Impossibly Possible

Fandom: Downton Abbey

Pairing: Sybil/Branson

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or characters.

Summary: Starting sometime before the war starts, leading from there as Sybil and Branson become closer.

A/N- Reviews are appreciated, loved and encouraged.

Sybil Crawley sits in the grand bedroom with her two sisters, as is their custom when preparing for dinner, but her attention isn't with Mary and Edith and whatever fight they're having this time, undoubtedly about something trivial. Rather her attentions is captured by the pamphlets in her lap, ones she wouldn't have had if it hadn't been for their new chauffeur. Branson had noticed her interest in the votes for women campaign, he'd gone out of his way to get hold of these for her, thinking she'd enjoy reading about it. He'd been right, the information had heightened her interest, not only in suffrage, but in him also. It wasn't often she found someone who was willing to listen to her political views, in fact everyone she knew discouraged her from concerning herself with the suffragette movement, Branson encouraged her, spoke with her, agreed with her and wasn't afraid to share his own ideas with her.

In their short journey to and from Rippon that day, they'd covered many subjects, batting back and forward as if they'd known each other for years.

'Sybil, don't you agree that Mary should be kinder to cousin Matthew?' Edith turns to her younger sister, waiting expectantly, Mary also turns away from the mirror to look at her sister, who is sat in the bed staring at nothing in particular, not paying a single bit of notice.

'Sybil dear, are you quite well you look flushed.' Mary stands up, 'Shall I ring for Anna?'

Finally Sybil snaps out of her daydream, turning to face her sisters who are both now looking at her in concern.

'I'm quite well, a little overheated perhaps. I'll go out and get a breath of air before we go down for dinner, tell Mama I'll be along shortly.' Sybil slips the pamphlets out of sight, offering them both a smile before heading to the door.

'Wait a moment,' Edith stops her, 'You do agree with me don't you, about Mary being unkind to cousin Matthew.'

'I think he's nice enough, you shouldn't be too hard of him Mary, he can't help that he'll inherit rather than you, in fact I think he feels rather bad about it.' Sybil smiles, hurrying out of the room before Mary could pull her into a debate about Matthew.

She makes a direct line for the garage once she's outside, not entirely sure why she's doing it, but before she can figure out if she should be out here or not, Branson has spotted her hurrying over, her deep blue velvet dress flowing in the light breeze, it's cold out and she hasn't got a coat, so she quickens her pace.

'Is everything alright milady?' Branson wipes the oil from his hands, Sybil stops short, she'd never seen him in anything but his full uniform, but now he stood in front of her, his coat nowhere in sight, his shirtsleeves rolled up to show his forearms, and his cap gone.

'Perfectly.' She lowers her gaze to the ground, stepping into the garage, 'I hope I'm not disturbing you, only I had a favour to ask.'

'You're not disturbing me.' He waits for her to continue, but she seems a little unsure of herself, twisting her hands together and pacing a little.

'You see, I need the motor tomorrow.' She faces him, meeting his gaze.

'That isn't anything to be so worked up about milady, it is my job.' He smiles at her, with a hint of a smirk and she realises how silly she must sound.

'Of course, it's just that,' She pauses not knowing quite how to word it, 'I'd need more than just the motor, that is I'd need you to accompany me, since I don't really know how these things work, and you strike me as someone who would know.'

'Ah, I presume you're planning on going to the rally in Rippon.' He nods his understanding, 'I can't imagine his lord ship would be approving.'

Sybil smiles ruefully.

'No I'm afraid he'd be entirely against the idea, rallies for suffrage aren't the kind of place he'd deem appropriate, never the less I do want to go, and that's the other thing, he wouldn't know where I was going, I told him I had a meeting of one of my charities, but if it makes you uncomfortable, going behind his back I mean, then feel free to refuse, after all I am asking a lot.' Sybil blushes, she knows that really she shouldn't be asking him to take her, it would be entirely different if she'd just ordered the motor to take her to Rippon, and then she'd gone her own way, not involved him, but she'd never been to a rally before, and he had.

'I'd be glad to take you, in truth I'd wanted to go myself but since I was working, Carson never would have allowed it.' He laughs.

'Excellent, then it'll work nicely for the both of us.' Sybil smiles brightly, 'I should be heading back inside, Mama will be wondering what's happened to me.'

'Goodnight then milady.'

'Goodnight Branson, and thank you.' Sybil turns and hurries back towards the house.

A/N- Just a short first chapter, let me know what you think. If you guys like it, I will try and make the next chapter longer.