Larry had been right about his coat. He learned over his weeks at the farm that his expensive fancy coats with their silk linings and fur trims were not a match for one of Matthew's battered old jackets with its patches on the elbows and faded colouring. Worn out it may have been, but it kept away the rain and frost and wind chills he'd grown accustomed to. Sebastian and he were usually so well matched not only in appearance but in their tastes, desires, and personality. But Sebastian outshone him. His clothing was impeccable and vibrant, his behaviour decent and, most importantly, his graciousness forthcoming.

Larry had led him out away from the farm, dodging the sounds of chatter and friendly banter coming from Matthew's farmhands, and out into the countryside. They'd traversed narrow lanes, centuries-old stone stiles and crossed several fields. Sebastian had initially complained about the rural exhibition Larry had taken him on, citing his journey with Izzie across equally unpleasant terrain to reach the farm at her insistence. However, if Sebastian had complained further when Larry insisted his route was the best for an uncensored conversation, he chose not to voice it. In fact, Sebastian barely spoke, Larry instead filling the silence between them. Larry had decided long ago that if Sebastian would ever give him the chance, he's tell him all – not leaving out a single detail. So, from the farm he told Sebastian his whole sorry tale from the angry, drink-infused drive to Downton, the crash, his recuperation in Thomas's old room in the attics, working at the farm, helping Chris with his troublesome sister, and the friends he'd made in Matthew Tomlinson and his family – especially young Alfie. By the time they'd walked for miles under a grey sky and stopped to rest of a stone wall, Sebastian and him fell silent.

"Above all," Larry began, "these months have made me realise how much I've taken you for granted, how much I've missed you ... and needed you. I hated myself Seb. It's as simple as that. The drink, the distractions – the work on the cars I did was satisfying, I don't deny that and I told myself and everyone else it was my way of reminding myself of how I started out, where I came from. It was my pitiful attempt to bring myself back down to earth after years of living in indulgence. But in my heart, I knew it was mainly a distraction. When I was busy I wasn't thinking about you."

"And did it work, as penance and a distraction?"

"As penance, yes, eventually. I remember my mother drilled into me that I must never let myself get too high and mighty, too greedy. I always thought I did rather well at honouring that wish of hers. But I realise I've failed in that too."

"Not most of the time," Sebastian said. "No, you're not like an ordinary rich man. You're friends aren't of your social circle – they're ordinary folk, working folk and you treat them the same as those of your station. You're a decent employer, a fair businessman, and the amount you do for others without asking for any return of the favour—"

"That maybe, but I slipped up this time." Larry wanted to absorb the stream of compliments from him, but something inside wouldn't allow it. "And to answer the rest of your question – as a distraction it completely failed," Larry confessed, hanging his head. "I'm serious about what I said earlier Seb, I don't want anything I have if you're not with me."

"And is that because you are afraid of being alone? Do you only want me because I am one of the few who understand you?"

"No." Larry's head snapped up sharply. "No, I want you, Seb. No one else, nor any stupid fucking plane. I don't want any of it. I can't remember the number of times I've reimagined that night – telling the aeroplane man to get lost and find someone else to satisfy him instead of flirting and playing alone like I did! It is pointless saying 'if I could take it all back' because I can't! I've screwed up, ruined it all and even though people say I've changed I don't know how I can be sure. I'll give more to charitable causes, to those enterprises we have to help men like us – Joanne Simpson and Jimmy Kent could do with more funds for their club perhaps? I'll do that, and more ... I'll give my servants a huge pay rise, equal for men and women ... not many employers do that, I'll—"

Sebastian's hand on his halted his speech. "Larry stop before you do yourself an injury."

"I'm sorry I—"

Sebastian let out a huff. "Oh, and stop saying sorry."

"I'm ..." the words died before leaving Larry.

"I won't leave you Larry. Like I said in the barn, I can't. I don't know if forgiveness will come from me gradually or in one moment but I know that you've been through hell, and whilst you did deserve that—"

"I know."

