A/N: Happy Mother's Day in the UK to Anna and happy early birthday to theglamourfades!
Disclaimer: I do not own Downton Abbey.
Warnings: References to past miscarriages.
Chapter 2
1 January, 1926
Just when Anna believed that she had memorized every inch of her son, she discovered something new about him. She knew that some people thought that all babies looked the same and that saying that they looked like their parents was silly, but she felt that she could truly see John's featured intermixed with hers, in the form of a perfect product. And perhaps parents all thought that their child was the most beautiful in the world, but William John Bates definitely was.
She'd been treated like she was one of the Crawleys all day, complete with Miss Baxter coming in with breakfast on a tray. John popped down to the cottage to change clothes and retrieve some things for Anna. It was the quickest trip he'd ever made, thanks to Mr Branson offering to drive him in the car. The snow was thankfully light enough that the roads weren't blocked.
As promised, Dr Clarkson came by to check up on the new mother and child. He deemed everything was as it should be, and Anna asked if was all right if she was moved to another room. She knew that everyone would demand she still remained at the Abbey for a few more days, but at least she didn't have to take up Lady Mary's bed any longer.
Carefully, she and Will relocated to different bedroom a few doors down. Anna had hoped wistfully that they could have used the bedroom that her and John had shared their first night as man and wife, but she knew that was too far away from everyone (and her ladyship had picked that for a certain reason!). But regardless, her and John had had another 'first night' in an upstairs bedroom at Downton Abbey – their first night as parents.
Anna changed into a different nightgown and bed jacket. After giving it a brush, she quickly braided her hair and tied it off with a ribbon that John had brought from home, and then settled herself among these pillows that proved to be just as comfy as the ones from the night before.
"All right, back to Mummy," John said softly as he nestled Will back into Anna's arms.
She beamed at him as he made the transfer, everything coming so naturally to them. It was so surreal that that time the day before, Will was still tumbling inside her and she was taking Epsom salts thinking it was just an upset. Oh, how she was wrong!
John ran his hand down the side of Anna's face and cupped it. "I'll bring you up some tea and a little extra to fortify you. I'll be back in a moment." He wiggled a finger at Will, whose little arms flailed.
As he exited, Anna traced the edge of their baby's ear, and then ran it down his jaw line. He gurgled a bit in response, peering up at her. The snow had stopped, and the clouds had parted, allowing the sun to filter into the room.
"Will, my perfect winter baby," she said with a giggle at her alliteration. He made another noise, his arm reaching for her. "As nice as it is here, I do hope we can go home soon." While she had been very, very grateful that she didn't have to give birth in hospital, this was not what she had imagined night after night for seemingly countless years. But as Will's little hand landed against her chest, she knew that everything had happened they way that it had in order for him to be here. And she had loved him so, so much.
Entering carefully with the tray, John grinned ear-to-ear seeing his wife cradling and talking to their son. He didn't make himself known at first, instead just taking in the sight. She is marvelous, he said once said, and indeed she still was. She had had to face so many horrific things throughout her life, the worse of them in these past few years, but she had made it through them, and now, her greatest, and most deserved, prize was happiness.
He had resigned himself only about eleven months ago that he'd never get to see a scene like this play out. Anna's stubbornness was something that he typically admired, but there were times that it did more harm than good. He knew why she was like that though, and would never ever fault her for it. She had refused to see a doctor after that night, now a few years ago, and still hadn't until Lady Mary had managed to convince her to see Dr Ryder. He had know any suggestions from him after the miscarriage she had had last February would upset her, and it was because she was afraid of it being confirmed that she indeed couldn't have children. Rather than dispute her belief or pressure her, he mourned with her. But Lady Mary persisted in that Anna didn't know this for certain, and her ladyship was stubborn in her own right for which he was now eternally grateful. She was a proactive person, and one that John knew that Anna needed in her life during tough times.
John of course, was Anna's rock of support and comfort. He without question was always there for her, and put her first and foremost. The beginning of last year had been worry and despair, not just about the loss of that pregnancy and the dreams of children being seemingly dashed, but the shadow still being cast over them involving the death of that odious monster.
But the tides had turned by May, and now 1926 was shaping up to be the most wonderful year.
He had always known that motherhood would suit her, something he'd known since he'd first fallen in love with. As she looked up at him with a beaming smile, her glow filling in the perfect picture. Everything so natural and wonderful.
"Let's see what Daddy has brought us," she said to Will, tipping him slightly to show him his father and the goodies he had brought her. The baby grizzled slightly and appeared to peer at John, which delighted him. He laid the tray down near Anna on the duvet, then leaned his cane against the chair and lowered himself onto the bed as well, beside his family.
