#0madlen0

The wonderful smell of cinnamon and dried fruit spread through the kitchen when Sybil opened the oven and took the cake out of it. She carefully put the baking pan on the table and grinned.

'It looks delicious, Mummy!' – said Sybbie enthusiastically. The girl was sitting nearby, decorating the gingerbreads which they had baked earlier that day, with nuts and raisins.

'I hope it will taste equally as good!'

After over four years of running her own household Sybil gained a lot of self-confidence while it comes to cooking but this time she couldn't help to feel under a kind of pressure. Preparing Christmas dishes in a way Tom remembers from his childhood . She and her mother-in-law had been corresponding at this topic for two months.

'Oh, the biscuits look beautiful, Honey' - Sybil kissed her daughter's little head when Sybbie wiped her hands on her apron as the sign that she finished - 'All right, we're ready with sweets. The beef is marinating and the goose…'

'Did someone mentioned the goose?' – interrupted Tom, coming into the kitchen, holding their younger daughter in his arms.

He was already home, Lord Grantham allowed to close the agent office earlier than usually. Tom was trying hard not to wonder if he did it as a Christmas gift for him or because he wanted to make sure that the Bransons manage to prepare the Christmas at their home and are not going to visit his for the next few days.

'The cleaning is finished. Patty and I were decorating the fireplace and lighting the candle in the window but were lured by those magical scents.' – said Tom.

'Your mother recipies plus my own invention.' – answered Sybil with proud – 'But we will taste everything tomorrow. The fast on the Christmas Eve, see? I remember' – she added.

Little Patty snatched from her father's clutch and run to her sister to see her work with gingerbreads. Tom came to his wife and hugged Sybil tightly.

'I can't even express how lucky I am to have you' – he whispered into her ear and kissed her temple.

'Sybbie! Come and see how Daddy and I hanged the stockings.' – Patty pulled her sister firmly by the hand – ' I wish George and Goldie saw them!'

The girls run hopping into the living room hand in hand.

'Isn't it a little bit selfish of me?' – Tom asked his wife.

'The girls will be fine, love' – answered Sybil and stroked her husband's cheek – 'Anyway we are visiting my family next week so no presents will omit them. This is going to be our perfect Christmas.'

'Mummy, Daddy come to us!' - the girls' laughing voices snatched their parents from a kiss.

'Everything is almost done. Let's sit for a while together' – encouraged Tom – 'We deserve some rest.'

Sybil nodded. She took off her apron and followed Tom. They found their daughters in the living room. Sybbie and Patty were peering through the window. The world outside was a real winter wonderland.

'Watch the candle!' –Sybil warned them.

'I've told Patty the story about shepherds who saw the star of Bethlehem' – whispered Tom –'I think she is hoping to see one of them here tonight.'

Sybil laughed. The Bransons sat on their big couch in front of the fireplace.

'Home, sweet home' – sighed Tom contently , stretched and embraced his wife. The daughters immediately joined Sybil and Tom, demanding to cuddle alltogether. Suddenly they heard a loud knocking on the door and all of them petrified.

--from “Tom, Sweet Tom” by 0madlen0

Tom, Sweet Tom by 0madlen0 (a Sybil/Tom Secret Santa fic for mosteyn)

By 0madlen0 for broadwaybaggins

This is my Secret Santa fic for 0madlen0. I hope you like it. Also, there’s a little section that everyone will know what inspired it. Merry Christmas, Happy Holiday, and Happy New Year!

The Christmas Party by gothamgirl18

“May I have this dance, milady?”

Smiling, she answered, “Yes, Branson.”

He took her hand and guided her onto the dance floor just as John McCormack’s magnificent voice filled the air.

Dear face that holds so sweet a smile for me, Were you not mine, how dark the world would be!

“You look lovely tonight.”

“Thank you.”

I know no light above that could replace Love's radiant sunshine in your dear, dear face.

She looked up at him and said, “You look handsome as well.”

He smiled, with a slight blush coming to his cheeks.

Give me your smile, the love-light in your eyes, Life could not hold a fairer Paradise! Give me the right to love you all the while, My world for ever, the sunshine of your smile!

For Tom, this was simultaneously the happiest and the saddest moment of his year. He was holding Sybil in his arms and she was smiling at him. They fit perfectly together, dancing effortlessly. As though they should always be in each other’s arms. Yet, he knew that it would only last for a few precious minutes. He decided to just enjoy this time and hope that Sybil would finally (finally) make a decision soon.

Shadows may fall upon the land and sea, Sunshine from all the world may hidden be;

Sybil also felt the bittersweet nature of their dance. Being held in Tom’s arms felt like coming home – safe, warm, and loved. They fit so well together, like pieces of a puzzle. She didn’t want the dance to end. 

But I shall see no cloud across the sun; Your smile shall light my life, till life is done!