Mary lounged on the couch, her shoes kicked off and her legs curled up under her, idly reaching for the wine glass that sat on the small end table to her right. The warm glow of the electric lights was just enough to allow her to read the book she'd just purchased while not overpowering her and making her feel like she was staring into some tiny sun. The glass was filled with what would have been seen by her as a cheap vintage just a few years ago but having lived in the home of an utter teatotaller who utterly refused to even consider letting a drop of alcohol touch his tongue for her it was pure nectar stolen from Dionysus himself. The bottle had been another purchase she'd made that day, a rare frivolous gift to herself. While she may not have liked the General's desire to have water at dinner rather than something a touch harder she had also come to understand one benefit of it: the money saved. When she and Lavinia had gone into the small shop to select the bottle Mary had felt like the earth had torn apart under her feet as she ogled the prices.

'No wonder Matthew was so concerned with money back then,' she thought as she remembered how many times her husband had gotten a pained look on his face when she would make an offhand remark about the wealth of Downton. 'With how much we put away at dinner each night I dare say would could have bought a small island with the pounds we swilled away!'

She'd been thinking a lot about money recently, mostly thanks to Lavinia. Her friend had casually mentioned something about Mary living with the Lothrops… nothing biting or insulting, just innocent to the point that Mary honestly couldn't remember what the other woman had said... and it had made her realize that she couldn't live forever through the kindness of the couple. No, that wasn't right. She could easily live through their kindness. The General and Cat were those sorts of people who would have welcomed her and Matthew to stay forever in their home if they so desired. The General himself had admitted if he had his way all his children would remain under his roof, with their children and their children's children living there even if it meant building additions onto the townhouse. When they loved someone they wanted to provide for them and the Lothrops had grown to love Mary and Matthew in equal standing with their children.

'And that's why I can't rely upon them forever,' Mary thought to herself, setting her wineglass down and grasping her bookmark so she might mark her page. 'Because of that kindness. I will not abuse this gift. In fact, in a perfect world,. I would pay their generosity forward. One day, when Matthew and I are their age, I would love to find a couple just starting out and offer them the aid Allen and Cat have given Mathew and I.' She couldn't help but smile at that little dream before her lips fell into a more thoughtful position. 'But to do that we must have the wealth to pass along.'

Thus she had recently truly looked at how much it cost to live in the world. Not that she had been frivolous... she hadn't gone racking up debt in Catherine's name or stomping her feet in outrage if she weren't served the choices beef on the finest plate. She had been grateful from the first moment she had set foot in the Lothrops' home and she continued to be humbled by their kindness. But only in the last few weeks had she begun to think about life away from them. Mama would have been horrified but Mary had taken to looking over the finances with Matthew, seeing how much he made and how they were using it... and growing it. For even in war there were ways to make one's money work for them and Matthew had ways of sniffing those out.

'And I want to learn to do it myself,' Mary thought to herself. 'And I want to understand how to properly run a home. Not the wasteful focus on decadence the Crawleys who came before me were so obsessed with... true management. To understand how every cent brought in improves things and how every pound cast out into the world can be stretched to its very limit.'

The little trip with Lavinia that afternoon had been the final step a test for Mary, to see how she handled such a mindset. She had spent the week before baking pies and such, as was her normal pass time, but rather than merely give them away Mary had sold them to a small tavern restaurant that she'd learned about from Sybil. She'd kept careful track of how much the ingredients had cost (having made a special trip to a grocer to get the numbers and also marvel at a store that before she would never have entered) and figured out exactly what her profit was. Finally, after having gathered up a small sum she felt comfortable with she and Lavinia, who had been amused by Mary's test and decided to assist, had gone out to see how enjoyable a day they could have living just off Mary's own work.

It had gone fair enough. A few minor adjustments... lunch had caused her to gape in shock and seriously begin considering how rich her meals were in both flavor and cost. But otherwise-

"And what has you in such deep thought?" Matthew asked, making his presence known as he entered the drawing room. He begun to loosen his tie even as he dropped a kiss upon her forehead.

