Apologies for the Vera and John bits, but we wanted to make it believable. If she was horrible all the time he would have left her years ago.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Julian Fellowes and ITV etc

On his arrival back to their new home, Vera hadn't thought about the lock on the back door as John wandered in at gone 1 am. Sitting at the breakfast table the next morning, drinking his tea and working his way through the paper he closed his eyes as his peace was interrupted by the sound of Vera trudging down the stairs. Keeping his paper firmly in front of his face, he listened as she almost fell into the seat opposite him, still in her dressing gown, looking the worse for wear.

'Hey, how did you get in here?' Vera eventually hissed, lifting her head from her hands to look at him.

'Drunken mistake, my dear,' John replied, not moving his paper from it's position. 'You may have double locked the front door but the back wasn't locked at all.'

'Oh,' Vera said weakly, looking at the back door behind John. She gasped as a realisation spread over her. 'Imagine if we'd have had a burglar.'

'Hmm, imagine,' John said indifferently. 'See, I left it unlocked in case the evening ended in the way most of our evenings end. And lo and behold, it did.'

'Well, it wouldn't have if you hadn't been flirting with that Barbie doll behind the bar,' Vera replied, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

'Anna.'

'What?'

'Her name is Anna.' John reiterated. 'And you are hardly in a position to comment. Faithful since the day I slipped that ring on your finger. And you know it.'

Vera remained quiet as she began to sip on her coffee. Her silence spoke volumes as John folded up his paper to stare at her.

'We moved up here to make a new start for ourselves, Vera.' John began. 'And the first night out together you make a scene like that.'

'I'm sorry,' she said weakly.

'I'm trying Vera,' John continued, standing up and picking his jacket up from the back of the chair he was sitting on and taking hold of his cane. 'Trying to make this wreck of a marriage work. Because, for some unknown reason, after all the affairs and all the jibes, I still find a reason to stick around.'

'I'm glad you do,' she smiled, affording him a look as she moved her hand across the table towards him. Sighing, he reached down and entwined his fingers in hers. 'How about tonight, I cook you dinner.'

'I'd like that,' John grinned softly before reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. 'Here's some money to buy the food. You choose what we have.'

'Thank you,' Vera said as she took the money from her husband. Standing up, she closed the distance between them before reaching up to kiss him lightly on the cheek. 'I'll see you after work.'

With that, she left him and walked back upstairs, John leaving shortly afterwards to begin his first proper day of work.

'Come on, Sophie. Please. I don't ask you for much.' Anna pleaded to her sister, resting her phone between her shoulder and ear as she tied Emily's hair in bunches, Emily happily munching on a packet of crisps. She was in the staff room at the bar. Anna's mother, whom normally looked after Emily, called to say she was sick right at the last minute. William sat opposite Emily, flicking through a magazine whilst Daisy made a cup of tea behind him. 'Mum usually has her but she is ill. There is no space for her to go to her play group. I'm on my knees. What? What do you mean what is it worth? It's worth a day spent with your niece. Sharing precious moments together.'

'What are you looking at, William?' Emily asked, pointing a sticky finger at the picture to the article he was reading.

'Just something about cars,' William replied, not looking up from his magazine.

'Do you get a free toy with that magazine?' Emily continued. 'I got a make up set with my comic the other day.'

'That's nice,' William replied.

'Alright, you can have my red top. But I drawer the line at my boots.' Anna said, bowing down to her sister's demands. 'Deal? Great. I'll meet you at the front of the bar in ten minutes. Thanks sis.'

Anna hung up and looked down at Emily. 'You're going to be spending the day with Aunty Sophie,' Anna informed her daughter enthusiastically.

'Okay,' Emily shrugged, still staring at William.

'Don't sound too excited,' Anna replied before turning her attentions to William and Daisy. 'You two better get upstairs and start getting the bar ready.'

'But I just made a cuppa,' Daisy groaned, sitting beside William.

'Take it with you then. We open for the lunchtime customers in an hour.' Anna said sternly. 'Our first proper day of opening. Get to it.'

William rose to his feet and walked out of the room, followed slowly by a less enthusiastic Daisy.

'And tell the kitchen staff they better be getting ready, they are my first port of call,' Anna called after them.

'Mummy, do you like being the boss?' Emily asked, looking up at her Anna standing behind her.

'Why do you ask that?'

'Because you're very good at being bossy.' Emily replied before reaching across the table and pulling William's magazine towards her.

'Thanks pumpkin,' Anna laughed, kissing Emily on the head. Suddenly the phone from the office began to ring. 'Stay right here Emily, Mummy's got to answer the phone.'

'Alright,' Emily said as she grabbed the permanent marker that had also been left on the table and began to colour in William's magazine.

