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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Finally, it was time for his lunch break, and he made his way to the nursery to check on Ellie and see how she was doing.
When he arrived, he found Emily playing with Sybbie and George. Ellie was sitting on the floor, playing with some blocks, but she looked up as soon as she saw him.
"Daddy!" she exclaimed, crawling towards him.
Thomas picked her up and hugged her tightly. "How's my girl doing?"
Ellie grinned at him. "Good, Daddy. W - we played with blocks."
Thomas smiled at her. "That sounds like fun. I'm glad you're having a good day."
As he talked to Emily and checked in on the other children and put Ellie down, he couldn't help but notice that Ellie was having trouble keeping her balance. She was wobbling as she sat on the floor and struggled to pick up the blocks.
Just then, Ellie lost her balance and stumbled to the side, causing the tower to come tumbling down. George and Sybbie gasped in surprise, but before they could help, Thomas was already by Ellie's side.
"Are you alright, love?" Thomas asked, scooping his daughter up in his arms.
Ellie giggled, her little arms reaching out to hug her father. "I'm o - okay, Daddy," she said, her voice sweet and innocent.
Thomas held her close, feeling a wave of love and protectiveness wash over him. He knew that life was going to be a bit more difficult for Ellie than for other children, but he was determined to give her the best life possible.
As he carried Ellie over to the rocking chair, he couldn't help but marvel at how much she had grown in the past three years. When she was born, he had felt a mix of emotions. But now, he couldn't imagine his life without her.
Sitting down in the rocking chair, Thomas gently placed Ellie in his lap and began to rock back and forth. "You know, Ellie," he said, looking down at her with a smile, "you're one lucky little girl."
Ellie looked up at him, her big pale green eyes filled with curiosity. "Why, Daddy?"
"Because you have two friends," Thomas said, gesturing towards George and Sybbie. "And you have me, Ellie. And I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
Ellie beamed up at him, her little face lighting up with joy. "I - I love you, Daddy," she said, throwing her arms around his neck.
Thomas hugged her back, feeling a lump form in his throat. "I love you too, Ellie," he whispered. "More than anything in the world."
For a few moments, they simply sat there, rocking back and forth in the chair. Thomas felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over him, knowing that in that moment, everything was right in the world.
~
Before long he could feel her exhaustion. "You're getting tired, my love," he murmured softly to her. "Let's have a little rest." He wrapped his arms gently around her, feeling the warmth of her body against his own.
As Ellie began to drift off to sleep, Thomas placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. "Sleep tight darling," he whispered. He rested his cheek against her head and began to rub her back in a soothing motion using his left to tuck strands of loose hair behind her ear.
For a moment, Thomas allowed himself to bask in the warmth of fatherhood, reveling in the love he had for his daughter. Despite the challenges they faced, he was grateful for every moment he had with her.
As he sat there in the quiet, Thomas reflected on the past three years. It had been a difficult journey, but he wouldn't have had it any other way. Being a single father has been a challenge, but to him, Ellie is and was worth every sacrifice from the very moment she came into the world.
Thomas watches his daughter sleeping in his arms, he can't help but feel grateful for her presence in his life, despite the challenges that come with her cerebral palsy. He thinks about how much she has grown and developed, and how much more she has yet to achieve.
"I never knew love like this before Ellie," Thomas whispers softly to himself. "I may have been a bit apprehensive at first, but I wouldn't change a thing about being your father. You've brought so much joy and meaning to my life."
He softly hummed a lullaby, running his fingers through her hair.
He continued to hold her, cherishing the moment. He knew that moments like these were precious, and he wanted to savor every one of them.
As Ellie's breathing slowed and deepened, Thomas leaned his cheek against her head. He smiled as she let out a small giggle in her sleep.
"What are you dreaming about, sweetheart?" he whispered, gently rubbing her back.
Ellie's smile widened, and she let out another small giggle. Thomas chuckled softly, enjoying the sound of his daughter's giggles.