"Oh, just this book," she said easily enough. There was no true reason for her to hide her new friend but for a reason she couldn't quite explain she wasn't quite ready to share Lavinia with anyone else. Perhaps because she was the first friend that Mary had gained that was truly her own and earned through her own charms and talents. Not because of whom here parents were or out of a sense of obligation... no, Lavinia and her had bonded purely because they were Lavinia and Mary and she wanted to keep the relationship close to her heart for a touch longer.

Matthew, not sensing anything off from her statement, looked down at the book and smirked. "The Valley of Fear?"

"I blame you entirely for my literary tastes. Your middle class ways have infected me like a disease."

"And yet you don't sound too troubled to be 'sick'."

"I never said it was a bad infection," Mary teased before sitting up. "Now go and change... I told Molesley to get one of your finer jackets ready and press your best white shirt. I need to go see Martha and prepare myself."

"Are we going somewhere?" Matthew asked as Mary made her way out of the room and to the stairs.

"The opposite, in fact," Mary stated. "For once we have the house to ourselves and I thought we might pretend we were the wealthy elite once more."

Matthew shook his head in good humor and merely motioned for her to continue up the stairs, ducking into the spare bedroom Molseley was standing by while Mary went to their room. As Catherine's lady's maid assisted her in removing the clothing she'd worn for her outing and putting on the lovely black and emerald dress that the Lothrops had given her last Christmas Mary felt as if the years had slipped away and she was back in Downton again, Anna forcing her into a corset while she tittered away about this or that. Except while all the trappings were the same Mary found that she was different. The corset was left rather loose; where in the past she had prided herself on taking as much pulling and squeezing as Anna could muster without a word of complaint she'd grown used to the more casual styles of the Lothrop home and now allowed the corset to only be tightened ever so slightly.

Coming down the stairs she found Matthew waiting for her, looking handsome as always in his tails, and he offered her his arm before leading her to the dining room where the Lothrops' cook, seeing a chance this night to do something new, had gone all out to provide a filling yet romantic meal for the young couple. The only thing that made Mary a touch sad was that there was no excuse she could use for sliding her chair closer to Matthew's, seeing as they had the table all to themselves.

"Did your day go as well as mine?" Mary asked as she served herself.

"Well enough. There are, of course, always the hiccups that arise when one is part of such a large machine like the War Office but it went rather well." He dished out some salad for himself before continuing. "Of course today was a bit more hectic than most, seeing as Allen put me in charge of our entire division. Luckily enough of the lower ranked officers knew not to try to take advantage of me and my lack of knowledge in certain aspects… not when they all know that Allen will be returning tomorrow and most likely in a foul mood."

"Yes, the concert at Downton," Mary said. She could tell by the way Matthew looked at her that she must have been smiling the fake little smirk she'd been prone to wearing at Downton… normally when she had been talking to him during their first few months of meeting. "I'm fine, darling. I am. I can handle discussing it."

"Since when?" Matthew asked and Mary knew this time she was absolutely glaring at him. He held out his hands in a gesture of peace. "Sorry… but you must admit you have been rather… touchy about the whole thing. Within good reason." He added that last part in rather quickly.

"Yes but just as Downton is now my past so too is my inability to even mention the name or discuss… certain individuals that still live there." Matthew merely nodded his head, wisely seeing that anything he said might anger her, and Mary focused on eating a few bites of her dinner before continuing. "And those men are quite right to tread lightly today… Allen will be in a black mood when he returns. I have little doubt Papa will be able to hold his tongue and be civil. He'll say something foolish, about one of us perhaps or be really bold and mock us both, and the General and him will have the confrontation that has been brewing for quite some time."

"I hope visiting Anna and John and seeing the baby will cool his temper a bit."

"It might," Mary stated. "Or it might just make him even more enraged, knowing how Papa treated them as well." Matthew sipped his water (Mary's wine was for her and her alone… if he wanted some he could buy his own bottle!) and said nothing. "Though it might not be so bad. Catherine told me she has a few things arranged to try and mellow his temper when he returns tomorrow morning."

"Such as?" Matthew asked.

