A/N: I'm back with more Cobert content! This time it's the not-so-original idea of what would have happened if Cora never lost her baby at the end of series one. The first couple of chapters will mostly be filling in the blanks from the first episode (as we get the announcement that Cora is pregnant and then hardly any more content relating to the pregnancy) and then it will carry on from there.

So enjoy! Reviews are very, very much appreciated, and please feel free to message or comment any ideas/requests for future chapters.

Flux

Chapter one - in which Cora and Robert receive some news

"Cora?" Robert beckoned as he entered the bedroom, a slight lace of worry in his voice, "Are you okay? I just saw Doctor Clarkson downstairs, he said that you'd called for him"

"That's right" Cora replied with a jittery response.

"Is anything the matter, are you ill? I asked the doctor, but he gave me quite a peculiar response"

Robert moved further into the room and stood with his wife at the end of the bed. Cora could see the worry in his eyes and the way that his forehead puckered. She felt a slight twinge of guilt over the fact that she had worried him, but she hoped that the true reason for the doctor's visit would make that all go away.

"No, I'm not ill" she began as the first signs of a smile pulled at the corners of her lips.

"Then why would you call for Doctor Clarkson if you're not ill?"

"Well, I have something to tell you"

"Yes?"

She hesitated for only a moment,

"Doctor Clarkson told me that I'm pregnant"

She watched as the concern on her husband's face morphed into complete and utter disbelief. She had expected him to be shocked, but from the look he was giving her, it seemed as though he thought it absolutely impossible, which was, of course, ridiculous considering the amount of marital intimacy they still shared. Without saying a word, Robert fell back onto the bed.

"Pregnant?" he breathed, his mouth agape and his eyes unblinking.

"You needn't be quite so shocked" she chastised.

"Give me a moment…you haven't been pregnant for eighteen years" he said, his forehead creasing as he tried to process what she had just told him.

Could it really be true? Could she really be carrying their fourth child after so many years? Robert was overwhelmed by the shock of it all.

"And I'm pregnant now" Cora answered, solidifying the information once again.

"I don't understand what we've done differently"

Cora couldn't believe what she was hearing and refused to believe that her husband was that naïve, or that he was about to attempt such a conversation with her.

"Stop right there! If you want to know more, go down and offer the doctor some whiskey" she scolded.

"I can't take it in…"

"But you're pleased?" Cora asked as an infectious smile spread across her cheeks.

In that moment, something in Robert's chest rose and sank at the same time, despite the shock, he was overjoyed with the news, and yet he had clearly been foolish enough to make his darling wife think otherwise. Robert flashed a smile at his wife and rose to his feet instantly.

"Of course," he beamed before taking her hands in his and pressing them to his lips, "of course I'm pleased"

"Oh darling" she whispered gleefully, her voice cracking from all of the emotions that swelled inside of her.

He moved his hand to the back of her head, his fingers curling into her locks, and he guided her towards him and kissed her. The kiss was soft, but Cora could feel how much loved was poured into it. She wrapped her arms around him when they broke from the kiss, and she clung to him tightly. Even in her wildest dreams she didn't think something like this could happen to her at this stage of her life, but now that the news was in front of them, she was unsure how she could live without such joy. She heard Robert chuckle into their embrace, and she knew that he was also overwhelmed by the news.

Cora pulled away to look at him, and when she saw his face, she could've cried from all of the love that was in his eyes. They glistened, as if he was holding back tears. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen him so at mercy to his own joy.

"When do you want to tell the girls?" she asked, still smiling up at him.

"Oh, right away, I should think. Although it's a pity Mary isn't here"

"Oh, I'd almost forgotten. I don't think she'll be back for two weeks, at least. I should hate to wait that long to tell the girls, you must send her a telegram right away"

"I'll do it the first free moment I get"

"And your mother too"

"Is she not coming for dinner tonight?"

"No, I think I recall her saying that she had a gathering of her own to go to tonight"

"Very well, I'll make sure that she finds out today. She'll only scold me if she ends up hearing it from a second-hand source"

"Of course, this changes so much…do you think perhaps you should speak to Matthew alone?" Cora asked, her voice laced with concern.

