Author's Note: Hiya everyone and welcome to the pilot chapter of "A Fresh Start"! This fic is set around the same time as Downton so it's in the 1920s, just so you all know. I hope that you all like this chapter! Happy reading x
John Bates sighed and folded his arms across his chest as he watched his daughter sit on the edge of the sofa from the doorway to the sitting room one morning, his heart sinking when he saw her wipe a tear off of her cheek and tuck a brown strand of hair back behind her ear. He knew that the thought of her first day at school had troubled her over the last fortnight.
When he and her mother had first sat her down and told her – back at the start of the year – that she would be old enough to go to school in September she had been so excited and it had been all that the two of them had heard about. Her excitement, however, had vanished when her mother had walked out so that she could go and be with a much younger man.
Ever since her mother had slammed the front door, Margaret hadn't been the same. She had turned into a quiet, timid little girl who hated being anywhere that he wasn't. Knowing that the bubbly, mischievous little girl that he had once known had left with her mother broke his heart. It had been six months since Vera had left them and he still hadn't forgiven her for it.
He doubted he ever would.
After watching his little girl for a few moments longer he walked into the room and began to approach her, a loving smile appearing on his lips when she lifted her head and looked into his eyes. He sat down beside her on the settee once he had reached it before putting his arm around her waist and pulling her close whilst pressing his lips to her temple in a simple kiss.
'We'll have to start walking soon, my love.' He said to her. 'You can't be late on your first day.'
He brushed his thumb against her hip through her skirt when she tilted her head back on his shoulder so that she could look up at him. 'I don't want to go, daddy,' She told him with soft tears in her eyes, 'I want to stay here with you.' When a tear left her eye and rolled down her cheek, he felt his heart sink and brought his hand to her face to wipe the tear from her skin.
'Maggie…' He sighed, 'is there a reason why you don't want to go to school?'
The seven-year-old sat in silence for a couple of seconds as her hands twisted together in her lap. 'What if Miss Smith doesn't like me?' She asked him when she made herself look up into his eyes again. 'What if the other children don't like me and I don't make friends with them?'
'I'm sure that Miss Smith is going to like you, darling,' He ran his hand over her hair, 'and I am sure that the other kids in your class are going to like you and want to be friends with you.'
Margaret sucked on her lower lip. 'Can I take Jasper with me?'
John chuckled. He knew how much she adored the stuffed bear that he had given to her for Christmas last year. 'Do you think that having Jasper with you will help you to have a good day at school?' He raised her brow at her, Margaret nodding in response with a gentle smile.
'All right.' He pressed a kiss onto her forehead. 'Why don't you run upstairs and find him and then we can get your coat and shoes on when you come back down?' He suggested to her.
'Okay, daddy.' She replied before sliding off of the settee and running out of the sitting room.
Once she had left the sitting room to run upstairs, John shook his head in slight disbelief that she was his to love and to take care of for the rest of his life. He was so blessed to have such a beautiful, gentle, loving little girl and he was determined to tell her a such every single day.
She was his reason for living and he knew that the love he had for her would never falter.
No matter what happened.
It was a little while later when he and Margaret reached the schoolhouse, Margaret grasping his hand in hers whilst she held Jasper's paw in her other hand and there was a somewhat nervous expression on her face. 'You're going to be fine, sweetheart, I promise.' John stroked her knuckles with his thumb to comfort her when she glanced up at him. 'Just be yourself.'
The two of them then shared a smile before he looked at the schoolyard and a smile formed on his lips when he saw a young woman with blonde hair walking over to them. He knew that it was Miss Smith. He was able to remember her from the long meeting that he had had with her before the summer break had begun. 'Daddy, who's that?' Margaret asked softly.
'That's Miss Smith,' He told her with a squeeze of her hand, 'your teacher.'
It took a few moments for Miss Smith to reach them, but when she did she gave them both a smile. 'It's Mr. Bates, isn't it?' She raised her brow when she allowed herself to meet his gaze.
'That's right,' He nodded before releasing Margaret's hand and resting his hand on her back, 'and this is my daughter, Margaret.' He watched Miss Smith turn her attention to Margaret.
'Hello.' She smiled after lowering herself to her height. She could tell that she was nervous by the way that she took a step closer to her father. 'Your daddy told me all about you when I had a meeting with him a little while ago and he told me that you're very good at reading. Is that true?' She felt a wave of relief hit her when Margaret nodded at her with a little smile.
