Today I'm posting two companion ficlets that I've been recently inspired to write :) Hope that you'll enjoy :)


How I Met Your Mother

"Da, how did you exactly meet Mama?"

Tom Branson turned in his seat and saw his sixteen year old daughter standing on the put the pen down and decided to finish the article later – now it was time for something else.

"I mean, I know that you were working as a chauffeur at Downton, but do you remember the exact moment? What was your first impression of her?" Saoirse clarified her question as she approached her father's desk and sat in a nearby chair.

Tom merely gave her an indulgent smile. That was one of the things Saoirse loved most about her parents – they were always willing to share their memories and stories about themselves with their children.

"So," Tom began, "I first saw your mother as she was approaching the car. She looked at me… and I looked at her. That was all. Frankly, what happened a bit later was more important. I heard her talking with your Grandma and Aunt Edith, and I realized that that girl was not who I had expected her to be."

"And what had you expected her to be?"

Tom sighed, "What expectations can an Irish working class lad have of an English lady? I definitely did not suspect any of Lord Grantham's daughters to be so… outspoken, vivacious, independently thinking and… interested in women's rights. But then I heard the youngest one talking and immediately knew that she was extraordinary."

"Was it love at first sight? Did you realize then that she was the right one for you?"

"I wouldn't call it love at first sight… but I think that my heart knew that she was special even back then. I can only assure you that the first time we talked… the connection was instant. Never before had I felt so comfortable and at ease with someone so quickly. In other circumstances it would have already made me think, but in our situation I was at first hesitant to admit that this relationship could be something of a romantic nature."

Saoirse only nodded because she was too deeply lost in her thoughts, "But you and Mama were clearly meant for each other, weren't you? It had to somewhat happen, sooner or later."

Tom noticed a fait blush on his daughter's cheek; it was quite clear that Saoirse was not talking only about him and Sybil, but that she also wanted to learn something about love in general…

But she's so young. No, not too young. She's the same age Sybil was when she met me….

"Your Mama is definitely my soulmate, but you'll need to remember, darling, that love requires also hard work. Someone may be your perfect match, but that does not mean that everything will be perfect."

Saoirse suddenly turned very pink and exclaimed, "But oh Papa, how do you know whether you met someone special?"

Tom took his daughter's hands into his. "Is there someone?" he asked understandingly.

"I…" the young girl stuttered, "here lies the problem, Da! I don't know."

"Give it time, darling. The answer will come itself. I didn't do anything until I realized that I was in love with your mother."

"But how will I realize it?"

Tom laughed tenderly, "I know that what I say next may be cliché, but… listen to your heart, darling. That's all. Truly."

Seeing doubt in Saoirse's eyes, though, he immediately added, "You'll meet someone for sure, don't you worry and don't be too hasty."

"Someone knows what he's talking about," Saoirse teased her father; she knew how long he had waited for Sybil's answer to his both laughed for a few moments before Saoirse turned serious again.

"It may be difficult for us three, you know? Me, Patricia and Michael, I mean."

"Why?"

"Because you and Mama set the bar very high when it comes to our expectations about love and matrimony."

"I hope we did," answered Tom and directed his eyes towards the doorstep, where a middle-aged woman had appeared just a minute before and was watching them with a small smile on her face.

He smiled back lovingly.


How I Met Your Father

Sybil Branson finally returned home after a long night shift at work. She craved nothing else than a cup of warm tea and to crawl into the bed next to the sleeping figure of her husband.

Once the tea was ready, Sybil took the cup and sat comfortably in her favourite armchair in the sitting room. Only then did she notice that she wasn't the only person who was awake at such an early hour. Her ten year old son Michael was sitting at the chair opposite the armchair and looking at her expectantly.

"Darling, what are you doing here at such an early hour?" Sybil exclaimed in surprise.

"I couldn't sleep anymore, Mama."

Sybil was well aware that her son was not an early bird, so she felt worry wash over her. Moreover, Michael clearly seemed to be troubled by something.

"Mama, how did you exactly meet Da?"

The question left Sybil puzzled for a moment. Since when was Michael interested in such things?

"Ma, I met a nice girl on the playground yesterday. Now I wonder that maybe Sallie and I could be like you and Da one day."

Sybil had to smile at those words. He starts quite early.

"I first saw your Da when I was going to a dressmaker with Granny Cora and Auntie Edith."

"And what happened?" Michael asked excitedly.

"Does something have to happen all the time, darling?"

"Yes, like in a book, Mama!" Michael persisted with an adorable pout on his face.

Sybil gave him a tender smile, "Life is not always like a book, I'm afraid. But that does not mean that it's worse. Nothing happened back then, but I'll always remember that day and the moment when I first laid eyes on your Da."

"And what happened after that?" the young boy was unyielding.

"Nothing, I just registered that the new chauffeur was good looking and not at all similar to poor old Taylor. But I think that my heart knew that I met someone special even back then."

"I think that Sallie has lovely dark curls. Am I in love with her?"

Sybil overcame an urge to laugh, "No, but you like her. It may be a first step towards love, though."

"When did you fall in love with Da?"

The woman had to inwardly chuckle at her son's matter-of-fact, to the point questions. "I don't know when exactly. It's difficult to pinpoint such things, sweetie. But I know that it didn't take long, and there was a clear connection between us since our very first conversation."

"Why didn't you do anything? Something could have happened earlier between the two of you, and I would be older now!"

"But sweetie, our situation was very complicated. You know that Da worked for Grandpa Robert. Also, I didn't immediately know that I was in love with him, and even once I knew it, it took me years to act on it."

"Why?"

Sybil sighed, "Because life is not a book and there are many things that may be problematic. But they do not make love weaker; quite the opposite – they make it stronger. Love is too powerful to be easily defeated. I remember that during my first season, I was not drawn to any other man. No one could compare to your father. It was some kind of unconscious fidelity."

Michael furrowed his little eyebrows in puzzlement, "What do you mean, Mama?"

Sybil smiled tenderly at her little son, "What I will say next may be a cliché, but it's true: your heart always knows best even when your mind is unaware of certain things."

Michael put his hand to his chest. "Then, I think it tells me that I love Sallie."

Sybil could only beam at these words.

"What should I do next, Ma? Tell her?" Michael's direct questions struck again.

"Maybe give her something? Like flowers?" his mother proposed.

"What an excellent idea, Mama!" exclaimed Michael joyfully, "Now I know what to do."

"I'm happy to be of any help," replied Sybil in a merry tone.

Michael yawned. "I think I'm still sleepy. Now I know what to do with Sallie, so I can go back to bed."

"But first come and give your Mama a hug," Sybil said and opened her arms wide, and Michael nestled himself in her embrace.

After the young boy went to bed, his mother finished her tea and directed her steps to the bedroom. She undressed herself quickly, climbed to the bed, and cuddled herself close to the sleeping Tom.

"My heart was, is, and will always be yours." she whispered into his ear so as not to wake him up.