Anna grinned at the tray; they had played a major part of their early relationship.
"So how are things downstairs, is everyone bustling about?" Leave it to Anna to be concerned bout how work was going at a time like this. Well, work for everyone else at least. She didn't seem too fussed not to be pulling her weight at the moment though.
John poured Anna a cup of tea and then mixed in the milk and sugar for her just the way she liked it. "Oh, they've got a good handle on things, with Mr Molesley here are all. Although I suppose I ought to tell you the news."
She raised her brow at this, as she shifted the baby in her arms to take the cup. But then she rethought things. "Maybe take him, just in case I spill."
He smiled at her precaution and sat the teacup down in order to take his son. Holding him gently against his chest, he rearranged the blanket carefully around Will and gave him a slight bounce to settle him.
"So," she said, between sips, "what's the news? Oh! Did Mr Molesley propose to Miss Baxter? That would be lovely!"
"I don't think they are quite there yet, darling," John said with a chuckle. "No, it's that… Mr Carson is going to retire."
"Oh, I did feel that that was on the horizon…" Although nothing had been formally announced to the staff, the butler's tremor was becoming more and more pronounced and couldn't be hidden anymore.
"Well, as luck would have it, a new butler has been already found."
Anna looked at him quizzically. Too much had happened in the last 24 hours for her to make a guess.
"Thomas."
"Ooooh. Well, really though, that's nice for him. I mean, it's better for him to be people who know him, I think." She took a biscuit from the tray. "And besides, you told me that you parted with him as friends."
"I did, I did." He smiled. "Besides it might work better for us."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, Mr Carson is fond of children yes, but I feel that Mr Barrow might be slightly more lax about having this little one downstairs with us." He gestures with an incline of his head to their sleeping bundle of joy.
"Perhaps." She giggled as she took another sip. "It would be just until he's old enough… we need to establish a routine and I just feel like it will be easier doing so if we leave part of it the same. Get used to being parents first, and then we can become hotel entrepreneurs."
They beamed at each other. Perhaps it was the best choice to not change everything at once, and this was one of the greatest changes of their lives, in both senses of the world. But one step at a time.
"That sounds like a good plan. But I also don't want you rushing back to work either. Take time to rest."
"Yes, sir," she replied teasingly. "But honestly, I do want to spent as much time as I can with Will. We've waited so long for him, I don't really want him out of my sight. And I'm not sure I'll change my tune even after the sleepless nights that lay ahead."
John grinned, as Anna reached over and took ahold of their baby's tiny hand.
"And besides, you and I both know that Lady Mary figured out awhile out to get out of her own clothes. She can spare me some time with my son."
"I realize it will hard for me to leave you two at home each morning…" He'd gotten so used to being with his wife for so much of the day that this was going to be an adjustment for them.
She sighed. "I have to admit, it will be hard for me too. After all we have been through… I prefer to be with you as much as I can…" Besides the periods of time that they were kept apart causing her to want to be physically near him at all times, his presence also had a soothing effect on her anxieties, always giving her a sense of safety and support.
"We'll make it work. And when you do come back, then at least we can have all three of us here. And eventually, we'll have our on business, and make our own hours…"
"And maybe one day there'll even be four of us," Anna finished.
William began to whimper, and instinctually, she scooted the tray away, and reached for him.
"He has quite the appetite," she commented as she untied the front of her nightgown.
The hours fell into a rotation, between feeding and napping. Although she was still sore, Anna realized this was the longest she had been in bed for as long as she could remember. But she took advantage of it for now.
Lord Grantham had insisted that John still take the rest of the day off, but he also knew that eventually his lordship would want his valet back and school would be back in session after the holidays, so Mr Molesley wouldn't always be available. However, for now John would savor every moment he could with his family.
After dinner, they received some more visitors, the first being Lady Mary. Anna had been nursing Will again when she came in, and the blonde rushed quickly to cover herself up in embarrassment. Even if the other woman had been there when she'd given birth, it just seemed like an improper thing to do in front of both one's employer and an earl's daughter.
"Oh, don't worry about that," her ladyship said with a wave of her hand. "It's natural and it's not like I won't be doing it again soon enough anyway."
"Ah!" Anna exclaimed, still shifting around the blanket regardless. "You said something last night but I will admit my mind was very much elsewhere. Congratulations, m'lady."
"Thank you! We've only just now told the family now that Lady Edith is off. I'll write to her and tell her. And I'll tell her about Little William too."
