A/N- Hey, it's me again. Back with another modern AU. I hope you enjoy this one, I have written five chapters of it already and am enjoying it so much. As always, reviews and favourites are much appreciated.

Disclaimer- Nothing belongs to me. Unfortunately.

Removing his flat cap from his head, John Bates folded it and placed it inside the breast pocket of his jacket. He stepped into his agent's headquarters and let the door close behind him with a gentle thump. Almost as soon as he was over the threshold, he could hear the shrill of the over enthusiastic receptionist. John winced.

'Mr Bates, how nice to see you again.'

'Valerie.' John greeted her as politely as he could, nodding his head in the young woman's direction. He looked hopefully towards his agent's office, praying internally that he wouldnt have to wait here in the lobby and make conversation. 'Richard here, is he?'

'Mr Carlisle has just popped out, you can wait for him in his office. He'll be with you shortly.'

Thank God John thought to himself, striding towards the oak door that hid away the office of talent agent Richard Carlisle. 'Thank you Valerie.'

John released a breath as he shut the heavy door behind him. It was always like a nostalgia trip every time he was in this room. Photographs of famous actors in their most famous roles adorned the walls, John's included. He knew at once which photo he would like to view once more.

Treading the floorboards towards the wall by the large bay windows that overlooked the London skyline, John came to a stop once he found his target. It was a picture taken almost twenty five years before. His big break. Standing beside him was his co star and good friend Robert Crawley. They were dressed in army uniform, Robert's arm draped around John's shoulders. Good times.

At the time the photograph was taken, he and Robert were starring in a forces drama that became a television phenomenon, Camouflage. John and Robert, along with other cast members became famous overnight. Filming the show had been one of the best times of John's life. Although, anything would be better than the last decade he had experienced.

'John, my friend.' The deep, posh voice of his agent brought John out of his reverie. He had to admit, he didn't the like the bloke. Richard was smarmy, oily and fake. However John owed his career to the man who had just entered the room. He turned to face him. 'How are you?'

'Not bad,' John replied with a shrug, accepting the offer of Richard's outstretched right hand. 'The play I've been in just finished it's run a couple of tube stops away from here. I noticed you were unable to come and see me in it.'

'I've just been so busy, you know how it is,' Richard tried to make his excuses, moving around to his chair on the other side of his desk. 'I've got to keep a close eye on the younger whippersnappers on my books, naiive and all that.'

'And also much sexier and more marketable,' John said under his breath, as he sat opposite Richard.

'What was that?'

John shook his head,' nothing. So, what was this audition you found for me that I would be an idiot to turn down?'

'Okay, so I know you haven't done telelvision for a while...'

'A television role?'

'Yes,' Richard nodded. 'A role which I believe is right up your street.'

It wasn't that John disliked acting on television, it was just the notoriety, albeit small, that came with it. He appreciated his fans, of course he did, but there was a lot to be said for being able to go out and buy a loaf of bread without being asked for a selfie or to call someone's mother to say hello. Still, there was no work on the cards for the forseeable future for one reason or another, so beggars couldn't be choosers.

'Continue.'

'It's a permanent role on one of the hottest TV shows on British television right now.' Richard reached into his drawer and pulled out what looked like a script. John saw the title of the show, boldly typed at the top of the front page.

'Downton Grange.' He read aloud. 'Okay, that's Robert's show.'

'Yes, you would be reunited with Robert. It's a great part, a part you can really get your teeth into.'

John had seen a few episodes of the show, a drama based in a school following the lives of the teachers who taught there. Robert was the star of the show, but he was always the star of any production he was in such was his acting believed it was one of the better programmes on Television currently, it's cast all extremely talented and the episodes well written.

'Where is the audition?'

'Well, when I said audition it's more a meeting some of the producers and seeing if it's something you want to do. It's in Kensington. There will be a short scene to do for them, with Anna Smith.'

Anna Smith. Now there was a name John had heard of. She had just starred in a critically acclaimed period drama, winning award after award for her portrayal of a downtrodden housemaid trying to make a better life for herself. In John's opinion, her performance was the only decent thing about the show but he kept that view to himself.

'What part do they want me to have?'

Richard put on his glasses before lifting the script to read the front cover. 'Mr Peter Henderson, the new Maths teacher with a dark past who is hiding a secret.'

