Hi! Thanks for stop by and read this fic. Note that English is not my mother tongue so you can probably find typos and grammatical mistakes. I Hope that doesn't prevent you from enjoying it.

Reviews and comments welcome and appreciated

He didn't hear Lord Grantham the first time he spoke.

- I said that we'll be home in a couple of hours. Aren't you glad Bates? –

- Oh, yes M'Lord. Very glad indeed – he said smiling quietly. Robert Grantham smiled him back and resumed his reading.

Bates had been looking forward to that moment for a whole, long week; since they had been informed that next Friday, they would go back to Downton. For two weeks, he would be back to his job, his room, the magnificent landscapes that surrounded the manor…

But, what he yearned most, what he had missed dearly, was to get back to that beautiful young maid who had given him so much and had made him believe in happiness and love again.

During those almost three months away, he'd only had her letters and his memories. Sweet reminders that had helped him to bear that rarefied atmosphere that always hovered over war times. But above all, they had replaced al those demons of the past that haunted him every night.

Any reminiscence was enough to keep going every day in London; the first time they spoke in the backyard, when he took her something to eat, the flower show… even the simple vision of her smile. She had that power over him.

But there was a memory in particular. One which only manifested itself during his lonely nights but now, with the anticipation of seeing her again and the possibility to relive it, was coming to him again. So he closed his eyes and let his mind wander back to that night.

He needed to be with her during those last hours. With no interruptions; no one who could require their services. And that was the perfect time, at night, when their shift was over, when they were sure that, until next day, they would be forgotten by the rest of the world.

Days ago, Bates had found a little cottage in the south part of the estate. It was the house of the former gardener and now, was abandoned, though in a very decent state.

After thinking a lot about it, he got to ask Anna to meet him there. Although he was certain that she would accept, a tiny part of her mind assured him that she would be shocked and run away from him in disgust. Luckily, the rest of his mind knew her much better.

At the same time that the train went through a tunnel, leaving all passengers in the dark, his mind started to visualize the moment in that house when Anna, trembling but determined started to unbutton her dress without averting her eyes from him. He was trembling too but both knew that nothing could stop them now.

He caressed her bare arms and led her to a near bed and there, with him over her, they got carried away by passion and desire. In the middle of the dark, kisses and caresses found their way under shirts, skirts and corsets,

He couldn't see her but did hear her. Her warm breath against his ear, her soft moans, her hands in his back, her faltering voice repeating his name over and over again…. He put a great effort not to groan in the train, just like he did every night.

They didn't made love that night. An instant of sanity prevented them from making a mistake they both could regret for the rest of their lives. They wanted, but they would wait until the time was perfect.

First hours of dawn found them still in that bed, in each other's arms and half dressed. They had travelled in and out of sleep, quietly dozing off in one another's embrace only to be woken by the caresses and their own voices. When sunlight reached the opposite side of the room, they knew it was time to come back to the world.

They dressed in silence, each fighting against the pain they were starting to feel. Although she tried hard, she couldn't help a tear streamed down her cheek. He saw it and kissed it gently away.

- Let me take all of them, so you can't cry for me – he had said

She smiled and assured him that she wouldn't cry again until he were back and those would be tears of happiness.

That was their way to say goodbye, until those who had begun war, so far away from them, let them be together again.

They arrived to Downton before dawn. Lord Grantham and Bates were so exhausted that, in a way, appreciated the lack of an official reception.

Only Carson and Lady Grantham were there. Bates smiled when Cora ran towards her husband and hugged him tightly. Carson patted his back and took him inside.

He saw Anna at the other end of the corridor, when she was sat in the common room having breakfast. When their eyes met, a wide joyful smile started to form in the face of the young maid, who fought hard against the urge to run towards him, hug him, kiss him…

He felt exactly the same way but instead, he smiled shyly at her and then went upstairs, to his room.

He wanted to unpack as soon as possible and rest. Lord Grantham had given him the whole morning off and he was so exhausted that only wanted to get into bed and sleep a bit.

When he turned around to leave the luggage on the floor he saw her. She was there, standing at the door, motionless. Nerves and emotion clouded her mind and find it extremely difficult to talk.

- I… I just went to… I have to go back… to work, but I nee… needed to see yo… -

She couldn't finish what she was saying. Bates had taken her in his arms and was kissing her. He knew they had less than 5 minutes and didn't want to waste them with talk. He just wanted to kiss her over and over again. He closed the door behind them and pinned her gently against it while explored slowly her lips and neck.

Moments later he took her hands and looked in her eyes. There was so much love in them that he hardly believe that all of that was true; that someone like her existed for real and could love him the way she did. He hadn't been that good in his life to deserve that.

He smiled lovingly and kissed her brow and forehead – See you later? –

She nodded and beamed just before hugging him tightly and fleeing downstairs to resume her duties.