/ Author's note: I might make another fanfiction where we explore what happened to Tom and how it affected Sybbie! Would anyone be interested in reading it?
Matthew awoke to another blood curdling scream, he sat up and switched the light on. He looked around to see Sybbie thrashing around like the previous night, Mary wasn't in the bed with them and he had no idea where she was. He put his hand on her head and made a low shushing noise, the sounds of her cries piercing his heart.
"No don't please! You're hurting me let me go! I won't tell anyone please!" She sobbed, her legs kicking and her arms flailing as she fought off the monster in her dreams. Matthew stroked her cheek, keeping his voice calm and gentle.
"Sybbie, you're safe. You're at home now, nothing bad is going to happen. Wake up, darling" He soothed, continuing to stroke her tears away with his thumb. Sybbie awoke with a start, her heart racing and she felt like she was going to pass out. She looked around the room, her chest heaving with sobs.
"Daddy..." She whimpered, testing the name out. She held her arms out to Matthew, she felt so unsafe. The same way she felt after every single one of those dreams. She wondered whether it ever would get better, or whether she was doomed to feel like this for the rest of her life.
Matthew picked her up in his arms, gently walking around the room with her. He could hear the hesitation when she called him daddy, he could hear the fear in her voice. He rocked her in his arms as he had done when she was a baby, putting every doubt she had at that moment to rest.
"It's ok, sweetheart. It's going to be ok, daddy's here now. Daddy's got you, you're safe." He soothed, hugging her tight whilst she cried on his shoulder. She clung to him tight and wouldn't let go, she cried for him. She cried for Mary, Tom and Sybil. She cried for everything she had lost, it all came out in a massive jumble of words, sobs, screams and hiccups.
"I know baby, I know how much this hurts. Daddy's got you, daddy's listening," he whispered, hugging her tight. She slowly began to calm down, gripping his pyjama shirt tightly. She looked at him, her face flushed with embarrassment. She felt bad that she couldn't get this under control.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry daddy. I know I should have this under control, I'm sorry for waking you up." She wrapped her arm around his neck, clinging onto him for dear life. He made her feel safe, he made her feel like nothing bad would happen to her again. Matthew stroked her hair softly, shaking his head and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"Don't be sorry, you've done nothing wrong. What you went through was traumatic, of course you're going to have nightmares and flashbacks . It's perfectly normal, so don't feel bad. You and mummy are the bravest girls I know," He whispered soothingly, it still felt strange to be called mummy and daddy but it was a good strange. He felt honoured that she thought of them both as second parents.
Around two hours later, Mary came into the room. She smiled apologetically at Matthew who had Sybbie asleep on his lap, she felt bad. She wished that she'd been there for her and him too, but she also knew that he had it perfectly under control. He was so good with her, he was so kind, loving and so patient. She made her way over to him and kissed his cheek.
"Sorry darling, I went down to the library, I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about George and how we are going to tell him about everything. He's going to be so upset," Mary sighed as she thought of her boy. He'd been friends with William since before they could talk. They were inseparable, now they were going to have to tell him that his best friend had raped and tortured his cousin, the closest thing he had to a sister.
Matthew smiled sadly, taking her hand and pulling her down on the bed with them, "Don't apologise, this is going to be one painful talk and visit. I haven't even told Sybbie yet that we are going to see him. She had another nightmare while you were gone, she was terrified. I hate seeing her so scared and to know that there's nothing we can do about it."
Mary looked down at her niece/surrogate daughter and her eyes filled with love. She stroked her hair gently, kissing her forehead. "She is the bravest person I know, Matthew. I am so proud of her, she doesn't deserve this," Mary leaned her head onto Matthew's shoulder and he soothingly rubbed her back.
"I know she doesn't, no one deserves what that animal did to her," He growled slightly. Everytime he thought about that monster and what he had done to her it made him want to kill him. Sybbie stirred in his arms looking at the clock and seeing it was 9:00am, she sat up in his lap and smiled at them both.
"What are we doing today mummy?" She looked at Mary, smiling slightly as she stroked her hair. She leaned into her touch, soaking up all the love and comfort that she was offering to her. This was where she wanted to be, right here with her family. The only person that was missing was George. She really missed him a lot.
"We are going up to see George today, we still need to tell him about everything that's been going on. Daddy and I didn't want to tell him through a letter," Mary explained to the young girl, watching as Sybbie went pale. She reached down and stroked her face, soothing her and keeping her calm.
"Don't worry, my darling. George won't be angry with you, he will be on your side. He really cares about you and all he wants is for you to be happy," Matthew said softly, heading to the bathroom to get ready. Sybbie nodded softly, focusing on Mary's hand on her face and Matthew's words of comfort. She calmed down and smiled softly, trying to think happy thoughts and thinking about seeing her cousin again.
