Author's Note: I'm still sorry you guys. I had no experience writing a tragedy. I love Anna and John, and I hate to do this. Please don't give up on me though. I will still write fluff, I promise.

Disclaimer: I do not own Downton. If I did, Matthew would live forever. 3

Limited Happiness

Chapter three: Last Glances

"Two days?" Mary cried into the telephone in disbelief. "W-what happened to a week?" She said, trying not to shake from her sobs she was struggling to keep silent. Before Mary was going to visit Anna with Edith, she went to call Dr. Clarkson to make sure everything was in order. She did not, however, prepare to hear absolutely dreadful and heart breaking news such as this.

"Well, Lady Mary," Dr. Clarkson sighed at the other end of the telephone. He did like being a doctor, but he did not, however, like bringing bad news. "Anna has had an unexpected turn. The next may be fatal." He flinched as Mary gasped. "But," Dr. Clarkson continued. "Everything is in order for your visit. Anna has today, and then tomorrow I expect will be her last day." Mary thought about Anna. Poor, poor Anna. She remembered the happiness on Anna's face as she told Mary about her marriage to Bates. Now Anna would suddenly leave from her illness. Mary didn't think it was fair. If anyone, anyone in the world, deserved to be happy, it would be them, without a doubt in Mary's mind.

"Thank you Dr. Clarkson." Mary said quietly and hung up the telephone abruptly. Mary slowly turned around, attempting to get her bearings. Her brown eyes fell upon a devastated-looking Edith. She had heard every word.

"Anna has two days?" Edith questioned desperately. Mary nodded in remorse.

John awoke at seven sharp. His back and leg ached from sleeping in the worn wooden chair, but none of that mattered. Anna was the only thing that mattered to him now. He turned his head to look at her. Her slight form lay asleep on her back, golden hair splayed out on her stiff pillow. Creases lay under her eyes, indicating she hadn't slept well either. Margaret was also awake, reading a copy of the bible. Margaret saw John looking at her, so she gently and slowly put the book down. "I'm ever so sorry this is happening to you both." She said softly. Genuine sympathy underlined her words. John noticed her eyes were red and somewhat puffy. Margaret had been crying. He had never guessed Anna and Margaret grew so close in the few days Anna spent here, though he figured there may have been aggrieved midnight conversations on Anna's diagnosis. John gave her a poor attempt at a smile. "Anna is such a sweet and nice woman." Margaret remarked. "It…it doesn't seem just." A tear slipped down her wrinkled cheek.

John looked back down to Anna as she stirred slightly. He placed a hand on her pale forehead. It was cold. Her blue eyes fluttered open hesitantly. Anna sat up with difficulty and pulled back her hair into a bun. She only looked down, not daring to glance at John. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had failed him. It was her health tearing her away from John. It wasn't fair to him. She was the one thing that mattered to him. The guilt was overwhelming. Anna closed her eyes and let the tears so cruelly pricking her eyes stream smoothly down her face. "This is not fair to you, John." She said as she looked at his subdued face.

"It's not your fault, Anna." He said, holding her wrist. He looked into her eyes. "You know that." Anna only looked down, her thoughts not swayed by his words. John sighed.

"Lady Mary and Lady Edith will come soon to see you." John put bluntly. Anna still looked down. "We are to expect them at around noon."

"That's awfully nice of them." She put simply, even though the only person she wanted to see was John.

Mary and Edith sat in the automobile in utter silence. None of them had very much to say. Even so, Mary's mind was full of thoughts. How do you say goodbye to your only friend? She wondered. The friendship between Mary and Anna was very strong, yet unsung. There has never really been a lady who befriended her maid. But, even so, Mary was known to bend rules.

Mary played everything over in her head, but no goodbye could ever express her sheer gratitude of having Anna by her side. Edith seemed to be in a similar state, fingers nervously tapping her knee as they rolled along. Reaching the hospital, Mary joined Edith's side as they walked to the door. Edith turned to Mary. "How do you thank someone who's done so much for us?" She thought aloud.

"Anna is the nicest and sweetest person I knew. It is hard for me to even imagine the measure of my appreciation." Mary said truthfully. "I cannot even begin to think of what I want to say."

The two continued through the door. They informed the nurse who they wanted to see and they slowly rounded the corner. She stopped at the door to look for Anna. Mary's brown eyes caught sight of her. She gasped almost inaudibly as she saw Anna's state. Anna sat upright in her bed, John clasping her hand as he leaned forward to her, without a doubt whispering words of reassurance. Anna's blond hair was pulled in an untidy bun, some hanging gently across her forehead. Her supple bottom lip trembled. Her shoulders shook in her efforts to hold back tears. This reminded Mary of the multiple times Anna tried to stay so strong. The images were the same as when John was found guilty at his trial. Mary still remembered Anna's yelp of anguish that escaped her when he was pronounced guilty. It brought Mary pain to see her only friend in such agony once again.

Mary sadly noted that Anna's breathes quivered as she shook her head at John and whispered something. John shifted in his seat, then put a shaking hand over his eyes. Anna looked down dourly. Mary still stood in the doorway, not wanting to interrupt. Edith stood behind her, head dipping forlornly. Mary took one step, her shoe tapping softly on the floor as she advanced further. John looked up to see Lady Mary, with Lady Edith not far behind her. John immediately leaned forward to stand in their presence, when Mary raised a gloved hand signaling him to stay sitting. Anna looked up her. "Lady Mary." She croaked, her soft, smooth voice shaking. Mary pulled a chair beside Anna's bedside and sat slowly, taking Anna's cold hands in her lace-gloved ones.