"Let me finish." Sebastian paused, lifting his head to the sky, as if thinking on what he would say next. Larry noticed the slight shadow on his unusually unshaven chin and wondered how torn up he'd been. Larry had supposed Sebastian wouldn't have missed him, wouldn't have cared if they never saw each other again. "Whilst you deserved that, I know I'm not entirely innocent. I lied to myself, told myself you didn't want me and that I didn't need you. I was going to look for you. I was worried when I heard nothing for weeks, but my pride prevented me from facing you. Downton did cross my mind as somewhere you'd run to. But I was a coward and ran ... well I would have done if Izzie hadn't tracked me down to Liverpool. She pointed out how I'd chosen the same hotel, and the same room ... our room. I booked the ship we like, I drank your favourite wine at meals, not mine." Sebastian's eyes flickered towards Larry's as though they were trying to resist falling into a locked gaze. Larry's breath hitched when, for a fraction of a second, he thought Sebastian was going to kiss him. The moment passed, and Larry inwardly cursed himself for being rediculous. Sebastian's lip curved into a gentle smile. "You know, Izzie is a fine actress. She got to me by playing at being my wife, made a right scene and somehow managed to wangle me into paying for a first class suite for herself."

"Seems you were robbed, Seb," Larry said, joining Sebastian's chuckle.

"That I was, but I'm glad of it." Sebastian was looking at him again, intently this time. "No more pretending Larry, no more jumping around the subject. If we are going to give this another go, if I am to give you this chance...?"

Larry's head spun, struggling to take in the words, to comprehend the meaning. "You want to try?"

"I think we'd both be hopeless if we did not. But no more situations like this Larry, if we do this, you must be only mine, as I must be only yours."

Larry didn't need to be told twice. Lunging forward, he clasped Sebastian by the shoulders with enough force that he almost toppled backwards over the wall. "In promise ... only you ... there will never be anyone else in my bed." Larry raised an eyebrow. "Unless you want there to be three?"

"I'll make that the only exception. We could leave Downton today, get back home, to your's and start fixing this?" Sebastian suggested, running his hand up and down Larry's side, making it a battle to concentrate.

Larry hesitated, his hands leaving Sebastian, falling to his lap. "I can't leave yet. What would my efforts be, but empty, if I left work for Matthew unfinished? I have to stay, to finish what I've started."

Sebastian nodded thoughtfully. "It would be hypocritical if you did not. I could stay, wait for you."

"You won't be bored?"

"I could try to make myself useful."

Larry struggled to picture Sebastian working on Matthew's farm. He smirked to himself: it was almost comical how two upper class businessmen who lived the lives of aristocrats, had both worked, or at least contemplated working, out in the elements and dirt of the countryside. Larry felt a pang of tenderness towards Sebastian who seemed, to his surprise, willing to put himself at some discomfort for him. Sebastian had never been keen mud and smells of the countryside, preferring to stick to carefully cut and grazed parkland for his excursions when away from the city. An idea occured to Larry. "You could wash the car, we could ... together. She's been abandoned of late, I haven't seen her since I crashed."

"Does she need fixing?"

"No, but she needs some tender care, a good wash, polish, clean and a little light maintenance since she's been kept in one of the barns all this time."

"You said, 'together'?"

Larry smoothed his hands up and down over his trousers, resting them on his knees. "I mean ... only if you agree. If you'd prefer to work alone ...?"

"I'd never get all that done to your standards Larry. Though really – one of the most expensive cars ever made and you've had it kept in a bloody barn?" Sebastian exclaimed, with a hint of jest.

Larry shrugged. "I wasn't really thinking much about the car at the time. My mind was on you."

Sebastian was quiet, observing him again, looking him over as though he was trying to see right into his mind.

"Seb ... where will you stay tonight? I suppose you've sorted that, being you, but I was thinking ... you could come back with me tonight, sleep with me?"

Sebastian raised an eyebrow.

"Sleep, Seb. I only mean that."

"Wouldn't be the wisest decision, Larry. Both of us in that tiny farmhouse, same bed I assume?"

"Matthew is not a judgemental person. He knows everything."

