A/N: Finally, I began my multi-chapter, "What I Headcanon For A/B Post S6CS" fic, although you will see that we backtrack a bit. ;)
In this first chapter, I took a few liberties here to give into a headcanon of mine that's not really all that historically accurate but as Fellowes managed not contradict it, I can go with it ;)
Disclaimer: I do not own Downton Abbey.
This chapter contains scenes from S6CS, so further disclaimer that I used Fellowes' words.
Warnings: References to past miscarriages.
Chapter 1: Prologue
31 December, 1925
"Congratulations, Mrs Bates, you have a son!" Dr Clarkson exclaimed over the most precious sound – the wail of a baby. Their baby.
Things that at the beginning of the year, she thought she'd never hear. Anna glanced up at John, teary eyed, her hand still clutching his. Utterly exhausted, she now was filled with euphoria.
It seemed like eternity – there was another slight pain of the afterbirth – but finally the nurse placed the baby into her arms, swathed in a towel. They had already been aching to hold him. It felt odd not to be physically connected to him anymore, out now into the world. Her body had not been able to carry him without help, but the treatment of the stitch (which had been removed about a week ago) had ensured his safety, allowing them to eventually reach this momentous occasion.
"Say hello to your mama," said the nurse, who had come when Dr Clarkson had rang the hospital asking for someone to assist him.
But rather than that, the newborn instead quieted, feeling safe. He peered up at Anna, and now seemed contented.
Despite the pains of labor, it still seemed to feel so surreal, that this wonderful little human being was hers. Hers and John's. They had a baby. They had a son.
"Hello there, little one," Anna managed to get out, her voice barely above a whisper. "We are so very glad that you are here." She carefully ran a finger down his soft arm, and he seemed to like that, as he gurgled a bit in response. She finally tore her eyes away from the baby, just a second, to look up at John, the widest grin filling his face, but his own eyes as teary as hers.
John caressed their son's face with his knuckle, his hand dwarfing the little boy. "Oh Anna," he breathed, "he's perfect."
"That's because he's part you, and part me," she said softly, now counting the fingers on their son's small hand. It was so magical, that he had come from her, made up of both of them, made with their love. Her heart did twinge in pain for a second, and she sent a quick prayer to her lost children-never-to-be, gone so early on. The baby in her arms was indeed a miracle, so longed for.
She'd imagined this scene for years, and now that it had finally happened, she wasn't sure all what to say, other than that she was bursting with so much love and joy.
Then the infant crumpled up his face to cry.
"He's hungry," said the nurse who was suddenly hovering over her. The instructions were simple enough and he latched right on. It was a new and strange sensation, but wonderful. Anna felt it helped to solidify her new role in life – a mother. John beamed beside her. They were in their own little world.
When the baby was done, he gurgled to her in thanks. She shifted him to pat him on his back, and after, the nurse returned beside the bed.
"While we clean him up, we'll get you cleaned up as well."
It was somewhat a flurry, Lady Mary – who Anna had forgotten was in the room – scurried about, and then passed over another nightgown, and with a little bed jacket. Anna only now just fully realized how sore she was, but she did not mind. She knew it was worth it. Her ladyship and the nurse fussed over her. To be honest, Anna barely taken much notice the nurse these past hours, but surely she was helpful during the delivery. Anna mostly remembered upon her arrival, Dr Clarkson filling her in with, "this is Mrs Bates' first," and Anna's heart soaring with the prospect of more children. A first means that perhaps one day there could be a second, even a third that she carried to term. The feelings of devastation that this wasn't her first pregnancy had ebbed with time, as she had become both larger and confident as this one had progressed. Certainly though, most women in the throes of labor did not even want to considering going through this again, but if it brought her this much joy... Lady Rose had been right. But really, given all of the hardships and heartbreaks, and how long she had longed for and waited for this, she'd go through pregnancy and childbirth as many times as God allowed, especially now she knew the procedure did truly work.
Finally settling back into the pillows – all four of them, her ladyship was indeed pampering her – she waited impatiently for them to return the baby to her.
But then she saw that John was now holding their precious bundle, and now more emotions overwhelmed her, at the amazement of the sight. So small in his daddy's arms. The baby now was wrapped in a cream colored blanket that must have been procured at some moment, although he poked one of his arms to flail about, uncoordinated. John, enraptured, tried to cover it back up, but it slid off again. He glanced up, smiling, and went over to the bed.
