I love this series. I hope you continue to write one shots. You are an amazing writer and I believe you are the best fanfiction writer I have ever read. You are truly gifted. The only way I will survive season four of downton abbey is if you do an au version of it. Thank you for writing beautiful downton abbey stories.

Very sweet :)

I imagine Matthew would/will be a fabulous Papa!

I'm so sorry that I forgot to review when you posted!

This is just SO lovely, and I welled up! I really did. Matthew is such a good father! And how he's learnt from what happened with Robert, so that he knows he'll never treat Bel or Kit (or any subsequent daughters) the way that Robert treated Mary and Sybil.

I love Bel's view of things...at that age where she's starting to *really* question everything. I've said it before but I will say it again...you write her SO WELL. Just absolutely SPOT-ON.

Wonderful piece. :)

This is too adorable for words. I really enjoyed your description of the relationship between Mabel and Matthew. Looking forward more vignettes in the ATiL verse.

As a daddy's girl, this story resonated with me on multiple levels. Of course, beautifully done as all your stories are. Loved the little glance at Matthew settling into his role as Earl, all the way to Isis at his side for a daytime stroll. Loved how Mabel chanced upon him and what a beautiful image of Matthew swinging Bel down off her horse. I absolutely love Matthew as a papa and I hope we get to see that at some point in the show (series 3 is supposed to span 18 months ... plenty of time to Mary to get pregnant, give birth, and show us MM with a baby ... sorry I digress).

Very adorable seeing just how affectionate Matthew and Bel are and mostly, just how secure Bel is in knowing how much her Papa loves her. And then the segue to Robert. Happy *sigh* at how if Robert and Mary loved each other as much as Bel and Matthew, they must have loved each other very much indeed! And then my heart started to break as Bel remembered the bad times, when for reasons she didn't know or understand, everything went so terribly wrong between Mary and Robert. I imagine at this point she's 7 /- 1-2 years? Sadly, old enough to remember something went terribly wrong at the point it happened, even if she had no way of knowing or understanding what or why. Poor Matthew, why would he think Mabel would remember the bad in any way, when he and Mary try so very hard to make sure, at least now while it's somewhat in their control, to make sure she and her siblings only see the good? How can you explain it, and loved how Matthew tried, because of course, he had to, that sometimes people who love each other do fall out, but that doesn't mean the love goes away. And when it sunk in that despite loving each other, that her Mama and her Mama's Papa could have a serious falling-out was just too sad to bear, and when she started crying, I was right there with her. Loved how it wrenched at Matthew's heart to see his darling girl cry (not because he's in pain, but because it is so perfectly in line with his character). Best part of all, and very very nice nod to Matthew's thoughts when things went to hell with Robert, Mary, and Sybil, was his solemn promise to Mabel at her request that he would never ... EVER ... fall out with his child(not just Bel, but any of his children) the way Robert did with his. It just broke my heart to pieces at how much the thought of her darling Papa ever falling out with her was impossible to bear. It also made me think of the incident with General Strutt when Matthew passed a crying Mabel off to Mary because he had to deal with the General and then just how the guilt of it, such a minor thing by comparison, nearly drove him to despair. No, I can't see Matthew ever letting his anger take hold to the point he could fall out with his children, and this only just solidified it.

So wonderful to hear that there may be more such vignettes coming. You've created an absolutely wonderful world with ATiL and I'm glad we're not completely leaving it. As always, absolutely wonderful work and thank you for sharing your talents. Please forgive the rambling!

Well as a huge Mabel fan I loved it. It is also good to see Matthew as a dad and see despite having an heir he still adores his daughters soooo much and to see him learning from Robert's mistakes. And Mabel really does figure stuff out, I loved her interpreting and figuring out the dynamics of the Robert/Mary fight of years before. She's totally going to run that family. Bobby better watch out.

I have read All That Is Left and I have always loved it and I was so glad to find another little piece of this world which I have grown to love almost as much as Downton Abbey!

May I just say I absolutely love this. Matthew is such a good Dad and Mabel is just so precious and such a sweet girl. I just love your entire series. The family is just adorable. Wonderful writing well done.

Maureen

Sigh. :) I know we've all got our fingers crossed for a boy for M/M on the show, but Mabel makes me realize how fantastic a father Matthew would be to a little girl. I seriously love the idea of Mabel having this conversation with Matthew, on the steps of DA. :D You said so much, just by the setting - the former earl and the new earl, and their respective daughters. Although I adored Matthew's assertion about how he'd never do to Mabel what Robert did to Mary. You illustrated the contrasting relationships beautifully. :) Keep writing about the kids (and M/M!) as long as you'd like...I'd love to keep reading about them! :D

This was so sweet, loved it!