I used some original lines from the series in this drabble.
The discussion did not seem to end, Violet was to hard-headed to give in and inch. This time Cora was not going to butch either. She had taken so much already from her and this time she knew she was in the right. Violet was stuck in the past and had to learn to look to the future. That way the hospital could grow and become a better place. She glanced at Robert, yesterday he mentioned wanting to skip this dinner and now looking at him she wishes she had stood her ground and got him to bed early tonight.
"Can't we stop this beastly row?" Robert suddenly said.
Cora looked at him "How I wish we could." She now looked at Violet.
"Because I." Robert suddenly stood up, groaning. "I am so sorry. I."
Cora looked at him with shock in her eyes. What was he doing and why did he look so grey in his face? What happened next took one second and an eternity at the same time. Robert leaned backwards and started spewing over the table. When the fluid hit her face, she realised it was blood. He was vomiting blood all over the table and on her. Quickly she pushed her chair back and rushed to the other side of the table.
Robert was laid on his side by instructions of Dr. Clarkson. Cora heard the voices of Mary, Edith and Isobel but was only focused on getting to the other side as quick as possible. She kneeled down above his head and immediately took the napkin that Isobel handed her. She was just in time to catch another gush of blood in the napkin. With her other hand she supported his head.
"I am here darling, don't worry, I'm here." She said calm as possible. She felt so much panic, but she could not show. Robert needed her strength now.
"If this is it, just know I have loved you very, very much." Robert breathed heavily.
"This isn't it, darling. We won't let this be it."
Robert kept coughing and grunting from pain. She tried to steady his head as much as possible and just be there for him. Why did the ambulance take this long?
"Papa, will be alright Mama." Edith took Cora’s hands. She was kneading them together in her lap. Anxiously looking up to the door where the nurse had appeared telling them the operation took longer than expected.
She now looked at Edith, who softly squeezed her hand. With a soft smile she nodded. "Why are they taking so long?"
"The doctors are skilled." Mary said.
Cora now turned towards Mary. "He is in good hands." She said very softly. Although she said the words out loud, she did not believe them herself.
She had an ominous feeling. Trying to calm herself again, she took a deep breath. She shakily inhaled, she had to stay strong, she could not fall apart in front of her girls. She glanced at them and saw the worry on their faces. They already lost their sister; they could not lose their father this young too.
"The nurse will be back soon with good news." Edith said.
When the door opened all three turned towards the door and you could feel the anxiety in the room rise. It was not the nurse who entered, but Baxter came in with a tray in her hands. "I brought you some tea."
Mary got up and helped Baxter with the tray. "That is very thoughtful of you, Baxter. Thank you." Mary walked towards Cora. "Here you go, Mama. This will do you good."
Cora did take the cup, although she did not fancy drinking anything at the moment.
Baxter left the room, and it got silent again.
"Drink your tea, Mama." Edith encouraged her.
With hesitation she brought the cup towards her mouth, but midway she froze. She got very cold all of a sudden.
"Mama?" Mary asked concerned. "Mama, are you alright?"
At that same moment the door opened again, and the same nurse from earlier entered.
"He did not make it." Cora uttered, while getting up, before the nurse could say anything.
"It is true, is it not?" Cora asked, while Edith stepped closer to her and took her hand.
"I am very sorry to tell you, Lady Grantham. The doctor tried everything he could, but his Lordship lost to much blood. He is alive, but Dr. Clarkson thinks it will not take long."
Edith and Mary gave Cora space to go see Robert alone. She followed the nurse, who walked way to slow for her liking. If it was up to her, she would have run to him. Finally, she opened a door and there he was, her Robert. She rushed to his side and immediately took his hand in hers. The blanket was pulled up to his chest, with both his arms on top of it. Softly she stroked over his cheek, fighting against the tears. He looked so frail, how could this be. What was she supposed to say to him, could he hear her?
"I am here, darling. I am still here." She said while her voice broke, she could not hold back her tears. slowly sinking onto his matrass, she kept stroking his cheek. Softly she brushed through his hair. His chest was still rising, although it was briefly. He was still with her.
"I have loved you too, very, very much, and I will forever do, my darling."
'This will not be it', she told him earlier tonight. She promised him and herself that it would all be alright. But it was not alright at all, he was dying, and she did not know what to do. This was not right, he was supposed to grow old with her. Seeing the children and grandchildren grow. Handing the rains of Downton abbey over to Mary or maybe George already. It was not supposed to end like this. Not this young. Not like this.
Vaguely she heard the door open again and people entering the room. She did not look up. She kept caressing his cheek and muttering loving words to him.
A hand was laid on her shoulder. "It is time to go home, Mama."
"No." Cora refused to leave Robert behind.
"He is not here anymore, Mama."
Cora looked at his face. When she had entered there had been a faint colour on his face, where it was now lifeless. "This cannot be." She kept repeating.
Mary softly but addiment pulled her up from the bed. "The nurses need to prepare him, Mama. We will go home."
She looked up and looked out of the window, there were the first lights of the morning already. How long had she been besides his bed? How long ago had he left this world? Before they left the room, she turned around once more to have a last look at her beloved husband. Her companion and her rock, the one who had always been there, her everything. "I will always love you." She whispered. "Always."
