Five years later… a series of one – shots to epilogue Time to Love Together. Hope you like them!

XX

Friday Evening:

Mary sipped her hot tea. The long day's reward. She had been going full on since morning. Leaving Matthew's flat –erm their flat— for the Charityfair conference where she chaired a forum on funding and helped Anna run the Downton Place exhibit booth as well as glad handed and sweet talked more than her fair share of potential big money donors.

Now, late in the afternoon on the first day, she and Anna celebrated at the Milestone Hotel's tearoom. Tray of cakes and pots of tea. Just the thing.

"So if we can get Playdale to agree to sponsoring our Downton Game Days they might also reach a decision to permanently install the Little City and Caterpillar toddler play yard." Mary had worked on the vice-president the entire morning selling the idea.

"It would mean so much to the kids attending camp and the daycare center." Anna scooped a small tart into her mouth.

"She said she'd consider it and bring it up at their next board meeting but first they wanted to visit during the Game Days and see how we can bring it off." The idea to emulate school game day competition at their camps was Edith's idea and it was tremdously successful the past two years. Mary was sure the executive would be sufficiently impressed and want to continue their sponsorship.

"We did get lots of interested folks taking brochures and asking questions. So I think all in all it was a good expenditure to rent the exhibit booth." Anna was both relieved and reassured by the reaction. The leasing of a larger exhibit space was on her initiative.

"I'll be talking us up as well tomorrow when we have that open discussion about tax relief for charitable contributions." Mary took another sip of the strong Earl Grey. Sat back against the soft cushioned chair back.

They had done well. Anna was a lifesaver. Never flagging in her enthusiasm and contributing so much to the success of Downton Place. She and Edith ran the day to day operations while Mary functioned as CFO and cheerleader at conferences and symposia.

After finishing her International Management Master's degree, Mary had accepted a part-time position at the LSE to teach introductory management. Most of the time that required her spending at least one night a week in London when the class met on campus. For a couple of terms the class was entirely on line. That had been while pregnant with the twins. But she had recently taken up the on campus course again which gave her time in London to also promote the work at Downton Place.

Usually the nanny took care of the children while she was away. Matthew' s work schedule was erratic. But this time he said he'd watch their 'team of toddlers' as he insisted upon calling them. Almost enough to outfit a family squad for the village cricket match, he'd say as she shook her head in bemusement.

She had her doubts, but agreed. But the memory reminded her that she needed to call Matthew and check up on things.

She pulled out her mobile. Then she stopped. Matthew was fine. Robbie and the girls were in good hands. She would not be the helicopter parent she witnessed far too many times while trying to extricate a youngster from the grips of a mom who refused to let the child go to camp without a thousand instructions and a thousand warnings for the counselors.

To distract herself Mary looked over at Anna. "Any plans for tonight?" Mary knew things had not worked out with Will in the romantic department. The two still palled around but as Anna said, 'no mutual sparks.' But she knew there was someone else. "Isn't John in town?" This new man was older, but other than that Mary knew little about him.

Anna gave a wistful smile. "No. 'fraid not. He's in Ireland on business."

"Well then it's bar hopping and karaoke right?" She gave her eyebrow a lift in Anna's direction.

"Absolutely." The two women then laughed in tandem.

Mary sighed and wiped away the tears of laughter that formed at the corners of her eyes. "When did we become so responsible?" She knew she'd hold out only so long before calling Matthew's mobile. She missed them all so terribly.

Anna looked over. "So do we binge watch Orphan Black or Walking Dead after we order the take away?"

XX

That same afternoon:

"Robbie." Matthew said, lifting two little bundles into his arms. "I thought Mummy said you were to keep an eye on Lucy and Louise." They had been following in the wake of their elder brother, trying to keep pace, and had fallen and tripped over each other. Now they were something of a crying tumble of limbs and long, curly brown hair. They now each nestled close to Matthew's shoulders and their arms enwrapped tightly around his back.

Isis wagged along at his feet.

He grunted under the strain, but still managed to at least try to look Robbie in the eye with a measure of the faux disciplinarian.

The five year old responded with the unimpressed side eye he clearly inherited from his mother.

