A/N- Will John come to his senses?
Disclaimer- same as chapters April to November...
Mary walked into the kitchen, almost recoiling in disgust as she saw John at the table, reading the paper and eating a slice of toast. He turned to see her, standing immediately as she brushed passed him, hardly acknowledging his presence. John watched as Mary set about boiling the kettle, as if he wasn't there at all.
It had been this way ever since Anna and John had parted company that night. John had kept his distance, Mary had been their go between despite ignoring the majority of John's questions. She had spent a lot of time with Anna. She was devastated. The thought of becoming a mother did little to quell the despair she was feeling at John ending their relationship, for what seemed no rational reason.
'Did you see her then?' John asked, hoping Mary might respond to him this time. She remained silent for a while before turning to meet his gaze, the sudden eye contact startling John a little. 'Please. Say something, Mary. Anything. Just let me know how she is.'
'You're a cretin.'
'Okay, insults are better than nothing I suppose.' John sat down again, resting his head in his hands. 'I feel terrible.'
'Good,' Mary replied without missing a beat, turning to regard John with a harsh stare, her tone firm. 'She just doesn't understand why you ended things and I must say I agree with her. She is two weeks from giving birth to your child. Her mind should be filled with thoughts of holding her newborn child in her arms, finally becoming a mummy. But they are full of you.' Mary turned back to the counter, the kettle now boiled. 'God knows why.'
'She's too good for me.'
'I dare say you are right, John. But for some reason she believes you are the love of her life. She told me she's never felt this way before.'
'Neither have I...'
'Doesn't that tell you something then?' Mary cut John off before sitting opposite him at the table, setting her tea down before her. 'You need to talk to her. She was listening to Taylor Swift when I called in on her earlier. It's getting desperate.'
'You know how she feels. She wants nothing more to do with me.'
'No, it's not that at all. She misses you. She wants you to be involved, every step of the way. But not just as the baby's Dad, but with her properly. It would be too painful any other way. Which could be deemed unfair to some, yet given the circumstances, perhaps not. '
John inhaled deeply as he considered his response. 'What I went through. With Vera. It's...'
'Shaken my confidence, made me unwilling to commit, yada, yada, yada.' Mary rolled her eyes before taking a sip of her drink. 'John, Anna is not Vera. When are you going to realise that?'
'I already do. Anna at her worst is ten times better than Vera at her best. ' He shifted uncomfortably, suddenly feeling awkward at discussing such things with his best friends daughter. 'And I want to be a Dad to my child. A proper Dad. Perhaps when Anna has calmed down.'
'For goodness sake, get a grip man. You could deny your feelings, let your insecurities get the better of you and live an unhappy life, or you could admit what you know deep down. You know you and Anna belong together, that what you have is built to last and that you want to raise your baby together, side by side.'
'Haven't you left yet, John?' John turned to look over his shoulder at Robert, standing in the kitchen doorway. 'The traffic in London will be murder if you leave it any longer.'
'Where are you going?' Mary asked, narrowing her gaze on John.
'To stay with my Mam for a few days,' John replied before swigging the rest of his tea in one gulp. 'And Robert is right, I want to arrive before the rush hour.'
'Your baby is about to be born and you're swanning off down to London?'
'Relax Mary, I'll be bringing Mam back for Christmas. She's using Sybil's old room. I just need some time away from everything, to get my head sorted.'
'Well, I have the solution to that,' Mary began, watching as John rose to his feet. 'Go around to Anna's, tell her you are an idiot and that you want to be with her.'
John stared at Mary for a moment, clenching his jaw before turning to look at Robert. 'I'll text you when I arrive down there. See you in a few days.'
'Cretin,' Mary yelled after John as he disappeared down the corridor.
'Mary,' Robert scolded, closing the kitchen door. 'That's a bit harsh.'
'Am I wrong though?' Mary asked, gesturing with her hands to emphasise her point.
Robert shook his head. 'No. And I have faith he'll come to his senses. His mother will see to that.'
Knocking on the door of Sybil's old room, John waited to hear for permission to enter. Getting impatient, looking up at the ceiling he went to knock again before the door swung open. Stepping across the threshold, he saw that Iris had already made herself at home. Her stuff was all unpacked, she had even laid out a couple of pictures on the dressing table, one of John when he was a child and one of the two of them when John had arrived back from one his deployments in the army. He studied the pictures from across the room as he closed the door behind him.
