Since age eight, Sybbie had lived with her father and stepmother at their own estate.

When she wasn't at school or studying, she was with her parents. Or, more accurately, she was observing her parents.

The way they smiled at each other when they didn't think anyone was looking, the brief squeezes they would give each other's hands, how they would see the other and instantly stop talking because they were simply that in love.

Their daughter loved watching how in love they were. Unlike how her cousins crinkled their noses when their parents made sappy comments or kissed one another, Sybbie welcomed it. It provided her comfort to know her parents not only loved her so deeply, but also that they loved each other with a similar depth.

Tom's Birthday, 1933

Lucy walked into the kitchen, nodding with a smile to the cook as she opened the refrigerator.

"What are we making him again, Mama?" Sybbie asked as she glanced into the refrigerator, then to her stepmother.

Lucy reached in and grabbed the egg carton. "Dad likes eggs, right?"

Her daughter gave her a look. "You know the answer to that."

Chuckling, Mama shut the fridge and set the eggs on the island. "I know I do. I just, I don't want to mess anything up."

Sybbie nodded. "I know." she smiled, then started looking for a pan as she asked. "Is there a particular reason you want everything to go perfectly for this birthday breakfast?"

Despite having her back turned, Sybbie knew her mother was wearing a flushed and nervous expression. "What? No. I always want Tom's birthday to go perfectly. He deserves it."

Nodding (and still not believing her) her daughter found a pan and placed it on the stove.

Tom had taught her to make eggs when they first moved into the Brampton house, when the cook went on holiday and the three of them had to cook for themselves when they didn't go to Downton for meals. Sybbie remembered her first cooking experience fondly, despite it ending in slightly brown scrambled eggs and far too crunchy bacon. Since then, she had perfected the simple breakfast.

Despite Lucy having also made the recipe since then, she was unable to master it as her stepdaughter did, so she prepared the tray and cup of tea while Sybbie made the food.

After finishing prepping the tray, she took a seat at the small desk and wrote a message to her husband on a small card.

Love, Lucy, Sybbie, Bobby, & new baby Branson

She grinned as she gazed down at what she wrote then quickly shut the card before her eldest could see.

Lucy stood back up and placed the card beside the plate that was now filled with perfectly made bacon and eggs. "This look delicious, Bee. Great job." she wrapped her in a side hug and kissed the top of her head.

"Thank you, Mama. I'm sure Dad will love it. All of it." she clarified, quite certain she knew what her stepmother was hiding.

Lucy glanced down at her, but decided not to confirm her suspicions before Tom knew. "Let's get your brother and go bring this to Dad. He's probably up and hungry."

Tom smiled widely as his family entered his and Lucy's bedroom with a pretty tray and giddy excitement. "Hello, Loves." he greeted them as his son ran ahead and climbed up into his arms. "Morning, Bobby."

"Happy Birthday, Daddy!"

"Thank you." he gave his son a tight hug before scooping him up and setting him beside him so he could accept the breakfast tray from his wife.

"Happy birthday, Darling." Lucy leaned down and kissed him for a long moment before Bobby tried to steal a piece of bacon off his dad's tray. "No, Bobby. That's for Daddy. Sybbie made the rest of us breakfast and it's waiting downstairs." she gently scolded her son.

He sighed dramatically. "I'm hungryyy,"

His family did there best not to laugh as to not encourage his dramatics, but Tom let out a soft chuckle. "You go downstairs and I'm sure Mrs. Harrison will give you the breakfast your sister made."

Bobby smiled, gave his father a quick hug, then rolled off the bed and rushed from the room.

They all laughed once he'd gone. "He definitely inherited my impatience." Tom joked.

His wife and daughter rolled their eyes.

Sybbie came forward and leaned down to hug him. "Happy birthday, Dad."

"Thank you, Syb." he kissed her cheek. "You two can go eat your food, you know."

Looking between her parents, Sybbie smirked slightly. "I think Mama would rather I go eat my food."

Lucy blushed. "Sybbie!"

Tom laughed heartily at his daughter's implication. "I mean, she isn't wrong…"

Lucy groaned. "I can't believe you two." The father and daughter laughed as she shook her head.

"But really. I'll go so you two can have a quiet moment." Sybbie smiled warmly as she gave her dad a peck on the cheek, then her stepmom. Before she stepped away from Lucy, she gave her hand a supportive squeeze as she'd seen her father do so many times before.

Lucy smiled gratefully for the subtle encouragement. She knew Sybbie was aware of what she was about to tell her husband, and the support was appreciated, because her nerves were all over the place.

Sybbie slipped out of the room and cracked the door just enough so she could listen. She didn't want to be nosy, but she had not been there when Lucy told her dad about Bobby, so she wanted to see his reaction to her second half-sibling.

Lucy pulled a chair that sat in the corner over to sit beside Tom as he enjoyed his breakfast.

He sipped his drink. "Cora would appreciate that you've chosen to serve orange juice."

"I'm sure she would. I know that she once introduced it to you, and you've loved it since."

"That's true." he smiled as he took another sip.

Once he'd finished the meal, Lucy felt her stomach twisting as she waited for him to pick up the card.

He glanced over at her, noticing how she was looking as if she was about to explode. Following her gaze, his eyes landed on the card. "Can I open this?"

She nodded quickly. "Yes."

While finding her eagerness adorable and a little confusing, he turned his attention to the card.

She watched his expressions change as he read the sweet parts and funny parts and the slightly inappropriate parts that would most likely make their kids gag. Her leg bounced up and down as she waited for him to reach the end.

Love, Lucy, Sybbie, Bobby,

Tom's brows instantly furrowed when the '&' wasn't after his daughter's name.

& new baby Branson

His eyes widened in disbelief as his head turned over to his wife. "You're pregnant?"

Tears were already rolling down her cheeks as she nodded.

He carelessly pushed the tray off his lap as he jumped out of bed and pulled her into his arms. "This is wonderful!" he whispered happily as he held her close.

She rested her chin on his shoulder. "It is?"

"Of course it is!" he pulled away a little so he could look into her eyes. "Did you think I would be upset?"

She didn't meet his look. "I, I don't know. We're getting older. I just thought you may not…. Not want another child."

He shook his head as he cupped her face in his hands. "I would never not want another child with such a beautiful, strong, kind, funny, amazing wife." he pressed a kiss to her forehead.

She sniffled and chuckled, flattered by his list. "Well, I'm very happy to hear that, love."

He grinned, overwhelmingly in love with the woman standing in front of him. "I love you, so extremely much."

Smiling back, she titled her head up. "I love you so, so much, too."

Sybbie watched as they shared a long, passionate kiss.

She slipped away and went downstairs so she wouldn't disrupt their moment.

Her heart overflowed with warmth as she thought of how happy her parents were together.

How hopelessly in love they were with one another.

Never had she seen a love quite like theirs, so affectionate and caring and sweet, but she hoped to one day experience it for herself.