A/N: I think I might have surprised many of you that Tom didn't die. When I first began writing this story, which to my surprise was almost one year ago, I already had the last chapter and this epilogue outlined which is something I don't usually do. Thank you to all who have taken the time to review – they really do mean a lot - and if you've never left a review a final one would be appreciated.

Now to find out what has happened to everyone.

Eight Years Later June 1980

Ciara let out a big sigh of relief as she pulled the paper out of the typewriter. Glancing at the clock that hung on the dining room wall she was surprised to see it was almost eleven. It hadn't taken her as long as she thought it would to type all her hand-written pages. She added the newly typed pages to the stack in the desk drawer. Since she had a detailed outline of the remaining part of the story it would only take her a week or two to write it so she would easily meet her publisher's deadline.

Writing a mystery for young girls had been a change of pace for Ciara who thought she wanted to write something more lighthearted after the past two years coupled with the seriousness of her first two novels. But she was keeping somewhat in the tradition of those novels since the book was about an adventurous twelve year old who preferred to be called Maggie rather than Lady Margaret living on an estate in 1910 England. After all, where better to set a murder or a mystery involving missing jewels or valuable books than a centuries old home full of secret passages and hidden attics surrounded by gardens and woods and a house full of family and servants as well as the frequent guests as suspects. To Ciara's delight, her publisher was already talking about doing a series of these stories.

She straightened up the top of the old roll top desk, putting away her pens and paper. She put the typewriter back in its hard case and set the case on the floor by the desk. She needed the space on the desk to spread out her papers and notepads when she was writing. She liked to have her materials and supplies close at hand while she worked, it was a habit she had learned from her Grand Da.

The large oak roll top desk had belonged to him and Ciara had many memories of watching her Grand Da sitting at this desk working on his newspaper or magazine articles. She owed so much to her grandfather for unlike her parents he was the one that had encouraged her to take the unknown path.

She found him in his usual place sitting in his back garden where he now spent most of his days reading, writing and occasionally napping although he would never admit to the latter. He had built a small roof over the patio so that he could sit out here even on rainy days so it was only during the cold months of winter that found him indoors.

"Grand Da are you busy or do you have time to talk about something?" she asked as she approached him bringing with her two mugs of steaming tea to ward off the late afternoon chill.

He looked up at her and smiled. "I always have time to talk to you love."

She sat down on the edge of the lawn chair next to him. Taking a sip from her own mug of tea, she seemed to stall for time.

"I need to decide whether to renew my teaching contract."

Tom nodded his head before speaking. "But you're ready for a new adventure."

She looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise.

"You've been teaching for two years now and have found it not to be so exciting."

Ciara chuckled. "Oh Grand Da you do know me so well."

"So what do you have in mind?" he asked.

She sighed deeply. "Well …" she began "I haven't really thought what I want to do for the rest of my life or even a new career but I thought I might do some traveling. Maybe visit Aine in her new post in Zambia." After graduation from university Aine had joined the State Department where her first assignment was to the US Embassy in Albania and now after a year there she had been assigned three months ago to the embassy in Zambia.

"I've saved quite a bit of money since you won't charge me rent for living here" Ciara continued. She still felt she should pay something in rent but Tom wouldn't hear of it. "I enjoy having someone else in the house" he'd say whenever she brought up the subject. "Besides I own the house free and clear so what do I need your money for?"

"I think it's a wonderful idea" Tom remarked. "It's better to seize an opportunity than spend years regretting not doing so."

"But …" Ciara began. She hesitated because she didn't want to offend her grandfather but she feared leaving him alone. Next month he'd turn 83 and she could see him slowing down each day. Two of her university friends had continued living here after graduation but one had recently married and the other had moved to Cork after taking a job there so it was now just her and him.

He sensed what she feared and was greatly touched by it. "With just the two of us now in this big house, I've been thinking of asking Aibrean and her family if they want to move here. It's been tough for them lately with Sean losing his job and I think it would be nice to have young children around."

Ciara perked up. "Really Grand Da? I think that would be marvelous."

"But I have one condition" Tom stated.

"What would that be?" Ciara asked.

"You realize you have a place here at this house whenever you decide to come back. The house is big enough for all of us."