'I don't know why you take those with you everywhere,' John remarked, turning his attentions to his mother who was knitting in the chair placed beside the bed. It was a small white cardigan, obviously intended as a gift for the baby.
'Me either,' Iris replied, the coldness to her tone taking John aback a little.
'Oh, come on mam. You're not still upset with me?'
'For breaking that poor girls heart? Yes I am.' Iris didn't look up from her knitting, her stare harsh as she straightened out the half completed cardigan on her needle. 'Cora was telling me about it whilst you and Robert went to get the car.'
They had just returned from an evening out at a restaurant. Iris had insisted she pay when they went to dinner with Robert and Cora as a thank you for letting her stay with them over Christmas. John and Robert sat back and listened as she and Cora planned Christmas dinner down to the finest detail, the two of them had always got on like a house on fire, even though they had only met a handful of times.
'It was the due date yesterday, wasn't it? The twenty second?' Iris continued, looking over her glasses at John.
'She's got my number if she needs it,' John shrugged, walking back to the door. 'Look, I didn't come in here for an argument. I came to make sure you were okay and to tell you I am going to bed. Cora and Robert are watching a weeks worth of this antique programme they recorded and I'd rather not. So, goodnight mam.'
'Hmmm,' Iris replied, her focus fully on her task at hand, rather than her son. John rolled his eyes and left the room.
As she heard the door click, then John enter his own room, an idea played over in Iris's head. It was important to her that although John had seemingly abandoned Anna, she wouldn't do the same thing. With the knowledge Robert was downstairs, Iris carefully lay down her knitting, picked up her bag from the dresser and made her way downstairs.
'Thank you for this, Robert.' Iris said as they pulled up outside Anna's house. 'I just had to see her while I was down here.'
'It's no bother, Iris.' Robert replied as he pulled the handbrake on. 'I'll stay here whilst you go in.'
Iris nodded in acknowledgement before getting out of the car. Walking the path towards the house, she checked in her bag that she had what she needed before reaching the door and ringing the doorbell. When she had been before she had noticed, but once again she observed how nice the house was, certainly big enough for a man and woman to bring a child up in. Silently cursing her son for the hundredth time that day, her attention was caught by the door opening. She smiled as she saw Anna appear, certainly looking well despite the fact she could give birth at any moment.
'Mrs Bates,' Anna said in surprise, looking beyond her to see if John was also present. 'This is unexpected.'
'Anna my love, how are you?' Iris replied in her Irish brogue. 'I hope you don't mind me popping round, John doesn't know I'm here you see.'
'Oh right,' Anna said weakly, stepping aside. 'Come on in. I'll make us some tea.'
It was uncomfortable as the two women exchanged small talk as Anna made them a drink. They spoke about how the pregnancy had gone, how Anna had felt no twinges despite the baby being due and if she thought it was a boy or a girl. Iris mentioned John had been born two weeks late, her words met with silence from Anna as she joined his mum at the table, placing a cup of tea down on the table in front of her.
'He's an eejit, I've told him that,' Iris explained, wrapping her hands around the steaming hot mug. 'Vera was a mistake, I knew it from the moment I met her. But you, you're different and he needs to realise that too.'
'I know I'm not being fair, Iris,' Anna began, staring down at the table. 'Saying it's me and the baby or nothing at all, but it would just be too painful to see him with the baby knowing he's not with me.'
'Oh, you do what you want, lass,' Iris replied, Anna telling in her tone she was fully supportive of her decision. 'His made his bed, and he can lie in it.'
Iris looked up as she heard a small sob escape Anna, she blinking furiously to try and resist the tears that had already begun to fall. 'I just love him so much, and I know he loves me too. It's so frustrating to know the only thing that is keeping us apart doesn't really exist. He thinks I am eventually going to realise I can do better than him, when the reality is there is no better man than him. Not to me, anyway.'
Iris stood up and moved to the chair beside Anna, resting her hand on top of hers. 'My dear, sweet girl. I know my son, and I know he loves you. This is the only trait he inherited from his father, stubborn to a fault. But thank goodness it is the only one. I know he will come to his senses eventually.'