"You can hold him a little while longer, if you like," she said softly.
John had a twinkle in his eye. "I think for all your hard work, you deserve to hold him more first."
Anna chose not to argue with that, as she was itching to cradle their child in her arms again. She had to admit she did not like the separation, not after carrying him nine months. She knew that he'd continue to depend on them for quite some time, and of course she'd still nourish him for a while longer. They performed the first sacred transfer of their beloved treasure, John then settling down beside her on the bed.
Dr Clarkson and the nurse excused themselves, the physician commenting that he'd check up on them sometime tomorrow, and giving them both a clean bill of health.
But at some point, Mr Talbot had entered the room. It was only fair, it was his bedroom.
Suddenly the reverie crumbled a bit. Anna was not at home in the cottage like she had always imagined, like she had planned. While Lady Mary had saved her from being jostled home in the midst of labor, now she was taking up the bed of the daughter of an earl.
Ever the obedient servant, she tried to make amends. "I'd like to go on working, m'lady. If we can sort out the baby." Her voice was still low. She and John had discussed it, that if she really wanted to, she could go back into service for a bit, in a limited capacity perhaps, just until they finally bought the hotel. They had struggled a bit in selling his mother's home, and they had chosen to wait until the baby was born to really look into properties, John adamant that he did not want Anna to strain herself in the last months of pregnancy.
She held onto her son's little hand, very well aware that right now she really would prefer just hold him rather than doing any sorting out.
Lady Mary, who was now seated at the end of the bed, smiled, perhaps understanding how Anna felt, perhaps not. "We'll have him here in the nursery during the day. To be followed by a young Talbot in due course. And then we'll see." Her ladyship furtively glanced at Mr Talbot, but Anna and John did not really notice. They just beamed. A servants' child in the family's nursery was a generous offer, but also a radical idea. And yet one that would satisfy their needs. For now. And it did make it more sufferable to return to work if they could pop in and see their son when they needed to… wanted to… maybe he could come downstairs sometimes…
However, they didn't have much time to think too much on it. At the door were Lord and Lady Grantham. Everyone else stood, but Anna didn't even have the compulsion. She instead just stroked her dear little one's arm. His lordship might be an earl, but her baby was a prince.
"Ah. I've come to summon Lady Mary and Mr Talbot downstairs to see the new year in with us." He gestured to John with the tray in his hands, a bottle of champagne and two glasses. "This is for you."
"Thank you, m'lord, that's very kind," said John, knowing that his lordship meant well, even if neither he nor Anna were going to drink it.
"Is it that time already?" Lady Mary asked.
Lord Grantham set the down the tray, Anna still not really acknowledging his presence.
"Did Edith get off all right?" she continued, as if she was now just realizing that she had missed her sister's wedding reception. Thankfully her parents did not comment on what she chose to spend her time doing instead.
"Oh yes, hours ago." Lady Grantham grinned and slowly approached the bed, and changed the subject. "Is this the new arrival?"
Anna looked up and nodded, still stroking her little one's arm. She was unsure what to say, feeling overwhelmed.
John answered, his voice thick with emotion. "It is, m'lady. I am a father and I have a son."
He looked down at his family, and Anna looked back up him.
"We have a son, John," she said, equally emotional. She didn't even realize her slip up of using his first name in front of others.
It was the first time that they verbalized that they were indeed parents.
They beamed at other and their baby gurgled, as if to say, "yes, I am their son!" Anna immediately looked back down to him, her instinct now as a mother. How clever he was already!
"Congratulations to you both," his lordship commented.
The valet nodded in thanks.
Anna's cheeks were still flushed with the exhaustion of labor, which hid the blush that would have otherwise crept onto her face. She did never really liked being the center of attention.
John didn't mind showing off, the pride of his family bursting out of him, but gazing upon his wife and child, the most perfect picture, one he had longed so much for, he did want to urge the others out.
"I'm ever so sorry to be in here." Anna looked sheepish, as their gazes reminded her once again of the odd circumstances.
"We'll be gone as soon as she's able," her husband chimed in.
Lady Mary was not fussed at all, however. "Oh don't worry about that. We ought to go down. Happy New Year."
Anna couldn't help but grin, radiating joy like a sun goddess. She continued to lightly stroke the baby's hand as the others filed out, and the Bates family was alone at last.
