Finally a new Anna/Bates fanfic I wrote. Did some others, but wasn't happy with them and got stuck at some point. Hope you all like this one :)
Sorry for some writing mistakes, English isn't my first language.
S1, cannon until the flower show (Anna just told John she loved him)
What if a storm changed the way home for Anna and John? Setting and idea are a bit 'stolen' from another fandom, but totally changed to this couple.
Anna wanted to stay, to help after the flower show. They had glanced at each other several times and John had decided to stay too. After her confession they hadn't talked. John felt uncomfortable and so sorry for her. He didn't want to reject her but he felt he had to. He wished it hadn't come to this, confessing about his marriage with Vera. He almost couldn't handle the sadness and disappointment on her face. John wished they could have loved each other in silence... but she was probably right... she couldn't keep her feelings to herself any longer, she wanted more. He only allowed himself to dream about doing the same: confess his love to her. But it would only lead to impossible situations; he didn't want to hurt her even more. He had scarcely thought about it before but what where their options? He was sure she was the only right woman for him.
John watched Anna while she talked and laughed with old Mr Molesly. Her sweet face, soft skin,... he wanted to be able to kiss her. Shower her in kisses and give her the love she deserves. Now she knew he'd been married, he was sure nothing would ever come to such things now. She would probably hate him for not telling her sooner. He had led her on by his vague conversations. He wasn't thinking at the time, he never imagined such a lovely girl would fall for him. Such a beautiful, smart and good natured woman. He sighed while keeping his eyes on Anna.
Her cheeks turned red from exercise and her eyes became even brighter. A few strands of hair fell out from under her hat. She carried the roses outside and filled some baskets with fruits.
Of course he had noticed her preference some times, but never allowed to think more of it. She always sat next to him at dinner, they sought each other in the courtyard, took care of the other when one was ill. He had found her staring at him an few times,.. she had smiled shyly when he had looked back. He liked that; he liked it maybe to much, but never did anything inappropriate with it.
Now she loved him, but he couldn't make her happy. He couldn't propose. Damn choices he made when he was young!
Anna carried some baskets outside. John could imagine her coming home to their own home. Doing the groceries, helping out in the garden, holding each other when... he made himself stop at this point. It had no use...
Suddenly Isobel stood next to him "you're staring" she whispered. John startled, but saw she was smiling. "I would go home now, if I where you... the clouds are gathering, it's seems there will be some heavy rain soon. You should take Anna with you" she said with a cheeky grin.
"Thank you ma'am, I will" John replied polite, and both walked off.
John walked over to Anna. Feeling uncomfortable again, because they hadn't exchanged a word since earlier this afternoon. "I'm sorry to bother you..." he started.
"You never bother me" she said quickly and looked him straight in the eyes. He wondered how she could be so strong, after such a discovery and disappointment. It took a few second to get himself together and went on. "It seems there will be some heavy rain later on. I think it's better if we'll go home now."
"You can go if you like, I like to help finish this before I go back to Downton.
"I don't think a woman should go walking about the dark and rain on her own" he replied.
"I can take pretty good care of myself, ." she shyly said. "I know you can, but I will never forgive myself if something happens to you anyway" John said sincerely. Anna hesitated and was thinking for a few seconds before she went on. He hoped she wouldn't be stubborn now, he hoped he still could be her friend.
"All right, give me a few minutes to say goodbye to a few people."
John smiled (satisfied) and nodded.
Anna walked away, looking around whom she might talk to before they left. She didn't need to say goodbye to anyone, she only needed some time to prepare herself for the walk home with . Anna believed it was the right decision to tell him she was in love with him. Night after night she thought of him, thinking about how he looked at her, his smiles when she was around, helping each other. She thought it was clear she sometimes flirted with him when they where alone. It was something she never did before in her life!
In her dreams they would marry and she wondered why he didn't ask her. She had thought about reasons, because there had to be something she didn't know. It drove her crazy every night, his silence, his secrets. She wanted to be trusted by him, but something kept him back. And now she knew. He was married.
She hadn't thought of that! Of course more woman had fancied him before her. Finally it made sense. He was a man of honour, he couldn't give her anything, even if he loved her back. She couldn't blame him for this. He was very respectful to her.
She did want to know more about it, talk about his life, how he became this wonderful man. She still loved him and she wouldn't deny it any more.
He had told his marriage wasn't all that kept him from her. "But that's not all of it" he had mentioned after her questions. What could he mean? She was sure it wouldn't alter her opinion one bit. But she hadn't had the chance to ask him.