'I don't think he will,' Anna couldn't hold back her emotions anymore, breaking down. Iris rose to her feet and placed an arm around Anna's shoulders. They stayed this way for a few minutes, Anna surprised to find some sort of solace in the arms of the woman who knew John better than anybody.
'How are you spending your Christmas, Anna? It's Christmas Eve tomorrow, you shouldn't be on your own. Especially in your condition.'
'Oh, I'm not alone,' Anna answered weakly, watching as Iris moved back to her original seat. 'Mary has just popped out, she'll be back in a minute and she is staying with me tonight, then mum and dad are picking me up tomorrow so I shall spend Christmas with them. I was expecting to be in hospital over Christmas you see. The midwife is coming around to see me tomorrow as well, if things don't kick off tonight.'
'So you're well supported?' Iris asked before taking a sip of her tea.
'Yes, Mary is being great and I was always staying with Mum and Dad if I hadn't given birth before Christmas.'
'Good,' Iris smiled before looking down at her bag beside her. She picked it up, placed it on the table before pulling out an envelope. 'I know your feelings towards John and his involvement with the baby, but I hope I can still help in some small way.'
'Oh, I know I'll let John see the baby in the end, be a father to it, it's just the hurt talking at the moment. I'm going to need all the help I can get once he or she is here.'
'Even so,' Iris continued, pushing the envelope across the table to Anna. 'Now you are going to accept this and I won't take no for an answer.'
Anna took the envelope and looked inside to see a cheque. When she read the amount, she was absolutely flabbergasted. 'Twenty thousand pounds?'
'Aye. I have been putting money aside ever since John married Vera, for when they had children. It never happened but I kept on saving, in the hope one day I may get a grandchild.' Iris explained before chuckling. 'Now, twenty grand later it's finally happening.'
'I don't know what to say.'
'Say you'll take the money. Use it the way I intended it to be used, to give that little one the best start in life. They are a Bates, and never let it be side Iris Bates doesn't look after her own.'
'Thank you.' Anna smiled, placing the cheque back in the envelope. 'I shall.'
Walking down the stairs, John was startled to feel his phone vibrating in his pocket. Looking at his phone, he was even more shocked to see a message from Anna. His heart beating hard and fast in his chest, he took the phone from his pocket and began to read the message.
Hi John, just to let you know there is still no change but the midwife checked me over and everything is fine. She says they won't do anything until I am at least a week overdue so we may be in for a long wait. I am at Mum and Dad's, and Dad will call you if anything happens. Enjoy your Christmas, I just wish I could be spending it with you x
John closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He wanted that more than anything as well, to be holding Anna in his arms as they waited for their baby to arrive. Yet the thought of having his heart broken was still hanging over him, like a black cloud he couldn't escape, always following him. Reaching the living room, he saw his Mum in the armchair, the white cardigan now nearly completed. For a moment, he wondered how anything small enough to fit in that cardigan could possibly exist.
'That's beautiful, Mam,' John remarked, sitting on the sofa. 'Where are Robert and Cora?'
'Gone out with Mary and Edith,' Iris replied, holding the cardigan in front of her and inspecting it.
'I've just had a text from Anna. Nothing's changed,' John informed his mother, she still busy with her knitting and not looking at him.
'Is she alright?' Iris asked, reaching down beside her for her sewing box. When John took a little while to reply, Iris looked over to see him pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Her sigh was audible as she placed her sewing box on the coffee table, before moving to sit beside John on the sofa. 'You are a silly beggar.'
'Thanks Mam.'
'I mean it. Why are you doing this? Punishing yourself in this way?'
'I'm just being realistic...'
'You are being an eejit,' Iris interrupted, John meeting her gaze with an incredulous look. 'Sorry Johnny, but you are.'
'I just love her so much, Mam.' John's voice was choked, a solitary tear falling down his cheek as he spoke. 'And I couldn't stand it, I won't be able to stand it, when she realises she is worthy of someone better than me.'
'Honestly, you young people these days,' Iris said with a laugh as she took John's hand in her own. 'I went to see Anna last night.'
'What?'
'Yeah, I gave her the grandchild fund. The fund which I was sure up until nine months ago was going to be left to you to be wasted on a sports car or some new suits to wear whilst making that ridiculous living of yours.' John laughed at his mother's remark, meeting her gaze before she continued. 'She was crying on my shoulder, much like you are now. And do you know what she told me?'
