This is the story of Thomas Barrow.
Thomas Barrow has been working as the first footman at Downton Abbey for years. He's always been careful to keep his personal life hidden from the prying eyes of the other staff members and the Crawley family. Bu...
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As he entered his room in the men's half of the servants' quarters, Thomas treasured the sight of his daughter sleeping peacefully in his arms. He sat down on his bed, careful not to wake her, and listened as she made strange noises in her sleep. He smiled as he realized that she must be dreaming.
"Sweet dreams, little one," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I wonder what you're dreaming about."
Thomas couldn't help but wonder what his daughter's dreams were like. Were they filled with the same wonder and curiosity that he had as a child? Or were they something entirely different? He sat there for a few moments, lost in thought, until Ellie's soft snoring brought him back to reality.
As he watched her sleep, Thomas thought about how much his life had changed since her arrival. He had never imagined that he would become a father, let alone to a daughter. But now that she was here, he couldn't imagine his life without her.
"Ellie, you've made me a better man," he whispered, holding her close to his chest. "I promise to always be here for you, no matter what."
Thomas sat there for a while longer, lost in thought as Ellie continued to sleep. He couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment wash over him as he watched her dream. It was as if all the worries and stresses of his day had melted away, leaving only him and his daughter in the quiet of their room.
"Thank you for coming into my life, Ellie," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I love you more than anything in this world."
As he settled back against his pillows, Thomas continued to watch his daughter sleep, feeling more at peace than he had in a long time. He knew that there would be challenges ahead, but he was ready to face them head-on, with Ellie by his side.
"Sweet dreams, my little one," he whispered, closing his eyes and allowing himself to drift off to sleep, with Ellie in his arms.
~
Thomas woke up to the soft cooing of his daughter Ellie. He had spent the whole night holding her. He looked down at her sleeping form, and a wave of love washed over him. He smiled and kissed her nose gently, and she stirred in her sleep, looking up at him with her big doe eyes.
"Good morning, little one," he whispered. "Did you sleep well?"
Ellie gurgled in response, reaching up to touch his face. Thomas chuckled and took her tiny hand in his, marveling at how perfect it felt.
"You are so beautiful," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "I love you so much, Ellie."
As he sat there, cradling his daughter, Thomas couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment. Everything felt right in the world, and he knew that he would do anything to protect and care for Ellie.
After a while, Ellie started to fuss, and Thomas knew that it was time to get up and start his day. He once again made is way to the nursery room and gently placed her in the cot.
It was a busy day, and Thomas was kept on his toes, running from one task to the next. But despite the chaos, he couldn't help but think about Ellie. Every time he passed by the nursery room he would stop and peer inside, checking to make sure she was okay.
At one point in the day, Thomas found himself with a rare moment of free time. He wandered into the gardens, taking in the beauty of the flowers and the tranquil atmosphere. As he sat on a bench, he couldn't help but think about how much his life had changed since Ellie's arrival.
"She's turned my world upside down," he thought, a smile playing on his lips.
Just then, he heard a rustling sound behind him, and he turned to see Lady Mary walking towards him.
"Thomas, I didn't expect to find you out here," she said, smiling warmly. "How are you settling into fatherhood?"
Thomas grinned, his heart swelling with pride. "I'm loving it, M'Lady" he said. "Ellie is everything to me."
Lady Mary smiled, understanding the depth of Thomas's emotions. "I can see that," she said. "You are a good father, Thomas."
The two of them chatted for a while, but as they talked, Thomas couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. He missed Ellie, and he couldn't wait to get back to her.
As the day wore on, Thomas found himself counting down the minutes until he could return to Ellie's side. And when his shift finally ended, he practically ran up the stairs to the nursery room, eager to hold her once again.
As he opened the door to her room, he found Ellie awake and looking up at him with her big doe eyes. He smiled and picked her up, holding her close to his chest.
"I missed you," he whispered, kissing her forehead.