"It might change some things" Robert reassured, "but I suppose you're right, if Matthew's prospects are to suddenly change, the most courteous thing we can do right now is to inform him as delicately as we can. We can tell Edith and Sybil this afternoon over tea, after that I'll telegram Mary and Mama and let them know. We'll keep dinner just for ourselves and then I can speak to Matthew in the morning – I wouldn't want to tell him he may not be my heir after all and then force a dinner on him"

"I think it's the right thing to do, even if it is just for insurance"

"Well, we won't know for some time anyway" Robert gazed at her longingly and his eyes sparkled, "oh, my darling" he breathed before he pressed a kiss to her forehead and then her lips.

He let the kiss linger, ensuring that he poured every ounce of love he had for her into it.

"I cannot tell you how overjoyed I am" he whispered.

Cora wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his neck – wanting to be as close to him as she possibly could be.

"I am so glad to hear you say that"

"I hope I didn't give you any doubts"

"Not doubts, but look at us, Robert, we're a bit past the child-rearing age"

"Perhaps. But that doesn't change the fact that I love you, nor does it change that fact that I think that this is a true miracle"

"I think so too" Cora said as she pulled back to look at her husband again, "whether people will acknowledge it or not, this child has come from a place of love"

"How right you are. It is the soon-to-be living proof that you have made me so terribly happy over the years, and that we still have so much love in our life"

"That's very emotional talk for an Englishman" Cora chuckled.

"I'll make a special exception to my stoicism for you, Lady Grantham" he smirked.

"You should head down; you shouldn't keep Doctor Clarkson waiting"

"Right now, I don't want to be anywhere but by your side"

"Robert…" she chastised gently.

"I mean it, Cora" he replied softly, "you have just told me that you're carrying our fourth child and all I want to do is stay up here with you and bask in that"

"While I agree that you are a bit of a brooder at times, I also know that you have your questions, despite your distaste for medical talk. Go downstairs and talk to Doctor Clarkson, ask him whatever you need to, and I'll join you downstairs once I've redressed. Then we can have a few moments to ourselves before we tell the girls"

"Very well" he conceded before kissing her hands one more time and heading out of the bedroom.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Doctor Clarkson" Robert greeted as he swished his way into the library.

"It's no trouble at all, M'lord. I'm sure you and Lady Grantham had a lot to discuss"

"We certainly did" Robert replied – unable to hide the smile from his face, "can I offer you some whiskey, Doctor?"

"Just a small one, thank you"

Robert made his way to the drinks table and began to pour a glass of the bronze liquid for himself and the doctor.

"Is there anything you would like to ask me, Lord Grantham?"

"A great many things actually" Robert answered as he handed the doctor his drink, "although I must warn you that I'm not one for medical talk"

"Few people are" chuckled the doctor.

"I'm glad to know I'm not alone"

"So, where would you like to start?" asked Doctor Clarkson from his place on the sofa.

Now there was a question. When we had spoken to Cora, and after the initial shocked had settled in, all he had wanted to do was focus on just how happy the news had made him. But now that he was finally able to speak with the doctor, he suddenly didn't know what to say. Everything he could possibly want to know was rushing around his mind in a flurry and he couldn't make heads nor tales of it. Robert paced across the library before looking out of the window to compose himself.

"I suppose my first question is in regard to the normalcy of all of this. Cora and I are not exactly what you would call the prime age of rearing children. Is it common for something like this to happen to people of our age?"

"It's unusual, obviously" Doctor Clarkson granted.

Robert turned back to him – his eyebrows kissing his hairline.

"Unusual? It's biblical" he remarked, much to the doctor's amusement.

"Not quite" he chuckled.

Robert moved back to the fireplace, taking in the silence as he still tried to process the fact that he was actually having this conversation.

Doctor Clarkson continued,

"You understand that women go through a certain change…"

Robert nodded his head painfully and held up his hand, after all, he had warned the doctor that he was not a fan of medical detail.

