First Sybil & Tom Advent Calendar of Prompts. Thank you to @yankeecountess for the beta.
Snow
Tom softly pushed open the door of their flat and entered it quietly. As it was the case over the last few days, he was half expecting to find Sybil asleep on their sofa so he was trying his best not to wake her. Her days at work were very busy and he knew she needed her rest, especially since they learned the news.
But Sybil wasn’t on the sofa nor was she in the kitchen, the flat being strangely quiet and unlighted. Tom closed the door behind him and took his coat and hat off after being sure to have shaken all the snow from them outside.
“Love?!” he called into the silence.
No answer.
His anxiety growing as her shift was supposed to end two hours ago, he walked further and took the hallway leading to their bedroom. Maybe she was so tired that she went directly to bed?
But he stopped on the doorstep when he saw her standing quietly at the windows, her back to him, an opened letter in her hand, her other hand resting on her still flat belly. His heart missed a beat, hoping she hadn’t received bad news from her family.
“Love?” he called her again. “Is everything alright?”
“Yes,” she breathed, reaching out behind her for him after dropping the letter on a nearby table.
She didn’t turn to him, her gaze still looking at something outside.
He went to her and slid his arms around her middle, breathing softly into her hair. His hands rested flat on her belly and she entwined her fingers with his.
“How was your day?” he asked tentatively.
“Eventless,” she answered, only sinking further against him. “Yours?”
“Busy.”
They stayed silent for some time, simply enjoying the chance to be together in the warmth of their flat, while watching the snow falling down from the darkened sky.
“You got a letter,” he stated after a while. “Good news?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. It’s from Mary.”
He could hear the smile in her voice and he relaxed a little bit more.
“And?” he probed. “Did they have a nice Christmas back at Downton?”
Sybil chuckled and turned slightly to look up at him. She kissed his chin and turned back around again.
“I think you can say that. Matthew and she got engaged!”
“Really?” exclaimed Tom.
“Hmmm. And apparently, it was very romantic. It was snowing and they were outside and he got down on his knee…”
Tom chuckled.
“Well. I’m sure it was all the’ old fashion way’ that Mary was expecting.”
Sybil swatted his hand.
“Don’t be mean! They deserve to be happy. I waited for this to happen for so long. I’m glad they finally realized they were made for each other”
“I know, love. Sorry.” He kissed her hair. “I’m happy for them too. And I’m sorry my proposal wasn’t as romantic.”
“Don’t be silly. It was perfect. For us anyway.”
Tom chuckled again.
“I’m glad to hear it. You seemed so lost in your thoughts that I was afraid you would ask me for a repeat of it as it’s snowing.”
Sybil shook her head.
“Yes, I was thoughtful. But not for this reason.”
“I’m curious now. So what’s on your mind? Good thoughts I hope.”
“Yes, very good and warm ones.”
She took a pause before finally verbalizing what she was thinking since she had gotten home, when she saw the snow falling and gathering on the streets below.
“I was just daydreaming. I was seeing you down there, not next year but maybe the one after; with our son or daughter, playing in the snow. And maybe building a snowman. And there was laughter and happy cries. And I was there, watching both of you from the warmth of our home. And I felt happier than I ever thought I could be.”
She reached up to wipe at her eyes where a lonely tear had formed.
“Oh my love,” Tom breathed against her. “I do love you so much.”
He turned her around in his arms and took her face in his hands.
“I promise it to you. We’ll build this snowman. And it won’t be the only one. Each year, we’ll build a new one, with as many children as God will bless us.”
And there, in their home, as they were gazing into each other eyes, the new life they had created safely resting between them, they could see it. See the future that was ahead of them.
A new modern AU ficlet in my ”Tonight or Tomorrow“ collection to celebrate reaching 100 reviews – thank you everyone who reads it, for your support! Let’s face it, we can never have too much Bransons smut. 😉
***
Sybil hesitated outside the restaurant to check herself in the window, wondering what Tom would think.
He was already at a table, bottle of beer in front of him, as she walked inside. She saw his eyes sparkle, blue flames kindling in their depths, at the sight of her.
“Hey, you look…”
He leaned forward, touching the frame of her new glasses as she sat down. “Very hot indeed, Lady Sybil.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah.”
He put his hand on the back of her head, pulling her across the table for a kiss.
“I can tell you right now, I would have spent a lot more time in the library at college if our librarian had looked like you!”
“But would you have got any more study done?”
“Probably not, but who cares!”
He winked and her stomach flipped over inside her. She looked down demurely, loving the feel of his eyes on her.
“Shall we order?”
***
“Mmm, hold that thought!” Sybil broke their kiss, stepping out of Tom’s arms just as they were tightening around her.
“Come back, I want to… where are you going?” An adorable pout appeared on his face, which made her long to kiss him again.
“Give me a minute, I have an idea.”
He growled at her retreating back as she headed into her bedroom.
Musings of a Yankee Countess 