A/N: Downton Abbey is the absolute perfect show. If I could watch one show for the rest of my life, it'd be this one. Really, this show— it just blows my mind how much emotion can be packed into a simple look or word, especially between Anna and Mr. Bates, because let's face it, they're meant to be together. Hopefully, all of that chemistry and beauty between them translates here. This will be a one-shot/drabble collection centering on Anna and Bates, so I plan to add to it periodically throughout the coming weeks, until I hit twenty-five or fifty. Please feel free to leave reviews. The oneshots won't always be in chronological order, but I hope you enjoy them nonetheless. Know that each review I get will be taken in consideration. Okay, I'm done with my mini-rant now. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but my laptop, a large collection of assorted teas, and an adorable cat who gets away with far too much.

Anna woke from her blissful sleep, sunlight washing over her face, filtering through the lace curtains and warming her cheeks. Taking a deep breath, she sighed as she stretched, yawning slightly. As she blinked against the intruding rays of natural light, Anna flushed as she recalled the events of the night before, her cheeks flaming with red-hot embarrassment.

A year of physical neglect had been nothing short of torture for the both of them, but it seemed that Mr. Bates had been more than keen to correct that whenever he could.

Maneuvering now after a night as passionate as theirs proved to be difficult, what with her legs entangled in the sheets and her husband's arm slung over her waist, but Anna didn't care. She was content to be still, and listen to the quiet tempo of her husband's heart and the sigh of his breath against her shoulder. Her fingers trailed up to John's own, where they intertwined with his own digits with a practiced ease that spoke of years of commitment and love.

Lady Mary and His Lordship had been kind enough to give them three weeks off at half-pay, to help them get reacquainted with one another, in His Lordship's words. Anna stifled a giggle as she pictured His Lordship's face turning a violent shade of pink as he spoke, trying desperately to remain the pillar of propriety.

Though John had been out of prison for a nearly month already, Anna couldn't help but revel at the sensation of his fingers splayed on her bare hip. His hands seemed to set her aflame, even when his touches were innocent.

Anna's every nerve was alight with the sensation of him, of his nearness, of his breaths coming and going in a relaxed rhythm, of his naked body pressed against hers— of the automatic twitch of his fingers around hers when she held his hand, even though he was lost to the waking world, slumbering comfortably by her side. Anna felt the cool metal of his wedding band beneath her fingertips and she let a small smile turn the corners of her lips. The hardened calluses on his palms didn't bother her, despite her husband's frequently voiced worries. They were a reminder of all he had been through in the past year and yet, she told him, she didn't mind them at all.

In fact, she quite enjoyed them. The gentle caresses he adorned her with, be it a brush of the hand against the small of her back in passing, or the pad of his thumb tracing patterns on her knuckles as they held hands more than made up for any concerns he might have had. Anna usually woke before him, on days like this, when she was content to examine the many beautiful facets of her husband— after years of restraint and barriers separating them, she was determined to commit everything about him to memory, from the feeling of his lips on hers to the way his hands felt in hers.

They were married now. For good and proper.

Anna grinned as she thought of the wedding, how smart he had looked in his suit, and how wonderful she had felt with her hands in his. And now she was his wife again, after a year, in all the meanings of the word. He was here, by her side, where he had always belonged, and now, he was there to stay. But then, she knew in her heart that she would endure it all again if she had to.

Anna Bates. Mrs. Bates. Mrs. John Bates.

How wonderful it was, to be known as that. She was who she was meant to be. Anna Smith was long gone, and Anna Bates was here, now and forever.

John mumbled under his breath as he shifted, letting out a great sigh that told Anna he was awake. A great yawn escaped him, and she nearly laughed at the way her husbands arms stretched out in front of her. Twisting beneath the warmth of the knotted sheets, Anna examined John's waking moments.

Blinking the sleep from his dark eyes, John met Anna's gaze and grinned toothily.

"Good morning, Mrs. Bates." John's voice was gravelly and low with sleep and Anna shuddered with pleasure. Threading her fingers through the soft hair covering his chest, she watched as he smiled.

"Good morning, Mr. Bates." Anna spoke, her smile faltering and her voice cracking with emotion. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, but she tried to blink them away before her husband could see them. John looked so happy, here with her. His dark hair was mussed and his eyes shone with a light she could never get tired of. A tear slipped down her cheek, and she felt John's thumb wipe it away.

"Anna, my love…" John gathered Anna close and she nuzzled into his chest, hiding the tears that were sure to fall.

"No, John, I'm sorry… I'm just being silly…" Anna mumbled, feeling John's hand trail soothingly up and down her exposed arm. John clicked his tongue in protest and lifted her chin to look at her. Smoothing the tears away from her porcelain cheeks, he smiled gently.

"What is it, Anna?"

Anna dropped her head to his chest once more, trying to hide the burning shame that her fears had caused.

"Just tell me this isn't a dream, John. I don't think I could stand to wake up now and go back to living without you." she murmured, his breath hot in her ear. John sighed and drew her as close as possible, and for a moment, Anna relished in the feel of her husband's— her John's— skin against hers. John lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each of her knuckles gently, as if to reassure her with each kiss that this was real. Beneath her, she heard her husband's heart speed up, it's rapid tempo drumming out a continuous beat.

"Is that real?" he muttered, his Irish brogue breaking through in his intonation. He threaded his free hand through her hair, and she sighed at the contact.

"And this? Is this real, my love?" He guided her hand back down to rest over his heartbeat, so that she could feel it beneath her fingers. Anna kept her face hidden from view, her head resting comfortably in the crook of his neck.

"I do believe you've married a fool, Mr. Bates."

She felt a chuckle rumble in his chest and John stroked her hair once more. Sniffling slightly, Anna smiled weakly, brushing away the last of her tears with the swipe of her hand.

"No one is a fool here. I understand the feelings you have, more so than you might think. Some days I'm so overwhelmed by the fact that I'm here now with you, all I want to do is hold you in my arms and never let you go. But then," he added cheekily, "we wouldn't get much done, would we? I'll always be here, Anna, until death do us part… Remember that." His thumb stroked small patterns on the creamy pale skin of her shoulder as she hummed in agreement.

For a few moments, they remained silent, communicating more in simple stillness than they ever could in words, before Anna propped herself on her elbows and contented herself with gazing into the eyes that had been her undoing. Arching an eyebrow, she spoke, fearless and ever confident.

"Hold me? Is that it?"

John's eyes widened before he responded with a wolfish grin.

"Well, that, among other things, but I'd have to show you." As John pressed his lips to hers ardently, all thoughts of the past were pushed aside as Anna lost herself in the pleasures of the present and thoughts of the future.

A/N: So, what did you think? I'm absolutely up for any prompts you might want to see, and as always, constructive criticism is valued! Review below!