'I like reading.' The seven-year-old admitted.
She returned her smile. 'What kind of books do you like to read?'
'The Winnie the Pooh ones are my favourite,' Margaret told her, 'but I like others too.'
'Would you like to do some reading after lunchtime?' Miss Smith raised her brow.
'Yes, please.' Margaret's eyes lit up.
'All right.' Miss Smith replied. 'You can even choose what book we read if you would like to.'
She revelled in the happiness that she saw on the young girl's face before her gaze fell to the teddy that she was holding. 'Who's this?' She asked after pointing to the stuffed teddy bear.
'His name's Jasper.' Margaret pulled her bear closer. 'He wanted to come to school too.'
'Do you want to know something?' Miss Smith asked.
'Mmm hmm.' Margaret hummed.
'I have a new kitten called Jasper.' She revealed.
Margaret gasped and looked up at her father which made both him and Miss Smith chuckle. 'If I let Jasper come to school today, does he promise to listen and do as he's told?' Miss Smith asked her, her heart swelling when she started to pretend to speak to the white teddy-bear.
'He says that he will.' Margaret reassured her. 'He's a good listener and he's very smart, too.'
'I'm glad to hear it.' Miss Smith giggled. 'Now, I think it's time for us to go inside.'
Margaret turned to her father at Miss Smith's words before taking his hand in hers again and giving it a gentle squeeze. 'Are you going to be okay without me today, daddy?' She asked.
John couldn't help but chuckle.
He couldn't love her more.
'I think I'll be all right, precious.' He reassured her before kneeling down so that he was level with her. 'Can I have a cuddle before you have to go in, though?' He opened his arms to her.
'Yep.' She beamed before wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling his shoulder.
'I love you so much.' He whispered into her ear.
'I love you too.' She said before pulling back from him and turning to Miss Smith again.
When Miss Smith offered her hand to her she slipped hers into it and blessed her with a soft smile. 'Miss Smith?' John looked her in the eye before she had chance to take his daughter with her to the schoolhouse. 'Would you mind keeping a close eye on her for me? She's still not over her mother leaving and she can go from laughing to being in tears in moments.'
'I'll keep an eye on her, I promise.' She reassured him with a smile. 'And please, call me Anna.'
'Thank you.' He replied. 'I'll see you later, Maggie, all right?'
Margaret nodded. 'Bye-bye, daddy.'
'Bye-bye, darling.' He tucked a brown hair back behind her ear.
When Anna began to lead Margaret to the schoolhouse by the hand he felt his eyes start to burn with tears. It was hard for him to believe that his little girl was no longer the baby that she had once been. He was no longer able to protect her from the world and she no longer needed him to do everything for her. The years were passing far too fast and he loathed it.
He couldn't deny that he was proud of her though.
She was so independent and so mature for her age and everything she did astounded him.
She was his pride and joy and he wanted the whole world to know it.
'Now…' Anna turned to her class again after coming up with another math problem on the chalkboard, 'who can answer this one? If Jack goes to the shops and buys three sweets, but then he meets a friend who gives him nine sweets, how many sweets does he have now?'
She leaned against her desk whilst she watched her students work out the problem on their slates, a smile appearing on her lips when Margaret put up her hand after a few moments. 'What do you think, Margaret?' She asked her after heading over to the desk she was sat at.
'Jack has twelve sweets.' The seven-year-old told her.
'He does indeed.' She nodded with a smile before leaving her desk to walk back over to the chalkboard. 'Do you want to tell the rest of the class how you got the answer?' She asked.
Margaret looked down at her slate. 'I did nine plus three and the answer was twelve.'
After writing the equation that Margaret had given her down on the chalkboard, she turned back to the class. 'Well done, Margaret.' She smiled before turning her attention to the other pupils. 'Addition can always be made easier if you add the smaller number to the bigger one instead of the other way around.' She explained to them all. 'It also helps you to do it faster.'
When she looked up at the clock that was on the wall she saw that there were two minutes until lunchtime and smiled at her pupils. 'You can wipe off your slates now and bring them and your pencils over to my desk. Then you can stand behind your chairs and get ready for lunch.' She told them before going around to the other side of her desk and sitting down.
