A/N: I'm so sorry for taking this long to post this chapter. Real life intervened and I also had to rewrite this chapter a couple of times. I think that it would be helpful if you could read the couple of previous chapters before this one. Thank you for staying with this story and bearing up with me.

Chapter 40

Sybil's eyes fluttered open and for a second she tried to place exactly where she was and what day it was. A broad smile flashed on her face when she realised it was Christmas Day. She couldn't remember how she ended up in bed, she must have fallen asleep in the middle of the celebrations but Sybil couldn't care less what she might have missed after she had fallen asleep. It was Christmas Day and Christmas Day meant presents and lots of excitement.

Sybil scrambled out of bed excitedly, getting tangled in her blanket in the process of getting out of bed as quickly as she could. Glancing around the room, she realised that she was the first to wake up and Sybil felt an overwhelming urge to relish the special moment. Climbing on to the window seat, she looked out. Her eyes widened and mouth opened in awe as she gazed at the landscape that stretched in front of her eyes. And with the unique delight of a child, she tried to take in as much as was possible of the wondrous scene.

A rather thick layer of snow covered the lawns and occasionally a patch of dry grass stood triumphantly against the crisp, white back drop having braved the snow. The eerie forms of leafless trees casted a silhouette upon the dark, winter sky which fought valiantly against the sunlight. Soft snowflakes fluttered upon the wind, dancing upon the currents as they made their way down to earth. A waltz upon the wind. The bench beneath the large Lebanese cedar trees was covered in snow at its edges and looked as if it was out of a fairy tale.

Her fingers traced patterns upon the frosted window pane and she shuddered as her fingers grew cold despite the warm fire that crackled with life and colour against the Christmassy setting of the nursery. The thought about presents lit up in her mind and Sybil got down from the window seat, barely avoiding being tripped over by stepping on her own night gown. They would all usually open their presents together as a family but Sybil couldn't resist the urge to open one. "Just one wouldn't hurt", she thought.

Her Christmas stocking looked bulkier than Mary's or Edith's and Sybil couldn't wait to see what made it so. Taking a deep breath she took the stocking carefully off her bed post and laid it upon her bed. She peered inside and took out the first, somewhat large package. Turning it around in her hands, she attempted to guess what the bright red and green patterned wrapping paper covered. She tugged the ribbon off the package and clenched her teeth in frustration when the knot tightened in her hastened attempt to open the present. After some pulling and tugging, Sybil managed to free the package from the ribbon's confines. Sybil tossed the red ribbon aside and it floated away in the air for a couple of seconds before landing a step away from her feet. She had already reached her fingers beneath the fold of the wrapping paper and was about to tear the wrapping paper off when the thought struck that the noise might wake her sisters up, or worse, Nanny.

Taking the present to the window seat, she glanced back over her shoulder to ensure that both Mary and Edith were fast asleep. Having confirmed the fact, she turned back to her present and excitedly tore the paper off without preamble. What greeted her from beneath the torn wrapping paper, caused her eyes to widen in astonishment and her face to radiate with a smile as bright and glistening as a warm summer's day. A brilliant contrast to the scene that stretched outside the window.

Mrs Hughes stood in front of the fire she had just built in her sitting room. Only Mrs Patmore was up and about at the time the Housekeeper came downstairs, the Cook having allowed the kitchen maids who were usually the earliest risers a few more hours of sleep because of Christmas. The family always had a late breakfast on Christmas Day and things were easier for the staff downstairs for a change.

She wrapped the shawl she was wearing tighter around her shoulders. She had watched with a smile and some degree of nostalgia, the layer of snow that covered the lawns of Downton. The winters back home were much colder and snowy affairs and sometimes she found herself missing the Scottish landscape at the height of winter despite the hardships that it brought with it. The scents of what made Christmas to be Christmas were still sharply prevalent in the air and Elsie took a deep breath inhaling the crisp winter air along with the signature smells of Christmas that floated along with it. She shuddered for a moment as the cold ran through the body and sighed when the warmth of the fire returned.

The housekeeper was too lost in her thoughts as she watched the bright flames of the fire duel with the firewood that she didn't hear the soft thuds of rushing, small footsteps. It was only when the door of her sitting room burst open and cries of "Mrs Hughes" in the excited voice of a certain young lady sounded that she turned around with a start.

"Mrs Hughes!" Sybil exclaimed before she rushed to the Housekeeper, the contents of her present still clutched in her right hand, and hugged the startled Housekeeper around the waist.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much," Sybil said, her voice quite muffled by the material of the Housekeeper's dress.

"Milady?" Mrs Hughes asked, taken completely by surprise the events of the last few seconds.

Sybil leaned back to look at Mrs Hughes' face and smiled broadly, "I never thought you would make the dress for my doll Clarisse. And two dresses! I can't believe it! Thank you so much!"

Mrs Hughes raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Well, you know I never go back on a promise."

"But still! I never ever thought you really would make both dresses both in my favourite colours," Sybil said finally releasing the Housekeeper from her embrace.

Mrs Hughes didn't reply to that but smiled at Sybil and ruffled her hair before asking, "So… do you like them?"

"Like them? Mrs Hughes, I love them, I love them!" Sybil answered clasping the two dresses tightly to her chest.

"Good," Mrs Hughes said with a smile. It was after a few seconds that Mrs Hughes realised that Sybil was dressed just in her night gown. "Milady, did you come downstairs all by yourself?"

"Yes," Sybil replied sheepishly knowing where the conversation was headed.