"Thank you, I know quite as much as I need to about all that"

"Well sometimes it can result in a - a surge of fertility, for lack of a better word"

Robert continued to pace as he took in everything that Doctor Clarkson was telling him. Deep down he was still trying to process that this really was possible, and that it really had happened. And from his lack of understanding came a surge of fear; if this really were as uncommon as the doctor had said, would Cora be safe? He knew that childbirth could bring the direst of complications even for the healthiest of people, and Cora had not been spared from some of those during her last pregnancy.

"But the child will be healthy?" Robert questioned, trying to remain composed.

"Oh, there's no reason why not"

Robert felt the relief flood through his bones. When it came down to it, he could care less about heirs and inheritance or even the estate, the most important thing to him was Cora.

"How long has she…" he grimaced and trailed off; he really was no good at these sorts of conversations. Luckily, a swift gesture with his free hand allowed him to silently complete his question.

Doctor Clarkson tilted his head thoughtfully before treading carefully with his words,

"Hard to be precise…things have become irregular, but…"

"Please" Robert pleaded.

"I'd say she's about four months gone; it will begin to show soon"

Four months Robert thought. Four whole months and he hadn't noticed a thing. Why would he notice anything? Was his next thought but given the amount of time he shared with his wife both alone and in company, he liked to think that he should at least notice some change in her. Maybe he wasn't as astute as he'd like to think…or maybe his wife was far too good at hiding her ailments. He had a fleeting thought of when the child could have been conceived, which night could it have been? But he pushed the thoughts from his mind instantly, not only because the doctor was sat right in front of him, but because he knew that it would be utterly impossible to pinpoint a singular night.

His next thought was of poor Matthew, and Robert had no choice but to offer a question he already knew the answer to.

"And I don't suppose there's anyway to know if it's a…" he trailed off again, suddenly intimidated by what was now at stake.

"No" Doctor Clarkson said with a polite shake of his head.

It was then that the door to the library opened, and a rather flustered Mrs Hughes entered. She started slightly when she saw that Robert wasn't alone.

"I do beg your pardon, m'lord, I thought you were alone"

"No, please come in, Mrs Hughes," the Doctor said as he put down his empty tumbler and smiled, "I was just leaving"

Mrs Hughes smiled and beckoned for William to see Doctor Clarkson out.

"Well, thank you, Doctor" Robert smiled, "I'd better start writing some letters"

Robert was well into his third letter by the time Cora entered the library. He looked up as soon as he heard the door open and instantly abandoned his letter in favour of going to his wife.

"Don't let me disturb you" she said softly.

"Oh, it's fine, it's more or less an exact copy of the previous two anyway. I can finish it later" he excused as he met her in the centre of the library and brought his hands to rest at the small of her back.

"Well, if you're sure"

"I'm sure"

Robert simply smiled down at her unable to fathom any words that could describe how he felt in that moment. Their fourth child, he still couldn't believe it. How lucky he was to have a wife that he loved so dearly, and a marriage that had led to such an extraordinary gift. He knew that he probably looked like a fool for gazing down at her in the way that he was, but he didn't much care, he just wanted to take everything in and savour it. Besides, there was so much happiness inside of him that he was sure he would burst if he so much as tried to articulate any of it.

"Are you going to say anything?" Cora asked eventually.

"No, I don't think I will" he answered with a large smile before bending down to kiss her sweetly.

"Well, if the silent treatment leads to kisses like that, I shan't complain"

"I didn't think so" Robert chuckled, "Come on, let's sit down"

Robert guided her to the sofa before sitting down beside her and taking one other hands in his and drawings patterns over the back of it with his thumb. It was such a small gesture, but it was one of the things he did that really made her heart flutter.

"Did you speak with Doctor Clarkson?"

"I did. He left just over an hour ago"

"And did he tell you everything you wanted to know?"

"More or less…though I doubt it was much different to what he told you. Did he say much to you about complications?"

"No, but I didn't ask much. He said that obviously there is a higher risk for that sort of thing given my age, and that I will need to rest a lot more and report anything that seems out of the ordinary, but for now, the main complication will be the fact that I won't breeze through this pregnancy as easily as the previous ones"

"If anyone can manage it, you can" Robert encouraged, "though I'm glad to hear that he doesn't have much cause for alarm"

"Me too. Though we can't be too careful, especially after Sybil"

Robert squeezed Cora's hand lightly and looked deep into her eyes.

