Cobert Holiday Fanfic Exchange! This is a multi-chapter fic, so consider it like a cobert advent story or something. Bless everyone who participates for helping to pass the time until the christmas special. This story plays fast and loose with the concept of Duneagle. It pretends that they Crawleys end up going there for Christmas, too. Possible season 3 spoilers ahoy - I can't remember what the hell I've written anymore so. You've been warned.

Duneagle. December 24, 1921

Cora Crawley didn't realize she was standing under the mistletoe until she felt hands at her waist. She turned, a bright smile on her lips. His mouth pressed to insistently and she didn't even have a second to resist before his tongue was jabbing lightly at her lips, demanding entrance. His big palm was warm at the nape of her neck, holding her close, pressing her into him as though he would like to absorb her into himself.

Her brain was fogged with drink and cheer and she didn't hear the rumble of voices in exclamation. She only felt the man pressed to her.

And she was repulsed.

Palms on his chest she tried to push him away, tried to free herself from his grasp, but he was too strong, too hungry for her touch.

Then just as quickly as the onslaught began, it stopped. The man holding her was wrenched away from her, and now sounds rushed at her ears. There was shouting, the sounds of angry voices carrying over the music. And there was Robert, his face violently red. Violet stood to the side, her expression twisted in disgust. Cora tried to steady herself.

"I'll thank you to keep your hands off my wife!" Robert shouted and Cora pressed the back of her hand to her mouth, not even bothering to hide the gesture as she wiped.

"No need to be angry, Robert." Ian Nesbet grinned, a horrible twisting smile that brought even more vivid color to Robert's face. "I was just testing the waters. Wanted to see if Cora was still content with her marriage of convenience after all these years."

Ian never saw Robert's fist coming. It was only a heartbeat before the Marquis of Lothian was flat on his back, knocked cold.

December 23, 1921

They arrived in the county at midday, but the clouds were low and the wind was blowing in from the west, making their arrival a dismal affair. It was as though even Scotland was irritated with the change of plans, and wanted nothing more than for the Crawley family to spend Christmas in their own country, in their own home. Robert spent the last leg of the drive in sullen silence, resisting Cora's attempts to lighten his mood.

"They will expect us to sleep separately." Robert groused at long last, when Cora scooted closer to him and laid a hand on his thigh. "We won't be able to exchange our gifts in privacy, as we've done every year."

Cora sighed beside him, and rested her head on his shoulder. The hand resting on his thigh sought his hand and she threaded their fingers together.

"So what if they expect it?" They had this conversation every visit to the castle, and they worked it out just fine each time. "It's never stopped you before."

And it was true; it hadn't stopped him before. It was simply that he wanted to sulk, hated the fact that he wasn't home for the holiday, and resented Cora's ability to adapt to yet another change so easily. "We're older now."

Irritation tinged Cora's huff as she reached up a gloved hand and turned Robert's face towards her. He resisted momentarily, still caught up in his piteous display, but all that melted when Cora crashed her lips to his. Her tongue and teeth were demanding and she tilted her head just so and pushed in closer to him. The kiss was fierce and hot, and oh GOD, she had learned so much since they were first married. When she finally pulled away, her eyes shone mischievously. "You'll have to stop pouting or Santa won't bring you a gift."

His mood altered somewhat, he offered her a silly smile. He allowed his fingers to trek across her waist and slip beneath the folds of her travelling coat. It was a very long drive, after all. "Is it more of that?"

"Wouldn't you like to know."

The arrival at Duneagle went just about as Robert had expected. Cora, with her boundless feminine wiles and learned knack for managing him, was able to reduce Robert's foul mood to a memory by the time the motorcade reached the long driveway. He was pleased with himself as he watched her straighten her clothing and check her make-up in a small compact she carried in her little bag. She caught his self-satisfied expression out of the corner of her eye and told him he should probably wipe the lipstick off his throat before his children saw.

"They know how babies are made." Robert replied smartly, repeating something Cora had said to him hundreds of times in the last decade. She could only smirk in response; big words for a man who turned three shades of crimson if his daughters even hinted at sex.

With the family unloaded and the servants unpacking their luggage, Cora moved to greet his cousin Susan, Shrimpie, and the very sullen Rose.

"You're wearing lipstick, Robert." Violet commented as she passed him, her expression knowing.

"Really, Papa," Mary stood at his side, cradling her belly gingerly. Indeed she knew how babies were made, having successfully conceived what would be Robert's second grandchild. "You and Mama are far too old for that."

"For what?" Edith breezed up, in remarkably high spirits.

"Never mind." Robert shut down the conversation before it went any further, holding out his hand to an approaching Shrimpie. The families exchanged pleasantries - false and stilted as they were - before they moved into the Castle.

"We've arranged your regular rooms." Susan was saying, motioning to the footmen to show the way. Robert watched as Cora opened her mouth to speak and he waved her silent. There was no need to announce his wishes to everyone in the house.

"Cora, you'll have the pink room, I know how much you love it. Cousin Violet, I've put you in the Country Room, that way you'll be near to your daughter-in-law. Robert, the blue room is on the other side of cousin Violet's room. Mary and Matthew you'll..."

Susan's voice faded off as she led the rest of the group towards the stairs. Robert grabbed Cora's elbow and steered her after everyone else. His grip was tight and his irritation was back. "She put my mother between us. She did it on purpose."

Cora shrugged before leaning close and lowering her voice. "I don't think they've shared a room for a very, very long time."

"So she punishes me?"

Cora simply laughed and sped up to weave her arms with Mary's and peck her daughter's cheek.

Robert's scowl was firmly back in place.

My prompt: Cora is caught under the mistletoe...by someone who isn't Robert. Basically, Jealous!Robert. You're welcome. ;) Big ups and hugs to my homegirl, GranthamGal for organizing this porn, I mean fic fest.