She stared at him, astonished at his boldness. He looked a little surprised at himself, but quickly began talking.

"Please stay. At least for a little while. I can't say goodnight and leave you—not again. We don't have much longer."

Still a bit dazed, she nodded. She found herself oddly gratified that he had taken the initiative this time. While he'd participated enthusiastically, it had always seemed like he waited for her to start things between them and let her set the pace. She was excited to see where he'd lead.

"Will you be missed?"

"No. It's not likely Miss O'Brien would come by for a chat and the girls are all settled. I shouldn't be needed again tonight."

"Will you stay, then? Until morning?"

"Yes," she exhaled, the word echoing off the walls and reverberating between them. His stomach clenched.

"I've nothing with me," she voiced the thought as it occurred to her.

"Is there something you need?"

"I don't have a nightdress."

He hadn't thought of any of that, to be honest. "Oh. Yes. Could you make do with something of mine?"

"I'm sure I could, if necessary. Or you could always keep me warm," she suggested cheekily, past her shock and suddenly full of ideas.

"It would be the least I could do," he answered with a grin, "with you so graciously agreeing to my company for the evening."

"This is what it will be like when we are married, isn't it?" she reflected. "We'll be together at the end of the day—just us, no demands and no rules but our own."

"It's what I look forward to the most."

"The most?" she teased, moving closer.

"You know exactly how much I want you, but coming home to you every night and being able to lie with you in my arms is what I dream about the rest of the time."

"Are we still in agreement about making love?"

"I think so. For now, at least. We've come this far. What do you think?"

"I agree. For now. We've a whole night, though," she flirted, lacing her fingers with his. "How ever will we pass the time?"

"Let's get ready for bed, my darling, and I'll show you," he answered back with a devilish wink, bringing her hands up to kiss before releasing them.

He went to the chair at his writing desk and took off his boots and socks. She watched as he then stood and removed his jacket and watch. She took them from him, draped the jacket over the chair, and set the watch on the desk. He reached for his links, but stopped when she took his wrist.

"Can I?" she asked quietly.

He held out his arm and she fumbled a bit working the metal through his cuff, but eventually got it free, repeating the action on the other side. She looked up at him expectantly. "My tie," he directed gently. "Put your finger in the knot and slide it back and forth to work it loose." She followed his instructions and drew the silk from around his neck. "Now the collar." She pulled the stiff collar off of him, placing it and the tie next to his links and watch on the desk. "The rest you can manage quite well, as I recall," a smile playing over his lips.

She dispensed with his waistcoat and braces before setting to work on his shirt. She ran her hands over the newly exposed skin, acquainting herself with the sight of what she previously only knew by touch. Dark hair covered most of him and she couldn't help but ogle as she stroked his chest. Dragging herself back to her task, she got his shirt off and laid it and his waistcoat on his jacket before reaching for his trousers. She undid those, her belly fluttering with every hiss that escaped him when she grazed against him through his shorts. His trousers fell and he stepped carefully out of them, not bothering to pick them up. Instead he reached for her, kissing her gently before setting her in front of him.

It took him much longer to undress her. When she understood his intent she sat down on the bed to remove her shoes and guided him under her skirts to ease down her garters and stockings. She then stood while he rested his cane on the wall and began wrestling with the fiddly decorative buttons at the front of her dress. When he got enough undone to loosen it, he gathered up the fabric and drew it over her head, only to grumble lightheartedly as her corset cover and petticoat were revealed. She didn't normally wear either under her uniform, but her best dresses were made of more delicate fabrics and required the extra protection.

He tugged the neckline of the corset cover back with a crooked finger and peered beneath. "Anna? Are you under there?"

She giggled and reached up to help him, but he brushed her away, insisting he might as well learn while he had the chance. He undid the maddeningly tiny buttons of the corset cover and pulled it off. He then untied the petticoat and let it drop to the floor. She showed him the front hooks of her corset, and soon it joined the petticoat. Finally he was able to lift off her chemise and push down her bloomers, leaving her bare to his gaze.

She waited for a moment as he drank her in. She could almost feel his eyes moving over her, exploring, caressing, and cataloging. Possessed, he reached for her shoulders and turned her around, taking his time to admire all of her.