'Sounds intriguing,' John said sardonically with a raise of his eyebrows. He reached for the script. 'I take it I have to learn this.'

'Yes. You have until next Monday.' Richard began scribbling on the script. 'You need to be there for ten and this is the address.' He pushed the wad of papers across the desk. 'I think this could be really good for you.'

John shrugged. 'Well it won't hurt to go and speak to the producers of the show. And it will be nice to see Robert again.'

After making his goodbyes and escaping the receptionist with as little small talk as possible, John began the short walk from the office to the tube station. His flat cap back on his head- his safety blanket when out in public- John made a call on his mobile phone as he walked. It rang a couple of times before a familiar voiced filled his ears.

'John, how the devil are you?' It was Robert.

'I'm very well, Rob. Yourself?'

'That's fantastic news and I too am good. How can I help you, mate?'

'Actually, I think I have a hunch you have already helped me out a bit.'

'How so?'

'I've just seen my agent,' John explained, looking down at the folder in his hand which held his script. 'I have to meet the producers of a little show called Downton Grange next week and do a read through with Anna Smith.'

Robert chortled on the other end of the line. 'Ahh, excellent. So you're going to go for it? I recommended you actually.'

'Yes, when Richard told me what show the audition was for I wondered if you'd be involved.'

'It's a great show, John. I hope you'll be joining us.'

'So, what made you think I'd be a good person to practice these lines with? Was it my flowing blonde locks or the femininity I exude?'

Sighing, an exasperated John looked to the ceiling of the living room he shared with his flat mate. It was true, Joseph Molesley wasn't the archetypal blonde leading lady that Anna Smith was. But for now, he was the only person John had to practice with. He was an actor aswell like John, which also went in his favour. They had known each other since meeting in acting school and had been friends to this day.

'Come on, Joe. I have to know this inside and out for tomorrow.'

'But we've done this thing fifteen times, and that's only this evening,' Joseph counteracted, leaning back against the back of the sofa he was sitting on. 'It's my night off from a play I do ten times a week.'

'Once more, please,' John begged. 'I don't want to look unprepared for tomorrow.'

'Oh alright. But this is the last time.'

John sat on the coffee table opposite Joseph, looking over the script once more before putting it down beside him. Joseph leant forward, his eyes fixed firmly on the script. John cleared his throat before beginning. Taking him by surprise, John placed a hand on Joseph's cheek.

'I can't tell you, Charlotte. It would change your opinion of me, and I don't think I could stand that.'

Joseph grimaced, looking out of the corner of his eye at the rather large hand that now cupped his cheek.

'Nothing ever could,' Joseph continued, his whole demeanour uncomfortable. He broke character before he spoke again. 'Is the hand on the cheek really necessary?'

'Yes.'

'Right,' Joseph coughed before continuing. 'You can trust me, Peter.'

'I do trust you.' John moved his hand to Joseph's knee. Joseph jumped up. 'Right, I'm done. You know this, John.'

'Okay, maybe you're right.'

'I am,' Joseph was quick to agree. 'Now lets open a couple of beers and watch the football.'

The studios in Kensington were easy enough to find. Although it wasn't the kind of role John would have chosen for himself, he had to admit the more he read the script and spoke to Robert, Peter Henderson was a role he wouldn't mind making his own. After waiting for a few minutes, he was summoned to studio two. Walking onto the set, John instantly recognised what looked like the staff room on the show.

A man and a woman were sitting on one of the sofa's with their back to John, listening to a familiar looking woman who was sitting opposite them. It was Anna Smith. John swallowed hard, suddenly he felt nervous. His pace slowed as he approached them, before Anna turned her head and saw him. She smiled at once.

'Hello there,' she said softly, the two people in her company turning their heads to see John standing behind them. He was surprised to hear her accent, forgetting she was from Yorkshire.

'Hi,' John continued until he had closed the gap between them. 'John Bates.'

'Mr Bates,' the man said as all three rose to their feet to greet him. 'Thank you so much for agreeing to meet us. My name is Evelyn Napier, I am one of the producers on the show and also direct from time to time.'

'Evelyn,' John nodded politely, 'and you can call me John.'

'Okay, John,' Evelyn replied before gesturing to the woman standing beside him. 'This is Mabel Lane- Fox, she is the casting director on the show and this is Anna Smith.'