After a couple of hours, all three of them were dressed and ready to leave. Sybbie clung to Mary's hand nervously like a child, her doubts coming out to play again. Mary felt her heart break as she looked down at her, she was so cute and trusting of them both. She trusted them so much and all Mary wanted to do was fix this and make it better for her.
"It's alright, come along darling. It's going to be fine, guess what? Shall we ask daddy if we can get a big hot chocolate before we go on the train?" She said, smiling when Sybbie's face lit up. The girl loved her hot chocolates, having at least 2 a day! Matthew smiled indulgently at the little girl, he would do anything to keep that smile on her face.
"You can have whatever you want, my darling. Maybe even some cake on the train," He kept his voice low so Mary wouldn't hear, gently nudging Sybbie with his elbow jokingly. She giggled slightly as Mary turned around.
"What are you two up to? You'd better not be ganging up on me," She teased good naturedly, as they walked down to the car. Matthew getting in the driver's seat, Mary in the front and Sybbie in the back. After putting their seatbelts on, Matthew drove towards the train station. He hoped things wouldn't blow up too badly when they told George, how he wished that he could spare his son this pain and betrayal.
Matthew pulled up in the station and got them all out, he took Sybbie's hand in his whilst wrapping his other arm around his wife. They walked in a comfortable silence towards the station cafe, Matthew pulled his wallet out and looked at the menu deciding what to have. Soon, it was their turn to order.
"Can I get 3 hot chocolate's and 4 slices of chocolate cake please?" Matthew said, getting his money out of his wallet to pay for the drinks and snacks. He handed everyone their food and drink, keeping one slice of cake wrapped up for George to eat when they got there. He couldn't leave him out, chocolate cake was one of his favourite treats.
"Thanks daddy," Sybbie said softly, making her way to sit on a seat in the first class section of the train as did Mary. Mary nodded in agreement, sitting down and opening her slice of cake from it's wrapper.
"Yes, thank you darling. it looks lovely," She said with a smile, taking a sip from her cup. Sybbie did the same, also biting into the slice of cake. They were both so happy to see her eating again, she was already beginning to look less pale and it was lovely to see. They would let her eat chocolate cake all day long if it meant that she would eat regularly again, anything to put a smile on her face.
After 3 hours on the train, they finally pulled into Oxford. Matthew got out of the train first, helping both Mary and Sybbie onto the platform so that they could find the exit and get themselves into a taxi. The closer they came to getting to Radley, the more nervous Sybbie became. She took a deep breath and trembled, clutching onto Mary's hand for dear life.
"Mummy, I feel sick." She whispered, nuzzling into her side. Mary picked her up, hugging her tight as they walked along. They jumped into the first taxi that they saw, Mary put Sybbie in the middle of them both. She quickly told the driver where they needed to go before turning to the little girl, gently smoothing her hair back.
"I know you feel sick darling, I feel anxious too. Mummy and Daddy will be right here with you every step of the way," She soothed her gently, with so much love, patience and understanding. Matthew hummed to himself, trying to keep his nerves in check. God, this was going to be one hell of a visit. He wished that he could spare them all from this, he knew that their lives would never be the same again.
They pulled up at Radley College, it looked so big and immaculately kept. Matthew paid the driver and all three of them got out. They made their way through the front door and to the headmaster's office, Matthew recognised him as a teacher who had taught him when he was a boy. Matthew smiled politely and shook his hand firmly.
"Hello Sir, it's nice to see you again. Would it be ok if you could get my son out of his lesson? His name is George Crawley. I wouldn't normally ask but it is an emergency and we need to talk to him," Matthew ran a hand through his hair in distress, he was beginning to feel sick himself now that they'd arrived at the school and would be minutes away from ruining his son's life.
"Of course, bare with me just a moment," he got up and spoke to another teacher who nodded and made their way to fetch George from his lesson. Mary and Sybbie took a deep breath, their nerves were now getting the best of them too. They turned as the door opened, George made his way into the room and smiled a little seeing his family standing before him.
"Sybbie!," George said, scooping her up into a hug. Sybbie hugged him tight, burying her face into his shoulder as he spun her around. He put her down and kissed her cheek, he knew something had happened and he was nervous. He could tell by the look on his parents face that something had happened. They never would've turned up like this unless it was important.
"Mother... Father what is it? What's happened?" George said taking in his parents pale faces. He looked between them both and put his hands in his pockets nervously. He was growing more worried by the minute.
"George, take a seat. It's William..." Matthew said softly, wincing at Sybbie's sharp intake of breath. How could he have been so stupid as to say his name in front of her? George took a seat, he grew concerned. Was he hurt? Dead? He knew it was something serious, especially when his father told his mother to take Sybbie out of the room. What on earth was going on? Matthew waited for Sybbie and Mary to leave the room before continuing.