She let him have a minute, then turned back to face him, undoing the buttons on his shorts and letting them fall. "Fair is fair," she whispered, appraising him just as frankly and smiling.

She brought him to the looking-glass then and stood in front of him, catching his eye in the reflection. "There are six hairpins. Start at the bottom, closest to my neck. Find them and pull them out." He did as instructed, gently removing them and placing them on the desk. He liked the way her things looked laying next to his. When he withdrew the last pin her plait fell down.

"Take off the tie, then start at the end, running your finger through the middle of the plait to undo it." He followed her directions very carefully and released her hair. "Normally I would brush it, but I don't have one with me. Run your hands through and try to straighten it out as best you can." This was no chore for him. He raked his fingers from the top of her head down the entire length, which fell to the middle of her back. He repeated the motion over and over, and Anna couldn't contain her sighs at how wonderful it felt. It excited him too—she could feel his response and leaned back, watching him in the glass as he closed his eyes and groaned.

She turned and pressed herself against his front, sliding her arms around his waist, still amazed at the heat and sensation of his skin on hers. His hands went back to her hair and he captured her lower lip between his, lightly teasing with his tongue before dipping into her for a taste. When they broke apart he led her to the bed. They lay down, arranging themselves carefully on their sides, facing each other.

"I'm glad we have all night," she said. "I'll have to kiss you now for every time I wanted to and couldn't this week."

"If we add in mine we'll never be able to leave this room."

"I can think of worse fates."

She leaned in then and he came to meet her. At first their pace was slow, almost reverant, as they got used to being together with absolutely nothing between them. She glided her hands down his back, kneading the muscles and coaxing him toward her. His fingers roamed up and down her sides, teasing at her bottom and brushing her breasts with each pass. The feeling was intoxicating and soon there was nothing placid at all in the way she arched into him, offering more of herself to his caress.

He answered her need, abandoning languor himself and cupping her bottom, bringing her to him firmly. His arousal jutted into her hip, too insistent to be denied any longer. He covered her breast with his palm, glancing across the sensitive center.

"If we were married there would be nothing to stop me from rising above you at this moment and joining us. Have you any idea how badly I want to do that right now?"

"It must be just as fierce as the urge I have to take you inside of me," she confided huskily while she rocked her hips against him. "There would be nothing to stop me either," she added, pushing him back so that she was above him. She let her hands wander as she placed kisses on his chest, trailing her tongue curiously over one of his nipples and smiling at the strangled sound it elicited from him.

He clutched at her hips. She looked at his face and was struck by how unfamiliar it seemed to her. She was used to her considering, controlled John, but the man laying beneath her hardly resembled him. His expression was completely open—every feeling plain as it passed over him. He seemed almost insensible, fighting for breath, his eyes alternating between boring into hers and being clenched tightly shut. In that moment she was overwhelmed at the privilege of seeing him like this, knowing that it was only her he would trust to show himself so unrestrained.

She was driving him mad, coming so close to where he desperately needed her, but then just as quickly slipping away. His resolve was perilously close to snapping and he knew he didn't have much more time before he'd be completely ungovernable. Praying she'd understand and forgive him, he took her hand and guided it down, showing her exactly what he needed to regain some measure of sanity.

It didn't take but a minute or two for him to buck his hips and groan loudly. She watched, fascinated, as his body reached its undoing, a little worried he would be overheard and attract attention.

"Sorry," he said between gasps as he returned to his senses. She leaned over and took a flannel from the washstand.

"Shh," she soothed, pressing her lips to his as she tended to them. "I know you needed that. You were looking positively wild there at the end." There was no small measure of amusement in her voice.

"You find this funny?" He turned to his side and reached for her. "Give me a few minutes, darling, and then tell me whether you are so inclined to laugh."

Laughing was soon the furthest thing from her mind. He resumed his exploration of her breasts, stroking her gently at first, but with a firmer hand as she responded to him. With no worries about being interrupted or needed elsewhere he was able to take his time in pleasing her and learning what she liked. Her sighs and murmurs turned to moans as he teased her nipples with his fingers, bringing them to stiff, sensitive peaks. He brought his mouth to her, lavishing attention with his lips and tongue, making her dig her fingers into his arm and draw her leg up his.

