@lady-sybil for that promised starter;;
being home on leave always brought two things to matthews SENSIBILITIES ; the first being the ever unresounding relief that he was still alive . that he still had all his limbs attached to him && that he was able to move && walk without much care unlike some of the other boys who came home . the other emotion however was much more COMPLEX , for matthew had no real idea of how to be at downton any more . within the trenches , he knew who he was . he was a commander - a CAPTAIN within the ranks - && he knew what was expected of him when he was knee deep in mud && being hailed by many bullets .
but here it was DIFFERENT . he had turned from lawyer , to heir , to captain in a short span of a few years . robert was one thing , but cora seemed to not WANT him around as much as she used to . as for mary ... well , he still ached to be with her && to love her . but with that VANISHING from his finger tips so easily , he dared not try && think of her that way anymore . he couldn’t .
downton at war was strange . different && unusual && so ... UNLIKE ITSELF. sybil was one of the most changed by these events , though he knew that the youngest crawley sister was more than CAPABLE she had always proved as such . it was such a comfort knowing she had found herself a calling .
he had spotted her before anyone else , coming home he had made a stop at mothers before making his way to downton , the house so RICHLY buzzing with soldiers . sybil was the first he saw , carrying a tray between rooms . ‘ i do HOPE they let you have a tea break now && then , ‘ he teased her lightly , stepping behind her .
