A/N: Just had a quick idea after thinking about the angst that was John's time in prison and that 'last kiss' so I wrote this short chapter. Also, I have to confess that I only recently realized that I had named their daughter Kate Bates. So I'm a poet and didn't know it.

Hope you enjoy! Please review! Again, any scenario suggestions are welcome. If I think I can do justice to the idea, I'll give it a shot.

Some adult content in this one.

Anna looked at her husband. His shoulders were hunched and the dark stubble on his cheeks stood out against his pale skin. In the corner was a shadowy figure, the guard, but Anna didn't focus on him. This was her last meeting with her husband. Tomorrow morning at dawn, he would no longer be on this Earth. She reached out to take his hand. He started, glancing over his shoulder at the guard, but when nothing was said, he reached out and took her hand. "John," was all she could say.

"No man can regret loving as I have loved you."

"And I love you John. So much."

"Anna, I want you to promise me something."

"Yes, anything."

John took a deep breath and looked at their joined hand. "You must have a life. I don't want you to be stuck. Mourning me and living with resentment and never moving forward. I want you to leave. You'll never be free of me if you stay here or at Downton..."

"I don't want to be free of you. I want to..."

"Let me finish. Please. I want you to go somewhere new and start over. Ireland, Scotland, or even America. I want you to find a man who worships you and treats you like you deserve to be treated. And I want you to have babies. You'll be a wonderful mother and just because," his voice cracked, "just because I won't be their father is no reason for you not to have them. You must. For me."

Anna shook her head. "No. I can't. Don't ask me to do that."

"Anna, please. I can't bear the thought of you not having that in your life."

"I don't want to leave. I want to be near you, near where you will be."

"It will only be my body. There's no reason for you to stay somewhere to be near a cemetery. I'll see you again Anna. We'll be reunited. But you must lead a full, happy life before that. You can find a good man. One who will love you and be a good father."

"No," Anna began to shake her head again, not wanting to hear his words. "No, I won't. I'm sorry. I can't promise that. I don't want children with any other man. I don't want to live with any other man or make love with any other man."

"You must. Please. I know it may take time, but eventually you will be able to move forward and know that you have my blessing."

The door behind John opened them and two men came in. "Time to go Batesy," said one, not looking at Anna.

The other, a large man, stepped forward with a noose. He began to put it around John's neck.

"Stop that! What are you doing?"

"He's got to go Miss Smith. No more wasting time," the guard said.

"Anna, you should go now," John said.

"No, it's not time. We still have time, I get more time with my husband. You can't do this!"

The guard who had been standing in the corner stepped forward. "Take him with you," he said, handing a baby to John.

"That's my baby. You can't do this. Stop it! Give him to me!"

The guards began to pull John away. "I'll take care of him, Anna. Try not to miss us. It will be good practice," he said. Anna stood and tried to go after him, but the door closed. She wailed and tried to pound on it, but could make no sound. Suddenly the door dissolved and there was nothing but blackness.

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Anna's body jerked awake. She took a deep breath and pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. Her heart was racing and it felt like it might burst out of her chest. She opened her eyes. The room was mostly dark, just a bit of light from the moon coming in the open window. Remembering the dream, Anna's looked to the bed's other side. John was there, his back to her, sleeping peacefully.

"John, John," she said, putting her hand on his shoulder and shaking him.

She heard him make a small snort and then he began to roll on his back. "Huh? What? Whazzwrong?" he said sleepily.

Anna was desperate to touch him. She worked feverishly to undo the buttons of his pajama top and then she moved to be as close as possible, her ear pressed against his chest, calming slightly as she heard the steady beat of his heart. Her hand moved to his chest as well, feeling the hair there and the warmth of his skin.

John was still waking up. He sluggishly put his arms around Anna and patted her back. "Anna?" he asked. "Are you ill?"

"No. I'm not ill."

He was more awake now. "What's the matter, love?" he asked, his voice clearer.

"I had a dream. A nightmare."

"What about?"

"We were in the prison. They put a noose around your neck. Then you had Jack and you both left. I couldn't get to you."

