I intended for this to be the last chapter with all four characters at the Downton New Year's Ball, but after I started writing, that felt like too big a plot jump. Plus, I liked the idea of devoting some time to the sisters and the "bros" getting a chance to talk about everything that happened once Matthew and Sybil were back home before we get to the ball, so just like that this fic got three (at least) chapters longer. This short M/M scene, from Mary's perspective, sets up those conversations. So, I still have the end in sight, just much more happening before we get there than I initially planned.

Something to remember: Where we left things off, Mary and Matthew know about Tom and Sybil, but Tom and Sybil don't know about Mary and Matthew.

Mary

Whenever Mary was nervous, which wasn't all that often, she would feel a knot forming deep in the pit of her stomach. That's not what she was feeling now. This was more like butterflies in her chest, accompanied by a bit of lightheadedness and an inability to keep her hands still, a collection of symptoms altogether new to her. It had started last night, when Matthew had called to tell her that he was flying through Heathrow on his way back to Dublin from Manchester today and had a three-hour layover. He knew she'd be at the airport later on in the day to pick up Sybil, so he was wondering, did she want to come by earlier than planned so they could have lunch together one more time? He'd caught her off guard. When they'd parted, she wasn't anxious because she knew they would stay in touch, but seeing him again this soon, was it really a good idea?

During the week he was in London, Mary and Matthew had enjoyed themselves going out to dinner and to museums and shops, taking walks in Hyde Park, getting to know each other and getting to like each other and not thinking about the future or the fact that he lived in a different country, one to which he'd be returning in short order. They'd kissed and even rounded second base, one might say, but they'd remained true to the line she'd drawn on their first "date" at Jasper's. Mary had been tempted—very tempted—to cross it, but she did not want sex—good sex—clouding her judgment when it came to making a decision about what would obviously have to be a long distance relationship.

Sybil, Mary knew, lost years of her life to that ass their parents had foisted on her, Larry Grey, because the physical distance between them while she was at university lulled her into a false sense of happiness. Mary didn't believe Matthew was anything like Larry, but nevertheless she wanted to steer clear of a similar fate. She couldn't proceed without being sure. That's how much she liked him—she was making him (and herself) wait for more sex.

Mary still hadn't put a name to what she was feeling when she saw him in the distance. He was wearing khakis and a polo shirt under a light jacket and carrying a small duffel bag. She smiled.

Why, when he is so easy to like, does everything else have to be hard? Why does he have to live so far away?

She stood as he approached her and smiled as he leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. It was the greeting they had settled on after several awkward tries. They weren't a couple, but it was clear both of them wanted to be. The question of how that was going to happen was still up in the air so until it was all settled, they greeted each other as friends, which, Mary supposed, really was what they were. She had only known him two weeks, that was true, but he hardly felt like a stranger anymore. From the first night on, she truly wanted to know Matthew, and as she got to know him that desire became greater still.

"How was your Christmas?" He asked brightly.

"It was very nice, though it was a bit odd not having Sybil there."

"I still can't believe that she stayed in Dublin an extra week. I'm actually rather anxious to see what state Tom is in. He's already promised to tell all in drunken detail this evening. He does tend to wear his heart on his sleeve, but lovesick is not a word I would have ever used to describe him before now."

"I would say the same thing about Sybil, though that's only because of how emotionally detached she was in her previous relationship. To be honest, this is not really out of character for her, given how impulsive and so full of feeling she is about everything else. If she showed up today married, I wouldn't be very surprised."

Matthew laughed a little bit nervously. "You know, when Sybil sent me her picture before the swap, I had an inkling that he might like her, but I certainly didn't expect this."

Mary smiled and said, "It's funny how life can surprise you."

They looked at each other for a long time, both knowing that she was no longer talking about just her sister and his best friend.

Matthew dropped his chin to his chest, a bit sheepishly, perhaps not ready, Mary thought, to face whatever the future held for them.

After a moment, he said, "Well, if this turns out to be a great family scandal, I certainly hope you don't blame me for it."

Mary laughed, the question that had passed between them a moment ago off the table at least for now. "I'll absolutely blame you," she said, adding with a smile, "But that won't necessarily mean I won't still want to be friends with you."

"I guess I can live with the consequences as long as that remains the case."

She would be his friend, but she knew her heart would want more.

"So . . . lunch?" He pointed to a small café across the terminal and they walked toward it together.

Over sandwiches, she asked him about his Christmas and his mother, about getting back to work after a long holiday, and the conversation was perfectly nice, if superficial. Mary supposed he could sense it too, the nervous energy between them. The butterflies in her chest kept fluttering to the point she thought they might burst out.

As the hour he had free before he'd have to go back through security to make his flight came close to an end, Mary began to think that whatever feeling she couldn't identify insider her might cause her to erupt in tears. A break up. That's what this felt like to her, like something special she didn't want to end was ending and there was nothing she could do. The thing that was fluttering in her chest was powerlessness—that's what Mary had never experienced before, not with a man, not with anyone. She didn't want this to be the end. But how do I make that clear?

She watched Matthew as he paid the check and started to gather his things. He stood up. This is it, she thought. Then he abruptly sat back down. She was momentarily startled, until she looked at his face and saw everything she was feeling reflected in his eyes.

"This feels like an end, doesn't it?" He said with his brow furrowed. "Except the relationship hasn't happened yet. I don't know why that is."

Mary let out a sigh of relief, "I don't know either. It's been bothering me all morning. As much as I like you, I have to confess that feeling . . . well, discombobulated about someone is sort of foreign to me. I'm not sure I like it. "

He laughed, which made her feel good. "Can I confess something?"

"Go on."

"The reason that I came here, that I did the house-swap with Sybil, was because I was thinking about moving to London."

"Were thinking? As in past tense?"

"Am thinking. What I mean is I was trying to confirm a gut feeling that this was what was next for me."

"So you are moving here?" Oh, please God.

"I think so, yes."

And just like that Mary's butterflies did burst out of her chest, but in a good way. "Why didn't you bloody say so!?" She was practically yelling, but she didn't care, the happiness in her heart obvious in her bright eyes. "I've been crazy this week trying to figure out how this could possibly work, and you've had the answer the whole time!"

Matthew laughed and took her hands in his. "I didn't want to put any pressure on things. Or freak you out by making you think that I was making such a big life decision just for you."

"Matthew, I want you to do everything in life just for me."

And with this they stood and embraced like a real honest to goodness couple, which is what they were. Finally.

When they pulled apart, he said with a sigh, "Unfortunately, for the moment, I really do have to go back now."

"All right," Mary said, reluctantly leaving his arms.

"I'll call you when I'm home. And we can compare notes on the lovebirds once we've seen them."

"Looking forward to it." Then, an idea popped into her head. "Matthew, what are you doing New Year's Eve?"