History Heartwarming / DowntonAbbey

* Throughout the series, Mary has been afraid of what her father will do if he ever finds out about [[spoiler: the truth about Mr. Pamuk]]. When he does find out, and also discovers that [[spoiler: the threat of exposure is why Mary still wants to go through with her marriage to Sir Richard]], his reaction is immediate: [[spoiler: "I don't want you spending your whole life being unhappy because of the threat of scandal. Break it off with him. Go to America to wait out the storm, visit your Grandmama and come back with some rich young buck to shake us up!"]] Cue the father-daughter hug. D'awww.

* [[spoiler: Carson's proposal at the end of the Season 5 Christmas special. And Hughes' response.]] Eight words: [[spoiler:"Of course I'll marry you, you old booby!"]] That's [[spoiler:Elsie Hughes]], speaking to [[spoiler:Charles Carson]]. After five long years, [[spoiler: ''it's official at last.'']]

* Baxter asking Molesley to be there for moral support while she's being questioned by the police (because a shady character from her past, Mr Coyle, is out on bail). Molesly has a look of concern and worry on his face the whole time, and he keeps looking like he wants to jump between them and shield her. [[spoiler:Of course, he subverts this by asking - a little jealously - if this Mr Coyle was a handsome devil, and tries to press her into it despite her clearly not wanting to.]]

** Robert calling out Thomas for [[spoiler: exposing Gwen]] was pretty heartwarming too.

* Mary and the adorable Master George visiting Thomas' room, who was convalescing following [[spoiler: his suicide attempt]] was a blub-worthy moment to say the least.
* After Mary [[spoiler:ruins Edith's engagement, Edith forgives Mary on the latter's wedding day by noting that, one day, their memories together will mean more than their mutual dislike.]]
** Mary then [[spoiler:makes amends by engineering (with a little help from Rosamund) an opportunity for Bertie to confess that he still loves Edith and salvage their engagement.]]
* When Mary finds out Anna has had several [[spoiler:miscarriages]], she takes Anna to the doctor she went to when she was having difficulty conceiving George, to figure out what's going wrong. When it looks as though Anna [[spoiler:is about to miscarry again]], Mary ''immediately'' rushes her to London (at night) for treatment. Despite the difference in their stations, she's obviously very fond of Anna, and wants her to be happy.

* When Robert's [[spoiler:ulcer bursts, leading to much BloodFromTheMouth and an understandable fear that he's about to die]], what's the first thing he does? He tells the panicking Cora how much he loves her.

[[folder: The Movie]]

* [[spoiler: Edith's pregnancy. With Marigold, she was hiding out in Switzerland, facing an uncertain future and the very real possibility that she wouldn't be able to keep the baby. Now she gets to be surrounded by her family, looking forward to the baby's birth, with the support of her husband.]]
** The moment she learns of it [[spoiler: Cora quietly goes to the queen and explains the situation. The Queen, in turn, is more than happy to tell the king to release Bertie purely because she understands that a wife wants the father of her child at home]]
* [[spoiler: Maud revealing her maid is in fact her daughter, born out of a loving relationship she had with a servant she could never marry. She saw to her education and then made Lucy her maid to keep her close. She plans to give Lucy everything when she passes, instantly making her part of the noble class.]]

* [[spoiler: Violet admitting to Mary that she does not have long left to live, but she is incredibly happy with the life she has led and trusts that Downton will be left in good hands with Mary.]]

* Violet forfeits the first-place trophy at the flower show in order to give it to the much more deserving Moseley (and deny all knowledge of it afterwards).

** [[spoiler: Carson's proposal at the end of the Season 5 Christmas special. And Hughes' response.]] Eight words: [[spoiler:"Of course I'll marry you, you old booby!"]] That's [[spoiler:Elsie Hughes]], speaking to [[spoiler:Charles Carson]]. After five long years, [[spoiler: ''it's official at last.'']]

* The entirety of Carson and Hughes' relationship.
** [[spoiler: Carson's proposal at the end of the Season 5 Christmas special. And Hughes' response.]] Eight words: [[spoiler:"Of course I'll marry you, you old booby!"]] That's [[spoiler:Elsie Hughes]], speaking to [[spoiler:Charles Carson]]. After five long years, [[spoiler: ''it's official at last.'']]

* Carson's adorably awkward proposal to Mrs. Hughes. She finally shuts down the idea of them living in a property together, as she doubts he wants to be "stuck with her." Carson then states that that's exactly the point.

* In late Season 4, when Cora rescues Bates and Anna from a snobby host who was refusing to seat them in a fancy restaurant despite them having a reservation. Naturally, when the Countess of Grantham greets them warmly and asks after their well-being, he starts tripping over himself to make them comfortable. She may not have realized exactly how important this date was--their first since [[spoiler: Anna was raped and Bates learned about it]]--but she did know that they deserved to have a night just to be together.

