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sunlightmurdock · 2 years

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My Future in You | 0.8 | Bradley Bradshaw x Reader

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Synopsis: Bradley’s twenty-two years old and not where he’s supposed to be. He’s supposed to be out of the academy by now. Instead, he’s retaking his senior year of college and praying to god that he gets into flight school. Mav’s gone, his mom’s gone. He’s mad at the world. Then, a hook up at a Halloween party changes his future even more than he could have imagined.

Warnings: accidental pregnancy, enemies to lovers - they aren’t quite lovers yet, poor Jake bc his suffering deserves a warning

…

Bradley sighs softly as he leans back against the hood of the car. He folds his arms over his chest and glances towards the front door. He’s been waiting for twenty minutes for you and Jake to collect your things.

He looks around the place that you grew up. It doesn’t have much personality. It’s a nice place. But it looks like a place that a politician lives, which is what Bradley dislikes about it.

He grew up in a small house. It was a bungalow, two bedrooms - enough space for him and his mother, it had a nice backyard with space for him to play. A treehouse that he was too big to fit in by the time he was eight because his dad and Mav had screwed up the measurements.

He’d much rather raise his kid in a half-crappy bungalow thirty minutes from the beach than this place. He thinks of Pensacola and imagines that there are probably a lot of half-crappy bungalows matching that description there.

His lip quirks softly as he reminds himself to check the measurements before ever building his kid a treehouse.

Jake’s the first one out, struggling with both his bag and Bradley’s.

“How’d it go?” Bradley moves to take the first bag. Jake sighs in relief as he drops the weight into Bradley’s hand. He shakes his head slightly.

“As well as expected.” Jake scoffs. You spent a couple of minutes crying in your room rather than packing, but Jake managed to get that to stop.

The front door is still wide open behind Jake, since both of his hands were too full to swing it shut. Bradley’s eyes are on you as you struggle with your own suitcase.

He moves to stand upright and help you with it, but hesitates about stepping inside. Guns, plural, after all. You grunt as you tug the case towards the door. He shakes his head and heads towards you anyway.

Your parents might be out – specifically avoiding you – but Bradley knows that if they find him in their house, things will be even worse than they already are.

Your lips quirk up into a soft smile as he takes your suitcase wordlessly and drags it to the trunk of Beth’s car. She’s the only member of your family still talking to you currently, so will be the one driving you to the airport. Bradley sets the case in beside Jake’s. He lifts his gaze and finds you standing with your back to him, staring at the house.

George and Ellen are out today already. It’s purposeful. You know it’s because they can’t stand to look at your face. You think of the little girl that grew up in this house and how horrified she would be at how you’ve turned out. You swallow, turning and sliding into the backseat. Jake takes shotgun. Bradley sits on the other side of the backseat.

Beth glances back at you in the rear view mirror, she catches the look on your face and turns her attention towards Jake. She knows that you’ll be taken care of either way.

“Don’t worry about Dad, he’ll come around.” Beth decides.

Jake almost scoffs in the passenger seat. He’s never known his father to change his mind on anything, let alone something this big. Bradley isn’t too convinced either. Besides, Bradley’s not sure he wants that guy around his child either way.

You rest your temple against your fist. It’s clear that you don’t believe her. “How can you be so sure?”

Beth laughs, turning the car off of the driveway. It’s like the answer is so obvious to her. “Because you’re his favourite.”

You aren’t so sure. The girl that left for college might have been his favourite, but he isn’t a fan of the person that returned. You think about it for the entire thirty minute drive to the airport. About if he’ll ever forgive you. If you’ll ever be allowed in that house again. If your child will grow up with no grandparents at all.

An hour starts to seem like a long way away once the wheels hit the tarmac in Virginia. The turbulence made you a little nauseous and Bradley can’t get the memory of how weak you were when you were throwing up out of his head. Sure, you have roommates, but Bradley’s not too confident in their ability to keep an eye on you.

Jake’s the first to say it, but Bradley’s been thinking it for hours.

“Maybe you should come stay at hour place for a bit.”

You’re against the idea at first. You like your space. You like your apartment, your room. You like being surrounded by girls. You like living in a place that doesn’t smell like a gym bag.

But, morning sickness does still have a grip on you and Bradley’s worried about any other symptoms that may arise. Jake’s worried that it’s going to hit you soon that your parents really do want nothing to do with you.

He knows that that’s going to be a hard hit to take. He doesn’t mention that he’s in the same boat. Guilty by association. He knows that knowing that would make you feel even worse.

It takes some convincing, but, with both of them badgering you the entire way through baggage claim — you give in. They’re annoying enough as a team to have you convinced.

“Alright, alright - just shut up.” You give in, glaring at the both of them. They glance at each other triumphantly. Bradley grins and drapes his arm around your shoulder, squeezing you in against his side. You bite your cheek to keep from smiling.

Jake looks between the two of you. It’s better to keep his mouth shut. He’s not thrilled about the affection between the two of you. But he knows it’s not his place to interrupt.

You sleeping with your head on his shoulder the entire flight, hugging onto his arm as you leave the airport, him tugging playfully at your hair as you’re arriving at the house.

Jake knows that Bradley hasn’t been in a relationship since high school. Jake knows that that’s purely because Bradley hasn’t wanted to be. Bradley’s got a good balancing act with girls.

Being charming and affectionate enough to draw them in, being aloof and cruel enough that they think the distance is good for them, smart enough to know how to bring them back when he wants.

Jake stands torn, watching the way your lips quirk up into a smile as Bradley carries your bag upstairs.

On one hand, you’re having his baby - whether Jake likes that or not - and Jake doesn’t want to come between the two of you being a family. On the other, Jake knows Bradley well enough to know that this is just the first part of the juggling act. He opts to keep his mouth shut.

Jake moves into Bradley’s room and you take Jake’s room. Jake’s room smells less like a gym bag than the rest of the house. Your mother trained him into being hygienic early on in life. It’s just for a couple of days.

Jake and Bradley agree to take turns driving you over to your campus for classes. It’s not the easiest adjustment.

You learn to lock the bathroom door and knock before entering any room that isn’t on the ground floor. Bradley struggles with the adjustment too. By day three, he has blue balls and he can’t stand one more night of Jake talking in his sleep.

“Can you stop fucking tossing and turning?” Bradley snaps, pulling his covers up higher as he faces the wall.