'No.'
'You are breaking her heart, John. She wishes you would realise that she isn't going to break yours. She said she couldn't fall in love with a better man when in her eyes, a better man doesn't exist.'
'She said that?'
'Yes,' Iris said, nodding her head. 'She is nothing like Vera, John. She loves you for a start, pure and simple. You need her in your life, as much as she needs you.'
Running his hands down the top of his legs towards his knees and back again, John exhaled deeply before standing up abruptly. 'I have to see her. Now. Tell her I'm sorry.'
'That's my boy,' Iris said in encouragement, standing up as John walked towards the door. 'Go and get her. And if she is generous enough to accept your apology, don't ever let her go again.'
Looking over his shoulder, John smirked, Iris doing the same. 'Thanks Mam.'
Walking to her window, wanting to let a little air into her bedroom, Anna was surprised to see it was snowing. Watching as the fall slowly became heavier, something caught her attention. A figure appeared at the garden gate. As it came nearer, the person soon became unmistakable. A look of bewilderment on her face, Anna watched as he moved to stand in the middle of the front lawn. He had seen her watching, soon his voice became audible through the open window. John was singing.
'I've been meaning to tell you, I've got this feeling that won't subside...'
Anna opened the window more, hardly believing the scene that was unfolding before her. Was John really serenading her on the front lawn at her mother and father's house?
'Now I've got you in my sights, with these... hungry eyes.'
'John, what the hell are you doing?' Anna called to him, John immediately stopping at the sound of her voice.
'You don't like this song, I have more.' John cleared his throat before beginning to sing once more, his arms outstretched. 'I sit and wait, does an angel contemplate my fate...'
'John, stop singing. You'll wake up Mum and Dad. Who do you think you are, Pierce Brosnan? Why are you here? ' Anna's tone was impatient, as was her demeanour, folding her arms against her body.
'Because I love you.' John replied before his brow became furrowed. 'What do you mean do I think I'm Pierce Brosnan? What has James Bond got to do with me serenading you?'
'In Mamma Mia. He sang to Meryl Streep.' Anna cocked her head. 'Badly, I admit.'
'Yeah, I always thought they should have chosen actors who can actually sing,' John agreed, looking at the grass with his hands on his hips, carefully considering Anna's remark. 'Like Ewan McGregor.'
'Ooh, Ewan McGregor, he's lovely...' Anna began to reply before shaking her head. 'Hang on a minute, what are we doing? You never answered when I asked you why you were here.'
'I did, I said I love you. I want to be with you. I need to be.'
'Yeah, right,' Anna chuckled cynically. 'Sure it's not just because you want to be involved with the baby?'
She winced at her words as soon as they left her mouth, John clearly shaken by the insensitivity to them. His reaction to her remark was not at all what Anna was expecting. He treaded the lawn so he was now standing directly under the window, the falling snow dusting his shoulders and his hair. Even from her position, she could see a look in John's eye, something she had never seen before. A steely determination, like he wouldn't be denied, a sureness he had never possessed in their previous encounters.
'You know something? I truly believe it is because of the baby,' John agreed, nodding his head. 'But not because the only way I will be a part of it's life is if we get back together, but because some higher power made this happen. To make me realise you are the love of my life. I was lost until we had that brief encounter, too much of a fool to recognise I should have taken the time to get to know you properly from the start. The baby happened because we were meant to meet again. You have always believed in us, I need to start doing the same. And I am sure that if you forgive me, that will be it then. We will be set for life. You, me and our perfect baby. Please Anna, I'm so, so sorry. I will spend the rest of my life making this up to you.'
As soon as he had stopped speaking, John was sure he saw the flicker of a smile play upon Anna's lips. His happiness soon turned to alarm as Anna's features darkened, she clutching her stomach before seemingly crying out in pain. She felt her legs suddenly becoming wet, looking down at the puddle that had accumulated by her feet.
'Anna?' John questioned, looking up at her with concern etched all over his face.
'Oh John, I think it's started.'
