"Yes, I've got it. Now careful Anna. Just step out here. I've got you. Yes, just like that."
Anna stepped carefully from the car. Bates held on to her elbow, guiding her down.
"There we are. Good. Thank you!" he called to the driver.
"You're welcome Mr. Bates. Need any help with the bag?"
"No, I've got it. Thank you. You're free to go," John said with a grin. He was smiling and his hair was loose, a lock falling on his forehead. "Well then, here we are." John picked up his bag and started to walk towards the cottage door. He fumbled a bit with the key and then pushed the door open for Anna to pass through. "After you."
"Thank you dear," Anna murmured.
She walked into their home, hearing the click of the door as it closed. John was then instantly by her side. "Are you well? Do you need to sit down?" he asked.
"I'm fine. Don't you think we should show him around?"
"I do," he agreed. John and Anna met each other's eyes. She smiled and he took a deep breath. "I can't really believe it."
"Really?" Anna teased, "The evidence is quite overwhelming."
John laughed and turned his attention to the bundle in Anna's arms. Blue eyes looked up at him. The face was still a bit wrinkled, but the cheeks were chubby and pink. A small huff was followed by a tiny hand escaping its blanket and grasping at air. John quickly put out his index finger and his son grasped it tightly.
"See? He's saying 'Get on with it dad. Show me the family home.'"
"As you wish," John began, "here we have the front hall. As you can see your pram awaits. We'll take many splendid walks outside and show you the grounds."
Anna laughed and felt tears well up as John led her into the parlor, playing along with her teasing and giving their baby son an elaborate tour of his home. This was his first time home as he'd been born at Downton. Lady Mary had insisted that Anna take a room there in the weeks before her estimated due date. John had quickly agreed, wanting Anna to be as close as possible to without actually going into the hospital. Anna had protested, but, naturally nervous about having the baby, had finally complied. Lady Mary had graciously provided John an adjoining room, but it was largely for show. John would come into Anna's room at night and have his evening conversation with the baby, asking the baby when he would arrive and interpreting the kicks beneath his hand. Anna adored John's playfulness. She knew he was nervous, particularly after what had happened to Lady Sybil, but he did his best to relax her and make her smile.
Shortly after midnight just four days ago, Anna had experienced the beginnings of her labor pains. John stayed by her side for as long as possible before Dr. Clarkson, Lady Mary, and Mrs. Hughes shooed him out the door. Robert and Cora had woken and Robert took Bates into the library to play backgammon. Robert was amused that Bates, the calmest soldier of them all when the going was tough in Africa, was a nervous wreck. The wait was agony, but compared to other labors, relatively short. The baby had made up its mind that it was ready to be born and wasted no time entering the world. Just as Robert was going to suggest a switch to checkers (he was somewhat put out that Bates, though distracted, managed to beat him at every game) a baby's cry was heard. Bates moved faster than Robert had ever seen him and soon Lady Mary was coming to tell her father that Anna had been wonderfully brave and strong and the Bates' now had a healthy baby boy.
Both John and Anna had a feeling they were going to have a son. They'd discussed names and Anna was adamant that if they had a son he be named after his father. John was a bit reluctant as Anna knew he would be. Finally it was decided that the baby would be named John Robert Bates, but would be called Jack. He was not technically a Junior, but John had wanted to honor Robert for taking a chance on him those many years ago and bringing him to Downton. Lord Grantham had been deeply touched by the honor.
And now they were home, ready to start their life as a family. Anna had never seen John so light. He had been wonderful throughout her pregnancy, watching her like a hawk and ready to tend to her every need. He had moments of anxiety, which Anna felt was natural, and she did her best to reassure him that he would be a great father. Though their son was just days old, she had been proven right. The look on John's face when he held the baby and gazed at his face was one of pure love and adoration. He spoke tenderly to his son and his lips brushed gently against the boy's forehead and cheeks. After all they had gone through, Anna felt this happiness was deserved and she hoped it was long lasting.
"And here is our bedroom. You'll be staying here for a while. See, we're all set up for you," John said, gesturing to the bassinet beside their bed. "Here at your beck and call."
Anna laughed and John put his arm around her shoulders. "And though you may not want to hear about it, this very room is where you came into existence," John said, gently squeezing Anna's shoulder.
Jack gazed into the room, seemingly feigning interest in his father's words but his eyes were beginning to droop. Anna shot John a wicked grin. "You can't lie to our son when he's only been in the world a few days."
"Lie?"
"Yes, you know as well as I that he might have been conceived in the parlor. On the couch remember?"
"Oh," John said, his cheeks reddening a bit, "Yes, but I just thought..."
"Or the kitchen table? Or the bathtub?"
"Yes, well..."
"Or even outside? Remember that walk would have been right about that time, by that old barn?" Anna bit back a smile, enjoying her teasing.
"Well, I can't hardly tell him his mother's such a naughty temptress can I? We can't know for sure so we'll just let my statement stand," John declared with mock exasperation.
"Very well then."
"Good. Now, would you like to rest?"
