The past five days had been such a whirlwind for Tom. He had been surprised when the telegram came offering a full time job for the Guardian. But his dream come true of finally being a full time journalist was tempered by the rest of the telegram "you will be stationed in France immediately."

This war was not his or his country's fight. But this job offered his best chance of becoming what he had wanted for so long. If he turned it down, he could forget further work with the Guardian, and would he find another newspaper willing to take him on?

His mother voiced her fears for his safety. "We don't need the extra money Tom, not if it means putting your life in danger."

Despite his misgivings and those of his mother, Tom decided he had to take the job. He couldn't let what might be his only chance go by. He had to make something of himself, for him and for Sybil.

I'm a driver now but I won't always be

I'll make something of myself, I promise

I know you will

Then bet on me

Two days after receiving the telegram, Tom was in Manchester meeting his editors. He had two days of intensive meetings with them covering what they expected of him. He was pleased to hear that he would be in France for six or seven weeks and then go to London for a week to meet with the Guardian staff based there. During that week he would finalize any articles that he couldn't send directly from France because of the military censors and together they would determine the direction of his next assignments in France.

Tom took the first morning train from Manchester to London in order to have a full day meeting with the Guardian staff in London before leaving for France that evening. The meeting in London ended with less than two hours for Tom to have dinner and catch the train that would take him to the coastal port where he would board a boat for France.

Yet Tom couldn't leave for France without seeing Sybil. He had to let her know what was happening. At the nurses quarters the "gatekeeper" reported that Sybil was on duty till eight but Tom couldn't wait till then since his train left at half past seven.

Luckily for Tom, Sybil's friend Charlotte was just coming in. Spying Tom, Charlotte smiled warmly as she crossed the room to greet him.

"Sybil didn't tell us you were in London" Charlotte said as she and Tom hugged each other.

"She doesn't know. I'm leaving for France in a couple of hours and I need to see her before I go. I understand she's working but I need to see her" Tom replied.

"Yes, I just saw her not more than a half hour ago. I'll take you there." They continued to chat during the ten minute walk to where Sybil was working. Charlotte's fiancé and brother were both in France and she hoped that Tom might see them or at least give her a better understanding of what was going on there. Charlotte hadn't heard from either for several weeks and she was afraid of what was happening there.

When they arrived on the ward, Tom waited in the hallway while Charlotte went to find Sybil. It wasn't five minutes later when a breathless Sybil came hurriedly into the hall.

"Tom. What are you doing here? Is anything the matter?" Sybil was clearly bewildered by Tom appearing at the hospital.

"I need to talk to you. I don't have much time. Is there somewhere we can talk for a few minutes?"

"Charlotte said she'd cover for me. There's a lounge we can use. But please Tom, tell me what is going on?"

"I got a full time job with the Guardian. As a journalist" Tom answered. "But I have …" Tom couldn't finish his sentence without Sybil jumping up and kissing him.

"Oh Tom that's wonderful. I'm so happy for you. I knew it would happen." Sybil babbled while holding on to him. "From the looks of you I thought something bad had happened. We can go celebrate when I finish my shift" Sybil happily continued on.

"There's more Sybil. I leave in less than two hours for France." That stopped Sybil cold.

"France?" Sybil couldn't contain her surprise.

Tom grabbed Sybil's arm "Let's go to the lounge where we can talk. I'll explain everything there."

The joy that Sybil felt when Tom had told her of his elevation to full time journalist quickly dissipated as Tom explained the details of his new job. Although he left out the fact that he was the replacement for a man who had been killed when the truck he was riding in came under enemy fire. He hadn't been able to tell his mother this and now he couldn't tell Sybil.

"I can't pass this up Sybil. I've dreamed of being a journalist for so long. This is my chance." Tom stopped talking and looked at Sybil expectantly.

Sybil was quiet for a few minutes before finally speaking with tears in her eyes. "Come back to me Tom. Promise me you'll come back" she murmured as she held him tightly.

Because of what he had seen since his return to Dublin, Tom thought he would be somewhat familiar with war but there was nothing to prepare him for what he actually found in France. Since the government was tightly controlling news reports regarding the actual fighting of the war, Tom's assignments were more human interest stories such as the interaction of soldiers with the local population. Of particular interest to Tom were the workings of the field hospitals. Sybil had once expressed an interest in volunteering at a field hospital but after seeing a couple of them Tom was so glad she was safely in England.

After six weeks sleeping in all sorts of places such cots in army tents and hospital tents, even a night in the trenches, all Tom wanted was a long soak in a hot bath in a real bath tub and then a long nap in a real bed. He had sent Sybil a message letting her know he was back in London and asking her to message him back as to when they could meet. In the meantime, he would take a bath and then a nap. What simple pleasures he had missed.

Tom was awoken by a constant knocking on the door. It took him a minute to realize just where he was. Annoyed that someone was disturbing his long sought after sleep, Tom yanked open the door wearing only his pajama bottoms.

Standing before him to his utter surprise was Sybil in her nursing uniform.

Tom surmised Sybil was also surprised judging by the gasp and wide-eyed stare she gave him.

"Sybil, love" Tom whispered, holding out his arms to fully embrace her.

Sybil quickly recovered and immediately fell into Tom's arms. The two stood in the doorway for a minute so completely lost in their embrace. Then lips found lips and the loving embrace turned into something frenetic.

"Tom, wait" Sybil managed to cry out.

