A/N: I am only posting because the lovely dustedoffanoldie requested that I do so and really, how can a girl say no when asked so nicely? So you all can thank her for this post. Also, I thought this chapter was much longer than it actually is. If I get a good amount of reviews I'll have the next chapter up sooner rather than later. Just some incentive. But nonetheless, enjoy!

Timeline: Still 3x01. After the dinner part with the Grey's.

Song: King and Lionheart - Of Monsters and Men

He couldn't stop saying it: a multitude of "I'm sorry's" laced with whatever had been slipped in his drink. Sybil guessed it was some type of sedative, obtained by Larry from his grandfather's medical library. What she didn't know was how such jealousy could push a man, or rather a boy, to act so cruelly. This was only reiterated as Matthew helped her carry Tom up the stairs toward their bedroom.

As they entered the room, Sybil hit the dial of the lamp on the wall near the armoire as Matthew helped a woozy Tom onto the bed. Tom collapsed back, falling quickly asleep as his head continued to pound. "Sybil, I'm really sorry-" Matthew began, unsure of what else to say.

"Oh stop," she managed as she kicked off her shoes and began to remove her jewelery. "You didn't do this…"

"Yeah, but I feel bad all the same. Mary and I really want all of this to be as easy as possible for the both of you. You should have seen her going on about how beautiful your wedding was when she returned from Dublin. She couldn't stop talking about your gown and the vows you shared."

Sybil beamed, thinking back to it all. Her heart warmed, remembering every last detail of such a perfect day. "It was beautiful," she confirmed. "But thank you, really. And thank you for making Tom your best man, I know he probably wasn't your first choice-"

"He's a good man, Sybil. And I meant what I said: we have to stick together if we're brave enough to marry into this family," he chided causing Sybil to smile.

"Well thank you, really. It means a lot to the both of us."

"Of course. Now are you going to be okay here? Do you want me to call for Dr. Clarkson? Or send Anna up, perhaps?"

Sybil smiled, shaking her head. "I did used to be a nurse. I think I can manage my drugged husband."

"Right," Matthew mentioned with a chuckle. He disappeared out the door, leaving a dozed off Tom to be cared for by his worried wife.

"Tom," she whispered, pressing her palm to his forehead to feel the heat radiating off his skin. "You're burning up, love," she said, as more of a note to herself rather than an observation for him to hear. "God, Tom…" Her voice was suddenly filled with worry, cracking as thoughts of him hurt flashed violently across her mind.

Tom opened his eyes the best he could, staring up at her. "I'm sorry." There it was again, two words she was all too tired of hearing.

"I love you," she whispered. Her voice was shaking as she pushed at his hairline, causing his fringe to fall back away from his eyes. "I'm sorry this happened."

Tom could only shake his head, suddenly feeling all the more weak. "You didn't do it. I should be lucky my wife is a nurse...I'll be fine, love."

"Your temperature is high. Let's get you out of these clothes, okay?" She did as she had asked, stripping Tom of his shoes and socks, then the jacket he wore followed by his tweed vest and button up shirt. The undershirt he wore was soaked through, a clear sign that his body was doing its best to detoxify naturally. Sybil removed that too leaving him in his trousers as he sprawled out on her childhood bed.

Anna returned moments later, standing at the door to wait for Sybil to notice her. Sybil was pressing a cool washcloth to her husband's face, her breathing falling as his temperature failed to do so.

"Milady," Anna choked out. "I brought Mr. Branson a glass of water and a cup of tea for you as well."

"Oh," Sybil breathed out, now seeing the housemaid at the door. "Thank you, Anna."

Anna disappeared just as Matthew had done before, leaving Sybil to tend to her husband again. As she did so, he slowly gained his energy back. It wasn't until he got up and ran to the loo, retching the contents of his stomach into the porcelain bowl that his eyes widened to their usual circumference. He said it again: "I'm sorry, love."

