A/N: I hate that I have to do this, but if you don't like this story, don't read it. Simple as that. I'm sorry if my portrayal of the birth was not up to your standards. I purposely left out the details because I wanted it to be fluffy - the exact opposite of what was portrayed in 3x05. How dare I write about it in an idealistic manner after Fellowes butchered the opportunity for such a beautiful moment. Blasphemy!

Song: Little Victories - Matt Nathanson

Sybil was on the couch in the drawing room. Madeleine was laid in her lap, the small length of her form resting comfortably in the crook of her mother's legs. The light green frock Sybil wore acted as a blanket beneath the child as she cooed and laughed at her mother's funny faces.

Sybil laughed, pulling Madeleine into a sitting position. The child smiled up at her mother, unable to do much else. Small mewing noises escaped her plump lips but she was far from crawling and an even longer distance from talking.

"Dear god, you are so tiny." Maddie looked at her mother with her father's eyes, wide and adoring. "Is Mama's baby girl just the tiniest?" Sybil asked, knowing that the smile her child gave was better than any words she would someday be able to form. "I wonder where your Papa is…" Sybil began, looking over her shoulder to the ajar door on the far wall.

Tom had gone out with Matthew that morning after a question he brought up at breakfast had sent Matthew and Robert's heads spinning. In particular he was commenting on their inactivity on checking up on many of the tenant farmers who had just received new farm equipment for dealing with the land. Robert replied, rather snappily, about how he would gladly go check out the equipment when it was due for inspection next harvest.

Tom ensured them this was not enough, reminding them of the many failing textile mills in India after the crown withdrew funds the year prior. Such a comment, no matter how foreign, did not seem to phase Robert or Matthew. "These people work for you," Tom continued. "You cannot instill a product on them and just expect it to work. It's not fair. They are used to their old ways and will be inclined to return to them. But the old ways won't make you or the town any money. If you do not keep up on the equipment, and something goes wrong before the next harvest, they will allow it to go wrong. It happened in India, I've seen it happen in Ireland, and it will most certainly happen here in Downton. The Industrial Revolution was great for some, but change scares most. It needs to be monitored if you want to see improvements." Then, as if he hadn't said anything at all, he continued to read the paper and drink his cup of tea.

Sybil could only smile as she fed herself and their child who was perched nearby tightly strapped into her wooden highchair. Tom may have been abrasive when it came to his own politics, but there was a very large part of him that was so wordly and knowledgable about other parts of the world too, and all because he did have a kind heart and compassion to match her own. She saw him read the paper, much differently than her father ever did. Like Robert, he received an irish paper now, and read that rather extensively, but when he was done, as requested and covered under his own savings, he read a printed paper out of London that covered more international news. Of course the bias was clear, and that made him roll his eyes, but beneath it all, Tom was able to keep himself informed.

That was over three hours ago, and Sybil was growing rather restless waiting for her husband to return home. Parts of her, very small parts, loved that she was able to raise their child here. Other parts, missed Dublin and hoped that this place wouldn't ever be missed by this child or any of the others she knew they would someday bring into the world. Places like this can be sought after, and visited, Sybil thought, but castles do not raise children.

She was comfortable here though and awfully safe in this place that was once home. If they were back in Dublin she was sure she would be back to work by now. Thinking of the job she was forced to forfeit due to her husband's political passions made her heart swell and her head pound. She did not blame him for what he did, she only wished he would have told her more about it. But that was over and done with, and there would be other jobs and right now Sybil only cared for the time she was granted to spend with her daughter and husband. Such time surely did not exist anywhere in Dublin.

"Oh Sybil, there you are."

Sybil turned around. It was not Tom, but Mary who stood at the door with Edith. Both girls were in the process of taking off their hats and gloves and handing them to the new footman, Jimmy. The rest of the house called him James, as per Carson's request, but after hearing he preferred his more colloquial name, Sybil agreed to call him just that, taking him on like one of her old causes.