"We'll take one day at a time, darling. Let's not worry if we don't have to. If there no alarm bells ringing for Doctor Clarkson now, I'm sure it's unlikely that that will change in a few months"

"Perhaps you're right" Cora said thoughtfully, "he said he'd be checking on me regularly too"

"Good. How are you feeling?"

"Well. A little tired, but I'm sure that's mostly from the chaos of the season"

"Please don't overdo it, if you feel you need to rest then you must rest"

"I have been resting, Robert" she chuckled, "and sitting here with you isn't the most strenuous of activities"

"Cora, can I ask you something?"

"You sound serious"

"Not serious, more like curious"

"I think that may be worse" she teased.

"Did you have any inclination at all that you were pregnant? I like to think myself and attentive husband, but I can't lie, I didn't notice a single change in you"

"My dear, if I'm honest, I wouldn't expect you to"

Robert looked mildly offended, but even he couldn't hide the smile tugging at his lips in response to Cora's humour.

"I did notice a few signs, but with everything that has been going on with Matthew, and Sybil's first season, I assumed most of it was due to stress or just a side effect of how busy we've all been"

"What sorts of symptoms did you notice, and when?"

"Well, I have been more tired than usual, especially over the last few weeks, but like I said, I just assumed that was because we had so much going on with the season. I've been more emotional too, but -"

"- but you assumed it was down to stress again?"

"Right. There was some nausea too"

"When was this?" Robert asked – very obviously concerned.

"I'd say it started about four weeks ago, but it was infrequent and relatively easy to manage on the quieter days. On the busy days I just thought it was down to all of the rushing around. I suppose it seems obvious when thinking about it retrospectively, but at the time I just didn't pay any attention to it…probably in the hope that it would go away"

"I'm assuming it didn't?"

Cora shook her head and Robert squeezed her hand again.

"I remember you were ill after we had dinner with Lord and Lady Cargill, was that part of it?"

"I think so. I felt dreadful that morning, for most of the day actually…but, for now, it seems to have eased somewhat"

"I wish you would have told me that you were feeling unwell"

"I didn't want it to get in the way of anything. Besides, it was so inconsistent that I didn't really think I was ill, just run down, so I simply kept going"

"Did you know you were pregnant when you sent a message to Doctor Clarkson?"

"I had a small suspicion, but I didn't say anything because I thought it was something else"

"Something else?"

"With the tiredness and lack of certain bodily functions, I assumed I had reached the end of my fertility" Cora explained delicately, "it wasn't until I started experiencing tenderness and an aversion to Mrs Pattmore's hollandaise sauce that I suddenly thought that maybe something else may be going on. I kept quite because I still didn't quite believe it myself, and I didn't want to worry or excite anyone, but I made sure to summon Doctor Clarkson as soon as we returned"

"Oh, my dear, I wish I could have made things easier for you" Robert told her warmly.

Cora reached up to run her thumb across his cheek.

"I doubt there was anything to be done about it, Robert, besides, I think I'm through the worst of it for the time being"

It was then that Robert suddenly smirked and Cora couldn't possibly think what had brought on such a reaction.

"What are you smirking at?"

"Oh nothing…well, upon reflection, I think I did notice one symptom from you"

"Yes?"

"It's far too improper to say" he chuckled.

"Robert, I'm sat here pregnant with our fourth child that we are having after twenty-four years of marriage, I'm sure you and I are at least a little past propriety" she sarked.

Robert blushed slightly before leaning in and speaking to her in a hushed tone, despite the two of them being alone.

"Well, when the doctor told me that you are about four months pregnant, I momentarily tried to pin-point when all this may have happened, and I realised then that our intimacy has certainly spiked in frequency as of late. Now, I may not be an expert on women's health, but one thing I do know is that the early stages of pregnancy can result in a hunger that food simply cannot sate"

"Robert!" Cora practically squealed.

"I thought we were beyond propriety?"