"Tell me Anna." Mary said, chocolate eyes filling with concern. "How are you feeling?" To this, Anna swallowed and looked down, other hand touching her blanket.

"Fine milady." She replied, looking at her blankets. Anna swallowed once again and looked up, her lip began to tremble. "It's so nice of you to see me…" She choked out, tears brimmed her eyes. "So nice." Anna blinked and a tear dropped down her cheek, followed by another.

"Darling" Edith stood next to Mary. "Of course we'd see you." Edith gave Anna a pained smile a tears pricked her own eyes.

"Are they taking care of you here?" Mary glanced around the hospital.

"Yes milady." Anna's voice cracked slightly.

A half an hour turned into three hours as Mary struggled to pull herself away from her dying friend. John had been taken by Dr. Clarkson, so the girls had Anna all to their selves. The sisters had asked Anna questions to fill the pain-stricken silence. The sisters knew they needed to get home soon, yet they couldn't leave Anna just yet. Mary looked into Anna's eyes. "I have something for you." She said, swallowing the lump in her throat. Anna shook her head.

"Lady Mary…" She started, but she was interrupted by Mary.

"I want to, Anna." Mary reached into her coat pocket to reveal a small black box. She held it to Anna and she reluctantly took it from Mary's hands. Anna held it in her pale ones and glanced at the sisters before slowly opening it. Anna gasped as she was greeted by a beautiful silver necklace, with a small, simple string of diamonds hanging from it.

"Lady Mary! I…I can't-." Anna said. Mary shook her head.

"I want you to have this Anna. It was my favorite necklace and I want you to have it." Mary insisted, stubborn as usual. Anna's hand went to the clasp to put it on, but Mary stopped her. "No Anna. You have dressed me for so many years; I think I can put that necklace on for you." Mary took the necklace from her, gently putting it around Anna's lean neck. As Mary clasped the chain, Anna smiled and shook her head.

"Milady…you really don't have to…" Anna said softly.

"But I want to." Mary declared. After Mary had finished with the necklace, she raked her fingers through Anna's hair, just as Anna would have tidied her own hair. Anna giggled foolishly. After she straightened out Anna's hair, Mary stepped back to inspect her work. "You look beautiful" She nodded.

Mary and Edith knew they had stayed far longer than they had told their papa, but they were positive that he wouldn't mind. "Anna" Mary said, voice shaking slightly. "I cannot tell you how grateful I am for you." A tear slid down her face. "I can tell you truly…truly, that you have been my only true friend… I want you to know that." Mary finished. Edith looked at Anna.

"Through all of the years you have served us, I want y-you to know that we are eternally thankful." Edith let a small sob escape her. Tears were streaming down Anna's own face as she knew this would be the last time she would see them.

"Thank you Lady Mary. Thank you Lady E-Edith" Anna choked out. Mary shook her head.

"N-no. Call us by our first names…only." Mary shook with sadness. Anna's eyes widened at the notion. Edith nodded to Anna. She only shook her head and looked down, sniffling. Mary's eyes stayed on Anna. "Please." Mary said. Anna looked up.

"T-thank you Mary… Thank-k you Edith." Tears spilled down Anna's pale cheeks. Mary and Edith smiled at her, tears visible on their faces.

"We'll never forget you, Lady Anna…" Mary said. "Never."

Mary and Edith disappeared out the doorway.

Night crept in rapidly as Anna settled into bed. John was back in his chair, arms crossed. He was struggling to keep awake. His eyes eventually slid shut and gave way to his sweet, loud snores. Tears stood still in Anna's eyes as she thought about how much she loved that snore of his. Her heart broke to think that that may be the last time she would get to hear John's snore.

Anna laid back and put her head on her lumpy pillow. She tried to close her eyes to get some sleep, but to no avail. Anna could hear Margaret's soft breathing from next to her. She was almost certain she was the only person up at this hour. Anna's prim hand wandered up to her necklace, as she felt the cold silver chain. Her fingers danced upon the fine string of diamonds. She had been so happy to see Lady Mary and Lady Edith. Anna was almost taken aback by their kindness. They had always been so good to her, and she could hear the genuine compassion in their voices.

John's chair sat so close to Anna's bed that when his arms fell from their crossed position, one hand fell upon her sheets. Anna carefully slid her own prim hand into his big, limp ones. He moved his head slightly and gave a sigh of contentment. A smile played along his ample lips as he gently squeezed her hand. A smile also came to Anna's lips as she gazed at her husband. Anna had come to a realization. Everything in her life was perfect because of him. Her eyes fluttered shut as she went to sleep with her hand in her husband's and a smile on her face.

Reviews are welcome! Tell me if you cried reading this! God knows I cried writing this. I absolutely love the goodbyes between the Crawley sisters and Anna. So perfect! And also guys, I'm going to London for a week soon, so sit tight! I may or may not be able to post a chapter between now and then. Next chapter is Anna's last day!