"Jimmy, can you bring up some tea, please?" Sybil said, leaning forward so that her presence was known to the footman.

He smiled at her, reminding Sybil of an incident a week earlier when Tom commented on how he was staring rather longingly at Sybil during dinner. With a laugh, Sybil brushed the thought off allowing her mind to simply acknowledge just how attractive the new footman was before moving on to more important things like the child she was nursing in her arms.

"Yes, milady," he managed before disappearing out the door with Mary and Edith's belongings.

"And where were you two?" Sybil inquired, still refusing to take her eyes off of Madeleine. Unable to support the weight of her own head, the young child nuzzled into her mother's chest for support. Sybil giggled, kissing the side of her daughter's face.

"Out looking for a house for Edith."

"Mary!" Edith countered, turning immediately to her sister, even with her hands still folded neatly in her lap. "It's not like that…"

"Like what? Tom said he overhead you talking to Matthew about wanting to move out. It's not like that then? Is that somehow embarrassing or silly in a way that I am unaware of?"

Mary listened to her sister's tease one another. She could only roll her eyes before sipping at the cup of tea Carson had just poured for her. "I'm afraid you have shocked this house beyond recognition, Sybil…"

Sybil sipped at her tea, still firmly holding her daughter in her lap. "I have no idea what you're talking about," she said, her eyes traveling upward with the encouragement of the blush now flooding her cheeks. She knew exactly what Mary was referring to, but she wouldn't dare apologize for it. They had their time to be shocked and to question how, but now, more than two years since her and Tom announced their engagement, she was wishing this house had gotten over all of that. Mostly, they had.

Sybil sat forward. "I think it's lovely that you want your own cottage, Edith."

"You would."

Edith ignored Mary and smiled. "Thank you. It's just a thought. I can't live here forever. When Mama and Papa die it won't even be their house…"

"Oh stop blubbering about it! A man will come along, Edith. Maybe if you didn't sit around whining so often, he'd come right up to you but you can't be found among all this complaining. It's suffocating!"

"Mary, be nice," Sybil warned, rocking a now sleeping Maddie in her arms.

"She needs to grab a hold of her life."

"I think that if you want a cottage you should have a cottage," Sybil confirmed, agreeing with Mary.

"Well you always think that you should have what you want."

Sybil stood up to place Madeleine in her bassinet by the door away from all the chatter. Walking back to her sisters, she placed her hands lazily on her hips but still demanding of some form of respect. "What does that mean?"

"It is insensitive! Mary can't have children, I can't get married and you have these things and you flaunt them!" Edith barked.

Sybil rested her hand on the arm of the couch. She looked away then back to them, both of her sisters, one nearly in tears and the other appearing cold as ever. "I flaunt them?"

Edith stood now too. "You do!"

Mary, with her eyes fixed on one of the statues on the far wall had finally returned to the conversation. "Oh, Edith, leave her alone."

"I will not! I have every right to say all of this."

Sybil sat down, wishing desperately for this discussion to return to being a civil one. In all honesty, she couldn't remember the last time she had spoken to her two sisters like this, since even before she left for Dublin. It was rare for all three of them to be home and in appropriate moods for such an activity. It was exhausting, even at their age, to get along.

"I will not apologize for being happy!" Sybil defended. She used the plush cushion next to her for support as she leaned into the space her sister's were occupying. Especially because it is exactly what I want for you both!"

Edith rolled her eyes and turned away. "Hardly," she spat, taking her tea cup with her.

"Edith, enough!" Mary said, joining her sister's in sitting on the edge of her seat.

"You are blind if you think I don't want babies for Mary and a marriage for you. That's exactly what I want and I want it because I know how much both mean to me," Sybil said, practically in tears. "I love my husband because he is my best friend and I love Maddie and I will love the rest of my children. But I also love the both of you and I hate that you act as if I live to spite you. I did not get pregnant to upset Mary. I got pregnant because I am in love and that is what married people do. I did not get married to upset you, Edith. I got married because I was in love. I did what I did because I loved Tom and he loved me back. Now please stop badgering me! Let's not act like all of this came so easily! I had to leave my home and my family to get the life I wanted! And I would not trade my life now for the world or the universe or the heavens above but dear god if it wasn't work getting here."