John returned to his place beside them on the bed, and Anna shifted, leaning into his solid and secure form. The baby leaned with her, the motion showing him off once more to his father.
"Thank you," he said simply, even though the words carried so much weight.
"There's no need for that. You know I've wanted this as much as you," she responded sincerely.
"It's just… when I boarded that milk train to Downton all those years ago… I didn't think that all this was possible. Love, a family…"
She smiled at him but blinked back tears.
"You changed my life in ways I did not dare hope. And every day I am grateful for that. I am grateful for you. And I am so proud of you, too." He wrapped arm around her, bringing her closer.
"You changed my life too, you know." She laughed a little, hoping to keep the tears at bay. "I was a housemaid in my late twenties, my path in life was probably going to be a lady's maid, just waiting it out for Lady Mary to marry. I mean… I was happy with my lot, but I didn't know what true happiness was until you."
He smiled and planted a kiss on her temple.
"We've had to overcome so much, and I don't know how I would haven't gotten through it without you," her voice growing quiet.
"I could say the very same to you. And even more so."
She took a deep breath. "It got us here though." She inclined her head to the precious bundle in her arms. "It brought us him, and I wouldn't trade him for the world."
John's heart swelled with even more pride than he knew was possible. This wonderful person loved him, was his wife, and now the mother of his child. They'd been to hell and back – her especially, in his opinion – but here was a dream of theirs finally fulfilled.
"I love you," he said simply, knowing that she'd know just how fierce and immense that love was.
"And I love you." She replied, with that same knowledge, reversed.
John placed his other hand under the baby's head. Their son had fallen into a peaceful sleep.
The din of the servants' hall quieted as Lord Grantham entered, a grin plastered on his face.
"Anna's had the baby! A little boy!"
Awws filled the room and Mrs Hughes and Miss Baxter both clasped their hands in happiness.
"Both mother and child are doing very well, and I do believe are still accepting visitors for a bit longer if any of you'd like pop by."
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"One of the happiest days I have ever had," she replied with a smile.
He smirked. "I meant physically, and I know you know I did."
"The adrenaline from all the joy is what I primarily feel—" a glare from John told her not to dodge the question "—but this has also been the most worn out I have ever been. And I'll admit a little to being sore, but that's to be expected."
Before John could speak again, the clock bells through out the abbey began to chime. It was midnight.
Anna's thumb lightly caressed their son's arm, as she turned to John. "Happy New Year."
How wonderful it was to begin this New Year with this new chapter in their lives.
They leaned in and kissed. The motion or perhaps the bells woke the baby from his slumber and he lifted his chin up to his parents and gurgled. Anna giggled, so delighted, as they both looked down at their son, beaming with joy.
"Happy New Year!" she directed to their newborn, stroking his arm as she let out a laugh, grin on her face. John joined in, chuckling. The newest member of the family did not want to be left out of the celebrations.
She leaned down a little and gave him a light kiss on his forehead, which elicited more gurgles. He opened his eyes to peek through at them.
"I suppose we ought to start calling you by your name, although we could just call you Baby Bates," she teased. They had only recently discussed names, Anna too worried to plan too much. "Do you look like a 'William'?"
"He definitely looks like a Smith to me at any rate. He has your coloring."
"Well, I definitely see Bates in him," she countered. "Really though, he is a mix of us. And the name 'William John Bates' would reflect that."
She turned her attention back to the baby. "We could call you 'Will' for short. Do you like that?"
Will decided that he did and emitted another coo.
"My father, your grandfather, did teach me the phrase 'bad harvest' so it's only fitting I think. And it's also fitting to have your own father's name in there as well, even if he does not like it."
"I did concede to it being the second name," John interjected.
Anna grinned, playing with the baby's hand again. It was so surreal still, even with him having a proper name now.
The door to the bedroom opened a peep, slowly. Only John took notice, and saw Mrs Hughes' eyes peering through. He motioned for her to enter, and she and Mr Carson came in, softly closing the door behind them.
The Carsons took in the sight of Anna, besotted with her newborn, both in the matching color of cream, almost like Madonna with child.
The new mother finally looked up.