"They're too slow!" A whinging, desperate intonation as his hand impatiently waved in the direction of Lizzie who was once again in the lead and already entering the library. "She's going to find the painting with the hunting dogs and the birds." His whine got louder, "And if she does that she'll find the rest of the list that is hiding behind and she won't share… and she'll win." And he stopped, out of breath and red faced.

He practically glared at Matthew.

His father relented.

"Well get in there then and find it first." Matthew leaned down and whispered conspiratorially, "Lizzie's looking in the wrong room." And he winked at his son.

The scavenger hunt had been Matthew's idea. Something he saw online done at museums and galleries. It seemed like a good way to introduce the older children to some of the objets d'art at Downton. They would check off five items at a time in various parts of the house or outside and then find another list taking them to another part or wing of the Abbey. When all three lists were collected, the winner was to bring the checked off list back to Matthew who followed along behind the children making sure that they found the correct item but that they did not actually touch it.

That had been Mary's one instruction. If she was to trust Matthew to the care of the children while she was in London at a conference meeting, he would make sure any mischief they all got up to would not include the destruction of centuries old Ming vases or oil paintings done by the Old Masters.

"Not even the vase your granny got as wedding present from 'a rather frightful aunt.' She'd told me she's hated it for half a century." Matthew's head was on her chest in their bedroom. The night before she left and he wanted to spend a bit more time together. They were lying on the window seat. Mary's head and back resting against the paneled wall, Matthew's body sprawled alongside hers.

Mary snorted playfully. "Even that one." She was playing with his hair. Fingers sweeping strands back away from his forehead. Massaging his scalp with tender strokes, skimming her nails against his skull.

He was practically purring like a kitten under such ministrations. He snuggled closer. "Do you really have to go?"

But he knew she did. She was leading the panel on finding outside sources for subsidizing charity work. Downton Place was Mary's brainchild. And it had become so successful in juggling government, private, and commercial funding for the variety of children's camps and adult respite they offered that other philanthropic ventures want to know how Mary managed it. Hence the trip to London. She would stay at their flat. The flat they still escaped to be alone.

But Matthew was needed on the estate. And Abigail, the nanny hired after the twins were born two and half years ago, was out of town.

So child care was up to Matthew. And he was having as much fun with the scavenger hunt as the kids.

The reward was a frosted cake made to order by the winner by Mrs. Patmore. A treat not normally allowed as Mary wanted to encourage healthy eating.

When he brought that up with Mrs. Patmore, she patted Matthew's arm. "She'll never know. And besides if she does, we'll just say we made it with organic ingredients."

So now the scavenger hunt was tied between Edith's little girl Lizzie and Robbie, who was determined to finally win something against his older cousin.

Matthew lifted Louise and Lucy back on their feet and, already recovered, they went running after their adored big brother. Their galumphing footsteps echoing through the salon.

Rose looked up from the front desk. She was guiding some tourists towards the docent who would give them the formal tour. Waved at Matthew. He grinned back. He pretended to chase Lucy who was already dawdling again.

She responded with peals and peals of laughter. He scooped her up and put her on his shoulders. "Come on sweetie girl, let's go find the others."

The American tourist at the desk, already getting on Rose's nerves by insinuating that if he paid more money he'd get a special tour of the rooms designated by red ropes as out of bounds to anyone except staff and family.

"Well look there little lady..." He drawled and pointed in the direction of the library. "That guy just went in to that room with his kids. Why can't we?"

He pointed directly at Matthew.

His wife exhaled in unadorned exasperation beside him. Tapping her finger on the counter she sniped, "We got a special behind the scenes tour at the house they filmed Pride and Prejudice. They all do it you know."

The husband nodded. "If you're giving other tourists special access, I want the same. I came all the way from Amarillo Texas and my wife here has watched all these shows on television and she wants to see every nook and cranny of these old castles. So you just let me in the same way you let that feller in…."

Rose had to cut him off there. Giving her most professional expression, she explained smoothly "Sir. I still cannot let you into the private rooms of the family." And she put a fingernail on the twenty pound note the man sidled across to her. And moved it back towards him, giving a sniff of disapproval.

"But that guy…" He started to sputter with rage.

"Sir." Rose replied with as straight a face as she could muster. "That gentleman is the Nineth Earl of Grantham. He's allowed to go into those rooms."

