AN: Tadaaaaaa! I bring to you, Chapter 21! I do hope you've been enjoying the story so far! And I hope you continue to enjoy!
DISCLAMIER: I totally own Downton abbey now… Just kidding.
Two months have passed, putting us in November, with a very pregnant Mary Crawley.
"The war is over." Robert announced joyfully. "Thank God!" Cora exclaimed, and everyone around broke into happy chatter. "Well, this is certainly good news!" Matthew felt truly relieved that no other men would have to end up like him because of the bloody war. Mary leaned over and kissed him in celebration. The war was finally over! "Careful Mary, too much excitement may send a woman into labor." Isobel said gently. Mary nodded, and settled carefully back into her seat. She unknowingly left a hand on Matthew's knee, and turned to join the conversation.
And he swore that there was something there- some sort of prickly feeling, and he looked down, to see his wife's hand on the spot. His eyes where wide for a fraction of a second before he contained himself. Could he possibly be feeling something? No, he decided. He couldn't be. He was only imagining because of all the good cheer.
"We have an announcement as well." Gregory, who had fit into the family quite well, announced as he stood. Mary and Sybil both looked knowingly at Edith who was smiling up at her husband. "Edith is expecting!" He said excitedly. Everyone instantly congratulated the pair, who were both simply beaming. "How soon?" Cora asked, simply over joyed at the promise of another grandchild. "June." Edith responded, placing her hand over the place where her still invisible child rested. She'd found her sister was entirely right. She'd been ill, gaining weight, tired, irritable, and already uncomfortable. But at just under three months, she'd yet to experience what her sister called magic. The men departed to enjoy a celebratory brandy, leaving the women alone to talk.
"Well, who would have expected, two sisters expecting at the same time." Violet Crawley was also grinning, excited at the prospect of meeting two great grandchildren from her favorite grandchildren. "It's too bad Sybil won't be having a child any time soon." Cora laughed, imagining having all three of her daughters with little babes of their own. "She will mother, in her own time!" Edith defended. "I suppose my child will just have to be the young one who's left out of everything." Sybil joked with a smile on her face. "It isn't as if there won't be more cousins later, closer in age for her children to play with." Cora said simply.
The words where like a knife in Mary's heart. She knew this was the only child she'd ever have. She'd thought it would have been an obvious topic to avoid. Isobel sensed her distress, and took her daughter in law's hand, gently comforting her. "Oh- Mary, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you!" Cora felt horrified when she realized exactly what her words had been. "No, mother I'm not upset at all." Mary lied, putting on her old Cold, Lady Mary mask. "But darling I'm," "No, I'm quite alright. This evening is about Edith, and the war being over." Mary turned the focus away from herself quickly, though she was dying inside.
She loved the child she carried so very much. But she knew her child would never have little siblings, to boss around, to comfort, to read to, to care for. She'd never be able to feel again this miracle of life growing inside of her body. She'd never be able to share the intimacy with her husband- "I think Mary is rather tired. It's been a long day; I do think she should turn in." Isobel said, and quickly helped up the expectant mother.
"Yes, it has been. Goodnight everyone." Mary Smiled at her family, and let herself be led out of the room by her mother in law. Her eyes where already brimming with tears, and they had begun to spill by the time Isobel had gotten Mary inside her room. "Come here darling, it's alright, let it out." Isobel embraced her daughter in law, as nearly as she could with the child separating them. Mary put her head on Isobel's shoulder and cried.
"I don't care, you know. That this is the only child I'll have. It is more than I deserve. I don't care that I can no longer share intimacy with my husband, for I don't feel as if I deserve that either- but Matthew deserves much more!" Mary sobbed. Isobel nodded in understanding, and gently stroked Mary's hair. "It's alright Mary, you're alright. Matthew is perfectly happy with you. You're all he's ever wanted, and more." Isobel insisted as she sat Mary down in front of her vanity. "Would you like some tea?" Isobel asked, and Mary nodded. "I'll send for some, and have Anna come to help you change. Then we'll tuck you in, and we'll just talk until Matthew comes up, is that alright?" Isobel asked. Mary nodded, and Isobel left the room, and was replaced with Anna in a matter of minutes.