As she did most evenings when she finished working, Ciara looked at the calendar on her desk to note any upcoming appointments. Looking at the calendar, Ciara couldn't believe she had been out of university for eight years now and even worse that she'd turn 30 this year an age that at one time had seemed old but not so much anymore. In fact she was looking forward to the new decade of her life especially since she would soon embark on a new adventure – marriage.

Although many of her friends had already married, and some even had children, Ciara hadn't been in any hurry to do so. She knew in her heart she wanted a marriage like her grandparents had and was willing to wait for the right man and if he never came along so be it. In the meantime she had been happy for those closest to her that had found that someone special.

Ciara picked up the framed photograph of her and Aine. It was a candid shot taking of them laughing, Aine dressed in her wedding dress holding her bouquet whose blue flowers matched the color of Ciara's Maid of Honor dress, both looking so happy. Your smiles could light up the world Grand Da had said when he had seen the photograph.

Aine had married in the early spring of 1977. She had met Andreas shortly after being transferred from Zambia to Finland. It was a very international romance since Aine met him at a party at the British Embassy in Helsinki where she was stationed at the US Embassy and Andreas was at the German Embassy. Some might have said it was a strange place for their wedding after all neither the bride nor groom was from Dublin but being the diplomats they both were they had compromised and settled on a place between her family in Virginia and his in Germany although one could point out that the bride had family in Dublin. Grand Da laughed when told of the impending wedding that Aine was keeping alive the tradition started by her grandmother and then copied by her mother of marrying a man from another country.

Ciara, as the Maid of Honor, was waiting with Aine and her father in the anteroom just inside the entrance to the small Catholic church. They were surprised when there was a knock on the door which had been closed to prevent anyone sneaking glimpses of the bride. Ciara opened the door just enough to see it was their grandfather with Aine's mother standing just behind him.

"I should have given you this before but I'm sorry to say I forgot" Tom said as he handed Aine a small oblong box. Although he was beginning to look rather frail, his voice was still the strong and clear Irish lilt that Aine loved.

Aine smiled at her grandfather as she took the box from him. There was no wrapping covering the box and she didn't recognize the name of the jeweler but noted it stated "fine jewelers of London."

"Oh Grand Da!" Aine exclaimed as she opened the box revealing a delicate gold chain with a pendant of thin strands of gold surrounding an oblong amethyst stone. "It's beautiful" she said as she took the necklace out of the box.

"It belonged to your grandmother" Tom replied. "I thought it could be the 'something old'."

"Oh Grand Da!" Aine exclaimed as she kissed his cheek.

Faint tears showed in Roisin's eyes as she watched Ciara help Aine put on the necklace. "Oh Dad that's so lovely of you" she said as she too kissed his cheek.

Looking at his granddaughter, a broad smile on his face Tom commented "You're a beautiful bride Aine. Andreas is a very lucky man to get such a fine young woman as you."

"Grand Da I'm really going to cry if you don't stop."

"Well we can't have a bride go up the aisle with tears in her eyes. The audience will think it's not a wedding of joy." Tom leaned in and whispered in Aine's ear "May the most you wish for be the least you get" before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

The last of the wedding guests had taken their seats. Now that Grand Da and Aunt Roisin had been escorted to their seats in the front pew it was time the service to begin.

"How do I look?" Aine asked.

"Beautiful" a beaming Ciara replied "and happy."

Next to that photograph was one of Ciara, her brother Sam, Aine and Artie that had been taken when they went to Downton for Artie's wedding just a couple of months after Aine's wedding.

Artie had met Lizzie eight years before at university and they had been casual friends ever since seeing each other at mutual friends' weddings or parties and even a couple of university reunions but love did not bloom until one evening the two met by chance in London. There had been a quick down pour of rain and both had separately darted into the same tea room to wait out the storm. It was a quick seven months later that Artie proposed. Ciara, along with her mother, Aunt Aibrean, Uncle Eamon and his wife, Sam and Aine attended the lovely wedding which was held in one of the gardens of Downton. To everyone's regret Tom just didn't feel up to traveling to Downton for the wedding.

Ciara only had a few framed photographs on her desk all which were of her those close to her. She had one of her grandparents from a long ago Christmas but her favorite one was of her grandparents sitting in the garden with a young Ciara playing on the ground in front of them.