"Him?" The Texan's eyes got larger in disbelief.

Rose snickered in amusement at the tourist's confusion. Matthew was not quite the stereotyped earl of a large manored estate who's supposed to go around in an ascot, a patched corduroy jacket, and waistcoat.

Matthew wore a dark blue-grey untucked Henley, a pair of jeans, and scuffed brogues. He was also sweating from the exertion of carrying around the twins.

"I'm afraid so. ..." She paused and gave the nonplussed tourists an amused look. "Not quite Hugh Bonneville, I admit…" She clucked her tongue, "but he's ours and we'll keep him."

XX

Later the next night:

Matthew was a prisoner, ensconced tightly in the middle of the duvet and blanket strewn bed. The two older children on either side, leaning either against the pillow or his shoulder.

He spied yawns and stretching.

"Should we finish the chapter tomorrow?" He asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"No!" Lizzie said firmly. And in a rare act of unity, Robbie agreed. "Read!"

So he continued.

"What do you like doing best in the world, Pooh?"
"Well," said Pooh, "what I like best-" and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honeywasa very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called.

And then he thought that being with Christopher Robin was a very good thing to do, and having Piglet near was a very friendly thing to have; and so, when he had thought it all out, he said, "What I like best in the whole world is Me and Piglet going to see You, and You saying 'What about a little something?' and Me saying, 'Well, I shouldn't mind a little something, should you, Piglet,' and it being a hummy sort of day outside, and birds singing."
"I like that too," said Christopher Robin, "but what I likedoingbest is Nothing."

Matthew paused. He turned to Lizzie. "What do you like doing best in the world?"

She turned her bright, shining six year old eyes to her uncle. "I like winning." She tried not to sound exultant, but Robbie harrumphed on the other side of the bed. He had lost again. And had to endure Lizzie's request of a sponge cake rather than the chocolate he would have preferred. But she had offered him a rather large slice after Mrs. Patmore took it from the oven, so he was somewhat mollified in his defeat.

Matthew laughed softly. "What about you Robbie?" He ruffled the five year olds blonde locks. Too much like his father for his own good Mary would say. He was spoiled something fierce by all the grannies.

"I liked staying with Mummy in London." He said after giving it a good, long thought. "We did lots of fun things all by ourselves." "Not even you were there." He reminded his father with a poke to his chest.

Matthew well understood Robbie's love of his mother's exclusive attention. He nodded somberly in agreement.

He looked down at his little sisters. He loved them but they were a couple of pests most of the time.

"It was great." But he did snuggle closer into Matthew's chest.

That had been a special occasion. Matthew had been away in Paris that week. He had made the move from the hated chambers in London four years previous, hanging out his own shingle in a small law office in York and partnering with Will who had wanted to live closer to his father in his semi-retirement status as Downton Estate Manager. Matthew had kept a few exclusive City corporate clients and he still traveled regularly to Paris and Berlin to manage their legal transactions. So that week the nanny and the grannys kept the twins and Lizzie while Mary took Robbie to London with her for a special mum and son weekend away. Matthew had been more than a little astonished to learn that Mary had taken him to Hackney City Farm.

"There were two red pigs there." He had loudly proclaimed to Matthew upon their return to Downton the following Monday. "Their names were Pepper and Pearl."

Robbie got down on the carpet and started to imitate the pigs. "They played in the paddock and were all covered in mud." He giggled and pointed at Mary. "Mummy got right in there and helped me pet them."

Matthew stared at his wife, agape. She merely shrugged. "Don't look so astonished. I did grow up on a farm." Matthew bit back a snort. He never knew her to be interested in any of the animals except the horses.

"Maybe we can all go down to the barn during lambing season." He suggested, half playful, half daring.

Robbie hopped up on Matthew's lap and immediately agreed. Mary turned her side eye to Matthew. She knew a challenge when she heard one.

"I will convince you." She said, with more than a little hint of seduction added to her answer. She leaned down and kissed both of her men on the tops of their heads.

Robbie giggled again and got down to play with the toy farm animals Mary had bought him.

Matthew looked up into Mary's face. His eyes open and loving. With Robbie distracted, he said, "You can convince me again…" And the next kiss was full on the lips, slow and unhurried.