When the staff had learned she was pregnant—well, Anna was pretty sure that the housekeeper and cook had already guessed, and she did feel a tingle of guilt for not telling them earlier—they fawned over her, perhaps like a daughter they never had. Well, the majority. John was then able to more publicly fuss over her, and they joined in. As much as she didn't like the extra attention, it did warm her heart so much about how happy they were for them. The acknowledgement that she was in the family way was also that of course they had a family member on the way, and even that alone had made her feel wonderful. It was unprecedented to have a pregnant lady's maid—Mr Carson made that clear—but the rest of the staff's treatment of it as it if normal paired with their exuberance made it feel like everything was as it was meant to be for once. She did have a niggle that they probably all thought it was a long time coming, but for every time she heard "you two will make wonderful parents," she was filled with tremendous joy.
Mrs Hughes' reaction that night was to be expected, immediately cooing at the bundle in Anna's arms. The wee bairn, as she put it, was "perfectly beautiful."
Mr Carson's cool exterior seemed to melt upon seeing Will. Anna knew that he had a penchant for children in his heart, and all his exasperations about a lady's maid – or any staff member – in that condition still being in the Abbey's employ seemingly disappeared in that instant. He then shook hands with John, the gesture of male pride.
The other servants filed in quietly. Thankfully, little William was mostly in awe of his visitors, only grizzling slightly. John noted that Thomas was among them, but it didn't bother him so much. Nothing really could in this moment anyway. But he knew that Anna had reached out to the other man to advise him through tough times, with much understanding given all she had been through.
"He looks quite long," Mrs Patmore quipped, peering around the others gathered around to bed to get a look.
"I'm hoping this means he'll be tall like his father," Anna replied, grinning.
"Oh, we've forgotten to ask what his name is!" Mrs Hughes exclaimed, albeit it quietly.
"William John Bates," John said proudly.
Anna noticed the expression on Daisy's face. "After my father," she explained, "but we also of course were fond of our William here too. It's a very strong name."
The assistant cook nodded and smiled. "It really is."
"'John' of course is Mr Bates' first name, in case you have all forgotten," Anna added in a jovial tone, grinning back up at her husband, who almost rolled his eyes bemused.
The others laughed, Mr Molesley trying to stifle his own giggle that he felt was too loud. Maybe one day Miss Baxter would call him 'Joseph.'
Mrs Hughes then decided to usher them out, but that Andy and one of the others would bring in a cot for Will. Anna tried to protest, but the housekeeper was firm, this was Lady Mary's wishes and that her ladyship and Mr Talbot would stay in one of the other rooms – there wasn't that many wedding guests spending the night, thankfully.
It was after they chorused their congratulations and bid their adieus that Anna finally began to blink back sleep. The baby had already fallen back into a slumber. As her eyes drooped with tiredness, the footmen returned with a bassinet. They shuffled off once more, and Anna shifted, knowing that she'd have to relinquish holding her son. At least for now; he'd probably need her again sooner than later. The movement though reminded her of how sore she was and she winced slightly.
"Here," said John, as he got up and carefully rounded the bed. She passed their child to him just as carefully, and he gently laid him in cot. It was close enough and just at the right height that Anna could still reach him, and she placed her hand gently on his chest.
"Goodnight, little one."
John leaned down again and gave Will a kiss on the crown of his head. Anna beamed at them, the joy still very full in her heart even as she tried to suppress a yawn.
He now drew his attention back to her. "I think it's time for you to get some sleep, you've had a very long day." He grinned with pride, and cupped her face with his hand, caressing her cheek. How much he loved her, and how much he loved their son.
She nodded, and adjusted herself to be as comfortable as possible. He leaned down and their lips met for another quick kiss.
"Goodnight Mummy." John whispered. Oh how much that meant to her, when once she had been afraid she'd never become one and be called that.
"Goodnight Daddy," Anna replied, and she drifted off.
A/N: So my headcanon is that John was allowed in the room. Men were traditionally allowed to pop in the room during labor but shooed out before delivery, however we don't when exactly BB was born and of course, we don't see either of them in-between her water breaking and BB already being born for a bit. Also, Anna must have had the quietest labor ever because we know from prior episodes that yelling from the bedrooms can be heard in the Great Hall whoops. That would have been awkward during the wedding speeches lol. So anyway, here and in my mind, Anna asked Dr Clarkson if John could stay, and he eventually conceded.
I already went over my name choice for BB in chapter 3 of "Great Expectations" and didn't want to completely retread it here (plus, I try to interweave my post-S6CS fics as much as possible).
