A/N: Thanks for checking out my first Downton Abbey fanfic. Like most Anna/Bates shippers, while I love the many characters and storylines of Downton Abbey, there just isn't enough of Anna and Bates. I came to for some more Bates love and was inspired to write my own. I really enjoyed the Modern AU stories that I read and decided to go that route. Silvestria's University Challenge and TheShippyQueen's It All Began at Downton are great Modern AU's that inspired me.

This is Anna/Bates centric but will include most of the other characters and couples of Downton. I hope you enjoy.

Anna glared at the crack in her bedroom ceiling. She willed it to grow bigger. If the crack ran the entire length of the ceiling, then she could easily make this decision. Suddenly, she kicked her legs, beat her fists on the bed and screamed.

When had it all gone so wrong? She had never imagined her life would look like this at age 26. She used to imagine going somewhere…being someone. Now she felt like she was stuck at a dead-end. A uni dropout living in a crap flat while she cleans the flats of the rich for a living. She buried her head in a pillow when the thought of all the mistakes she's made with men came to the forefront.

"I hate my life." Anna groaned.

But in the back of her mind, Anna thought, did she really? Sure, cleaning other people's homes was not the most glamorous job, but Anna actually really enjoyed working at I'll See It Clean. She always did the best job possible, and the praise from her boss and clients made her feel appreciated. And she liked the independence that being single afforded. She could do what she wanted when she wanted how she wanted. Life really wasn't that bad…except for her crap flat. Which was why she was in her bed glaring at her ceiling.

Anna rubbed at her eyes. "This should be an easy decision."

Her friend Mary had just made her an offer very hard to refuse. Mary was her roommate at uni. They had very little in common but they had become quick friends nonetheless. Mary was an heiress while Anna came from a working class family. Anna was warm and friendly while Mary was more cool and detached. But they both hated the pressure their families put on them and continuing their education. And thus they both left before getting a degree. Mary had thoroughly disappointed her parents by pursuing a singing career.

But it looked like her parents hadn't stayed mad at her for too long. They had just bought a grand apartment building and gave a penthouse to Mary. Mary hated living alone especially in such a large space. Just a few hours earlier she had begged Anna to be her roommate again. Anna could only say she would think about it.

So here she was thinking about it. As far as she could remember, Anna had never been very good at receiving gifts. Living in a penthouse flat without paying rent wouldn't be easy for hardworking Anna to accept. Even if Mary had hinted Anna could keep the flat clean as a sort of rent.

The phone ringing interrupted Anna's musings.

"I haven't made up my mind yet, Mary."

"Made your mind up about what?"

"Sorry Gwen. I thought you were Mary. You alright?"

"I figured that. Richie bailed on me again, and I'm not spending my Saturday night watching TV by myself again. Say you'll come drinking with me. I'll help you make up your mind about whatever it is you need help making your mind up about. Please." Gwen begged.

Anna wiggled her nose as she thought it over. "Oh alright, give me an hour and I'll meet you at the pub."

"That's my girl."

Anna moaned. Trying to keep up with Gwen was never a good idea. She slowly started to open her eyes. She blinked quickly as the morning light blinded her. She was about to roll out of bed when she stopped and did a double take at the ceiling. She would have laughed if her head didn't hurt so much. The crack on her ceiling was at least three inches longer.

"I guess that settles it then." Anna smiled. "Aspirin first, then I'll call Mary."

A week later, she was on her way to Tesco's to pick up the makings of a celebratory dinner for Mary and Anna's first night as roommates. Well, roommates for the second time.

She was reading Mary's text to not forget the wine when she saw an elderly woman spill her bag of groceries near the entrance. Anna was appalled at the few people who walked right on by. She threw her phone in her purse and quickened her steps to help but was soon shocked into stopping. A man with a cane had put his hand on the old woman's shoulder.

"Allow me." Was said in the most delicious and light Irish burr Anna had ever heard. He slowly kneeled on one leg and scooped the fallen groceries back into her bag.

Anna took in this gallant knight of a man. He had to be in his forties. He had short dark hair. His body wasn't fit but he didn't quite have the large belly of his contemporaries. He really wasn't handsome to most of today's standards, but his actions made him extremely attractive to Anna.