Mary pressed a frustrated hand to her forehead. Sending her eyes heavenward, she averted her attention away from Edith back to their younger sister."Sybil, I'm sorry Edith has taken it upon herself to blame you for my misfortune. I didn't..."

"No, I'm sure you didn't."

"I'm sorry," Edith mumbled.

"No you're not!" Sybil scoffed. "You're miserable and I would be too! I can't imagine what being stuck at the altar felt like. And I can't imagine what it's like to be barren," she raised her voice, now gesturing to Mary.

Edith looked upward. Perhaps it was to keep from crying or to avoid the gaze Sybil was casting upon the both of them. Part of her, no matter how often her and Mary bickered, was just as sorry for Mary as she was for herself. She may have been jealous for once upon a time wanting Matthew, but such lack of beginner's luck could only be chalked up to a simple crush. She saw the way Mary and Matthew were with one another, and she wanted happiness for them if only so that it was okay for the same to happen to her."What curse is this?"

"What are you babbling on about?" Mary spoke, rather quickly. She wasn't being curt or insensitive. Her words often appeared without her own acknowledgement and once they were out, she couldn't possibly retract them even if she wanted to.

"Why is happiness so hard to come by in this house?"

"It's here. You just have to know where to look," Mary said rather flatly.

"Or maybe this place is your problem. Maybe it's all of these places." Sybil inhaled sharply. "We were brought up to think Downton, our world is safe but the world stretches much wider than this estate. It's the people not the places and things that bring me joy."

"I like it here," Mary reminded. She was every bit the woman their mother was when reprimanding Sybil about her choice words regarding how she was raised. It was fascinating to Sybil, and most likely to everyone else as well, how three girls, now made women by a war and time, had grown up to be so utterly distinct.

"And I'm not belittling that, Mary. I'm just saying that joy should exist even without all of this."

"My joy does. But a child would be nice..."

"You will have a child...and I'll come with you to ensure that you do!" Sybil reminded, reaching out to place a reassuring hand to her sister's arm.

"Where?"

"To a doctor!" Sybil beamed. Suddenly the idea was more fun to her than it was to Mary.

Edith was staring off now, her gaze lost on the painting near the fireplace. "Unfortunately my problem can't be solved by a doctor..."

It was Mary first, then Sybil who began to laugh, but only after she heard a chuckle escape Edith's own lips. They all let go, giving into the anxiety they had created to allow for more laughter to fill the room. Such noise continued and when it began to die down, it started up again, raising to the level of a bright roar. "When is the last time we laughed like this? Like really truly laughed?"

"Honestly?" Edith began, blinking at Mary. "I can't remember."

Behind them, Maddie began to whine, her soft mews turning into a loud scream. Before Sybil couch reach her, Tom was at the bassinet, tucking his hat underneath his arm so that he could pick their daughter up. As the two shared a rather passionate kiss, Robert, Matthew and Cora entered the drawing room and went to sit by Mary and Edith, ignoring their youngest daughter's display of affection with her husband holding their newborn in his arms. It was something they had become rather good at, deciding it was easier to ignore such an obvious thing than to shed light on it and cause them to go scurrying into the shadows. Or maybe it was a talent they all had never lost from so many years ago when Sybil was still a Lady and Branson was no more than her family's chauffeur.

At one point or another, everyone in this house from the help to the family had discovered Sybil and Tom making up for lost time. It infuriated Robert the way it would with any father but he knew better than to comment on it. He and Sybil rarely spoke now other than her occasional sentiment of gratitude for the help he had provided both her and Tom. She loved her Papa, and always would, but she was no longer his little girl, and she swore that was a privilege he gave up and not the other way around.

