A/N: Now that I can watch the second season in german TV, I have a total DA-flash and found some new inspiration to continue that story, which I admit love very much. I don't think it can follow the original plot, for I want to keep it light and romantic. We have enough drama in the Original, don't we? :(

~oOOo~

John entered the sitting room and was surprised to not find Anna there, who normally already sat at the breakfast table, giving him the first smile of the day. In his head, worry started its usual torture. Did she regret their encounter after all? Did she feel ashamed that they have gone so far? Did she think of him as a dirty old man?

He was glad when Mrs. Hughes inquired after Anna and Ethel, the new maid, told her that she couldn't wake her this morning and she herself had been too hungry to continue trying to wake her. She was an adult after all, Ethel said.

"Well, I will see to her after breakfast", Mrs. Hughes said and continued to eat, not before glancing shortly at Bates.

Of course she knew that she had been with him last night. Shame washed over John and he looked down on his plate. They have stayed up pretty late. It was all his fault…

Bates continued to scold himself silently while eating his breakfast until he heard hurried footsteps on the stairs. Anna rushed in the room in her uniform, just putting on the apron.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hughes. I overslept."

"It's all right Anna. Just make sure to straighten your hair and don't forget to put on the hat."
"Yes, Mrs. Hughes", Anna said and sat down next to John.

He glanced at her, but Anna was focused on eating breakfast. Most of the staff has already finished and was preparing to leave.

She looked horrible. Her bun was messy, single streaks hanging out of it. She was pale and had dark circle under her eyes.

John felt even worse. Poor Anna, all that just because he couldn't control himself…

The bell rang, everyone looked up. It was Lady Mary. Anna shot up, nearly knocking the chair over. John caught it.

"Thanks", Anna said without looking at him. While leaving the room, she rearranged her hair and took the white hat out of her pocket. John watched her hurrying up the stairs and out of sight.

"Well, let's get to work, then", Mr. Carson said and everyone stood. Mrs. Hughes glanced at Mr. Bates again, telling him with her eyes that she wanted to talk to him. They both lingered around the room until they were alone. Mrs. Hughes hurried over to Bates and whispered.

"What happened last night? She looks awful."

"She told me she had trouble with getting Lady Sybil out of her dress. It was way past midnight before she showed up at my room. I told her to go to sleep, but she wouldn't listen."

Mrs. Hughes looked relieved.

"I already thought you two had an argument or something. How do you feel? Anna told me that you made some progress with the leg?"

John hid his relief of Mrs. Hughes not asking further questions. But he felt like he had betrayed her. She thought they were meeting only for medical reasons and had no idea that they had gotten carried away last night and had overstepped their boundaries. It pained him that they kind of misused her trust in them.

"It is much better. Although I was very uncomfortable at first with the whole situation, Anna did some magic with my leg."

"Yes, it shows. You walk a lot faster already. And you are right, this is a very unusual situation. I gave permission, so I expect you to be very discrete about this."

"Yes, of course. Thanks, Mrs. Hughes."

Now, she smiled.

"No worries. You know we both worry about you. And not out of pity but out of affection. One of us maybe a little different than the other", Mrs. Hughes smiled mischievously and walked away.

John was dumbstruck. So Mrs. Hughes knew about Annas feelings for him? Well, it just had been a matter of time, hadn't it? Anna trusted Mrs. Hughes and was what came closest to a confidant. But John didn't know how to deal with that.

The bell rang and reminded him that he could think about this later.

All day, Bates tried to catch Anna alone. But he saw her nowhere. She didn't show up at tea time, Mrs. Hughes informing him that she had to assist Lady Sybil with something. With every hour that went by, John got more and more worried. When he sat down for dinner, he was sure that Anna had cried her eyes out last night, feeling abused by him. He didn't know what he would do if she would hate him now. He really should have prepared himself for that. How could he think even for one second that this sweet angel could stand his bad character?

"I'm sorry again, Mrs. Hughes" he heard her tired voice as Anna hurried in again. She took her place and instantly started eating, ignoring him again. Once or twice he tried to get her attention. He just needed her to look at him. But she continued to ignore him.

After dinner, as Daisy was cleaning the table, John turned to Anna to say something, but she already got up.

"Lady Mary needs me to stake off her new dress", she said to Mrs. Hughes.

"Can't that wait until tomorrow? You look exhausted. Maybe one of the others could…"

"No, I'm all right. I will go. But thanks, Mrs. Hughes."
She smiled at her and was out of the room again. John sat there and looked at the doorway for a second. His heart ached. She hated him, he was sure. With a sigh he stood up and went out into the courtyard. He sat down on the crates and looked up at the sky, letting the wind rustle through his hair, carrying his thoughts away. He didn't even feel how time went by. All he could think of was Anna, as he held her in his arms, her delicate body snuggled against his, her lips so tenderly on his. He would always remember that wonderful moment, when she had been all his. It had only been them, no worries, no dark thoughts, no boundaries. Just a man and a woman showing each other what they felt. Or had felt, before the woman had come to her senses and realized that she could do so much better than him. She deserved more. He would be the last to deny it…

"There you are."

