A/N: Thank you so very much also for all the reviews, etc., since the last chapter. As well, thank you to those who reviewed the story for the first time. Your thoughts are much appreciated. I hope that you will choose to review again. :)

As always, many thanks to my ever patient betas, Tripp3235 and mswainwright (in absentia due to her busy schedule for this chapter), without whom, the quality of this story would be much poorer indeed! As well, I would like to add another member to my beta team, _livingfree (on Twitter), who has kindly offered her services to copyedit this story. Thank you so much. I (and my pesky verb tenses) are much obliged to you. :)

Disclaimer: Not mine. All Downton Abbey characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 21

On Thursday it was the first of May and Sybil went to Tom's office at lunch to get him so that they could take possession of the flat and arrange for Cousin Fergus to take delivery of their paint and painting supplies the following day. Along the way, they picked up a broom and dustpan so that they could sweep up and have lunch there on an old blanket that Sybil had brought with her. When they received three keys, they each took one and agreed that Tom's mother should hold the third. As they walked up to their flat, they were each lost in their own thoughts and did not speak.

When Tom opened the door, Sybil walked in. "Our very first home. I do like the sound of that."

He was looking at Sybil, as he walked in. Closing the door behind him, Tom smiled. "As do I."

Sybil walked over to the window beside the large fireplace and looked out. She could see the back alley on the ground below and some of the taller buildings in Dublin over the rooftops of the neighbouring buildings as they were on the top floor of theirs. Despite the view, the fact that it was their view made it grand.

Tom walked over to stand beside Sybil and looked out. "Not much of a view, but it is ours."

"Yes, it is," said Sybil with happy sigh before turning to look at Tom.

Tom chuckled when he saw the smudge on Sybil's nose. "I think we'll have to wipe down the windows when we're here next. You've picked up some dirt from the window pane."

"I'm a little too eager about this," said Sybil, with a smile as she reached into her pocketbook for a handkerchief to wipe it off, but she only managed to smear more of it around. "Is it gone?"

Tom shook his head with a twinkle in his eye. "I think you've managed to smear it on the rest of your nose." Holding out his hand for her handkerchief. "May I?"

"Of course," said Sybil as she gave it to him and held up her face and closed her eyes.

Holding her head in place by her jaw, Tom diligently worked to remove the smudge. Afterwards, as things seemed almost back to normal between them, he took advantage and gave Sybil a kiss. Soon they forgot about what their plans had been and kissed for a long while.

Since Tom had started his job on Monday, they had had very little time together alone and neither wanted to stop. Mrs. Hayes, the ghost that had come between them the last few days, was at least temporarily forgotten as they enjoyed the kiss for what it was. Eventually, it was Tom who regained his senses and pulled away. "We'd better do some sweeping so that we can have our lunch. Otherwise, I may be late for work with an empty stomach."

Looking at Tom, Sybil smiled sheepishly. "I suppose that I shouldn't have let that happen."

"If it makes you feel better, I was just thinking this morning that five weeks from today we will be together here in our home as man and wife, no one will be able to stop us."

"Five more weeks," said Sybil, picking up the new broom and swept a small spot in front of the window so that Tom could put down the blanket.

As Tom took the blanket out of the sack, he looked at Sybil and asked, "I was thinking, with the four days that I have off from the paper after the wedding, was there anywhere that you wanted to go for a short wedding trip?"

Sybil stopped sweeping. "While there are places in Ireland that I do want to see eventually, I think that after the hustle and bustle of the wedding, getting us settled and how much we've spent so far, I would prefer if we could spend the time alone here, just the two of us. If we wanted to go out, you could show me parts of Dublin that I've not yet seen."

"Are you sure you'd be happy to spend our short honeymoon here? With my salary now, we could afford to go somewhere, if you wanted."

"Tom, I don't need to go somewhere or to spend money to be happy," said Sybil. "To be alone with you after all these weeks of having to part with you at the end of the day is enough. The happiest I've been since I made my decision was the night we spent together in Liverpool. I remember waking up in your arms, contented and peaceful. I couldn't ask for anything more." Sybil then ducked her head shyly. "Besides, I think we'll be more occupied with other things than to see sights."

Tom wanted more than anything to sweep her into his arms and do all those things to which she alluded, but he had another half hour before he had to be back at the office so all he did was pull her into his arms and kiss her thoroughly. Tom then unfurled the blanket and they had their lunch.

Tom left twenty minutes later to go back to the office, while Sybil busied herself for the next hour with sweeping up. When Mrs. Branson arrived to take Sybil food shopping, she had swept out the two bedrooms and most of the main room.

