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 promised, Ellie was brought back to see her father again the following day and just like always she was happy to see him.
Thomas smiled and extended his arms to take his daughter from Anna. "Come here, little one," he said softly as took Ellie onto his arms and settled her on his lap, adjusting her position so that her back was resting against his chest.
As Thomas swapped the newspaper for a book, Ellie gazed up at him with her big pale green eyes, eagerly waiting for him to start reading. "What do you want me to read, sweetheart?" he asked her, as he began to flip through the pages.
Ellie looked at the book with interest, her tiny hands reaching out to touch the pages. "This o - one, Daddy," she said, pointing to a picture of a puppy on the cover. Thomas smiled and opened the book, holding it up so that Ellie could see the pictures.
As he began to read, his voice was soft and soothing, and Ellie snuggled closer to him, her head resting against his chest. "Once upon a time, there was a little puppy named Spot," he began, his eyes scanning the pages.
Ellie's eyes widened as Thomas turned the page, revealing a picture of Spot chasing a ball. "L - look, Daddy, a puppy!" she exclaimed, her small hand pointing to the page.
Thomas chuckled and nodded, continuing to read the story to his daughter. As he read, he couldn't help but feel grateful for moments like these, where he could forget about his troubles and just focus on Ellie. She was his world.
Ellie listened intently, her eyes fixed on his face as he spoke. She couldn't move very well on her own, but she loved to be held and comforted by her father. Thomas had learned how to care for her needs over time, and he was always grateful of the close bond they had formed.
As he continued to read, Thomas felt a sense of contentment wash over him. He was grateful to be alive, and grateful for the love of his daughter. She was his reason for living, his inspiration to keep going even when times were tough.
As the story progressed, Thomas could see Ellie's eyes widen in wonder, and he knew that he was doing a good job of capturing her imagination. He smiled to himself, grateful for this moment of peace and connection with his daughter.
Ellie's breathing began to slow, and Thomas knew she was drifting off to sleep. He closed the book and held her a little tighter, feeling her warmth and the softness of her hair. "Sleep well my darling," he whispered.
Thomas knew it was time for her to go back to the Abbey. He closed the book gently and kissed her forehead. "Time for you to go back home sweetheart," he said softly.
Though just as Anna began lifting her off of his chest suddenly, Ellie woke up and clung to her father, not wanting to let go.
Ellie clung to her father even tighter and cried. "N - no, Daddy, no go!" she wailed.
Thomas quickly comforted her, shushing her and stroking her hair to try and calm her down. He hated seeing his daughter in distress, and he knew that she didn't like being away from him.
"Anna, can you ask the Doctor Clarkson if Ellie can spend the night with me?" Thomas asked, "I don't want to cause her any more distress by being away from me."
Anna nodded, understanding how important it was for Thomas and Ellie to be together. She quickly left the room to speak to Doctor Clarkson, who agreed to let Ellie stay with her father for the night.
Thomas breathed a sigh of relief as Ellie snuggled into his chest, finally content and relaxed. "Thank you, Anna," he said gratefully.
Anna smiled warmly at Thomas, knowing how much he loved his daughter. "Of course, Thomas," she replied. "You two need each other right now. We'll make sure everything is taken care of at Downton while you focus on getting better."
As the night wore on, Thomas and Ellie stayed together in the hospital room, with Thomas holding Ellie close and singing softly to her. He knew that he was lucky to have her.
~
Thomas couldn't help but feel grateful as he watched his daughter sleep peacefully in his arms. Despite the challenges they faced as a family, he knew that he wouldn't have it any other way.
"I never thought I'd be a single father, let alone one who carried and gave birth to his own child," he whispered to Ellie, who remained blissfully unaware of her father's musings.
He continued to stroke her hair, taking in every detail of her delicate features.
"You know Ellie, you may face some difficulties in life, but you're stronger than you realize. You've already overcome so much and I'm so proud of you," he spoke softly, hoping his words would reach her even in her dreams.
Thomas couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt as he remembered the reason why they were currently in the hospital. His own illness had put both him and Ellie in danger, and it was a reminder of how fragile life could be.
"I promise I'll do everything I can to keep us both healthy and safe," he vowed to his daughter, as if speaking the words aloud would somehow make them more tangible.
Ellie stirred in her sleep, causing Thomas to hold his breath for a moment. But she settled back down, snuggling closer to her father's chest.
As he continued to watch her sleep, Thomas realized that no matter what challenges lay ahead, he was incredibly lucky to have his daughter by his side. She was a constant source of joy and inspiration, and he knew that he would do anything for her.
"I love you, Ellie," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
As he continued to stroke her hair, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and love for his daughter. She was his everything, and he was determined to be the best father he could be.
"Sleep well, my sweet girl," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
Ellie stirred again, and this time her eyes slowly opened. She looked up at her father, her big pale green eyes filled with love and trust.
"Daddy," she said softly, snuggling closer to him. Thomas smiled, feeling a deep sense of warmth and love fill his heart.
"Yes, sweetheart," he said, kissing her forehead once more. "I'm here."