Events had proceeded quickly once John and Anna had left for the hospital. Anna's parents followed behind, collecting Mary on the way. Anna requested they be in the waiting room as she gave birth. They had only been at the hospital for forty five minutes before Anna was moved to a delivery suite. John was by her side, like she wanted, leaving her occasionally to give those gathered in support of Anna updates. Truth was, she had been feeling twinges all day, however she hadn't even told the midwife, not wanting to be a nuisance.
'Now Anna, I think we are just about ready to bring your baby into the world,' the doctor announced, the midwife agreeing with a nod.
'Dad, if you support Mum at the top of her body, we'll support the baby as it makes it's arrival.'
'Alright, here we go Anna,' John said, gripping on tightly to Anna's hands as she rested her head on his shoulder.
'It hurts, John,' Anna whimpered, digging her face into his neck.
'I know sweetheart and if I could do something about that I would in a heartbeat, just focus on what we will have at the end of all this.'
'Anna, we need you to push now, as hard as you can,' the doctor explained. 'After three. One, two, three.'
Letting out an almighty cry as she did so, Anna pushed with all the energy she could muster. John supported her with words of encouragement, telling her he had never felt prouder of her, how she had made him the happiest man on the planet. Anna murmured that she couldn't do it, she was tired but John wouldn't let give in.
'Anna, one more push and this will all be over.' The doctor looked up the bed at Anna. 'The head is delivered now. Just one more push.'
'Oh God,' Anna groaned, pressing her head even more firmly against John's shoulder. 'I can't.'
'Yes you can, Anna. You are amazing, you can do anything.' John kissed her temple. 'You can do it.'
'You are doing brilliantly, Anna.' The doctor said, his words encouraging. 'Once again, after the count of three I want you to give us a big push, I promise this is the last one. One, two, three.'
Tightly gripping John's hand in hers, Anna's cry was louder and more strained than the ones previously yet it was soon overtaken by that of an unfamiliar sound, a new noise that was destined to become a big part of John and Anna's lives for the next few months. Their baby had arrived, and was showing his mum and dad early on there was nothing wrong with its lungs.
'Congratulations Anna,' the doctor exclaimed as the midwife took the baby from him, 'you have a baby girl.'
'A girl, John we have a daughter.'
'We do,' John agreed, meeting Anna's lips in a kiss.
'Would Dad like to cut the chord?' The midwife held some scissors out in the direction of John, who gratefully took them. Cutting the chord, he stood aside as the midwife wrapped the baby in a blanket. 'And shall we let Mum have the first cuddle?'
'I think it's only right,' John agreed, moving back to stand beside Anna as the midwife walked down the other side of the bed. Anna held her hands out to receive the baby in her arms, John watching intently as she made her first contact with the baby she had been carrying for nine months.
'She is a fine baby, Anna,' the doctor remarked, 'and by the strength of her cry just now you are in for a few sleepless nights. Well done.' With those words, the doctor left the room.
'And it's just gone midnight, so your baby's birthday is Christmas Day.' The midwife said as she filled in a checklist. 'Congratulations. I'll give you both a minute then if you don't mind I'll take the little one to clean her up.'
'She's perfect, Anna,' John whispered as the midwife followed the doctor out of the room.
'I can't believe she's here,' Anna replied, stroking the baby's nose with her little finger. 'Hello you. We've been looking forward to meeting you.'
John reached out his index finger, a sensation he couldn't describe rushing through him as she wrapped her tiny little fist around it. 'Wow, this is just incredible.'
Silence reigned then, both John and Anna unable to avert their eyes from the little bundle in Anna's arms. She had stopped crying now, content to look up at her mother's face, still clutching on to her father's finger with a tight grip.
'Have you decided on a name?' John said softly, looking at Anna. 'From the top three list we made?'
'I like Jemima,' Anna answered with conviction. 'And we decided on Holly for a middle name, because it's Christmas. Jemima Holly Bates.'
'Then that shall be her name. Jemima. It's beautiful.'
Just then, the midwife came back into the room. 'Dad, you've got three very anxious people out there. I think you should go and have a chat with them whilst I look over Mum and the baby here.'
'Right,' John replied, looking down at Anna. 'Are you alright if I go out and tell them?'
'Please do,' Anna said as the midwife took Jemima from her grasp. Anna looked back at John once Jemima was safely in the midwife's arms. 'I love you.'
'Oh God, Anna,' John gasped in relief more than anything, leaning down to kiss her on the lips. 'I love you too.'
