A/N: While it says this episode takes place around mid August everywhere I looked online, I felt it really didn't make much sense considering episode 8 starts mid August and ends at the end of September so things have been shifted around to give more room for the other episodes.

—

Their return to Dublin is short lived. There's the burning down of Lord and Lady Drumgoole's castle that triggers the end. Tom comes running to Emma in a panic that evening. He was there at the fire and now the police are saying he's one of the instigators. They quickly put in the plan they had for if there were a situation like this, which they had decided on due to Tom's activism for an independent Ireland. They agreed, knowing he wouldn't get a fair trial, that Tom should leave at once to Downton, and that she'd close the flat and follow with Ivy. They don't stop her but Tom had gotten the last boat, so Emma has to wait.

Emma reaches the train station and takes the chance to call Downton. Mr Carson picks up and she asks if she can speak to either Edith or Mary. Soon Edith is on the other end.

"I've no time to talk, but tell them I'm all right, so's Ivy. I'm out of the flat. They haven't stopped me..." Emma stops talking when she sees someone suspicious.

"Who hasn't stopped you? Emma? Hello?" Emma quickly hangs up when she hears the call for the train.

—

The next day, Emma and Ivy make it onto the first boat to England. Then it's on a train to Downton Abbey. Once at the station, they get off to find Downton's chauffeur waiting, who had been there all day, waiting for her arrival. Emma feels relieved as this means Tom made it to Downton and was able to explain what was happening. She hadn't been able to call them anymore so as to not give anything that can trace her.

The motorcar drives to Downton Abbey and Emma enters the Great Hall alone. Suddenly Tom jogs in from the Library, out of breath.

"Oh, thank God." He gasps.

Tom and Emma walk straight into each other's arms and hold tight, though not too tight as Ivy lies between them. They pull back just enough to kiss. Tom strokes her cheek with tears in his eyes. He moves his other hand to stroke Ivy's head. "I'm so sorry."

"Shh. It's all right." Emma says in a hushed voice. "We're here now."

A noise pulls them apart and Emma sees Sybil, 8 months pregnant, hurrying over to them. Emma hands Ivy over to Tom just in time for Sybil to give her a big squeeze.

"Oh, thank goodness you're here. I was worried." Sybil cries.

Emma laughs as she pulls back. "We're fine. What are you doing here? What about Southampton? Where's Billy?"

"He's here," Sybil replies. "I heard the news and raced to Downton and begged my family to help. They like you anyway. Papa's gone to the Home Secretary to see if he can do anything."

—

In the guest bedroom, Tom and Emma sit holding each other's hands while the ladies of the family stand in the room. Anna tidies and leaves.

"They didn't try to stop me, but it doesn't mean they won't come after us. Unless Lord Grantham can persuade them otherwise." Emma says.

"Tom..." Lady Grantham sits on the bed. "How could you have left her all alone with Ivy to fend for herself?"

Emma shakes her head. "It wasn't like that. We thought this might happen and we decided what to do. The question is, what now?"

"You mustn't travel anymore, not before Ivy is older." Tom and Emma look at each other for a moment.

"But Tom wants Ivy to grow up in Dublin," Emma replies. She glances over to a gurgling Ivy in her bassinet.

Mary stares at Emma in disbelief. "He won't hold you to that now."

"Well, won't this be the first place that they look?" Tom says.

"How could you be part of it? The Drumgooles are like us." Mary accuses. Tom looks away and stands up. "She came out with me. She was Laura Dunsany then. How could you dance 'round her burning house, Tom? It's horrible."

"He didn't dance. And he isn't dancing now." Emma snaps. Someone knocks.

"Come in," Sybil calls.

Mr Carson enters with a tiny silver tray. "Telegram for you, my lady."

Lady Grantham takes it and Emma stands in anticipation. Her Ladyship reads it quickly to herself. "Lord Grantham's coming home. He's seen Mr Short."

"And what happened?" Sybil asks anxiously.

"He doesn't say, only that neither of you is to leave Downton." Emma and Tom look at one another and hold hands.

—

Emma catches Anna walking along despondently from Mary's room.

"Anna? What's wrong?" Emma asks as they walk along to the servants' entrance.

"Oh, it's nothing." Anne dismisses as she tries to open the door but Emma stops her.

"Anna. This is me you're talking to. What is it?"

