Chapter 10

Author Note: Julian Fellowes' brainchild, not mine - I wish!

Over the next nine months, Anthony and Beatrice had integrated themselves into the Downton circle with frequent visits, and never missed the opportunity to team up with Mary and Edith and tease Walter. The peak of this was probably Edith sneakily putting up mistletoe in Downton's Christmas decorations, and Sybil and Walter had no choice but to lock lips in public. But their jovial bubble was often interrupted in passing by the war, and March 1916 came with the news of conscription.

"You can see it makes sense." Billy Russell said, who was on leave, drinking with Walter and Anthony in the Rose and Oak once again. The other two shared a look.

"I guess, but Kitchener will have to fetch us kicking and screaming." Anthony huffed. The three of them slowed down their drinking, and made it back to Fenwick Cottage.

"Bloody stupid initiative." Beatrice grumbled. Billy coughed, avoiding her look.

"I whole-heartedly agree with you, Bea." Walter said. "But we'll be careful."

"Can't you get out of it? Walter, you can pretend to be married to Sybil, and Anthony can be fake-married to me." the dirty-blonde said. A shadow of a grin emerged on the others' faces - at another time, that last suggestion would have been hysterical. The next day Walter was one of the sofas in Downton's small library, talking to Cora.

"Thank you for taking tea with me, Lady Grantham." he smiled, taking a sip.

"No problem, Walter. As much I'd love to talk art with you like we've done before, I suspect there's something on your mind?" the countess asked gently.

"Well… did Sybil mention a gift of those new Milk Tray chocolates that came to Downton last month?" the auburn-haired man pondered. Cora's eyes brightened.

"I should have known that her 'secret' Valentine's gift was from you." she smiled.

"I'd never goad her feelings, and whether they are romantic or platonic is fine-"

"-but yours are romantic." Cora concluded. "I thought as much. And… you're scared something might happen to you, now that conscription has been implemented." she finished. Walter's face paled as he nodded, confirming her suspicion.

"I'm heading off tomorrow for three months' training, and I… I d-don't want her to forget me if things take a turn for the worst." Walter stammered slightly, doing his best to put on a brave face. Cora's heart clenched slightly, remembering that underneath the bravado, Robert had felt the same at the outbreak of the Boers, and at the time the girls had been just that - girls. She remembered Robert's gloomy view that Cora, Mary, Edith and Sybil would forget him if he didn't come back from Africa.

"You'll make it through this, Walter. I know you hate conflict, but you will come back. And Sybil wouldn't forget you. You're her best friend." she stated. Walter smiled.

"That warms my heart, truly. All of sudden, probably because I mentioned the Milk Tray gift, I'm craving chocolate. Even chocolate cake would suffice." he said.

"Go down to the servants' hall, see if Mrs. Patmore has anything." Cora laughed lightly. He took her advice, nearly - literally - bumping into Anna in the servants' hall.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry Anna! I almost didn't see you." the musician gasped.

"I'm surprised you see either me or Daisy at all, Mr. Metcalfe." the blonde laughed.

"Oh ha-ha." Walter chuckled. "And how many times - you can call me Walter. True, you and Daisy are small compared to me, but I suppose my mind was elsewhere just now. Do you know if Mrs. Patmore is cooking anything with chocolate?"

"I think she's making a bombe surprise for the family. That may tempt you to stay for dinner." Anna teased. "What's that smirk about?"

"I bet Carson got in a state when he heard. He doesn't like surprises, does he?"

"You really are awfully cheeky, you know that? I can see why Lady Sybil is fond of you." Anna grinned. Blood rushed to Walter's cheeks at that.

Spring came and went, and soon Summer was heating up the country in July.

"Lord above, that's awful!" Robert exclaimed over his newspaper on the first Monday.

"More grim news, Papa?" Mary asked. The look on Robert's face confirmed as such.

"19,000 killed in Somme, just in one day." he said mournfully. "Those poor devils."

"That's terrible." Edith and Sybil stated in unison, the latter's lip trembling.

"A letter for Lady Sybil, milord." Carson said. Sybil's stomach lurched uncomfortably. There seemed to be more and more telegrams coming her way lately, bearing news of former dance partners. She took momentary solace that Carson had said 'letter'.

"Thank you, Carson." the younger brunette replied, taking the letter from the butler. She read it in silence, a mixture of emotions passing over her beautiful face.

"Can we know who it's from?" Edith asked, still reeling from Robert's statement.

"Oh Edith, don't be so nosy." Mary snapped. "Where has that ever got you, anyway?"

"You two..." Sybil muttered under her breath. "Yes, I'll tell you. It's from Walter."

"I thought he was still training." Robert said. Sybil slightly shook her head.

"He finished it. He leaves for a post abroad in a fortnight. He hopes he can visit."

"I don't see why not." Robert replied. "It'll be nice to see the young chap."

"Oh thank you Papa, that means a lot." Sybil beamed, getting up from the breakfast table. After her youngest sister left the room, Mary verbalised another brash thought.

"Papa, do you really think it's good to let Walter Metcalfe come by so often?"

"It's Mama who usually invites him to Downton." Edith pointed out. "You've never really warmed to him, have you?" the strawberry-blonde pondered. Mary huffed.

"He's obviously smitten with Sybil, but I wonder if he's the best match for her, should she ever reciprocate his feelings." the eldest daughter replied haughtily.

"Not everyone is as cold-hearted as you, Mary." Edith sniped. With a clutter of cutlery, Mary quickly stood up and also left the room. Edith rolled her eyes and continued with her breakfast. In the entrance hall, Sybil was on the telephone to Beatrice.

