This series of drabbles was originally posted on tumblr, and as it is turning into something of a saga, I decided to post them on here as well. These are dedicated to broadwaybaggins who prompts me for these two a lot. Please review (the few of you who read OUAT/Downton crossovers) and enjoy!

The music was nice enough, but nothing special. Emma Swan leaned against the wall and yawned. It was warm in the ballroom of Grantham house, and she was bored. After weeks and weeks of balls after balls, even the most elaborate music and dancing seemed commonplace.

Her eyes were drawn to Sybil, who was grinning, dancing in the arms of a tall, handsome young man. Tom Bellasis. Sybil had introduced her to him earlier, and the two seemed a natural pair.

It was times like this when Emma wished that she had a more appealing personality. She and Sybil were close, but Emma had few friends, and at gatherings like this, it was difficult to fit in.

"You're Emma Swan, am I right?"

Emma glanced to her right and saw a man there, with hair that was too messy for a high society event and a smile that put her on edge. "Yes, I'm her... And you are?"

"Walsh. James Walsh but everyone refers to me as Walsh. Are you feeling lonely?"

She appreciated the gesture, but Walsh made her uncomfortable. A feeling that she could not describe was settling into her stomach. She cast her eyes downward and shook her head. "Not lonely. Just alone."

"Aren't they the same thing?"

"Not always."

Walsh didn't take the subject any further. "You know Miss Swan, I've been doing some fascinating research on monkeys. There is a laboratory studying them in Kansas. I've been doing regular correspondence and..."

Emma wasn't sure how she had gotten into this conversation, but she leaned against the wall once again and closed her eyes, sighing. The sound of Walsh's voices turned to white noise, and Emma wished she could be somewhere else. Anywhere but here, being lonely and listening to a random man drone on about monkeys and Kansas.

"Excuse me Emma, but didn't you say you would dance this one with me?"

She opened her eyes and saw two bright blue ones looking back at her. It was a man she didn't recognize, but he obviously knew her. His expression implored her to play along, and so she said, "Oh yes, of course," and allowed him to take her hand as they went out on the dance floor.

"It would be nice if you could actually tell me who you are..." Emma said, examining the man who she was dancing with.

"Oh, um, of course," he fumbled, and Emma had to smile. No matter who he was, he was rather adorable. "I'm Matthew," he explained. "Matthew Crawley."

Emma looked over him. "Related to Sybil, by any chance?"

"A distant cousin. That's the only reason I'm here," he admitted. "I almost didn't want to come, but Sybil wanted me to. She suggested that I save you from that other man... You looked rather uncomfortable."

"I was, actually. I don't know why he wanted to start talking to me, about monkeys of all things, but he did, and I couldn't really leave, could I? I had no where else to go."

He nodded and they twirled around. Matthew almost tripped over Emma's foot. "Oh, I'm so sorry, please forgive me..." He apologized quickly.

Emma almost had to laugh. He seemed very sweet, and she almost felt envious of Sybil, having such a nice cousin. Her surrogate cousins were never very kind. "Don't worry about it. I'm fairly clumsy as well."

"I'm not usually, but maybe I had too much to drink. I am a little bit lightheaded," he said, allowing a concerned expression to etch itself in his features. "Don't worry about me, I'll be perfectly alright. So you're friends with Sybil?"'

"Oh, yes. We've known each other since we were little, and we're both interested in politics, so we've grown closer over the years. Sybil is one of the few people that can actually stand me," Emma said, with a faked eye roll. The words stung, however.

Matthew shook his head. "I can stand you. From the little I know, I think you're a very interesting person."

"Well, at least that's someone," Emma said. "I think the song is over," she remarked.

He stepped back and smiled at her. "Well, thank you for the dance, Miss Swan."

"Thank you... for saving me," she replied, watching as he left.

She found herself standing next to Sybil, who nudged her shoulder. "So Matthew saved you? Like I told him to?"

"Yes, and I'm jealous that you have such nice cousins," Emma stated, watching the dance floor. Matthew was dancing again, with Sybil's older sister Mary.

Sybil raise her eyebrows. "Well, don't set your sights on him. He's engaged. Or almost..."

It was all Emma could do not to exclaim 'What!' in shock, despite the fact that she had no right to be shocked. "Who is he engaged to?"

"He proposed to Mary..." Sybil said. "She hasn't given him an answer yet, but I'm hoping and guessing she'll say yes. They didn't like each other when they first met but now... I think she really does love him, and usually it's hard to tell with Mary. But Matthew brings out the good in her, I think."

Emma nodded, sighing. "I guess for Mary, that's a good thing."

"It is." Sybil patted her friend's arm and gave her a tight smile. "Don't worry, you'll find someone."

"I never said I wouldn't," Emma said. "Besides, is it like me to fall hopelessly in love? Of course not."

It was a couple months later when Emma received a letter from Sybil.

Emma,

I suppose you're also worried about the war. It seems like that's all anyone talks about these days. Our family is worried, especially because Matthew enlisted. He and Mary fell out, and...