Finally a new chapter!

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"Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven."

-Tryon Edwards

April 1915

Sybil was worried.

She hadn't heard from Tom in weeks. Normally this wouldn't have been cause for too much alarm, but after finding out that he had been wounded she could only fear the worst. She soon found that the only way she could take her mind off things, albeit only slightly, was through her work at the hospital. It had taken some time at first, but she was now used to the sight of blood, and remained unphased by any sort of wounds that she was required to treat. The hospital was currently filled with men transferred over from the front lines for further care; whether they were too injured to go back, or just needed a few weeks of rehabilitation.

Sybil knew it was ridiculous of her, but her heartbeat would pick up ever so slightly every time a new soldier was brought into the ward. As she hadn't heard from Branson since before he went into battle, and she knew for a fact he was wounded, her only hope for more information would be from Tom himself coming through the doors, though she had to admit this was an absurd notion; for all the hospitals in England, and France for that matter, and she hoped he'd come into hers.

The days came and went, and still no word from him. She continued to check the lists, but to her relief his name didn't appear. It had been too long since she'd last received a letter, and every day that passed increased her worry that something was wrong.

It was a bright April afternoon, during her shift at the hospital, when everything changed.

She'd just finished changing the bandages of a few men on the ward, and headed over to help clean and sterilise some equipment, a task that had to be done all hours of the day in order to prevent the spread of infection. Sybil didn't particularly enjoy the job, but knew it was essential and so set to it. She'd barely made it two steps towards the door before something made her stop.

She wasn't sure what it was, just a nagging feeling in her stomach, but it made her turn around nonetheless.

Her breath caught in her throat as she was met with a figure standing in the doorway to the ward. She took in the person just metres away from her, her mind seeming to take too long to register what was going on.

Then it hit her.

"Tom" she stated, the words coming out as barely a whisper in her shock. She stood rooted to the spot, her heart racing as she took in his appearance. He looked particularly handsome in his army uniform, she barely managed to note, whilst standing there staring in disbelief.

The shock soon turned to an immense feeling of joy and relief that he was okay, and right there with her. He was safe.

When their eyes finally met, realisation crossed his features and it was as if they were the only two people there in that moment. As soon as he smiled at her she snapped out of her trance in a heartbeat, hitched up her skirt and ran over to him, ignoring all the looks of confusion, and most likely curiosity, she guessed were plastered on the surrounding people's faces.

At first he didn't recognise her in her uniform, but as soon as his eyes met hers he knew. She looked more beautiful in that than any of the fancy dresses she used to wear back in Downton.

Branson had arrived a week ago and was placed in a hospital on the other side of the city. He was well on his way to recovery, yet was required to remain in London for a while for rehabilitation until he was well enough to be sent back to the line. He'd only been allowed to leave the hospital that morning, and immediately set about tracking Sybil down. He had gotten the name of the hospital through her letters, so it didn't take him too long to find the place.

He'd spent the days ever since he'd been told he was coming back to England imagining all the different scenarios of how she would react when he saw her, yet nothing compared to the reality.

Branson's face lit up as she ran over to him, and he was forced to take a step back as she pulled him into a fierce hug.

Sybil held on to him as if he could be taken away from her again at any second. She was elated, and nothing could take that moment away from her.

"Easy" Branson stated, her hug threatening to tear his stitches. Though he supposed he'd happily tear his stitches a thousand times just to hug her again; to be reassured, just by that one embrace, that she still loved him just as much as he did her.

Sybil quickly pulled away, anxious, "Oh I'm sorry, did I hurt you? I did, didn't I? Oh, I shouldn't have just-", she stopped mid-ramble, clearly aware of how she must sound. She took in a breath and continued, asking only what she needed to know; "are you okay?"

He felt a sense of coldness wash over him she released him and took a step back, and silently cursed himself for saying anything, although he couldn't help but laugh as he saw her fret over him. He gave her a reassuring smile; "I'm fine, it's okay, really. I have a nurse right here if anything should happen" he returned, giving a slight nod and grin in her direction.

Sybil, reassured, smiled back at him. She felt like she was dreaming. She had imagined the countless possible ways in which they would be reunited, and she had to pinch herself to believe that this wasn't just another one of them that she would wake up from at any second.

"So I take it you're happy to see me" he stated, realising now how much he had really been missing her while he was away.

All the emotions Sybil was feeling suddenly seemed to come to the surface and she gave what she could only describe as a cross between a laugh and a sob as he smiled at her, "Of course I am!" she replied, "I was so worried, I mean I had no idea how badly you'd been wounded or-"

"Wait- you didn't get my letter?" Branson cut in with a questioning glance, momentarily confused, "I must have arrived before it" he reasoned, "I didn't mean for you to worry-"

Sybil couldn't dispel the smile that had appeared on her face ever since she had set eyes on him again; "Don't be silly, I don't care about that, this is a thousand times better than any letter!"

Silence followed. They just stood there, in the middle of the ward, not caring about anybody else in the world but eachother.

Sybil, suddenly seeming to realise there were lots of people around, pulled them back into the empty corridor, away from prying eyes. It wasn't as if people would judge them, and she doubted she would have been in the least bothered if they had. The two of them were no longer the 'Lady' and the 'chauffeur', but the nurse and the soldier; two equals. Class no longer meant anything in the time of war, and this was how Sybil felt it should always be.

She pulled him into another hug, this time being slightly more careful.

"I've missed you", Branson stated, his voice barely above a whisper; words for Sybil's ears only.

She pulled back slightly and responded with a kiss, catching him off-guard.

"I've missed you too."