"Well, this is a cozy little flat," said Mrs. Branson after Sybil had showed her around. "Declan and I started out in something very similar when we were married, though we had to move to something bigger when Niamh came along."

Sybil then took out the third key and gave it to Mrs. Branson. "We want you to keep the third key for us, if something were to happen."

"Of course. I'll keep it with the keys to Mairin's and Ciaran's homes," said Mrs. Branson as she looked around the flat. "Cathleen and Connor will know where it is in case you need it and I'm not there. I don't think that we'll be able to get it all done on Friday night. If you'd like, you and I can come by after dinner tonight and continue with the cleaning."

"Yes, I'd like that," said Sybil, finishing the sweeping of the kitchen. "I'm sure Tom will want to help as well. He was just saying earlier that we should clean the windows when we're here next. He's not seen us much since he started the job and I think that he'd rather come with us than be elsewhere."

"I'm sure that it's not my company that he's looking to keep," said Mrs. Branson with a smile. "But his help will be welcome. If you're ready, we should go. We'll pick up a bucket and a mop, too, as you'll need one."

"I can finish the rest tonight," said Sybil as she leaned the broom against the wall. She quickly washed her hands, before she continued. "Also, Tom and I are looking for coal and milk delivery. Who do you use?"

"Campbell's for milk and Kelly's for coal," said Mrs. Branson. "We can stop by the offices when I go in to pay for this month next week."

"Thank you," said Sybil. "I don't know what we would do without your help, Mrs. Branson. You know so much about everything."

"I doubt that I know all that much, but I'll take your compliment just the same."

As Sybil was locking up, she said, "I seem to recall you telling Tom in a letter before we left that you had a lead on a nursing position. I just realized that we never discussed it."

Mrs. Branson headed down the stairs with Sybil. "Yes, I did write about it, but I didn't want to add yet another item to the list of things you have to learn and do and the position I referred to is at a clinic they are building about five blocks from here. It's not supposed to be finished until September. It's a slight detour to where we shop, but if you wanted to go see it today, we can walk by."

"Yes, I would like that," said Sybil as they walked out the front door. "As I've said, I don't want to be a burden. While we are ecstatic about Tom's salary at the paper, I want to save up a nest egg for when the children come and I won't be able to work as much and we'll need a bigger home and things for the children."

"That's a good plan because the children will come. It's this way," said Mrs. Branson as she pointed them west.

After about fifteen minutes, Sybil and Mrs. Branson were standing in front of the construction site. "I saw this when I came by at the beginning of April and as you can see they are advertising for nurses," said Mrs. Branson as she pointed to a sign that said 'Nurses Wanted. Apply to Dr. S. Byrne at St. Mary's Hospital, Dublin.'

"Thank you so much," said Sybil. "This is exactly what I'm looking for. It's close by and the hours at a clinic are more reasonable. Let me write down the name and directions and we can proceed with the shopping. Do you know what type of clinic it is?"

"I don't know this neighbourhood as well, so I don't know, but I could ask around and see if anyone knows."

After supper that evening, Cathleen and Connor offered to do the dishes so Tom and Sybil set off with Mrs. Branson to clean their new home. On the way there, they picked up several pillar candles so that they could work on the rooms without windows. They had about two hours before it became too dark to clean, so while Sybil finished the sweeping, Tom started on the windows and Mrs. Branson started mopping.

"For an apartment that's been empty for a year, it's surprisingly dirty," said Sybil as she swept up a pile of dust.

"Dirt has no interest in whether someone is living there," said Mrs. Branson. "It just accumulates regardless, especially when there's a fireplace involved. Tom, you'll need to get the chimney sweep to come by before you can use it. I doubt Cousin Fergus did anything about it after the last tenants left."

"Yes, Ma," said Tom as he wiped down the glass blocks in the second bedroom. "Do we still use the same chimney sweep?"

"We do, but you should probably ask Cousin Fergus about the one that does the work here," said Mrs. Branson. "You can probably get a discount since he must come more often."

"I'll do that after the wedding since we don't plan to use it until the fall," said Tom.

"Still you'll want him to come by to look at the stove before you use it," said Mrs. Branson as she mopped the main room. "They are not usually as bad as coal. It's better than wood, but you'll want to be sure."

"I'll talk to Cousin Fergus after I move in," said Tom.