After a couple of hours of passive aggressive sighs and under his breath comments, this is the final straw. It’s three in the morning and Jake has yet to have longer than twenty minutes of uninterrupted sleep. Bradley snores.

Jake bolts upright and glares at him across the room, “I’m sorry — maybe if you quit snoring, I wouldn’t have to—“

Bradley throws the covers back, sitting up and shooting a glare across the room. He grits his teeth, shaking his head as he swings his legs over the edge of the bed.

“That’s it. I’m staying in your room with-“ Bradley mutters, ready to head for the door. Jake’s eyes widen and narrow in on him from across the room.

“No the fuck you aren’t!”

Bradley groans in frustration, throwing himself back against his bed, covering his face with a pillow. Jake rolls his eyes, turning to face the other way and covering his ear with his pillow.

The next morning, Jake wakes up late. It’s already ten. He pulls a hoodie on and stumbles downstairs to the kitchen, stomach growling in anticipation. He grabs the railing at the bottom of the stairs, swinging around and starting towards the kitchen.

He’s interrupted by a happy giggle.

Jake steps forwards cautiously a few times until you’re in view. You’re sitting on the kitchen counter, eating a bowl of cereal. Bradley’s at your side, grinning at the fact that he just made you laugh.

Jake watches as you lean your head against Bradley’s shoulder and laugh softly against his skin. He sighs, shaking his head as he steps into the kitchen.

“Jake, hi.” You smile at him.

He nods in acknowledgement, then looks at Bradley, “What’s so funny?”

“Your sister just said she hopes the baby doesn’t get my big ears.” Bradley answers with his eyes on you, his lips quirked up into a smirk as he shakes his head in playful disbelief. “I said I hope it doesn’t get her damn attitude.”

Jake rolls his eyes and walks towards the fridge. You’re both too busy grinning at each other to notice his annoyance anyway.

“So, New Years - you’re still fine to go pick up the drinks with me later right?” Bradley asks as he leans a hand onto the counter beside your waist. Jake retrieves the orange juice and turns towards him.

He almost sighs in relief. That’s right, the party. He had forgotten. That’s a testament to how stressed he has been — he forgot about their annual New Years’ Eve party. He’s been waiting for something to get all of this nervous, half-angry, energy out of his system.

“Right. Yeah. No problem.” Jake agrees.

Bradley slips his phone from the pocket of his shorts and checks through his notifications. Jake watches Bradley chuckle softly and start to reply to a text. Those three entire seconds of relief fade from Jake’s system immediately. He glares across the kitchen.

“So are you guys, like, together now?” Jake asks bitterly. You look up from your cereal, eyes widening as you scowl at him across the kitchen.

“No.” Bradley answers without looking up from his phone, still smirking at the text that he’s answering. Jake watches the disappointment settle into your features. He regrets asking for just a second, then reasons with himself that he did the right thing.

You turn your gaze towards your big brother.

Jake presses his tongue to the inside of his cheek. He’s seen that Bradley Bradshaw cruelty up close a hundred times over, but Jake hasn’t ever thought to look at the girl’s face afterwards.

He regrets his choice in friends all of a sudden. Maybe if Jake had picked better company, you wouldn’t be hoping for a future with a guy like him.

Bradley slips his phone back in his pocket and looks between you and Jake, oblivious to the exchange you had just shared. He smiles softly as he rests his hand against your knee and squeezes, “Anything you want me to grab you from the store?”

You turn your head towards him, brows furrowed slightly. You swear that he’s going to give you whiplash one of these days.

“No. I’m okay.”

“Cool, I’m gonna go take a shower.” He smiles, tapping your knee and turning away from the both of you. Jake waits for him to reach the stairs before he speaks. You frown at him.

“Don’t look at me like that, I did that to show you what he’s like.” Jake answers before you can question him on what the fuck he thinks he is doing. He won’t look you in the eye.

He’s busy fixing himself some protein filled breakfast that he’s convinced will help his muscle development - he’s still a little skinnier than the other guys on the team and is busy doing something about it.

He’s certain he has the capacity to be one of the biggest on the team. You aren’t so sure. Sure, he has muscles, but he always been a tall, skinny type — you can’t imagine him as buff as he tells you he’s going to be.

“We’re getting to know each other.” You reason with Jake, scrunching your nose disapprovingly at the quantity of eggs he decides to add to his breakfast. You finish your cereal and leave the bowl in the sink, pushing yourself down from the counter.

“I know him enough for the both of us, don’t waste your time.” Jake scoffs, he furrows his brows as he finally notices the pyjamas you’ve chosen to wear. A comfy t-shirt and tight athletic shorts. “And start wearing real pants.”

You open your mouth to protest, sighing and tugging the shorts down a little further. You frown at your big brother, tilting your head at him like that will help him change his mind. “Jake… he really isn’t that bad.”

Jake stops whisking his eggs and lifts the fork, pointing it towards you accusingly.

“You’re lucky you’re pregnant because someone ought to knock some sense into you,” Jake scoffs. He shakes his head and looks back down at the… omelette? - whatever, that he’s making.

He bites his cheek, then lets out a soft sigh. “If you think you mean more to him than any other girl that might walk into this house, you’re just setting yourself up to get your feelings hurt.”

Your lips part slightly.

“Don’t be such an asshole.” You shove at his shoulder.

“Don’t be such an idiot! He was literally texting some other girl right in front of you and you’re sitting there giggling and batting your eyelashes,” Jake snaps back. He sets the fork down and turns towards you with his full attention.

He stares at you seriously, “You’re embarrassing yourself.”

Considering that Jake proclaims himself to be such an expert on cruelty, you know that this was intentional. You swallow but the lump in your throat remains. You bite into your cheek and take a deep breath through your nose.

“You’re wrong.” You bite, turning away from him.

Jake rolls his eyes indifferently, continuing to make his breakfast as you stomp up the stairs. Sure, he has always been a great big brother to you, but it’s days like today that he realises it’s because of the way that you have needed him.

He knows that you think he’s an asshole now - he knows he’ll be the one holding you when you’re crying over your broken heart soon enough.

Jake winces as your door upstairs slams. He shakes his head. In a couple of hours time, when there are a hundred people in this house counting down seconds towards New Year, and Bradley’s all over some girl that isn’t you - he knows you’ll see his point.

Hours later, you’re living through his point being proven. You sip on a cup of just orange juice from a red cup - so that no one knows that you aren’t drinking. You’re standing alone in the living room. Jake’s laughing with a girl, she’s pretty and she’s clearly into him. He hasn’t ever mentioned her to you before but it’s clear that they know each other well.