"I don't doubt it, but still ... And anyway, you and I," Sebastian bit his lower lip, "we know how that would end, don't we? I've already booked into a bed-and-breakfast – another thing Izzie insisted I did. I have a feeling she would not let me leave until we resolved things."

"Okay," Larry said, a little disappointed, but not surprised. He shouldn't of expected Sebastian to want to share his bed in any manner, not especially since his forgiveness was in it's infancy. "Come back to the barn then, Alfie made me biscuits and I can't ruin my fine figure by eating them all alone. A few days, I'll get the work done, and will sort our car ... together." Larry's heart, so long cold, warmed at the thought.

...

Hungry hands pushed Richard's jacket from his shoulders. In the heat of a mingling of arousing kisses – lips interlocked, noses smudged against one another, eyelashes flickering with the intensity as Thomas moved them backwards into a small corner between the edge of a large cupboard and the wall of his office. Richard only surrendered his hands from grasping Thomas's waist and shoulders to shed the jacket. Thomas pulled Richard into him and let out a soft moan when his back collided with the wall. Richard mirrored the expression of lust as Thomas's hand grasped his neck, the other on the back of his belt, then on his behind.

Richard had only popped into Thomas at Downton during an extended lunch break. Chris had agreed to man the shop, not minding the lack of company since he was on babysitting duty with his nephew – his much more trusting sister having left her child at the shop for a couple of hours. Upon his arrival Richard had had a cup of tea pushed into his hand by Daisy, who followed with another for Thomas, whilst muttering about how Thomas needed to learn to stop and take a breather once in a while. The tea, and a slice of cake that followed, had provided an excuse to stay. General conversation had led Richard comfortably into Thomas's lap as their time alone at Downton often did. One look had led to a touch, and before long, Thomas had Richard agaisnt the desk, murmuring in his ear about wanting to get them both down to the cellar for some alone time.

They never made it to the cellar.

"Mr Barrow, how did it come to this?" Richard rasped into Thomas' neck.

"You tell me," Thomas replied, answering more by tightening his grip on Richard, roaming hands exploring in ways that would make the stiff-lipped upper classes whom Thomas served, blush red in shock. "Richard, it's all your fault. I'm a figure of dignity around here."

Richard sucked at Thomas's neck, just below his earlobe, as he knew he liked it. Thomas's mouth fell open in a mixture of undetectable words and heavy needy breaths. His dark hair hung over his forehead, eyes closed which only flew open as Richard let his hands do some exploring of their own. "Dignity, Mr Barrow?" Richard said, voice low in his ear.

"It's the middle of the day, anyone could hear us if we ..."

Richard pulled back and let his lip curl into a suggestive smirk, lowing his head as if about to share a scandalous secret. "Shame, I was looking forward to having you over your desk."

Thomas made a spluttering noise – something between a stifled cough and a laugh. "That ... coming from you Mr circumspect ..."

Richard frowned in an exaggerated manner. "Hmm, perhaps we should be wise ... What about the kitchen table?"

Thomas gaped at him bug-eyed, not able to hold back his boyish giggle that time. "You're kidding?" Thomas threw his head back, titled to the ceiling. "What's got into me?" he added, seemingly to himself.

Richard couldn't resist. "I was hoping I would be in you actually, Mr Barrow."

Thomas huffed, shook his head and gave Richard's behind a squeeze. "You're ..."

"And I was referring to our kitchen table, Mr Barrow. I can't imagine what you were thinking of to get that reaction. The kitchen a few doors down from where we stand, perhaps?"

"Course not." Thomas led them into another smoldering exchange of kisses, them both aware that this was as far as they could safely go in their current location. Thomas' office had been the first place they'd kissed, and had been no stranger to other acts, but never during the middle of the day. Richard enjoyed teasing him, provoking a reaction no one else could and seeing the butler of Downton Abbey come undone.

A gentle knock at the door, pulled Richard's imaginings away, pushing him back into reality. Of course, Thomas would need to get back to work.

They stepped away from each other, both in a state that made their efforts plain to even the most prude of people.

