Surprise! I had written most of this several months ago but I'd pretty much given up on writing any more. Then I recently noticed this story had two new reviews so I thought I'd go ahead and post it.

There was a joy in Christmas 1918 that had been muted the past several years as the war had dragged on and the new year entered with much hope of a new beginning. But the festive spirit of the holidays had quickly evaporated as the beginning of January consisted of cold gray days and long nights of darkness. Despite wearing his heavy winter coat along with his leather gloves and a knitted cap Tom shivered in the unheated garage as strong winds rattled the closed garage doors. There's no point staying here and freezing he thought. He longed to go back to his cottage, settle down in the lounge chair with a book and a cup of tea and bask in the warmth of the wood stove. Looking at the large wall clock he shook his head and instead of heading for his cottage he set off for the servants hall hoping that he wouldn't have to go get old lady Grantham for dinner this evening. Surely she'll want to stay in her nice warm house he thought.

The bitterly cold wind stung his face and seemed to seep right through his woolen coat as he headed around the stable block towards servants entrance. The walls of the courtyard offered some protection from the wind and he quickened his pace across the brick pavers but he was glad to finally reach the servants door.

Although the servants hall was empty there was a fire in the fireplace and he immediately went to stand in front of it, taking off his gloves and rubbing his hands close to the fire. It was quiet except for the faint clatter of pots and pans coming from the kitchen where the staff would be preparing the family's dinner.

Returning from upstairs Mrs. Hughes was rather surprised to see the chauffeur in the servants hall. "We don't usually see you here at this time."

Tom turned from the fireplace to look at the housekeeper. "It's so cold in the garage. Can't get any work done when my hands are frozen" he shrugged his shoulders "not that I really need to do any work on the motors today anyway."

"Well I think I could take a break" Mrs. Hughes said. "Care to join me for a cup of tea?"

If Tom was surprised by the housekeeper's gesture he didn't react as such but instead sounding grateful replied that it would be nice.

Following her into her office he sat down while she busied herself spreading the tea fixings on the small table in her office. Mrs. Hughes thought she detected a bit of melancholy in the usually gregarious chauffeur. Finally settling into her chair she took a sip of tea. "Feels good to take a break. I thought with the war over things wouldn't be so hectic but I under estimated how much time and effort it would take to get the house back in order."

"So you want things to be the way they were before the war?" Tom asked.

"I was referring to deep cleaning and putting the rooms back to their original purposes now that the patients are all gone. We can take down partitions and move furniture and put photographs back but as for …" she took another sip of tea. "I'm not sure it will ever be as it was before the war."

She set her cup on the table. "And what of you?"

"I think we'll find the world has changed" he replied.

She shook her head. "No I meant you personally. I seem to recall you intimating that once the war was over you might return to Ireland."

"Of course I want to return home" he replied. "I have a quite a bit saved but I'd need a job. I'm just waiting for the right time."

She thought his answer was rather evasive but she wouldn't press him. "So have you heard from Evie?"

"Aye" he replied. "She's settled in at the hospital in Manchester but she's not sure how long she'll be there. She was quite lucky it seems in the military keeping her on but obviously not all these military hospitals will be needed long term. I think she got rather use to being in the country or rather" he chuckled "she enjoyed living in the cottage."

"And how are you adjusting to her being gone?"

"I … I'll admit I do miss having her around."

Once again she was struck by how lonesome he must be. He was handsome and good natured and with a steady job and a cottage he would be a good catch. She was thinking it too bad none of the nurses that had been working here or even a local girl hadn't caught his eye.

"a warm fire"

"I'm sorry" she said "my mind kind of drifted there."

"I was just saying how nice it was to go back to a cottage already warmed by a fire in the stove or opening the door and be hit by the smell of freshly baked bread or the scents of cinnamon or other spices."

"Whatever could be keeping Mr. Carson?" Mrs. Patmore murmured more to herself than the kitchen staff. Taking a deep breath, she once again stirred the pot of beef stew "if he doesn't come soon this will be mush."

"Daisy" Mrs. Patmore looked at the mass of dishes and bowls Anna and Jane had brought down from the dinning room. "Anna and Jane didn't mention anything was amiss did they?"

"No Mrs. Patmore" the kitchen maid replied. "Shall I go and-" she stopped talking and looked towards the doorway. "I think that might be Mr. Carson now."

When the butler entered the servants hall he gave no excuses as to his lateness. Hastily taking his seat at the head of the table it was apparent to all seated around the long wooden table that something was amiss. However from the scowl on his face no one dared ask what was wrong, not even Thomas who was usually not shy about such matters but then Thomas was in a precarious position as Carson had made quite clear earlier that afternoon. Since Downton was no longer a convalescent home and the former, as heavily emphasized by the butler, footman was no longer a member of the household staff he therefore had no reason to be at Downton.