'Yes,' John averted his gaze to Anna who was smiling broadly at him. 'I'm familiar with and have admired your work, Miss Smith.'

'Anna, please,' she answered with a giggle, offering John her hand. He grasped it in his much larger hand, shaking it gently. Having seen her on television John knew she was pretty, but in this close proximity that word didn't do her justice. She was stunning. 'And I'm flattered someone as talented as you has watched something I have been in.'

'Well, thank you,' John blushed slightly, bowing his head.

'Please, take a seat,' Evelyn said, indicating to the sofa Anna had just been sitting on. 'You might recognise this is the staff room set.'

'Yes, I recognised it as soon as I walked in,' John replied, allowing Anna to sit before sitting beside her.

Mabel began to speak. 'Can I just say on behalf of the production team how honoured we are that an actor with your stature has come to read for us.'

'Thank you,' John looked out of the corner of his eye at Anna who he saw was staring at him, a smile on her face. 'So the role is a permanent one?'

'Yes,' Evelyn began to explain, 'if you accept the part we'd like to sign you on for the next two series. The show has been written up until then.'

'Wow, okay.' John was impressed.

'The scene you'll be doing with us today is one from the upcoming series between your character, Peter Henderson and Anna's character, Charlotte Atkins.'

'Right, okay,' John shrugged out of his coat, 'I've learnt the script.'

'Excellent, so if you'd like to go and sit on the table next to us, myself and Mabel will watch from here.'

John allowed Anna to stand first before following her to the table a few metres away from Mabel and Evelyn. She sat on one side, John the other. They exhanged a smile that wasn't at all awkward, in fact John was surprised how easy it was to smile when he looked at Anna. Evelyn stood and moved closer to Anna and John to play the role of director.

'So, you've known each other a couple of months in this scene, so far your two characters have built the foundations of a solid friendship. Is it something more? We don't know yet.'

'So without beating around the bush, Peter and Charlotte fancy each other rotten,' Anna suggested, looking up at Evelyn. John swallowed thickly at her words.

Evelyn chuckled as he began to walk back to the sofa's behind him. 'Basically, yeah. So we'll act out this scene. Feel free to go where the muse takes you, ad libbing is encouraged. From Peter's line about not being able to tell Charlotte.'

'Okay,' John shifted awkwardly in his seat.

'It's alright, you'll do fine,' Anna whispered to him, patting his hand that was resting on the table.

'And action...'

Taking a deep breath, John searched his memory for the first line he needed. Anna was looking back at him, really looking and he quickly realised she was in character. Right now, she fancied him. John knew it wouldn't be hard to ensure his character reciprocated those feelings.

'I can't tell you what Mr Firth meant when he spoke to you earlier, Charlotte. It would change your opinion of me, and I don't think I could stand that.'

'You can trust me, Peter.'

'i do trust you.'

John watched as Anna looked down at the table and wrapped the fingers of her left hand around his right. He squeezed her hand. Anna whispered her next line.

'Well then?'

John paused for a moment, lifting his head to meet Anna's gaze. 'I made a mistake, a stupid mistake. One that nearly cost me my job. One that meant I had to change my whole life and move here. I feel ashamed now but in the moment it felt right.'

'Peter, please. Tell me.'

He averted his gaze again, looking down at the table once more. 'I felt an attraction towards completely the wrong person. An attraction I acted upon when I knew I shouldn't have.'

'Who?' Anna murmured, taking John's other hand in her free one.

'A sixth form student.' Anna lifted her head. John was finding coping with her gaze on his was difficult. He didn't know how she did it, but her demeanour was making this scene incredibly tense. It must have shown in the shakiness of his voice. 'The way she made me feel when I was with her, the man she made me. I was powerless.'

'Attraction is something we can't control, something we can't force,' Anna continued, John revelling in the feel of her fingetips brushing the palm of his hand. 'You either feel it or you don't.'

Not a truer word spoken, John thought to himself as Anna sought out eye contact with him before he uttered his next line. 'The truth is, I had never felt anything like it. Well, up until that point...'

'And cut.' Evelyn's voice made John jump before the producer began to clap, followed in turn by the casting director. 'That was amazing. You wouldn't think the two of you had just met based on that.'