"Mary, are you alright?" Anna asked in concern when she saw Mary's face. Isobel had said Mary was crying, but she'd rarely seen Mary look so upset. "I'm fine- just sad. I wouldn't cry so much if it weren't for this baby- when it's born I do hope I return to normal!" Mary cried as Anna set to work undoing her hair. "Would you like to talk about it?" Anna asked her lady quietly as she removed pin after pin. "This is the only child I'll ever have." Mary said simply, almost losing her newly gained composure. "Oh." Anna gasped as she realized how true Mary's words where. "And I'm sure I said quite too much to Isobel when she was here." Mary sighed; thinking of how she'd mentioned Intimacy with her husband- such things were already not to spoken of by a lady, but it made it worse that she'd said it to her husband's mother! "No, I'm sure you didn't. She didn't seem at all uncomfortable or upset when she came to find me, and have tea made fresh. She only seemed worried for you." Anna said as she braided Lady Mary's hair.
"Do you know what I said to her?" Mary asked quietly. "No, Mary, I don't." Anna said as she went to select a soft nightgown for the lady to wear. "I said I can no longer share intimacy with my husband! I'm sure it was implied, but such things are just not said! And of her son, no less!" Mary laughed, and put her hands on her red cheeks. "I'm sure she doesn't care Mary. Mrs. Crawley has always been much more accepting than most of your relations." Anna set to work quickly getting Mary out of her evening dress that must have been rather uncomfortable. "Maybe you're right. Anna, I don't know what I'd do without you. You simply take the best care of me." Mary sighed as she felt a silky nightgown being pulled over her body. "I always will, Mary." Anna said comfortingly as she turned down the bed. "Now, I'll go see if Isobel has gotten that tea, and I'll come right up again, alright?" Anna asked, and Mary nodded.
When she was alone, Mary rubbed her hand over her baby. "Hello darling. I remember the first time I did this. You were still quite invisible. Now I'd say you're quite grown. You must be tired of being so cramped inside of me. I can tell you are by the way you kick my ribs. And my back, and well any other part of my anatomy you can. But it's alright, I don't mind it. It's only one more month my little darling, until you'll be born. And then I'll hold you in my arms, and kiss your little face, hold your little hands. And the war is over now, my darlings; it will be a world at peace when you are born. I'm glad the war is quite over. Your father is also glad, he suffered very much because of this war, but don't worry, he is here with us, and he is very much the same as he was before he left. In that way, we're very blessed. He can't walk, but he has arms to hold you my dear, and lips to kiss you goodnight, and a wonderful voice to sing you lullabies', and read you stories. What more would you want of a father?"
Mary stopped when there was a light knock on the door, followed by the appearance of Isobel and Anna. "We've brought you tea and something extra." Isobel smiled as she set a tray over Mary's knees. "It's what took so long, my lady." Anna explained, as she gestured to the small chocolate covered strawberry. "Oh, thank you!" Mary exclaimed joyfully, she hadn't had one in ages, and they had always been her favorite.
Isobel poured each of them a cup of tea, even a surprised Anna, who'd never been asked to stay with her Lady after she'd turned down the bed. "How do you feel dear?" Isobel asked after a moment. "Much better, thank you very much." Mary smiled genuinely at both of them. "I'm glad, I thought perhaps the excitement would be too much, and the child might come early." Isobel explained with a smile. "Is that truly something that could happen?" Mary asked in horror. "Not if you ask many old fashioned Doctors, but it is." Isobel explained. Mary nodded and rubbed a hand rhythmically around her belly. "Are you nervous my Lady?" Anna asked curiously. "Quite. But I'm also excited. It's very hard to explain." Mary sighed. Isobel nodded in understanding "I know precisely what you mean dear, as would any woman who's ever had a child."
"Do you think it's a boy, or a girl?" Anna asked. "I think that it's a girl. But Matthew thinks it's a boy. We both agreed we are wrong half of the time, so it could go either way." Mary laughed. "You got Matthew to admit he is sometimes wrong? And in less than a year! I've been trying his entire life, and he's still not admitted it to me!" Isobel said, causing all three to laugh. "We should go, you need your rest dear, and you look positively exhausted." Isobel insisted as she stood. Mary nodded in thanks and lay down as the tray was taken away, and the candles blown out. "When will Matthew be up?" Mary asked sleepily. "Soon I'm sure dear." Isobel said softly. "I'm glad." Mary yawned and pulled the blankets up to her chin. "Goodnight dear." "Good Night Lady Mary." They whispered as they exited the room, but were unheard by Mary, who'd already fallen into a dreamless sleep.
AN: A slightly longer chapter than usual, but I wanted to bring Isobel and Anna back into the story, so there they were. What did you think? Review? I do hope you enjoyed!