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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In the middle of the night, Thomas was awakened by the sound of whimpering. He looked down to see Ellie lying beside him, her small arms wrapped around him as far as they could go, and her head snuggled into his chest. He knew immediately that she was having a bad dream, and comforted her.
"Shh, shh it's okay sweetheart," he whispered. "Daddy's here, I've got you.", he whispered, hoping that she would hear the sound of his voice and feel comforted.
Ellie continued to whimper, and Thomas knew that he needed to do something to help her. He gently lifted her up and cradled her in his arms, holding her close as he walked around the room. He hummed a lullaby, hoping that it would calm her down, but her small body trembling with fear. Thomas held her close, rubbing her back gently as he spoke to her in a soothing voice.
As he walked, Thomas thought about how far he had come since Ellie's birth. At first, he had been scared and uncertain about how he would raise a child on his own. But he had taken it one day at a time, learning as he went along, and he had become a dedicated and loving father.
Ellie had changed his life in so many ways, and he was grateful for every moment he spent with her. She had a smile that could light up a room, and her determination and resilience never failed to inspire him.
As he continued to hold her, Thomas felt a deep sense of love and protection for his daughter. He would do anything to make sure she was happy, and he knew that he was blessed to have her in his life.
Eventually, Ellie's whimpers subsided, and she fell back into a peaceful sleep.
Thomas continued to hold her, savouring the moment and the quiet of the night. He knew that there would be challenges ahead, but he was ready to face them with Ellie by his side.
~
By the morning Thomas woke before his daughter and as he tilted his head down a little and saw that she was sleeping peacefully and clinging to him like a koala, and in many ways he was glad to see her like that after she had had a bad night.
For a short while all was quiet until small sounds could be heard as Ellie began to wake from her deep sleep and her eyes flutter open.
"Good morning, my sweet girl," Thomas whispers as he plants a kiss on Ellie's forehead.
Ellie smiles up at him, her big pale green eyes shining with love and happiness. "Morning, Daddy," she says, her voice still groggy with sleep.
Thomas can't help but feel a rush of pride and joy every time he looks at his daughter. Despite her cerebral palsy, Ellie is a smart, brave, and loving little girl who has captured his heart from the moment she was born.
As Ellie stretches and yawns, Thomas pulls her closer to him, reveling in the feel of her warm body against his. He knows that these moments are precious and fleeting, and he wants to cherish them as much as possible.
Thomas smiled warmly at her and gently lifted her up, placing her on his lap as he sat up against the headboard of the bed.
"Let's just stay here for a little while, shall we?" he said, wrapping his arms around her. "We don't have anywhere to be today, so we can just relax and take it easy."
Ellie snuggled into her father's embrace, feeling safe and secure in his arms. Thomas loved these quiet moments with his daughter, where they could just be together and enjoy each other's company without any distractions or interruptions.
As they sat there, Thomas couldn't help but think about how much his life had changed since becoming a father. He had never planned on having children, but when he found out that he was pregnant, he knew that he would do anything for his baby. Despite the challenges that came with being a single father, Thomas loved Ellie more than anything in the world and was determined to give her the best life possible.
He cuddled her feeling the warmth of her small body against his chest. Ellie's breathing was steady and calm, and Thomas closed his eyes, feeling content.
"I love you so much, Ellie," he murmured. "You're my everything."
As the morning wore on, Thomas and Ellie stayed in bed, playing and laughing together. Thomas made silly faces and tickled Ellie's tummy, making her squirm with delight.
"Who's the most beautiful girl in the world?" Thomas asked, holding Ellie's face between his hands.
Ellie grinned at him, her eyes shining. "M - me!" she exclaimed.
"That's right," Thomas said, smiling. "You're my little star."
As the morning turned into afternoon, Thomas finally got up from bed, feeling more refreshed than he had in days. He picked up Ellie, holding her close to him as they made their way to the servants kitchen for lunch.
"Let's see what Mrs. Patmore has cooked up for us today," Thomas said, smiling at Ellie. "I bet it's something delicious."
Ellie giggled in response, her hand reaching up to touching her fathers's face.
