Hello lovely people.

I began this fic about five years ago when I also made a promise, mainly to myself, not to upload any more multi chapter fics until they were finished. Save my poor readers from waiting years for me to update. This is the result, and I can finally post it! It's twelve chapters and I'm going to aim for weekly updates. This is a completely new way of doing things for me, so do bear with me!

Shout out to crystabelshalott for pointing me in the direction of script line for the DA transcripts.

The title and a lot of inspiration were taken from the song Invincible Girl by Bad Pollyanna. Check it out on Youtube.

Usual disclaimers, I don't own Downton Abbey. All mistakes are my own.

I really hope you enjoy it. :)

Invincible Girl

"Sybil!" She smiled as she spotted Edward and waved back at him. Walking quickly she moved across the large courtyard and into his solid embrace. "How was your day?"

"Long! Our lessons overran this morning and Matron had us running here, there and everywhere this afternoon. A new batch of soldiers have arrived. Are you hungry?"

"Fairly, but Sybil, there's something I need to talk to you about." He sounded happy, but her stomach dropped at his words.

"What is it?"

"Hey, no need to sound so worried, but I won't say it here. Are you finished? We could walk along the river?"

"Yes. I'll take this apron off and fetch my coat."

They were soon on their way. The evening sun was leaving streaks of pink in the pale sky in front of them as they walked.

"I got my posting today."

Sybil closed her eyes in resignation. She'd known this day would come. When Edward had first arrived at the York hospital where she was training to be a nurse, he'd just been moved from having emergency treatment in London on a stomach wound. He'd been the first patient she'd connected with. The first man really. They had started walking out together as soon as he was able to. He had then visited her while she had her Christmas break at Downton, and Sybil's father had immediately dismissed any chance of a match between them. Sybil had overheard her parent's disapproval clearly enough, although what they had actually said to her was a lot more cryptic. Pleading with her to attend at New Year when Larry Grey would be visiting and similar such hints. She had barely spoken to them since. Edward was the man she was set on, but from the sound of it she was about to lose him to the war on the continent.

"When do you leave?" She asked dryly.

"I'm to meet up with some of the other lads and receive some training first. I leave two days after you finish your course next week!"

"You needn't sound so happy about it." She snapped, picking up the pace. Edward laughed.

"Sybil. You haven't asked me where it is yet."

She stopped then, turning slowly to face him, her eyes wide. "You… You're not going to France?"

"No." He was grinning now. "I'm going to Ireland. They're providing somewhere to live. It's all very reasonable. Some of the men are even taking their families… Syb?" He knelt down in front of her, pulling a small box out of his jacket pocket. "Come with me?"

Her answer was lost somewhere between a gasp, a sob and a yes, but she flung her arms around his neck, stopping him from getting up.

"Hey," he laughed. "I need to put this on your finger at some point!"

Sybil stepped back, happy tears already rolling down her cheeks as he slid the engagement ring onto her finger. She gazed at it lovingly before flinging herself once more at the man in front of her. He laughed again and span her around.

"But Syb, what about your family?" She froze slightly at the question.

"They won't approve, but we don't need them."

"You're not yet twenty-one. I need your father's permission."

"I can lie. They won't check. Not during the war. We'll get a license and go to one of those offices like your friend did."

"Peter. Are you sure?"

"Of course! I'll be twenty-one in under a year anyway."

"But wouldn't you want a church wedding?" He asked again, teasingly.

"Edward!" She hit him playfully on the arm. "I love you and that's all that matters."

They were married the following weekend and spent the night in a little room over Sybil's local pub in York. As she lay in the darkness, tangled in hot sheets with Edward snoring slightly beside her, Sybil felt at peace. The war may still be raging on the continent, but for this night she was in her own little bubble of happiness that felt like it could last forever.