"After you left to come back here, we found out why Sybbie was so jumpy... why she had lost so much weight and why she didn't like being touched," Matthew began, he could see his son processing everything in his mind and a flicker of realisation crossed his face. George shook his head and stood up, backing away from his father.
"Don't say it... don't say it papa, please don't say it!" George said, his eyes going wide. His face went red as he punched a hole through the wall in the office, he made a dash for the door. Matthew caught him, picking him up and holding him tight.
"Get the fuck off me! Let me go, let me go! I'm going to kill him! Get off me, get off me papa!" George yelled, bursting into tears. His best friend had hurt his cousin, irreparably. It hurt... this was all his fault, if he hadn't been friends with him then Sybbie would never have been hurt.
"This is my fault! It's all my fault! Let me go papa!" He yelled before collapsing in a heap in his father's arms, hugging him tight and sobbing like a little boy. Matthew scooped him up in a hug, protecting him from prying eyes. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen his son cry, it broke his heart. Matthew held him tight within his embrace shushing him, the same way he'd been comforting Sybbie.
"Oh my boy. This is not your fault! You couldn't have known, no one did. I'm so sorry George, I'm so sorry that he betrayed you and Sybbie. We are going to sort this out, ok? I won't let him get away with this! Shush... hush darling boy. Papa's here..." He hugged him tight, allowing George to collapse in his arms and cry it out. Safe in his father's arms.
Sybbie and Mary came in not too long later, Sybbie's eyes filled with tears as she saw her cousin's distress. George ran to her and scooped her in a hug, kissing her forehead and cheek. He rubbed her back and took a deep breath.
"I'm so sorry, this wasn't your fault! He's a fucking monster! I'll kill him Sybbie... I swear to God, I will kill him," he growled. Keeping his arms tight around her whilst she cried on his shoulder, so glad that he didn't hate her.
"I'm so sorry Georgie... I know how much he meant to you, really I'm so sorry!"
George tightened his arms around her, shushing her whilst Mary and Matthew watched on. They were so proud of their boy, they'd raised a damn good man.
"You mean more to me, don't you dare apologise ok? He's an actual monster!" George slowly pulled away, watching as his father hastily thrust money into the headmaster's hand. He blushed seeing the huge hole in the wall from where he's punched it. He apologised quickly for his behaviour, his teacher dismissed it. He knew that he'd already suffered enough.
George made his way with his parents and Sybbie to the train station. After the shocking announcement, they'd decided to take him home for the foreseeable future. He needed his family and Sybbie needed him. Sybbie walked alongside them, glancing up at Matthew she slipped her hand in his. She felt so guilty for everything.
"Daddy I'm so sorry..." She muttered. Hearing Sybbie call his father 'daddy' made him stop for a second. When did this happen? What had he missed? He looked up at his father and mother with a curious expression on his face. He wanted to know what was going on.
"You have nothing to be sorry about darling," Matthew said lovingly, getting them all into the carriage and sat down. He rubbed her back slightly and smiled as she leaned into his outstretched arms, finding comfort in them. Mary smiled at George, he deserved an explanation. All of this must've been such a shock to him, her poor little boy.
"It started a day or so after we found about what happened, Sybbie had a nightmare and called out for 'mummy' and 'daddy'. We thought she was crying for your Aunt Sybil and Uncle Tom, but then your father woke her up and she called us that and begged us to make it all stop for her," Mary got teary eyed as she remembered the little girls distress. George laid a hand on his mother's arm and squeezed gently.
"Your father and I have always felt like a second set of parents towards her, I mean Sybbie has never had a mother. I always felt like a second mother towards her, it just felt so natural when she called us that. We will never replace your Aunt Sybil and Uncle Tom but she needs us, it will also never change how we feel about you either," She said softly, hugging him tightly within her embrace.
"Mother! You're embarrassing me..." He giggled, allowing her to hug him. He loved it really, he loved his mother and father so much. He looked at his family in front of him, he adored them with every fibre of his being.
"I don't mind that she calls you that, I've always wanted a sister," His smile grew and so did his parents and Sybbie's. It couldn't have gotten any better than right now.
By the time they got back to Downton, it was very late. Mary and Matthew sent them both up to get changed for dinner and so they could have a chat amongst themselves. Mary had come to a realisation and she couldn't believe that they hadn't done this the minute that they had found out.
"Matthew... we should really take Sybbie to visit Dr Clarkson and have her checked out, she could be really badly injured. We should've done it the minute that we found out," She whispered keeping her voice low so that her two children couldn't hear her.
Matthew looked at her, and held her hand tightly. He agreed, there could be all sorts of injuries and lasting damage from what he had put her through.
"I agree, my darling. We will take her first thing tomorrow. I tell you what, I am so proud of George. We've raised a fantastic, kid and caring man" He said softly smiling with pride as he remembered how selfless and kind he'd been to his cousin.
"That's because he's just like his father," She smiled and nuzzled into his chest.