Author's Note: Rating has been changed to M as of this chapter, please be nice, it's my first time writing a sex scene so I know I could improve :) I plan to update this once a week as I go through their lives together, I will be referring to many plots in the show.
November 1921
Matthew woke that morning with a smile on his face as he saw the sight that he determined he always wanted to see. Mary was sat on her side of the bed, her knees raised whilst George was nestled against them as Mary had one arm held against his stomach and the other hand held a tiny rattle in front of his face. The baby gurgled each time Mary gently rattled the toy. Now two months old, George was settled into a routine. Mary was still nursing and was still feeding George every three to four hours and after many discussions, Mary had decided to continue nursing until he was established on food and a mixture of Mary's milk and a formula for babies. Matthew was proud of his wife for wanting to continue nursing despite traditional views that they should hire a wet nurse. He could see the strengthened bond between his wife and son. George instantly settled the moment he was placed into Mary's arms and Mary had a glow about her that he had never seen before. Sitting up, he continued to watch the sight of his wife and son just as Anna entered their bedroom with the tea tray.
"Good morning, Milady, Sir. Master George." Anna smiled.
"Good morning, Anna." Mary greeted, still in that cooing tone she used to speak to the baby.
Anna placed the tea tray next to the bed and went about opening the curtains, the weak sun just rising above the trees in the grounds. Matthew stretched his arms out and picked George up from Mary's lap.
"How did my little chap do?" Matthew asked, cradling the baby with a slight bounce with his arms.
"He did well. He's going a little longer between each feed and we've been up for a little while playing." Mary replied with a yawn.
"Do you have much time to rest today?"
Mary shook her head.
"I have an appointment with Dr. Clarkson this morning, my postnatal check. George will be checked over too."
"Would you like me to be there?" Matthew asked.
"No darling. Husbands don't attend those kinds of appointments." Mary replied.
"If you'd like me there, I will be."
"You have your morning walk with papa before that meeting with Murray."
Matthew nodded. He could always rearrange his morning walk with Robert but the meeting with Murray was something he had decided he could not put off any longer. Now that the baby was here and healthy, he needed to make his will official. It was remiss of him not to have had one made right after he and Mary were married, and their lives were very different now. He had an heir and he co-owned Downton and the estate. He knew that one day he would be the Earl of Grantham and inherit Robert's portion of the estate and in turn George would inherit it all. But he wanted to make Mary his heir too.
His darling Mary.
From the first moment he had set eyes on her, he had been attracted to her. Her fair skin, her raven locks, her lovely brown eyes, and her sharp and witty remarks. She presented herself in a certain way to the world, but he had cracked through that rough exterior and saw the real person lying underneath. She cared for those that she loved; the way she had been concerned for Sybil after her sister was hurt at the by-election all those years ago. All those longing and pained looks that they had shared between them when she had been engaged to Carlisle and he to Lavinia. Those lost years when they had been so foolish not to love one another. But that seemed like a whole lifetime ago now.
"Has your father found a nanny yet for the children?" Matthew asked.
"Not yet. He's asked me to sit in today after to help with some interviews." Mary replied.
"I'll ask him if I can sit in too. I need to ensure that George, as well as Sybbie, is comfortable with any new nanny we hire."
"I hope we'll be able to find someone, papa doesn't want the children becoming dependent on Joan."
"You'll be able to appease your grandmother when you call on her for tea today." Matthew chuckled.
Mary chuckled too just as Anna came back into the room.
"Would you like me to take Master George to the day nursery, Milady?" Anna asked.
"Yes, please Anna. I'll take my breakfast here." Mary replied.
Anna took the baby from Matthew and exited the room with the infant, leaving husband and wife alone.
"I'd better get up, Molesley will be waiting for me in the dressing room." Matthew sighed.
He gave Mary a quick kiss before departing their bedroom through to the dressing room, getting dressed for the day before heading down for breakfast. It was the usual affair, he, Robert, Tom, and Edith discussing their plans for the day. After breakfast, Matthew and Robert headed out for a walk in the grounds with Isis. The morning was frosty and cold, the grass kissed in a white frost that crunched underfoot. Matthew was thankful for his gloves, hat, and thick coat that morning, without them he would be requesting a hot bath to warm the chill he felt.
"May I ask why you've summoned Murray here?" Robert asked.
"I had a thought before we left for Duneagle, now that Mary and I have been blessed with George, I need to make a will." Matthew replied.
"That is very remiss of you, being a lawyer." Robert chuckled.
Matthew chuckled too.
"I hope that Mary and I will be blessed with more children and with the world changing, I want to ensure that Mary is provided for." He said.
"She will be. When you inherit the title and my portion of the estate, you can be provisions for her to be provided for in the event of your death." Robert said with a frown.
"You're right. But I would feel better if I had everything in hand just in case that didn't happen." Matthew said cautiously.
"It's certainly responsible of you, my boy."
"I want to make Mary my co-heir, alongside George."
Robert stopped in his tracks, looking at Matthew through confused eyes. Matthew knew that Robert would find his notion strange, that he may not approve of it. But it was what he wanted for his family.
"Matthew…are you sure that's wise?" Robert questioned, clearly astonished.