"Well," Mary said with a chuckle, "don't be surprised if we are eating rather plainly tomorrow… and the meal is heavy on meats." Allen had once told them that he was a simple man and that when he become Lord Oakwood his would be a table that the common man would nod at with approval and the elite would screech in horror upon gazing. He wasn't a fan of meals that were more artistry than filling, preferring hearty meals to the likes one found in a middle class London restaurant. Furthermore the man loathed many vegetables save for potatoes and ate meat like an American cowboy. Mary had first been absolutely shocked when, a few weeks into their stay, Allen had finally decided to stop having the cook make food he knew she'd be comfortable with and return to his favorites. The beef tips in thick gravy and wide noodles she'd accepted without batting an eye, even if they were a bit low-class in her opinion (still very good). But then had come the meal he'd fallen in love with after a trip to the American West to deal with finalizing a contract: fried chicken.

She'd hesitated, along with all the other Downton exiles, as the General had rolled up his sleeves and tore into a drumstick like he was hovering over a worn wooden picnic table on some cattle ranch. But it had only taken one comment from Tom as he'd sat down and selected a wing to get Mary to toss aside her reservations and join in.

"Lord Grantham would have a fit if he saw this."

Mary may have needed to scrub her hands twenty times to get the grease off her fingers but no meal had tasted better… and not just because of the skill of the Lothrops' cook.

"So we'll be swapping fine clothing for aprons and rolled up sleeves," Matthew said with a chuckle.

Mary finished her salad before continuing, the Lothrops' butler and Molesley (who helped on occasion) cleared the table and prepared for the next course. "I would wager yes. She also has been holding on to a few books she wishes to give him. And if he is still moody she'll go with the heavy artillery."

"And that is?"

"She's gotten one of his old Calvary swords resorted."

Matthew let out a whistle at that. "I know he's been talking about that… he says if he has to have pieces of history hanging in Wolfglen Manor, the ancestral home of the Lothrops, then they would be his own."

"Not my uncle's… he allowed my cousins to disgrace our name and now forces me to clean up his mess. Nor my grandfather who scoffed at my father purely because he was the second son and the youngest of four. No… it will be my own history I hang on those walls. The line begins with me now."

"Well, that will certainly help," Matthew said as they moved on to the next course, a cut of fish drizzled in a light sauce. Cutting into the meat he asked, "Where is everyone else then, if Allen is off dealing with Downton?"

"Catherine had a charity event and told me to expect her to be back very late… said she wouldn't be surprised if she returned after midnight. Edith is most likely at the paper and I wouldn't be surprised if she stayed the entire night and slept in one of the offices… I know she brought a change of clothing with her when she left this morning. Something about some vote she needed to focus on, I honestly lose track of half the things our government is doing nowadays." She waved off that thought before continuing. "As for Thomas he said he was meeting that friend of his from the war office?"

"Jonesy," Matthew supplied. "The two of them are getting on rather well. Clever chap, a bit too smug for my tastes but then again Thomas has always been a cocky one himself so they fit well together. Actually Thomas seems to be the more level-headed of the two of them. They invited me to lunch a week ago and I got the impression Thomas was trying to keep Jonesy from saying something truly scandalous."

Mary raised an eyebrow at that, swallowing the mouthful she had been chew. "Crikey, Thomas being the level-headed one?"

Matthew laughed at that before he looked up at Mary and smiled. "So we are truly alone, are we?"

"Well, as alone as we can be," she said, nodding towards Molesley and the Lothrops' butler. She considered what she had just said before turning to the two of them. "Would you terribly mind granting Matthew and I a bit of private time? We'll call once we are ready for dessert."

"Of course," Molelsley stated, the butler also nodding in agreement before the two left, shutting the doors firmly behind them and leaving the couple completely and utterly alone.

"Your grandmother wouldn't know what to do if she suddenly had to eat without someone close by," Matthew teased.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I dare say she'd surprise you with what she is capable of." Mary took a sip of her water. "Matthew, since we are alone I want to talk to you about our future." He tilted his head a little and she quickly added, "Nothing bad! Far from it! Good questions… good thoughts. Things we need to think about for our lives." She looked down at her plate, swirling a piece of fish in the sauce. "We won't always live here, you know."