The children brought their things to her desk and piled them up faster than she had thought they would and she sighed when she saw them all standing in perfect silence behind their chairs. 'When we come back in after dinner we're going to be reading a book and then we'll have just enough time for an art lesson before home-time.' She said to all thirteen of them.
Just moments after she finished talking she heard the clanging of the school bell.
'All right then, off you go,' She dismissed them, 'but remember to walk until you're outside.'
The children chatted to one another as they began to leave the room but, before Caitlyn Key had chance to leave the room, Anna called her over. 'Yes, Miss Smith?' The little girl asked.
'I was wondering if you would do something for me.' Anna smiled.
'Of course.' Caitlyn nodded.
'Margaret Bates is very quiet and shy and she doesn't seem to have made any friends yet, so I was wondering if…if maybe you would go and have lunch with her? I'm sure that Margaret would like that and you have such a caring nature. What do you think?' She raised her brow.
'I'll go and find her.' Caitlyn told her. 'I could ask her if she wants to play hopscotch as well.'
Anna felt a surge of pride course through her veins. 'Thank you, darling, I really appreciate it.'
She and Caitlyn shared one last smile before the seven-year-old turned to go out of the room with her satchel in her hand, Anna sighing as she leaned back in her chair and opened the file that was on top of the pile on her desk so that she would be able to finish working on it.
'Miss Smith, Miss Smith!' Not even ten minutes later, the sound of Caitlyn's voice reached her.
She looked up from the file in front of her just in time to see the fair-haired girl hurry into the classroom. 'What is it, Caitlyn?' She asked her as the concern was unmistakable in her eyes.
'Jack and Walter are teasing Margaret! I went to find a marker so that I could play hopscotch with Margaret and then I saw Jack take Jasper from her. I told him to give it back to her, but he pushed me over and now Margaret's crying because he and Walter keep picking on her.' Caitlyn told her, her breathing a little heavy from how fast she had been running to get her.
Anna felt her heart sink before she pushed back her chair and rose from her desk. 'Come on.'
She took Caitlyn's hand in her own before leaving the classroom with her and walking down the hall to the door that led out to the schoolyard. Sure enough, when the two of them got outside she saw Jack hold Jasper out of Margaret's reach and laugh at her with Walter whilst she cried and tried to get her bear back. 'Those boys.' She muttered underneath her breath.
Jack dropped the bear and made to walk off with Walter when the two of them noticed that she was walking over to them. 'Don't even think of going anywhere.' She snapped at them both, the boys stopping in their tracks and turning back to her at the sound of her voice. She glared at the two of them before releasing Caitlyn's hand and turning to look at Margaret.
'Are you alright, sweetheart?' She softened her voice as she got down to Margaret's height.
'Jack…Jack took J…Jasper off of me.' Margaret hyperventilated through her sobs.
'I know,' Anna soothed before running a hand over her hair, 'but he didn't hurt you?'
Margaret shook her head as the tears streamed down her cheeks and she held Jasper tightly to her chest. 'I don't want to play outside anymore. Please can I stay with you?' She sniffled.
'Of course you can.' Anna nodded whilst wiping the tears off of her cheeks with the palm of her hand. 'Do you want Caitlyn to take you back inside whilst I speak to Jack and Walter?'
Margaret nodded.
'Would you mind, Caitlyn?' She turned to look at the fair-haired girl before noticing the scrape that was on her knee from when Jack pushed her. 'I'll clean your knee and pop a plaster on it when I come inside, all right?' Caitlyn nodded with a smile before walking up to Margaret.
Anna then watched as she led her back towards the schoolhouse whilst rubbing her back to comfort her a little, her expression changing when she turned back to Jack and Walter. 'I've had to tell the two of you off four times in the last two hours for picking on people.' She was aware that she was growling at the two of them, but – if she was honest – she didn't care.
'We were just playing with Margaret, Miss,' Jack replied, 'it was just a game.'
Anna scoffed. 'What I just saw wasn't playing, Jack Prior, that was bullying. It's only playing if the other person finds it fun and I can tell you right now that Margaret found that anything but fun.' She watched the boys cast their eyes down to the ground when she glared at them again. 'Now, you can both spend the remainder of lunch sitting in silence in the classroom.'
'Yes, Miss.' Jack and Walter replied.
'The two of you can also explain yourselves to the headmaster.' She told them.
