A/N: spoiler for S5 ep4 nothing major just a little fluffy spoiler. I just had the need to write this after the adorable *smack* of a kiss they shared on Sunday. And someone (sorry can't remember who) added they needed to have a make-out sesh with Lady Mary interrupting it on a series of caps of the scene… Too adorable. So here's to pretending they didn't start in with the mood killing Green talk. Upstairs shenanigans ensue… ;)

I don't own. Or this would have happened.

She glanced up when a knock came on the door and when she saw the smile of her husband as he strode into the room her breath was taken. It had only been one night but even a minute without him felt a year to her. Their faces held those grand smiles that reached to their eyes, gleaming in a way that was only for each other. His walk towards her demanded her full attention while making her go weak in the knees.

"I wondered if you wanted a hand." There was more cheek than earnest in his voice betraying his true reason for seeking her out in Lady Mary's room, of all places. The knowledge that he just couldn't wait to see her made her blush and stifle a laugh. But trying not to let on how she wanted to be near him just as much as he wanted her presence she tried to maintain a proper tone to her voice.

"Almost done. You can put the cases away though if you don't mind," she had managed but her smile betrayed her.

He was upon her then, reaching for her to put a strong arm about her shoulders and she drew into him. His touch was electric and sent a shiver to her breast. He leaned down and she rose to meet his lips. With a loud smack he pulled his lips away from hers all too soon. She knew where they were and that if Carson had seen even that most innocent of kisses he would have probably fainted dead away, let alone the sultry thoughts she was about to act on. But she didn't care, not one bit. She had spent the night out of his arms and needed them around her now. As he made to turn away her hand, which had been hanging down by his side, caught the edge of his suit coat and she pulled him towards her.

"Anna…" he said warningly but with a mischievous smile on his face. "We're in Lady Mary's bedroom."

"I know and I don't care. I hate being apart from you, no matter how short the time. And I do not think, Mr. Bates, that was nearly enough of a 'welcome back.'" He had no time to protest before her lips crashed upon his and her hands found their way under his suit coat and came to rest massaging low on his back. He groaned at her need for him and made an extremely feeble attempt to warn her off again in the form of nips and whispers against her neck. His hands were grasping high on her ribs, his thumbs feeling the underside of her breasts. As her mouth found his again their bodies turned sharply, their feet tangled causing him to lose his footing and fall heavily on the bed. Shoes, tissue paper and shoe bags went flying off scattering on the floor.

Their lips met once again catching the laughter that threatened to fill the room. She placed a knee on the bed between his legs to leverage herself against him deepening the kiss, her hands snaking around his neck and into his hair. She knew they had to stop, this was quickly getting out of control, but he just tasted so damn good and his moans were doing nothing but flaming the growing fire between them. She pulled away from him slightly, resting her hands on his shoulders and sighed lustfully at his disheveled appearance.

"Now that was a welcome, Mr. Bates. Wouldn't you say so?" she purred. He could only offer her a heavy lidded smile. "Alright then, you've got to get out of here before I forget myself completely."

"You are quite the minx, Mrs. Bates. How am I supposed to go about the evening in the state you've left me in?" They both glanced down and erupted into a fit of giggles.

"We'll figure out a solution together…later. Now kiss me again before I send you on your way." He didn't need to be asked twice and complied instantly. Their tongues met hurriedly and graciously.

"Anna? Anna, I was wondering if…" Lady Mary's voice rang out from the hallway startling the couple. Anna was so surprised she brought her knee up too quickly and effectively kneed her husband in the groin. Bates promptly fell to the floor with a loud thud and a groan as Lady Mary appeared in the room. Anna went rigid at the sight of her employer and turned a furious shade of red. Her mouth hung open and her eyes were as wide as saucers. Mary was speechless but a smile crept up on her face.

"Got it!" Bates exclaimed as the tried to steel himself against the pain and stood quickly as he could, wrenching his bad knee just a bit. He held up a shoe and a fistful of tissue paper trying to make it seem like he'd been gathering the objects off the floor. He held them in front of him, granting him cover from obvious embarrassment, when he gave Lady Mary a bow of the head as a greeting paired with a small but cheeky smirk.

"I…I…um…he was…I mean…" Anna looked to her husband to rescue her but he had turned his back to her pretending to fiddle with the shoe and paper like he was wrapping it back up. She knew he was smiling and fighting a fit of laughter even with his back to her. She wanted nothing more than to smack him square in the face right then. Anna took deep breath to regain control of herself before starting again. "He…Mr. Bates, that is…I asked him to help with the cases." The words came out in an awkward and rushed squeak.

"Yes, I can see how helpful he was being," Lady Mary smirked as she crossed to the room to her vanity, never quite taking her eyes of the couple. Bates took this as his moment and made to quickly grab the cases and exit. She hit his arm when he stood close enough and shot daggers at him with her now stormy blue eyes. He just shrugged and pretended to not know why she was upset; his boyish pout making her smile completely despite her resolve to be furious with him. He glanced over to where Lady Mary was pretending to busy herself and when he thought she wasn't looking he leaned to his wife whispering:

"Don't worry, I expect to be fully punished for this later tonight…" He gave her bottom a light swat before grabbing the cases. The suggestion and the heat of his breath made her tingle as she watched him, not walk, but strut out of the room cases in hand. Unbeknownst to them both Lady Mary had seen the whole thing and was struck by a sense of surprise first which was quickly over taken by a strong feeling of happiness for her maid, her friend. She never knew they had such an adorable side to them. They truly brought out the best in each other. And after all they had been through, a stolen moment was well within their rights, she wouldn't nor couldn't begrudge them. She had never known a couple to deserve any moment of happiness, no matter how small, more than these two.

Anna turned with her head hung in shame to face her employer. "Oh m'lady, I'm so…" Lady Mary reprieved her with a reassuring pat on the arm.

"So much for that practice in controlling yourselves." The lady said with a chuckle. "If it was anyone else but you two…" She gave Anna a last smirk of a smile before leaving the room.

Anna stood there simply dumbfounded. She was embarrassed and yet still heated by the moment. As she finished stowing away the rest of Lady Mary's things she let her mind wander. She was quickly coming up with many many ways to indeed punish and hopefully torture her devilish husband later tonight, alone in their cottage.