Author's note

As always, thank you so much to everyone who has read/followed/reviewed/favourited this story so far, or liked/reblogged it on Tumblr! It means so much to get your feedback. Please do keep telling me what you think, it really inspires me! :)

This chapter marks the first anniversary of the week I first published this story here, which is a big milestone for me! In it, our lovely couple are back in their everyday life, for now at least...

Chapter 16 - The deep breath before the plunge

The train ground to a halt in the tunnel with a screech of metal that set teeth on edge.

Tom groaned. He was going home early because he had some good news he had to tell Sybil in person to make it seem real, and he knew he didn't have long until she left for her night shift at the hospital.

Just when he was giving up hope of making it to their flat in time to see her, the train jolted and began to move. It finally reached Highbury station and he sprinted for the exit, almost vaulting the barrier as he ran out onto the street.

When he arrived at their building, he raced up the stairs two at a time, pulling his keys out of his pocket as he went, and through the front door, noticing the landlord still hadn't fixed the broken light in the stairwell. He saw Sybil's bag still on the floor and breathed a sigh of relief –

"Sybil? Where are you, a stór? I've got some news..."

He went into the sitting room and found her on the couch. "Tom? I wasn't expecting to see you tonight. Is something wrong?"

He crossed the room and took her in his arms as she stood up. She pulled away from him slightly, concern written across her face, and he hastened to reassure her. "No, nothing's wrong – in fact, something wonderful happened today."

"Tell me! What is it?"

"The lead Finance article for the Saturday paper fell through, and my editor is giving me a shot at writing it, as long as I can finish it tomorrow – luckily I already have something close to ready, I just need to polish it up. I'll be on the front page of the section, Sybil, with my own byline!"

"Tom, wow, that is amazing! I'm so proud of you!"

"I never expected it to happen so soon. I'm still totally gobsmacked..."

Sybil lifted her hand to stroke his cheek. "I knew you weren't far away from something like this. After you got nominated for that award last winter, it was only a matter of time before they recognised how talented you are, darling."

Tom's heart felt so full it could almost burst, not just from pride at his professional achievement. Having the love and support of this amazing woman to share it with made it ten times better.

Her hand moved around to caress the back of his neck and he pulled her into a kiss. After they broke apart, she smiled at him, eyes shining.

"Tom, I am so happy! I can think about how wonderful you are all night while I am stuck at work..."

"Don't go yet! Oh please, Sybil, stay with me a little longer... I'll have to go in super early tomorrow so I won't see you after your shift."

She reluctantly stepped out of his arms. "I wish I could! I've got to scrub in for surgery." Resolutely, she kissed him and turned away, picking up her bag and wrapping a scarf around her neck.

Almost at the front door, she turned around and came back to him, almost knocking him over as she ran into his arms again.

"Sweetheart, good luck! I will miss you so much..."

"I know, Sybil, me too – Saturday morning can't come soon enough..."

They kissed one final time before she left, and he watched her go before turning back into the empty flat.

He decided to walk down the road to the gym, since he wasn't sure when he'd get there again that week. Before long he was lifting weights, trying to concentrate on his sets of bicep curls and lat pulldowns, but finding his mind drifting off to think about the woman who had taken complete possession of his heart and mind.

The next day, Tom's editor came over to his desk –

"You on track with that piece? Needs to be in no later than four, you know that, right?"

"No problems – I'll have it in before the deadline."

Just then Tom heard his phone beep.

Thanks for remembering to call the landlord about that light at the top of the stairs! Killer shift, just leaving here at last to go home and sleep. Since I won't see you until tomorrow, here's a little something to keep you thinking of me until then... love you xxxxxx

His phone beeped again and this time, it was a picture message. His heart started to race as he stared at it – Sybil was wearing her white doctor's coat, with nothing underneath.

"Anything wrong, Tom? You look a bit flushed, mate."

He quickly shut down the screen of his phone and put it face down on his desk.

"No, it's all good – just a caffeine rush from the double espresso."

"Don't let me down, Tom, will you? I'm taking a chance on you here."

He looked his boss in the eye and nodded confidently. "I won't!"

A few hours later, Tom was feeling good about himself and life in general. Having met his deadline with a few minutes to spare, he was enjoying a couple of pre-season drinks with his football team in a pub by the river before training started again on the weekend.

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, soaking up the last of the early autumn sunshine on his face. Sybil's picture message came into his mind and he lingered on the thought, mentally exploring her body.

"Hey, what are you smiling about, Tommy boy!" Thomas whacked him on the arm and handed him another pint.

"Cheers, mate! So, what's the story? That shite team from BNP still playing in our league?"

They had fun trash talking their most bitter rivals from last season for a while. Then, Tom looked over at the door and saw Matthew walking out onto the riverbank to join them.

"Matt! Over here!"

He waved his friend over and they shook each other's hands warmly. Now that he was living with Sybil, Tom felt closer to Matthew than ever before – after all, they had both taken on Crawley girls, so they had to stick together!

"My round, I think?" Matthew left to get the drinks and when he came back, Tom made some room for him.

"I've been meaning to call you. Great party the other week!"

"Glad you were both able to come. I have to say, while it was fun, I am glad it's over. Now, we can have a normal life for a while, at least until the wedding planning gets into full swing."

"Next spring will be here before you know it!"

They shared a grin. "I'd be perfectly happy to sneak Mary away to Crete for a couple of weeks and get married on the beach. But I know she wants the big Downton wedding, and I love her enough to want her to have it. How about you and Sybil?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come off it, Tom. You're so loved up since you moved in together it's sickening." Matthew grinned to letting him know he was only kidding. "I can't help thinking a proposal is somewhere in your future..."