When the boys looked up at her again they looked rather confused until she gestured to the left with her head, their confusion becoming nervousness when they saw that Mr. Molesley was walking over to them. 'Is everything all right, Miss Smith?' He asked after reaching them.
'Not quite.' She replied. 'These two seem to think that it's hilarious to torment and pick on my other pupils. I've just come outside to find Margaret Bates in floods of tears due to Mr. Prior.'
When Mr. Molesley turned his head in Jack and Walter's direction they could tell that he was irritated. 'We had this problem last year.' He reminded them with a crease in his brow. 'You both promised that we wouldn't have a repeat of what happened.' Jack and Walter glanced at each other before looking back up at Miss Smith and Mr. Molesley with burning cheeks.
'Sorry, Sir.' The two of them replied in unison.
'What do you think we should do, Miss Smith?' Mr. Molesley turned to Anna.
She folded her arms across his chest as she looked at the boys before meeting his gaze. 'Well, I've said that they have to spend the rest of lunchtime in my classroom. I don't think I'll bring their parents in this time, but I'll be telling their parents and Caitlyn and Margaret's parents. If it happens again though, boys,' She turned back to them, 'your parents will be telephoned.'
Jack and Walter gave her a silent nod.
'Right then. Inside, both of you.' She ordered. 'Thank you, Mr. Molesley.'
After sharing a smile with her employer she went back inside the schoolhouse with the boys and led them back to the classroom. 'I don't want the two of you sitting together. Jack, you sit on this side of the room and Walter, I want you on the other side from now on.' The boys didn't respond to her, deciding instead to just do as she had ordered and go and sit down.
Once the two of them were at their desks she walked to the front of the classroom and gave Margaret and Caitlyn a smile. 'Are you feeling better now, sweet-pea?' She asked when she took Margaret's hand in her own and brushed her thumb across her knuckles, a sigh of pure happiness escaping her when Margaret nodded up at her and gave her a charming smile.
'Would you like me to go and get a plaster for your knee, Caitlyn?' She turned to her.
'I'll be all right.' Caitlyn shook her head. 'It doesn't hurt anymore.'
'Okay.' Anna replied. 'I've spoken to the boys now and they won't bother you again, I swear.'
Margaret and Caitlyn smiled at her.
'Miss Smith, please can I choose a book now? Earlier on you said that I could.' Margaret said.
'I did, didn't I?' Anna rested a hand on Margaret's knee. 'Do you want Caitlyn to help you?'
'Yes,' She said, 'come on, Caitlyn!'
As the girls rose from their desks and hurried over to the bookcase, Anna got to her feet and walked back over to her desk before sitting down and smiling as she watched them choose a book together. She loved all of the children that she taught, even Jack and Walter, but she had a soft spot for Margaret and Caitlyn. They were the sweetest girls she had ever known.
And she knew that the two of them were going to be firm friends.
Anna stroked Margaret's waist through her coat when she was sat beside her on one of the benches in the schoolyard whilst they waited for John to come for her later that afternoon, Margaret's head resting on her shoulder as she leaned against her and cuddled with Jasper. She had just talked to Jack and Walter and Caitlyn's parents about the issue at lunch and it seemed to her that – judging by how strict the boys' parents had been – it would be sorted.
She knew that she was probably being stupid, but – as she sat with Margaret snuggled into her – she felt as though she had let her down in some way. Earlier that morning, John had asked her to keep an eye on Margaret for him because of how down she still was about her mother leaving and she had sworn to him that she would. Then she had been busy during lunch and, because of that, Jack and Walter had teased her and caused her to break down.
She had broken her promise to John and that hurt her more than she had thought it would.
'Miss Smith?' She lowered her gaze to Margaret when she tilted her head back to look at her.
'Yes, my lovely?' She tightened her hold of her.
'Thank you for making me feel better earlier and for letting me read to everyone after lunch.' Margaret smiled before snuggling further into her, Anna's heart swelling within her chest.
'It's my job to help you feel better when you're upset, Maggie.' She reminded her.
'I know.' Margaret replied. 'You're the best teacher in the world, Miss Smith.'
Tears of happiness sprung to Anna's eyes.
She knew that most of the children that she taught loved her and that they liked her lessons, but she had never had a student tell her something so precious before. Then again, she had never had a little girl like Margaret Bates in a class before either. 'That's so nice of you to say, Margaret, thank you.' She smiled before resting her chin atop her head and sighing quietly.
