A/N: It's now Cricket Day! This is a birthday fic for the amazing PiperHolmes. Without whom, you would not be reading this right now.

Thanks for all the lovely reviews, favorites, follows here, and reblogs and likes on tumblr! They always bring a smile. :)

Thanks to Tripp3235 for a quick beta. Same universe as The Journey to Happiness and Branson and Crawley and one where Sybil and Matthew live and (which is a slight change from an earlier chapter of Branson and Crawley) is that Edith marries Sir Anthony in 3x03.

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

Chapter 8 - Cricket Day

Nora was kind to them and only awoke once in the night. After bringing her bassinet back into their room for the feeding, the baby slept with them afterward. Their daughter finally woke up for the day at half past seven. While Sybil nursed Nora, Tom dressed and went to take care of breakfast.

After making some toast and tea, Tom helped his wife with the stew she was making for the next day in order to make quick work of it. Once it was set to simmer, they both finally sat down to eat their breakfast. Nora was in her basket on the table beside them, happily gurgling away, waving a small cloth that Sybil gave her to distract her.

"I like the electric stove," said Sybil after swallowing her first bite. "The heat is much easier to control and you won't boil in the kitchen in the summer."

"It's definitely easier." Tom looked at his toast with jam from Downton. "I understand that Mrs. Patmore won't have anything to do with one."

"Well, Mrs. Patmore has a battalion of kitchen maids to keep the stove clean and in working order." Sybil checked Nora in the basket and smile at her husband. "We only have you and me."

"I did hear that there was stove malfunction during a dinner party for the neighbourhood while Mrs. Levinson was here." Tom offered. "Perhaps she'll change her mind in the future."

A knock at the door broke into their conversation. "I wonder who that is." Tom tried looking out their windows but saw no one. He then walked to the door to find Ned, the portly hall boy from last night, with a garment bag and a box.

"Good morning, Mr. Branson." Ned was still breathing hard from the rush to run the clothes to the cottage. He held out the bag and a hat box. "Alfred sent me to bring your clothes for the cricket match, sir, including something for Lady Sybil."

"Something for Lady Sybil?" asked Tom, genuinely puzzled.

"Yes, sir," said Ned, looking nervous. "Alfred said that Lady Grantham instructed that a dress be sent for Lady Sybil."

"Very well. Thank you, Ned." Tom took the garment bag. "Did the slipover arrive?" He was hoping that it was still missing and then he would have a legitimate reason for not playing.

"Alfred said to tell you that it's under there, sir." Ned smiled and then nodded. "I best head back. I'm helping prepare the field and set up the tents this morning in the village and we're getting the afternoon off to watch the match."

"Of course," said Tom, disappointed. "See you this afternoon."

Returning indoors, Tom laid the clothes and the hatbox on the sofa and returned to breakfast at the table. Sybil was already finished her toast and was enjoying her second cup of tea.

"Did the slipover come in?" asked Sybil, curious if her husband was going to use the lack of a complete uniform as an excuse.

"It did," said Tom with a sigh. Not wanting to dwell on his situation, he added, "Apparently, your mother sent along some clothes for you as well."

"What?" Walking over to the package of clothing by the sofa, Sybil mumbled, "She didn't." Rummaging through it, Sybil pulled out a white dress and inside the hatbox a matching white hat. "She had asked me two weeks ago what Nora and I were wearing for the match today and I had said my light blue dress and that Nora would be in a white dress and bonnet. When she didn't dissent, I should have known that she would have had one made."

While Sybil was examining the dress in more detail, Tom said, "So we'll both be wearing clothes that we didn't choose for ourselves today."

"At least she was kind enough to have Madame Swann fashion one that facilitates nursing." Sybil pointed at the bodice. "Maybe because she knows that I wouldn't have worn it if it didn't." Admiring it some more before going back to her tea, Sybil added, "I suppose I could wear it to church after this."

"Well, it is fancy enough," said Tom, taking another bite of his toast.

"I should check on the stew." Sybil drained the rest of her tea. "When are we suppose to be at the cricket lunch this year?" Every year there was a match, Downton would put together a lunch for the cricketers and their families before the match began. When it started was entirely dependent on the time they were to play.

"Matthew said that your father agreed to a one o'clock start this year, so we ought to be on the cricket field for the lunch by eleven." Tom finished his toast. "Mrs. Patmore apparently has made ice cream for the dessert."

