A/N: Hello from Downtonluvr and A-Lady-To-Me, long time writing partners in crime who are only just now going public ;) We have been helping each other with our stories for so long that when this idea came about out of a one-shot I (Lady) wrote for Dowtonluvr's birthday, it only seemed fitting that we write it together. So here we are. A journey through Anna and Bates dealing with the struggles of infertility in a modern setting.

We hope you enjoy this short fic. It's nearly completed so we will be able to post a chapter per day! We want to give a special thank you shout-out to Terriejane for her superb editing skills, and to ihelleberry for her invaluable advice! Thank you both so much! :)

Enjoy guys, and please review! xoxo

Disclaimer: We own nothing, otherwise this would be the source and extent of the drama for our beloved Banna this series.

Anna Bates stared blankly across the almost empty train car as she rode home from what felt like the longest day of her life. She'd punctuated an extremely busy day of work with a less than enjoyable doctor's appointment. It had only been a yearly checkup, which is why her husband, John, had not attended with her. However, she had expressed some concerns while she was there. She and John had been married, blissfully, for nearly a year. Anna had never been happier in her life than she was with John. He was the love and the light of her life. The thought of being married to him was enough to bring a smile to her face, but that quickly faded when she thought of what else could make things more perfect...what didn't seem to be happening for them.

Anna wanted nothing more than to give John a baby. To have their child, and raise him or her together. They knew they both wanted children, and the fact was they never really did anything to prevent pregnancy, both of them agreeing that what was meant to be would happen. However, after a year of being very happily married they still had nothing to show for it. Anna had expressed her concerns to Dr. Clarkson, but he simply told her that sometimes it took a little longer than it did for others.

"The key is to relax Anna. Stressing yourself out will not help the matter. You know what I say to couples who tell me they are trying to get pregnant? Stop trying." Dr. Clarkson had laughed, and patted her knee after that. Leaving Anna less than reassured. But then...perhaps Dr. Clarkson was right. Maybe she was stressing herself out too much, and preventing nature from taking it's course. Anna made a vow to herself on that train that she would let her worry go, and just relax. If nothing else...it certainly was fun trying. She giggled to herself and began to formulate a plan.

John walked into the house and was immediately struck by the lovely smell of something cooking. Anna must have arrived home early. He dropped his coat and briefcase by the door and walked through to their kitchen to find his wife standing at the stove, stirring and humming. Her hips swaying to the rhythm of her own voice. She was mesmerizing, and he took the moment unnoticed to stand back and admire her. He had no idea what he had ever done to deserve someone as amazingly kind and stunning as his Anna. And on top of that to have her agree to become his wife? She was the greatest gift of his life.

Anna turned then and saw him, and the smile that lit up her face only confirmed what he had been thinking before.

"Welcome home, love." She sang as she danced across the kitchen towards him. Her arms came around his neck and his settled on her waist.

"Why thank you, Mrs. Bates. You seem to have had a good day today. How was your check up?" John kissed her firmly.

She hesitated only briefly before answering him. "My check up went fine, nothing to report. The rest of my day was wretched...but coming home to you makes it all disappear." Anna kissed him again, then turned back to the stove.

John took note that she'd had a bad day, but didn't want to disturb her cheery mood with questions. He couldn't stand to be away from her, so he sidled up behind her and held her close as she stirred.

"What are you making? It smells amazing." he asked as he kissed her neck.

"Chicken Marsala. It sounded good so I picked up the stuff on the way home."

"Wonderful choice, shall I set the table?" John pulled himself away from her to make his way towards the cupboards.

"No need, it's already done," she smiled at him. John looked around the corner to their dining room and saw that she certainly had outdone herself tonight. The lights were dimmed, and the table was lit with candles. The wine was already uncorked and ready to be poured. John froze on the spot. Had he missed something? An anniversary...no he felt sure he had all of those memorized. And it couldn't be either of their birthdays. He turned back towards Anna who was beginning to plate their meal.

"Love, not that this isn't lovely, but...have I missed something? Is it a special occasion?"

Anna finished her task, and turned towards him. "No, I just wanted to do something special for my man. Can't a wife treat her husband every now and then?" John did not miss the seductive tone her voice held, and he felt himself immediately responding to it.