* Thomas rescuing [[spoiler:Edith from the fire]]. He charges right in with no thought for himself and scoops her up, then, after she's safe, volunteers to keep helping.

* Lord Merton's proposal to Isobel. He's fumblin about a bit, but he assures her that he doesn't want to remarry out of loneliness at his age but out of genuine affection for her, and very earnestly asks her to at least consider it.

* When [[spoiler: it becomes apparent that Edith is going to take Marigold away and there's nothing that the Drewes can do about it, Mrs. Drewe tearfully tells baby Marigold that "this nice lady is going to be your new mummy, and she loves you more than anyone else could." No matter how much Mrs. Drewe hates Edith for taking her child away, she knows that Edith will love that little girl and do her best to care for her.]]
** The first thing Edith does [[spoiler: once she gets settled into a hotel with Marigold is order ice cream--she's basically on the run and has no idea what her situation will be long-term, but her first priority is to celebrate reuniting her family and finally spoil her own baby just like she has watched her family dote on her niece and nephew.]]
* Edith, Cora, Rosamund and Violet hatch up a plan that lets [[spoiler: Edith 'adopt' Marigold due to the 'financial strain' on the Drewes. After years of heartache and sorrow, Edith finally gets to keep her daughter in her home.]]
** And in the season finale, [[spoiler: Robert guesses that Marigold is her and Michael Gregson's daughter. He's only upset that Cora kept it from him, and has already grown attached to his new granddaughter.]]
** The fact that unlike Rosamund and Violet when she learns the news Cora [[spoiler: doesn't think about the scandal. She ONLY cares about Edith, flat out telling the two they drove Edith away with their schemes.]]
** The unveiling of the War Memorial, with a simple stone dedicated to Mrs. Patmore's nephew.

** The fact that Violet is ''absolutely fuming'' after the '''''catastrophic''''' dinner with Lord Merton's sons. She's not fuming ''at'' Isobel, but ''for'' her.

* The entirety of Violet's relationship with Rose. She can see that Rose is like her and that Susan is not doing ''anything'' right as a mother - and takes Rose under her wing.
* In the 2014 Christmas special, Robert reveals to Edith that he knows Marigold is the biological child of her and Michael Gregson. Edith looks heartbroken, believing she did something wrong, and asks for Robert's forgiveness. Robert calls her "My darling" and says that he has done just as much to be forgiven for as her, and kisses her on the head. Edith looks stunned and smiles.

* Carson's adorably awkward proposal to Mrs. Hughes. She finally shuts down the idea of them living in a property together, as she doubts he wants to be "stuck with her." Carson then states that that's exactly the point.
* Tom and Sybbie playing Poohsticks as they discuss possibly going to live in America.
** Tom's interactions with Sybbie in general. Right from the start he's been extremely fond and proud of her, is often shown holding her and lights up whenever she comes into a room. There's also an adorable scene where Mary goes to the nursery to check on George and Tom is on the floor playing with his daughter.
* Mary and Edith both expressing how much they will miss Tom and Sybbie and how they both wish he would stay. He has really become like a brother to them both and almost serves as a surrogate for Sybil as a peacemaker between them. Both sisters are quite protective of him and will go on the offense against anyone who treats him poorly for not being of noble birth.
** Robert giving a speech to Tom in the Christmas special.
** Also Edith, Mary and Tom holding hands (yes, Edith and Mary too) and taking a moment to think of Sybil, with Mary expressing how they wish to send her "''all our love and all our kisses''."
* Mrs. Patmore breaking down crying at the thought of Daisy leaving. They've come a long way from their relationship in season one and Daisy is more or less Mrs. Patmore's surrogate daughter.

** When Rose confronts the rude butler who let Thomas know about the mistress she only demands one thing: he be nicer to Tom. Because that is the kind of person Rose is.

* When Isis is dying Robert takes time to comfort her, getting down on his hands and knees and stroking her despite how uncultured that is.
** Later he takes her to the bedroom, Cora agreeing to let Isis sleep with them.
** Sybbie, proving she is her mother's daughter, joining Robert in comforting Isis.
* When Tim Gray begins to insult him Tom holds his tongue... but the instant he insults Atticus, Rose's future, husband, he instantly leaps to his feet and demands the "bastard" get out.
** Robert only saying he disagrees with Tom cursing... but he agrees entirely with him on Tim needing to leave.
* Confronted with Stowell's stunningly haughty and unpleasant attitude at Brancaster, Thomas is having exactly ''none'' of it, going even so far as defending Tom Branson from the former's snobbish comments. One season earlier, it had been Thomas who didn't want to serve Branson because he saw him as an upstart, but he will not have an outsider talk shit about ''his'' household.

* Mrs. Hughes admits to Mrs. Patmore that she thinks Carson would only be interested in a SexlessMarriage, as she's an older woman and doubts he wants to "see" her. Carson makes it clear that he absolutely wants a "full" marriage with her, as he finds her to be beautiful.
* Mr. Carson's and Mrs. Hugh's wedding.

