My Darling ❤️

Not on our side

It was ridiculous! Just completely illogical! Why was she barely allowed to spend 10 seconds alone with the man she was marrying in a week!
Any time they were together there had to be a chaperone 'just in case' they decided to show slight affection!
She wasn't really angry, just a little annoyed at being kept further away from Matthew than before they were engaged!
Mary laughed at herself.

Robert was so happy, he couldn't stop thinking about Mary and Matthew. Honestly, they pushed them together for 6 years and as soon as they gave up, she ran into his arms.
Of course what Mary and Matthew didn't know was him, Cora, Sybil, Isobel and Carson had been waiting and watching ecstatically at an upstairs window that night, that beautiful and perfect snowy night.....(imagine a throwback transition here, the ones that go all wiggly)
"Cora! Matthew and Mary are outside in the snow together! Quick get everyone!" Robert had exclaimed in his surprise when he had seen Matthew approach Mary from behind.
"We shouldn't get excited, but if they're together of their own will, we should most definitely snoop!" Cora replied before dashing to fetch anyone who was still awake although everyone was in their dressing gowns.
They clustered around the window comically in silence as they attempted to lip read.
"I really hope that he does decide to......" Sybil was cut off
"SHHHH!" Everyone shushed in unanimously

There was a joint gasp as Mary turned towards him.
"My boy, just do it and put us all out of our misery, now is the time to be spontaneous..." Isobel whispered to her son, without hope he'd hear her, but with hope it would work.
Cora held Sybil's hand with one of her's and Robert's hand with the other.
The snow got a little heavier and blocked the window for a second at just the wrong moment.
"No!" Cora exclaimed
"Now how are we supposed to see them!" Sybil said, annoyed, but not about to give up.
Luckily, the snow cleared, and to the most perfect view they could have imagined.
But only Sybil had looked...
"Oh my! God good! Everyone look at what Matthew's doing!" Sybil exploded
Everyone drew to the window like magnets to watch Matthew on one knee, with Mary's hand in his.
"That's my boy!" Isobel whispered in thanks
"..wait..." Cora replied in anticipation, knowing her daughter, but also she saw the smile on Mary's face that warmed her up inside.
Matthew almost leapt up to kiss Mary passionately and spin her around.
Everyone clasped their hands to their chest and a great many whispers of 'how perfect' and 'oh my' echoed around.

Carson stood watching Mary with affectionate tears in his eyes.
Robert and Cora embrace happily.
Isobel looked to Sybil, they both smiled with tears escaping freely.
"We must all pretend to be shocked when they announce it" Robert laughed.
Every member of the house went to bed with a smile on their face that night.
Some did better at pretending to be shocked than others....

Robert had learnt that morning that he was a fool, they were going to lose downton, and it was all his fault. His stupid investment that would ruin everyone's happiness.
He burst into tears when he told Cora.

Their wedding was in two days and Matthew was ecstatic. He couldn't think of a time that he had been happier.
He was definitely looking forward to spend time with Mary unchaperoned though.
He smiled when he thought about her.
How, whenever they had a minute alone, she sat on his lap and they talked happily while he caressed her cheek.
Mary had already expressed her opinion to him about the fact they weren't really allowed to see each other, and he did agree, it was ridiculous.
But two more days.
He could already tell it would be the happiest day of his life, and the start of a lifetime of blissful euphoria.
He saw her approaching him as he headed out to Isobel in the car.
"Hello you" he said smiling
"I don't want you to go" Mary replied dramatically
"I'm only going home for the evening" Matthew laughed
"I know, but I hate when you're not here" she sighed
"It won't be for much longer.....are you looking forward to the wedding?" He asked knowingly
"What do you think" she replied rhetorically
"I'm looking forward to all sorts of things" Matthew said suggestively
"Don't make me blush!" Mary replied
"Matthew! Hurry up, me and the driver are freezing to death out here" Isobel insisted, but with a light tone
"I love you so terribly much" Matthew said softly
"And I love you too, but can Saturday come a little faster!"
"Matthew!" Isobel shouted
Matthew just kissed her and gave her an apologetic look before dashing to the motorcar.