"Hang on a moment," Thomas called out, whilst re-buttoning his shirt and fixing his tie.

Richard found his jacket on the floor, smoothed it out and hung it on the corner of the chair, whilst tucking his shirt back into his trousers.

Thomas sat himself down at the desk, the table serving a likely mask for his arousal. As for Richard, he remembered a piece of advice Thomas had given him to sort such issues in a snort space of time: think of Mr Carson. Thomas swore that never failed for him. Pushing aside the thought of how hilarious it would be if Mr Carson knew why they were both diligently thinking about him in that moment, Richard opened the door.

"Well you both took your time," Izzie said stepping in before Richard had a chance to speak. "My mind is curious." She narrowed her eyes at them both in turn, then raised an eyebrow. "Oh I see. Hard at work were you both?"

"I didn't know you were in Downton, I would have invited you over if I had," Richard said, sitting in on the desk, offering her the chair.

Izzie removed her hat and coat, revealing the trousers and laced-up leather boots, that were splattered brown with mud. "You both don't fool me for a second. What was I interrupting?" She leaned forward, a glint in her eye. "I'm intrigued. If you wish me to come back—?"

"No need," Thomas said, a little too quickly to be convincing, his usual ability as a skilled liar – something Richard shouldn't admire but did regardless – unusually absent.

"Nothing wrong in a little smut Thomas, perfectly healthy in a consensual relationship. No need to be shy around me. You should remember how I heard you both when you stayed at mine in London. You were quite the vocalist!"

"Izzie!" Richard chided, as Thomas flushed red. "I've teased him enough already."

"He has. You both are as bad as each other," Thomas said. "As bad as Larry I'd say. Speaking of – did you find Sebastian?"

"I did, and that is why I am here. As I speak Larry and Sebastian are having a much needed talk ... or argument depending on how well it's going. I suppose an argument is inevitable. I've done my part, now it's up to them, but I'm hopeful. You should have seen how Sebastian was ... snobby, stubborn and proud ... all the things a man is when he refuses to give up his pride and admit what he truly wants."

"How did you find him? Not too tricky I hope?" Richard asked.

"Not at all. I mean, it wasn't plain sailing but I had my fun. I tracked him down to Liverpool – a hotel he and Larry freqent before boarding a ship to America."

Richard's heart sank. "So Sebastian was going to leave Larry?"

"Seemed so, but I talked him out of it."

"How did you manage that?" Thomas asked, his red flush having subsided.

"It's a bit of a long story, and I'll tell you both more later if I can come to the shop after closing?"

"Of course," Richard said, somewhat reluctantly. Izzie was always a welcome friend, but after his and Thomas's talk of kitchen tables he felt disappointed having to delay, though he and Thomas had the rest of their lives for that.

"Lovely. I had to get to Sebastian, talk privately. So I got Lucy to fetch me some of the finest clothes from the shop she works at, and put on all the airs and graces of a wealthy woman who might just have been Mrs McDonald, wife to the wealthy businessman, Sebastian McDonald. As I said, theres more to it, but I tore up his boarding pass to stop him leaving."

Richard exchanged a glance with Thomas as the room hung in moments of silence. Their laughter filled the room, a joyous sound that sent Thomas's hair falling loose in the moment.

"Only you ... only you would do something like that," Thomas said, between subsiding laughs.

"I'll take that as a compliment."

"Please do," Richard said. "Larry is as stupid as he is wise sometimes. But I care about him a lot, and have hated seeing him so lost recently. He really has been trying, in the way he thought was best, so I hope you're right about feeling hopeful."

"It's no secret I've not best liked Larry for most of the time I've known about him Richard, but he's grown on me, Sebastian too. They just needed a push in the right direction. The rest is up to them, and will come in time."

Thomas came to join Richard on the desk, sitting closer than what most would consider proper. Richard put his arm around Thomas' waist and gave him a kiss on the cheek. It was a chaste kiss, but enough to make Thomas smile and duck his head.

Izzie smiled at them. "If they end up as you both are now, then I'd say they'll never stray apart again."