This is a two shot that I wrote about the last episode, (4.04) I'm basing this chapter (and the next) off of the conversation that Bates and Anna had by the Servants hall. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

John stood as he heard Anna's footsteps in the hall, she and Lady Mary had just got back from London and he was looking forward to seeing his wife. Was she looking forward to seeing him?

He walked out into the hall, his smile nearly spliting his face in two. He felt so lucky to have her, she was the kindest person he knew, always willing to help someone. His mouth went dry when he saw her. Even in the shapeless dress she had to wear as a uniform, she painted a lovely picture. His heart thumped loudly in his chest. She always did that, did she have any idea what she did to him? She loved him without reservation. At least he thought she had. What had changed? What had he done? He hadn't meant to, whatever it was. He'd apologize, do whatever it took to get back on Anna's good side after this. He loved and cherished her, she was perfect.

"You're back."

Anna's only response was a quiet nod. John remembered a time when one of them would be gone with Lady Mary or Lord Grantham, and their reunion would be spent making love till dawn. He wasn't going to hold his breath about that happening tonight. He had hoped that the time apart might help fix whatever was wrong between them, apparently not.

"Good." John tried to come up with something to say. "How was it?"

Anna fidgeted without looking him in the eye. He hadn't realized how much he'd loved to look at Anna's eyes, such a clear blue. "All right." Her answer was short, her tone stiff as if she didn't want to talk with him. "Lady Mary seemed quite pleased."

John didn't know what to say, he was at a loss. What was wrong with his beloved? Did she still love him? He had to know, "Come here."

Anna actually stepped back away from him, "Better get on."

John let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding. Anna wasn't even giving an excuse now. Before she'd left for London she'd always given an excuse "I'm tired, I have a headache, we don't have time, someone will see us."

What had happened? Was it that he'd yelled at her a few days before? He'd already apologized but had that been enough? Did she no longer love him? Had she fallen for Green? Because Green, that's when she had started acting weird. He wouldn't blame her if she had fallen for Green, the younger maids had been tittering about how good looking the man was.

Was Anna really falling for another man? He hoped not but he'd let her go if she was. Her happiness was more important then his. His heart clenched at the thought of Anna no longer loving him. His breath hitched and he willed himself not to show how heartbroken he was. But when he opened his mouth, his heart went on his sleeve, his stoic exterior crumbled, and he begged.

"Kiss me. Please." He knew that begging made him sound weak and the last thing he wanted. If something was wrong and it wasn't his fault then Anna would need him to be strong, like she had been for him. "Or tell me what's happened, one or the other."

"Don't bully me."

The order surprised him, Anna didn't order, she requested. She was the politest person John knew. He stepped closer to her to make sure she could see how serious he was. "Anna, you're upset, you're unhappy and I don't know why. You say it's not me and I hope that's true. But there is a reason and I need to find out what it is. I won't press you now if it makes things worse, but in the end I will find out."

Something changed in Anna's face as he spoke, he couldn't tell what she was thinking.

"Oh Anna..." Carson was coming down the hall and Bates turned around and went back into the servant's hall. He'd said his piece and Anna could think about it and decide whether or not to tell him. He sat down, picked up the pants he'd been mending and tried not to wonder if Anna still loved him. He couldn't help but notice though that when Anna had said "don't bully me" she'd been the most alive he'd seen her since she'd hit her head. She was changing back to her usual self. He couldn't help but feel optimistic at that. Maybe, just maybe they'd make it through whatever this was.

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