He took the leg resting on his and eased it up, propping it on his thigh and leaving her open to him. He touched her intimately, moving slowly as he neared her center, wanting her to become accustomed to the sensation again. He had been amazed at how responsive she was last time and finding her so ready for him now made him incredibly thankful that he'd already had his own fulfillment. He might never have prevailed if he'd felt her welcoming heat. Her responses went from shy to greedy as she relaxed under his touch. He loved her thoroughly, returning to the places that wrought the sharpest cries until she let out a surprisingly operatic wail and began to shudder. He held her closely until the storm passed, listening to her rough breath while she recovered.

He didn't trust himself to spend the rest of the night with her bare against him, delicious as it felt. He got up and retrieved his shorts before putting on a pair of pajama bottoms and pleading with her to accept the top. He had no intention of keeping his hands to himself, but he hoped a small barrier would provide enough delay to regain his senses if things became frenzied between them again.

He snapped off the lights and they slept, him on his back and she curled over his left side, leaving his leg as comfortable as possible. Passion did overtake them again in the early morning. He had woken with her draped over him and it had seemed the most natural thing in the world to kiss her, touch her, and help her find completion. She coaxed another release from him as well, this time from her own libidinous pursuit. Contented once more, they settled back into each other then and dozed until the dawn came to force them apart.

xXx

After readying the family for breakfast the next morning they walked through the park, enjoying the late summer sun. Anna had only an hour before she had to get back to the hotel to prepare for their departure that afternoon. She was surprised to find she felt no discomfit at all after their intimacies last night. He was still the same man in the morning, affectionately watching her dress and kissing her thoroughly before poking his head out into the corridor and watching for a clear opportunity for her to run back to her own room. Soon enough, she had faith, she would spend every night and morning with him and so it had all felt very right.

"It occurs to me, Anna, that I've never really asked you what you want."

"How do you mean?"

"When the war is over there will be nothing left in our way. We will be able to marry and start our life. What kind of life do you want?"

"Do you want to leave Downton?"

"No, I don't. Do you?"

"No. I like it there. I have a lot of friends and it's close to my family. I would be happy with our own home, though. A cottage, maybe? I certainly don't need anything elaborate."

"Our own little cottage would be nice. What about children?"

"I expect to be very happily married," she answered with a saucy grin. "So yes, I would think there would be a family in our future. Is that something you want?"

"I look forward to a happy marriage too," he replied, eyes twinkling. "And a family. Though I've thought…Vera and I never had children, which was for the best, of course, and there wasn't a great deal of…opportunity…but I've wondered at it."

"You are what is most important to me. If children come along they will be a blessing, but all I've ever wanted is to be your wife."

He cleared his throat, but his voice was still gruff as he continued. "I think, so long as we're careful, our circumstances should be comfortable. You wouldn't need to stay on after we're married and there will be enough to set up house."

"We'll have mine, too. There hasn't been much to do but work these past few years, so I've only been able to add to it."

"We should be nicely fixed, then."

"Yes, I think so."

"Do you think you could ever consider coming to London for the duration?"

"I didn't know that was a possibility. Could we?"

"We could be married and find a flat. You could get a job if you wanted."

"Is that what you want?"

"I think, in some respects, you'd be much happier at Downton. And I feel you're safer there too. There would still be just as much work for me, so we wouldn't have much time to ourselves. But we'd be together. I miss you terribly, and I'm not sure how much more time with you I'm willing to give up. It would have to work for you too, though."

The idea was very intriguing. On the one hand she'd be leaving the post she'd worked so hard for and moving far away from home, friends, and family, but on the other hand they could finally be together. The waiting was excruciating and idea of relief was quite compelling.

"I would definitely consider it, John. I don't want to leave the family or Mrs. Hughes in a difficult position. It's very hard to secure help these days, but I want what is best for both of us and I think they might forgive my joining you after all this time. Is it something you'd want to do soon?"

"No, I think we should take some time before making such a drastic decision. Let's give it another year. If we are still separated at that time we'll go ahead. Does that seem sensible to you?

