A/N: I am so sorry for the extremely late update. I was dealing with some issues and lost motivation to do anything. I hope you guys haven't lost interest in this story. Please read and review. Honestly, reading your reviews gave me the push to finally do something and write this chapter.
Ch 8
Matthew tried to shift his head to turn away from the light but couldn't. Something was restraining him. He gradually became aware of the pain in his neck and the fact that his right arm was numb. He then felt something tickle his nose. He finally opened his eyes and saw the mass of dark curls on his arm… and all pain and discomfort were forgotten.
Memories of last night trickled back to his mind and a wide grin spread over his face.
Mary had confessed that she had a crush on him and then she had kissed him. Mary Crawley, the woman he was hopelessly in love with, who he dreamt about most nights, his closest friend in the city, had kissed him! He would have passed it off as yet another dream if not for her presence next to him. That, and the fact that he could still feel her lips on his reassured him that it was indeed the reality.
He looked down and smiled again. She had burrowed into him and one of her arms was wrapped around him, the other folded under her head. Her head was resting on his chest and was almost invisible, covered with her hair. Matthew moved his free hand and brushed the hair off her face. She stirred a bit but then curled up into his side and fell asleep again. He couldn't take his eyes off her face. Unlike when awake, she looked peaceful in her sleep. Her makeup had become caked and her lipstick was now smeared on his shirt but to Matthew that made her all the more adorable.
Not wanting to disturb the moment, but unable to bear the pain in in his neck any longer, Matthew finally shifted and extricated his arm from underneath Mary. The movement woke Mary up and she blinked a few times, trying to figure out what was happening.
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Mary was annoyed at having been woken up from such a blissful dream. In her dream she had finally kissed Matthew and he had kissed her back. He had then lulled her to sleep with soft kisses and sweet promises. And now she was rudely woken up by something shifting beside her.
As she blinked her eyes a few times before fully opening them, she saw that the something was actually someone and that someone was Matthew and she hurriedly sat up.
In a flash she realised that last night was not a dream but had actually happened. They had kissed and then fallen asleep together. It made her feel incredibly happy and shy at the same time.
Matthew looked at Mary sitting up. He saw the blush creeping up her face and wanted nothing more to pull her down and kiss her again.
Instead, he smiled and whispered, "Good morning."
Mary looked at him and couldn't stop the happy smile coming on her face. Matthew's blonde hair was mussed and his shirt was crumpled and smeared with her lipstick. His blue eyes were smiling and she had never seen anyone look as happy as he did at the moment. She felt a warmth spread all over her at the thought that she had made him feel that way. Lady Mary Crawley, the ice queen, the heartless dragon (as Edith used to call her in their childhood before she had learnt the word 'bitch') had made someone feel happy.
"Good morning" she whispered back, and then on a whim, bent down and kissed him.
Matthew's eyebrows shot up. He froze for a moment and then kissed her back, matching her passion. He took her arms and pulled her down. Cradling her head, he pulled her closer to him. When they finally broke the kiss, they pulled back a it and kept staring at each other in wonder and contentment, Mary's hand resting over Matthew's heart and his fingers playing with locks of her chestnut brown hair.
"Well, it certainly was a good morning", he ventured after a while.
Mary giggled. Really, what was he doing to her?
"As much as I would love a repeat performance, you have to go brush. Your morning breath is horrible." she said with a mischievous smirk.
"Well, you didn't seem to mind a couple of minutes back."
"I do now. Now go and brush before I get cross."
Matthew groaned at that which got another giggle out of her. Shaking his head, he got up.
"Where's the washroom?" he asked.
Mary pointed her hand at the direction and he started walking away. He suddenly stopped and headed back towards the couch.
"What are you doing? Really Matthew I wasn't kidding, your breath sti- "
Mary couldn't complete the sentence as Matthew had flung her over his shoulder and was now carrying her to the bathroom. She shrieked.
"What do you think you are doing?"
"Why I am doing you a favour and giving you a ride to the washroom."
He set her down in front of the basin and started washing his mouth. Mary stared at him for a moment and then asked "I can see that, but why?"
"ywihvtrmrbjg" he said with a mouthful of toothpaste.
Mary simply arched her eyebrow.
Matthew completed brushing and rinsing his mouth. Then he turned towards her with a smirk and said, "Well, darling, I carried you here because your breath stinks too."
Mary could feel a wave of giddiness pass through her on hearing him call her darling. But she decided to have some fun before giving in to her urge to kiss him senseless and then some more.
So, she put her hands on her hips, narrowed her eyes and in a mock offended tone said, "Why Matthew Crawley, have you lost all sense and are now commenting on a lady's hygiene?"
Matthew grinned and bent down to kiss the top of her nose. Playing along, he said, "I would say we are past that point because it's not terribly ladylike to get drunk and kiss your boss, is it?"
It was a simple comment, made in jest, but Mary felt her entire world crashing around her. What Matthew had jokingly said was exactly what had happened. She had got drunk and kissed her boss. It was not just the violation of an office policy, but she had also deviated from her integrity. Most importantly, she had behaved irresponsibly, proving Robert right. She knew if her father ever got wind of this, any chance of her getting a promotion was forever ruined.
Mary had, in other words, almost destroyed her career with her own hands. 'Almost' she mused. Just a few moments back she was bemoaning the fact that she and Matthew had not done anything more than just kiss, but she was now glad of the fact. Thank God for small mercies. She could still get out of this.
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Matthew saw Mary's face darken at his words. He bit the inside of his cheek and mentally chastised himself. He knew that his position in the office was a sore topic between the London Crawleys. He could see Mary deep in thoughts no doubt rehashing the painful details of his appointment at her cost.
"Mary I'm sorry, I - "
Mary cut him off before he could say anything else.
"Matthew, you're right. That was very irresponsible of me. Now, if you don't mind, could you please show yourself out? I'd like to get started with my day. And, oh, do you think you could keep this between us? I would really appreciate it if no one in the office knew."
Matthew could not believe his ears. Was Mary really breaking everything off and throwing him out? And all because of that stupid comment?!
"Mary are you serious? Do you really not want anything to do with me?"
"We will have to work together, but yes, I think it is better if we just stick to a professional relationship."
"Is this because of what I said? Because, you have to see it was just a joke. I didn't mean anything of it."
"Of course, it was because of what you said. Don't you see Matthew? That is exactly how people will view us. The frustrated daughter of the owner making moves on her boss to rise through the ranks on her job. And my father? He already thinks I'm a spoilt brat incapable of handling serious responsibilities and I would just be proving him right."
In spite of himself, Matthew could see the truth in her words and seethed in the injustice of all of it. Why was it that the blame always fell on the woman? And how dense was Robert Crawley that he couldn't recognise the capability of his own daughter and trusted a stranger more than her?
"So I've ruined it all then?" he said
"No, Matthew. You've showed me that I was living in a dream and it's time to return to real life."
As Matthew shut the door and left the apartment, Mary slumped down to the floor and finally let her tears fall.
A/N: And the angst begins! I don't know about you but I love some good old angst in my romances. It gets boring if it's all very fluff-y. But, do y'all hate me now for putting these two through troubles? Please review and let me know.