Ciara's love of photography and travel was showcased on one wall of her living room which had an array of mostly eight by ten or larger photographs. Several were of her visit to Aine in Zambia where she ended up staying almost six months. During the week days she volunteered at a local school and on weekends she and Aine explored Zambia as evidenced by the photographs of a herd of zebras galloping off in the tall grass, an elephant bathing in a lake, and the thundering Victoria Falls.

Hearing the wall clock chime eleven, Ciara thought she better get to bed since she had a very early day tomorrow. When the small alarm clock went off at four am, Ciara's first inclination after shutting it off was to burrow herself back under the covers but after a minute or two of lingering she threw back the snow white duvet and rose from the bed. She had checked the time for sunrise in the evening paper before going to bed so she knew she didn't have time to linger if she wanted to be there before sunrise. Not that there was any reason she had to be there at sunrise; it was just that sunrise was the time of day she felt closest to him.

She had always been an early riser, usually up far earlier than she needed to be. But Ciara found she didn't like to rush around in the mornings like her brother Sam whose haste in getting ready for school would usually cause him to leave something important behind, often it would be a book or his lunch but there had been the occasions when it was a paper that was due.

It was also the only time of the day that she could be alone and not be pestered by her brothers. Although she loved them, some days she wished one of the five had been a girl just so she wouldn't always be so out numbered.

She had found her escape was to visit her grandparents. Luckily they only lived a ten minute walk away so she could walk or ride her bike there. On weekends and in the summers she practically lived there. And it was in those summers that she and her grandfather would take early morning walks, often leaving before the sun rose to find a lovely spot to watch the sunrise. She was amazed at how different the sun rises were, sometimes the dark sky would just gradually lighten until it was suddenly daylight without any dramatic colors, other times there would be streaks of red and yellows and oranges heralding the rising sun, sometimes the sun was a giant fireball and other times it was hidden behind clouds.

She and her grandfather would spend that time talking, sometimes seriously sometimes being silly. She loved that she could bring up any subject and he would be willing to talk about it and she thought she had learned so much from him.

There was a bakery that they would often stop at and buy some sweet treats or scones to take back for breakfast. Sometimes if Grand Ma was still in bed when they got back to the house they'd fix a tray with tea and scones with jam or doughnuts or whatever they had bought and surprise her with breakfast in bed. Grand Da would often joke with Grand Ma that it was just like at Downton with "milady being served breakfast in bed."

It had been quite a while since Ciara had been out this early in the morning probably not since those walks with her grandfather. As she walked along the still darken streets, she marveled at the stillness with only an occasional passing lorry or car breaking the silence. It wasn't often that one could walk the streets of Dublin and not be rattled by laughter or singing floating through the front door of a pub as one passed but at this hour even the pubs were closed and those patrons were home sleeping off their good night. The early morning stillness reminded her of Downton where one didn't hear passing vehicles or chattering pedestrians.

When she had visited Downton with Grand Da and Aine she had been fascinated by his and Aunt Mary's stories of their past. Throughout the next two years of university and then the two years she was teaching English in secondary school, she had thought about those stories which had planted in her mind the seeds of a possible novel. It wasn't until the year she had spent traveling that she realized what she really wanted to do was be an author and more specifically she wanted to write a novel that was set on an English estate in the early part of the century.

When she returned to Ireland she shared her idea with her grandfather who was a bit hesitant of having his and Sybil's life turned into a novel but the more the two talked about it the more excited he became especially when Ciara said the story would only be loosely based on their lives. Thinking that she wanted to do more research on that era, Ciara went to Downton for three months.

Mary was enthusiastic about Ciara's project and spent hours talking about the customs, values, and behaviors of late 19th century and early 20th century aristocratic England. She spent hours with Ciara chatting about that time, her childhood, her parents and grandparents, the servants and the way of life that no longer existed. Ciara thought much of Mary's enthusiasm was a way of coping with the death of Howard five months earlier and her ensuing loneliness.

As they had done for most of the past two weeks, Ciara and Mary were sitting in the attics of Downton Abbey which with a house the size of Downton actually consisted of several huge rooms and a couple of much smaller ones. Much of the furniture, of which there was enough to furnish several normal sized homes, was draped in sheeting like covers but even so the cleaning crew must occasionally worked here for there was not as much dirt and dust as Ciara would have thought.