You fidget with the plastic cup, wondering how much of his life Jake doesn’t share with you. You tell him everything. You always have. Standing in the corner of the room at eleven fifteen on New Years’ Eve, you wonder if your older brother ever wanted to know, or if you just needed someone to tell. You look down at the floor.

The music is loud and you’re certain that you’re the only one still sober in the entire house. This time last year you were streaking across Richmond’s campus lawn by eleven fifteen. You suppose your streaking days are probably over now that you’re going to be a mommy. You frown against the rim of your cup.

You have already considered just ditching and going upstairs to bed, but the entire house is buzzing with people, music and scattered yelling from the frat boys that live here. There’s no way you would be able to find peace, let alone maybe go to sleep.

The lock on Jake’s door is busted and you’re certain that there will be people busting into the room all night in search of an empty room to screw in.

So, you stand alone and check routinely towards the clock on the wall.

A strong shoulder nudges against yours, bumping the arm holding your cup. You flinch as your fingers curl around it, trying not to spill. That’s a real signal that your partying days are over - the old you never would have been worried about spilling a drop on the floor during a party. Especially not at a frat house.

“Enjoying the party, Seresin?” You lift your gaze and find Bradley smiling down at you. You haven’t seen him since the party began to pick up a few hours ago. He drapes his arm over your shoulder affectionately.

You chuckle dryly, holding up your cup, “As much as I can with an OJ buzz.”

He smiles and nods as he sips from his own cup. From where you’re standing, your sense of smell tells you that it’s vodka. The scent now is so much worse than you remember. You shudder against his side and push the cup away from your nostrils.

He shifts it into his other hand without questioning as he squeezes your shoulder with his now free hand, “Right. Tell you what, this time next year, I’ll watch the kid and you can go get as wasted as you want.”

You raise your eyebrows, lips quirking up into a grin. Your heart soars. He’s thinking of you in his life a year from now. He’s thinking of your future - your shared future - and he’s got a smile on his face.

“I’m gonna hold you to that.” You tell him.

He laughs. You can tell he’s already pretty drunk. You heard a bunch of guys doing shots in the other room a while ago, it occurs to you now that he was one of them. Bradley grins, turning his head to nuzzle his face softly into your hair. You look over at Jake, relaxing against Bradley’s side. His lips press affectionately against your hair.

“Bradley Bradshaw!”

You and Bradley look up in unison, you still tucked in against his side. There’s a giggling redhead looking right at him, having just squealed his name. Bradley’s hand slips from your shoulder. His lips quirk up into a smile as he moves from your side. You sway at the loss of contact. You watch as he steps forwards.

Her arms lift and drape around his shoulders. His wrap around her waist.

You watch their embrace. It’s intimate. He doesn’t hug you like that.

Jake catches the exchange in his peripheral. He turns his head, lips parting slightly. Bradley’s grinning and whispering a greeting into this girl’s ear. You’re standing behind them, dismayed. Jake opens his mouth, ready to give the girl before him an excuse. He stops as she steps forwards, taking advantage of his turned head and pressing her lips to his neck. He wraps an arm around her waist.

He kisses her mouth.

The pieces will still be there for him to pick up in the morning.

Bradley straightens up, laughing at something she just whispered in his ear. He shoots a look back at you, patting your bicep platonically, “I’ll catch you later.”

You swallow, squinting as she slips her hand into his and leads him away.

You think of how much fun last New Years’ Eve was. How narrowly you had avoided getting arrested. You can’t remember the name of the guy you had hooked up with that night, but you remember the fun that you had.

You watch as he presses her against the kitchen island, both of them smiling at each other.

It doesn’t seem fair.

You press your tongue into your cheek, sighing as you lean back against the wall behind you. You debate whether or not it’s right to be jealous.

“Hi,”

Your brows furrow slightly as someone steps into your line of sight, blocking your view of Bradley and the redhead.

“You look amazing.” You look at the boy talking to you, your brows raising slightly in surprise. You look down at your outfit and then back up to him, lips quirking slightly. He smiles. “I’m Ryan.”

You glance past him towards Bradley. He’s leaning down and the redhead’s pouring a shot into his mouth.

You look back at Ryan. It’s not fair that Bradley gets to enjoy his night and you don’t. You smile at Ryan and tell him your name.

…

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…

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if-only-angels-could-prevail · 1 year

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a few days ago, a certain robert chromolume and i brainstormed the most boring and bad possible movie version of follies

-initial announcement: rob marshall is directing a movie of follies, starring meryl streep as sally. (apparently this was already an announcement/rumor, and i just forgot about it? lol). jeremy o harris is tapped to write the screenplay.

-they are soon joined by julia roberts as phyllis, george clooney as ben, and john c reilly as buddy.

-additional casting: alec baldwin as weismann, lily james as young sally, liza minnelli as carlotta, renee fleming as heidi

-also announced: there’s going to be a new song! more on that later.

-uh oh! julia roberts has dropped out. she landed a buzzier role—playing lucy barton in the hbo miniseries adaptation of the elizabeth strout novels (s/o to @hesupportsyou for helping us with this one). george clooney dropped out shortly afterward (he just wanted to work with julia roberts again, i don’t think his heart was really in it). they’re replaced by emma thompson and richard gere.

-final casting announcement: jo ellen pellman as young phyllis, whoever is doing the josh gad role in book of mormon as young buddy, jeremy jordan as young ben, sierra boggess as young heidi, audra mcdonald as stella, ariana debose as young stella

-jeremy o harris left the project for mysterious reasons. aaron sorkin is now scrambling to write the screenplay.

-right before shooting is set to begin, liza minnelli injures her ankle. poor liza! she’s replaced by carol burnett. theatre people on tumblr and twitter post disposable takes like “i’m wishing liza a speedy recovery, but i’m also excited to hear carol’s take on the song.” some people say stuff like “you can be excited for carol burnett without being glad that liza minnelli injured her ankle, just fyi” in response to no one in particular. neither carol burnett nor liza minnelli see any of these tweets. (liza minnelli recovers, btw.)

-one more kiss is cut for time, which means you randomly have shots of renee fleming and sierra boggess in the background. (this is particularly upsetting for renee fleming, who will spend the rest of her career sticking to opera roles.)