"I am sure." Matthew confirmed.
"Have you informed Mary of your plans?"
Matthew shook his head. He wanted to make sure that everything was above board with Murray before he said anything to his wife.
"I plan to inform her tonight after dinner."
Robert nodded stiffly and the topic of conversation ceased. The two men continued their walk through the frosty grounds and spoke of plans for the future of Downton.
oOo
That evening, Mary entered her bedroom feeling utterly tired. She had nursed George throughout the day, spent some time playing with him, Sybbie and Tom and had helped her father interview a new nanny for the children. They had discussed the new nanny, her name Katie Hawkins, who seemed to be rather taken with the children and Sybbie had remained calm and happy in the woman's presence. Matthew had taken the news quite well; it was something the two of them had discussed extensively over the past month whilst they tried to become comfortable with the idea of a new nanny looking after their son. Other than discussion of the nanny, Matthew had remained rather quiet over dinner and Mary was concerned something was wrong.
She took off her gloves and placed them over the bedpost as Anna entered the room with her robe. Anna helped her to undress and get into a nightgown before bidding her goodnight and leaving the room as Matthew entered from the dressing room.
"Your grandmother was rather to the point at dinner." Matthew sighed.
"When isn't she?" Mary asked, slipping her robe off her body, and climbing into bed.
"She certainly seemed pleased that a nanny had been hired. But she wanted to know about the wet nurse." Matthew complained.
"Well, we can thank mama for changing the topic of conversation so quickly." Mary said with a yawn as Matthew shed his robe and climbed into bed next to her.
"I haven't had the chance to ask you yet how your appointment with Dr. Clarkson went?" Matthew asked.
Mary smiled.
Her appointment had gone well. Dr. Clarkson had done a thorough check over George who had been pronounced as healthy despite being a month early. As for herself, she felt absolutely well, and Dr. Clarkson was pleased with her recovery from childbirth.
"It went well, darling. Dr. Clarkson is very pleased with how well George is." Mary replied.
Matthew placed a kiss to her forehead.
"And how are you?" he whispered in a raspy breath.
Mary grinned up at him as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"I've been cleared to resume our usual activities." She whispered back.
Mary moaned happily as Matthew pulled her to him and crushed his lips to hers desperately. She felt his arms hold her waist as he rolled them over so that she was on her back against the soft bedsheets. Their lips and tongues danced together in a frenzy, evoking that passion that they had long shared and long missed in each other. She moved her hands into his hair and held him tightly as his lips broke away from hers and moved across her cheek, down her jaw and then to her neck.
His hot breath tickled that sensitive spot on her neck before he placed his lips to it and kissed her teasingly. Her breathing was hitched, her brain felt muddled as she felt his hands move to the hem of her nightgown and started pushing it up her body, his fingers gliding over her legs and then her thighs.
"Matthew…" she groaned.
"I've missed you, my darling." Matthew whispered in her ear.
His voice, the tone so hot and desirably against her ear only made her squirm. That fire in her belly starting to ignite as she felt him shuffle over her, desperate to rid her body of her nightgown. Mary sat up and rid herself of his nightgown only to gasp in delight when she felt her husband's lips against her chest.
"You are so beautiful, my love." Her husband murmured.
Moaning and writhing, Mary's hands went to her husband's pyjamas, unbuttoning the buttons on his shirt and watching appreciatively as Matthew chucked the item of clothing over his shoulder before removing his trousers. She could feel her husband's arousal against her, and she felt the brazen need to buck her hips into his and then wrap both her legs around his hips.
"Matthew…I don't…I don't need…a prolonged…" Mary moaned.
Matthew looked up at her, a glint in his bright blue eyes. His hands reached her core and his fingers gently moved in between her legs, feeling her arousal and how desperately she wanted him.
"God Mary. I want you…" Matthew growled.
She bucked her hips against his fingers only to cry out when he pressed himself inside her and held her legs to his hips as he moved. Mary pulled him down and captured his lips with hers, sucking, moaning, and nibbling at his lower lip as they kissed heatedly. Feeling him move inside her…that feeling she had missed of him sending that pleasurable thrill throughout her entire body…that feeling that made her feel like she was floating and reaching new heights…when their bodies were joined together, moving together, hearts beating together… she was home. She was in love. She was with the one for her. She had found herself someone who was a part of her, and she was a part of him. Two bodies but a joined soul.
Their coupling didn't last long…it had been over two months since they had last made love to each other. But Mary felt that tightening inside her body, that crescendo as she felt the waves of pleasure and love splash over her. Matthew groaned and spent inside her, shuddering as she wrapped her arms around him and held him close to her. Their foreheads and bodies dripped in each other's sweat and they shared some more passionate kisses until Matthew had calmed.
"My darling…" Matthew said, his throat hoarse but a smile etched on his face.
Mary returned his smile, pressing her lips to his once more.
"I love you, Matthew Crawley." She whispered breathlessly.
"I love you…my darling Mary Crawley."
Matthew pressed his lips to hers once more before rolling on to his side. Mary felt him pull her to him and wrap his arms around her tightly. Closing her eyes, Mary drifted off into a peaceful sleep.