The two of them sat in silence together for a few minutes after that before Margaret gasped and lifted her head off of her shoulder when she saw her father walking in the direction of the schoolyard. 'Daddy!' She squealed before sliding off of the bench and running as fast as she could in her father's direction. When she reached him she wound her arms around his waist and buried her face in his stomach, her lips curling into a smile as he stroked her hair.
'There's my princess.' John chuckled when she looked up at him.
He ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek before he looked at Anna when she stopped in front of him. 'Has she been good for you?' He inquired as he offered her a friendly smile.
'She's been as good as gold all day.' She replied. 'She's a credit to you, Mr. Bates, a real credit.'
'I'm glad.' He looked down at Margaret again for a moment with pride in his eyes.
After clearing her throat, Anna said: 'There was a small issue at lunchtime. One of the boys in the class took Jasper from Margaret and started teasing her. She did get a bit upset about it, but I stepped in and spoke to the boys and their parents will be putting punishments in place for them at home. I know that you asked me to keep an eye on her, but I had to finish filing something at lunch and so I was a little preoccupied for a while, but I…' John chuckled softly.
'Breathe, Miss Smith.' He told her.
She took a deep breath before blushing and smiling at him. 'I'm sorry.'
'There's no need to apologise.' He reassured her as he held Margaret close to him. 'You have a lot to do and I understand that you're too busy to keep an eye on her every second of the day. When I asked you to keep an eye on her, I just meant that I wanted you to check on her every now and again and make sure she's coping.' He laid a hand on her shoulder through her blouse and she felt her heart race within her chest at his touch. 'Never apologise to me.'
She looked into his eyes for a few seconds before his hand left her shoulder and she lowered her gaze to Margaret. 'Are you going to get that painting finished before tomorrow so I can pin it up on the wall?' She asked with a raise of her brow before Margaret nodded whilst she held onto her father's hand. 'Good girl. Right then, I suppose I should let the two of you get off home.' She looked at both Margaret and John. 'Goodnight.' She said to the two of them.
'Goodnight, Miss Smith.' They replied in unison before the three of them parted.
As he led his little girl further away from the schoolhouse whilst she told him about all of the things that she had done through the day, he glanced over his shoulder to watch Anna go back through the schoolyard. When she had spoken to Margaret a few seconds ago he had been able to see the affection that she had for her shining in her eyes and he had loved it.
Knowing that she had a soft-spot for her and was looking out for her put his mind at rest.
He knew that his little girl was going to be alright.
'Daddy?' John turned his head on his pillow when his bedroom door creaked open when he was lying in bed in the dark that night, a sigh escaping him when Margaret stepped inside.
'What are you doing awake, darling? I thought you were sleeping hours ago.' He whispered.
He saw her shake her head as the light from the landing came into the room. 'Is it all right if I come and sleep with you in your bed tonight? I don't want to be on my own.' She told him.
'Come on.' He drew back the quilt as he saw her eyes light up and waited for her to close the door and climb into bed beside him before allowing the quilt to drift back into place. 'I don't want to be on my own tonight either, to be honest.' He wrapped both arms around her little waist once she had shuffled into them, her head coming to rest on his chest before he gave the crown of her head a kiss. 'Do you know why you can't fall asleep, love?' He asked gently.
She shook her head on his chest. 'Maybe I learned too much at school.'
'Is Miss Smith a good teacher?' He raised his brow before she moved her head from his chest to his shoulder and settled in his arms again, her fingers playing with his nightshirt buttons.
'She's the best teacher in the whole entire world, daddy! She's so nice and smart and she has some of the best jokes ever!' She revealed to him whilst she gazed into his eyes and giggled.
'Better jokes than mine?' He feigned offence.
She shook her head before snuggling further into him. 'No-one has better jokes than you.'
'I'm glad to hear it.' He smirked against her temple when he pressed a kiss to it. 'Now, angel, I think it's time we try to get a little sleep. You have school again tomorrow and I highly doubt that Miss Smith wants you falling asleep at your desk.' He stroked her hair with his fingertips.
'Okay, daddy,' She grasped his nightshirt in her hand and settled down, 'night-night.'
'Night-night, beautiful…' He whispered into the darkness, 'sweet dreams.'
Author's Note: Thank you all for reading this pilot chapter and I hope that you all liked it! Please let me know if you did with a review and - if you want more - I'll see you all in the next chapter x