With a smirk, he looked over at Jemima being cleaned up before leaving the room. As soon as he came into view. Mary stood up. 'Well?'
'We have a daughter.' John announced, unable to keep the grin from his face.
'Oh great, I owe Dad a tenner,' Mary moaned, John grimacing at her remark. 'I mean, congratulations.'
'Could you ring my mother, Mary. She's waiting to hear at your Mum and Dad's house.'
'Sure thing,' Mary said dismissively, looking beyond John at the doors to the delivery suite.
'How is Anna?' Linda, her mother asked. 'We heard her screaming from out here.'
'She's fine, just held Jemima in her arms.'
'Jemima?' Linda said weakly, a small smile playing on her lips as she took hold of Anna's Dad, Trevor's arm. 'What a wonderful name.'
'Yeah,' John agreed, nodding his head. 'Isn't it?'
'Oh Trevor, go and call Darren. Tell him he's an uncle.'
'Yes dear,' Trevor huffed before holding his hand out to John. 'Congratulations John.'
'Thank you Trevor,' John took his hand and shook it.
'Look, I think we should all go then come back later.' Mary suggested, Trevor stopping in his tracks. 'I'm sure Anna will want to get some sleep and you both need time to do that bonding thing. We can all come back in the morning.'
'You're right,' Linda agreed.
'Yes, I usually am.' Mary replied with no hint of sarcasm. 'We'll see you later John. And don't go running off, she needs you now more than ever.'
'Don't worry, Mary,' John said, turning to walk back towards the delivery suite. 'I've stopped being an idiot. I am going nowhere.'
With Anna sleeping gently behind him, John looked out of the window, Jemima in his arms as he watched the children in the park next to the hospital playing with the new toys that had got for Christmas. He had never felt as complete as he did now, as he held his daughter. She seemed content to be rocked in his arms, looking up at him as he whispered to her.
'Well, this is a day I never thought would arrive, young Jemima, to hold my child in my arms. And you're more perfect than I had ever imagined. Daddy's baby girl. I don't know what I did to deserve you, or your mummy, but God knows I am going to do everything in my power to protect you both, your happiness is the only thing that matters to me now.'
'That was beautiful.' John looked over his shoulder at Anna, she yawning as he did so. 'Is she alright?'
'Yeah, she was just whimpering a bit so Daddy is giving her a cuddle. She's falling asleep now.'
'You're a natural.'
'Oh, I don't know about that,' John replied, looking back at Jemima's tiny face. 'All I know is I've never known a love like this before.' He lifted his head to meet Anna's gaze once more. 'For either of you.'
'John, what you said last night...'
'Good morning, good morning.'
Their moment was interrupted by Anna's parents bursting into the room, followed by Mary carrying a handful of pink balloons attached to ribbons.
'Hello,' Anna said excitedly, happy to see everyone albeit frustrated her conversation with John had been interrupted. Linda lent down to embrace her daughter, followed by Trevor.
'We are so proud of you, sweetheart,' Linda cooed.
'Thanks mum,' Anna smiled before looking at Mary approaching her. 'Hi Mary.'
'I knew you could do it, kid,' Mary grinned, taking Anna in her arms. 'Another little shopping buddy.'
'Indeed,' Anna chuckled, looking over as John passed Jemima over to an eager Linda.
'Oh my, Anna. She's gorgeous.' Linda exclaimed. 'She's got your eyes, and your nose.' Just then, Linda began to sniff before wincing. 'But oh dear God, she smells like your grandfather.'
'Thanks a lot,' Trevor groaned.
'Shall we change you, little one?' Linda asked in her best baby voice.
John thought this might be his opportunity to go home, he had been dying to see his mother and tell her all about Jemima. As Mary and Trevor positioned the balloons around the room, Linda busy changing Jemima, John approached Anna.
'I'm going to pop home now everyone else is here, and tell Mam about Jemima.' John whispered, leaning down to speak to Anna. 'I'll be back this afternoon.'
'Alright,' Anna said reluctantly, nodding her head. 'Don't be long.'
'I'll be back before you know it.' As he gently stroked her face, he smiled before moving towards the door.
Robert, Cora and Edith had gone for a Christmas morning walk, giving John and his mother some time alone. Iris listened intently as John described Jemima to the tiniest detail. How she had beautiful blue eyes, how tiny she was.