"How are things going with Metcalfe's Mitigators?"

"With help with the Tax Resistance League, we've redistributed nearly £4,600 so far."

"Goodness Bea, that's wonderful!" Sybil grinned. "Did you write to tell Walter?"

"What do you think?" Beatrice teased drily. She put it in a response letter - Walter's initial letter had told her that he'd finished training, and had something planned regarding Sybil. Beatrice had a shrewd idea what it was, but was sworn to secrecy.

"I think I should make another donation and round up that 'nearly' figure."

"Oh, Sybil!" the dirty-blonde gasped, tearing up. "You're too good, you know that?"

Four days later Walter and Anthony's train pulled into Downton Railway Station.

"What a relief to back in familiar surroundings." Walter sighed. "And you can stop ranting about the locomotive." he teased his friend. This got him a thump on his arm.

"At least we invented it." Anthony replied. Walter shrugged in agreement - the car was an idea by the Hun, after all. After a walk stretched the duo's stiff limbs, they were at the Abbey. Anthony rolled his eyes at the look on Walter's face.

"What?" the latter asked. Anthony raised his eyebrows. Walter scoffed and knocked.

"Ah, Mr. Metcalfe. Mr. Proby. Come on in." William Mason answered. "Miss Taylor and the young Ladies are in the small library." he supplied. There was a silence.

"Thank you William." Walter said, then walking the familiar route. He got the feeling William wanted to ask about the training, which accounted for that heavy silence. But the returning duo were glad that the footman didn't say anything on the subject.

"Home is the hunter, home from the hill!" Anthony joked somewhat morbidly as he walked into the small library. Four heads raised at the sound of his voice.

"Anthony! Walter!" Beatrice and Sybil grinned simultaneously. The men hugged them both, Walter exhaling a sigh of relief into Sybil's hair at the reunion.

"Welcome back, you two." Edith smiled, raising a half-full glass in greeting. Mary's welcome was a cautious half-smile. Beatrice's face showed she was deep in thought.

"Out with it, Beatrice. What are you thinking?" Anthony asked. Walter laughed.

"Did you only have each other to rely on?" she asked. Walter shook his head.

"No, we made a few friends. Like Private Simmonds." he said.

"Oh yes, I remember you mentioning him in your letters." Sybil smiled.

"And you'll never guess who we bumped into a few times." Anthony piped up.

"Anthony, I was going to ease into that… but as you seem so eager to say, it was Matthew Crawley." Walter continued with an air of reluctance. Mary stilled.

"You crossed paths with Cousin Matthew?" she asked. Edith and Sybil shared a look.

"We did. Well, it's Captain Crawley now." Walter supplied. "He seemed pleased to see us on those occasions. Even if we were 'Private Metcalfe' and 'Private Proby'. I guess war really does have a way of changing things." he said with a nervous laugh.

"Will we have to worry about you facing horrors?" Edith asked.

"Edith!" Mary and Sybil admonished the middle sister, even if Sybil did so gently.

"Hopefully not. Luckily, we should be joining the telegraph troops." Walter explained.

"I guess decoding messages seems a bit safer." Beatrice exhaled.

"Oh we'll get through it Bea, don't worry." Anthony said. Beatrice looked at him.

"But I do worry. After all, you can't be taken anywhere without adult supervision." she retorted. The Crawley girls snickered and Walter burst into laughter at this.

"I'm sure I'll be with him, Bea. It will be perfectly fine." the musician quipped.

"Like I said, Anthony can't be taken anywhere without adult supervision." the dirty-blonde repeated. Sybil giggled at the indignation on Walter's face. After that, the auburn-haired man gently led Sybil to the other side of the room for a whispered talk.

"Sybil, I know I'll be in the telegraph troops, but… I'm scared." he muttered.

"Oh Walter." Sybil responded with sympathy, patting his hand.

"I was coerced into this, like so many others, and what if something goes wrong?"

"You're made of strong stuff." his companion soothed.

""I wish I could believe that…" Walter trailed off, thinking. Something seemed to click.

"You're up to something, aren't you?" Sybil teased gently.

"Could I have your picture to take with me?" Walter asked. "As a talisman of hope."

"Of course." Sybil smiled, hugging him gently.

The day had come for Walter and Anthony to depart for France, and Beatrice and Sybil were seeing them off at the train station. Emotions were high.

"Don't be foolish, and try to watch out for yourselves." Beatrice said, holding back a tear. The two men joined her in what looked to be a secret trio handshake.

"Of course we will." Walter replied, a lump in his throat. As Anthony gave Sybil a side-hug, Walter looked at Beatrice, a look that seemed to speak a thousand words.

"Why wouldn't I?" the dirty-blonde responded. After a tender hug, the two smiled at each other and parted. As Beatrice and Anthony said a last goodbye, Sybil looked up at Walter. Without words, she gave him a photograph. It was a sepia tone one of her.

"You look beautiful." Walter breathed. Sybil smiled and kissed him on the lower jaw.

"Thank you. Be careful, best friend." she said softly. Walter rubbed her shoulder and got on board the train with Anthony. As the locomotive pulled away in a mess of sound and steam, Sybil and Beatrice stood there in a thoughtful silence.

"What was that I saw in your hand?" Beatrice asked after a minute.

"A photograph. Walter's good luck charm." Sybil replied gently.

"Aww." Beatrice uttered, knowing her shrewd idea had been right.