John walked in through the back entrance and made his way the short distance along the corridor towards his office. Peering into the staff room as he walked past, he carried on walking until he realised there was a small child sitting at the table. Walking back a few paces he stopped at the doorway and observed Emily for a few moments. Making his way inside, he walked to where she was sitting.

'Hello,' Emily said, stopping what she was doing to look up at him. 'Can I help you?'

Looking at her pretty little face, soft blonde hair tied up in bunches and blue eyes sparkling, John realised she must be Anna's daughter. 'Are you Emily?'

'How did you know that? Are you magic or something?' Emily asked as John sat opposite her. 'Is that why you have the stick? Are you a wizard? Is it your magic wand?'

John laughed as he looked at his cane. 'No, this is my walking stick. I need it to help me walk.'

'Why?' Emily asked. 'Only old people use walking sticks. You're not old.'

'Bless you,' John laughed, looking up to see Anna standing in the doorway.

'Would you like a crisp?' Emily asked, offering John the bag she was holding whilst licking the crumbs from her fingers.

'I'm good, thanks.' John replied. 'Hello Anna.'

'I'm so sorry.' Anna said, panic stricken. 'She is being picked up, it's just my mum is ill and the playschool cant take her and...'

'It's alright,' John said, holding his hands up. 'These things happen.'

'Aunty Sophie is coming to pick you up in a minute, isn't she?' Anna said, sitting beside her daughter.

'Yeah,' Emily said, none too impressed.

'What's wrong with Aunty Sophie?' Anna groaned.

'She makes me listen to her silly music in the car.' Emily explained. 'I don't like Dizzee Rascal, and Bruno Mars is boring.'

'Your tastes slightly more high brow, are they?' John asked, thoroughly amused by Anna's daughter.

'What?' Emily asked with a confused look on her face.

'Nothing,' John replied, looking at Anna who was now laughing. 'What music do you like then, Emily?'

Emily pondered John's question for a moment as she continued to deface William's magazine. 'I like One Direction.'

'Of course you do,' John nodded. 'What's not to like?'

'She's set her sights on marrying one of them.' Anna informed John as she kept her gaze fixed on Emily and gently stroked her arm. It was obvious she adored her daughter and it warmed John's heart to see the bond they shared.

'Which one?' John asked, not that he'd know which one she was talking about.

'Any, she's not fussy.' Anna laughed. 'Come on you, let's go and wait for Sophie.'

'Can John come?' Emily asked, jumping off her chair.

'If he wants?' Anna said, looking over at her boss.

'Why not, I need to check everything is going according to plan upstairs anyway.'

Walking upstairs, John acknowledged William and Daisy before following Anna and Emily outside. Sophie was parked in her Mini outside, applying a new coat of make up using her rear view mirror.

'Thanks so much for this, Sophie.' Anna said as she reached Sophie's drivers door.

'It's alright,' Sophie replied before looking down at Emily. 'Alright short stuff?'

'My name is Emily,' she replied before opening one of the rear doors, John chuckling away watching her. He admired her attitude. Anna got the car seat Sophie kept in her boot as Sophie continued to apply her make up. 'Bye John.'

'Bye Emily, hope to see you again soon.' John waved before taking a step back on the pavement.

'Be good,' Anna said, kissing Emily before shutting the door. 'I'll be around to get her about six.'

'No worries,' Sophie said, turning up her music causing Anna to wince. 'Take care.'

As weekday lunchtimes were always pretty quiet, Anna ran over the staffing with John in the office, informing William and Daisy to call through to her if they needed any assistance.

'So Ethel, my assistant manager works the evening shifts so I can go home and look after Emily.' Anna explained, filling in the rota as she spoke. 'I work one a week, to give her a night off. Sybil, Mary's sister also helps out here too.'

'I know Sybil,' John nodded, glasses on as he studied the rota. 'And I know I have to spread my time across all three bars but I want to help out where I can.'

'That's good to know,' Anna said, looking up and smiling at him before turning her attentions back to her rota. 'William and Daisy are my best workers, but we also have Gwen and Tom Branson who you have yet to meet. They and Ethel were covering at Mary's bar last night.'

'And kitchen staff?' John asked.

'Robert employs a lady called Margaret Patmore to sort all that out. She designs the menu, organises staffing the kitchens so we don't have to worry about that. She's coming in this afternoon so you'll get to meet her.'

'So many people to meet,' John sighed, leaning back in his chair. Anna looked over her shoulder and grinned at him.

'Not a people person?'

'It depends on the person.'

'You'll be fine,' she reassured him.

'I'm sure I will be,' John replied, smiling back at her. 'If they are all as friendly as you.'