Sybil could only smile, patting his back as he collapsed against the basin of the tub. Maybe it was the pregnancy, or perhaps the sleep she still had yet to catch up on but she was crying now, weighty tears dribbling down her cheeks. "You scared me, Tom."

He reached up, doing his best to wipe away her tears with his thumbs. "Please don't cry. Really, this isn't worth it."

There it was: the wit his voice usually carried when alcohol and pills had not ruined his night. "You're always worth it. I'm serious, Tom. You scared me. You got so angry and then your eyes were glossing over…"

He reached for her, kissing the crown of his head as he drew her near. "I'm right here, love. I'm actually feeling better thanks to you." His lips found hers and they were lost, if only for a moment, forgetting about jealous young boys and the others who had recently judged them.

"I hate him," she muttered, causing Tom's eyes to widen. "What?"

"You don't hate anyone. Don't say that." He paused. "I won't let him ruin you."

"No, of course not," she mused. "That's your job." Sybil sighed. She smoothed out the material of her dress, wishing mostly that Tom could rid her of the frock in the same way she had just helped him to undress. "I'm going to help you into bed and then head back downstairs. I want to get you more water…"

"You're not going to talk to him," he warned, already knowing what she was up to.

Sybil smiled, wishing her family could see them now. "Nevermind you." How could you stop two people who were so utterly comfortable with one another from being together? Surely that counted for something.

She kissed his nose before helping him stand up. They walked, slowly at first, then more steadily as Tom regained his balance. As she helped him into bed, he held onto her, not quite wanting to let her go to face his battles. He was sure if he said something she'd only assure him that his battles were her battles too now.

Sybil slipped out, leaving Tom in their room to rest. Slowly, she shut the door behind her, allowing the more animated hallway to brush at her eyes. Without thinking she walked swiftly toward the staircase. Sybil heard voices below, ones she so desperately wanted to silence. Standing tall, she descended the staircase, walking toward the sound of the voices congregating in the hall.

Larry stood, kissing her mother's hand as his own mother and father talked to Robert. They started for the door, stopped only when Sybil called out: "Larry! Larry, wait!"

He did, leaving the rest of the house's guests to stand by and watch. "Sybil, please-" Robert attempted, doing his best to avoid a fight in the middle of the foyer. He knew all too well what his daughter was capable of. He saw it when he witnessed her step out of the car with the help of her new husband, carrying their child, just days ago.

"No, Papa," she said, her voice sounding much more like a warning than a plea. "I need to say this and Larry needs to hear it."

As a challenge, Larry stepped into her. "Go on," he teased, hoping he was getting to her more than he ever would.

"You are despicable! I do not know who you think you are coming into my parent's house and practically poisoning my husband-"

"I didn't-"

"Was I finished?" Sybil roared. "Regardless, I am disgusted that you call yourself a man and then would do such a thing. You were actually a really nice boy when we were younger, Larry. I didn't want you then and I most certainly do not want you now, but you were nice. I pray to God you are forgiven. I forgive you," she offered, her voice still shaky. "But please do not think I will ever forget how you acted tonight. If this was your plan to get me to suddenly realize feelings I clearly never had you are even more delusional than I thought."

Sybil went to walk away, but stopped herself. She felt them, the eyes of all in the foyer on her as she started for the stairs. She stopped though, turning back to Mr. and Mrs. Grey. "Lord and Lady Merton, thank you so much for coming tonight. I'd ask you to excuse my husband but I hope you know better than to blame him for such a thing."

She turned on her heel and ran back upstairs, hoping she could catch Tom before he fell back asleep. What she left behind was far more than a group of confused faces. The tension in the air rose and then faltered, allowing the entire Grey family to politely excuse themselves out the door.

Thank you for reading! Please review if you're feeling so inclined.

Also, I will be posting the first chapter of my new fic this weekend. It's called "Beautiful Collisions" and I will of course advertise it on tumblr as per usual. This story has been a few months in the making and I've worked hard to get it to where I want it to be for posting. I really can't wait for you guys to read it.

x. Elle