A/N: This was originally written as part of a Secret Santa gift for miss-ute. I'm now posting it here as part of a ficlet collection, with at least two more upcoming chapters :) Thank you PBS for the title heh heh.

Disclaimer: I don't own Downton Abbey.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SERIES 6

"One should never be ashamed to cry. Tears are rain on the dust of earth." –Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

The first time she felt the movement, she was taken by surprise. She'd never made it this far into a pregnancy before to feel this fluttering within her, and upon realizing what it was, she was so overwhelmed, tears forming in her eyes as paused in making her way down the gallery to Lady Mary's room.

Anna chose not to share this milestone with her though, wanting John to be the first to know. She felt she had deprived him in the early weeks, because she was so afraid of getting his—and her own—hopes up. But bad harvest, bad harvest. Of course, he was very understanding, but she knew how much he wanted to be kept aware of what was happening.

He was overjoyed at the news, his hand sliding down for a swift pat of her abdomen in the servants' corridor. They still hadn't told all the others yet, Anna still wanting to maintain a high level of cautiousness. But it was that action that reminded her that that he couldn't feel it for himself –not yet.

As she grew larger, she eagerly anticipated the kicking that was sure to be coming soon. Lady Mary joked that it felt like the Master George had been using her organs as playthings, but to Anna, it was a sign that one of their dreams was finally coming true, after all the heartbreak that had come before it.

She snuggled close to him in bed, her head against John's side. He had one arm around her, his hand gently rubbing her expanding middle in circles. In his other was a novel that Anna was only half paying attention to, John's voice carrying her off through her tiredness to sleep.

But suddenly she was awakened by a jolt. He stopped his caresses, his hand hovering lightly over her bump.

Anna looked up at him in wonder but then grabbed his hand, pressing it down a little further than he had had it earlier. It was met with a kick in greeting.

"Is that—"

"Yes, yes it is." Her eyes were watery, her voice was soft and almost cracking. "That's our baby, John."

They grinned in amazement, at awe of the sensation. Finally she whispered, "I think he is saying 'hello.'"

John raised an eyebrow. "'He?'"

She laughed the most pure of giggles. "Yes, and he wants to say hello to his daddy."

He almost choked out a sob. Soon they would be parents and it was just too overwhelming and at times surreal. But this… this made it all very real. And to see Anna so happy like this warmed John's heart to no end.

"Well," he said, bending down and directing his words to the swell of her stomach, "Daddy says hello back, and that he and Mummy can't wait to meet you properly." He stroked where their child lay within her.

She laced her fingers with his, too overcome at this sight. She felt that could chose to live in this moment she would. But she knew that the greatest moments were still yet to come.

A/N: Thank you for reading and for the reviews on my previous fics! Always appreciated. :)