-the new song is by sara bareilles, written because a) the producers are hoping for a best song oscar nomination, and b) it was in alec baldwin’s contract that he gets an expanded role. there’s a promo behind-the-scenes video where rob marshall is like “one hesitation i had going into this project is we don’t really get to know weismann. we’re so lucky to have sara onboard to help us flesh him out as a character.” the song is sung by weismann, toward the end of the movie (but probably before loveland), and it’s about him looking back at his mistreatment of the follies girls, realizing he has to live with his past mistakes (broadwayworld describes it as “an anthem for the #metoo era” or something). it’s the most boring song ever written. the sara bareilles version of it plays over the end credits. it is not nominated for an oscar.

follies!

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adamwatchesmovies · 16 days

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Ocean's Thirteen (2007)

Inexplicably, the Ocean’s franchise didn’t sink into oblivion after the sewage that was Ocean’s Twelve. This third chapter in the series fares much better than its predecessor but never reaches the level of the original (neither the original original or the 2001 remake). Still, as another installment, it does offer the remaining fans more of what they want to see, which is something.

After Reuben (Elliott Gould) loses his investment in a new hotel-casino to his business partner, Willy Bank (Al Pacino), he suffers a heart attack and becomes bedridden. Danny (George Clooney) and the rest of the Ocean Club decide to get even by ruining Bank and his new establishment.

If you’re not endeared to the Ocean’s crew, this plot will be an uphill battle. "Boo hoo. Poor Reuben is so upset he’s not making millions off this gaudy casino that he’s become catatonic. Guess it’s up to his buddies to get revenge on his behalf instead of just convincing the proper authorities that he was strongarmed into signing a contract?" Towards the end of the film, the crew’s old nemesis, Terry Benedict (Andy García, whose character is brought back under dubious pretenses), sees millions of his money donated to charity without his consent. I wonder if any of the cash the protagonists end up swiping from Banks would’ve gone anywhere except their pockets had they not had a score to settle. While some of this is mitigated by the fact that Willy Bank is a jerk, what we're seeing feels like a whole lot of “the 1%’s problems”. There isn’t a love plot to make us believe this is about anything but money unless you count the brotherly love between the Ocean’s crew. Even that seems like a stretch.

In the first movie and even in the second in a “sure, whatever”, kind of way, it made sense for these 11 people (we’ll get to that number in a moment) to join forces. Now? It seems overly optimistic to think the random Chinese acrobat who doesn’t speak English would put himself at risk as he does here. Now to be fair, this story makes much better use of its characters than Twelve did. No one gets stuffed into a bag and shipped off to nowhere halfway through, for example. Everyone has a role to play and it works though it should be noted that neither Julia Roberts nor Catherine Zeta-Jones return.

You’re wondering who the two new members of the crew are. One is the aforementioned Benedict, who plays the role of a benefactor. The other is… Eddie Izzard as Roman Nagel. I think. The motif of adding a new expert to the crew with each sequel has basically disappeared, and for good reason. This series can barely handle the people it has on its roster. Adding more is becoming increasingly problematic but it’s also necessary. See, “The Bank” has insane security measures, the kind no one in their right might would even try to circumvent. On the one hand, this makes for exciting scenes that make you wonder how the lock will get cracked. On the other, it makes the plot feel manufactured. For example, there's this super secure room that contains expensive jewelry. The plan to get in? Have Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon) and his phoney-looking rubber nose seduce Bank’s right-hand woman, Abigail Sponder (Ellen Barkin). With the help of some magic pheromones, she’ll get so hot and bothered she’ll have no choice but to bring Linus into the only room in the whooooole building that's guaranteed to be deserted. Apparently, there are cameras in the bathrooms, the closets and her private office. It’s a horrible subplot made unintentionally comical by the fact that nothing happens between her and Linus. The movie teases nudity for at least 15 minutes. Ellen Barkin's chest is ALMOST falling out of her dress for so long it’s ridiculous. I thought she was slobbering at the mouth for some man meat but she’s not even taking off her clothes? What’s going on here?!

I’ve been mostly bad-mouthing Ocean's Thirteen because the film is constantly on the brink of crumbling under its own weight. I will still call it a “good” sequel because fans of this series will be happy with it. You hate the bad guy, there are enough laughs to keep you smiling consistently and the con is so complicated it’s fun to see all the pieces coming together. All of the actors are obviously having a great time. I’m in no hurry to watch it again but if you love love love the first, you didn’t mind the second and you want to know if you should watch the third, then I say “sure”. I say this despite feeling like twice was too many for me. (April 29, 2022)

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legends-of-time · 3 months

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The Journey of Living at Downton

Chapter 27: March 1922

Masterlist

Tom and Emma have begun planning for their son's christening. Robert has shown his displeasure at the idea of Michael being Catholic. Emma supposes that Robert was able to get his head around the idea of Ivy being Catholic but the idea of being aware that a Catholic ceremony is going on, has bothered him. Emma is irritated by all this Catholic Vs. Protestant. They're both Christians.

Emma watches as Cora beams at her two grandchildren from where she sits in the corner of the Nursery as George rolls on the floor next to his cousin Sybbie who plays with her toys with Ivy. Emma has been cooing down to Michael who babbles at her from where he lies on the bed she sits on. She likes taking these opportunities to be away from all the hustle and bustle of the house and take time with the children as she's still going through her postpartum struggles.

The two women have been talking about the letter Emma had received today from Gwen. She was thrilled to hear from Gwen and even more pleased to hear that Gwen has gotten married though they've kept it quiet because his mother's ill, but she hopes she can introduce him to all of them soon. Gemma had told Emma that Anna had suggested they send Gwen a card with them all signing it. Cora had asked Emma to send her congratulations.

Other than her post-birth struggles and baptism arguments, the only thing that is troubling her at the moment is Edna or Miss Braithwaite. Thankfully Emma hasn't had to interact with the lady's maid as her duties don't require her to be wandering around the house like her job as a housemaid had done.

Emma swallows nervously as she thinks of the next topic she wants to bring up. "Tom and I," Emma begins, drawing Cora's attention, "were wondering if you'd be Michael's godmother."

Cora seems hesitant, but Emma can see she looks touched. "Am I allowed to be?"

"As long as at least one of them is Catholic." Emma reassures her. "Tom has invited his brother. Mary and Edith met him at our wedding."

"The one from Liverpool with the car company that offered Tom a job?" Cora questions.

