Happily Ever After At Downton-What Happened After The Finale

Chapter 2

June 6, 1923

"Tom, would you and Mary like to go over some figures with me after breakfast this morning?" Robert asked, cutting his eggs.

"Why don't we do it in the afternoon? Mary and I were thinking of taking Sybbie and George...out...for some fresh air this morning."

"Ah," Robert said sympathetically.

He saw immediately what their intentions were but did not press it further. Edith smiled sympathetically as well. They continued their breakfast in silence until Tom got up. "I suppose we should be going now. We'll come back at noontime."

"Good luck," was all Robert said as Tom walked out.

He nodded his thanks and left the dining room.

Tom entered the nursery to see Mary already there, dressed and ready to go, talking quietly with George. She looked up and smiled. "I thought I'd talk with George a little before we embark on our journey."

Tom nodded. "I suppose Sybbie will need that too."

He walked over to where Sybbie was on the ground, playing with some wooden blocks. "Hi, Sybbie darling," he said softly.

"Papa!" the three-year-old said happily as she turned to see Tom.

"Hey, wanna talk with Papa?" he asked softly.

"Yeah," Sybbie said absentmindedly.

"Hey, Sybbie, Sybbie. You know the word Mama, right?"

Sybbie nodded, putting a block on another. She pointed at Mary. "Mama," she said proudly, eager to show off her new world.

"Darling, that's not Mama." Tom said softly, his heart breaking.

"Mama?" Sybbie said again, this time less confident.

"I'm going to take you to Mama. You can hug her, give her a nighty-night kiss like you give me, or we can talk quietly. Yeah?"

"Yeah," Sybbie said, turning her attention back to the blocks.

Tom sighed. He'd explain more in the car.

At that moment, Mary looked over at him. "Ready?" she mouthed.

Tom nodded. Turning back to George, she said, "Okay, Georgie, it's time for the adventure."

" 'Venture!" George said excitedly.

Tom turned to Sybbie and, after a bit of coaxing, got her away from her blocks.

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They sat in silence in the car until the car turned onto the road. Sighing, Tom looked over at Sybbie. "Sybbie, who's Mama?"

Sybbie opened her mouth, but shut it again. "Mama?" she asked hesitantly.

Tom put her on his lap. "That's Aunt Mary."

He pointed to Mary, who was also talking quietly with George.

"Aunt Mary," Sybbie repeated.

"We're going to see Mama, right?" Tom said.

Sybbie nodded. "Now, there's a rock where we're going, and we can remember Mama, but Mama's above us, watching."

"Above?" Sybbie repeated, her eyes going to the roof of the car.

"Above, in Heaven. And she's very happy there, watching us. But you know who she loves watching from Heaven?"

"Who?" Sybbie asked, her eyes wide.

"You. She loves watching you become a big girl."

"Me," Sybbie said to herself quietly, as she stared out the window of the car.

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When they pulled up to the graveyard, Tom grasped Sybbie's hand. The four of them climbed out of the car and walked up to the gate. Tom leaned over and unlocked it, holding it open. The quartet walked silently down the rows, turning several times until coming to two graves. Tom knelt down next to Sybbie. He pointed at the gravestone on the right. "See that, Sybbie?" he said. "That's Mama."

"Mama." Sybbie repeated, putting her finger on the S of {Sybil Cora Branson}.