Hello everybody! Jheezzz, the season finale was so amazing yet emotional I'm still in shock from it. This fiction is the events that happened during the finale, so if you haven't seen the last episode I wouldn't recommend to you yet. Obviously going to cover a lot of things, and I'm going to actually include chapters, might add one more when their story is (hopefully) addressed and solved again in the Christmas episode.
Enjoy.
It all began on an average day, like any other (or at least, average since the end of the war). It took her a while to drag herself out of bed this morning, Lord knows why, but it was just one of those days she could sense…change. The same thing happened the day the war was announced, they day she had heard he was back in Yorkshire, the day she learnt of Vera's death… and it appears it was never usually a good sign.
On days like these, she really missed Gwen. She was the closest thing she had to a girl friend back then, someone who she could talk to about all sorts of minor and major dramas, someone who was just always there. The room was dismally lonely without her, and seeing as Jane lived in the village with her son, Anna had been more lonesome than ever of late.
Anna sat down groggily at the table, and Mr Bates was already sat there. She had always found it rather frustrating how he always managed to be the first down to the table, up, ready and prepared for the day. She could manage stay in her bed all day if only she had the possibility. She looked up, and she saw his little sideways smile he always did when he knew that she was jealous of his ability to ease to and from sleep, the smile she was greeted with almost every morning.
She returned a smile back as he passed her a porridge bowl, but it soon faded away as she sighed . He looked at her inquisitively.
'Mr Bates,' she breathed calmly, trying not to reveal any emotion. He looked into her eyes, however not too obviously, as they didn't want people to notice or latch on to their conversation. He was staring tentatively.
'Can we meet at some time that is convenient later on today?' she pressed seriously.
'I should hopefully have some time shortly after dinner, Lord Grantham hasn't required me until much later on recently,' Bates replied almost anxiously. 'Is there something wro…'
'No,' Anna cut him short. 'No, there isn't, it's just recent events have made me think…' she paused as she thought to herself about Sybil and Branson's plot that was revealed to her the previous night, and how she was going to have to confront Mr Bates about her feelings sooner or later…
'Alright,' he said, and Anna could tell he would now be worried for the rest of the day about what she wanted of him. She felt rather guilty. 'But if there was something wrong, you'd tell me straight away, wouldn't you?' he almost whispered in concern.
Anna's heart melted. He always cared for her so much, and even the littlest suggestion of this would make her feel special. She smiled reassuringly. 'Course I would, well, maybe not right out loud now, as the likes of some people could hear and it might be a bit personal…but yes, course I would.'
He patted her gently on the knee, something he had made a habit of recently, smiled, drained his cup of tea and stood up, just as Lord Grantham's bell rung. She had not told him of Branson's plans to tell the whole Crawley family, the Dowager Countess included, about his and Sybil's relationship that day.
She knew she wouldn't have to bother. He'd soon find out. Everyone would.