They worked until it was too dark and they managed to clean the windows, sweep and mop the floor and get the bathroom cleaned. All that was left for Friday was to wipe down the walls for the painting, and for the supplies to be delivered so that they could start first thing in the morning and get two coats down before the sun set for the night.

When Friday came, a letter from Lady Grantham arrived in the morning mail. Sybil read it as Mrs. Branson did some work at the sewing machine.

Tuesday, April 29, 1919
Downton Abbey
Downton, Yorkshire

My Darling Sybil,

As discussed, we will look after the wedding breakfast and as you wish, we will have it at the church hall. Leave it all to me. Also please tell Mrs. Branson that we wish to invite the family to dinner the week we are in Dublin.

Now let's see what other gifts have arrived since I last wrote. Your grandmama sent a lovely vase from America along with some money to get your home started. We'll bring it with us. My sisters sent some glassware, but we didn't count how many there were and they didn't specify. We'll just bring the crate. Cousin Isobel and Matthew are sending some money for a pantry and a couple of worktables for your kitchen, which I have included, so you can cross those off your list. Mary will be bringing her and Sir Richard's gift of cutlery, a complete set of twelve, plus serving cutlery to go with your Aunt Rosamund's set of plates. Edith hasn't told me what she is giving you, but I'm sure that it's in her letter. There is likely to be a few other gifts. Of course papa and I would like contribute something to your new home. We will see what is still required when we arrive.

I know that spring at Downton is your favorite time of year and while I'm sure that you're not missing it, I do miss you, my darling girl, both your Papa and I do. With you in Ireland and Mary spending the first part of May at Hylands, the house seems so empty. Only a few years ago you girls were running around the house playing with your dolls and your toys, and now two of you will be marrying soon. I do hope that you'll be able to visit often as I want to know all my grandchildren and for them to know me. I know that my mother sometimes regrets that she doesn't know you as well as some of her other grandchildren.

On that note, I should close off and send the letter. Edith has already given me her letter to send with mine.

Your loving Mama

As Mrs. Branson stopped running the sewing machine, Sybil looked up from her letter. "Well, it would appear that I will need to order the pantry and the worktable for the kitchen after I speak with Tom. Do you mind if we stopped at the bank on our food shopping trip after lunch? My cousin, the heir, and his mother sent a cheque for the pantry and a couple of worktables and I would prefer to deposit it."

"Of course not," said Mrs. Branson as she cut off the stray strands of thread from each end of the fabric. "Did your mother say anything about the wedding breakfast?"

"Yes, she mentioned that my family will take charge of the wedding breakfast and that it will be at the church hall."

"That's good. Did your mother mention any other gifts?" asked Mrs. Branson as she set the bobbin to be refilled.

"My mother's mother sent a vase from America and my mother's sisters sent a crate of glassware," said Sybil as she reread portions of the letter. "Mary and her fiancé are giving us cutlery to match the plates from my aunt, and there are likely to be a few other gifts, though she did not specify what. Also, my mother has offered to fill our home as necessary. I foresee a tumultuous week before the wedding."

"Maybe you need to show your parents your home first," suggested Mrs. Branson as she started filling the bobbin. "Once they see where you will be living, they will have a better idea of what you need and what you can fit into it."

"Yes, you're right," said Sybil with a sigh. "It's difficult for them to envision where we'll be living. I will ask them to see it as soon as they arrive. How far is the Gladstone Hotel from where we are?"

"By car, horse or foot?" asked Mrs. Branson as she held the bobbin in place as it got fuller.

"Likely car or horse, I can't imagine Mama wanting to walk very far," said Sybil.

"Between 10 and 15 minutes then," said Mrs. Branson as she took the filled bobbin and put it back in its place. "It's on the other side of Dublin."

"I would expect that there will be a lot of travel between that side of town and this side that week," said Sybil. "I wonder if it would have been easier if my family didn't come."

"Don't say that dear," said Mrs. Branson as she turned to speak to Sybil. "I'm sure that on your wedding day, you will be very glad that they are here to see you married."

"That is if I survive the week before it," said Sybil, releasing another sigh. "My mother also wanted me to convey that she will be inviting your family to dinner the week they are here."

"Please accept her kind invitation on our behalf and extend an invitation to them to dine here on the Saturday that they are in Ireland," said Mrs. Branson as she set her next set of fabric in place to run the machine.

"I will do both those things when I write her again tonight," said Sybil. "Now I suppose I should read Edith's letter."

"Edith is which sister again?" asked Mrs. Branson, looking up.

"Edith is the middle sister."

"Ah yes, the one Tom taught to drive," said Mrs. Branson as she went back to her work. "Don't let me keep you."

