A/N: I intend for this fic to remain canonical, or as close to it as possible, starting with S1E1. It will consist of scenes we see in the series, as well as those that we don't, and will focus on the relationships that develop. It will circle around Anna/Bates primarily, but there will be snippets of Robert/Cora, Mary/Matthew, Mrs. Hughes/Carson, Daisy/William, Daisy/Alfred, Sybil/Tom, and other relationships that are witnessed in the series. Will be rated T for now but will probably change the rating down the line.

April 15, 1912

As he stared out the window, the train rushed passed fields and trees and cables that fairly buzzed with the early morning tragedy found on the front page of the morning's paper that lay, unheeded, on the seat next to him. He had picked it up twenty minutes earlier when he had changed trains in York, had skimmed the major headlines and, of course, the story concerning the Titanic, and had laid it aside to contemplate the letter he had received a few days ago that had offered him his life back. Thoughtfully, he pulled the letter out of his pocket to read it again.

9 April 1912

Bates,

I was astonished to come across your name when scouring the list of candidates that had submitted applications to be my valet. Astonished, but delighted. My dear fellow, of course the job is yours! Do not think I have forgotten that I owe you my life; offering you a job seems rather a poor payment in return.

As my previous valet, Watson, has left with virtually no notice, I will require your services within the week. Please be at Downton on the morning of 16 April and you may start that evening.

R. Crawley

Earl of Grantham

Since John Bates knew that any servant worth his salt arrived at a new station earlier than expected, he had ensured that he would be a full day early. He wanted to get to know the place before he started work; as His Lordship was likely being taken care of by the First Footman, perhaps Bates would even begin working that evening rather than the next.

As the mail train pulled into Ripon Station, Bates pulled his pocket watch to check the time. 5.55 AM. He sighed, reaching for his bag and his cane. He hoped that the 9 miles from Ripon to Downton Abbey would not prove difficult to walk. He would hate to appear as if he was unable to perform his duties; he would hate to give His Lordship any cause to regret giving him this chance. Not for the first time, he cursed that long-ago mortar that had exploded in his leg as he had pushed his commanding officer, Major Crawley, out of the line of fire. Then he brushed away his melancholia and set a pace towards his new life. If he was lucky, he might possibly make it there by 8:30 that morning.

Daisy's brisk knock jerked Gwen awake. "6 o'clock!" she called from the ladies servants' corridor.

Gwen sat up, blinking past the sunlight blinding her. "Thank you, Daisy," she responded. She sighed inwardly before looking over to her roommate in the next bed. "Anna," she called softly.

The blonde sighed and grumbled before opening her eyes and turning over. "Just once in my life I'd like to sleep until I woke up natural," she complained.

The morning proved to be a busy one. Before the servants' breakfast, they were required to give the ground floor a thorough cleaning before the family descended from their bedchambers.

Anna entered the library to open the shutters and let the sunlight in. She and Gwen then headed to the sofa and settee to plump the pillows and she looked quizzically at Daisy, who was still laying the fire. Questioning the kitchen maid on why she was sitting there in the dark, they surmised that she was afraid of the electricity that provided light to the great house.

"You're going to have to get used to it sooner or later," Gwen stated practically, straightening the fringe on the pillow she was working on.

"At Skelton Park they even have it in the kitchens," Anna added with a smile.

"What for?" Daisy wondered, shaking her head.

"It's progress," Anna replied. "There's no stopping it, I'm afraid."

Just then the housekeeper, Mrs. Hughes, entered the room. "Is the library tidy?" she asked Anna, who was the head housemaid.

"Yes, Mrs. Hughes."

"Good. I want the dining room to given a proper going over today; you can wait until they've finished their breakfast." She glanced over at Daisy, who was still laying the fire. "Heavens, girl!" she sighed. "You are building a fire, not inventing it! How many have you done?"

Daisy pointed helplessly at the fireplace. "This is me last until they come downstairs," she quaked.

Mrs. Hughes sighed again. "Very well," she responded. "Get back down to the kitchens before anybody sees you," she instructed.

"Yes, Mrs. Hughes," Daisy squeaked, lighting her match.

