- He could see by the way she narrowed her eyes that the argument wasn't over by any stretch of imagination. -

'You know you look so beautiful when you are upset?' he tried, knowing that he would never win a fight against Anna Bates.

'Don't you try to distract me, John Bates. Don't you even try.'

'Alright.' he said, bringing his hands up in surrender. 'Fair enough but…I don't want to go.'

'You are going and that's that. And you are going because you are thankful to him.'

'I am but…you know I don't like crowded places, and he's not the first person I would pick to spend my afternoon off with.'

'Here take your coat, it's cold.'

'Really?'

'Absolutely.'

John pouted, irritated. 'You are worse than my mother when she made me go to church.'

She gave him a pointed look. 'And yet you survived safe and sound and ever so stubborn.'

He shrugged on his coat and put his hat on, every movement was hard and forced and she had to hide a smile as she saw this husband of hers who seemed more like a very spoiled little boy than the big and strong man he really was. She let her mind wander for a moment to imagine a young John Bates, rebel heart but kind soul with the world at his feet and an undying love for his mother's hem skirts.

'What?' he caught her smiling and tried to look very offended.

'I'm just thinking what kind of trouble you were for you poor mother.'

He feigned a grimace while he put his gloves on.

'Ready?' she asked.

'Not mentally.'

'Don't be such a bore. I promise to make up for it when you arrive home.'

Her words gave him hope and with a more pleased look on his face he left. He arrived home a few hours later quite excited about the game.

'Football is so much more interesting when you are there, and Mr Molesley told me he would try to find tickets for the next match.'

'I suppose you enjoyed yourself then?' she asked smiling widely at his excitement.

'And you are right! Maybe…' He approached her slowly and sat down besides her on the bed, bringing his hand to caress the baby's soft cheek. 'This little one can be a player one day.'