* Despite everything he did to her, Miss Baxter supporting Thomas (when almost everybody else turned against him and snubbed him) warms the very cockles of your heart. It gets better when Thomas repays the favour by standing up for her and defending her when he thinks she's in trouble. He later comforts her and tells her that she's stronger and more well-liked than she thinks.
* Baxter asking Molesley to be there for moral support while she's being questioned by the police (because a shady character from her past - Mr. Coyle - is out on bail). Molesly has a look of concern and worry on his face the whole time, and he keeps looking like he wants to jump between them and shield her. [[spoiler:Of course, he subverts this by asking - a little jealously - if this Mr. Coyle was a handsome devil, and tries to press her into it despite her clearly not wanting to.]]

** This is followed by his saving the new footman from a poker scam, an entirely selfless act as far as we can tell. It seems Baxter's words really got through to him.

* [[spoiler: Isobel nursing Violet (who has never cared for her) back to health when she contracts bronchitis for two days straight without sleeping, eating, or drinking. Violet is so ill she doesn't know it was Isobel until Dr. Clarkson tells her that "there was no other nurse."]]
** And after learning this, [[spoiler:Violet agrees for Isobel to stop by later to check on her and even plays cards with her. This is after Violet initially came to and was so irritated with Isobel that she asked Dr. Clarkson to get that "crazy woman" out of the house as soon as possible.]]

-->'''Mary:''' It may surprise you, Mr. Ross, but if we lived in a better world, I wouldn't want you to.

* Thomas turning to Baxter when [[spoiler: he's finally broken down and can't keep going with his treatment]]. Then after all the crap he put her through she goes with him to a surprisingly understanding Dr. Clarkson. To top it all off when they're walking home she points out to him that it took a lot of strength to put himself through something like that and speculates what he could do if he put his mind to a worthier goal. Thomas being, well Thomas, just tells her she's daft but you can see by the look on his face that it made him feel just that much better about the whole ordeal.

* In the Series 4 Christmas Special, Robert being concerned about Edith. Seeing how her mother overlooks Edith most of the time and Mary seldom lets an opportunity pass to shoot some mean barb at her, it's good to see that at least Robert has indeed noticed how uneasy and absent-minded Edith is lately, and wants to make sure hse's alright.

* Mary says that Sybil told her she would be happy to have the baby be a Catholic. We never actually ''see'' this happen on screen. So, either Sybil ''did'' tell it to Mary off-screen... or Mary knows that Sybil wouldn't give a care in the world and is pulling off ''one hell of a lie'' to honour her sister's memory.
** Also the fact that Edith and Mary are in a room together and they are ''working together to honour their deceased little sister's memory!'' For once, there's no squabbling, bitching, snarking, fighting, or anything else - Sybil's honour and memory is at stake and could be besmirched, so they put it aside, at least for that.

* It's a small moment, but this troper was very touched when Cora secretly watches Sybil bake her first cake. The smile on her face just makes the scene. What's more is that the way O'Brien rats her out leaves one expecting Cora to be annoyed or more likely to laugh (given Sybil's first attempts). Instead she's so proud of her baby girl.

* Violet speaking to Matthew [[spoiler: After he gains the ability to walk again]] trying to convince him to be with Mary instead of Lavinia. Matthew gives an impassioned argument that it would simply be wrong to dismiss Lavinia when she was willing to stick with him [[spoiler: when everyone thought he would never walk again and live her life as a nursemaid]]. Violet concedes that he is acting like a man of honor and promises not to have the two of them fallout over this.

** Ditto "I think I would love you however, whatever, whenever..."
** Also on the subject of Bates and Anna: "I would marry you ''now'' if I weren't already your wife!" Oh, ''Anna!''

** The fact that unlike Rosamund and Violent when she learns the news Cora [[spoiler: doesn't think about the scandal. She ONLY cares about Edith, flat out telling the two they drove Edith away with their schemes.]]

** When Atticus reveals he is jewish Rose's only response is to be confused why it would matter. Atticus slowly lights up as he realizes that she truly doesn't care about his religion.
*** For context this was a time of heavy antisemitism in England, with Robert even mentioning that there was an uproar over Atticus' father being made a lord and the Russian exiles expressing rage at Atticus.

** The unveiling of the War Memorial,with a simple stone dedicated to Mrs. Patmore's nephew.

** The fact that the Crawleys are utterly embarassed that they don't remember Gwen and the only one to ever talk to her was Sybil. It shows how fair they've grown that they clearly feel a bit of shame over not getting to know the servants better in the past.

* When Mrs. Webb, the queen's Head Housekeeper, insultingly tells Mrs. Hughes to get lose Bates INSTANTLY barks at her to watch her tone. Anna has to place a hand on him to keep him from storming forward.