"That's him." Emma affirms. "We've asked him to be Michael's godfather. His other brother Owen and his sister Ellen were Ivy's godparents."

"So, he'll be coming?"

Emma nods. "Tom thinks he should stay in the Village."

Cora looks appalled. "We can't have that!"

Emma winces, not wanting to addendum her. "He's a bit worried though."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you remember how Violet and Robert lectured Tom about not wearing the proper clothes to dinner when we first returned and not having a morning suit for Mary's wedding?" Emma asks. "He's worried how everyone will be towards Kieran."

Cora frowns and says nothing.

"Don't be angry." Emma says. "Kieran will come, he'll wear a perfectly fine suit and it'll all be all right."

"Have Tom give me the address and I'll write to him personally and say he's more than welcome to stay." Cora tells her.

Emma is still unsure but nods knowing she won't be able to fight her on this.

——

After hearing about him and a couple of weeks after giving birth, Emma had, while taking walks into the Village with her husband and children, decided to visit Mr Grigg at Crawley House and has been doing it ever since along with Mrs Hughes without the children and Tom though she often brings the children along as it seems to cheat him up.

Emma waits with Mrs Hughes at the bottom of the stairs when she hears a door open and Dr Clarkson calls, "Goodbye, Mr Grigg."

"Thank you, Doctor." Mr Grigg replies.

Dr Clarkson comes walking down the stairs, where Mrs Hughes and Emma stand waiting for him.

"All he needs to put him right is some paid work." He reassures them. Emma is glad to hear that he has been continuing to improve.

"It's hard for a healthy young man to find a job these days, never mind poor old Mr Grigg." Mrs Hughes reminds him as they all walk to the door.

"I know." Dr Clarkson replies and turns to the maid, who hands him his coat to say a brief thank you before speaking to Emma and Mrs Hughes again. "But Mrs Crawley has things in hand." He puts his coat on. "My guess is that you knew what you were doing, bringing him here."

Mrs Hughes has a slight innocent smile but Emma knows she doesn't mean it.

They are interrupted by Isobel calling from upstairs, "Emma? Mrs Hughes? Won't you come up?"

——

Emma and Mrs Hughes enter Mr Grigg's guest bedroom. The man moves to rise from his chair as they walk in. Isobel stands next to him.

"Oh, don't get up for us." Emma says hurriedly as he lets out a couple of coughs.

Mr Grigg still holds himself up from his chair, hovering. "What news of Charlie?"

"Mr Carson is still very busy," Mrs Hughes lies. Mr Grigg looks disappointed and eases himself back into his chair.

Mrs Hughes continues, "but he sends his best wishes." That's another thing, Mr Carson had made it very clear he wants nothing to do with his old business partner and friend.

Mr Grigg looks at her false smile doubtfully. "Does he? How did he phrase that exactly?"

Mrs Hughes splutters. "Well, he... he said to tell you–"

"He didn't say nothing, did he?"

"That's the thing with Mr Carson." Emma says pityingly. "He doesn't remember the days you spent together with any great nostalgia."

"He thinks it were all my fault... but it weren't." Mr Grigg says despondently.

"Meaning what?" Mrs Hughes questions.

"Never mind." He dismisses. "But it weren't my fault."

There's something very tragic going on, but neither of the women know what he's talking about.

——

Emma is surprised to hear that Violet and Isobel have been invited to dinner so suddenly as usually these things are planned in advance.

She sits on the settee next to Rose and Edith in the Drawing room. Mary stands in front of them holding what apparently is a letter from Matthew. Isobel stands in front of her daughter-in-law with Robert lingering behind her. Violet sits on one of the chairs next to them while Cora, Tom and Billy stand behind Mary.

"I don't understand. Did Matthew leave instructions after all?" Isobel questions. Emma glances between them hopefully.

"He left a letter." Robert corrects.

"He wrote it before we went to Scotland." Mary explains.

Isobel looks shocked and takes a seat in the chair next to her. "Well, where has it been?"

"Concealed in a book. They only dropped it off today." Robert informs them. Cora takes a seat in another chair and looks expectingly at her eldest daughter like the rest of them are.

Mary looks shaken and frightened and hands the letter to Robert. "Papa, you read it." She takes a seat next to Emma causing the three on the settee to shuffle up a bit.

Robert begins reading from the letter, "'My darling Mary, we are off to Duneagle in the morning and I have suddenly realised that I've never made a will or anything like one, which seems pretty feeble for a lawyer, and you being pregnant makes it even more irresponsible.'"

Violet nods sagely. "Hm, I'm afraid I have to agree with that." Emma's lips quirk slightly at her comment. She watches how Isobel is listening eagerly to Robert's every word.

"'I'll do it properly when I get back and tear this up before you ever see it, but I'll feel easier that I've recorded on paper that I wish you to be my sole heiress.'"

"What?" Edith murmurs in surprise. Emma has to agree with her. She wasn't expecting this or maybe she should have considering this is Matthew.

"'I cannot know if our baby is a boy or a girl. But I do know it will be a baby, if anything happens to me before I've drawn up a will, and so you must take charge.'" The whole family is listening intently, all of them very moved. "And now I shall sign this and get off home for dinner with you.'" Mary starts to cry and Emma herself has to press her lips together to stop the tears. "'What a lovely, lovely thought. Matthew.'" Emma and Violet both reach out a hand to comfort Mary.

"Now you see why I didn't want to read it." Mary sobs.

"But surely it must be legal, or do there have to be witnesses?" Isobel asks earnestly.

"But it was witnessed, by two of his clients, which is why no one in the office knew it existed." Mary tells them.

Which begs the question of how Matthew compelled two random clients to sit there and watch him write this private letter, instead of letting them go home and using his clerks as witnesses instead. And it also begs the question that if Matthew had the time to write these lines and two witnesses at hand, why did he not write a proper last will and testament straight away?

"Then it's settled." Tom declares.

"Nothing is settled." Robert corrects. "This is why I wanted Murray to check it first. Whatever Matthew's intentions, it is not a will."

Emma is disappointed at his words.

——

The family is at dinner. Emma sits between Rose and Edith. Mr Carson serves the wine while Alfred and Jimmy wait at the table, offering trays of food.

"I don't exactly know why, but I feel very happy that Matthew's been allowed a last word." Cora announces from between Isobel and Mary.

"I agree, more than I can say." Isobel says warmly.

"I knew he'd have a sensible plan." Edith comments.

"Yes, he wasn't the sort not to have things sorted." Emma adds.