The old woman offered her thanks as the man used his cane to wearily stand back up and dusted off his trousers.

"You're very welcome, ma'am." His head turned in Anna's general direction. She realized she must be staring like a fool. She quickly smiled as she blushed.

She shuffled her purse on her shoulder, ducked her head and made to enter Tesco's. She glanced up before entering and was gifted with a breathtaking sight. The man was smiling back at her. His lips curved upwards and his eyes scrunched. It was the twinkle in his eye that stayed with her.

"Why Anna Smith? That's an awfully large smile after a grocery run. Was there a special on crisps?" Mary joked as Anna set the bags on the kitchen counter.

"No. Well, yes there was a sale on crisps but that's not why…"

"I know that's not why. So who is he?"

Anna stalled by putting the milk in the fridge.

"Anna?"

"It was nothing really. I was just outside Tesco's and this poor old woman spilled her groceries on the pavement. She could barely bend down to pick them up, and everyone just walked right on by."

"How awful." Mary deadpanned.

"It was," Anna glared at Mary. "I walked towards her to help but before I got there, HE did. Everyone had just walked by, but this man who needed a cane to walk was the one who stopped to help. He could barely bend down himself."

"Oh, so you found Prince Charming, then?"

"No, he was more of a knight in shining armor. But he did have a charming smile."

"And you go weak at the knees for those. So did you get his number?"

Anna laughed. "No. I couldn't have gone up to a stranger on the street and asked for his number. No matter how charming his smile was. And he was older. Not old enough to really matter but I just felt like such a fool when he caught me staring."

"Such a shame. You may have found the only man with manners, and you may never see him again."

Anna paused putting crisps in the cupboard when she realized how sad the thought of never seeing him again made her.

"So when can I come and see your new flat?" Gwen asked as she washed a window.

"You got a new flat?" Sarah stopped dusting and put her full attention on Anna.

Anna shot a quick glare to Gwen. "Yes. An old friend needed a roommate."

"Well anything has to be a step up from that rat's nest you were living in."

"Her friend is rich. It's a penthouse and Anna doesn't have to pay any rent." Gwen rattled on.

"Well aren't you the lucky one." Sarah sneered and went back to dusting. "Maybe with all that extra money you'll have, you can afford to get your hair done."

Anna self consciously touched her hair. "I just did."

"It looks fine, Anna." Gwen quickly reassured.

"Fine?" Anna huffed and went back wiping off the table. "Mary's planning a housewarming party for next month. She wants to wait until some hot foreign guy is staying with a friend she plans to invite so he'll come too. Seems a little desperate to me."

"As long as I'm invited." Gwen smiled.

Anna smiled. "Of course." Her smile fell as she looked at Sarah's back. "You're welcome to come too, Sarah."

"I'll have to make sure I'm not busy that day." Sarah threw back.

Anna walked by Gwen on the way to the sink. "You're buying me a drink at the pub tonight for bringing it up in front of her."

"Where are we going? We've been walking for ages!" Gwen whined and started dragging her feet.

"Oh hush. We're almost there. It's called the Downton Pub. It's just around the corner from my new flat. After you buy me a drink, I'll give you a tour." Anna pulled Gwen behind her.

Gwen caught up with her. "Great!"

"Here it is! Mary and I had lunch here when we were moving in. Fantastic food. It's a great little pub." Anna held the door for Gwen.

The girls entered and took a look around. It was still early since they came straight from work, so the pub wasn't too busy yet.

"I'm just going to text Mary and see if she wants to join us." Anna pulled her phone out of her purse.

"I just need to duck into the ladies. Get me a cider wouldya?" Gwen quickly headed towards the back of the pub.

"You were supposed to buy me one." Anna sighed at Gwen's retreating back and went back to her text.

Out of the corner of her eye, a shiny pair of black shoes caught her eye. She stopped counting and curiously watched them move across the floor in her general direction. There was something off about the rhythm of the steps, but before she could fully realize it one of the shoes caught on a crack in the wooden floor. She didn't even glance up as two pints of beer splashed across her front and soaked the front of her dress. She wearily watched the beer drip from her dress onto her shoes. Stunned, Anna slowly raised her head and met the horrified expression stuck on the face of the gallant knight with the charming smile.