"May I see her, Tom?" Mary asked, referring the child that was now cooing in his arms as he and Sybil joined the rest of the family.

Tom happily handed the child over, knowing that he would have plenty of time with her before lunch. He and Sybil also loved the way Mary and Matthew had taken to their respective god-parenting roles even before the Christening. It was them who encouraged Robert and Cora to attend.

Always in defense of her baby sister, Mary and Tom were growing to have quite a civil relationship, one that involved many witty remarks back and forth. Of course Tom thanked Sybil and Matthew for such a bond, but he was growing just as fond of Mary as she was of him.

Sybil watched the interaction between Mary and her goddaughter. She watched her oldest sister press kisses into the child's face before holding her close and rocking her back in forth in her arms.

"Sybil and Tom, we'd like to talk to you."

Edith looked up, asking a question Mary and Matthew would have thought of had they not been so lost in entertaining Maddie. "Should we go?"

"You can stay," Sybil said before returning her attention to her parents. "Yes?"

"We were wondering if you had discussed employment while you were here…"

Tom beamed as Sybil began to explain how she had talked to Dr. Clarkson the week prior and mentioned returning to nursing. He offered her a temporary position working as a walking nurse, going from home and home to do sick visits. Sybil happily accepted after wages and work hours were discussed.

"And you, Tom? Surely you do not wish for Sybil to collect a steady wage on her own."

"No, sir. I was thinking of getting a job at a garage in Ripon…"

Sybil's eyes widened as she turned to Tom. She shook her head, as if to yell "no!" "I thought we agreed you weren't going to go back to all of that, Tom." She breathed in. "You're better than that."

"Was I better than that when I used to drive you around?" Robert and Cora winced and Mary and Matthew separated from their goddaughter long enough to sense the tension in the room. Edith did her best to busy herself by running a few fingers along the rim of her tea cup. Tom's words were calm but sure, like a reminder to Sybil she would never forget.

Sybil reached up and touched a palm to her husband's cheek. "I didn't say that, love."

"I need a job, Syb. Your father is right; I can't let you work by yourself. That's not fair. And I won't have Madeleine growing up thinking her father can't provide for his family," Tom said, making Sybil immediately think of his own father and the hardships they had endured when Tom was a child. Those same hardships led to him working at Downton and then them eventually falling in love. But no, they couldn't possibly have that for their daughter.

"If I may…" Matthew began, holding Madeleine in his arms as he stood up and went to sit closer to the rest of the family. The child was a comfort and a shield, somehow forcing all of the previous hostility to float away. "I have a proposal."

Everyone looked up to Matthew, waiting for him to continue. Sybil, Mary and Tom looked especially intrigued. He continued. "I brought Tom out to the farms this morning because of what he said at breakfast and I'm sorry to say it Robert but he seems to know more about the best way to landlord than we do. I know this is your home but someday it will be mine and I just can't see us even getting to that point if the finances and relations keep on the way they have been."

Tom looked to Matthew. "Oh, I couldn't," he managed, turning his gaze to Sybil for support. Unfortunately for him, the same apprehension was lost on her, and she brightened, imaging her husband managing the same land that raised her. "There's not-"

"But you can," Matthew said, almost as an offer. "And if it's alright with Robert I'd really like you to help me turn the estate around."

"Alright."

All eyes jumped to Robert. He did nothing but sit casually in his chair. His body language showed no signs of distaste for what his son in law was proposing. In fact, he seemed to be relaxed by the suggestion, almost as if he was actually considering giving Tom a chance. He had done the same thing once before, when he first welcomed to the young man to Downton as a chauffeur. Now, years later, he would do the same thing, knowing that if anything, Tom was hard working and reliable.

"You mean it, Papa?"

"Sybil, do not act so surprised. Tom was a good employee before and I trust that he will help Matthew in the same way now."