"I suppose we ought to be ready by half ten then." Sybil stood and gathered all the dishes other than Tom's tea cup. "It's half past nine, now, so you'd better shave and dress. We'll need to gather all of Nora's things together and I will have to nurse her before we leave. If I had to leave during the lunch to nurse her, I'm certain that I will horrify Granny. I'm sure that she'll be horrified enough that I'm bringing Nora to the lunch."

"Did you not attend the match as a young child?" asked Tom after he drained his tea cup. "Matthew mentioned that Mary wanted to see Nora this afternoon."

"To the match, yes. To the lunch, no." Sybil started to walk toward the kitchen with the dirty dishes. "I must have been six or seven before I was allowed to eat with the adults even at the cricket lunch."

"How odd," said Tom, standing up from the table. "I can be ready in a half hour, so I have a half hour to spare. What can I do to help?"

"Can you entertain and dress Nora and pack her things in a bag?" Sybil called out from the kitchen after starting the water running for the dishes. "Please ensure that you pack the large soft blanket so I can nurse her later. I'll manage the things in the kitchen."

"Leave her to me." Tom then picked up Nora in her basket and began to prepare for the match.

Tom was coming out of the bedroom with Nora, both dressed for the match, when Sybil saw them. "You look very handsome in cricket whites."

"If you say so," said Tom, pulling at the collar of his white linen shirt with his free hand. "While it's more comfortable than a morning suit, I still feel as if I'm playacting an English schoolboy."

"I know you're wearing it for me, darling," said Sybil, leaning in to give him a kiss. "I do appreciate that you're making an effort." Pulling away from the kiss, she added quietly, "Perhaps, I'll show you how much I appreciate it later."

Tom raised an eyebrow at her. "Is that a promise, Lady Sybil?" Sybil bit her lips and Tom felt his knees go weak. What that woman can do with the simplest of gestures.

"A promise and a half maybe." Sybil finally said with an impish smile. "Let me take Nora from you to feed her before I dress."

"Then I'll be sure to come collect that promise," replied Tom with a smile of his own when he handed Nora to her mother.

"Do!" Sybil winked at Tom and vanished into the bedroom with the baby, closing the door.

Tom was waiting on the sofa with Nora when Sybil appeared in the white dress and hat and his eyes widened in surprise when he saw her. The dress accentuated her new maternal figure in all the right places. Sybil even pinned up her short hair so that it added an elegance to her appearance when she put on the matching hat.

"What do you think?" asked Sybil. It had been almost a year since she wore anything form fitting.

"I think that I'm looking forward to taking that dress off of you later." Tom looked up and down his wife's figure several times.

Sybil smiled at his obvious pleasure. "Perhaps I will need some help later. Mama also sent a ready-made corset. I wish I knew how she obtained my measurements."

Try as he might, Tom couldn't stop looking over his wife in the form-fitting dress. With the loose clothing she had been wearing the past year, he had forgotten how much he loved seeing her in something like this. "I would be happy to help in any way. Your wish is my command."

"Let's go, shall we?" asked Sybil, smiling at her nearly drooling husband.

Snapping out of his momentary daze, Tom said, "Yes, let's."

The Branson arrived at the field at quarter past eleven, having enjoyed the walk from their cottage. The Crawleys were just disembarking from their motorcade and Lady Rosamund was with them. That left the Strallans, who were still missing. Though Sir Anthony was unable to play due to his injured arm, they were expected to be at the lunch as members of the family.

Matthew and Mary approached the Bransons when they saw them on the road. After their initial greetings, they immediately broke into pairs according to gender. Matthew and Tom walked on ahead while Mary followed with Sybil pushing Nora in the pram.

"I see that you received the slipover this morning." Matthew looked at his brother-in-law. "We'll make an Englishman out of you yet."

Tom gave him a look. "That'll be the day. I'd like to see you try."

"Did you need more practice before the game?" asked Matthew. "I know you were still having trouble with batting."

"I don't think I'll improve all that much with one more practice." Tom sighed. "I wished that Sir Anthony hadn't been injured in the war, I understand from Edith that he was an excellent cricketer in his youth."