Anna sighs reluctantly. "It's Mr Bates I've had no letters from him and they won't let me see him."

Emma frowns. "Why not? Have they given you a reason?" She questions.

"They haven't. I worry he's trying to let me go." Anna answers tearfully.

"No, I don't believe it." Emma declares. "If he is trying to do that, surely he would've said something to you? This isn't like him."

"If you say so." Anna walks down the servant steps.

Emma sighs as she watches Anne leave. Everything just keeps building up.

—

The family gathers before dinner in the Library. Tom stands by Emma's seat on the settee. Billy and Sybil sit next to her. Matthew, Mary and Edith sit on one settee with the Dowager sitting on a chair next to them. Lord Grantham paces while his wife stands next to Emma's settee.

"I can never go back to Ireland? That's impossible!" Tom argues.

"If you do, you'll be put in prison. It's the best I could manage." His Lordship replies.

"Surely they need proof to ban a man from his own country." Lady Grantham argues.

"They have more proof than Tom will concede."

"Is that fair?" Emma takes Tom's hand. "He's admitted to being there. He told you so himself."

"But he did not tell me that he attended Dublin meetings where the attacks on the Anglo-Irish were planned." Matthew, Mary, Billy and Sybil look at Tom in surprise. Emma pulls her hand away from Tom's, feeling betrayed and disappointed.

"I was always against any personal violence. I swear it." Tom replies. Lady Grantham sits down in a chair.

"Oh, so at least we can sleep in our beds." The Dowager remarks.

"Maybe, but you were not against the violent destruction of property." Lord Grantham counters, walking towards him.

"I've told you, the sight of it was worse than I expected," Tom argues.

"So, what was the deal you managed to extract from the home secretary?" Matthew asks.

"They don't want to make a martyr of him. And with Emma, they think they could have another Maud Gonne on their hands, or Lady Gregory, or worse if they're not careful." His Lordship answers.

"Lady Gregory, Countess Markievicz... why are the Irish rebels so well born?" The Dowager ponders.

"Whatever the reason, I don't want Emma Branson to join their ranks. Mercifully, nor do the Irish authorities. If Tom can stay away, they'll leave him alone."

"I can't be kept away from Ireland," Tom argues.

"You'll be arrested the moment you touch dry land."

—

Emma attends dinner that evening despite the fact that she feels horrible. Tom had lied to her and kept secrets from her for God knows how long. She tries to distract herself with Edith's talk of her letter to the newspaper and news of a new footman.

"What do you mean you wrote to a newspaper? No lady writes to a newspaper." The Dowager exclaims from her son's right. The Tennessee is going to ratify the nineteenth amendment giving all American women the vote. Edith is not pleased with the lack of that in this country.

"What about Lady Sarah Wilson? She's the daughter of a duke and she worked as a war journalist." Edith retorts from between Emma and Matthew.

"Well, she's a Churchill. The Churchills are different."

"Have we no Churchill blood?" Mary argues as she sits between Tom and Billy.

"I think Granny's right." Lady Grantham says. Matthew and Tom sit on either side of her.

"Can somebody write that down?"

"It's good to have strong views, but notoriety is never helpful."

"Well, I've sent it now." Edith declares.

"It won't be published." Lord Grantham says. Emma clenches her cutlery, irritated and angry at Edith's own father's lack of belief and support.

"Thank you for the vote of confidence, Papa."

"I'm sure it's brilliant." Emma pipes up. Edith gives her a grateful smile

"This is our new footman, Mama." Lady Grantham says before turning to the new addition. "What should we call you?" Emma had also heard there's going to be a new maid, meaning Anna will finally be able to be Mary's lady's maid and a new Kitchen maid.

"Jimmy."

"James, Your Ladyship." Mr Carson steps forward and clears his throat. "This is James."

"Welcome to Downton, James." Lord Grantham greets.

"Thank you, milord." Emma sees that he stands there stiffly and looks sideways at Mr Carson before exiting. Probably not happy with that.

"Well done, Carson. That must've cheered up the maids." Mary remarks.

"He looks like a footman in a musical review." Her grandmother adds.

"Poor Alfred. We mustn't allow him to be completely overshadowed." Edith says.

"Quite right, my lady. Hard work and diligence weigh more than beauty in the real world." Mr Carson steps away.

"If only that were true." The Dowager remarks.