"Well I suppose so," he responded. Suddenly John felt perfectly fine with forgetting dinner altogether and carrying this amazing women into their bedroom. The closer Anna got to him the more enticing the thought became; she was so close in fact that he could feel her breath begin to mingle with his own. Her lips ghosted over his, before she smiled and whispered, "It's time to eat." Then pranced off back towards the stove. She looked back at him mischieviously and laughed when she saw the dumbstruck look on his face. He recovered as she handed him his plate to carry to the dining room.

"Oh you'll pay for that one, Mrs. Bates, mark my words."

"I'm looking forward to it." She winked, and he followed her gladly.

The room was hot, and filled with the scent of them. The sounds of their cries of ecstasy still echoed in the air around them. John panted as he collapsed on his stomach, half on top of her and half on the bed. His arm was draped across her bare stomach, and Anna held onto it for dear life; still shaking from the ride of pleasure he'd sent her on.

John pulled himself up enough to trail kisses up the side of her neck and towards her lips. They kissed each other with so much tenderness and love that it nearly brought tears to Anna's eyes.

"Christ, Anna," he breathed, "over a year of being with you like this, and it's just as amazing every time as it was the first time."

His words were meant to be romantic, she knew, but something about the way he said them took Anna back to the train of thought she'd been on when she was on her way home.

Over a year. Suddenly the stress became too much to bear, and the tears began to well up in her eyes. She tried desperately to fight them off, not wanting to alarm her sated husband, but it was no use. His eyes had been closed until the sound of her quiet sobs filled the room. John shot up in alarm, tightening his hold around her and pulling her close.

"Anna, why are you crying? What's the matter, love? Did I hurt you?"

Anna immediately began to shake her head no. She tried to speak, but her words were washed away by tears. John didn't hesitate to pull her into his embrace, and she cried into his chest for what felt like hours. The sudden grief consuming her as he whispered words of comfort into her hair.

When she finally felt herself begin to calm down she knew she owed her poor husband an explanation. She pushed herself back from him, and his eyes were just as concerned and worried as she knew they'd be. Anna sighed, and closed her eyes as he wiped the last of her tears away with his thumb.

"Are you ready to tell me what's wrong, my darling?"

She nodded, but she found that she couldn't make eye contact with him when she finally told him her deepest fear. "I'm scared," she whispered.

"Scared of what?" His voice was gentle and patient.

"Scared that...that we'll never...that I'll never be able to give you a baby."

"A baby? Love, we've barely even talked about having a baby, much less tried to get pregnant. Why are you scared?"

"We haven't been preventing it though, have we? We've been married for a year, and together longer than that." Anna felt herself getting angry, and tried to reign in her emotions. "People get pregnant at the drop of a hat, John. I feel like it should have happened for us by now." Her voice was low, and she still hadn't looked him in the eye. But she had to when she felt his fingers beneath her chin, lifting her gaze to him. When she finally looked at him she remarkably felt some of her fear leave her….John just had that power over her. He could always make her feel better simply by looking into her soul. It was one of the many reasons why she'd fallen in love with him.

John kissed her lips gently, before meeting her gaze again and running his hand soothingly along her cheek. "You had your doctor's appointment today. Did you ask him about it?"

"I did," Anna blushed with embarrassment, hoping that he wouldn't mind that she hadn't told John her worries before now. But he didn't seem to be upset with her so she continued on. "He told me to relax, and let things happen in their own time."

"There, you see? He wouldn't have told you that if he thought there was something to worry about. So let's just relax, and really start trying. See what happens." John smiled, and ran his finger along her hairline. "Don't worry Anna, we'll have a baby."

His words were so tender and sweet, she couldn't help but believe him. Her worries melted away from her as he pulled her even closer to his body so that they lined up perfectly. Anna felt herself responding to him….again. God, would she ever not want this man? Her remarkable husband. She couldn't help but smile back at him. "God knows we sure do have fun trying….don't we darling?"

He began to kiss a trail along her cheek and down her neck towards her collarbone. "Mmmm, that we do, Mr. Bates...that we do."