A very short piece about what could have happened when John found out his mother had passed on. Hope you like. :)

After leaving the dinner table, John sat in the courtyard, staring into the darkness. Inhaling the clear air around him, he closed his eyes as the pain he had been feeling ever since he received the telegram only moments before reverberated around his body. Clutching the paper on which the message was printed, John pleaded with some higher power for it to be a mistake. For it not to be true.

Closing his eyes, struggling to fight back the tears that threatened to escape them John was startled by the sound of the door opening behind him. As he opened his eyes he heard footsteps getting closer. Familiar footsteps. He wasn't sure he wanted company right at this moment, but he was relieved it was her rather than anyone else.

'Mr Bates,' came the words to break the silence that echoed around the courtyard.

'Anna,' John whispered without turning around. Silence fell again as Anna sat beside him.

Looking up at him, Anna had never seen Mr Bates looking so distraught. So much in despair. She looked at the piece of paper John was holding in his shaking hand. 'What did it say?'

John passed the telegram across to Anna. As she read, John looked to the heavens and bit his lip as tears began to sting his eyes.

'I'm so sorry John.' Turning to face him, John managed a weak smile as he met Anna's gaze. 'I'd do anything to change this for you.'

'What am I going to do, Anna?' John whimpered, looking down at the ground. 'My mother. The one constant thing in my life, gone.'

Anna shook her head, unable to imagine what John must be going through. Inevitably, this day comes for every child but until it happens, most don't even contemplate it. The thought of it is too agonizing. Frightening even.

'I don't know what to say,' Anna said.

As the words escaped her mouth, John broke down, he couldn't hold back his emotions any longer. Anna's instinct led her to place an arm around John's shoulders. She was taken by surprise as he leant his head on her shoulder before placing an arm around her waist. Anna wrapped her other arm around him and pulled him into her embrace as John continued to cry.

'Sorry, I'm sorry.' John apologised after a few moments in Anna's arms as he backed away from her.

'Why are you sorry?' Anna asked, her arm still draped around his shoulder as he sat up straight. 'I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you.'

'That means more than you'll ever know,' John smiled, albeit a smile tinged with heartache. They looked at each other then as Anna reached her hand to John's cheek and brushed away a tear. 'When I said my mother was the one constant in my life, that wasn't strictly true. I'm so glad you're here with me right now.'

'I don't want to be anywhere else,' Anna said softly. 'Not until I know you are going to be alright. I'll sit out here all night with you if I have to. I just struggle to find the right words in this situation.'

'You don't have to say anything,' John replied. 'Just being here with me is enough.'

Calm fell upon them again, sitting together in the darkness, Anna's arm around John's shoulder, their hands entwined between them resting on the crate they sat on. John occasionally broke down again, each time he did Anna's grip tightened to remind him she was still there.

'I'll have to go down to London,' John suddenly revealed. 'The funeral. To sort out the house. Things like that.'

'Sssh, you don't have to think about that right now.' Anna breathed.

'You're all I have now,' John said, surprising Anna with his admission. 'And I don't really have any right to say that.'

'You aren't in the right frame of mind to broach this subject again, Mr Bates.' Anna began. 'You've had quite a shock. You're emotional.'

'I mean it, Anna. I do.' John placed a hand on her cheek, desperation making his words sound even more passionate than usual. 'I need you more than ever.'

'I promise to be here for you, Mr Bates.' Anna replied. 'All I can say is that my heart is yours, I am yours. I have been since the first day I saw you. Even if we can never be together please know that.'

'In this, one of the darkest hours of my life, that fact shall be my guiding light.' John said, the sincerity in his tone making Anna wonder if she had ever loved anyone or anything as much as she loved him in that moment. 'We best go in.'

'Only if you are sure.'

'Yes. I'll enlighten Mr Carson on the situation and talk to His Lordship tomorrow.' John explained as they stood up.

Staring at each other, John put his arms around Anna and held her close to him. She rested her head on his chest, the sound of his heart beating matching the rhythm of her own.

'I'm so sorry for your loss, Mr Bates.'