"Will you do it?" she asked, turning back to Tom.

"I, uh, I don't know if-"

"We'll discuss it later then," Sybil said, knowing Tom hated to be put onto the spot like this. Edith and her parents filtered out of the room leaving the two couples behind. Matthew passed Madeleine back to Sybil. She immediately kissed her cheeks sending the baby into a smiling fit. Tom leaned into his two girls and placed a kiss on his daughter's tummy. Sybil laughed, watching the expression on their baby's face change as she was suddenly unsure of her father's action.

"You know," Mary said, not quite making eye contact with Sybil or Tom. "I think Papa actually wants this. He won't ever admit it, of course, but he didn't object and that's saying a lot."

Sybil took Tom's hand and held it in her lap. "See?" she beamed. "He likes you…"

It was then that Mary looked over. She sent her eyes heavenward, her feet still crossed at the ankle. "Well now you're just being overly optimistic…"

~!~

"Two pints, please."

Tom smiled at his brother in law's request. "Alright, then. You do mean business…"

Matthew grabbed for one of the glasses set down in front of him by the man tending bar. Tom grabbed the other, and went to put down money as well, but was stopped by Matthew. "You're going to save the estate. I'm buying you a drink."

Tom followed Matthew to a table in the back of the pub. "You know, you're the only one that doesn't make everything about social class I was born into."

"I don't care about that," Matthew said over his shoulder. "I wasn't much above you at one point."

Tom smiled. "I think you were," he said rather cockily causing Matthew to only brush the comment off.

Matthew continued to nod at several of the bar patrons before picking a booth in the back of the crowded pub. A thick film of smoke floated about near the ceiling, causing Tom and Matthew to sink down into the booth. Each man took off his hat, then his trenchcoat, both of which were haphazardly laid next to them on the bench each man sat on. "Do I have to do that? I mean, should I do that?"

Matthew sipped at his ale then looked up. "Being friendly to people in town? I wouldn't advise against it," Matthew teased.

"Yeah but you say hello to them because they're your tenants, right?"

Matthew shook his head and swallowed down the ale coating his tongue. "I say hi to them because they're people. And you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. I just think they're all a little scared of Robert. It's as if he's King in feudal times and I can't have that when Downton is finally mine. I want them to know me and feel comfortable with me. That kind of relationship is good for business."

"So is letting them own their own land."

"Not right now. In the future, sure. But even you should know that that kind of shock isn't good for the economy. They need to be guided through it." Matthew watched Tom's eyes bulge as if waiting for a better answer. "Not because they're stupid and most certainly not because they're lower class farmers," Matthew emphasized. "The estate pays for a lot of things it no longer would should they own their land. I've looked at the books and trust me, I've thought of letting them even lease their land, or own it for trial periods really. It just wouldn't work it. And that's the problem. We need to get them to a point where their profit is enough so that they can be self-sufficient."

"Have you told Robert this?"

"No…" Matthew trailed off. His gaze was fixed on a group of young teenage boys that had just walked into the pub. It reminded Matthew of his time spent in Manchester when he was training to become a solicitor, before he met Mary and before he was meant to inherit the estate. He remembered the gaiety all boys held quite well. There was a simplistic joy in being that young and not ever bothering to worry about tomorrow.

"It won't be his matter soon," Tom assured. "I mean, he is your father in law and he is Lord until his death but-"

"Are you planning something?"

Tom laughed. He swallowed his drink and then wiped at his mouth with his palm. "No. And don't say that too loudly. Some people in this town would love to believe that."

"Ahh, they're not that bad."

Tom looked up. "You don't see it. Sybil takes it pretty hard but I don't think they even realize they do it. They gawk at me, at the baby, at her for leaving. They just don't know."

"No they don't," Matthew stated strongly.

"What did they say after we left?"

"What didn't they say after you left?"

Tom softened. "No, really…"

Matthew sighed. "That you had gotten her pregnant. That was the big one. Or that she was having the baby of a dead army general and she paid you to marry her so she wouldn't be alone for the rest of her life."