"You know that you can talk to me about anything, I just didn't expect you to take me up on the offer"

"So, you don't deny it?"

Cora opened her mouth to speak, but she found herself falling silent as her cheeks began to rouge. He was right. While they were lucky enough to share a marriage built on love, and one that led them to be intimate with each other as all couples should be, she couldn't deny that she had found herself yearning for him a lot more over the previous months. He never objected, of course, but even she found it ridiculous when she would be desperate for him the minute he stepped into the bedroom each evening. There had even been one or two instances when they hadn't even made it to the bed…

"I didn't think so" he chuckled.

"I concede" Cora laughed, "But how lucky are we that we get to share such intimacies in our marriage?"

Robert leaned in to kiss her, but stopped inches away from her lips,

"I truly believe that I am the luckiest man in England"

He kissed her then, a soft and loving kiss that lingered under the headiness of the love that they shared. It seemed to be the only way he could express the joy that was bursting in his chest. The kiss was languid, but he poured every ounce of his passion into it, drawing them both into a haze. He moved his lips gently against hers, and as the kiss deepened all he could think about was how much he adored her, and the blessing she was about to give him. He pulled away then, lest they get too carried away, but he kept his forehead pressed against hers, for he was loathed to give up the contact straight away.

"I'm so verry happy, Cora" he breathed.

"And so I am"

Somewhere in the hallway, a grandfather clock began to sing. Cora smiled at him before saying,

"I think we had better call for tea and summon the girls, we have an important announcement to make, after all"

Robert returned the smile with equal fever,

"We most certainly do"

He rose to his feet to pull the long tapestry that hung next to the fireplace, and within minutes Carson loyally appeared in the library.

"You rang, M'lord?"

"Yes, Lady Edith and Lady Sybil will be down soon, could you have some tea brought up for us?"

"Right away, M'lord"

"Do you want to tell Carson and Mrs Hughes as well?" Cora asked when the butler was safely out of the room.

Robert pondered it for a moment. It would save him a speech or two, and Carson and Mrs Hughes had served their family for most of their lives, and their dedication has earned them the unwavering respect of the Crawley family.

"I would like to, but I think we'll keep this announcement just for the girls. They'll probably need some time to process the information; but I will tell Carson and Mrs Hughes soon"

"It'll have to be before dinner, otherwise they'll be finding out from the footmen"

"Yes, you're right"

The door opened then, and the pair fell silent.

"Ah, Sybil, are you all settled back in?" her mother asked.

"More or less. It seems quite strange to be back, I feel like a different person now that I've been presented"

"Well, in a sense, you are" Robert said warmly, "you're all grown up and ready to shake up the world"

"I do hope so" Sybil smiled.

"Well, I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. The season was a great success" Cora smiled.

"It certainly was" Robert agreed.

The door opened again and in came Carson with their tea.

"Your tea, my lord" he announced as he set it down on the table.

"Thank you, Carson"

The butler began to fill each teacup with warm liquid – his well-practised hands ensuring that there wasn't a single clink from the delicate china.

"Looks like we're just waiting for Edith" Robert noted as Carson handed him his tea.

"Waiting for?" Sybil questioned as she also took a cup from the butler.

Cora and Robert exchanged a quick glance, their faces revealing that they had a secret.

"Your mother and I have a bit of news, but we want you both to be present when we tell you"

"How mysterious"

"What's mysterious?" came a voice from the door, which was soon followed by the entrance of Lady Edith.

"Mama and Papa apparently have some news for us"

"What sort of news?"

"Take a seat and we'll tell you" Robert chuckled.

Edith took her tea from Carson before turning back to Robert,

"Would you like me to leave you for a moment, My Lord?"

"Please"

Carson nodded politely and made his way out of the library. Sybil and Edith exchanged a look, the pair now slightly worried about their parents' announcement.

"It's nothing bad, is it?" Edith asked as she sat beside her sister, "only I know Doctor Clarkson was here earlier"

"It's nothing bad, dears" Cora assured.

"Although it is to do with Doctor Clarkson" Robert added.

"The suspense is killing me" Sybil breathed with an exasperated lilt in her voice.