As Daisy began ladling out the stew into the bowls set before each of the house staff, starting of course with the butler and then Mrs. Hughes, a more perceptive person might have noticed that there was an air of uneasiness as everyone sat quietly instead of engaging in their usual banter. She hesitated when she approached a bowl before an empty seat. Quickly looking around she noted the chauffeur's absence. "Is Mr. Branson not-" whatever she was going to say was lost in the sound of the butler dropping his spoon onto the table as he stood up so quickly his bowl of beef stew shook spewing a few drops of the stew on to the table.

Fearfully Daisy looked towards the head of the table but only saw the back of the butler as he retreated from the servants hall. As all eyes had turned towards the fleeing butler and silence once again enveloped the servants hall it was Mrs. Hughes who finally reassured the staff. "It appears Mr. Carson might not be feeling well. I'll check on him but please begin eating."

While several heads nodded and then taking her advice began eating, the ever astute O'brien and Thomas looked at each other knowing illness had nothing to do with the butler's sudden departure. "He was fine at dinner" Thomas quietly mouthed to O'Brien. "Something must have happened in the drawing room afterwards."

Mrs. Hughes waited several seconds outside the closed door of the butler's office before finally knocking to which there was a gruff reply of "what?"

Although he hadn't actually invited her in, Mrs. Hughes opened the door.

Without turning to face whoever was at the door, Carson said "I don't believe I said come in."

Doing her best to remain calm Mrs. Hughes took a deep breath. "I just wanted to make sure you are feeling alright. Should I call for Dr. Clarkson?"

"I certainly have no need for Dr. Clarkson" came a gruff response.

"Well then I'll leave you to it" and with that Mrs. Hughes quietly shut the door.

She was just finishing some paperwork when the lumbering frame of the butler filled her doorway. Holding out a glass of brandy he said "might I offer an apology Mrs. Hughes."

Sitting her pen down on the desk top she gestured for him to sit down. While he strode over to her desk he seemed reluctant to sit down but eventually he handed her the glass of brandy but before sitting down he went back to the doorway and closing the door.

"I just cannot believe the cheek of that man" he finally thundered. "How he could even think that" the butler shuttered. Perplexed as to what or who he was talking about it became clearer to Mrs. Hughes when he said "And Lady Sybil …"

"Ah" she responded. "So this is about Branson?"

He glared at her. "So you knew?"

"Knew what?"

"Branson and Lady Sybil want to marry."

"Marry?" Mrs. Hughes almost dropped her glass of brandy.

Knowing that Carson would probably not let him in the servants hall Tom had waited until he knew the butler would be upstairs serving lunch and the rest of the servants would be attending to their daily chores.

"Mrs. Hughes" Tom said politely from the doorway of her office.

"Mr. Branson" she returned his greeting, her voice giving no hint to her feelings.

"I guess you've heard the news" he simply stated.

"I have and I must say I'm surprised" she replied.

Tom furrowed his brows in bewilderment at her words. "I would have thought you would be the one person that wasn't surprised."

She turned away as if remembering something. "And I thought you had heeded by words." Then she turned and looked searching at his face. "I may not like that you've deceived us this past years-"

"I'm sorry about that" Tom cut in.

"She's why you've stayed her all these years."

Tom nodded. "I've loved her for so long."

She was struck by how earnest he sounded and had no doubt he was speaking the truth. "I've known her since she was a little girl, probably six or seven years old. She was a delightful child so full of energy and curious about the world around her. It didn't take much to see that this house was too confining for her.

Tom snorted. "Then you saw more than her family."

"People see what they want to see my lad. No matter what you or her or me may think this isn't a classless society. One day that may change-"

"How might that change if not for people like me and Sybil?"

The housekeeper rose from her chair. "I think the two of you are in for a hard road ahead but in many ways you two are suited for each other and I do wish you both the very best."

He smiled broadly. "Thank you for that Mrs. Hughes and thank you for your kindness to me over the years."

Mrs. Hughes smiled at him. "You brought a bit of sunshine into the gray of the servants quarters. That cheekiness …" she chuckled "I think that served you well."

She watched as he walked out of her office and silently prayed that God would bless the young couple.

Tom came out of the kitchens closely followed by Mrs. Patmore. He passed Mrs. Hughes' office just as she was coming out the doorway. Nodding to her, he continued down the hall. She stood there in her doorway watching him until he disappeared after turning a corner.

"Well I never guessed that" Mrs. Patmore exclaimed as she now stood next to Mrs. Hughes. "I couldn't believe when Daisy told me what happened last night in the servants hall. Thought she had to be mistaken."

