ALSO! *MORE SPOILERS* When Sybil sees the SHOVEL as she's hanging upside down in the car! It may seem such a simple thing to mention, but that's what makes it so brilliant! That little detail that really just brings the situation to the point, where you know, IN THAT MOMENT, Declan was going to do EXACTLY what Sybil feared he would do. AMAZING!

Hello! I honestly can't remember if I left a review on this already, back when I first read it, but I adore this story! I can't even really consider myself a Downton fan, but when I watched the first 2 seasons when they first aired, I really enjoyed Sybil and Tom's relationship out of everything else, and you've so nailed it in this one.

Like I said, its been awhile since I first read this story and I must have come back to it at least 3 or 4 times to re-read it. This one really stuck with me for some reason. Your writing style, story setting and plot ideas I know are the main reasons its such a successful story.

My absolute favorite part *SPOILERS* is towards the end, when Tom's brother comes by for a "visit" and takes he and Sybil on a little field trip...and OH MY GOD, the way you wrote those chapters! It was like I could so easily imagine this as the climax in a romance/drama/action movie. The tension when Sybil tries to leave, TO SAVE TOM, but he thinks, just for a moment, that she really doesn't care for him, but she JUST CANT LEAVE HIM! And neither of them know whether its better that she stayed or left him TO DIE, but at least they love each other in the midst of this horrible situation! Then, when all hell breaks loose, between leaving Tom's house and them driving to god knows where, they end up in the middle of nowhere, out in the Australian desert, with overturned cars set on fire, blazing in the background, Tom lying unconscious in the middle of the road, with Sybil ready to shoot Tom's brother! Honestly, it gets me riled up just thinking about how epic it all played out.

I sincerely apologize that I didn't review immediately after I first read this, which must have been almost 2 years ago now?, but I always come back to this one. Now I think I will read it again for the umpteenth time!

Thank you for sharing this brilliant gem!

I just want to say that I have throughly enjoyed this story. You are a terrific writer. Even though I do enjoy stories of Tom and Sybil in the past, you have really made them come to life with a cracking story.

So excited to start reading this - as an Aussie the title made me chuckle!

Really enjoying this,want to read more but early hours of morning and I suppose I need sleep.
Very well written

Fantastic! You've taken the familiar characters and their undeniable chemistry, and created a fantastic AU setting and plot. Thank you for sharing this story.

Perfect epilogue. so Tom and Sybil. Thank you for this story. x

Congrats on completing this fic! I loved all the layers of back-story we got with each chapter; it was truly an adventure in reading! The sentimentalist in me really liked that they stopped at the old house and it's great to see how they've moved on from it.

Sorry to see this story end but have really enjoyed it, a great version of tom and sybil and a fantastic amount of drama, great to see a happy ending after all the angst. Great writing and look forward to seeing what you do in the future...

An excellent and satisfying ending to an excellent and satisfying story!

*sniff* Must is really be over!? I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this story and how many times I've read it over. I'm so glad that you brought them back to the beginning and showed us that while life is good, some things and some memories don't go away completely. This is hands down one of my fave versions of Tom, in that sense, every thing that he went through, how much loving Sybil helped him but also not being able to/not wanting to let go of that last piece of his brother.

Thanks for writing this one. So good!

First of all, its breaking my heart that I won't have these updates to look forward to - truly one of my favorite modern AU's, and you did such an awesome job capturing their personalities in the present. I wasn't sure what to expect with the epilogue (when it would be set), but lovely to see that they've still got that smoldering spark between then, and how easily they've transitioned into parenthood - both the natural fears for them ('the snake!') and even Sybil's 'escape reflex' to her son's needing relief. I see Tom's found success with his writing as well (!) and I'm glad you didn't necessarily give him emotional resolution regarding his brother - such a traumatic event would naturally linger in the recesses of his mind, but at least he's got his family to help salve the past. Just a great, great, plot and story, and I could go on about how real and natural your writing is, but I've said that all before. Hope you keep up with your other ones! [and geez, Robert, let it go!]

I love the epilogue, but I'm so sad it's over! This story has been SO good! Thank you very much for it!
Now I hope you'll give us new reading material soon, because I can't go through too long of a "Foojules hiatus". *whispers*: How about "Real Education"?

I liked that you took a considerable jump forward with this epilogue - through the baby stage and out the other side ( although I loved your observation about Sybil's quick reflexes after toilet training!). It's understandable that Tom can't entirely get over what happened - the trauma of the event wrapped up with instinctive feelings about his brother), but I'm delighted that he's had a best selling novel and that life has been subsequently good for both of them.

This has been such a great read - an exciting and original take on their story and written with great style. Congratulations on its completion!

Great epilogue. It was a very satisfying end to the story.
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Tom still has his demons (by way of the dreams) but he's in control of it, I like that part. It had a more natural flow.
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Also, the packages Robert sends. It can mean a lot of things - is it just Cora, giving in to Robert by not sending anything to Tom, or is it really just Robert? And because there was no mention of the Crawley women in Sybil's thoughts about "lost causes" I WANT to think :) that all's well on that end for Sybil. I really don't want to think of her without the Crawleys. Maybe Robert is really just thinking he's taking care of her but again, I'd like to think he'll eventually turn around and at least "like' Tom - he is making a success as a novelist! - hey maybe a one off drabble where Robert "accepts" Tom? :)
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The kids are also cute! I could really picture them as a family in the abandoned house.
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Great great great writing! Love your stories :)