'Well, we are professionals, Evelyn,' Anna remarked with a slight giggle, John suddenly very aware of the fact that Anna still hadn't removed her hands from his. 'I enjoyed that.'

'John, how did that feel?'

He registered Mabel's question but not as much as he registered the coldness in his hands now Anna had relinquished her touch. This was crazy. They'd only just met but he couldn't hide from the fact. Anna was incredible.

'Good,' he managed to choke, nodding his head. 'Really good.'

'Do you think you'd be interested in the part?' Mabel asked, hope in her tone. 'We'd certainly love to have you on board.'

'I think so, yeah. But I'd need to make sure my schedule is clear and all that stuff.' He had always hated to sound too eager. The truth was John knew there was nothing at all in the pipeline.

'Well, I have to go,' Anna said suddenly, looking at her watch before regarding Evelyn and Mabel. 'I'm so sorry I have to dash off, but whilst I am down here I have a lunch date I need to keep.' She turned back to look at John. 'But it was lovely to meet you, John.' He accepted her outstretched hand. 'Hopefully we'll all be seeing more of you.'

'Yes,' John answered weakly, allowing a smirk to cross his lips. 'I do hope so.'

Anna closed the door of her hotel room behind her, a lunch date with her friend and co star, Gwen Harding most welcome. She had over indulged a little however, throwing her bag on the chair by the dresser before falling in a heap onto the king sized bed in the room. It had been a busy few days.

She had been in town to finalise her involvement in the next two series of Downton Grange, she happily signing on when the producers promised her some exciting storylines in the upcoming episodes, something to really get her teeth in to. She was excited, especially with the great John Bates, an actor she admired, most probably coming on board.

There had also been meetings with various talent agents talking about doing some work in the States. Discussions were still in the embyonic stages at the moment, but moving her career over to America was something Anna was really interested in.

She stretched out on the bed, contemplating whether to have an afternoon nap before another meeting that evening just as her phone began to ring on the bed beside her. She smiled as she saw the caller's ID. Answering the call, Anna brought her phone to her ear.

'Hey baby,' she greeted the man on the end of the phone.

'Hello, my angel.'

It was her boyfriend, Jack Robinson. He was touring Europe at the moment as the lead singer of his rock band, Green Star. Anna had met him a little over a year ago at the party of a mutual friend. Despite being busy with their careers and their popularity in the public eye increasing every day, they had formed a solid relationship. This was despite only seeing each other every few weeks, especially recently. Still, Jack would be home soon and Anna couldn't wait to see him.

'And what country are you in at present?'

'Belgium, I think,' Anna rolled her eyes as she heard Jack ask his bandmate where they were. 'We're in Belgium, right Tim? Yeah, Belgium.'

'Sounds like you've been making the most of the rock and roll lifestyle if you don't even know where you are.'

'Not at all, I've been on my best behaviour.' Anna decided to ignore the heckling she heard coming from Jack's bandmates. 'Hang on a minute, Angel. I'll just go somewhere private.' Closing her eyes, Anna waited patiently for Jack to return. 'Right, I'm outside now.'

'Is there a reason you called? It's just I was going to take a nap before yet another meeting over dinner this evening.'

'I wish I could be there with you,' Jack murmured, Anna suddenly wishing he was there as well.

'Me too.'

'Look Anna, I've got some bad news.'

Anna felt her heart suddenly beat that bit quicker. 'What is it?'

'You know I promised I'd be home for your birthday?'

She knew what was coming. 'Yes.'

'Well, we're doing so well out here and the record company want us to strike whilst the iron is hot, so to speak.'

'And this affects my birthday how?'

'They want us to go to America for three months.'

'Oh Jack,' Anna moaned. 'You know being with you on my birthday has been what has been keeping me going these past few weeks.'

'I know, and you know I'd be there if I could. But this is my career, I can't let the lads down.'

'No,' she replied, disappointment in her tone. 'I suppose not.'

'And this could be really good for us. Tell me you understand, please.'

She sighed, taking a few moments to reply. 'I understand. I do. I want you to do well.'

'I know you do,' Jack answered, 'and I promise when I'm back I'll make your Christmas the best you've ever had. I love you.'

Anna wasn't convinced something else wouldn't get in the way. 'I love you, too.'