"I know," he said quietly. "The War makes it easy, as odd as it is the say about something so horrid, but afterwards things will be different. And I don't just mean about my position under Allen, should I choose to decide to stay working for him."

"Will you?"

"I honestly don't know. It is interesting work, to be sure, and I am grateful for it, but I can't help but wonder how much of those feelings come purely from me seeing it as my only option. If I left now I would be sent to the Front, end of story. I am trapped in a cage but it is a very nice cage and I don't mind it at all. But when the world is no longer consumed with madness and the cage door is opened? When I am free to leave it? I don't know if I will want to stay or spread my wings." He paused and lifted up his plate, setting it closer to her own before moving his chair so that when he sat down he could take her hand in his. "But what do you think?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"I mean what do you think? After all this would affect you just as much as me."

"I don't- no, you are right." She shook her head. "I was about to say that it was your job and choice and I would do as you wished but we both know that isn't true, don't we? I am not a meek housewife that mildly goes along with whatever her husband decides. Were you to decide to…I don't know… join a circus I would have words with you concerning that."

"Join a circus?" he teased.

Mary huffed. "It was the first thing to pop in my head. Most likely because you act so much like a clown at times."

"Still, the circus?"

"Enough!" Mary said with a playful scowl. She considered what he said, puzzling it over rather carefully. "I suppose it all depends on how the war ends and what that means for your position. Will you continue on as things are? If so I don't think I'd mind at all if you chose to remain in the army. You could rise up quite high… I dare say with your wit you could be the… lord commander or whatever they call it." Matthew snorted at that. "But suppose the war means much rebuilding on the Continent and that means you traveling about, going from one war-torn city to another. I know what that kind of life can be like thanks to Lord Flintshire. I know there are some women that love to live in exotic lands and be seen as rare flowers by the locals but I am not one of them. I was born in England and I wish to remain here as long as possible."

"Even if I were posted in, say, Paris?"

Mary shook her head. "A visit? Quite lovely. Live there? Not so much."

"Then let us assume the job remains the same. Would you be happy here?"

"London is quite lovely."

Matthew though shook his head. "There is a 'but' there, I can sense it."

She nodded at his deduction. "Despite my issues with Downton… my childhood was a wonderful one. When I imagine my life now I do not see the cluttered streets and soot-caked walls of London but rather open fields with grass as far as the eye can see. Where one can look out their window and imagine that they are all that dwell on this world, that we are God's first creation, blessed with paradise. Where the snows are always white and looking up into the sky the stars blanket the heavens. That is what I desire… that is the life I wish for us to have."

"And I would give it to you," Matthew said honestly, giving her hand a squeeze. "It would mean returning to practicing law." He grimaced at that.

"Would that be such a bother?" she questioned. Just as he had asked her what she desired so too would Mary consider his wishes. It wouldn't be fair to him to slave a way at a job he hated, thinking about what might have been had he stayed with a career he truly loved, only so she could live where she desired.

"The work itself? Of course not. I have always enjoyed being a lawyer and while I gave it up to better fit into my role at Downton I am quite happy to return to a version of it now under the General… and would be willing to return fully if given the option."

"You gave up so much for us, didn't you? And we never even realized it."

"I'd say I got a fair trade," Matthew countered, bringing her hand up to his lips and giving it a kiss. "But it wasn't the work that had me worried… rather what it brings in. Allen and the War Office have been very generous to me, to us really. But if I were to leave and start of my practice or buy into a partnership I wouldn't be making what I am now, at least not at first. It would take years of work to be able to give you a life you were used too…"

"I don't care about that," Mary said, turning to face him more directly. "If we live in a grand estate that is wonderful… but if we live in a small house that will be just as wonderful. It won't be the paintings on the wall or the quality of the china that make it our home it will be the people within. You… me… and hopefully…" She trailed off, eyes dropping to her lap.

"Soon," Matthew promised.