At breakfast, Gwen and Anna were chatting quietly.

"What book were you reading last night?" the redhead inquired.

"Jane Eyre," Anna replied, smiling, "It's my favorite."

"I thought you liked poetry?" Gwen countered, smiling.

Anna rolled her eyes. "My favorite novel, then," she replied.

Just then, one of the family bells rang. "And, they're off," Thomas stated, taking a last bite of his porridge.

"Lady Mary," Mrs. Patmore, the cook, exclaimed. "Are the tea trays ready?"

"All ready, Mrs. Patmore," Anna replied, standing up. "If the water is boiled." She turned to Lady Grantham's lady's maid, Miss O'Brien. "Could you give us a hand to take them up to her?" she asked.

"I've got Her Ladyship's to take," O'Brien complained.

Gwen stood up. "I'll help," she offered.

Another bell rang. "Back door," Mrs. Hughes offered, taking a sip of her tea.

"The papers at last," the butler, Mr. Carson, answered. "William?"

"Right away, Mr. Carson," the footman jumped up to get the papers and iron them.

Anna was in Lady Mary's room, dressing her for the day. Sitting on the bed were Lady Edith and Lady Sybil, waiting to be dressed. Anna, the head housemaid, was responsible for dressing all three girls as none of them had their own lady's maids. Since Lady Mary was the eldest, it was her prerogative to be dressed first, if she chose.

"What is the news belowstairs, Anna?" Lady Edith inquired of the maid.

Anna was glad of the question, because of course, as a servant, she was forbidden to instigate conversation with her employers, but she did want to let them know what she had found out in the kitchens before she had ascended to dress the girls.

"The Titanic has sunk, milady," she responded, placing a pin in Lady Mary's hair. "It hit an iceberg early this morning, broke in half and just…sank. They're saying that more than half the people on board drowned."

"How awful!" Lady Sybil replied, placing a hand over her mouth to cover her slight sob. "Those poor people!"

"Really Sybil, it's not true. Clearly Anna is telling us of the dream she had last night," Edith responded, wanting to show off her knowledge. "The Titanic is unsinkable; that's what everybody says."

"But it wasn't a dream, milady," Anna defended herself, turning to dress the middle daughter. "It's all over the newspapers!"

"How ghastly." Lady Mary input calmly. "We must ask Papa if there was anybody we know on board."

Anna descended the stairs with Gwen and Miss O'Brien after they had finished straightening the bedrooms, talking about the news O'Brien had heard in Her Ladyships bedchamber regarding His Lordship's heir and his son being of the number that had died aboard the Titanic. She stopped abruptly, however, when she saw a tall, handsome man standing in the kitchen corridor.

"Hello," he offered, putting his bag down. "I've been waiting at the back door. I knocked, but nobody came," he explained.

"So you just pushed in?" O'Brien sneered.

"I am John Bates, the new valet," Bates replied.

"The new valet?"

"That's right."

O'Brien's gaze traveled downwards to his cane and his obvious disability, clearly thinking that he would not be up to the task. "You're early."

Really? Anna thought. Does she have to be so rude to him? Clearly, if His Lordship has faith that Mr. Bates can perform the duties of a valet, we have no right to pass judgment ourselves!

"Came on the milk train. Thought I'd take the day to get to know the place and start tonight," Bates responded in his deep lilt.

Determined that she would befriend this man and be his ally even if nobody else in the house would, she shifted her bundle of bed linens into her left hand and offered him her right. "I'm Anna, the head housemaid," she stated, giving him a bright smile.

He took her hand gratefully. At least someone is polite, he thought to himself. To Anna, he merely said, "How do you do?"

"And I'm Miss O'Brien, Her Ladyship's maid," O'Brien added self-importantly. "You'd better come along with us." And with that, she turned and stalked into the kitchen.

Bates reached down to pick up his bag and follow. As he stood up again, Anna offered him another, more private, smile. Nodding his head for her to go ahead of him, Bates returned her smile and went to face the onslaught.

A/N: Well, that's the first chapter! Please, read and rate to let me know what you think! If there is any scene or conversation that you would like to see played out, please let me know and I will do my best to include it whenever I get to it. Thank you!