Emma sees on Edith's right, Robert grumbling to his mother and the woman admonishing him back. She grits her teeth in annoyance at the man. The christening, now this.

"I'm sure Tom hopes you intend to get stuck in." Billy says to Mary from between Violet and Tom. Emma turns to take her food from the tray offered by Jimmy.

"I want the right to an opinion. I shall be content with that." Mary says modestly.

"You already have a right to an opinion." Robert reassures her, not looking as he takes food from the tray Alfred offers. Emma narrows her eyes at him.

"Do I? Good."

"Most certainly you do." Her father says cheerfully. "In fact, there's a question of using empty farmyards as new sources of revenue. I'd like to know what you feel about that."

Mary's expression drops. Everyone at the table is watching. "Well, I'd have to think about it—"

Robert rattles on, talking over her, "Crop rotation? Livestock versus cereals? Or indeed the whole matter of the tax. There are lots of things I would like your opinion on."

Mary, admiringly, stands her ground though looks a bit shaken. "I assume you're trying to make some sort of point?" She pointedly asks her father. Emma purses her lips in irritation as Alfred brings his tray next to her for her to grab her food.

"He's trying to show that a woman's place is in the home." Cora answers next to her, giving her husband a sharp look.

"But she knows a lot about Matthew's plans." Tom interrupts. "That has value for me." Emma smiles warmly at her husband's declaration. "Mrs Crawley, what do you think?"

"I'm afraid I'm on Mary's side, Robert, if sides there must be." Isobel replies.

"There are no sides, not at all." Robert corrects her. Emma thinks he almost looks like a petulant child not getting his way. He turns to Mary. "I'm pleased if you're pleased. I'm just saying you have some work to do. That is, if the letter turns out to be valid."

"Which you very much hope it is not." Violet remarks. Robert looks very caught out.

——

Mrs Hughes, Emma and Isobel stand facing each other in Mrs Hughes' Sitting room. It seems Isobel had been working on finding more work for Mr Grigg.

"You wrote to the Opera House in Belfast? That was enterprising." Mrs Hughes compliments.

"I wrote to a great many theatres." Isobel explains. "But the manager at the Opera House wrote back. It seems they're in need of a stage door keeper. They'd chosen one but he dropped out. He asks Mr Grigg to consider it."

"Well, that's good to hear." Emma says.

"It is."

Mrs Hughes hesitates for a moment before speaking, "I heard about Mr Matthew's letter. I hope it wasn't too upsetting."

Isobel is tearful as she speaks, "As a matter of fact, it was a relief. I felt so happy that he'd finally been heard. But judging by tonight's dinner, it may prove a heavy mantle for Lady Mary."

Emma huffs. "The only thing that'll make it difficult is her father's attitude."

——

Emma is changing for bed, pottering around the bedroom while her husband sits under the sheets reading, already dressed for bed. He's gone to bed earlier while Emma had been in the Nursery feeding Michael, who had woken up and was hungry. They are discussing what happened at dinner.

"We need to show Mary we are all on her side." Emma says as she takes off her jewellery. Nothing as elaborate as the upper case would wear but more middle class earning jewellery. "I don't want her father knocking her confidence."

"He likes Downton being under his control again." Tom points out, not looking up from his book.

Emma rolls her eyes and huffs as she slips on her pyjamas, a top and bottoms that are similar to Rose's as the young girl has encouraged Emma to get a couple of sets, after having slipped off her clothes. "I know. But surely, he must realise that he can't do it on his own otherwise he'll go back to his stupid ways."

"Mary won't allow it." Tom reassures her. He puts the book on the side table, probably realising his wife wants to speak with him and won't be ignored. "She's a stubborn one."

Emma crawls into bed next to him and slumps against his side as Tom automatically wraps an arm around her. "All the Crawley sisters are or were..." She becomes sad and tearful at the thought of the Crawley sister that's no longer with them. Tom squeezes her closer to him to comfort her.

——

Edith has once again gone to London. Plans seem to be going ahead. Edith has told Emma about Gregson's plan to become a German citizen. Emma is anxious about how this will all end though she had suggested to Edith that she should invite Gregson to the house party at Downton that's being hosted next month.

Anna hands Emma the card that will be sent to Gwen to sign, which Emma happily does. It's funny thinking back to the old days of her, Anna, Gwen and Gemma being a proper little group.

Anna herself has been pulled into chaperoning Rose to a thé Dansant in York. It seems more of a working class thing but Emma knows Anna will keep Rose in line if anything happens.

Emma knows they need to make sure that Mary learns more about the estate if she's going to own half of it (as Emma hopes) or at least have a say so she goes to Violet as she knows the woman will help her in the quest. Emma sends a message to the Dower house and the woman responds and they come up with a plan to get Tom to help Mary learn.

Emma and Mary get invited over to the Dower House and so as Tom though he is delayed due to work. Violet sits in her chair while Emma and Mary sit on the settee next to her. The three women are in the middle of a conversation when the door opens to admit Mr Spratt, the butler.

"Mr Branson, your ladyship." Emma sees her husband hurriedly dart into the Drawing room they sit in looking a bit flustered and out of breath in his rustic land agent's suit and boots. Mr Spratt closes the door and leaves.

"Sorry if I'm late. I had to call on old Fairclough at Roundhills." Tom apologises.

"You're not at all late." Violet says kindly. She waves him to a chair opposite her, on the other side of the settee and she turns Mary as he sits. "Now I asked Branson to come here because I have an idea."

Mary closes her eyes in annoyance briefly while Emma purses her lips in irritation. "Granny, you must call him Tom." The former tells her grandmother.

Violet is honestly surprised. "I thought I could call him Branson again, now that he's the agent."

"Well, you can't!" Mary admonishes her. Emma's irritation turns to amusement as she watches the duo.

"I don't mind." Tom quickly interrupts with a level of awkwardness.

Violet chuckles. "No. I see I'm beaten. But oh, how I sympathise with King Canute." Emma and Tom share amused grins.

"Now what is this idea?" Mary asks bringing them back to why they're here.

"Your grandmother and I was thinking how now that either you or your baby son own half of Downton, you should have a say in running it." Emma explains.

"It's just what you need." Violet adds.

"But didn't last night's dinner disabuse you of that scheme?" Mary wonders dejectedly. Her father's tirade had clearly gotten to her.

"Well, that's the point." Violet says. "We want er..."

"Tom."