"Thank you," said Sybil as she opened Edith's letter to read.

Tuesday, April 29, 1919
Downton Abbey
Downton, Yorkshire

Dear Sybil,

As I am writing, Mary is enroute to Hylands to visit with our friends the Goochs. They are thinking of selling and invited Mary for a last visit to the house. As I'm sure that Mama told you, she will be there until the week before we leave to journey to Ireland. Even if she is to marry Sir Richard, I envy her freedom to go wherever she chooses.

Granny has hinted that I should be married by Christmas now that the war is over. Remember how I so wished that I should be married before Mary. Now I just want to find something useful to do. I've taken over a number of the charities you ran before the war, but it's not the same as when I used to help the soldiers when Downton was a hospital.

I do drive Granny everywhere now, but it would be preferable if I could drive everyone and do away with the chauffeur. However, unlike Tom, I only know the basics of motor mechanics and we'd still need Pratt around to tinker with the machines when they act up.

I would consider training as a nurse like you did except that I get nauseous at the sight of blood. What I should really like is to attend university, but Mama and Granny both laughed when I mentioned it that I dare not bring it up to Papa. I feel that university would give me an opportunity to be on my own for a few years to learn something and experience new things away from home.

Enough about me. By the time you received this, you should have taken possession of your new home. Tell me every detail about it so that I can imagine what it is like. I do hope to see it when we're in Dublin. How are you finding your lessons from Mrs. Branson? As I told you when we said goodbye, I am not as brave as you and I would not have the courage to live with someone in a strange land I'd never met. It is as it was when we were young and you had the courage to climb the trees that I would not.

Please do tell me what you would like for a wedding gift. I realize that it's not customary to ask, but I know that you may be getting some gifts that may not be useful in your new life, so I want my gift to be of value to you and Tom. Please do think about it and let me know. I wish that you were here so we could talk about it, but as is, writing to me will have to do.

I am counting down the weeks when I will see you again. To be the remaining daughter at home is to have Mama's sole attention. While it was something that I had longed for as a child and even more recently, I now realize that it can be unwanted when Mama's ideas of my future do not match my own.

I'm sorry that my letters are not more upbeat. I hope that you're having a grand time in Ireland.

Your loving sister,
Edith

Sybil felt very sorry for Edith. While Edith had been unhappy for many years, this was the first time she had found Edith melancholy and resigned to her fate. Perhaps it's something that she could bring up with her father when they were here for the wedding. Perhaps Tom would have better ideas on how to help Edith.

When Sybil looked up from her letter, Mrs. Branson had just finished sewing a couple more sets of fabric and asked, "How is your sister?"

"She's looking forward to coming for my wedding."

"I do hope that she enjoys her time here," said Mrs. Branson as she tidied up the threads from the stitch ends.

"I hope so, too," said Sybil. Now that I know where Mary has gone, perhaps I will get a letter from her soon.

That evening, quarter after five came and no Tom. When it was half past five, Mrs. Branson suggested that they eat while the dinner was warm and when six o'clock struck and still no Tom, Sybil suggested that she stay behind and do the dishes while she waited for Tom, while Mrs. Branson and Cathleen went ahead to the flat to start cleaning the walls. As she waited, morbid thoughts of what caused Tom not to be there swirled in her mind. Even Mrs. Hayes became a possibility as Sybil waited and she knew that Mrs. Hayes was in Killarney until Saturday. Tom finally walked through the door at half past six.

"Hell-" was as afar as Tom got when Sybil leaped into his arms.

"I was so worried," said Sybil. "What happened?"

"I'm sorry," said Tom. "I completely forgot the time as I was finishing up the column for next week. One minute, it was half past four and the next minute it was quarter past six, but I did finish my column and left it on the editor's desk."

"Please keep a better eye on the time," said Sybil now a little irritated when Tom was found to be safe. "You worried everyone. We were suppose to help your mother and Cathleen with cleaning the walls of our new home, remember?"

"Is that where they are now?" asked Tom as he took off his cap to hang up.

"Yes, and I kept your dinner warm for you, but you'll have to eat quickly," said Sybil. "I want to be able to get to the flat by seven o'clock in order to help with what remains of the cleaning."

"I'll go wash up then," said Tom as he walked to the bathroom. "Again, I'm sorry."

Sybil nodded before she went to set his place at the table and Tom ate his dinner there.

On the way to the flat, Sybil asked, "Have you written back to accept the offer we agreed to accept?" Tom had been contrite enough throughout dinner to convince Sybil to be forgiving of his unintended tardiness.