"So he told you himself did he?"

"Aye. He came to thank me." Mrs. Patmore seemed genuinely touched by Tom's kind gesture as she wiped the corner of her eye with a small green towel. "Said my cooking made him a bit less homesick."

"Now I know why Lady Sybil sent down word that she needed a picnic lunch today" she continued. "Daisy calls it romantic. I just hope the two of them know what they're doing."

"Oh I think they've had long enough to think about that" Mrs. Hughes casually commented.

Her unexpected response caused Mrs. Patmore to furrow her forehead and she looked directly at her friend. "Have you known about this?"

Mrs. Hughes shook her head no. "I've had some suspicions. But nothing … directly … no."

"Well he's always been a pleasant lad if a bit cheeky. And Lady Sybil she's always been …" Mrs. Patmore groped for the right word "well a bit … different from the rest of that lot. But still ... I never imagined this!"

Among the servants there had been whispers and hurried conversations all day. Now with the rare occurrence of Mr. Carson retiring early to his bed several sat around the dining table in the servants hall savoring a second cup of tea.

"She's always been a silly girl, spoiled rotten." O'brien's voice dripped with her usual venom.

Gathering the remains of that evening's dinner Daisy spoke up. "I think it's rather romantic."

O'brien, not bothering to look at Daisy, continued "living in some Dublin slum doing her own cooking and cleaning, why yes that sounds absolutely romantic."

"I don't think they'll be living in a slum" Anna chimed in. "He does have a job."

"Journalist!" O'brien snorted "for some rebel paper. Yes that will keep her living in luxury. She'll be back here in a month begging forgiveness for her foolishness."

"Not sure about that" Thomas spoke up. "I worked with her at the hospital and saw that she's a hard worker, didn't shirk her responsibility no matter how gory or messy.

While O'brien rolled her eyes, Daisy added "and she worked in the kitchen with us just like she was one of us she did."

"She's not like those other two" Thomas continued "she's not uppity."

O'brien stared at Thomas. "Soft are you for her?"

"She's always treated me well." Thomas wouldn't be drawn into disparaging Lady Sybil. He had seen her weep for the men in her care, had seen her put her heart into her work while only asking to be treated as any other nurse.

"I bet his lordship is ruing the day he hired him. He was trouble from the beginning with his spouting that political nonsense and-"

"I might remind you" a stern Mrs. Hughes who had silently walked into the servants hall began "it is not our place to discuss what his lordship may or may not be thinking."

O'brien swiftly stood, almost knocking down her chair, and without another word left the room.

Stacking the last of the dinner plates on the table Daisy said. "I like Mr. Branson. He's nice and so smart.

Anna smiled at Daisy. "He is nice and intelligent. I think we'll miss him here. And I do wish them the best."

"So we all should" Mrs. Hughes said.

Carson did one last inspection of the dining room and the drawing room ensuring all glassware and dishware had been taken downstairs and that both rooms were clean and ready for tomorrow. He then slowly plodded down the staircase partly due to the lingering effects of his bout of the Spanish Flu and partly due to the weariness of the day. No one was in the dimly lit servants hall which didn't surprise him. He thought he'd sit for a few moments, maybe even have a brandy or two, before trudging upstairs to his bedroom. It wasn't until he started down the hallway to his office that he realized light was coming from Mrs. Hughes' office.

He stopped in the doorway and watched her for a few seconds before announcing his presence. "I thought I'd have a brandy before going upstairs. Would you care to join me?"

"It's been quite a day" he said as both settled into chairs in his office "what with Miss Squire's funeral and then Bates arrest." He sighed deeply. "I wouldn't have thought things could have gotten any worse after Branson and Lady Sybil."

"You'll never forgive him will you" Mrs. Hughes softly spoke.

"Him?" The butler seemed a bit confused. "Oh you mean Branson?"

While Mrs. Hughes nodded her head he continued "well did you see him at the funeral? What was he even doing there?"

"He did know the young lady." Mrs. Hughes replied. "In fact he did some work on her motor car."

He grunted. "As if that makes him one of the family."

"Well he will soon be."

"He will never be one of the family" Carson thundered.

"I understand his lordship and the Dowager have given them their blessing."

Carson sat up straight and glared at her. "Just where did you hear that?"

"Lady Sybil herself told me. She was so happy about it for she didn't want to leave on bad terms with them."

Carson slumped back in his chair and finished his brandy. "What is this world coming to?"

"The world moves on Mr. Carson whether we like it or not." She stood to leave. "I imagine you'll be further tested for at some point they'll probably visit." Moving to the doorway she continued "If his lordship and the Dowager can find it in their hearts to accept him maybe you could too." She left before he could reply.