It had bothered Mary to no end when, after a year of being married the two of them had come no closer to having a baby. She knew the pressure had been minimized, that the need to have an heir didn't matter when the two of them honestly no longer allowed Downton to dominate all aspects of their life, but still the need was there. Because despite how either party felt Matthew was still the heir. He would one day be Lord Grantham. And while papa looked to that day with dread and Mary no longer longed for the title and standing and simply wanted a long and happy life the world would still expect them to secure the line. It had been driven into her head since she was a child that her greatest accomplishment would be to provide her husband with children. It was what she was expected to do, her duty in life. She saw how foolish that was now, how backwards and rather insulting to boil down all of her existence to giving birth to a son, but just because she understand how silly such thoughts were didn't mean that she still didn't have them.

'And more so… I want to give Matthew children.' She finished off her fish and Matthew went to get the servants so they could serve dessert and yet her mind still went to the thought of a child. 'A combination of myself and Matthew… the best of both of us in a small form. The eternal proof to the world of our love.'

After a year and a half of difficulties Mary had finally humbled herself and, with more embarrassment than she'd felt in years, went to Sybil for advice, telling her she feared that something might be wrong with her. Sybil had suggested going to Anna's doctor and a few… rather uncomfortable examinations... the problem had been found. A small bit of surgery, a some time recovering, and all would be taken care of. She'd thought about doing it without Matthew's knowledge but Sybil had outright declared that if Mary didn't tell him she would. Thus it had been with both embarrassment and hope that Mary had gone to Matthew and told him that she could fix their issues.

And he'd asked her to wait.

Matthew returned with two plates of Crêpe Au Naturel, setting one for her before returning to his seat. He must have seen the way she was looking down at her belly, the one she longed to have grow large with their child, and set his fork down. "You know I want children with you. You know that right?"

"I do. And I understand why you want to wait." Matthew had been very clear on that point: their children would not open their eyes for the first time to see a world at war. They would be born into peace. "But what if this all goes on for years? Decades? It feels at times like the war will never end! The Germans are just so stubborn and there seems to be no movement on our part to finally end it-"

Matthew cut her off before she could ramp up her argument too much. "The war will end. It is no different than a storm. Clouds father and the rains fall and sometimes it is a short shower and other times entire days are lost to the pounding rain. But the clouds will part, the sun will rise, and things will return to as we knew them. This war will end and when it does I swear to you we will celebrate by bringing a life into this world. And it will be a better world… both because of peace and because that little chap will do so much good."

Mary smiled waterly at that. "Your speeches should be outlawed… they ruin makeup far too much." She fanned her face to try and drive away the tear.

They ate in silence after that, savoring the food and dreaming of the world that would one day come, where young men weren't sent off to die needlessly. Where they would be able to choose their own destinies rather than accept, admittedly happy, lives merely because they offered protection.

She had just finished her last bite when Matthew suddenly pulled her to her feet and kissed her so soundly she felt her world tilt. Finally catching her breath she looked at him in surprise as he flashed her a roguish smile.

"But just because we are waiting doesn't mean we can't practice." He began to undo his tie as he led her towards the door opposite the one the servants were waiting by.

"Matthew!" she exclaimed, scandalized. "Someone might walk in-"

"We are all alone. You said that yourself. No need to tiptoe to our room and keep ourselves quiet."

Mary blinked at that, seeing the truth in his words, and suddenly found a giggle bubbling up from her lips. It was wrong. It was naughty. It would have never flown at Downton.

15 minutes later the maid would shake her head as she picked up the bits of clothing that led from the dining room to Mary and Matthew's room, ignoring the sounds of passion from just behind the door.

~MC~MC~MC~

Author's Notes: Just a nice chapter to touch base with M & M and set up some answers to questions people have been asking.

Not much else to add so let's go with a very simple plot bunny: Series 1, Matthew is forced to stay at Downton for a few days due to the Crawley House needing some repairs. Robert and Cora are in London, Isobel has gone to assist with a charity event, Sybil was invited by a family friend to go on a small vacation with them, and Edith went with Violet on a small trip. So just Mary, Matthew, and the servants. Naturally Mary wants nothing to do with Matthew and the two basically ignore each other.

Until they both arrive in the main hall to find a bassinet set up, a crying baby inside, and a note that states "Mary and Matthew, this is your son" written in Mary's own hand.

And that's it. Mary and Matthew suddenly have to deal with a baby. Take it where you wish.