"If wishes were horses ..." Matthew grinned at his friend and changed the topic to something less contentious. "Care for a game of billiards after dinner? Now that the Bransons have moved to the cottage, I don't know when I'll have the opportunity next." The entire family was gathering for dinner that evening at Downton to either celebrate cricket victory or drown their sorrows together.

"Let me talk to Sybil," Tom offered, brightened by the prospect. "If she wants to go home directly after such a long day, I won't blame her, but perhaps Pratt can take Sybil and Nora home first."

"I understand, my friend, but I'm certain that Pratt can make an early trip, if necessary," Matthew chuckled and gave Tom a pat on the back. "Let's go greet the village team and have some lunch."

Meanwhile, Mary was holding Nora in her arms while Sybil was pushing the now empty pram holding just Nora's things.

"How was the procedure in London?" asked Sybil. She had been too busy with the move the last week to find time alone with Mary.

"As well as may be," said Mary, admiring her niece who was in turn studying her aunt. "I ran into Matthew at the doctor's office when I returned for my follow-up yesterday morning."

Sybil's eyes widened in surprise. She knew that Mary didn't want to burden Matthew with the situation especially because he was so busy with the modernization work. "What did you tell him?"

"In the end, everything." Mary looked around the field to avoid looking Sybil in the eye. "He's just happy that we can now work on making our little prince, as am I."

"I'm happy to hear." Sybil smiled. "You know I advocated sharing the information right from the beginning. I can't imagine keeping something like that from Tom."

"Perhaps you were right." Mary smiled down at her niece. "Just don't tell Edith that I ever admitted it to you."

Lady Rosamund approached the threesome. "How are my nieces and my great-niece?"

"We're all well, Aunt Rosamund," said Sybil on behalf of everyone. "What brings you here? I don't believe I've seen you in over a year."

"Mama asked that I help with Rose," said Lady Rosamund, with a sigh. "When she was in London earlier this month, she was a handful and Mama wanted a second set of eyes watching over her for now until she goes to Scotland."

"Matthew said that he found her at a Jazz club with a married man." Mary was somewhat scandalized. "For all my sins, I didn't consort with married men."

"I do wish that one of you girls had not married." Lady Rosamund pouted. "Perhaps one of you would be a better role model and companion who is closer in age."

"I'm not certain that Rose would appreciate living in a small cottage with a newborn baby," said Sybil with a chuckle.

"I'm not certain that Rose is appreciating living with Granny, either," Mary quipped.

At this juncture, a car driven by Edith with Sir Anthony stopped near the group of women and honked. "We're here!" A buoyant Edith stepped down from the motor and helped her husband of several months as well. "Aunt Rosamund, how lovely to see you."

After a round of greetings, Lady Rosamund said, "You look to be blossoming my dear. It would appear that Mama was in the wrong."

"Thank you, Aunt Rosamund," said Edith. Turning to Sybil, she added, "How was the move? Are you, Tom and Nora now settled in the cottage?"

"As well as may be for the moment," said Sybil. "How are things at Loxley?"

"Just wonderful and partially why we're late." Edith blushed faintly. "Anthony was just showing me where he was thinking of adding a new garden and we lost track of the time."

"It was entirely my fault," said Sir Anthony, looking entirely besotted with his wife.

"I see Mama staring at us from the lunch table she's sharing with Rose," said Lady Rosamund, nodding her head at the Dowager Countess. "Perhaps we ought to join them."

"Let's," said Sir Anthony, gesturing for the women to move ahead of him. "Ladies first."

After a boisterous lunch where Lord and Lady Grantham welcomed all the cricketers to share a meal, the game began. All the younger women then gathered under one tent. Nora was napping in the pram nearby after being fed just as the desserts were served.

"This is a boring game!" Rose lamented. "Who cares if you can hit the silly little wicket with the ball?"

"I'm certain that you'd rather be in London," said Mary, icily. "However, you must understand that it's in the best interests of the Earl to interact with the villagers."

"Oh I understand that, but why am I here?" asked Rose, defiant.

"Because you've been sent to live with Granny," said Mary. "For consorting with inappropriate people and she always attends the cricket match."

"Fine thing for you to say, after the rumours of what you had done," accused Rose. "I heard all about it growing up from the staff."

"There is always the chance rumours aren't true, cousin, but when you parade openly with married men, it prevents any course for denial." Mary glared at her. "And if this is how you behave at all times, it may just explain the reason that you've been sent to live with Granny."

