A/N Second installment of the Picture is Worth 1,000 words challenge. Thanks again to my partner Terrijane.
I don't have much time to write now a days so please leave a review. They make my day.
I don't own…
He peeked into Lady Mary's bedroom hoping to catch a moment with his wife. The eldest Crawley daughter had been on a four day shopping spree in London and, of course, Anna had had to accompany her.
His smile reached his eyes as he saw that his wife was indeed inside the room unpacking Lady Mary's things. He watched for a moment before making himself known to her, but as he did so, he noticed that she was holding something in her hands, looking at it wistfully.
She looked up and noticed him leaning against the door jam.
A huge smile spread across her face when she saw him. She quickly placed the item she had been holding down on the vanity and came to stand before him.
"Spying on me Mr. Bates?" she asked with a cheeky grin.
"Mmmm, just admiring my stunning wife."
"You must have more important things to do."
"Can't think of a one."
He leaned down to give her a kiss but she held him off, "None of that now, cheeky devil. I know where it's heading and we could be caught."
"All the more reason to let me kiss you quickly then."
The sound of her giggle was music to his ears, although he stifled it with a quick peck to the lips. He pulled away and she swatted him on the arm saying, "That will have to hold you until we get home tonight, Mr. Bates. You may have nothing to do, but I have rather a large workload this afternoon. And I don't intend to miss tea. The food on the train was terrible."
"Very well," he sighed, "but I'm not sure I can last until we get back to the cottage. Perhaps you could meet me in the courtyard after dinner but before we're called to dress them for bed?"
"Perhaps," she teased. After a moment, she stopped him at the door saying, "The courtyard hey? Just like old times."
He turned and gave her a wicked grin, "Not at all like old times if I have my way, Mrs. Bates."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Later that evening, Anna entered their small sitting room with a tray full of tea and biscuits. The couple had had plenty of time to get "reacquainted" in the courtyard as Lady Mary had spent an extended period of time after dinner showing her mother all she had purchased in London.
Now the Bates' were home and ready to enjoy a quiet evening in one another's company before heading to bed. Anna set the tea things on the little footstool in front of her husband's chair and knelt down at his feet, resting against him.
"Lady Mary bought the most beautiful fan when we were in London. It was all lace, and satin, and ivory, and I don't know, I don't usually pine for those sorts of things but somehow it really spoke to me. It was so simple but so beautiful."
She kept making small talk until she noticed that although John was stroking her hair absent mindedly, he wasn't responding to anything she said.
"You're brooding over your tea Mr. Bates."
"You caught me. I'm sorry love."
"Will you at least tell me what you're on about? Perhaps I can help."
"You always help," he smiled as he reached his hand out for her.
As she took it, he pulled her into his lap. She immediately shifted her weight so that his knee wouldn't be bothered. Without either of them thinking about it, he wrapped his arms loosely around her waist as she clasped her hands behind his neck. It was natural to them now.
He kissed her neck saying, "It's nothing, honestly," but she refused to be distracted.
"If it's nothing then you should have no problem telling me."
"You'll think me silly.'
"I already think you silly," she replied, making him chuckle.
"Oh all right," he sighed, "it's just...what you were saying about Lady Mary's fan. You should be surrounded by beautiful things. But you'll never have them being married to me."
"What?" she exclaimed.
"I told you you'd think it was silly."
"And you'd be right. It is silly. Do you think I'd trade one minute of our life together for all the pretty things this cottage could hold?"
"Maybe not this cottage, but it is very small," he grumbled.
"All the beautiful things at the Abbey then."
"Maybe then, and I should think you'd trade a good deal of the minutes of our lives together for even one of the beautiful things at Downton. You deserve them."
"What I deserve is to be happy. And I could only ever be happy being married to you."
"So you're saying you would never be happy being married to someone who could fill your life with lovely things?"
"Our life is filled with lovely things," she said, just a bit of frustration creeping into her voice.
John looked around the room, "Oh yes, such lovely things. A broken down settee, an ancient china cabinet, and hand me down plates and cups that are chipped and cracked from years of use in the servants' hall."
"I hate to disagree with my husband…"
"Yes? Since when?" he teased.
She ignored him and continued, "...but you're wrong. I see your mother's china cabinet, the very plates and cups, chipped though they may be, that we used while sitting next to each other when we first met, and as for the settee, well, do you remember just how it got broken, Mr. Bates? Because I can assure you, I do."
"Still, if you had married someone else…"
"Like who? Mr. Molesley perhaps? I'm sure he would have filled a cottage with all manner of expensive and beautiful things." The idea that Molesley had ever been interested in Anna still rankled John from time to time and Anna knew it.
"Well no, not Molesley…"
"Indeed not, nor any other servant either. And who else would I ever meet?"
"Well, look at Gwen, she married a businessman. Or perhaps she could have introduced you to a college professor."
"Oh heavens, this is ridiculous. The truth is John Bates, that I was only ever meant to marry you and I've not regretted it for one moment. Not even when you were in prison, so why would I regret it now? The fact is, if I hadn't married you, I more than likely would have remained single all my life and taken over for Mrs. Hughes when she retired, and both you and I know it for the truth."
"Alright, alright," John's hands began to flail as he defended himself, "I didn't even want to tell you in the first place. I just want to be sure I make you happy."
Anna's tone hadn't quite calmed as she huffed, "Well I'm perfectly happy!"
"Oh yes," John chuckled, "You sound very happy."
Anna softened and kissed him, "I am very happy," she repeated, "I'd rather have the right man than the right things."
"You've said that before."
"Have I?"
"Yes, don't you remember? It was during the war. You asked me to go to church and pray with you for William and Mr. Crawley. I mentioned that you should have a white wedding with all the trimmings and you said you would rather have the right man than the right wedding."
"I meant it then and I mean it now."
John thought for a minute and then gently helped his wife off his lap and stood, taking her hand once again.
"Come, Mrs. Bates. Let's go see if we can break the bed."