"Robert tried to buy me off."

"He did not."

Tom smiled, suddenly finding the fact to be much more humorous than it ever was. "He did."

"Oh my god…"

"And you think you had it rough."

"Actually, I don't. It's awful, really," Matthew began. "Robert is a good man if he thinks you're a good man. And I don't think he doesn't think you're a good man. I mean, he sees the way Sybil is so obviously in love with you and you with her, I just don't think it's in him to suddenly forget the past and treat you like a chum."

"Right," Tom said before sipping his ale to get rid of the bitter taste in his mouth. He still couldn't get over what Matthew had told him about what was said about him and Sybil after they left for Dublin. He could handle it, and so could she, but he didn't want her to have to. That was never the plan when they left for Liverpool to start their new life.

"So will you do it?"

Tom looked up. "What? Oh...yeah," Tom said, settling on the word when he found no others suitable. "Yeah, I will," he reassured.

Matthew lit up, and leaned across the table to fervently shake Tom's hand. "Oh good! This is so great!"

"I won't be here forever though. I can't be…"

"No, of course not. And this won't take forever. Just a few months, maybe a year. We just need to get Downton back on its feet."

Tom shook his head. "I can't promise I'll be much help but I'll give my opinion when I can."

"That's all I'm asking."

"Okay, then."

"Your daughter is beautiful…" Matthew said, getting them off the topic of Downton and onto something he was sure Tom was much more comfortable talking about.

This was all confirmed as Tom tried to finish the last of his pint, clapping the glass down on the table when he failed to do so. "We all have her mother to thank for that. Let's just hope she inherits her mother's temperament as well."

"She'll be fine. You and Sybil are great with her."

Tom looked up to meet the gaze Matthew was casting upon him. He heard it in his voice and now felt it, the way Matthew was saying things he only wish could be so personal. "You'll have kids," Tom offered. "Soon too. Sybil told me she wants to go to the doctor with Mary."

"But who am I if we need a doctor for that sort of a thing?"

"Uh, a man who fought a war? Don't let anyone tell you this isn't the right way. Who's to say there even is a right way?" Tom gestured around to the pub. "You and Mary will have children and they will be jovial and spoiled and we will all just have to hope they get your friendliness…" Tom said, hiding behind his almost empty glass of ale. A smirk could be seen on his lips and Matthew joined him, only after throwing him a "watch it" look.

The two men continued like this for at least another hour, watching and laughing, as the rest of the patrons in the bar filtered out. Tom told Matthew how he brought Sybil here after their failed elopement and Tom was surprised to find that Mary had never disclosed their time at Gretna Green to him. It made him think that perhaps Mary did always have Sybil's best interest at heart. She knew, like Matthew did now, that if anyone was to ruin Tom and Sybil it would be the world that surrounded them, and not those who claimed to love them. Mary did love Sybil. Everyone at Downton did, really. And they were growing to love Tom, a notion made easy by the constant attention he paid to his daughter and wife and the job he had just willingly taken on.

Tom and Matthew walked back to Downton, both slightly buzzed, but happy at their new contract. The two boys had shared a bond, one beyond weddings and jokes made about marrying Crawley women. They did have a lot in common, and they were able to be themselves with one another. Matthew kept Tom in check, and Tom reminded Matthew that he was not always an heir.

At the top of the large staircase, the two men separated. Matthew disappeared into the bedroom he shared with Mary and Tom walked to Sybil's bedroom, their bedroom really, where he hoped he wouldn't disturb his sleeping wife and daughter.

When he entered, however, the light on her side of the bed was on. Maddie was in her bassinet by the fire sleeping soundly and Sybil sat on the bed reading a book. A lazy braid rested on her shoulder, covering the thick strap of her soft cotton nightgown. This one was new, Tom thought. Or at least he had never seen it before. It hit her a few inches below the knee, and he thanked God that he was the only one ever allowed to see her like this.