John ran his hand up and down her back. "I'm sorry," he said. Anna began to cry, feeling foolish. She realized it was just a dream, that she was in bed with her husband and her son was asleep in his room just across the hall, but for a moment it had been all too real.

"I haven't had a dream about those days in a long time. And never one involving Jack," she cried.

"Anna, shhh, you're all right," John said, comforting her the best way he knew how.

"I could have lost you and never had any of this. I..."

"But you didn't," he cut her off, "and you won't. You'll never lose me. We're past all that now."

"I know," she sniffed and lifted her head to look at her husband. He looked so concerned and warm. She seized his lips in a kiss. He kissed back willingly and passionately. Anna knew what she wanted. She started to try and move to her back, bringing him with her. He understood and moved so that he was now above her, kissing her deeply.

"I want you John," she said, pushing his pajama top from his shoulders. "Show me you're here and you're mine."

He kissed her again. Anna ran her fingers into his hair and held him against her as they kissed. His hand went down to her leg and he started to drag her nightgown up. Anna was impatient and took just a moment to break away and quickly remove her nightgown, flinging it on to the floor. Then she pulled John back to her, urging him to move so that he was between her thighs and pushing his pajama bottoms down as far as she could reach. He kicked them off and started to kiss her neck, nipping and then soothing with his tongue.

"Oh John," Anna purred, "That feels so good." Her hands ran down his back and then went back to fist in his hair. He began to move further down, kissing her collarbones and then her sternum. "Please," she whimpered, trying to push her breasts toward his mouth. He caught her right nipple between his teeth and Anna called out. He used his hand to give attention to the left, lightly pinching it and then covering her breast with his palm. He moved further down, but Anna stopped him. "No, come here," she said. He did as told and she kissed him again. Reaching down, she began to stroke him and he grunted into their kiss. "I'm ready now."

Without breaking their kiss, John took himself in hand and moved to where he needed to be, starting to gently breech her. She turned her head away, hissing out a yes and bringing her knees up. He moved until he was completely inside her, resting his forehead against hers. His beginning thrusts were slow, but soon a rhythm began to build. "Mmm...good," Anna groaned, "More please." The combination of her dream and the relief of waking up to her life with him, safe and sound in their cottage, was creating strong feelings of love and relief. She cried out as John's pace increased and the sensation of his weight upon her, the rub of his chest hair against her breasts, was incredibly arousing. She snuck her hand in between their bodies and began to rub herself, moaning aloud as John sucked gently on her neck. She whimpered when John moved her hand away from herself, but then his hand replaced it, his larger fingers rubbing the center of her body, the feel of him inside her, thick and deep, it was almost all too much. Anna felt her body growing warm, sensation building, and then she was shuddering and crying out, fluid rushing from her body, John's finger still moving. Her body shook and her legs tightened around his hips. Her reaction was too much for John and his own climax followed. He felt the pleasure surge through his body and he drove into Anna, giving her all he had. His arms trembled and he was unable to support himself, collapsing on her and immediately feeling her arms wrap around him. He put his forehead on hers, both of them breathing heavily, trying to recover. He knew she needed his physical presence still and so he dropped his head to the pillow beside her, still on top of her, still feeling her hands going up to his shoulders and then down over his rear again and again.

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Nine months later, when Anna was watching her newest son, William John, gurgle at his father she thought back to that night. There was no doubt in her mind that he had been conceived there when she desperately needed John's reassurance that their past struggles were over. Another son, healthy and gorgeous, just the smallest bit of blonde fuzz on his head. John was holding him now, smiling down at him and offering his finger for the baby to grip. Jack was against Anna's side, sleeping. He had met his brother and given him a gentle kiss, making Anna's heart swell. But the sun was just now about to rise and the boy was exhausted after being woken by all the commotion hours before and waiting up with his father for his sibling to be born. Anna had her arm around him and stroked the soft skin of his back.

"Bring him here," Anna whispered and John moved to hand the bundle to Anna. The baby made just a small coo and it wouldn't be long before he was also asleep. John sat down on the bed, careful not to wake Jack. Anna held the baby in one arm and continued to soothe Jack with the other. John put his arm around Anna and kissed her temple, then watched her watching over their children.

Anna would never have another nightmare.