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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Thomas felt a wave of relief wash over him as Doctor Clarkson gave him the all-clear to leave the hospital. It had been a long and difficult road to recovery, but he had finally made it through.
"Your vitals are all looking good, Thomas," Doctor Clarkson said, his voice gentle but professional. "I would recommend taking it easy for a few more days, but I'm confident that you're well enough to return to work."
Thomas nodded, grateful for the doctor's reassurance. He couldn't wait to get back to his duties as first footman and be reunited with his Ellie, it had been a few days since she had returned home after spending the night and day with him after she took a few steps all on her own, he still missed her.
As he changed out of his hospital pyjamas and into his footman uniform, Thomas couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. He had come so far since the days when he had first arrived at Downton as a scared and inexperienced footman. Now, he was a respected member of the household staff, and a father to a beautiful little girl.
When he arrived at the estate, he was greeted warmly by the other members of the staff, that including, Mrs Hughes, as she gave him a hug and asked after his health.
"We've missed you, Thomas and we're glad to see you're yourself again," she said kindly. "But don't worry, we've managed to muddle through without you."
As Thomas walked into the servants' kitchen, he saw his precious little Ellie sitting in her wheelchair with Daisy by her side. She was playing with some toys and giggling as Daisy made silly faces at her.
"Hey there, little one," Thomas said, a huge smile spreading across his face.
Ellie turned her head towards her father and a smile appeared on her face. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, reaching her arms out to him.
Thomas quickly made his way over to her, his heart overflowing with joy. He lifted her up out of her wheelchair and held her close, kissing her forehead.
Daisy watched the tender moment between father and daughter, feeling a lump form in her throat. She had grown closer to Ellie over the past few months and had developed a deep respect and admiration for Thomas as a father.
As Daisy left the room, Thomas settled into a nearby rocking chair with Ellie snuggled in his lap.
Together, they spent the rest of the afternoon cuddling, enjoying each other's company. And as the sun began to set over the grand estate, Thomas knew that he was exactly where he was meant to be. With his beloved daughter by his side, he felt as though anything was possible.
~
Thomas sat gently rocking back and forth in his rocking chair with Ellie in his lap. He couldn't help but smile as he watched her sleep peacefully, her head resting on his chest.
Ellie stirred in her sleep, and Thomas adjusted her position in his arms. He knew that he needed to keep her comfortable and supported to help with her condition.
He began to hum a soft tune, he hoped that it would bring Ellie comfort and help her to rest peacefully. As he hummed, he gently stroked Ellie's hair and held her close he felt a deep sense of peace and contentment.
But then Ellie started to whimper and twitch in her sleep and he immediately knew what was happening. He gently placed his hand on her back and whispered, "It's okay, Ellie, Daddy's here. Just a little seizure, it'll pass."
Ellie's body continued to spasm for a few more moments, but eventually, it subsided.
"There we go darling, it's gone now it's alright, it's alright.", Thomas continued to hold her close, kissing her forehead and stroking her hair as she slept peacefully again.
Thankfully, it wasn't a serious seizure. Ellie had a history of seizures ever since she fell ill just before her first birthday with pneumonia. The high fever and lack of oxygen had triggered the seizures, and over time as she grew older they had become less frequent. But every now and then, Ellie still had small ones.
He continued to hold her, watching as she drifted back into a peaceful sleep. It was moments like this that made Thomas grateful for his job at Downton. The Crawley family had been more than understanding when he had come to them with the news that he was pregnant and once Ellie was born, they allowed him to keep his position as first footman and live on the estate with Ellie.
Thomas had been nervous about how the other servants would react to his situation, but he needn't have worried. They had all been incredibly supportive of him.
As he gently rocked Ellie back and forth, Thomas thought about how lucky he was to have such a supportive community around him. It wasn't always easy being a single parent, especially with a child who had special needs, but he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Thank you, Ellie," he whispered to her. "For teaching me what love really means."