Robert decided, at last, to put them out of their misery.

"Well…Doctor Clarkson has given us the wonderful, albeit surprising, news that your mother is pregnant" Robert tried to break the news as impartially as he could, but he couldn't stop himself from breaking out into a large smile.

They watched as their daughter's eyes widened simultaneously and their jaws dropped. For the briefest of moments, not a word was said as they tried to process what their parents had just told them; eighteen years after Sybil has been born, and when their days of having and raising children seemed to be very much over, they were expecting a fourth child.

"Really, you're pregnant, Mama?" asked Edith tensely.

"I am, darling" she hummed, "It's not what your father and I expected to happen, but it has, and we really hope you'll share our happiness"

"Well, I think it's wonderful" Sybil beamed.

She rose from her seat to give her parents a kiss on the cheek each.

"Congratulations to you both"

"Thank you, my darling girl" was Robert's reply.

"I'm actually rather excited about having a younger sibling, aren't you, Edith?"

But Edith simply looked at her sister with a perplexed expression. She wasn't unhappy for her parents, but her English stoicism made it hard for her to digest the news. With her lifestyle, she hadn't exactly been brought up with couples who acted romantically as examples of what married life could be like – she still sometimes found it odd that her parents shared a bed – so the thoughts of what her parents had gotten up to in that bed for them to end up in this situation were most unwelcome. In truth, she thought them quite foolish; in her mind, it wasn't proper for them to be having children, not at their age, and she knew that there would be judgemental talk of just how this child came to be.

"Is it not irresponsible? What about Cousin Matthew, are his prospects to be tossed away in the blink of an eye?"

Robert watched as Cora grimaced and he took her hand in his.

"I know this is probably a shock for you both – it certainly was for us. We didn't plan this, and we know this may lead to some unfavourable talk about us"

"You must have known that certain actions have consequences"

"Edith, please, this is not an appropriate topic of conversation" Cora scolded, leaving absolutely no room for her daughter's impertinence.

"I'm sorry" Edith said quietly, "I am happy for you, really, I am. This was just very unexpected, and I feel sorry for poor Matthew"

Cora's expression softened.

"It's good of you to think of him. And we feel much the same way, unfortunately there's nothing we can do. If it's a boy then he will become the new heir, regardless of how we or Matthew may feel about that"

"Does Matthew know?" asked Sybil.

"He doesn't" answered Robert, "And I'd like it to stay that way for now. We won't have guests for dinner tonight and I intend to tell him tomorrow, I thought the least I could do for him was to tell him privately and give him space to process it"

"I think that's kind of you"

"I agree" said Edith with a nod, "Does Mary know?"

"Not yet" Robert sighed, "It's a shame she's not here but I will make sure to have a telegram sent to her. It's a pity we don't have a telephone otherwise I could speak to her instantly"

"What a modern thing to say, Papa" Sybil teased.

"Times are truly changing" laughed her father.

"Do you think Mary will be pleased?" was Edith's next question.

"I hope so" answered Cora.

"Only I wonder if this will change how she responds to Matthew's proposal now that he may not be the heir"

Cora shuffled in her seat as the discomfort of the conversation took over her, and Robert furrowed his brow.

"That's a bit unfair" protested Sybil.

"Is it? She was so downtrodden about the entail being unbreakable that I'm sure she saw marrying Matthew as an obvious solution. Now that his prospects may change, I can't see her wanting to be a solicitor's wife"

"I doubt she's given it a second thought" insisted Sybil.

"I agree" interrupted Robert, "not let's not have any more harsh words said about her sister, it will be her decision to make and I'm sure she will make the right one. Besides, for all we know it'll be another girl and the lineage will carry on as normal"

"I admire your faith, darling" smiled Cora as she squeezed his hand.

"Well, with our track record of having daughters, I think I can afford a bit of blind faith" he joked.

A/N: Well, that's chapter one done. I would really, really love to hear your thoughts. I don't know if I will include Robert telling Carson and Mrs Hughes the news in the next chapter as I don't want the first two chapters to be pregnancy announcement after pregnancy announcement, but if you folks would like me to include that, please feel free to let me know.