Tom thought for a minute before he spoke – he'd never been comfortable sharing his deepest feelings with the likes of Thomas and Jimmy, but he knew Matthew would understand.

"Matt, I think I've been lawyered. You have to promise not to say anything to Mary."

"It's in the vault. Go on, you can trust me – attorney-client privilege and all that."

"When I met Sybil last Christmas – well, you know what we were like, crazy in love from the off, and I love her even more now. I've never felt like this before, never knew I could feel like this! I already know in my heart I want to be with her forever, so I know it's fast but I've been thinking about asking her to marry me. I'm not sure what she would say, though. Would I frighten her off?"

"Well, I'll tell you what I think. If it were anyone else I'd say you were out of your mind to think of proposing so soon, but somehow – you and Sybil are perfect for each other! I'm pretty bloody sure of it, seeing you together. And I'm willing to bet you a pound that, if you ask her, she will say yes. I happen to know," putting a finger to his nose, "from an inside source I will not reveal, that she is completely head over heels in love with you, too.

"Joking aside, Tom – if you know this is what you want, and I can see you do, then why wait to be happy? I kind of regret not asking Mary sooner, to be honest. I wanted to pick the 'perfect' time and place, wait the 'right' amount of time – there's really no such thing."

They shared a glance and Tom opened his mouth to say something else, shutting it as Jimmy came over to join them.

"As the barman said to the horse, why the long face? Come on, it's our turn on the pool table..."

"OK, coming!"

Tom mouthed "Thanks" at his friend as they walked back inside... he knew what he wanted to do now.

Tom woke up when Sybil came home before dawn the following morning. He got straight out of bed to welcome her, and she quirked an eyebrow at him as he came towards her –

"Trying to show me what I've been missing, Tom?"

"After that message you sent me yesterday – look who's talking, you minx!"

He tilted her face up to his for a gentle, loving kiss. Her arms came around him and they stood still for a while, kissing and holding each other in the corridor. Eventually, he lifted his lips from hers and pulled her head onto his shoulder, stroking her hair for a few more minutes before he spoke again.

"Want a cup of tea, sweetheart? Some Nutella on toast?"

She smiled – "Tom, you read my mind, thank you. Give me a minute – I'll come and find you in the kitchen."

He padded away to put the kettle on, wondering what she was up to. He didn't have long to wait... as he stood at the counter, her warm arms came around his waist, and her beautiful curves pressed against him as she put her lips to the back of his neck.

Turning around, he smiled to see she was now naked too. "Now that's more like it!"

He put out one hand to cup her breast, caressing her soft skin and running his thumb back and forth across her nipple, smiling to see her tremble at his touch.

"Breakfast in bed?"

"I thought you'd never ask!"

He took her hand and led her to their bedroom. Lying down next to her, his hand rested at her waist as he picked up something from the floor he had brought with him.

"Now, what were we saying about Nutella? Maybe I should put some ... here?"

They finally slept for an hour or so before Tom's alarm went off. He dragged himself out of bed, had a quick shower and dressed in his football kit before coming back to their bedroom to say goodbye.

Sybil was lying on her stomach, looking suggestively up at him and clearly in no mood to let him go just yet. He leaned down to kiss her and she reached out to grab his hand, trying to pull him back into bed. Instead of joining her, as he longed to do, he smacked her bare arse playfully, smiling as he saw her eyes flare up in response.

"Ah, you can't leave me like this, you tease!"

She rolled over onto her back, one hand trailling across her breasts, down her stomach and between her thighs. Looked at him boldly, she began to caress herself and he resisted temptation for about a minute and a half before pulling off his clothes and lying down beside her.

He moved on top of her, grabbing her hands and holding them both above her head with one of his. Taking his time, he slid his other hand down her side, to take over where she had left off, and he heard her sigh with pleasure as his fingers found her clit and began to stroke it, his erect cock pressing into her hip.

Then, he slid down and inside her, grabbing her arse as he did so. He felt her legs wrap around his waist to bring him closer and he groaned deeply as her warm, tight core surrounded him. They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment before he started to move, as slowly as he could, pushing more deeply into her with each thrust, his eyes never leaving hers.

He could feel her body responding to him. "Ohhhh, Tom, more, please, more..."

Tom began to move a little faster, wanting to draw out these feelings in her. Sybil whimpered, her hands pulling against his grip, and he knew she was getting close as he saw her biting her lip. He brought her to the edge again and again, until she was begging him for release, and then he shifted his position slightly so his cock pressed against her swollen clit with each movement, knowing exactly how to send her flying into oblivion.

"AHHHHHH!"

A raw scream escaped her. Her head fell back as her hips bucked off the bed and he could feel her core convulsing around him. He dropped down on top of her, letting go of her hands as his own orgasm raced through him.

They clung to each other as their lips met. He quickly deepened their kiss, finding her tongue with his, loving the intimate connection between them and wanting to savour it for as long as he could, ignoring his phone beeping in the other room.

After all the excitement of that week, Tom forgot to call their landlord about the broken light. It was an omission he would regret more bitterly than he could ever have imagined.

A/N –

"a stór" = my darling in Irish Gaelic, per Google translate.

I borrowed the title of this chapter from JRR Tolkien, of course! Angst is coming for Sybil x Tom as you can probably guess, so I will try not to leave it too long before the next update.