Rose glares at Mary, then stood up and stormed out of the tent.

"I'll go speak to her." Edith stood up and followed Rose. She knew exactly how Rose felt after being the object of Mary's derision for years.

"How can Rose be so childish?" asked Mary once Edith was out of earshot. "Even at her worse, Edith wasn't like that."

"Rose's formative years were during the war," said Sybil, always sympathetic. "It was difficult enough to be an adult at that time I can't imagine what it was like growing up while it raged."

"No matter the circumstance," said Mary. "Mama would have never allowed us behave like that."

"Remember that Cousin Susan is not Mama," said Sybil, always aiming to placate. When Mary lifted an eyebrow, she added, "I'm not trying to defend Rose's behaviour. I'm merely trying to explain it."

There was a sudden roar in the crowd and Mary and Sybil looked up to see Thomas had batted a ball far into the outfield.

"I'm surprised that he can play so well after the injury to his hand in the war," said Sybil. "It was a devastating one."

"Was it? I know that Papa sent him to a surgeon in London last summer," said Mary. "His hand was in a cast for some time and he was on light duty. It came off just before the cricket match last year."

"Well, I suppose anything for cricket," said Sybil with a sigh.

Lady Grantham approached their tent and sat down on one of empty chairs by the pram. Looking at her little granddaughter, she asked, "Sybil, may I?"

"Of course, Mama." Sybil smiled. "Just try not to wake her."

Reaching in, Lady Grantham was able to successfully take Nora out of the pram, still sleeping. It may have been twenty-something years since she was in regular contact with such a small baby, but instinctively she remembered how to hold one. "Children are always sweet when they are asleep. I used to come into the nursery at night when you girls were little and just sit with each of you while you slept."

"Some of us would prefer not to be reminded of how we were as children," said Mary, rolling her eyes.

Ignoring Mary, Lady Grantham continued, "Sometimes I wonder, what it would have been like if your brother had lived. He'd have be five now." Here eyes glossy from unshed tears. Nora fussed and adjusted in her sleep and Lady Grantham moved to soothe her. "I love how she makes an 'O' with her mouth when she's sleeping. You used to do that, Sybil."

Unable to withstand more talk about the baby, Mary stood up. "I'm going to see Granny and Aunt Rosamund."

After Mary was out of earshot, Lady Grantham said, "I suppose I shouldn't have said those things in front of Mary, but I do love Nora and I've not had the opportunity to see much of you what with your illness and your move."

"First, I wanted to thank you for the dress, Mama." Sybil remembered her manners. "I don't know how you knew my postpartum measurements and the hidden nursing flap is so convenient."

"It was nothing, darling." Lady Grantham smiled at her youngest. "I had O'Brien intercept your laundry one day and measure one of your dresses for me. I knew you needed an outfit for today now that you've had a child and I didn't want to hear from your grandmother later that she couldn't tell you from a villager."

"But I am a villager now, Mama," said Sybil, feeling as if she will always need to defend her choice. "I live in the yellow cottage at the outer edge of the village."

"I know, darling," said Lady Grantham, smiling at her youngest. "And I've come to accept your life with Tom, but I thought that since your husband was going to be in cricket whites, that it was only fitting that you were in white as well. You do look lovely in it, Sybil, a veritable radiant mother of a beautiful child."

"Thank you, Mama." Sybil smiled at her mother. "The other thing I wanted to ask was when we're fully settled in a few weeks whether you and Papa would be interested in coming to tea at the cottage. Tom and I discussed having family over a few at a time."

Sybil wasn't certain what the exact matter was, but she felt tears welling up. Quickly wiping them away with a handkerchief, she said, "Thank you for saying so, Mama. Maybe in a few months, we can have the family over for dinner. Our table seats eight.

"That would be lovely," said Lady Grantham.

Just then Nora started to fuss and no amount of effort would soothe her. After checking her, Sybil realized Nora required changing and left with a crying Nora in the pram, desperately hoping that her grandmother won't hear and complain about it later.

A/N2: I thought I'd bring some interaction with the rest of Sybil's family and take a stab at a few things that make me lift an eyebrow last year, like Aunt Rosamund's absence in everything except cricket and the miraculous healing of Thomas's hand which enable him to play cricket that well. Tom's portion of the cricket match will be covered in a future chapter of Branson and Crawley. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading! Final chapter is next.