'I'm so pleased for ye, John,' Iris said, tapping his forearm. 'Really I am.'
'And I'm pleased for you,' John replied, placing a hand over the top of his mothers. 'Nana.'
'Aye, at last,' Iris chuckled before her face took on a more serious expression. 'How did it go last night? Did you tell Anna?'
John sighed before sitting back against the back of the sofa. 'I told her I was sorry and wanted to make it up to her, she smiled at me then in the next instance went into labour. We haven't discussed it properly, but we kissed just after Jemima was born, and told each other we loved each other. We were about to broach the subject then Anna's parents and Mary came into the room.' His lips upturned into yet another smile. 'Lets just say I think we can work it out.'
'I'm glad.' John watched as Iris stood up, walking over to the Christmas tree. 'Now I opened the scarf and gloves you bought me earlier. With Robert and Cora.'
'Yeah, sorry about that. I'm not good at buying presents.'
'Shut up will ye, I loved them.' Iris dismissed her sons concerns, returning to him clutching onto a gift bag. 'This is for you.'
John took the bag and pulled out a thick navy blue sweater. 'Oh Mum, the annual woolly jumper.'
'When was the last time you had a cold?' Iris asked, waiting for an answer but John had no response. 'Exactly. Besides, that's not all.'
John watched as Iris reached into the pocket on her cardigan, revealing a small red box. John looked confused as he took the red box his mother was offering. Opening it, he almost gasped at what was revealed to him. A ring, an emerald set in the middle of two diamonds. John looked at his mother, unsure as to why she was giving it to him.
'Mam, what's this?'
'It was your Granny's, she gave it to me when she died to give to you, to use as an engagement ring.'
'Mam?' John's voice was quizzical as he examined the ring he held in his grasp. 'Why didn't you give it to me when I married Vera?'
'Simple. I didn't like Vera. I like Anna.'
'You think I should propose to Anna?' John gasped, meeting his mothers eyes as she nodded.
'Yes, I do.'
'Oh Mam, I don't know...'
'Come on, Johnny. Take a risk.' Iris interrupted her son. 'Even you have to admit you haven't taken things slowly since the day you met Anna. That isn't necessarily a bad thing. Can you see yourself with anyone else now?'
'No, I don't want anyone else.'
'And you have Jemima to consider now. She deserves a stable home life. A secure family unit.'
'I've never thought of asking Anna to marry me though, Mam.' John shrugged, closing the box. 'Marriage has never been on the cards.'
'Well, how does it make you feel?' With Anna as your wife.'
He stopped to think for a moment, to think of Anna walking down the aisle, promising their lives to each other. Then he thought of spending every day with her, watching Jemima grow up side by side. Perhaps in a few years creating a little brother or sister for their first born. John was surprised. He didn't feel scared, or anxious. These thoughts felt right, a life with Anna was right and he was ecstatic to have finally realised with her was where his heart lay.
'It feels natural,' John murmured. 'I can't believe I didn't feel it until now.'
'Well, babies make you feel differently about a whole manner of things,' Iris replied wisely, tapping John on the shoulder. 'Now get down that hospital. Who knows, that ring could be the best Christmas present you have ever been given.'
'Well it's certainly better than yet another jumper,' John replied, tongue in cheek as he stood up.
'Get moving, John Bates. You're never too old for a smack.'
The blood thundering in his ears, John walked onto the maternity ward, a gentle nod to the receptionist who instantly recognised him as one of the new father's created earlier on in her shift.
'Merry Christmas,' she said politely.
'It certainly is,' John replied with a wide grin. 'The best I would say.'
He continued on, passing the entrance to the general ward before stopping outside Anna's private room. Anna had been put in there temporarily as the ward was busy, yet John had asked as he left earlier if he could pay for Anna to stay there. Anything to keep her comfortable and settled. Looking through the small pane of glass in the door, John was certain he had never seen a more beautiful sight than the one that filled his vision right now.
