Disclaimer: Downton Abbey belongs to Julian Fellowes/ITV

Thanks to my great beta regrettableturnofevents! :D

'...and with this, I declare the case closed!', the judge called out. John could hardly believe it. He finally never had to see Vera ever again. They were divorced now also by law and name. He let out a breath of relief he didn't know he was holding in and pinched the bridge of his nose. Suddenly, John felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Robert, his best friend and divorce lawyer. 'Let's get moving, shall we? This trial has made me hungry.' John nodded and they left the building, going towards Robert's car.

They drove the first few minutes in companionable silence, until they almost arrived at John's flat and Robert asked: 'So, any plans for today? You're free now after all.'

'Just the usual. Watching the game, you know. Read a little.'

'Oh, come on Bates, you finally got rid of her for good, we should celebrate!', Robert said, pulling in on one of the parking spots.

'And how, if I may ask? You know that I don't drink.', John quipped.

'Mary has two tickets left for one of her friend's gigs, in the first row. She's a cellist. Come on, John! What do you possibly enjoy more than some good, classic music?'

'Oh, I can think of more than enough. Like books and Manchester United, for example.'

'How about 'Thank you Robert, that's very nice of you'?'

John sighed exasperatedly. He was never the right person for social gatherings, he'd much rather spend the time enjoying some good poetry. But he knew that once Robert had an idea in his head, he wouldn't let go of it easily, so he just stayed silent.

'Wonderful, I take that as a sort of agreement. Now go and get dressed, it starts in two hours. Enough time to get some food if you're fast enough.'

'Yes, sir.', replied John sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Anna was nervous, this was her first concert with an orchestra after all. What if she played one of the pieces wrong? What if it was obvious on stage how fussy she was being? What if she messed up the rest of her musical career just because of one evening?

Mary's voice broke Anna out of her thoughts: 'Calm down Anna, you can do this. The Harrogate Symphony Orchestra asked you to play for them for a reason'

'Mary, please I'll be fine.', Anna replied, having a hard time keeping her bottom lip from wobbling.

'Well, you're obviously not fine.', Mary reached into her bag and produced a package of Aspirin. 'Here, take one.'

'Thank you', Anna swallowed it down with a few gulps of water from the glass standing on the cloakroom's vanity.

'Better?'

'A little', Anna answered with a slightly tired sigh.

'See? Performing will do the rest. Your eyes always have some sort of spark when you do it. I'm sure it won't be different today.', her friend said, rubbing her back. 'Ready?'

'Ready.'

'Hello Papa! Uncle John!', Mary called, waving her father and John from the other side of the concert hall.

'Mary, darling', Robert said, hugging his daughter and kissing her on the cheek. 'How are you?'

'Good, thanks.', she answered smiling, then turned to her father's friend, hugging him also. 'I heard congratulations are in order?'

'Yes there are, but you should rather compliment your father, he did all the hard work, after all.', John answered with an easy smile.

They went to their seats and continued chatting, until a bell signalled the beginning of the concert. Mary looked towards the stage, her eyes searching for Anna. Her friend's place in the orchestra was in the background, but when she eventually found her gaze, she gave her a reassuring smile, which resulted in Anna smiling back in response. John's eyes had followed Mary's gaze and he couldn't help but stare at Anna. She was far too young for him, that much was obvious, but he was happy enough to just look at the way her smile lit up her face.

The rest of the audience sat down, and shortly after also the musicians went to their respective places on stage.

The pieces they played were mostly well-known classics, but also a few pieces from different movies. As the current piece of music came into its crescendo his eyes were drawn to Mary's friend whose eyes had closed in her concentration, the music seeming to fall away as he watched her face transform in a pleasure that grew along with the music. The way how she was so engrossed in her play simply mesmerised him, even if he internally chastised himself for observing her so shamelessly instead of paying attention to the music. His staring, however, hadn't gone unnoticed: during one of the last pieces, her eyes found his and she offered him a friendly smile. And even if John managed to smile back, he continued to curse himself, and even louder than before. You are divorced for less than three hours and already throw yourself at the first woman who only so much as smiles at you!, he thought. She's just being friendly, in any other situation you'd get nothing but an odd look.

The audience, including John, Robert and Mary cheered when the concert was eventually over. John originally didn't plan on lingering, that is until Mary mentioned that her friend, her name seemed to be Anna, wanted to come down for while. He couldn't say anything against that, as much as he wanted to avoid awkward conversations. But after a few minutes, Anna came from behind the stage. John didn't really pay attention to the conversation his best friend and Mary had with her, but couldn't help but stare at her slight blonde curls instead. They looked like some sort of golden veil cascading down her back. John tried to avert his eyes from her a few times, and it did work, even if only for a minute. How he managed to not make it obvious that he wasn't listening, he didn't know.

But, after what seemed like an eternity, they finally said their goodbyes and went their ways, only he and Robert staying together because his friend had driven him. The drive went by almost silently, except for some small talk about the concert, but John had no idea how he managed to get through it, much like the conversation before.

When he finally fell asleep that night despite his insomnia, he dreamed of Anna. And little did he know, there were many dreams of her to follow.