Surprise! Another chapter, yes I know I take forever but I swear this WILL get finished!

& to everyone who's stuck with this THANK YOU :D

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"Don't be afraid of opposition. Remember, a kite rises against, not with, the wind."

- Hamilton Wright Mabie

July 1915

Sybil had watched him leave for France, yet again, and this time seemed so much harder than the last.

Their last moments together until who knew when took place on the platform of the train station. She'd held his gaze for as long and she could, wondering if it would be the last time she would ever set eyes on him. The thought made her feel hollow. What if he didn't make it? She'd have no one, not really. Her family would look at her differently, maybe not Mary, but certainly her mother. That was if she even went back home.

She pushed the thoughts aside and put on a brave smile. Waving him off, her eyes never left the train until it disappeared out of sight, and even then she remained stood rooted to the spot for several minutes until the whistle signalling the arrival of the next train pulled her out of her stupor.

She could hardly recall her walk back to the hospital, it was as if she was in a trance, playing out countless scenarios in her mind of what her future would hold.

By the time she got back she had to get straight to work and donned her uniform for another endless gruelling day. She figured the work would take her mind off things, it had in the past, and it seemed to work. She fell easily back into the routine and reminded herself of the promise she made herself all those months ago about being sent to France. This gave her a focus and she poured all her energy into fulfilling that promise.

June 1916

Sybil managed to maintain a relatively frequent correspondence with Tom, and eagerly awaited his letters. She recalled the quote absence makes the heart grow fonder and believed it a fitting one for her situation. The worry for his life was, of course, still there, but over time she had managed to put that to the back of her mind and focus on the positive.

Yet, the one thing she didn't receive, and which made her more upset than she thought she would get, were any letters from her family. She could understand about her mother, she had told her plainly not to contact her, and even her father who, from what she could gather, was away from Downton aiding the war effort, but the fact that neither of her sisters, not even Mary, even wrote to her hurt the most. Granted, she had received a few from Mary over the months following Tom's departure, but they just stopped coming and she hadn't heard anything in over six months.

She was beginning to think her mother had taken her advice about not seeing her again, and for the first time she began to regret her words. Yet, when she remembered why she had said those things, it reinforced her determination that she had done the right thing and there was no reason why she couldn't do it on her own.

Despite this she did still see her Aunt Rosamond on occasion, and she was fairly certain she was keeping an eye on her for her mother, or even perhaps Mary. This lack of contact, and Branson being so far away constantly at risk on the front lines, made her feel more alone than ever. Yes, she had her friends, but it wasn't the same.

The silence between Sybil and the rest of her family was broken by an unexpected letter which she received following a difficult shift at the hospital. More wounded had been shipped over and it had been a particularly exhausting day. Yet, now she was an experienced VAD nurse and could handle just about anything that was thrown at her, even the professionally trained nurses seemed impressed, and that was an achievement worth celebrating.

At first she just stood still, staring at the letter for a long moment, taking in the elaborate curves of Mary's handwriting.

There must be something wrong, Sybil concluded before opening it, Why now? She wondered, especially after all this time making it seem like I don't exist?

For a second she considered throwing it into the nearest fire, yet her curiosity overruled her stubbornness and she opened it up.

Dearest Sybil,

I'm terribly sorry I haven't written in so long, I feel just awful about it, but it was with good reason. Things have been chaotic to say the least since I last wrote you, but I hope you will be happy to hear Matthew proposed whilst on leave and we shall hopefully be married when the war is over. I do so hope you will attend.

Sybil practically beamed at the unexpected happy news; she loved weddings and one between Matthew and Mary of all people? She couldn't quite believe it. Yet, this happiness was short-lived as she read the rest of the letter.

Though I'm afraid I did not just send this letter to tell you the happy news. Papa returned home last month and wanted to know how you were. Obviously Mama had no answer and she ended up telling him about you and Branson. He said you must break it off immediately or else he will come down to London and do it himself, dragging you back if he must.

I'm so sorry my darling, I tried my best to help you but Papa is as stubborn as you and he will not bend.

I'm coming down to London very soon to see you, I expect Branson is away fighting and I do not think you should be alone.

All my love,

Mary

Sybil remained composed as she folded the letter back up and placed it in her pocket. So she was going to lose everything, and for what, following her heart? It just didn't seem fair. She supposed she still had Mary, and she guessed Matthew would also be supportive. In the back of her mind she still held on to the faint hope that her father would change his mind, just like he'd done when she wanted to go and train as a nurse, although this time she suspected she wouldn't have her mother's support in the matter like she had had back then.

She cast her mind back to her days at Downton and how well she and her father got on. It brought a pang to her heart to think that there was a significant possibility she would never have that relationship with him again.

She even surprised herself in how she handled the letter, deciding to take things one step at a time. She would look forward to her sister's visit, look forward to Tom's next letter, and not worry about her parents until they turned up on her doorstep. It was a refreshing feeling, and a testament, she felt, to how much she had grown and become independent since leaving Downton to come to London.

The next two weeks followed, just like the last two, until she was called to attend a meeting for a large number of the nurses at the hospital. She noticed a few weren't in attendance, primarily the youngest and most recent arrivals. There was to be an announcement, and Sybil waited anxiously for it.

Her heart began to speed up. She was sure she knew what was coming, but actually hearing the words made everything seem that much more real.

"We have some news for you all. The war is at a critical stage with the army preparing for one of the largest offensives yet, and it requires your services in a more direct manner. Though you may refuse if you so wish, you're being sent to France to aid the brave men fighting for their country."