The Holidays at Downton!!
Sybil and Matthew are alive and well. Like every year, the Crawley’s are thrilled to be reunited.
Sybil, Tom, and Sybbie have come from Dublin. (In my AU, I have Sybbie being an only child because I have Sybil as having been told she couldn’t have any more children due to the complicated delivery. 🙁)
Edith and Bertie are there with Marigold (whom Bertie adopted shortly after he and Edith got married). They have a new son, Bertie Jr.
Mary and Matthew, of course, reside at Downton with George, their middle child Robbie, and their youngest child and only daughter Mary Isobel, aka Izzie.
George and Robbie are allowed to help decorate the Christmas tree. Matthew will lift them up so they can each get some ornaments on a few branches they can’t reach. (Izzie is still too young for that.)
The staff now have a tradition of doing a secret Santa type gift exchange that takes place before the ball.
The servants’ ball is always a blast. Always.
This year, someone hangs mistletoe in one of the doorways downstairs. Phyllis and Molesley find themselves beneath it. Molesley, blushing profusely, asks her if she minds. She says she thought he’d never ask. They then share their first kiss.
The best part for everyone is watching the kids have so much fun.
Tom and Sybil make snow angels with George, Robbie, Sybbie, and Marigold. They also help those four build a snowman. (Izzie and Bertie Jr. are too young at this point.)
Mrs. Patmore’s hot chocolate is amazing. Sometimes, she’ll even add peppermint. The children love it the most.
One evening, one of the new assistant cooks accidentally puts too much brandy in the wassail, leaving some of the Crawley’s and their staff a bit tipsy.
George and Robbie are really good at getting Thomas to sneak them extra cookies, candy canes, and other sweets.
Cora and Robert spoil their grandchildren. They love watching the children’s faces as they talk about Father Christmas and when they open their gifts.
The adults toast the New Year over champagne.
Mary and Matthew stand outside as snow falls and reminisce about the night Matthew proposed. Mary remembers it perfectly.
The nanny helps George, Robbie, Marigold, and Sybbie leave out cookies and milk for Santa, as well as carrots for the reindeer.
George, Sybbie, and Marigold wrote letters to Father Christmas. George wrote Robbie’s letter for him.
Robbie is determined to catch Father Christmas in action. He makes sure the coast is clear and sneaks downstairs to spy. Anna finds him a few hours later, asleep on the stairs. Guessing exactly what he was up to, she chuckles to herself and gently wakes him up. She promises she won’t tell his parents what he was up to if he’ll go back to bed. Robbie reluctantly agrees. Anna keeps his secret.
Mary leads everyone in singing some carols. Edith accompanies at the piano. One of the new maids surprises everyone with her voice. She admits she used to go caroling in her home town every year before coming to work at Downton.
Of course, many games of charades are played. Mary and Matthew are always partners because Matthew is pretty much the only one who can tell what Mary is trying to act out. He still can’t help but chuckle fondly at her because she’s so bad at the game, and it’s so endearing to him. Edith and Bertie usually always win because Bertie is actually really good at it.