—

Emma avoids conversation with Tom and goes to bed early. She stares at a book in her hand though is unable to concentrate as Tom gets ready for bed. Her eyes flicker to Ivy, who lies asleep next to their bed.

She decides she needs to say something and turns to him with a cross look on her face. "You never told me you went to those meetings."

"I never told you I didn't," Tom says. Emma clenches her teeth, annoyed.

"And what else haven't you told me?" She asks pointedly.

"All I know is, I can't stay here. Not for long." Tom says.

"You must," Emma argues. "And so must I. And you must let Ivy stay here."

"You're very free with your musts," Tom remarks as he walks over to the bed

"But I will not be free with our daughter's chances." Tom gets into bed. "We need peace and safety." Emma puts her hand over Tom's. "Downton can offer us both."

Tom kisses Emma's cheek, but she still feels sad when he pulls away.

—

Emma gets up and goes down for breakfast and joins Lord Grantham, Matthew, Tom, Billy and Edith in the Dining room while Sybil and Mary stay in their rooms.

She walks up to the side table to collect her food before sitting next to Tom with Billy and Matthew across from them and Edith and her father on either end. Emma doesn't look at Tom as she sits down as she's still upset with him. This causes Billy to give her a questioning look but she shakes her head at him to keep him quiet.

Lord Grantham is reading the paper when he suddenly lets out an exclamation, "Good God in heaven! "Earl's daughter speaks out for women's rights."" He lowers the paper to look at Edith.

"What?" Edith gasps, beginning to smile.

""In a letter to this newspaper today, Lady Edith Crawley, daughter of the Earl of Grantham..."" Edith looks excitedly at Matthew, who begins to grin and Emma finds herself doing the same. ""Condemns the limitations of the women's suffrage bill, and denounces the government's aims to return women to their pre-war existence.""

Edith smiles. "You said they wouldn't print it."

"Well done." Matthew

"That's most impressive." Billy agrees.

"Don't say you support her." Lord Grantham complains.

"Of course we support her. And so do you, really... when you've... had a chance to think about it." Matthew says.

"So, I should hope, anyway." Tom grins at Edith.

"Ugh." Mr Carson grumbles from his corner.

"What do you think, Carson?" Lord Grantham asks.

"I would rather not say, my lord." Matthew smirks and looks at Edith. Edith smiles happily down at her plate.

"Truly incredible Edith," Emma says smiling. Edith continues grinning.

—

Anna later runs up to Emma gleefully. "Emma, Emma!"

Emma laughs, relieved to see Anna smiling. "What is it?"

Anna shows her a large stack of letters. "They're all from Mr Bates."

"All of them?" Emma gapes in surprise.

"Yes. I'll have to wait till later to read them, but the fact that they have arrived…"

"I'm happy for you, Anna." Emma is happy that it has been resolved.

—

"You'll love this," Gemma says as she walks into the Library. Emma had been reading when Gemma wandered in to borrow a book.

"What?" Emma asks, looking up from her book. She had decided to The Monk by Mathew Lewis. Emma had to read it at university but remembers enjoying it so she happily sat down to read it.

"The new Kitchen maid started today," Gemma answers as she browses.

"And?"

"Her name is Ivy Stuart."

Emma lets out a snort. "Really?"

Gemma chuckles. "Yes."

"Well, that's awkward," Emma says.

Tom walks into the room then. "Emma, please can I talk to you?"

Emma sighs. "Alright." She glances at Gemma. Tom turns to look at her as if he hadn't even noticed her when he came in.

"I'll go then," Gemma says, getting the message, grabbing a book and leaving. Once she's gone, Tom sits next to Emma.

"What is it?" Emma asks tiredly.

Tom takes her hand in his. "I'm so sorry for going to the meetings."

Emma shakes her head. "It's the fact that you lied about them. We're partners, we have to be honest with one another."

"I know." Tom drops her hand and looks down shamefully.

"And the fact that I told you about me, a secret I haven't told anyone else yet you couldn't trust me with this!" Emma explains sadly.

"I didn't want you to be disappointed with me," Tom replies, taking her hand he had dropped into both of his hands. "But I regret it, please forgive me."

Emma sighs but nods with a small smile. "Of course, let's move forward."

Tom smiles and they share a kiss but get interrupted when Sybil walks in.

"Oh, sorry!" She exclaims. Tom and Emma laugh, they're going to have to get used to living with more people, at least for a little while.