"...Tom to be your instructor."

"What?" Tom blurts out in pleasant surprise. He looks to Emma who gives him a look that says "well, who else are we going to ask?" and he seems quite touched.

"Well, take Mary, you know, on your rounds. Let her learn the farmers' difficulties." Violet explains. "Hmm... Explain the... crops and the live-, the livestock." She has no idea what exactly is involved but at least she knows that it will matter to them. "You know, let her see the problems facing the estate." Tom looks quite willing. Mary looks sceptical.

"And are we to do all this without telling Papa? Isn't that rather underhand?" Mary questions. Despite her words, Emma sees a slight smile creeping up on Mary's face.

"There can be too much truth in any relationship." Violet says sagely.

Mary and Tom exchange a look. Tom is still grinning. It's settled. Later on in the day, Emma sees Mary and Tom off in the car.

——

Tom is pleased when he and Mary return from looking at the estate making Emma hopeful. Edith is late getting back from London so Gemma simply goes to see if Emma has everything she needs but really it's time for the two of them to have a gossip.

"Edna and Thomas?" Emma repeats in alarm. Gemma has just told her that the duo have been whispering and hanging out with one another (she hadn't used the word 'hanging out' but that's basically what was said).

"Mr Barrow and Miss Braithwaite." Gemma corrects.

Emma rolls her eyes. "I can call Miss Braithwaite what I want and Thomas doesn't care what I call him."

"He would let you." Gemma grins and Emma does a smug look back, knowing Gemma knows she's joking. "Though I'm concerned what either of them are getting out of it. You know Mr Barrow's scheming ways and how Miss Braithwaite was last time."

"I know." Emma frowns. "Perhaps it won't last. You saw how Miss O'Brien and Thomas got."

"True."

God Thomas. What are you up to?

——

Cora, Robert, Mary, Violet, Tom, Emma and Billy wait for Edith to arrive as they sit in the Drawing room before dinner. Robert leans on the fireplace with Isis lounging on the floor behind him as he talks to his wife who sits in a chair next to him. Emma sits on the settee talking to Tom and Billy who stand next to her. Mary sits at the other end of the settee talking to her grandmother who sits in a chair next to her.

The door opens and finally, Edith hurries into the room. Emma is 'horrified' to see she hasn't dressed for dinner. Heaven above.

"Ah, here she is." Emma remarks as she hurries in.

"Ah, darling." Cora utters.

Violet and Edith exchange a kiss in greeting.

"Are you only just back?" Robert asks his daughter.

"We sat forever outside Peterborough. We never found out why." Edith kisses Robert, too. "Shall I change?" She asks as she walks over to kiss her mother in greeting too.

"No, don't bother. It's only us." Cora reassures her.

"And who are we to warrant any courtesy?" Violet comments sarcastically to Mary and Emma.

"Don't be difficult, Granny." Mary warns her with a smile. Edith sits in the chair next to her grandmother.

"Where's Rose? Have we lost her?" Robert asks. He almost sounds like he wishes the answer was yes. The door opens and Rose comes in.

"I'm so sorry I'm late." She apologises.

"Never mind, never mind."

She takes a seat with Mary and Emma. Robert remains standing by the fireplace. He's clearly about to make an important announcement.

"Now I've got you all here, and before Carson comes in, I have something to say. I had a letter today from Murray..." He begins.

Mr Carson walks in and clears his throat. Apparently, dinner is getting cold. Robert holds out a hand to stop him.

"Wait just a moment while I finish." He speaks.

"Shall I leave, my lord?" Mr Carson asks.

"No. You might as well hear this." Mr Carson closes the door behind him and stands dutifully next to it. "Murray has taken Matthew's letter to various authorities and their conclusion is that it demonstrates testamentary intention."

"What's that?" Emma asks.

"It means that the writer intended the document to serve as a will." Robert replies. Emma stares at him in disbelief. Has it really happened?

"So, the bequest stands?" Violet questions. Emma can't blame her for checking to be sure.

"Yes. Mary owns half the estate." Violet sighs in relief and pats Mary's arm.

"That sounds like a very good result." Tom remarks.

"And now we should go in to dinner before Mrs Patmore blows a gasket." Robert reminds them. Emma internally snorts when she thinks of the times Mrs Patmore has done so.

They all get up. Mr Carson opens the door for them. Cora squeezes Robert's hand as she walks past him, acknowledging the brave face he's putting on this. Tom, Robert and Mary linger but not for too long before joining them.

——

Mrs Crawley and Mr Griggs, the latter in respectable clothes and carrying a suitcase, ascend the stairs from the underpass to the platform at the Railway Station with Emma, Mrs Hughes and Dr Clarkson following. They look along the platform, but apart from the station guard, there is no one else there. Emma sighs in disappointment at the fact that Mr Carson hasn't turned up after all. The train pulls into the station and halts. It is then that through the steam, Mr Carson comes walking towards them and tips his hat to the ladies.

"Good morning, Carson." Isobel greets, looking as if she's trying to contain her excitement.

"I hope I'm not in the way." Mr Carson says, seemingly trying to keep his usual proper demeanour.

"Not a bit." Emma quickly replies. "You remember Mr Grigg." She doesn't ask it as a question as that would be silly.

Mr Grigg walks towards Mr Carson. "Hello, Charlie. Good of you to come."

The two men turn and walk along the platform together, leaving the other four behind.

"I'm delighted but I'm not surprised." Isobel declares as they watch the two up ahead walk and talk.

"Aren't you? Because I'm astonished." Mrs Hughes mutters.

They begin walking slowly behind the men to give them privacy. Soon the station master calls, "All aboard!"

"I am sorry to interrupt," Isobel says having caught up with them with Dr Clarkson, Mrs Hughes and Emma lingering behind her, "but I think you must get aboard."

Mr Grigg opens the door of a third class carriage, then turns to shake her hand. "I can't tell you how grateful I am, Mrs Crawley."

"Very good luck."

"Thank you." He makes a move to get in, then turns back to Mr Carson. "I doubt we'll meet again, but can we shake on it? We've known some ups and downs together, it's true, but if this is goodbye... let's part as friends, eh?"

Mr Carson removing his glove and shaking his hand, says, "All right. I wish you well."

"Likewise, Charlie." He gets in and closes the door. Mr Carson locks it after him, and the train starts moving out of the station.

The butler turns to the woman standing next to him. "Mrs Crawley, I should be grateful if you would let me know any expense you have been put to on Mr Griggs' behalf during his stay with you."