"No, not yet," said Tom as he looked at her. "I suppose I should do that soon. Perhaps after I return to Ciaran and Aileen's tonight. I'm sure that I'll be too tired after painting all day tomorrow to manage and I don't want to lose out on the opportunity to earn £5."

"You also worked so hard on it," said Sybil. "Would be a shame not to get it published for the best price." Looking around a bit, she added, "I heard from Mama and Edith today."

"Still no letter from Lady Mary?" asked Tom, who knew that Sybil had been anxious to hear from her eldest sister.

"No," said Sybil. "But it turns out she's traveling to visit some friends in Essex and that's probably why we haven't heard from her yet."

"How are your mother and Edith?" asked Tom as he looked ahead.

"Mama will likely make all sorts of decisions the week she is here that will make me want to pull out my hair," said Sybil, slightly frustrated. "It's times like these that I'm glad we're in Dublin and not in Yorkshire. She wants to help us furnish our flat. Oh, and she mentioned that Mary and Sir Richard will be gifting us cutlery to match Aunt Rosamund's dishes."

"As I said earlier, we'll have the nicest dishes and now apparently the nicest cutlery in the neighbourhood," teased Tom.

"Grandmama sent a vase from America and some money, which was very nice of her," said Sybil. "Cousin Isobel and Matthew sent some money for a pantry and a couple of worktables for the kitchen, probably the most practical of the lot and we'll have to go look for those. My mother's sisters sent a crate of glassware."

"A crate? What are we going to do with a crate of glassware?"

"Let me finish," said Sybil as she looked at him. "The best part is that there are a few other gifts expected."

"What does she mean a few other gifts? Where are we going to put it all?" asked Tom who was very curious.

"I have no idea to either of those questions," said Sybil as she rolled her eyes.

"I think it might be best if you could ask her for a comprehensive list and we can go over the list to decide what we can fit in our flat and what we cannot," said Tom.

"It would be rude to return them," said Sybil, worried that Tom might have had that in mind.

"I wasn't thinking about returning them," said Tom with a smile to reassure her. "I was just wondering if your parents could store the items we cannot fit into our home until we are in a bigger place. I just don't see the point in having them bring everything so that it can sit in the second bedroom until we move."

"I can ask," said Sybil earnestly. "She also confirmed taking over the wedding breakfast and invited your family to a dinner while they are in Dublin, which your mother has already asked me to accept."

"That's very kind of your mother to do both those things," said Tom as he looked ahead on the street.

"I suppose it is and I will have to watch her every step of the way or Mama will come up with a twelve course dinner that could potentially embarrass your family, which I will not have," said Sybil, determined.

"What gives you the impression that a twelve course dinner could embarrass my family?" asked Tom with a slight edge in his voice.

Realizing that she was walking into dangerous waters, Sybil replied hoping to assuage Tom's pride, "You know how Mary can be. Also, would everyone in your family know how to use a lobster pick?"

Knowing Sybil's eldest sister, Tom acquiesced, "I suppose you have a point."

Sybil looked up at Tom. "I suppose my point in all of this is that I will dearly need your support in the next few weeks, especially while they are here, and I may need to vent my frustrations and have your shoulder to cry on in a span of five minutes."

Tom stopped them on the pavement, turned to Sybil. "You know you have and will always have that. What's come up suddenly?"

Sybil ducked her head shyly. "Now that you've started your job, I am realizing how much I miss you. Your mother has been very helpful and supportive, but I never realized how much I leaned on my ability to see you almost on a whim. It seems as though I need to see and speak with you daily to feel complete."

Tom took her hands in his. "I miss you, too, very much. I know that we'll be painting the flat most of the day tomorrow, but on Sunday after church, if it's not raining, maybe we can pack a picnic and spend the afternoon together at our spot in the park. If it is, we can always spend the afternoon at the flat after we've eaten."

Sybil looked up. "I'd like that very much."

"We'd best hurry to the flat then," said Tom. "Because after we're done, perhaps we could convince Ma and Cathleen to give us a minute so I can show you how much I missed you this week."

Sybil smiled. "Let's hurry then."

A/N2: Since this is the chapter where they take possession of the flat, I refer to it as the flat chapter. Though to date, it is the longest chapter.

As always, please feel free to point out typos and grammatical errors (though now that I have a copy editor on my beta team you will find quite a few less). Sometimes no matter how hard you or your betas look, these things get missed. As always, I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter good or bad, so please do review. :)