?" she asked, thinking that they were credible sources.
"Yes it is but I believe Mary has had enough time with him already."
"Robert, they haven't been apart this long since they've been married; you should give them enough time to be by themselves," she scolded him.
"Are they to skip welcoming your mama as well?"
"I'm sure they will be ready by then."
...
"Do you need help carrying that upstairs?" John asked his wife.
"I've been carrying food upstairs to her long before this," Anna replied, touched by his concern.
"But that looks heavier than usual," he noted.
"I'll be fine," she assured him. "I just wanted to make sure that they're not hungry."
"Is that all for Lady Mary?" Carson inquired when he passed by them and saw the laden tray.
"And Mr. Crawley," Anna replied. "Now if you two don't mind, I'll take this to them before they ring for me."
"What's the matter?" Mrs. Hughes asked when she saw Carson's face after Anna and Bates went their separate ways.
"I hope Mr. Crawley isn't going to make a habit of eating in bed," he noted sternly.
"And what if he does? He is entitled to do so if he wanted to you know."
"It was alright when he was blind but now that he can see, it sets a bad example."
"What if he needs more time to recover? He did just have surgery and he travelled far to get home."
"If I were he, I'd be back at my post by now," he said.
"Thank God he is not then," she said. "And I think Lady Mary much prefers it that way." With that said, she chose that moment to leave Carson and go about her duties for the day.
...
"Mary are you awake?" Matthew asked. He had been awake for a while but couldn't bring himself to disturb her until then.
"Yes my darling," she responded and lifted her head to look at him. "Do you need anything?"
"Only to look at your face," he replied sweetly with a smile. "Although I hope Anna will come up soon with breakfast because I am famished."
"She'll be up soon," she said. "In the meantime, we can decide what we will do today."
"Am I finally even allowed to venture out of our room?" he teased. "I imagine Robert is eager to see me."
"He will have to wait until I'm content," she countered. Before she could say any more, Anna knocked on the door to announce her arrival.
"Good morning," Anna greeted cheerfully. She set the tray down before turning to open the heavy curtains. She heard a groan and turned to see what the matter was.
Mary quickly rose to reach for Matthew's glasses and handed them to him to shield his eyes.
"I'm so sorry," Anna apologized, realizing her mistake.
"It's alright Anna," he assured her. "It's my fault for not putting them on as soon as you came in."
"Is there anything else I can bring you?" she asked the couple.
"Can you please bring William here when we're finished?" Mary requested. She watched Anna acknowledge and hurry out the door.
"So I take it that I'm still not allowed to leave this room?" he ventured to ask. He really didn't mind because he worried that Robert was cross with him. The longer he delayed seeing the family, the longer before he had to apologize to them as well.
"I haven't decided yet; I can't decide on an empty stomach."
As soon as they were finished, Mary rang for Anna and she promptly brought in William to be with his parents. Mary eagerly received him and kissed him.
"Look, it's your papa," Mary said and pointed to Matthew. The little boy seemed uninterested, preferring his mother.
"Milady, have you decided what he'll be wearing for when your grandmother arrives?" Anna inquired.
"Oh, I've almost forgotten," Mary admitted. "I think he much prefers his usual sailor suit than any and I think granny won't expect him to be in formal attire."
"I'll tell nanny then," Anna said before taking the tray out with her.
"Has Cousin Violet gone home then?"
"Yes, she did yesterday. But Anna was talking about my American grandmother."
"She's coming?" he asked with surprise. "What for?" He was trying to think of an occasion that would bring her to Downton.
"She's coming to see the children darling," she said with amusement at his reaction. She compared it to her father's own when he learned she was coming and laughed.
"What's so funny?"
"I think it's about time granny came to meet Sybie and William. I remember I was about his age when she came to see me."
"You remember when you were that young?" he asked, trying to suppress a smile.
"I was told," she replied, quite put off by his point. "Are you going to be like this all day?"
"I couldn't help it," he said, letting out a small laugh. "Don't worry; you don't have to tell me to be at my best behavior when she comes."
"We'll soon see." She silently was glad he was home before questions about his absence came up with her grandmother during her visit.
Author's note: My choice of William's baby clothes was influenced by seeing the photo released for S4; I learned it was a popular "normal dress for boys (and girls)" since 1870s [wikipedia]; just thought I'd mention it.