A/N: So...uhm not the smut I hinted at, but we'll get there. I promise :-)

True to his word Charles held her there against him until the back door opened. They talked of this and that and she felt the tension draining from her body slowly, stress she hadn't been aware she'd been holding in. When she heard the squeak of the back door and the laughing house maids she pried her body from his and sat up. Reaching to the floor she pulled her shoes back on before resting her hand on his tight with a smile. Standing she crossed to the small mirror checking her hair. "Once they're in bed I'll come. The mens quarters only have you and Mr. Bates right?"

They both knew if they were to be discovered by the valet their secret was as safe as if nothing had been seen. "Yes, his Lordship decided against bringing in any full time footmen this year, and as you know he requested Alfred and James stay behind with Lady Mary."

Nodding she turned to face him once again with a smile, "Come here then." Holding out her hand she beckoned him to come closer. The moment he obliged she began straightening his clothes. Smoothing her hands over his waist coat lightly and then fixing his tie. Once satisfied she brushed her fingers across his cheek lightly, stretching onto her toes to press a quick, light kiss against his lips.

Collecting their dinner dishes she glanced towards the door when there was a knock, smiling at Mr. Bates as he popped his head inside. "The ducks are all home and headed to bed, I've locked the back door. Goodnight Mrs. Hughes, Mr. Carson."

"Thank you Mr. Bates." Charles offered a nod in the younger mans direction as he took the tray from Elsie.

"Goodnight Mr. Bates, I hope you enjoyed your evening off."

"I did, thank you Mrs. Hughes." With a nod to both he made his own way upstairs and to bed.

Following Charles into the kitchen she set about taking care of their dishes, smiling as he rolled his sleeves up and began drying. Fingers brushing as she handed him various pieces, hips and arms bumping against each other. It was nice, a glimpse of a future she'd only dreamt about. Perhaps a glimpse of a life she would have loved to have, not with Joe...no it would have never been like this with Joe. Leaning over she kissed him lightly on the cheek, "Go on up, I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Alright." Bending down he returned her action, kissing her on the cheek his fingers brushing over the back of her neck as he set the towel back on a rack and left her there in the kitchen.

Smiling she finished washing up and headed to her room to change. She knew she couldn't just sit in that room though she'd go crazy. Changing into her night dress and dressing gown she took the time to brush her hair out and braid it before slipping back down stairs. At least she could work on sorting out the linen rota while she waited. What she didn't expect was to doze off at her desk, leaving a long ink mark across the page as her hand slid. Jerking upright she glanced at the time. Everyone should be asleep now, at least she hoped.

Heading for the stairs in a sleepy haze she began to climb them, idly remembering that she'd found the door between the mens and womens quarters had a horrible squeak she took the stairs to the mens quarters. Letting her fingers brush across the wall as she went she turned the handle on the door to his room and slipped inside. untying her dressing gown she laid it over the back of the chair as she climbed into bed next to him.

John rolled to his side throwing his arm around Anna and nuzzling his nose into her hair, only to come to the quick realization that this was not Anna...and he was not at home. He woke fully with a start and sat up, having enough mind to wrap an arm around her to keep her from falling to the floor. Clearing his throat he pressed a hand to her mouth as she yelped and looked up at him in the darkness. "As flattered as I am Mrs. Hughes...I do believe you either came up the wrong stair case or you want the door across the hall."

Eyes wide she stumbled out of his bed grabbing her dressing gown and pressing it against her chest. "Mr. Bate? Oh God...Oh Shit! I'm so sorry..."

John laughed softly holding a hand up to quiet her. "It's fine... really. And your secret, whichever it may be, is safe with me. So of with you now." He couldn't hide the smile on his face or the twinkle in his eye, he had a good idea of which mistake she'd made but he wasn't going to do a thing about it. Good for the two of them if they were finally going to have a life outside of wine lists and linen rotas.

She turned and ran from the room shutting the door behind her only to run directly into Charles' broad chest. "Oh Charles...I'm so stupid."

Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her back into his room silently, "What happened? Why were you in Mr. Bates' room?"

"I fell asleep at my desk and walked into the wrong room. Crawled into bed and found out it wasn't your bed." She wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. She felt his laughter before she heard it, her arms moving around him and finally she joined him. It very well could have been an honest mistake of her simply taking the wrong staircase in her half awake state. "At least it was only Mr. Bates."

"Yes, thank God it was only Mr. Bates." He'd eased them backwards towards the bed where he sat down. "I don't suppose you're going to want to stay tonight now hm?" Pulling her gently down onto his lap he ran his hands over her bare arms slowly. He'd honestly never seen this much of her skin bared to him before, her dressing gown was on the floor where she'd dropped it and he found he rather enjoyed the night gown she'd brought with her. The lighter one for the warmer months, the one with short sleeves, he'd only seen it once when she had been mending the hem.

"Of course I want to stay." A shiver ran down her spine at his touch, goose bumps dotting her arms instantly. Oh the things that mans touch did to her. "I don't want to be anywhere else." Leaning her head down she pressed her lips against his neck lightly. Not quite sure of what she was doing, but she smiled at the sudden intake of breath she heard. "I want this more than I can say." Another kiss, and then another, her fingers fumbling with the buttons on his pyjamas. She needed to feel him, his skin against hers. As each button gave way she pressed a kiss to the newly exposed flesh.

"Elsie...if you don't...I'm not going to..." He paused a soft moan passing his lips as her fingers brushed across his chest. "be able to stop."

"So don't stop. Please don't make this end."