Cora nodded and smiled at Reverend Travis as she passed through the doors of the church, Edith's gloved hand within her own. Lifting her skirts, she carefully stepped along the uneven ground of the churchyard, Robert close behind with Mary. The late March air, usually frost-filled and snow-tinged was uncharacteristically mild and Cora took a deep breath, enjoying the way it filled her lungs gently.

Standing by the horses, Cora watched Robert hoist Mary and then Edith up into the carriage. He offered Violet his hand as she stepped into the compartment and then, when it was just the two of them remaining he wagged his eyebrows teasingly.

"It's so lovely today, Lady Grantham. Would you do me the honor of a stroll home?" Robert asked, offering his arm.

"Of course, Lord Grantham." Cora replied, the feel of his arm under her hand reassuring.

They walked in a companionable silence and Cora marveled at the beauty of the day. The winter sun was high in the sky, hazy clouds softening it's bright light. The trees, bare of their leaves, stood nobly along their path, reaching their branches upward. Plumes of smoke drifted from chimneys, perfuming the air as they continued on their walk. It seemed like ages had passed since they had stepped out together, just the two of them ambling on the grounds, talking and planning.

The past months had seen some of the clouds dissipate, some of the grief and hurt leaving them. In their place was almost an earnest tenderness as Cora and Robert tried to reassure themselves and each other that everything was beginning to be all right once more.

They crested the hill, Downton's pillars emerging from the valley, when Robert spoke. "I've been thinking of asking Jarvis to start working on the Dower House. I was looking it over yesterday afternoon. There isn't much that needs to be done. It could be ready for Mama in a few weeks."

Cora stopped her progress and peered up at Robert. "Darling, if it's too soon…"

"No," Robert said emphatically, smiling down at her. "It's time. Lord knows she's had more of it than she allowed my grandmother."

Cora snorted and they continued to walk. "Well, if you are sure."

"I am," Robert said, placing his hand over hers. "She needs to take her place as the dowager. And you need to take yours as the countess, or else the servants and the village will never see you as such."

"It's a daunting prospect," Cora conceded, shaking her head.

"You've done exceedingly well so far." Robert said. "You don't see yourself clearly. You never have."

Cora looked up at him quizzically and it was Robert's turn to stop. He took Cora's hands in his own and turned her so that she stood before him. Bringing their joined hands up, Robert rested his chin on them so that he could see her eyes clearer.

"You are so much more than you give yourself credit for. Stronger. Kinder. More intelligent." Robert kissed her knuckles in between each word. "Not to mention unbearably beautiful."

"Unbearably?" Cora asked coyly.

"Yes," Robert pouted. "Unbearable to look at you right now and have to wait until we've gone up to our room to do the things I'd like to do."

"And, pray, what would you like to do?" Cora asked, stepping closer.

Robert closed his eyes and inhaled, brushing his lips over her forehead. "All sorts of things."

"Then what are you waiting for?" Cora asked before dropping his hands and dashing toward the house.

Robert let out a surprised chuckle before he ran toward her.

Cora smiled wanly and shook her head at the tea Carson offered her, turning her attention once more to the fireplace. She curled her folded hands towards her middle, hiding the nervous picking of her cuticle. Robert had decided that this would be the afternoon they spoke to Violet about the Dower House and the prospect had Cora's stomach rolling all morning. She'd only picked at her food during luncheon, the nauseated feeling she'd woken with lingering.

Robert positioned himself by her seat and looked down at her briefly, a reassuring smile gracing his lips before he took a sip of tea. Placing the small cup on its saucer, Robert placed a hand on her shoulder before clearing his throat and stepping away. At the noise, Violet wrinkled her forehead, suspicious.

"Mama, I went to the Dower House a number of days ago." Robert blurted out loudly.

"Oh?" Violet drew out the syllable while looking from Robert to Cora and Cora had to force herself not to glance away.

"It needs some work, but Jarvis is ready for the task and I thought you might like to speak with him about decoration and-".

"And so that is it then?" Violet asked sharply, cutting Robert off.

Cora sighed, her eyes skirting down at the amber liquid of her tea. Confrontations with Violet were her least favorite activity even when she felt in fit form. As she was now, however, managing what was proving to be a very trying conversation seemed a Herculean feat. The nausea had abated somewhat, to be replaced with a tight bloating across her middle. Her breasts throbbed against the confines of her corset, the engorged flesh making her clothes feel too tight. As Robert and Violet sparred in the background Cora sighed again, thinking this was absolutely the worst time for her monthly to arrive. Lazily, her mind continued to wander until she bit her lip in concentration.

Recalling the date, Cora thought back. And back. Reflexively, her hand went to her belly.

"Would you mind sharing with us what exactly about this conversation has you grinning like that?" Violet spat, her eyes bulging forward in anger.

Cora snapped back to the discussion happening around her and let her grin fall. Robert looked at her expectantly.

"Cora?" He whispered.

"I...um...I actually am feeling rather poorly." Cora stuttered.

Violet huffed with exasperation, tossing her hands in the air and sitting even straighter, her ire palpable.

"Excuse me," Cora begged before she jolted up and hurried from the room.