That had been three weeks previous. Time slipped by so fast these days. Now, though, he turned to each side. To Lizzie and Robbie still waiting for him to finish the story.

"Those are very good things to do best in the world." Matthew kissed each on their head. And continued reading. He noted the two little girls at his feet, fidgeting and blinking half asleep half awake. Trying to listen but the sleep was winning.

And by and by Christopher Robin came to an end of things, and he was silent, and he sat there, looking out over the world, just wishing it wouldn't stop.

Matthew's voice soothing and calm came to the end of the passage. He well understood Christopher Robin's sentiment. This time in their lives. This time with the children. He wished it wouldn't stop.

He looked up as he heard the floorboard in the hallway creak.

In the doorway, silent and observant, he saw Mary. She had returned home earlier than expected. She had heard Matthew's voice from outside the hall and waited for him to finish the story. Edith stood beside her, awaiting the end of the story to collect Lizzie and take her to the bedroom suite they shared at the corner of Downton.

The two sisters, so recently bonding over their joint success of Downton Place, had never been stronger. Sybil was away so much of the time now. Her own brood of children included Sinead and Fergus but they all lived in Dublin.

Matthew smiled. He only had eyes for Mary. The love they shared was so much stronger. The bond deeper than either had ever expected. She put a finger to her lips. The children had not yet noticed her.

They shared this moment alone.

But soon Robbie eyed his mother hovering in the doorway.

"Mummy! Mummy!" He exalted. He threw himself off the bed and ran headlong towards her. She lifted him up and wrapped him a big hug.

"Oh you're getting too big for this," Mary adjusted his weight onto her hip. "You've just got to stop growing." Robbie nuzzled his head into her shoulder. By that time the twins had also shimmied off the bed with Matthew's help and toddled over.

"Up! Up!" They cried in unison.

Robbie looked down, finally able to be bigger and more important. "Too bad. I got here first."

"Too bad for all of you," Matthew said, walking over and scooping up the twins. "Bedtime." And they herded them into the rooms on the other side of the hallway. Tucked them in, kissed good night, and turned off the lights.

Returning to their own bedroom, Mary sat down at her dressing table. Removing her shoes, she rubbed them absent mindedly.

Matthew sat down in the chair next to her. "Here let me." And he took her foot and started to massage.

She asked about their day. He started to answer when he remembered "Oh right. A special letter came for you. " He pointed to the ecru envelope with seal on her dressing table.

Mary frowned in confusion but opened it. She read the contents. Looked up in astonishment.

"What is it? Good news I trust?" Matthew had stopped his ministrations to let her concentrate on the letter.

"I…I've been listed in the Queen's Birthday Honours List. I'm to be invested into the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire." She was, unusual for her, speechless.

Matthew blinked. "That's fantastic darling." He leaned over, kissed her, and read the letter when she handed it to him. "Says here it's for all your tireless charity work."

"And it's going to be held February 14 in the Waterloo Room at Windsor Castle." Matthew read. "Family members allowed to attend."

"Mother and Granny will be so happy." Mary was still in shock but she knew they would think it a proud addition to the Crawley name and the Grantham title.

"Granny wouldn't miss this for the world." He agreed. He looked up from the letter to see a slow stream of tears alongside her cheeks. He left his seat and came to kneel beside the dressing table bench.

He took hand. It was shaking. "Dad …." She started to say but her lips quivered and she stopped. Matthew lifted himself up onto the bench and embraced his wife. He stayed with her until she recovered her speech.

"He always loved ceremonies." Mary's head rested on his shoulder. "Even the little ones, like when Sybil won first prize in that jump rope race in primary school."

"Your father would be so puffed up with pride he'd burst." Matthew agreed. Drew her closer. "But since he's here only in spirit, I will be his substitute." Kissed her hair, her cheek.

"I'd like that." And Mary kissed him back. "I'd like that very much."

XX

The ceremony took place in Windsor Castle on time. Mary took her place in line and with her loving family looking on she curtsied to the Queen who pinned the MBE on her chest. A brief thank you and a promise that a royal visit to Downton Place would be in the offing. Mary nodded graciously, stepped back, and turned to join the rest of the newly endowed Honourees.