The next morning brought sunshine with a light dashing of rain which beckoned rainbows into the distance.
"I want us to live away for a bit after the honeymoon, to get to know eachother without everyone watching" Matthew said to her as they took a walk along the path
"It is quite a big house" Mary replied with a smile
"I know, and it's a lovely house, one i want to be our home one day, to rule over the estate together, but just not yet.." Matthew persuaded
"We'll have to turn you out soon, can't have you seeing me again before tomorrow, that would be bad luck" Mary joked
"Come in and dance with me then" Matthew whispered
They ran inside together, it was still raining lightly and it looked magical in the darkening sky.
They were already in their clothes for dinner and had just taken a walk for a breath of air.
Matthew set up the record player to the song they had danced to on that night.
He gestured for her to join him, she slid into his arms and he guided her around tenderly.

"I can't wait for tomorrow.." Mary smiled
"I know, it can't come soon enough for me" Matthew replied dreamily
The rain slashed against the windows loudly, but everything was quiet in their world, blurred.
"Lavinia's father's lawyer came to see me today, apparently, if they can't find his other heir, a Mr Clive pullbrook, then I must inherit his fortune, I have no right to though, I couldn't keep it. Will you help me decide where it should go?" Matthew asked
"Actually...you will keep it, you see something rather terrible has happened, papa has lost a lot of money in an investment, enough to ruin us, to make us loose downton. So you see, you must keep it." Mary alluded
"No. You don't understand. I can't keep it. Lavinia's father thought I was his daughters one true love! That's why he made me one of his heirs, if i kept it it would be accepting his money for taking away his daughters will to live! You know I would do anything for this family" Matthew pressed
She slipped out of his arms
"Except help us" Mary replied sharply
"...mary, come here" Matthew was cut off
"No! Don't you see what a difference this makes! It means you're not on our side Matthew! ...deep down you're not on our side!...." Mary ran off
Edith stood there as Mary tore past her.
Edith looked to Matthew in silence.

At dinner they had started talking about how 'Crawleys always stick together'
Mary snapped.
"Not always.." She rushed
Her mother questioned her but she just started crying and ran off out of the dining room and to her bedroom.

Anna comforted her kindly and advised her.
"I'm sure he didn't mean it like that, he is a kind man and he would always try to help the family" Anna said gently
"But that's the point, he wouldn't help us when he could" Mary replied
"What I see, is a good man. And they're not like buses, there's not another one along in 10 minutes..." Anna advised
Mary dabbed a tissue under her eyes.
She was in her nightgown and her hair was flowing down her back.

Sybil asked Tom to go and see Matthew, as his best man and friend.
"You're meant to be together, I've known that as long as I've been at the house! First this kept you apart, and then that kept you apart. Don't let it go a third time." Tom advised calmly
"Because, you know what Matthew? You will never be happy with another woman as long as Mary Crawley walks this earth" Tom finished
Tom took Matthew to see Mary

Mary heard Matthew's voice at the door.
"No, go away, I'm not properly dressed, you can't come in" Mary said
"Please, come to the door, i won't look" Matthew assured
"It'd be unlucky if you did.." Anna chipped in
"Only if we were getting married" Mary replied
"Which we are" Matthew insisted
Mary nodded towards Anna, anna left with Tom down the corridor.
"Why are you here.." Mary whispered
"It was something Tom said, that I would never be happy with anyone else as long as you walked the earth, which is true" Matthew smiled
Mary just smiled behind the door.
"Can I kiss you? Because I need to" Matthew asked
"No, you're not allowed to see me" Mary replied with a smile
"How about If i close my eyes.." He nudged
"...alright..." Mary whispered
They made their way to each other and felt for eachother's face before kissing.
Matthew retreated silently with a smile on his face and Mary just stood there happily....