Everyone had left. Anna was rocking Jemima in her arms, John could see she was speaking to her, intermittently placing gentle kisses on her head. The baby's head was covered in dark hair, obviously his contribution, yet her eyes were a piercing blue, much like her mothers. She was more perfect than John could have envisaged. Then there was Anna. True, she looked exhausted but John had never seen her looking so happy, so at peace. It took his breath away, to see these two perfect creatures before him and know he was part of making this happen. It almost made him reluctant to interrupt, yet he could hold on no longer. Opening the door, Anna's head immediately snapped towards John as he entered the room. John was relieved as a smile spread across her face.
'Hello you,' Anna said softly, watching as John moved to sit on the edge of the bed. 'Thank you for the room.'
'It was my pleasure,' John whispered, squeezing Anna's wrist. 'How is she?'
'Absolutely fine. She's had her feed, and you've just missed another dirty nappy.'
'Great timing,' John replied, raising his eyebrows before stroking the top of Jemima's head with his index finger.
'Yeah, don't get used to it,' Anna chuckled, John looking up to meet her gaze. 'I've already decided you are on night time duties.'
'Have you now?'
His tone was teasing as their eyes met, John struggling to catch his breath until Jemima struggling a little in her mothers arms drew both her parents attentions. Anna's motherly instinct kicked in, gently hushing Jemima whilst rocking her softly once more.
'You know, what you said last night,' Anna began then nodded towards Jemima. 'Before all this. Did you mean it?'
John sat with a straight back, hissing out a breath before responding to Anna's question. 'I was hoping you would bring that up.'
Anna was a transfixed spectator as John stood up before slowly bending down to rest on one knee. Once in position, he pulled out a small red box, before revealing his mother's beautiful ring.
'John, what the hell are you doing?' Anna almost squealed as she placed a now sleeping Jemima in her cot beside the bed.
'I'm dancing a polka,' John replied sarcastically, a smile immediately spreading across his face. 'What do you think I'm doing?'
'I'm sorry,' Anna moved so her legs were hanging over the edge of the bed before placing her feet on the floor beside John. 'This is just so out of the blue.'
'Believe me, it is for me too. Mum gave me the ring this morning, it was my grandmother's you see. She said it could be the best Christmas present I have ever been given,' John looked at Jemima sleeping soundly in her cot. 'Present company excepted of course.'
'Look, don't feel you have to do this. Even though you hurt me when you left me that night, you were right. In the real world, this is new...'
'No Anna, I am not doing this because of Jemima. I meant what I said earlier, that I love you. I am doing this because I want you to be my wife.'
John's voice broke as he spoke, not expecting to feel such strong emotions as the ones he was feeling now. He didn't anticipate wanting to be Anna's husband so much, until his mother had put the idea in his head. Now it wasn't even wanting the idea to become a reality, he needed it to.
'I knew I loved you, you know, that first morning when I left your room and was greeted with your lifesize Robbie Williams cut out.' Anna laughed, in turn causing John to join her. 'And I was certain I had to have you when I heard your karaoke.'
'Hey, I wasn't that bad,' Anna gently kicked the outside of John's thigh, he then softly taking hold of her ankle before the atmosphere turned decidedly more serious.
'And just then, as I watched you cradling our daughter in your arms, I now know I can say without any doubt, that I cannot live without you.'
With those words, Anna lost any remaining resolve she may have had and let a tear fall down her cheek, looking down at John and realising she had never felt as in love before as she did with John in this moment. Taking hold of her hand with one hand, he moved the ring closer to her with the other.
'Anna, will you marry me?'
After John's beautiful proposal, Anna couldn't respond with words, not straight away anyway. Raising a hand to her mouth, she was now openly sobbing as she looked at the ring in the box. After a few moments she nodded, before managing to choke out a few words. 'Yes, of course.'
'You will?' John was crying himself now as he rose to his feet, taking the ring out of the box. Slipping it onto Anna's finger, he was relieved to find it was a perfect fit. 'I love you, Anna.'
'I love you too, so much.'
As she remained seated, John knelt down before her once more, wrapping Anna up in his arms. All at once, he felt complete. This was what true happiness felt like. A new baby daughter, a beautiful fiancée and the promise of living out his days with the two of the them by his side.
Wise men say only fools rush in, but in this case, John didn't mind being deemed a fool. In fact, he delighted in that fact.
A/N 2- I hope you enjoyed this fluff fest. There shall be an epilogue to follow. I like epilogues.
All the best for Downton tonight, lets hope Bates doesn't do anything stupid :)
