"Oh, come on Cor, it's just a quick watch! So, this doesn't count as cutting classes!"
"But Mr. Stubbins can come inside the room at any minute, Ros!"
"I promise this'll be quick this time!"
Cora Levinson and Rosamund Crawley then ran to their university's rugby field, where their team had just finished their practice match. The latter was rather happy and giddy in seeing the team, while all that was in Cora's mind was the science class that they need to be in five minutes.
"Oh! There they are!" Rosamund waved excitedly as two tall men were approaching them. One of them was Marmaduke Painswick, a senior student and the current captain of the rugby team…all while being her boyfriend. He was the only one who approaches and greets them every time they meet…until now, that is.
"Hello, darling." Marmaduke then said before kissing her cheek "And hello, Cora! Nice of you to join Ros again in her cutting adventures."
"I am afraid I have to unfriend your girlfriend here and now, as it costs me my honors." Cora teased, making Rosamund shock and Marmaduke laugh.
"I was for a hug from my dear sister too, you know." a tall, dark brown-haired man then spoke from behind, displaying a teasing grin across his face.
"Oh…I didn't notice you there, Robert."
"Or did you just do it on purpose?"
Rosamund rolled her eyes, and gave her older brother a big hug. Robert chuckles softly, and kisses her cheek. Robert is a junior student, and one of the raising stars of their team, with rumors of him being the next captain after Marmaduke graduate.
"My God, you're sweatier than Duke!" Rosamund then said as they pulled away.
"Oh, I'm sorry…it wasn't my fault that it's a hundred degrees out here." he countered back, to which it made Cora chuckle, and for him to finally notice her.
"Hello there." Robert said, to which Cora realizes that he was talking to her, and not to his sister.
"Oh! H-Hello." Cora said, smiling shyly.
Robert smiles sweetly, and offers his hand "I'm Robert Crawley, by the way. And you must be…?"
"Cora. Cora Levinson." she replied, and shake hands with him.
"Ah! Then, you must be the Cora that Ros always mention about! I have heard a lot about you."
"Good things, I hope?"
"Of course! What else would I say about you?" Rosamund then butted in "I did only actually take you here Cor, for you to finally meet my ugly older brother in his natural habitat."
"At least I don't cut classes for the sake of meeting their boyfriend and annoy her brother."
"And by the way, you can call him Robert…or Bobbert."
"Or Bob!" Marmaduke added.
"Nope! Not 'Bob'!" Robert said "Never call me Bob, or Bobbert. Like, honestly….you two are annoying the hell out of me already."
"I think 'Bobbert' sounds cute." Cora then spoke up again
Robert looks at her again "Really?"
"Yes. I do think so."
"Well perhaps, we can have some sort of negotiations on about you calling that."
The two then shared a light laugh, to which Rosamund and Marmaduke smiled at as they watched nearby.
"I bet that they'll end up together." Rosamund whispered.
"Five quid says you're wrong." Marmaduke replied, and kisses his girlfriend's temple before looking back at the rather happy pair "Hey, Rob!" he then called out "Come on now, let's hit the showers!"
Robert then nods and gives him a thumbs up in response before turning back to her "Now, here's my number if you ever want to chat with me about anything…most especially art that you do." he then said, handing her pen back after writing his number at the end of her planner. She then writes her number on a scratch paper, all before giving it to him.
"Thank you." Cora smiles back.
"I hope to see more of you Miss Levinson…hopefully, especially now that you are friends with my darling sister."
"I do hope so too."
As they both looked at one another and smile sweetly once again, both couldn't help but feel butterflies in their stomachs. There was…something about the other that is just rather hard to explain.
"Oh!" Cora spoke first, finally breaking the tension between them "Ros and I must get to class now!"
"Please, don't let me stop you." Robert replied "And besides, Duke and I must hit the showers before heading to our classes."
"Good luck on the game tomorrow…Bobbert." she teased, making him laugh softly.