After talking to some people, Anna walked back to John. had given her a basket with fruits to take for the servants. It was swinging at her arm. She crossed her arms when they stepped out of the building together.
Outside Anna noticed how bad the weather had turned out. A very heavy wind blew around her and dark clouds surrounded them. The sky was rumbling. Drops of rain where already coming down. Suddenly she felt cold and wanted to be back home soon as possible. She was glad John had waited on her. The sun was nowhere to be seen and soon it would be completely dark.
John walked slow and hadn't said a single word since they left.
"I'm sorry for slowing you down again." he whispered after a few minutes. Anna stopped walking and gave him a strange look. "Please stop that." she sighed.
"Stop what?"
"Apologizing for everything. I like you no matter what"
"I can't believe you can be so understanding about everything." John said, stopping his steps too. She didn't know he said that because he was annoyed by it or if it was a compliment. Anna sighed again en looked down.
Right above them suddenly the thunder stroke. It made Anna Jump and take a step backwards. Unfortunately she tripped over a three root, surrounded by a pool of water. She shrieked and landed on her hands, hurting her wrists.
"ANNA! you OK?" John immediately asked. He saw the tears in her eyes. "Oh, John..." her face looked like she was in pain.
Panic overtook her as she tried unsuccessfully to stand. The pain was nearly unbearable. John tried to help her but she lay back in the mud, letting the large rain drops fall on her face. "I think I've sprained my ankle, I can't stand." She moaned. The sky opened itself even more; thick raindrops soaked their clothes. It was getting really cold. "We can't remain here Anna, It's cold and dangerous to be here" Again, the thunder and lightning stroke close by. Both where silent for a while. "You should fetch some help ". "It will take at least an hour before someone arrives back here. It's the darkest night ever Anna, I won't abandon you". He saw it comforted her. "But we can't stay neither. We must find a place to hide. I see the threes are to no use, they're soaking too."
"Isn't there any place nearby, a cottage where we can get some help?" Anna asked.
"Actually, if I'm right, there might be a place,... But it's dark and I can't really navigate where we are. Let me have a look. I will be back as soon as possible. Please, stay here Anna! Can you manage for some minutes?" "I think I have to . Please be quick." She smiled weakly. He nodded and was of in the woods. The minutes went very slow, Anna was noticing every sound, every branch that snapped, every drop that fell in the pool of water she was sitting in. She started shivering, from cold, but also fear. She couldn't move with her hurt ankle and wrists.
She was sure he was away for at least ten minutes when she heard him call her name. "Anna..? Anna, where are you?"
"Here ! I'm near a big three, please come back here!"
He arrived quickly. His hair all wet and messy. She had to confess, it looked good on him. His coat and trousers where completely soaked and covered with mud. "Have you finished inspecting my apparel' John joked.
Anna smiled shyly and asked "Everything all right ? Did you find what you where looking for?"
"Yes, I did. But I'm afraid it is a bit of a walk trough the woods. If I help you, do you think you can get up? It's not far, together we should be able to get there."
"I think I have no choice. I'm getting cold, we need shelter."
"Allow me to help you, miss smith" Before Anna could even think John reached down, putting is arm around Anna's waist. "Forgive me for taking such al liberty" Anna felt a blush spread across her face. "Please, put you're arm around my shoulder" She did and John lifted her up. He was stronger then she thought. His knee must hurt a lot now, she imagined. Anna stood on one leg, her frog soaking wet and muddy against her. John could feel her shiver. "I wish I could be a real gentleman and carry you, but I fear my leg can't handle that" he apologized. Anna wanted to protest, but John started walking slowly. Anna almost tripped again, but together they moved on. Despite the cold rain, her face burned with heat. She could feel his warm breath against her face when he looked at her. She could not help but notice a light dusting of stubble over Johns jaw. She had not noticed this previously – but now she was closer to him than she had been. Closer than she had ever been to any man.
He continued to walk forward, taking her deeper still into the forest. Stumbling and tripping they reached the little cottage they where looking for.
"I once went here with his lordship. He wants to renovate some of the cottages. This one is quite a ruin, if you ask me, but it will do for some shelter tonight" "TONIGHT?" Anna panicked.
"Yes, no one will find us before dawn, with this storm no one will take a step outside or start a search."
