A/N: This is a short little ficlet that I wrote today inspired by all the wonderful behind the scenes shots we got today from the filming of Series 5! There are no spoilers in this. Only my musings, and what I hope we get the chance to see. :) Thanks for reading, and please leave a review! xo
Disclaimer: I do not own anything.
Anna stood in the doorway of their bedroom watching her husband as he prepared for the ceremony. He looked positively dashing in his new grey suit. Of course...he always looked dashing to her no matter what he had on.
She placed her hand subconsciously on her growing belly. So much had changed in their lives since the war. So much that could never be forgotten or undone, but they had persevered. They'd survived. And the baby growing inside of her was proof of that. Proof of their love.
She couldn't stand back any longer; approaching him, and wrapping her arms around him from behind. He smiled, meeting her eyes in the mirror, and rubbing her arm gently with his large hand. Anna's eyes were drawn to the medals on his chest. She moved to stand in front of him.
"I've never seen these before." She said quietly, adjusting his tie slightly.
"A tie?" He chuckled, earning a playful smack on his chest.
"Silly beggar. These medals." She traced them lightly. "You earned them in the Boer War?"
He nodded. "Yes. One for a successful mission I was sent on. And one for valor."
Anna smiled. "For saving Lord Grantham's life."
"I suppose." He answered softly.
"There's no 'supposing' involved. They gave you the medal for valor. They don't just hand those out to anyone. You saved his life." Anna's eyes beamed with pride. "Why have I never seen them?" She asked, sensing his discomfort at her praise.
"They were at my Mother's for a number of years. I only got them back when she died. I didn't even know she'd kept them."
"Of course she kept them. She was as proud of you as I am."
"Anna." He sighed, but she noticed his lips quirking up at the corners in a slight smile.
"Now you listen to me. I won't have you putting yourself down today. You will wear these medals proudly because you earned them. And I will stand tall beside you, because now the world will see what I have always known to be true."
John's arms came to rest around her growing waist. His hands rubbing soothing circles into the small of her back. His eyes were full of love.
"And what might that be?" He whispered close to her ear as her hands gently ran along his neck.
"That you are a hero. My hero."
John lingered just above her lips. Their breaths mingling together. The anticipation nearly drove her mad, but she savored the moment. There had been a time when she'd thought this was lost to them. These moments of intimacy; these exchanges of love between them. But they'd fought their way back, and their love was stronger for it. Just before he kissed her, he whispered something to her that wove through her body, and settled on her heart like the soft landing of a butterfly.
"No Anna, you're mine."