Matthew had arranged for them all to gather for afternoon tea at the Thierry Despont's magnificent foyer of Claridge's Hotel.

A special champagne toast was ordered. Granny spoke, "To Mary. My dear grandchild. Your grit, your determination to live your life as you saw fit molded you into the strong woman you are today. I, and we as your family, could not be happier for you."

The glasses clinked in approval of Violet's sentiments.

Matthew was restless however. He had his own plans. And they required they leave within the half hour to make the chunnel train to Paris. The concierge of the hotel tapped him on the shoulder and they spoke briefly.

Getting up from his seat Matthew said, "I don't mean to rush things, but I've arranged for a taxi. And it's here." He pushed back from the table, and gripped Mary's chair. He whispered, "time to go."

Mary nodded. She got up as well. Cora knew of the plan. She and Edith would take the children along with Violet back by train to Downton.

Matthew, upon realizing the Honours Day investiture took place on February 14, had planned a getaway in Paris for just the two of them. For it was Valentine's Day.

Mary kissed each child in turn as did Matthew. He then ushered her quickly out the door and into the waiting taxi. The concierge had already loaded their luggage and he gave a generous tip.

They were off. He sank down into the taxi's back seat. Mary turned and said, "You're looking rather pleased with yourself."

"I've got you alone for the next two whole days." He kissed her lightly. "I am very, very pleased with myself."

The trip ended when they booked into the Saint-Germain des Près Inn along the Seine River. Mary ordered room service and they ate salade verte, bisque potage, and basil salmon on the small balcony, a candlelit table, and a carafe of pinot noir alongside.

Matthew took her into his arms after the meal. "Happy Valentine's Day." Mary opened the heart shaped box. A string of pearls lay inside, on a bed of satin. "Let me help you put it on." And she lifted her hair so that he could pass the string around her neck and clasp it from behind. He brushed his lips against the nape of her neck.

She shivered in anticipation. "Thank you Matthew." And the kiss deepened as their tongues dipped and darted inside each other's mouth.

They moved to the bed. Matthew undid the zipper of Mary's dress and it fell to the floor. She turned, clad only in the pearl necklace.

His eyes lingered on her beauty. How did he deserve such happiness? He had let it go. Had allowed his sulking, his anger to possess him. To take this love away for six years. And despite having reunited, he resented still the time his stupidity had stolen from their lives. He was determined to make up for every lost second.

Mary climbed onto the bed next to him. It was her turn. She slowly unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off his shoulders. Laying kisses first along his shoulder blades, and then slowly across his chest. The belt came loose, then the trousers.

Mary's body came to rest alongside his naked form. Arousing him with just a touch of her fingers alight on his hot skin, they made love. Heated lips pressed against each other. He tilts his head down and begins to slowly suck and nibble her breasts in turn. Her hands snake around his hips and bring him closer. Both claiming and marking the other as their sole possession. Expanding and extending each other's pleasure til it peaked and sated.

They lay back, lightly sweating from the exertion. Neither wanting to move. Nor release each other from the firm hold around each other's body.

Around each other's soul. They were tied together in ways they were only now beginning to realize.

In ways that used to frighten Mary. That sent her into a divorce court to flee the idea of being smothered by love.

She had not understood. Had not understood that one makes of love what one brings to it. She did not love Matthew solely because he was a tender lover, or a great father. Nor did she love him because like some rom com scripted cliché of 'completing her.' She completed herself. She knew that now. Love did not make her less. Love did not blind. Nor take away. Love was not a kind of madness. And yet it was.

It was so much less. And so much more.

Love was ever present and nourishing. It was in the arguments and in the healing. It was working things out when it seemed like nothing would work out.

Matthew's arms caressed hers slowly. Tantalizing her back into an aroused state.

Sensing her thoughts, he said, "I never thought this kind of love possible. Certainly not for us." He nestled down closer to her face, to her flushed cheeks.

Her fingered entwined his own. "We'll waste no more time on the past. We owe it nothing. We've paid our debts. Love makes everything possible, Matthew." She kissed his equally hot cheek. "That's the secret nobody knows."

They made love until the morning's bright, sun crisped sky crept into their room.

XX

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart) e.e. cummings

Happy Valentine's Day!

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