@ Holb32 The idea for the story came while watching the series. At the end of season 5, when Thomas tells Andy, "Ask your uncle Thomas," I knew I wanted to introduce an Uncle Thomas (first Emma was just his niece). But it was in season 6, seeing Thomas interact with George and Sybbie, and Lady Mary and Anna discussing how "Barrow will never have his own children," that I decided to make it happen. Thomas Barrow is a very complex character, and I hope to convey that in my fanfiction. Initially, he keeps Emma at arm's length for job security reasons, but deep down, he has a heart. However, he struggles with embracing fatherhood, leaving others to care for Emma. Throughout the story, Thomas realizes his bond with Emma and develops feelings he initially denies. He fears the pain of rejection if Emma discovers the truth about him. This fear ultimately drove me to choose this fanfiction idea. Emma demonstrates unconditional love and acceptance towards her father, without prejudices. She sees the world through the eyes of a child. Thomas acknowledges this and admits his love for Emma. Despite his soft side, he tries to hide it, leading his colleagues to believe he's indifferent to Emma. It was important to me for Emma to have a grandparent-grandchild relationship with Mrs. Hughes and Mr. Carson, with William as a big brother figure, Anna almost like a mother, and Daisy as a big sister. And because life isn't always fair, there's Mrs. O'Brien... It would be dull if everyone were like Anna. The idea came to me while watching the series. Thomas with George and Sybbie was just adorable, and the comment about him never having children of his own felt heartbreaking. Thomas needs Emma to see the world through the eyes of a child and to feel unconditional love for the first time in his life.