He flinched as he heard her voice next to him. She still looked awfully tired, but her smile made the stars vanish into the background. As soon as she reached him, she sat next to him and took his hand.

"Your hand is cold. How long have you been sitting here, John?"

She looked at him reproachfully but he just stared at her. She touched him again, looked at him, smiled at him. He was confused.

"What's the matter? Oh no. So you're actually doing it. I know that look. Mr. Bates is hating himself again."

He opened his mouth to speak, but she put her hand on it.

"Don't you dare to regret that, John Bates. Don't you dare to tell me that this has been a mistake and that you will never do it again. I swear to God, if you say that to me, I'll smack you."

He just looked at her, so she slowly put her hand away.

"You don't regret it?" he asked quietly.

"Are you kidding me? I would kiss you in the sitting room, in front of them all, If you would let me. I was so happy last night that I couldn't sleep."

John was so relieved that he laughed.

"What?" she asked and raised an eyebrow, warning him to not make fun of her.
He just took her hands in his cold ones and pressed them against his lips.

"I was so sure that you cried your eyes out last night, wishing me to hell for groping you."

She laughed.

"As far as I know there wasn't any groping. Which I wouldn't have minded, by the way."

They grinned at each other and John allowed himself to cup her cheek with his hand, gently stroking it with his thumb.

"You're really not mad?"

Anna sighed and slid closer to him until she could snuggle against his side.

"You know, for such an experienced man you are pretty slow when it comes to a woman's feelings."

He chuckled.

"Thanks for saying 'experienced' instead of 'old'."

"You're welcome", she grinned and put his hands between hers, starting to rub them.

"So why did you ignore me this morning and at dinner?"

"Because I was too tired to deal with your dark thoughts today. I didn't want you to look at me all resentful and apologizing. I just would have done something stupid."

"Like smacking me in front of everyone?"

Anna laughed.

"I bet O'Brien would have loved that."

He chuckled. "I guess so."

They smiled at each other.

"You're cold, John", she softly said, looking down at their hands.

"I don't feel cold."

She looked up at him, her face so close. His eyes wandered to her lips. He slowly bent down. Anna closed her eyes and tilted her head a little. John was still amazed that Anna offered herself to him so willingly. He couldn't understand what she saw in him, but he wouldn't fight their attraction anymore. He just loved her too much. And after that day of torture he needed something to ease his dark thoughts. So he closed his eyes and allowed himself to kiss her once more. He laid his lips on hers tenderly, only with a little pressure at first. Her taste was exquisite. Her warmth lulled him in, made him put an arm around her, pulling her closer to his body. Her scent made his heart beat faster and he let one hand slide into her neck to deepen the kiss. Anna sighed against his lips and laid her hands on his chest, burning his cooled flesh through the clothes. She opened her mouth a little and let her tongue slide over his lower lip, begging for entry. John made a noise of pleasure, but he broke the kiss and leaned back a little.

He looked down at her, smiling.

"I told you I would want to do it again."

"I don't mind so much", she smiled back, her hands slowly rubbing up and down his chest.

She wanted to lean in again, but he stopped her.

"You have to get some sleep tonight, Anna. You look awful."

"Why, Mr. Bates. You know what a woman wants to hear", she replies and looks down, a little embarrassed. But he chuckles, putting a finger under her chin to make her look up again.

"You know I didn't mean it that way. But you know I'm right."
"You're not my father. You can't boss me around."

"First of all, thank God I'm not."

Anna chuckles.

"Second of all, I only mean well."
"There isn't a chance that you let me sleep in your bed tonight, is there?" she jokes as they both get up.

"I don't mind, but I don't think Ethel would agree with me sleeping in your bed."

"Haha," Anna replied as she handed him his cane.

"Are you a jealous woman?" John asked out of curiosity as they walked back to the house, as close to each other as they dared.

"I don't know, really. I've never been in love before. But I have to admit, the fact that you have a wife is troubling me from time to time. Is that jealousy?"

She looked up at him but he just smiled and took her hand in his.

"You don't have to be jealous of her. I don't love her anymore."

"Not even a little?"

"No."

"You don't want to talk about her, do you?" Anna asked. She knew him well.

"No, I don't. Especially right after I kissed you" John admitted, smiling. They went inside and John let go of her hand, even though it felt wrong.

In silence they climbed the stairs together until they reached the door which separated them.

"Goodnight, Anna. Promise me to sleep."

"I try my best not to think of you, then" she smiles warmly and leans in, obviously hoping for a goodnight kiss. But John wouldn't dare to kiss her here, out in the open. So he just smiles, lightly brushing her hand with his fingertips.

"Goodnight."

Anna smiled understandingly.

"Goodnight, John."