"Thank you." he smiles, before he watches her go as she and Rosamund bid their goodbyes to Marmaduke.
And as the two groups parted ways, Rosamund was smiling excitedly, to which of course Cora found both concerning and scary.
"What has gotten into you, Ros?" she asked.
"Oh, nothing…just you and my brother." Rosamund teasingly replied "You like him, don't you?"
"That is such nonsense!" Cora looks at her in surprise "I think he's just a decent man, and just that. And no, I am not dating, nor will even be accepting a date from your brother."
"Why not?"
"Because like I said, I just find him as a good friend, and that will be as far as it will go."
Rosamund shakes her head, and grins "I hope you're wrong."
Cora chuckles "I think I'll win this time."
30 years later
"Coming!"
Robert Crawley then came rushing to open the door…only for him to see the last person in the world that he wanted to see.
"Oh…it's you." he said in a monotone voice "Hello, dear sister."
"Hello, Robert." Rosamund smiles "May I come in?"
"Not really-"
"Robert!" Cora then called out from the kitchen, making him sigh softly.
"-…fine. You can, I guess."
With a teasing grin, she then comes in to greet her sister-in-law. Cora greeted her happily with open arms, all while Robert heads back to the kitchen to continue baking his cookies and breads.
"Geez…I did not know my older brother can possibly bake!"
Robert rolls his eyes at her "These are not just for you…they are also for the grandkids" he said "And speaking of which, where's Duke? I more looking forward for him than you, honestly."
"He is with our grandchildren in London." his sister replied "He apparently promised them a whole day of fun, which is why he can't come with me today."
"Oh, what a shame! Our grandkids could've had a fun day today!" Cora then said.
"Oh yes, but they wanted alone time with their Grandpa today…so I suppose I can allow them just for today."
"Well, they do say sharing is caring." Robert teased, making his wife laugh softly and Rosamund rolls her eyes in annoyance. They then heard a car beep coming from outside.
"Oh! They're here!" he then said, quickly said as served them a plate of his cookies "I'll just check on them, and also those are hot!" his voice faded at the last words as he rushes out of the door, which made both the ladies laugh softly again.
"I'm glad Robert's treating you well." Rosamund teased.
Cora laughs, and shakes her head "Fortunately, he is." she said "I still can't believe I got the life that I dreamed of…all thanks to him."
"Hey, do give me some credit!"
"25 percent."
"No, 50!"
"30?"
"35!"
Cora sighs softly, and smiles "Fine. 35 percent it is." she said "But the point is, that if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have met my future husband. Which if I remember correctly was us not attending science class and heading out to the rugby field instead."
Rosamund chuckles "I told you that cutting classes does have some benefits."
They then heard noises coming from the garden this time, and saw by the kitchen window Robert and the grandkids, running around and having fun.
Rosamund smiles at the scene before looking back at her sister-in-law again "Remember when you told me that you would never date my brother?"
Cora thought about it for a moment, before realizing what she meant "Oh that moment," she replied "You can say I kind of regret that."
"And then you said that he's only a good friend, and you see him nothing more that?"
"Yes, yes. You win, Ros." Cora smiles softly, looking back at her
"Does he let you call him 'Bobbert' still?"
"Oh yes, but only if it's only the two of us. And he said that I'm the only who can call him that."
"Don't worry, I can still call him 'Bob' though, so that's fine."
The two shared another laugh, before Cora smiles back at her.
"Who knew I'd be in love with a rugby player too?" she said
"An award-winning player and honor student." Rosamund added "What more can you ask?"
"Well, I'll drink to that!"
The two then clinked their glasses of orange juice together, before the children entered the door and greeted them. Rosamund smiles at the whole ordeal, knowing that not only that her best friend had the happy ending that she deserves, but also her brother. Her darling brother, who is now a father of four and a Donk to the little ones.
All's well that ends well.