John stood at the bar as Anna introduced him to Tom and Ethel, waiting for Robert to meet him to take him to see the other two branches he would be supervising. Sybil was at the bar too, entertaining the people around her with tales of John's escapades with her father before they went away to fight in Bosnia. However, John found himself unable to avert his eyes from Anna for too long. She was so full of life. Spending the afternoon in the office with her, learning the ins and outs of the business, he realised how intelligent and confident she was.

'And then, this one time John and Dad dressed up in full drag...'

'I think we can end that one there, Sybil,' John interrupted.

'Maybe you're right. We'll save that one for another time.' Sybil laughed. 'Dad might be running a bit late. He was having an argument with Mum about building an extension when I left.'

'No problem,' John replied. 'I'll just go and visit the gents before he gets here.'

Anna watched him walk away before looking back at her staff who were all staring at her. 'What?'

'So, what do you make of him then?' Daisy asked.

'He's a bit distant, isn't he?' Ethel asked. 'Like he isn't really listening.'

'Is he?' Anna asked, a puzzled expression on her face as she collected some dirty glasses from a table near the bar.

'Yeah, one word answers and stuff.' Daisy agreed.

'He's no more than civil to me,' William said. 'Which is all he needs to be. He's not here to be our friend, is he?'

'Well, he's very chatty to me.' Anna shrugged, placing the glasses on the bar.

'Because he fancies you,' Tom remarked in his strong Irish growl.

'No he doesn't,' Anna shook her head. 'He's married.'

'What's that got to do with it?' Ethel replied.

'He'd be a fool not to fancy you,' Tom winked before making his way behind the bar.

'Very kind, Tom.' Anna said. 'What do you want?'

'This Saturday off.' Tom replied in a heartbeat.

'I knew there was a catch.' Anna smiled, crossing her arms.

'Where's John?' Robert asked as he walked towards the group now assembled by the bar. 'And why are none of you working?'

'John's in the toilet and I am just handing over to Ethel and Sybil,' Anna answered. 'I've finished and I am just going to collect, or rather rescue my daughter from her Aunty.'

'Very good,' Robert answered before looking around at the half full bar behind him. 'Busy day?'

'Steady,' Anna said. 'I've been explaining to John about the rota's and what not.'

'Thank you, Anna.' Robert smiled. 'Don't let me keep you any longer.'

'Thanks, bye guys.'

'Alright Robert?' John asked, exiting the bathroom to join his friend.

'Hi John, how's things?'

'Good, where's Anna?' John asked, looking around for her.

'She left,' Robert replied.

'Oh, okay then,' John said disappointedly.

'Shall we get going? We'll go and see Thomas first,' Robert suggested.

'Great,' John nodded before looking at the staff staring at him from behind the bar. 'See you soon.' They all waved in unison as John followed Robert out of the bar.

'He's got it so bad,' Ethel smirked, watching them leave.

Opening the front door, John's senses were overtaken by the waft of salt and vinegar. Walking inside the house, he ventured a little down the hallway and looked in to see Vera working her way through a rather large portion of fish and chips, which it looked like she was washing down with a large glass of red wine.

'Couldn't be bothered to cook then?' John asked, shaking his jacket off his arms and throwing it in the armchair.

'Nope,' Vera said dismissively, not averting her eyes from the television.

John sighed as he sat in the armchair and looked at her. 'What have I done, now?'

'I saw you, with that blonde piece this morning.' Vera hissed, now affording him a look.

John could only think she saw him chatting to Emily. 'Vera, she's four years old.'

'Not the child, John. Anna.'

'I was merely saying goodbye to her daughter. She was going off for the day with her aunty and had requested I wave her off. That is all,' John explained as he began to untie his shoelaces.

'I saw the way you were staring at her as she put the little brat in her car seat,' Vera continued, taking a sip of her wine.

John's sigh was audible as he rose to his feet. 'I'm not going to sit here and listen to this. You are ridiculous.'

'I want you to quit, John,' Vera said as he made his way to leave the room. Stopping just as he reached the door, he looked down at his wife.

'What?'

'Quit. You fancy the little trollop and I'm not comfortable with you working with her.'

'And how would we live, Vera?' John asked, moving to stand in front of her. 'You won't go out and get a job so this is our only form of income.'

'Let's move back down south then,' Vera replied.

'Out of the question.'

'John...'

'No Vera.' John interrupted. 'We have moved up here to make a fresh start. I like Anna, but just as friends. That's all. I am her boss, nothing more. Unlike you, my marriage vows mean something to me. Or used to anyway.'

'What does that mean?' Vera asked, standing up.

'Oh, I don't know,' John sighed. 'I'm going to bed, I don't want another argument.'

'What about your dinner?' Vera asked as he walked away into the hallway.

John stopped and looked back at her. 'Suddenly, I'm not very hungry.'