John helped Anna inside. It was clear no one had lived here for years. Some walls had gone down. He could see a living room with fireplace, a room that probably had been a kitchen and stairs going up to another floor. "Let my find some wood for a fire, please sit down on this sofa." He helped Anna down, their faces almost touching in the process. John felt the urge to cup her cheek with his hand, but resisted with pain in his heart. He was lucky there was a pile of wood still next to the fireplace. He lighted the fire with the matches he used for lighting his cigarettes. Soon the room felt more cosy and less scary, so he turned back to Anna.
He was shocked by the way she looked. Her skin white as a sheet and she was shivering like crazy.
"Anna, you're not looking well. You probably have a bad cold, walking in that soaking frog and coat you're wearing" John pushed the sofa closer to the fire and looked really worried.
"I don't feel well at all, to be honest. It's so cold." "Let me find you some blankets, there must be some upstairs."
John made his way up the stairs as soon as he could. Anna heard some noise upstairs, like things where falling down... "JOHN, YOU OK?" "yeah...ouch, yeah,... be right back!"
John came down with two blankets. "I'm sorry, it's not much and they're dusty and all, but,..." "Thank you so much , they're perfect" She gave him her best smile
He took Anna's soaking coat and gave the blankets, so she could wrap herself, and walked to the fire. "I hope I don't embarrass you to much by taking of my coat and my jacket. They're soaked, I will hang them by the fire to dry." Anna didn't answer but only blushed, so John took this as an OK. He was now only in his wet trousers and a t-shirt. Anna looked from under her lashes. She could see the muscles of his arms, which helped carry some of her weight to the cottage. He looked so much younger in the flickering lights of the fire.
Anna, wrapped in the blankets, tried to take of her hat. She didn't need it inside and some water was still dripping into her neck. But, because her wrists where still painful, she couldn't manage. John walked over and without saying anything, questioned with his eyes if he could help her. Anna nodded and sat up, so he could reach all the pins that where holding it in its place. Anna held her breath when she tilted her head and he reached for the last pin in her hair. It all fell loose over the sofa. He handed her the hat and put a few loose strands behind her ear. All the time he was behind her and Anna almost couldn't breath anymore. She closed her eyes. Now she wasn't trembling because of the cold, but from excitement. From behind John made sure the blankets where tight against her back and over her shoulders. Then he stood up and walked over to the other side of the sofa, where her feet where lying.
"Can I have look?" he asked her. "We must know how bad it is, if you might be able to walk tomorrow." Anna still couldn't say a word and just nodded.
John sat down next to her feet and their eyes met. She looked back at him with big and bright eyes. Then he reached for her calf. "Forgive me Anna, for touching you like this, but I'm afraid there's no other way." Anna took a deep breath. Waiting for the pain, but also from the pleasure of feeling his hand on her leg. He moved his hand up to her knee, to find the edge of het stocking. His warm hand on her bare skin made her shudder from pleasure. John must have felt this too, because he took a deep breath. "Please tell me if I have to stop, Anna." He said with a husk voice.
"You… you can continue ,.. but be careful." They both didn't know where to look.
John caressed her calf while he rolled the stocking down slowly. Anna felt like she was on fire, especially when she heard him let out a soft sigh. "I'm gonna take of your shoe now, I will be careful." He fixed his eyes on Anna and started to undo the shoelaces.
He then slowly lifted up her leg and pulled the shoe partly of her feet. A frown came on her face and he ceased his move. Then he continued and finally the shoe dropped on the floor. "How's that feeling?"
"A lot better" she smiled. She wished he would touch her again. Never had a man touched her like this, she would never have allowed it. This was probably a very compromising and embarrassing situation, but his touch was all she could think about.
Her wishes where answered. John took her feet and cradled it in one hand. "Your foot is so cold, I wish I could do more to help you" he could only say. "You're doing even more then I could ever expect, thank you..." Anna replied. He now watched her ankle and tried to move it a bit. Anna winched from pain and bit her teeth together.
"Pl-please,… !"
"I'm so sorry Anna! I really hope it's not broken but only strained. Mr. Clarkson should have a look tomorrow." Now he held her foot in his warm hands and started touching her softly. He made small circles up and under her foot. Anna started to relax again and settled back against the side of the sofa. He removed her other shoe, so she could lay back and rest on the sofa. He covered her legs with the second blanket.
What will happen in their shelter? They will probably talk about their life and dreams. Will Anna get to know the real John?
I think I'll write two more chapters, but will take my time
Please review/message me. Suggestions are welcome!