Thanks for all the reviews and lovely comments, and I'm sorry for taking forever to get this chapter out; life = hectic! :)
Enjoy!
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"It's not about how much time you spend together; it's what you do with the time you do spend together."
- Ashley Getsay
April 1915
The next few days passed in a whirlwind, and Sybil couldn't remember ever being happier than she had been since Tom had arrived. Sybil had told him everything she possibly could about her training, but Branson, she noted, was particularly reserved about telling her about his time on the line. Every time it was even hinted upon he seemed to quickly change the subject and steer the conversation back in her direction. In that sense she was reminded of her father; he'd never really talked about his time at war, at least not to her anyway. She expected he wanted to keep that time away separate from his home life, and Branson probably wanted to do that too whilst he was in London. She soon learned not to ask him again; if he wanted to, he would tell her in his own time, when he was ready.
They hadn't had too much time together as Sybil had been working at the hospital non-stop for the days since he'd returned, so she was looking forward to that afternoon as they were both free for a few hours. Work at the hospital seemed to be getting more and more intense as the war dragged on. Every day new patients would arrive, wounds more awful than before, and the stress of it all seemed to be gradually catching up with her. There was also another thought that was weighing on her mind, one to do with Tom that she needed to speak to him about. She resolved to confront him later that day, when they had some time to themselves.
When her morning shift ended she was pleasantly surprised to find Tom waiting for her outside the hospital, just the sight of him immediately brightening up her particularly unpleasant day.
"You okay?" he asked, noting her weary expression and catching her in an embrace before she could take two steps outside.
Sybil smiled and pulled back, he always seemed to know what to do to cheer her up. "Can we just, go somewhere? Get away, just for a few hours? I need a break from all this" she stated, gesturing behind her to the hospital.
"Yes milady" he grinned, giving her a wink which made her face light up.
Branson couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so happy and carefree, probably just before the war was announced. He planned on making the most of his and Sybil's time together, however fleeting it turned out to be.
Upon her request Branson quickly grabbed hold of her hand and raced down the street, Sybil following behind laughing at the spontaneity of his actions whilst she attempted to keep her hat on her head with her free hand.
"Tom! Where are we going?" she questioned.
Branson turned to her, "It so happens I have something planned."
He guided her down a few streets before stopping at the house he had been temporarily staying in. He left her outside as he ran in, emerging with a basket and a blanket.
"A picnic!" Sybil beamed at him.
"Why not make the most of a beautiful day? Now it's not quite Mrs Patmore's level, but it'll do" he replied with a smile, watching her face and enjoying the smile that he knew he had put there.
They soon found themselves at a park and settled down to eat in a quiet spot by some trees. It reminded Sybil of her childhood when her and her sisters used to have picnics on the grounds of Downton in the summertime. Though those were the days when Mary and Edith actually got along with each other, Sybil noted with a hint of sadness. That reminded her that she should really write back to her family at home, she'd been so busy lately that she hadn't had a chance to reply to them in too long.
"Are you okay?" Branson asked, noting with concern her sombre, faraway look.
Sybil immediately snapped out of her reverie and turned to him, "Yes, I'm fine" she replied with a smile, "Just thinking."
"About what?"
"Home"
"Do you miss it?"
Sybil thought for a moment, then shook her head slightly, "I'm not sure. Definitely not as much as I thought I would. I'm just glad I decided to do something, I don't think I could have remained at home, I would have gone mad!"
"Well you're doing a good thing here, and God knows we need all the help we can get."
They slipped into a comfortable silence as they both just enjoyed being in each other's presence, knowing they would be separated again all too soon. Tom couldn't help but observe Sybil as she stared into the distance. There was definitely something worrying her, he could just tell by looking.
He leaned closer to her, placing his hand on hers, "Are you sure you're alright?"
When she didn't answer he continued; "Look, I know there's something bothering you, you know you can tell me anything."
He took in her profile as she gazed out across the park. There was a faraway look in her eyes and he waited patiently in the silence for her to answer.
Sybil sighed. "Can- Can we really make this work Tom?" she asked quietly, finally letting out what she had been thinking about for weeks, back before he had even returned, "Please say we can make this work."
There was a note of pleading in her voice and it took all the restraint he had not to go over to her and hug her, to tell her everything would work out fine, because he had no idea if it would. So he said the only thing that he could; "There's no use worrying about that now, we don't know what's going to happen."
Sybil turned and looked him in the eyes, her face conveying her sudden feeling of shock and sorrow, "You mean if you don't come back."
Tom's reply was just silence and a morose look, and Sybil was forced to turn away again as tears pricked at her eyes. She took in a deep breath, "You promised me you'd come back, do you remember?"
Branson's mind flashed back to the day he left, their conversation in his cottage. Their first kiss. His agreement to her promise. As it flooded back to him it seemed to harden his resolve. He knew he couldn't let her down. He'd do anything for her, and if that mean't his return then he would make sure it happened.
"Yes" he replied "and I will."
There was something in his voice, something different. A sense of determination that gave Sybil hope he would return to her. He pulled her into a hug and her arms wrapped tightly around him, neither wanting to let the other go.
After a while they reluctantly pulled apart, "You ready to go?"
Sybil smiled and nodded. They packed up their things and walked hand in hand through the park, heading back towards the hospital in time for Sybil's afternoon shift and Tom's need to check back in with the hospital to see how his wounds were healing. Sybil had insisted she could do a better job, and Tom was sure she could, but they needed to keep records of his recovery to know how long until he could be shipped back overseas; something he didn't want to think about.
Branson had insisted on walking her straight to the hospital doors and Sybil felt the familiar pang in her heart every time they had to leave each other. She turned towards him as they reached the entrance, pulling him closer to give him a lingering kiss. Yet her good mood was short lived as an all too familiar voice called out behind her.
"Sybil?"
She whirled around, Tom's hand still remained clasped in hers. Her smile faded quickly to a look of shock as she took in the woman before her.
"Mama?"
