Starting Forever

A/N- This is an AU Sybil/Branson story, it'll start sometime during the first season, but it will not follow the storyline of the show. I hope you like it.

- - - - - - - - - 3

Sybil fans herself with her hand, the garden party is seemingly endless, the conversation is dull, and the sun too hot against her skin. Yet again her attention drifts away from her two companions, and this time she finds a distraction. Branson is hurrying across the lawn, towards her. Her heart skips a beat; surely he can't be coming to her like this, now. She shakes her head, whatever it is it must be something important. She studies his expression, he's smiling, grinning actually but before she can look at him further, he's at her side. His hand lightly on her arm, and he's leaning in to whisper in her ear.

'Gwen's got the job.' He says slightly breathlessly, his hand sliding down to hers, clutching it lightly, she grips his, a smile spreading over her face.

'Oh…excuse me.' Sybil grins excusing herself from the two woman she'd been speaking to, and with her hand still in Branson's grip, they both take off running towards one of the large tents, where Gwen is standing with a silver tray. Sybil delivers the news, and before any of them know what's happening the three of them are hugging.

'Oh Gwen I knew you could do it.' Sybil beams, 'I'm so happy for you.'

'I can scarcely believe it.'

'Perhaps you could contain your celebration until later.' Mrs Hughes warns lightly, Gwen bows her head sheepishly and hurries back to the tent, to reclaim her silver tray.

'I don't suppose,' Branson's hand finds Sybil's again, she looks down at their joined hands and holds her breath, waiting for him to speak.

'Sybil.' The sharp call comes from Mary, and quickly Branson drops her hand, Sybil feels the loss immediately but glances over to Mary, moving away with an apologetic smile.

'Be careful lad, or you'll end up with no job and a broken heart.' Mrs Hughes sighs, she'd been worried that sooner or later one of the young staff would fall for one of the Crawley girls, but it saddened her that it would be Branson whose heart would be broken, he was a good man, and in a fairer world Lady Sybil would be perfect for him.

'I don't know what you mean.' Branson replies, but even as he speaks his eyes are following Sybil.

(&)

'I thought you spoke with him.' Mary says once they're far enough away not to be overheard.

'I did.'

'Then what was that?' Mary demands, narrowing her eyes at her younger sister, clearly not believing that Sybil really dealt with the problem.

'Branson was just informing me that Gwen got the job she applied for, we were happy and celebrating.'

'Honestly darling it's hardly appropriate, especially since he seems to have some silly feelings for you.'

'We're friends.' Sybil shrugs, forcing back the urge to shout that Branson's feelings aren't silly. 'That's all.'

'Sybil you can't be friends with him.'

'Why not? I like talking to him.'

'There are rules, boundaries which cannot be crossed, and you're crossing them with him.'

'Well maybe the rules need…'

'Please, can I have your attention, can we stop the music please.' Their father's loud voice cuts Sybil off, the two girls turn to look at their father, and seeing his grave expression they hurry back over to the crowd of people. Sybil quickly seeking out Branson, who sees her and starts making his way over, standing at her side, while Mary stands on her other side, so focussed on her father that she doesn't notice Branson's sudden appearance. Lord Grantham clears his throat and continues, 'Ladies and Gentleman, it is with a grave heart that I have to inform you. We are at war with Germany.'

A cry rises up from the crowd, chatter increasing, woman fussing and beginning to cry, others shocked and talking about what will happen now, others saying how they aren't surprised. Sybil though doesn't speak, she doesn't cry, but the colour runs out of her previously flushed cheeks, and she reaches her hand out, lacing her fingers with Branson's. He squeezes her hand and steps a fraction closer, while all around them people come to terms with the news.

(&)

'Matthew's planning on signing up.' Edith comes into Mary's room and sits down on one of the chairs, looking in turn at Mary who is putting a necklace on ready to go down to dinner, and then to Sybil who is sat on the bed, staring longingly out of the window. It had been two weeks since the garden party, two weeks since they'd learnt they were at war, and yet nothing had changed for them, until Edith's announcement. It was the first real touch of the war on Downton.

'How would you know that?' Mary asks.

'Isobel told Granny who told Mama who told Papa and I overheard.' Edith shrugs; unaware of the affect she's having on Mary.

'Well then, I daresay we'll hear about it at dinner.' Mary replies looking over at Sybil, who has now stood up and is staring out of the window.

'I suppose they'll all go.' Sybil says quietly, a childish innocence to her voice, 'Matthew, William, Thomas…T…Branson.' Her voice chokes up, she tries to hide it but she can't. She hasn't been able to talk to Branson since the party, there were always people around and never an acceptable excuse to go to the garage.

'Well yes I expect so.' Edith says, 'Are you alright Sybil?'

'I'm fine…I…I just…it's just that…I…'Sybil shakes her head.

'Edith give us a moment.' Mary says.

'But I…'

'Now Edith.' Mary snaps impatiently, and sighing Edith gets up and leaves the room.

'You didn't need to send her away, I'm fine.'

'Yes I can see that.' Mary rolls her eyes, leading Sybil over to the bed and sitting her down, and then sitting beside her. 'There's more to all this isn't there.'

'More to what?'

'To Branson, darling is he the only one with an…an attachment?'

'I…' Sybil looks at her sister helplessly and then shakes her head.

'What's happened?' Mary sighs heavily.

'Nothing's happened, honestly it hasn't.'

'Well what's he been saying?'

'That he loves me, that he wants to marry me, and that he'll stay at Downton until I'm ready to run away with him.' Sybil admits.

'Good gracious! How have you kept all of that hidden? How long has this been going on for?'

'I..I don't know how long he's had feelings for me…but I…I think I started feeling something more than friendship for him around the time that I…I went with him to a talk on woman's rights in a…a pub, and well I couldn't just be Lady Sybil there, I wouldn't have fitted in…so I…' she pauses and looks up at Mary hesitantly, 'I called myself Mrs Branson…'

'Oh Sybil!'

'I just…it slipped out.' Sybil sniffs back her tears. 'Nothing's happened.'

'Darling he asked you to run away with him.' Mary sighs again, 'That's hardly nothing, we'll have to tell Papa.'

'No! Oh no please you can't.'

'Sybil if we're going to put an end to this…'

'I don't want to.' Sybil bursts out.

'What?'

'If you tell Papa then he'll send Branson away.'

'That's the whole point.'

'I don't want him to leave.' Sybil says shakily.

'Darling don't be so naive, what do you expect? To just be able to marry the chauffer and have nobody bat an eyelid.'

'I expected you to be on my side.'

'I am on your side.'

'Then be on my side!' Sybil shouts.

'Promise me you won't do anything foolish.' Mary begs.

'I won't…besides,' Sybil looks down at her hands, 'Branson will probably be leaving to fight a war soon, he'll be gone anyway.'