Okay, if you haven't read the story that precedes this, Downton Sands, then this isn't going to make a lot of sense. If you don't want to read Downton Sands, in a nutshell, John goes to work at a Holiday Park where he meets Anna who already works there, they fall in love etc etc etc and this is where that has brought them to. This is the first part of three.

As usual, all tongue in cheek, plenty of fluff and written to please me and my editor in chief. None of the characters belong to me, etc.

John's POV

'Okay, Miss Smith and Mr Bates, if you look here..' the sonographer began, pointing at the screen, 'you can see your baby's head. And there, is an arm.'

'Fantastic, our baby has a head and an arm,' I exclaim, maybe a little too excitedly. 'Look Anna, look what we did!.'

'Yes John,' Anna rolls her eyes before smiling broadly. 'Our baby.'

'Now the heart beat is strong, there appears to be no problems, you're baby is growing happily and healthily.' the doctor said as she cleaned Anna's stomach. 'I will just go and work out an exact due date based on these readings.

The sonographer left, leaving me and Anna alone in the room. Anna pulled her top down and sat up on the bed. 'I have been dreading that.'

'Why?' I ask, taking hold of her hand.

'You know, I didn't really believe anything was in here,' she puts her hands on her stomach. 'Me or the doctor could have made a mistake.'

'Darling, the throwing up and mood swings have left me in no doubt.' I reply, picking up a leaflet about safe sex which has been left on the table beside Anna's bed. 'Bit late for this, eh?'

'Right then,' the doctor said as she re appeared. 'I can put the exact due date down as June 10th. Just in time for summer.'

'Aww, in time for father's day too,' I smile as Anna throws me a look. 'Sorry dear.'

'Okay Miss Smith, so if you book your next scan on the way out, we look forward to seeing you in a few weeks.' the doctor shook Anna's hand.

'Thanks so much.' Anna smiles before looking at her watch. 'Oh God, John we've got to get moving. The caterer is meeting us at noon.'

Anna carries on out of the room as I shake the doctors hand before explaining. 'We're getting married in a couple of weeks.'

'Oh right, a lovely time of year for it.' she replies.

'Yeah, I thought so. I was going to propose before I found out Anna was pregnant, it's just I had been away, we reunited then she told me she had news, and I said I had news and then...'

'John!' Anna shouts as she puts her head around the door. 'We'll be late.'

Myself and Anna had decided on a small wedding, neither of us wanted to wait but we both agreed the money I had left over from the sale of mother's house should go towards the baby. We decided to marry in the registry office in York. Robert very kindly donated us the show bar for free as a reception venue.

We decided on a week before Christmas because of the time of the year, as well as the fact Anna wouldn't be showing too much. No one knew about the baby apart from the two of us and Anna's mum, dad and sister so we both agreed I should work it into my wedding speech.

Robert had agreed to be, or rather told me, he was best man. Anna had asked Ethel, Gwen and Sophie to be bridesmaids. The dresses were strictly a department store job, mine and Bob's suits rented.

Like all Bride Grooms, I am doing as I am told. Anna has said she wants us in black morning suits, cream waistcoats and red cravats. So that is what she shall have, as well as mine and Bob's decision to go all out and wear red socks and red braces underneath it all. Hopefully she won't find out until after we have said 'I do.'

After our fittings, myself and Robert chat over a cup of coffee. We talk about the old days, being in the army together and all the drama that time in our life brought, to how coming to Downton was the best decision I have ever made in my life.

'Anna's a lovely girl, you're a very lucky man,' Robert says, stirring his coffee. 'She's been my best worker for the best part of a decade.'

'It was very nice for you to offer us the show bar for the reception. We are so grateful.'

'It's the least I could do. No one really understands how far under Downton Sands was going. Charles Carson was a nice enough fellow, he did the job well but we needed a new injection of life and you were it.'

'Well, it was only because I had Anna to support me.' I point out. 'I don't know if I would have been able to do it without her.'

'You're too modest for your own good.' Robert says standing up. 'Come on, lets take these to go.'

Anna's POV

It's the day before the wedding and if being pregnant wasn't enough, I now have the stress of the smooth running of a wedding. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy it and I would if I wasn't such a damn perfectionist. Packing an overnight bag, John sits on the bed watching me. He and Robert are sleeping here tonight, and I can't help but dread what mess they are going to get my brand new house in whilst I am gone.

'Now, what did I tell you about drinks?' I question.

'Coasters,' John sighs, arms folded.

'And any plates you use...'

'Wash as we go.' John replies. 'Goodness sake, Anna, enjoy your evening with your family. We'll behave. All we are doing is watching a DVD and ordering a pizza.'

I narrow my eyes and look at him. 'Hmm... are you sure?'

'Positive,' he raises his hands in defence. 'I even picked a menu up to order from tonight. It's on the kitchen counter downstairs if you don't believe me.'

'Good.' Anna replied. 'Make sure you are in bed at a reasonable hour.'

'Yes mum.' he says sarcastically.

I sigh then. 'Am I being bossy again?'

'Nooo..' he says unconvincingly as I stop what I am doing and focus my sole attention on him. 'Maybe a little.' He gestures for me to sit with him. Leaning back against the headboard, I sit between his legs and lean my body back against his chest. Wrapping my arms around his knees, he begins to play with my hair.