Anna hated to admit it, but she was tired. Lord Grantham had provided the car to bring them to their cottage so it wasn't as if she had been on her feet a great deal, but she could already feel her energy flagging. "That's not a bad idea. But you need rest too. And he's nodding off. Let's just have a family lie down."
"No, I can fix something for you to eat if you want. Or I can clean up some?"
"I'm not hungry. And the house was clean when we left. I don't think it could get dirty with no one here. Now Mr. Bates, I say you come lie down with your wife and son."
Bates placed a kiss on his wife's temple and started to remove his jacket. Anna put Jack in the center of the bed, the baby already drifting off to sleep. She quickly removed her shoes and slipped into her nightclothes. John removed his shoes and collar. They settled down on either side of Jack, watching him sleep. He and Anna smiled at each other. John put his hand on the boy's chest, feeling the steady breathing and strong heartbeat. When he looked up Anna's eyes were closed. He knew she was reluctant to show her exhaustion, but no one other than herself was expecting her to be full of energy and bustling around the home. He was glad she was listening to her body and resting. His attention returned to his son, his eyes memorizing the long lashes, barely there eyebrows, and rosebud lips. He was beautiful and John could feel an actual surge of love and pride just looking at him. His son. John's thoughts turned briefly to his own father. He had been a stern man, quick to discipline his son with a belt on the occasions he bothered to show up and perform his 'fatherly duties.' But mostly he was out on a drunk and John's mom was left to do her best with an angry son who craved and dreaded his father's attention. His mother had done her best and John was glad to have a warm, close relationship with her. He only wished she had lived to see her grandson. When John had learned of Anna's pregnancy, he had vowed to be a much better father than his own. He had been amazed at the love he had felt when the child was growing in Anna, wondering how it was possible to love someone he had never even met. And then when he had seen his son for the first time...
He had been met at the door by Lady Mary. "She did wonderfully Bates. And the baby is beautiful."
"Thank you milady."
"Congratulations Mr. Bates," Mrs. Hughes had said, her hand resting on Bates's arm.
"Thank you Mrs. Hughes."
He'd stepped in the room then. Dr. Clarkson was standing beside Anna, telling her what to expect in the next few days before picking up his bag and coming to greet John. "Congratulations Bates! Your wife did wonderfully and the baby is healthy as can be. A perfect delivery."
"Thank you Dr. Clarkson. Thank you so much," John said, shaking the doctor's hand.
"Well, I'll leave you. Do bring Anna and the baby in sometime in the next week or two. Just for a routine exam."
"Yes Doctor, of course."
And then he was gone. And he found himself at the foot of the bed, Anna looking at the bundle in her arms before taking in her husband. He heard a small gurgle come from the depths of the blankets. "John," Anna said softly, her face glowing with love, "come say hello. Come meet your son."
John let out a breath and made his way around to her, suddenly nervous and self-conscious. She turned slightly and John felt his heart pound in his chest. There was his son. His eyes were barely open, his face red and wrinkled. A little tuft of dark hair was on his head. John felt tears on his cheeks, but was too engrossed in the sight before him to even wipe them away.
"Oh Anna...oh Anna," he said.
"Sit here," Anna said, motioning to the edge of the bed. He followed her directions, his eyes never leaving his child's face. Anna began to transfer the baby to his arms.
"Are you sure?" John asked with a bit of panic in his voice.
"Quite. Just hold him like this. Here you are. Yes, just like that," Anna murmured.
And John was holding his son. "He's amazing. Just absolutely amazing. Beautiful." His eyes finally left his son and landed on Anna. He leaned forward to kiss her forehead. "And how are you my love?"
"Tired. It was hard, but well worth it. And Dr. Clarkson said he's perfect. Healthy. Nearly eight pounds."
"Perfect."
Anna watched John watching his son. Already his gentleness and the tender expression on his face was overwhelming her. She wiped away tears.
"Are you all right dear? Do you need something?" John asked.
"No, it's just...well, it makes it all worth it, doesn't it? All we've been through has come to this. We have each other and now him. I just...I just never thought this would be my life. And I'm so grateful. So grateful for everything. And I love you John. I love you so much and now we've a baby and I'm just so grateful," she said, trying to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks. "And I love the two of you so much. You two are my life and I love you. I think my heart is going to burst."
"I know the feeling. And I love you Anna. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you and he are taken care of and loved and happy. Thank you so much for him," John said.
They gazed at each other, each of them thinking of all they had been through. The long road to togetherness and the obstacles that at times seemed insurmountable. But here they were. each of them with tears of joy. "Well, you're welcome, but I couldn't have done it without you," Anna finally said and they both laughed, the intensity of the moment broken. John bent down and they shared a brief, but passionate kiss. Jack's gurgles and coos turned their attention back to him.
Now John's eyes drifted to Anna again. Both she and Jack were now asleep. John did feel a bit tired, but also excited and he doubted he could sleep. But right now he was content to watch the two most important people in the world enjoying a rest together. John's eyes moved back and forth between the two and as the minutes passed, he could not imagine a more perfect moment.