"Why are you up?"

"I was waiting for you," she whispered, not wanting to wake their daughter up. "How was the pub?"

"Good. You should have come."

"Ladies don't go to pubs."

Tom was on the bed now, leaning into his wife to capture her lips against his own. "I brought you to a pub once. And if I remember correctly you did very well for yourself."

Sybil covered her face with her hands, sinking down into the bed as a rush of rose ran up her chest to her cheeks. "Oh god that was awful," she recalled. "Your mother was so disappointed…"

Tom grabbed the back of her neck, using it as leverage to bring her forehead down to him. He placed a kiss there, then stood up to begin getting ready for bed. "She was disappointed at me for getting you hammered," Tom said with a laugh. "I'm serious. You held your alcohol quite nicely."

Sybil returned to her book. "You're evil."

"I'm taking the job," Tom called over his shoulder. He was unbuttoning his shirt and soon he was standing before her in just his trousers as he went to the armoire to grab his night shirt. He would sleep in his briefs the way he always did in the summer months. Sybil didn't mind. In fact, she'd probably rid him of his shirt later as well.

"Really?"

"I hate that my pay comes from the estate but I really think I can help Matthew out."

"Thank you, Tom."

He was dressed now, and getting into bed. He pulled the covers she had laid down for him up over his legs so that it was both of them sitting up, ensconced by the confines of this room. "I wouldn't do this for anyone else, Syb."

"I know that."

"I don't want to return to being a mechanic. It was fine when I was younger but it's now what I really enjoy. But I'd do it," he said, catching his wife's eyes upon his own. "I'd do anything for the both of you."

Sybil sighed and placed her book down on her bedside table. She didn't care to keep her place or to remember what it was she was working on. "I know you would, Tom. And I love you for that. I am so in love with you and how hard you work for me and our daughter," she said, nuzzling into him. She was straddling one of his legs now with one palm pressed flat against his cheek with the other resting on his shoulder for stability. "I want you to know that," she said, rubbing at the stubble on his cheek. "You know how much this means to me, don't you?"

Tom nodded. "I meant what I said all those years ago. I am going to devote every waking minute to your happiness, Syb. And now to Maddie's happiness, and the happiness of the next kid."

"And the next?" she teased.

"And the one after that."

"And after that?"

Tom sighed. They had discussed three and always disagreed when it came to the fourth. "We'll see what God gives us."

"Do you want to try?"

"Already?" Tom croaked, nearly choking on the air he was trying to breathe in. "Maddie is…"

"No, not now. Not for another year maybe. But we could," She wiggled her eyebrows. "Practice."

"Practicing is good. Practicing is very good," he whispered before capturing her lips against his. She breathed him in, fisting her hand gently through his hair. They continued like this, going as far so that Tom's hands were running plays up and down Sybil's smooth stomach. They had to stop though as Maddie winded up and began to wail. She was like this lately, wanting to feed at the most inopportune moments, and growing cranky when Sybil refused her such a task. Sybil knew that a few weeks of unhappiness would benefit their child in the long run if it meant regular meals and a happy child. Tom was amazed at her ability to let the child cry. In fact, he had been the one to always run to her bassinet and rock her in his arms. Sybil would often roll his eyes, swearing that if they had had a boy, it wouldn't be like this. Part of her knew it would be though. It would be like this for this child, and the next, and the next as well.

I wasn't going to post this until tomorrow morning but I was feeling giving (no, but you all can thank dustedoffanoldie for this!).

The closer we get to the end (there are only 8 more chapters left!) I'm starting to think I should have written more. But alas, I am not Julian Fellowes and I know better than to beat a dead horse.

(That idiom is a bit ironic here, don't you think?)

Anyway, let's enjoy this as it winds down, shall we?

As usual, thank you so much for reading! Reviews are awesome too, if you're feeling up to it!

x. Elle