'I'm going to miss you tonight,' I say, closing my eyes. 'I mean, we're going to miss you.'

'I'll miss you both too.' he says, kissing my neck and placing a hand on my stomach. Sighing contentedly, I lay my head back on his shoulder.

I must have drifted off because the next thing I know I am waking up in semi darkness, John no longer behind me. Sounds from downstairs fill my ears as I sit up and look at my watch. Five thirty. I hear footsteps on the landing and before long John appears at the door. I stand up.

'Ahh, was just coming to wake you.' he smiles, reaching behind me and picking up my overnight bag. 'Your mum and Sophie are here.'

'Thought I could hear them.' I reply, yawning right in John's face which must be a wonderful sight to behold. He turns to walk out of the room before I grab his wrist. 'Wait a minute.' I pull him closer to me and wrap my arms around his neck. His free hand rests at it's normal place, half way between my hip and my ever growing behind. Darkness in the room means his face is only lit up by the moon reflecting on the sea outside the window.

'They're ready to go downstairs. What's up?' he asks, smiling down at me.

'Thank you,' is all I can think of to say.

Frowning at me, he asks, 'why on earth would you need to thank me?'

'For coming back to me. For coming to Downton in the first place. Just, for everything that's good in my life at the moment.'

'Anna,' he lets out a small laugh, looks at me before replying. 'I really don't deserve you.'

'Anna, are you coming or what?' Sophie shouts up the stairs. Closing my eyes, John laughing in my ear, I prepare to shout back.

'Yes,' I say. 'Won't be a second.'

' The next time I see you, you'll be walking down the aisle.' John beams before screwing his face up, like he always does when he runs something over in his mind. 'It is still an aisle in a registry office isn't it?'

'Shut up and give me a kiss.' Pressing my lips against his, his hand moves lower as the kiss deepens. 'Oi!' I squeal as he pinches me.

'Sorry, I couldn't resist,' he laughs.

We stand in the darkness, taking the sight of each other in one last time before we are parted for the evening. This is the first time since he came back to Downton after he left to sort out his mother's house that we will spend an evening apart. I'm not looking forward to it. I have never felt safer than when I am lying in his arms.

Releasing me from his grip, he takes hold of my hand and brings it to his lips. 'I love you.'

'I love you too,' a tear was threatening to fall from my eye. 'I really am going to miss you.' I can't stop the tears now. It must be the hormones.

'Hey, come here,' he says, pulling me back into his arms. 'I tell you what. I'll call you about half ten. Say goodnight. '

'I'd like that,' I reply, pulling away from him and drying my eyes with my sleeve.

'Anna, come on.' Sophie called again. 'Dad went out to get a Chinese same time we came to get you and if we don't beat him back he'll eat all the egg fried rice.'

John's POV

Standing at the doorstep I wave Anna, her mum and Sophie off. Once they are out of sight, I walk back into the house. Sitting on the sofa, I look at my watch and notice I have a couple of hours until Robert arrives so decide to catch up on some TV I had recorded.

'The best laid plans..' I sigh as the doorbell goes. Turning off the TV, I walk to the door and can see a number of people standing on the step through the frosted glass. Opening the door, I'm not sure if the sight before me fills me with dread or makes me want to smile.

'Who's getting married in the morning, ding dong the bells are going to chime.' It's dread, I realise as Robert, Tom Branson and William sing to me, dressed like the pilots from Top Gun.

'Rob, what's all this?' I sigh.

'We,' he begins. 'Are taking you on a stag night.'

'I've had my stag night, me and you went to the Indian last week.' I explain.

'You call that a stag night? Pah,' Robert continues.

'Anna won't like this.' I reply.

'Yeah, that's why we waited for her to leave,' Tom explained. 'We've been sitting in that over there for over an hour.' Tom points to a VW camper van which was owned by William.

'God, we thought she'd never leave.' Robert says. 'Can we come in?'

'Look, I really don't think this...'

'Nonsense John, we'll have you back at a reasonable hour.' Robert says as he pushes past me, followed by Tom and William, who hands me a clothes bag on his way in.

Once in the kitchen the three lads sit around my breakfast bar as I unzip the clothes bag to see what's inside. Suddenly, a flash went off and I look around to see Robert holding his camera.

'We need a picture of the grooms reaction on seeing his outfit.' Robert smiles. 'You're our Maverick tonight.' My outfit was the same as the others, they really wanted me to go out dressed as an extra from Top Gun. 'Now go and get changed.'

'Guys, I really appreciate it but..'

'But nothing, we'll have you back before midnight. That's why we are here so early.' Tom explains. I look at William, who throws me his keys.

'Seeing as you are the only tee total one, you're driving.' he smiles.

'Oh, it just gets better and better. Ferrying a bunch of drunks around Yorkshire.' I roll my eyes.

'Well, we aren't drunk yet so go and get changed so we can get started,' Robert announces, standing up clasping his hands together.

'Back by midnight.' I point at Robert before looking him square in the eyes. 'No later.'

'You have my word,' Robert smiles. 'Now go and get changed.'