Robert stared at the dividing door as Daniels clasped his cufflinks into place. He had felt slightly abandoned after Cora's unconventional retreat from the drawing room and weathering the Violet storm alone had left him in a sour state. Once their argument was done, Robert had gone out for a ride, the speed of his horse and the chilly winter day a therapeutic mixture. By the time he went up to change, he was less put out and more curious of Cora's strange behavior.

A timid knock at the door piqued Robert's curiosity further. The owner of the noise did not wait for instruction but eased the door open. Cora's shy smile greeted him first and she looked away quickly, contrition coloring her skin. Robert remained quiet for a few moments before turning to his valet.

"That will be all, Daniels. Thank you." Robert waited while the man nodded, gathered his soiled riding clothes and then closed the door behind him.

Turning to Cora, he was struck by her beauty. It was something he noticed daily, of course. It was in fact, the first thing he'd ever noticed about her, how perfectly beautiful she was. At times it was as though he forgot it, living with her day to day and then she would appear in a door or look over her glass and Robert would feel the impact right in his chest. In more romantic moments, he would kid that she stole his breath away, but it was true, the feeling was quite like the breath being knocked from his lungs. He could never be mad at her for long, not when she batted her blue eyes away from him and pouted her full lips and clasped her hands behind her back, as she was doing now.

"I see you are feeling better," Robert said, causing Cora's eyes to bounce up from the floor and onto his face. Robert sucked in a breath, all kidding aside at the tears he found there.

"What is it?" He asked, going to her and taking her hands.

Cora only shook her head and closed her eyes, releasing a tear. Robert's stomach flipped, thinking perhaps she really was ill, when she finally opened her eyes and a wide smile stretched across her face, the apples of her cheeks full and pink.

"Cora?" Robert questioned.

"I'm pregnant," Cora said, so quietly that Robert leaned in, almost asking her to repeat the words.

When she placed his hand firmly on the flat plain of her stomach, he knew he'd heard correctly. A burst of laughter left his lips and Cora began to giggle through her tears. Feeling carried on a wave of unexpected happiness, Robert wrapped his arms around Cora and picked her up, twirling her around. Just as suddenly, he remembered her condition and put her down instantly.

"Oh God, I didn't hurt you?!" Robert worried, smoothing down her dress sleeves.

"No!" Cora assured.

"Did you see the doctor?" Robert asked.

"Yes. He came this afternoon." Cora replied, still smiling.

"And?" Robert asked, holding her hand carefully and leading her slowly across the room, as though she would break. "Is everything alright? You? The baby?"

"Yes," Cora said indulgently. "It's early days yet, Robert."

"I know, I know," Robert replied, stopping in the center of his dressing room. "But I just want to make sure…".

Cora shook her head. "Let's not try to dwell on our fears. Let's only be grateful."

"I am," Robert said, all traces of mirth leaving his face. "Everyday, though I barely show it adequately."

Cora grinned and caressed Robert's cheek. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You seemed to show your gratitude quite sufficiently lately. Hence my current condition."

Cora raised an eyebrow and kissed his lips. Robert pulled her closer, deepening their touch, tasting her tongue with his. Cora sighed into his mouth and a rising tickle of desire ran down his spine.

"How did Mama take it all?" Cora asked when they separated for air and Robert groaned.

"Can we please not talk about Mama?" Robert whined, leaning down and sucking at the tender flesh of Cora's neck.

Cora hummed in appreciation of his attention. "We should be going down."

"It's only us tonight. Mama is having a tray in her room." Robert mumbled, nipping at her earlobe.

"Oh dear," Cora sighed, closing her eyes and rocking forward.

Robert threaded his hand through her hair, careful not to tug at the intricately woven strands. Every fingertip he laid upon her was maddeningly careful and slow. His touch was featherlight against the bodice of her dress, it skirted her sides, it trembled against her back until every nerve in her craved to be filled. His gentleness stoked her need hotter. Cora began urgently undressing him, raking her nails against his bare chest once she'd gotten his clothes off.

She let him lead her to his small bed, straddling his lap once he sat down. She rolled her hips against the hardness of his shaft and the contact had her panting as Robert cupped her swollen breast. Cora leaned back, rocking rhythmically, Robert peppering the underside of her chin with greedy kisses. Finally losing all ability to remain cautious, Robert tugged at her clothing, moaning as finally his flesh touched hers.

Cora tossed her head and gripped his large shoulders as he slid into her, the heat mounting, her heart skipping rapidly. She clawed at his muscles as Robert reached down, urging her toward climax and her breathing grew frantic as each thrust brought her closer and closer until he was crying out and she was gasping and she felt her insides quiver with release.

Robert kissed her hard, eagerly as he rolled to her side, his hands finding their way into her hair once again. He gave her one last kiss on her nose and then laid down, putting his head on her chest and placing his palm on her naked belly. He rubbed the spot where their child lived reverently and Cora blinked back tears, praying that this time everything would turn out differently.

AN: So I chose to end the story here. This is obviously Sybil Crawley's introduction to the world. I end it here because I have totally been sold by ohtobealady's version of Sybil's birth. You can read that in drabble form on her Tumblr account. If you haven't read the trilogy she wrote, go read it. Because she is such a phenomenal writer, I have totally embraced her version as my own head canon as well and because her description of Sybil's birth is her own original idea, I do not want to chance recreating it here. Just go read it, and you'll have what I envision as the epilogue to this story.