However it wasn't the furniture that had captured Ciara's attention but rather the trunks, of which there were many scattered through-out the attics, that she considered to be the real treasure troves for as great as Mary's stories and recollections were it was those items stored in the trunks that brought to life Mary's stores. Ciara couldn't believe how much of the past had been stored in those trunks, of various sizes and shapes, and sent here mostly certainly to be forgotten. Many trunks contained clothes that had been carefully wrapped and preserved. There were toys for children of all ages including silver rattles and wooden blocks, games in boxes, spinning tops, and even a riding horse. There were boxes of correspondence mostly letters and invitations but also some telegrams and notecards sent to various family members but most often Cora or Violet. One trunk contained nothing but volumes of Edith's magazine The Sketch.

They were looking through another box of programs and playbills from London concerts and theaters, and menu cards from long ago elaborate dinners, when Mary stood up and stated "Meet me in the drawing room at half seven" before abruptly leaving the attic.

After spending the rest of the day in the attic alone, Ciara had bathed and changed into navy blue trousers and a blue flowered blouse, no way would she sit in the drawing room in her dusty jeans, and promptly opened the drawing room door at half seven to find Mary sitting on the settee dressed in a wine colored long evening dress with lacy short cap sleeves that mirrored the lacy bodice. Her ensemble was completed with a garnet pendant necklace and matching earrings. With her posture as straight as ever, she sat so that her back did not actually touch the back of the settee, and her hands, which were covered with long white gloves that ended above her elbow, lay clasped on her lap.

Mary chuckled seeing the puzzled look on Ciara's face. "Don't worry my dear it isn't a fancy dinner I forgot to tell you about."

"From the time I was old enough to dine with the family until the early thirties this is how we dressed for dinner" Mary stated. "Even when it was just the family. Carson would ring the gong at seven so that the family would know we had an hour to change for dinner."

Mary stood and looked around the drawing room. "It wasn't until the mid-twenties I guess that we'd have cocktails or drinks in here before dinner. Before that we'd just meet here and wait for Carson to announce that dinner was served."

As if on cue, Michael opened the drawing room door and stated "dinner is served milady."

Mary wrapped her arm around Ciara's and said "shall we go in" as she led the two of them to the dining room.

Ciara noticed that the dining table wasn't open to it full length where it could serve twenty or more guests but rather the more manageable length used when just the family was dining. Only two places, across from each other at the middle of the table, were set with an array of dishes, silverware and wine glasses. There was also a menu card like those she had seen in the attic at each place.

Taking their seats across from one another, Ciara at Cora's seat and Mary at Robert's, Mary began explaining the dining room etiquette, everything from where everyone sat to the role of Carson and the footmen while as she talked Michael and Lucinda served them one course after another as had been done in the long ago era.

As she made her way closer to her destination, lights began appearing in windows of the houses and flats that she passed. She was no longer alone on the streets for there were dog walkers and a surprisingly number of people that had taken up the relatively new craze of jogging. It wasn't a long walk, only twenty minutes or so, and Ciara spent much of that time thinking about how much her life had changed in the last few years.

Returning from Downton she had begun working on the novel in earnest. Her Grand Da had been invaluable help as he reviewed and critiqued each chapter. Even more importantly he had used his contacts to set up a meeting with a publisher. When it was finally published it was modestly successful reaching the top ten best seller lists in both Ireland England. It even did well in America much to Ciara's surprise. Most wonderful of all was that the money Ciara earned allowed her to pursue writing as a full time job.

The library and grand hall had emptied of much of those that had attended the service. Mostly those that remained were family members that were gathered in small groups chatting as they sipped their tea or coffee. A few were still eating from the remaining platters that had been laden with finger sandwiches and small savory tarts or the cheese trays with their variety of cheeses and crackers and breads. There were still platters of freshly baked cakes and biscuits as well as trays of grapes and sliced fruit on another table. The waiters and waitresses were no longer refilling the platters or trays but rather were busy with removing the empty plates and cups that the mourners had left scattered around the room.