She agreed and they spent the rest of their final hour ambling slowly along the path, no real destination in mind. He stole one last kiss when they found themselves a bit separated from the crowds since he knew very well there would be no opportunity when he had to let her go back at the hotel. She had been nervous about their parting, afraid that she wouldn't be able to do it, or that she would find herself making an embarrassing display, crying and clinging to him, but now she had no reason to fear. She still felt sad but that was tempered with a new calm and comfort. No matter what, this was going to be their last goodbye.

xXx

They looked at the clock again. 10:52am. These minutes were crawling by more slowly than any had over the past four years.

They had elected to wait it out in his Lordship's office. They could have gone with the others to the mess, or even joined the crowd gathering on the street outside, but somehow it seemed fitting that it should end where so much of it had happened for them, in their small, gray corner of the rabbit warren that was the War Office. Grantham at least had a window, which was more than many could boast. They watched the people milling about, more arriving every moment, waving flags and scarves, their cheer and their volume growing.

They had gotten the call an hour ago. His Lordship had been summoned and when he returned he confirmed the rumors. The armistice agreement had been signed that morning and hostilities would cease no later than 11:00am. It was over.

It wasn't a surprise, really. Hope had blossomed late in the spring as the Germans were stalled and then driven back from the gains they had made earlier that year. Encouragement continued to come over the summer as the Allies advanced and the Americans kept pouring in. By fall the whispers of peace envoys and the collapse of German supply capabilities were on everyone's lips. The Bulgarians were first to fold, and others followed not long after. By the time the Kaiser fled most were willing believe the end was in sight.

Bates was sure he'd be happy later. They would join the other men and laugh, shake hands, and clap each other on the back. They would praise their victory, commend the country's efforts, and start talking of home and family. But now, pacing around his Lordship's office, all he could think of was what had been lost. How many men? How much money and effort? How many days spent apart and lonely? And for what? An armistice that in some ways resolved nothing—not really a victory, simply an agreement to stop fighting. He would have tried to force some cheer into his expression, but he gathered from his Lordship's somber mood that he felt the same way.

The only brightness he felt in the moment was for Anna. He had written her in August, telling her what he could of what he knew and suggesting that they postpone their plans in the hopes that they may soon not be needed. She confessed in her reply that she had been wondering, from what she read in the newspapers, if that might be the case and was glad to hear him confirm it. The upheaval and expense of moving to London would be significant and she would be willing to bear his absence a bit longer if it meant they would be better off for the future.

Another check of the clock. 10:55am

"May I have a word, Sir?" John asked, breaking the silence.

"Certainly. What is it?"

"If I understand correctly, the leaseholders at Graham cottage will be leaving next month." He had kept in contact with Mr. Carson over the years to coordinate some of his Lordship's affairs that fell to both of their responsibilities. The butler informed him of happenings at the estate so that he could manage his Lordship's diary and see to any correspondence needed.

"Yes, I heard. Moving to work in the factories, they say. It's a shame, really. The family lived there for 20 years. Kept up the place nicely as well."

"I wonder if I might apply to assume the tenancy?"

"Bates?" Lord Grantham questioned. "Are you intending to leave your post?"

"No, my Lord. I should be very glad to continue on as long as you find it agreeable. It is only that I aspire to marry soon and I'm looking for a suitable situation in which to be settled." It was the first time he had breathed it out loud to anyone besides Anna or his mother and it still sounded so unlikely.

"Marry?"

"Yes, your Lordship. "

"Well! This is a surprise indeed! I didn't realize you were taken with someone. Who is the lady? Someone here in town? "

"Anna, Sir, if she'll have me."

"Our Anna?"

My Anna, he almost corrected, but he caught the words before they escaped. "Yes, Sir."

"Will wonders never cease? I suppose this means she will be leaving her post."

"I expect so, eventually. The particulars will need to be decided."

"Graham cottage. Yes, that would answer well. Of course the tenancy shall be yours. I'll have Matthew draw it up as soon as possible."

"I'm very grateful, your Lordship." Bates was doubly grateful that young Mr. Crawley would be back from the fight and had resuming his previous occupation.

"You old devil! She's a good girl. I expect there will be many years of happiness for you."

Bates allowed himself a small smile. "Thank you, my Lord".

10:59am. And then, miraculously, 11:00.