"Oh God Sybil. I'm sorry … I didn't mean"

"No, we need this." From her position lying on the bed, Sybil reached for the shoulder bag she had dropped in haste while they groped and disrobed each other.

Tom's eyes widen as he realized what Sybil had reached for.

As she handed him "the French letter", Tom uttered "Are you sure Sybil?"

"I am. I am sure. I am ready Tom. I love you" Sybil beamed at him.

"I just want you to be…" Tom was cut off by Sybil's kiss.

Later they lay entwined in each other with Tom gently caressing Sybil's hair. "I can't imagine loving anyone more than I love you" Tom said quite seriously.

"Good" Sybil responded with a smile. "Because I've given you my heart as well as my body." After a pause she continued, "I don't know why I waited so long, I never imagined how great it would be."

"So you came over here with the intention of seducing me?" Tom chuckled.

Sybil playfully hit him on the chest.

"I am curious as to why and where you got the French letters?"

Sybil sat up. "I've thought about it since you left for France. I know you are the one for me Tom. So I finally decided why wait? We've had some education sessions on sex since so many of the men return with venereal disease. So I've been taking some every day, I don't think they'll miss them."

Tom looked at Sybil with concern in his eyes. "I want you to know, while in France I didn't… I didn't … there's been no one else since I met you Sybil."

"Oh Tom, I wasn't worried about that. But I'm not ready for a baby. Not yet."

"Sybil" Tom began but when Sybil leaned up and kissed him deeply whatever he was going to say was lost as they let themselves again explore each other.

Hours later Sybil woke to find Tom laying on his side looking at her with his hand gently stroking her hand. "How do you feel?" he asked.

"Happy. Ecstatic." Then looking at him she smiled broadly "Hungry."

Tom laughed. With a raised eyebrow he asked "Hungry for what?"

"Well I think fish and chips would satisfy me for now. Then you could satisfy my hunger for …"

Fully laughing Tom replied, "I think I've created a monster. I hope I can always fulfill your hunger."

"Well if the last few hours are any indication, I think you can" Sybil laughed. Then looking at him with a rather serious expression "Do you think the hotel restaurant would send up some dinner?"

The next morning, after a few more rounds of satisfying their hunger for each other, Tom went to his office while Sybil returned to the hospital. They had dinner that evening at Sybil's favorite bench on the pathway by the river. The week Tom had in London passed far too quickly. Both hoped the next six weeks would go just as fast. In some ways when he left this time it was easier because their relationship was established. In other ways it was worse because their relationship was established.

Mary had come to London to get away from Downton for a few days. She thought staying with Aunt Rosamund, doing some shopping, and visiting friends might lift her spirits a bit. Cora and Isobel were fighting over the running of the convalescent home, Edith was acting superior to Mary since she was so involved with the patients, her father was depressed that he didn't seem to be needed, Matthew… well Matthew was somewhere in France fighting and Sybil wasn't there.

Mary greatly missed Sybil. She had fallen in love with Sybil from the moment she first saw her unlike with Edith whom she had disliked from that first moment. Five year old Mary had sneaked into her mama's room to get a peek at her new sister feeling this new one would be just as bad as Edith. Unlike Edith who was all wrinkly and seemed to always be crying, the week old Sybil laid in her cradle happily cooing. When Mary tipped the cradle to peek at her new sister, she was surprised how beautiful the baby was with her dark curly hair and bright blue eyes. Mary swore Sybil lifted one of her hands toward Mary and when Mary touched it, Sybil smiled at her. From that moment on, Mary adored her baby sister.

Everyone was surprised how well Mary took to Sybil. She would happily sit and read to the little one while rocking her cradle. Mary couldn't wait till she could actually hold her. The contented baby became an adorable toddler who would follow Mary around. Mary was extremely protective of Sybil and that continued to the day Mary had told her father of the chauffeur's attachment to Sybil. She thought she was protecting her kind hearted sister. Mary couldn't believe how badly she had misjudged the situation and Sybil's reaction.

It was in hopes of mending their relationship that Mary came to visit Sybil. She hadn't sent a message to Sybil telling her she was coming for fear Sybil would find excuses to avoid her.

Mary was surprised by the procedures. She was Sybil's sister why couldn't she go up to her room. As she waited in the waiting room for Sybil, she sat on the only unoccupied sofa in the room. After a few minutes a man that looked vaguely familiar to her came in. The woman at the front desk seemed to be acquainted with him as she smiled when talking to him.

Less than a minute later, two women came down the stairs, and seeing the man walked over to him. Obviously they were friends because he kissed both of them on the cheek in greeting but they must not be going out with him because they continued to stand and talk rather than leaving together.

Although Mary couldn't hear exactly what was being said, her ears perked up when she realized the man had an Irish accent causing her to study the man even more closely. Could it possibly be … no it couldn't be …

Mary's thoughts were interrupted when Sybil, whom Mary hadn't seen come down the stairs, entered the room. As Mary stood up, she was shocked to see Sybil go directly to the man and kiss him on the cheek. He returned the kiss and put his arm around Sybil's waist. The four of them then walked out the front door with the man's arm still around Sybil's waist.

Neither Sybil nor the man had seen the elegantly dressed woman standing off to the side of the room with her mouth agape.

A/N: In researching this part of the story I found that the government tightly controlled the war news. There were only a few war correspondents and their work was heavily censored. Since I wanted to place Tom in France but not as a soldier I had to fabricate his job there so this part of the story isn't really historically accurate.