"Oh, no. That's completely unnecessary—" Isobel insists.

"I should be grateful." Mr Carson cuts her off pointedly. Emma can see how much this means to him.

"Very well, Carson, I shall do that." So does Isobel it seems.

He tips his hat to her as the train rounds the corner and disappears from view. "Good day to you."

He walks away, past Isobel and also past Emma, Mrs Hughes and Dr Clarkson. Mrs Hughes hurries after him.

——

One week later.

"Why are you so nervous?" Emma asks as she sits in the armchair of their room nursing Michael and watching her husband fidgeting as he paces from one end of the room to the other. Ivy plays with some toys on the floor. "It's only Kieran. You're acting as if the King and Queen are coming for the christening."

"Maybe we shouldn't have invited him here." Tom blurts out.

Emma rolls her eyes. "Tom, don't be stupid!"

Tom walks over to the bed, sits down and puts his head in his hands. "I mean, maybe we should have arranged for the christening in Liverpool, near where Kieran lives. That way we'd have been out of sight and out of mind as we would have been in Dublin, and Lord Grantham would have less reason to complain or drop hints here and there that we're not doing right by Michael and Ivy."

"His thinking regarding a Catholic upbringing is backward – that's obvious." Emma admits with a sigh. "But I can see that he genuinely cares about Ivy and Michael, almost as if they're his grandchildren along with Sybbie and George. We can embrace that and ignore the rest."

Tom huffs a laugh; he looks up at her with a slight smile. "Never would have imagined the Earl of Grantham caring about my children."

"Stranger things have happened."

"I'd beg to differ." Tom remarks.

"Will you come over here please?" Emma asks Tom quietly.

Tom kneels in front of the armchair and watches Michael nurse. He seems to relax as he watches his son.

Emma runs her fingers through his hair. "Everything is going to be all right. Kieran gets on well with everyone."

Tom rolls his eyes. "He gets along well with people he likes, and you know well he's not inclined to like anyone in this house, certainly not above stairs."

"Maybe Robert will win him over with his range of alcohol." Emma half jokes with a grin.

Tom snorts. "Lord Grantham and my brother getting along. That'll be a sight."

As if on cue, there is a knock on the door. Ivy perks up in interest and wobbly pulls herself up causing Tom to stand quickly and hold her hand. Emma takes a nursing cloth and drapes it over herself and Michael. Seeing that Emma is ready, Tom opens the door, with a toddling Ivy, to see Alfred on the other side.

"Hello, sir, I apologise for the intrusion, but Mr. Branson is here." He speaks.

Tom's eyes go wide. "Already! He said he was coming on the evening train."

Emma laughs. "Thank you, Alfred. We'll be down to the Hall in a moment."

Alfred shifts on his feet, looking uncomfortable. "Actually, he's in the downstairs. I told him he could come up, when he came in through the servants' door, but he refused. Not that he's been rude or anything. In fact, he's giving everyone a bit of a laugh."

"That's Kieran." Emma says, unable to stop herself from smiling, imagining the scene he might be making downstairs and the redness of Mr Carson's complexion in the face of it.

Tom, on the other hand, drops his head back in exasperation, making both Alfred and Emma laugh. "Dear God, why does he like making things difficult." With a sigh, he turns to Emma, "Take your time finishing with Michael. I'll go get him sorted out."

——

Emma leaves Ivy and Michael with the Nanny and is reaching the servant entrance when Tom, Mary and Kieran appear at the top of the stairs. Mary must've gone with Tom as a backup.

"Kieran! It's so lovely to see you again! And with so much for us all to celebrate." Emma greets him with a grin.

Kieran leans down to kiss Emma and offers a genuine smile. "Well, I don't know about myself but you certainly do. How are the two little rascals?"

"Looking forward to meeting their uncle." Emma says warmly.

After stepping away from Kieran's embrace, she notices the continued tension in Tom's shoulders and Mary's tight lipped smile.

Emma knows that dwelling on what had obviously been an awkward scene downstairs would just make things worse so she takes Kieran by the arm.

"There'll be time for a tour later, though I doubt there's much of interest to you here in the gloomy old house, so how about we go meet Ivy and Michael?"

——

The conversation is awkward with Kieran. Emma honestly thought they would have found this sort of thing easier with her, Tom and Billy but Kieran is a different breed.

"So!" Mary interjects from her father's left, eager to move the subject to safer waters than what Kieran does for a living and the environment of Liverpool, which caused Robert to make comments about how Tom was going to drag his family to such a place. "Who's coming to the christening?"

"All of us, I expect," Cora says quickly, hoping, like Mary, to squelch further awkwardness.

"Oh, yes." Violet agrees. "If Emma and Branson- Tom want me to."

Tom smiles. "We would be honoured."

"Robert, are you coming?" Billy asks, gingerly from next to his mother-in-law.

Robert sighs. "I don't know that Tom and Emma want me there."

"How can you say that, Robert?" Emma replies from the other end.

"And anyway," Robert continues, "I wouldn't know what to do. All that crossing and bobbing up and down. I went to a mass once in Rome. It was more like a gymnastic display."

Kieran laughs but soon realises no one else is. Tom scratches his forehead, likely amused at his brother's antics.

"I'm sure even born and bred Catholics are guilty of find it all rather tiresome." Emma argues. "But you should come."

"Why? What difference would it make?" Robert asks carelessly.

"I want you there." Emma says. "Michael's going to be brought up in your house for the foreseeable future and will be close with your grandchildren and will likely love you like a grandfather and will want you there as well."

"Will you argue with that?" Cora asks with a smirk.

"If you think it's so important." Robert sniffs as if he isn't touched but Emma can see he is as he looks at her.

She smiles. "I do."

——

On Sunday, Mr Michael Kieran Branson is baptised into the Catholic faith at St. Wilfred's Catholic Church in Ripon.

——

A/N: Please leave comments on how you're enjoying this story and what you think.

#downton abbey

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thebanishedreader · 7 months

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Book Bans in Nebraska

As of June 2023

Melissa by Alex Gino (previously published as George)

Brief Summary: Melissa knows who she is, though everyone sees her as a boy named George. In a plan to get the chance to audition for the role of Charlotte in Charlotte's Web, Melissa and her best friend Kelly work together to let Melissa show the world who she truly is.

Banned pending investigation as of April 2023, based on a formal challenge.