A/N: This is my first attempt at a multiple chapter story—so please bear with me! This will mostly be an Anna/Bates pairing, but Mary/Matthew and Sybil/Branson will also be part of the story. Full disclosure, I have no real knowledge of the British penal system during this time period. But I figure if Sir Fellowes can take a lot of license with history, so can I.

As always, Downton Abbey and it's characters are property of Julian Fellowes and ITV.

Hours 'Til Dawn

Chapter 1

December 31st , 1919, 4pm

Grantham House, London

Anna rubbed her eyes and looked into the mirror. The black circles that had ringed her eyes for the last month persisted. That wouldn't do. She wouldn't have him see her in this condition, not today of all days. She stepped to the bowl and pitcher that had been delivered to her room while she attempted a nap. She filled the bowl. Taking both hands she splashed herself with the cool water.

As water dripped down her face, she stepped back in front of the mirror surveying herself in her sleeping gown. In addition to the black circles, her face was gaunt and pale. She pinched her cheeks hoping to produce some color. Her hands fell to her side, then out of instinct, she raised then to cradle her bulging belly.

She felt a small kick followed by a fluttering. He was awake and dancing about. Her newly acquired mother's intuition told her the baby was a boy. John laughingly disputed her claim arguing that God would reward one angel with another. But Anna knew better. It was a boy. A boy that everyday would mirror John in looks and spirit. And that would be God's gift to her.

The mantle clock softly chimed 4 o'clock. She had two hours to ready herself and get to Wandsworth Prison. Anna calmly returned to the bowl and pitcher to wash the sleep from her body. She felt incredibly lazy taking a nap in the middle of the afternoon. She couldn't remember a time in her life when such a luxury was allowed. But Lady Mary had been adamant that she rest. There would be no chores for her to do at Grantham House during her stay. At first, Anna was uncomfortable staying in a guest room instead of the servant quarters, but Mrs. Gordon, the housekeeper, warmly rebuked her protests. Both Lord Grantham and Lady Mary had insisted on the accommodations. After having few visitors during the war years, Mrs. Gordon was exceedingly pleased to have a guest to dote on.

Opening up a wardrobe five times the size of hers at Downton, Anna pulled out a dress suit of deep blue, almost purple hue. Her wedding dress. She wanted to look her best today. She wanted to be beautiful. Anna had never been one to dwell on her looks. She thought herself pretty enough, perhaps not as striking as a Lady Mary or unique as Lady Sybil, but comely enough still. But on their wedding day, she had been beautiful. She felt it in her heart and seen it in his eyes. She wanted to experience that thrill again.

After slipping on her undergarments, she stepped into the skirt. It hadn't been easy, but she had managed to let out the waist to epic proportions to accommodate her nine month pregnant body. The shirt barely reached her expanded waistline, but it wouldn't be noticeable after putting on the dress jacket with its newly set buttons.

Once dressed, Anna sat down at the dressing table to fix her hair. She started to pull it back and twist it into a bun, then her hands stilled. In that one night they shared, the one night that would have to last her a lifetime, John's hands had been drawn to her hair. Anna closed her eyes and she could almost feel his fingers combing through her long tresses, massaging her scalp. No, propriety be damned. For John, she would wear her hair down. She brushed and brushed until her hair gleamed. She then simply pinned back the sides.

Anna crossed back over to the wardrobe and pulled out her shoes. She took them over to the bed where she could sit and easily bring her feet up. Anna was amazed how difficult even the simplest tasks were when you were pregnant. She fought to get her swollen feet into now ill-fitting shoes. She rested for a moment after accomplishing the task. Her feet weren't the only part of the body swollen. Her fingers were fat and bore a remarkable resemblance to breakfast sausages. She reached with her opposite hand to touch her simple wedding band. She used to be able to turn it, but now it had a stranglehold on her ring finger, which was fine with her. She would never take it off.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She could do this. She would be there for John. That's all that mattered. She slid off the bed and returned to the wardrobe to fetch her hat.

She stood in front of the mirror again adjusting her hat. She practiced a smile for him. She knew it didn't reach her eyes, and he would recognize that, but she hoped it would bring him some solace. She was ready to go, but her feet remained locked in place. She just continued to stare at her reflection. A kick from the baby jarred her senses. She slightly shook her head, straightened her skirt and brushed some lint off her jacket. Anna took one more look at herself. Her color had returned and with her hair down she looked younger than her thirty two years. Perhaps not as beautiful as their wedding day, but reasonably attractive for being the size of an elephant. Even with her new figure she wanted to look her absolute best. It wasn't everyday you saw your husband for the last time.