"What have I told you about wandering off alone?" Mrs Hughes asked sternly. "And in this cold? You must be freezing." Mrs Hughes said as she bent down a little and ran her hands up and down Sybil's arms and then taking Sybil's little hands in her own, one by one, to warm them.

"Well, I was so happy when I saw the dresses and I couldn't wait to see you," Sybil reasoned but Mrs Hughes gently lifted Sybil carried her towards, and placed her on the settee, and proceeded to wrap her own woollen shawl around the young girl.

Sybil instinctively took her bare feet off the floor and tucked them beneath her but continued to protest, "I'm not cold Mrs Hughes." However much Sybil tried to deny it she felt the cold make its way into her body.

"Your chattering teeth and almost blue fingers says otherwise," Mrs Hughes countered raising an eyebrow and Sybil smiled sheepishly signalling her acceptance of defeat. "Nanny would be furious."

"You're not going to tell her, are you?" Sybil asked Mrs Hughes, her brow wrinkled in worry and her lips pouted.

Mrs Hughes crossed her hands in front of her and remained quiet, determined to not give in easily.

"You aren't, are you Mrs Hughes? Please?" Sybil pleaded and reached her hand from beneath the woollen shawl that covered her to touch Mrs Hughes' dress. Her tiny fingers grazing the material of the Housekeeper's dress.

Mrs Hughes sighed. There was no denying that the sweet, little girl had stolen a permanent place deep in her heart and was burrowing in it day by day. However much she wanted to be strict or stern with the mischievous young girl, she found it immensely difficult. Young Lady Sybil managed to bring out a side of her that was dormant for so long and something about the vibrant, enthusiastic and cheerful young girl stirred her heart. Her pure exuberance, Mrs Hughes found to be fascinating. A part of the little girl, a tiny part of her reminded Mrs Hughes of the girl she was several decades ago, long before she became the stoic "Mrs Hughes." Even before she was the serious eyed, severely duty conscious and efficient "Elsie the Head Housemaid."

"All right," Mrs Hughes shook her head and gave in. "But only because it is Christmas Day today, mind you and also only if you behave well and not get up to anything you're not supposed to do," she added noting the cheeky grin that was forming on Lady Sybil's face.

"I knew you wouldn't tell Nanny," Sybil grinned like the cat that got the cream.

"Oh, don't be so sure about the next time," Mrs Hughes warned crossing her hands in front of her raising an eyebrow at the young girl who then burst into a fit of giggles.

"What pray tell is so funny?" Mrs Hughes asked, uncrossing her arms, one hand coming to rest on her hip.

"Nothing… nothing," Sybil replied between her giggles. Her whole body tilting to a side as she struggled to regain a straight face and stop giggling.

"Doesn't sound like nothing!" Mrs Hughes persisted.

"No… it's just," Sybil sat up straight and took a deep breath of air and managed to pause her giggles for a moment. "You looked a bit funny doing that."

"It's meant to be frightening," Mrs Hughes deadpanned.

"Well… it looked a bit funny, if I'm honest," Sybil replied and burst into giggles again.

Mrs Hughes sighed, "So it seems I'll have to talk to Nanny after all."

The mention of Nanny got Sybil's attention and her giggles stopped immediately, "What? Why? You promised!"

"I promised, yes, but only on the condition that you behaved and giggling when I was trying to be serious is not behaving."

"But you did look funny then," Sybil argued and barely managed to suppress a giggle, as she reminisced the look on Mrs Hughes' face and her pose from before, and ended her sentence with a mischievous smile.

Mrs Hughes sighed and smiled. It has been long since that adorable smile had captured her heart well and truly.

"Well, I know it's quite useless asking but… will you promise you'll behave for Nanny, Milady and for the new governess who'll come after the New Year?"

Sybil knitted her eyebrows for a seconds and contemplated the Housekeeper's request, "I'm not so sure I will for them but… I will for you Mrs Hughes."

Mrs Hughes found herself almost at a loss for words having been touched by Sybil's words, but was still determined to get Lady Sybil to agree. She reached her hand forward and ruffled the young girl's dark head of hair, "Well, will you be at your best behaviour with them for me?"

Sybil tilted her head to a side and looked at a spot away from Mrs Hughes as she considered the unexpected request. Looking up at the Housekeeper she answered, "I think I'll try."

"Good," Mrs Hughes nodded, stroking Sybil's head.

"Mrs Hughes…" Sybil began and paused. She patted the place next to her on the settee and nodded towards it.

With a curious expression on her face, Mrs Hughes sat down next to Lady Sybil.

Sybil instantly threw her arms around the Housekeeper's neck and hugged her tight. Her little head resting on Mrs Hughes' shoulder, the woollen shawl slipping from her shoulders. Mrs Hughes rested her hands on the young girl's back through the shawl, still quite confused by Lady Sybil's sudden actions.

Lady Sybil hugged the Housekeeper even tighter and leant back to place a kiss on her cheek as she whispered in Mrs Hughes' ear, "And this is my Christmas present to you Mrs Hughes! Merry Christmas."

Tears pooled in the deep blue depths of the Housekeeper's eyes as she leant back by a fraction and placed a kiss on Lady Sybil's head before saying, "Merry Christmas to you too M'lady!"

To be continued…

Thank you so much for all your lovely reviews on the previous chapters! I'm so glad you liked them. I'm sorry I took quite long to publish this chapter, I'll try to post the next one as soon as I am able to. Thank you for staying with this story. I would be grateful if you could let me know in the reviews your thoughts about this chapter and the story. Hope you enjoyed! See you soon with another chapter! Thanks again!