Anna sat back after refilling her wine glass and attempted to focus on watching "Love Actually". She usually loved this movie, but tonight it was just making her feel more melancholy. It seemed to be happening to her a lot lately. It was Christmas Eve and here she was, alone in her flat watching a movie, smelling her turkey breast roasting in the oven and polishing off an entire bottle of Chardonnay all on her own.
It was her own fault, she knew. Her parents had asked her to come along on the cruise but with her new job, she just couldn't afford the time. The Crawley's had invited her to Switzerland with them, but she just wasn't in the mood this year to be the single girl amidst all the paired up Ladies of the Grantham dynasty. Besides, chances are that John had gotten talked into going with them and she didn't think she could face more flirting with him that would inevitably lead to nothing.
She didn't know what it was about the two of them but she had to admit that since she had met the Earl's best mate a little over a year ago, every other bloke she came across paled in comparison. No one else had his eyes or his smile. No one else's voice sent shivers through her the way John's did. She was sure he was attracted to her too, but every time they tried to work something out fate got in the way. First it was his business in London, then her parents visit, then his knee and lately her new job, which sent her over to France on a regular basis. She supposed it just wasn't meant to be, but that didn't make it any easier to get over him and move on to someone else.
The timer dinged and Anna shook her pitying thoughts away. She went into the kitchen and pulled the turkey from the oven. She had tried to make a full blown Christmas dinner for herself, thinking it would cheer her, but it was only serving to make her feel more lonely. She lifted the lids on each of the pots and checked on the potatoes and brussel sprouts. Everything looked fine. She went to the cupboard and looked for a tin of cranberry sauce, but there was none to be had.
As crazy as it seemed, she was determined to do everything properly, so she decided to walk down to the market in the village and buy the last item for her feast. She felt the walk in the lightly falling snow might lift her spirits and clear her head. She wrapped herself in her coat, hat, boots and gloves and went out into the freezing evening.
John aimlessly flipped through the channels and sighed. He should have just gone to Switzerland with Rob and his family. He had finally held firm and not given in to his former commander and best mate, but instead of feeling proud of himself he was miserable. At the time he hadn't known that his brother and his mum were going to Canada for the holidays to stay with his aunt. He had been invited as well, but the house in London had finally sold and he was due to sign the papers right away in the new year. Once he knew he would be alone for the holiday he was far too proud to call Rob and ask if he could still join them. So here he sat, alone and feeling sorry for himself.
"Well this won't do," he said aloud to no one, "get off your lazy arse, John Bates, and at least go down to the market and buy yourself a turkey sandwich."
He put on his boots, grabbed his keys and threw on his coat and gloves. "The walk is bound to do me good. A bit of air and falling snow is just what I need to lift my spirits," he thought as he turned off the lights and pulled the door closed.
Anna had just grabbed her tin of cranberries and looked up when she saw him at the back counter. She recognized him immediately, even though she was looking at him from behind and he was wrapped in his coat. There was something about the way he wore a pair of jeans that she just couldn't get over. And the way he stood, not quite putting equal weight on his right leg. And of course there was his hair, just now, still lightly dusted with snow. She didn't think she had ever seen him looking this wonderful before. She was just imagining helping him brush the snowflakes from his hair when he turned around, his face immediately breaking into a radiant smile.
"Anna!" he enthused, "what a wonderful surprise. What are you doing here?"
She held up her tin, wagging it gently back and forth. Before she could speak, John continued, "Well I hope that isn't your contribution to a Christmas party somewhere," he looked at her purchase skeptically, "if so I think your party skills need a little work. Might I suggest a bottle of champagne instead?"
His eyes were dancing as he teased her and she fervently hoped she would remember how to speak in the next few seconds. "As opposed to you bringing a sandwich, Mr. Bates?" she shot back. "Didn't you ever learn in school that it's not polite unless you've brought enough for everyone."
He laughed and shrugged his shoulders, "You have a point, only I'm not going to a party. I'm on my own this year I'm afraid. What about you?" He braced himself for her to say she was going to dinner at her boyfriend's parents' house or some such.
"On my own as well," she said with a bit of a smile, "My parents went on a cruise this year."
"And you didn't go to Switzerland?"
"With the Crawleys, you mean? No, I've been away so much recently that the thought of sleeping in my own bed sounds wonderful."
"I agree," John replied innocently, thinking of all the back and forth he had been doing between Downton and London.
Anna's eyes danced as she teased, "You agree that sleeping in my bed sounds wonderful? Well Mr. Bates, I never!"
Realizing what he had said, John began to blush. Anna laughed outright now and John didn't think he had ever heard a more beautiful sound. When she patted his chest with her free hand he fervently wished he had taken his coat off upon entering the shop.
"That's not what I meant," he replied, rolling his eyes, "but I will say this, Miss Smith. I don't know what's wrong with the men in this country if a girl like you is alone at Christmas."
"They all seem to have business in London or suffer from bad knees," she replied.
John raised his eyebrows, "All the men in Englad?"
"Well..." She looked at him with a mixture of innocence and heat, "all the men I'm interested in at any rate."
Ok, John thought to himself, it's now or never. "Anna, would you like to join me for a drink somewhere?"
"I would, but..." Arg, that word again. Nothing ever seemed to work for the two of them and John was ready to throw in the towel. But then he realized that Anna had finished speaking and was looking at him expectantly, "Well, what do you say?" she asked.
"I'm sorry," John bent his head lower towards Anna, "I missed that."
"I said, I can't go for a drink as I have a whole Christmas dinner waiting at home but I'd love for you to join me. There's plenty enough for two. That is, unless you had your heart set on that turkey sandwich."
John chuckled, "Well I did, but I suppose I could be persuaded to change my plans."
"Wonderful," Anna said with enthusiasm, and the way she looked at him made even John's good knee go weak.
"There is a condition though."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"You let me buy the cranberries," John took the tin from Anna's hand but didn't end the contact between them as soon as would seem normal. "And maybe that bottle of champagne?" he asked rather quietly, "It seems reason to celebrate if we're actually finally going to end up sharing a meal."
"I agree," Anna said, eyes sparkling.
John paid for the groceries and they walked arm in arm back to Anna's flat. Both were thrilled that they had finally managed to be free at the same time. Their conversation flowed easily and Anna loved the way John bent his head toward hers as they spoke. Before they knew it, they were in front of Anna's door. As she put her key in the lock, John stopped her, gently turning her so they were facing each other. "Anna," he said.
"Yes John?"
He didn't answer but nodded his head and raised his eyebrows toward the lintel above Anna's door. She looked up and saw the mistletoe hanging there.
"I thought a knight didn't kiss a lady until he had taken her on a 'proper date'?"
John stepped up onto the first step, closing the distance between them, "Ordinarily we don't, but with our timing, who knows when I might get another chance? Besides, if I do a good enough job maybe I'll get to kiss you goodnight as well."
They were only a fraction of an inch apart now. Anna put her arms on John's shoulders and whispered, "Oh Mr. Bates, if you do a good enough job maybe you'll get to kiss me good morning."
And he did.