They thankfully fell into an easy banter, and John was glad to see that Anna had someone to discuss motherhood with. Lady Mary reminded her how the lady's maid had chastised her for going to Scotland at eight months pregnant, but then when it was her turn, there Anna was attending weddings and the like a week from her due date. The blonde though was quick to point out, however, she didn't really have to travel to go to those things.
Then Mrs Hughes came to visit. She'd popped up just a bit before heading home. Anna was somewhat glad it wasn't the whole lot of them, because she was admittedly getting too tired. But as the housekeeper fawned over the precious little boy, Anna decided to ask her something special.
"Would you like to hold him?"
Mrs Hughes happy obliged and Anna carefully passed him over. She caught John's eye and he gave her a nod. Anna's own mother had been gone from her life long, even before she'd passed, and he knew that there was a bond here that surpassed being colleagues. And he could tell that it meant a lot to the older woman as well.
Eventually, it was time for Mrs Hughes to leave and they bid her goodnight.
"I have to admit I'm getting anxious to get back home myself. It's nice not to be the servant for once but… plus I feel like at this point you know more about changing nappies than I do." John had been taking Will over to the nursery a few rooms over and had been in charge of that duty under Nanny's careful eye.
"Well, there will be plenty of opportunities for you," John said with a chuckle. "But I know what you mean. That said though, you did all the hard work last night so this is a much deserved break."
Thankfully Anna got her wish in few days time. Mr Branson had offered again to drive them back to the cottage, and John first took down the suitcase that he had brought from the cottage filled with the things she had needed. Then he came back up to carefully guide his family downstairs, his hand on the small of her back as she cradled Will.
"Oooh!" Mrs Patmore exclaimed as she saw them descend the final step into the hallway by the servants' hall, her voice starting off louder and then getting quiet realizing that the sound might make the baby unhappy and start him off crying.
Daisy popped round from the kitchen, and the servants coming to the doorway. Anna was glad that she was fully dressed and with her hair done up as she showed off her son this time. She was would be too self-conscious to do that a second time. Will cooed, seemingly contented, as the others peered into the swaddle of blankets. His charm was too irresistible.
The new mother glanced over at her husband, seeing his face mirror hers, full of pride and joy.
"Mr Branson is waiting for us," he said, almost sorry to leave.
"Don't worry, I'll be back soon enough," Anna told the group.
"But not too soon," Mrs Hughes countered. "Take your time. Miss Baxter can manage." The other lady's maid nodded with a smile.
Anna laughed. "But I can always stop by to visit."
The servants all found that very agreeable, and finally the Bateses made it out the door. But even Mr Branson himself had to pause to admire their wee addition.
Finally, they made it home and were able to cross their threshold with their son.
It was funny remembering how when she left, she was waddling, as big as a house. Truth be told, though, Anna had actually enjoyed being pregnant and relished it, not just despite her medical condition, but in spite of it. Every kick had meant that their child was thriving, her growing size that he was blooming. She didn't take any of it for granted, and it wasn't really until those later months that she felt her anxiety ebb.
But Doctor Ryder had been optimistic and the evidence was now clear: the stitch did work. Her body had managed to carry to term; it just needed some help.
And now here she was returning home a mother.
She looked over at John, beaming. And now he a father. He grinned back at her.
"Welcome home," he said gently, adjusting Will's blanket slightly, just wanting to make some contact with him.
Will gurgled in a response that surely meant he was glad to be there.
John hurried out of his things so that he could hold the baby as Anna got out his hers. The newborn yawned a few times and it was clear what they should do next.
They had set up their spare room to be the nursery, but Will would be staying in their bedroom with them for the first few months of his life, where it would be easier to tend to him a night.
Anna nestled the baby slowly and softly into the blankets they had placed in the bassinet. Inside was also a little teddy bear, to be his first toy.
"I know I keep saying this, but he's just so perfect, John." Her eyes were shining.
"I thought that I was the one who was always saying that," he grinned, but in total agreement.
The next weeks were filled with all the joys of new parenthood, but also the messes. Between dirty nappies and spit up, things weren't always easy, but they still remained part of the perfection that wanted so much, and they wouldn't trade it for anything. Both Anna and John, as personal attendants, understood the hard work of caring for someone else. But this time, they were caring for someone so special and precious to them, their own adorable son, who they had longed for, and loved so very much.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Please review if you can – it lets me gauge interest and knowing there is interest motivates me and also, to paraphrase a post on Tumblr, helps me and my canon era fanfiction not feel so out of place.