Setting her empty plate on one of the folding tray stands, Ciara looked around the great hall which never failed to awe her. Her mother and Uncle Eamon were talking to Arthur. Judging by their smiles and laughter Ciara thought they were probably discussing some childhood adventures. Aine was in deep conversation with Caroline who had blossomed into a beautiful young woman with a very close resemblance to her grandmother.

Entering the library, Ciara spied Artie standing in front of one of the large windows looking out at the front lawn, his wife Lizzie standing beside him with her hand gently rubbing his back.

"Your speech was wonderful Artie. It obviously came from the heart" Ciara spoke to her cousin. "I wish I had known … she wrote me a lovely letter about a month ago but never mentioned that … she mostly wrote about my Grand Da and Grand Ma … maybe I should have guessed."

Artie slowly nodded his head. "When she was told the cancer had spread she refused any further treatment. Said she had lived a wonderful 85 years, that she was the last of them, that there was no one left from her younger years and that she was ready to go."

He looked at Ciara, his eyes blearing with unshed tears. "I know many thought of her as cold but I never thought of her that way" he replied. "She was just my Grandmama."

Ciara reached out and touched Artie's arm. "I know Grand Da was very fond of her. He said that it just took some time to get to know the real Mary."

She continued "I think I know what he meant because I have such fond memories of those months I spent here researching my book. My book wouldn't have been as good without the help she gave me."

"She was very proud of you and that book" Artie responded.

The sky was just beginning to lighten as Ciara entered the cemetery although she knew by heart the way to their graves and didn't need any light to show her the way. Reaching their graves, Ciara stood there and watched the sky turn from inky black to gray with streaks of bright red before suddenly the streaks parted and a fireball of bright yellow appeared. It was one of the most spectacular sunrises she had ever seen. A smile spread across her Ciara's face as she thought it was oh so fitting for such a sunrise on this day the 61st wedding anniversary of her grandparents.

She placed her bouquet in the permanent vase that had been placed between the two headstones. Although she came here several times a year such as their birthdays, she always thought this was the most special day because it was the day they began their life together.

Now they had been together again for almost three years. Ciara could remember it so well. For Dublin, it was a warm summer day with the all too rare sun shining brightly. Tom was in his back garden the place where he now spent more and more of his time. From there he could watchAibrean's children play in the yard which so reminded him of when he had watched his own children play.

But this afternoon it was just him and Ciara. Although she now had her own flat, Ciara usually came to visit him every afternoon. She was writing another book now on women in Ireland in the first part of the 1900's and found talking to her grandfather a great source of information. She would let him read what she had written since she valued his judgement.

Today Tom had been rather quiet. He smiled at her and kissed her cheek when she had brought him a cold bottle of cider. He seemed to be somewhat sleepy today and so while he sat quietly in his chair, Ciara sat writing.

Suddenly aware of his murmuring, Ciara sat up. "What Grand Da?"

Tom didn't answer her but continued murmuring. She was finally able to understand him saying "Sybil" and "love" but not much else although his eyes were open staring straight ahead of him and his lips continued moving.

Ciara reached out and took his hand in hers. "Are you okay Grand Da? Do you need something?"

But he didn't answer her. A few minutes later he slowly nodded his head and closed his eyes for the last time.

He couldn't believe she was standing in front of him. He blinked his eyes. How could this be?

He looked around him and realized he was no longer sitting in his back garden. He was … he was in a garage. Looking down he saw he was wearing that oh so familiar dark green livery only his jacket was folded and sitting on the bonnet of the Renault.

Sybil was standing at the open garage doors. He took a deep breath at the sight of her standing there looking so beautiful. She was wearing that black evening dress with the gold trim, the one that had become his favorite. Her long dark hair was up in that intricate style and the gleam in her eyes matched the sparkle of the jewels at her neck. Had she come to tell him she was ready … ready to go with him to Ireland?

"Tom" she spoke so quietly he had to strain his ears to hear her.

"Have you come for me?" he asked

"It's not my decision to make love" she spoke. "If it had been up to me I would never have left you."

He frowned, her words not making much sense to him.

"I don't want you to go away."

Sybil reached out her hand to him "Then you'll have to come with me. We can be together again"

He nodded his head. "We've always been together love. You've never left my heart."