A/N: One more filler just to get things where I want them to be. Thank you all for your support :D

Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1-9.

'You don't have to do that.' He said adjusting his tie. 'Go to bed. Sleep.'

'I want to make you breakfast. It's your first day at the pub, and you ought to be well fed.'

She gave him the warmest of smiles, while she cracked one egg into the pan.

'If you insist.' John came behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder.

This past week had been like heaven to them. Everything they'd dreamed of. They had spent their first day walking around the village, getting to know the place and buying what they needed to live in the flat. At least, for now.

John had proved to be the most loving and doting father Anna could possibly imagine. Honestly, John himself was surprised by it all. By the love he felt for his little girl; still so new and different from anything he had ever experienced, but with such intensity that he could not imagine his life without her. He often caught himself thinking what life was like before she was born and to his wonder he barely could remember. His life made full sense with Anna and Alma by his side, and all the old feelings of happiness and belonging he had felt in the early days of his life now seemed to have never existed. His life was now, and his happiness was just beginning. Their happiness.

The rest of the week they had stayed at home, trying to make up for the time they'd spent apart. Anna discovered that she loved to cook for him, and also that she had not forgotten what her mother had taught her. The three of them spent the afternoons in bed, John asking Anna how her pregnancy had been. If their daughter was an energetic baby while she was growing inside her. If she had been sick in the first months. What did she write him in those letters?

They watched over their daughter's sleep like guardian angels.

And now he was getting ready to work. This first week had gone by like a flash. And as ridiculous as it may sound, John was missing his girls already.

As he kissed her neck while she fried the eggs, he whispered in her ear just that.

'You silly beggar. You haven't even left yet.'d

'Exactly. That's how much I love you both. I'm still here and I'm missing you already.'

Anna plated the eggs, placed them on the counter, and turned around in his arms to face him. She sighed. 'I will miss you so much.' Wrapping her arms around his neck before kissing his cheek.

'See.' He raised his brow.

'We've been denied each other for so long...you may think I'm being stupid but...I'm so scared that all of this is a dream, and as soon as you walk out of the door I'll wake up and you'll still be away from me.'

He smiled down at her. 'That's exactly what I fear, but it won't happen Anna. I'm here. We're together.'

Happy with his reply, she gave a wide smile before kissing him passionately.

XXXXXX

'I'm going then...I'll come home for lunch.'

'Alright, we'll be waiting for you.'

Anna walked him to the door with a sleepy Alma in her arms. 'We will miss daddy, won't we?' She stated more than asked. The little girl stared at her father with curious eyes as he kissed Anna's lips.

'And I will miss you both.' He said, taking both of the baby's hands in his and kissing her chubby fists. 'Be a good girl for your mother.' She answered him with her usual bubbles and he smiled in approval.

Taking his cane in his hand, he looked at them one more time before leaving, heading down the stairs that led to the pub.

Anna sighed when she couldn't see him no longer. Today was going to be a long day.

XXXXXX

The pub was full. John was surprised. He thought that with men away in the war they would have just a few patrons, but he had quickly been proven wrong. Old and young men had taken every seat they had, and both him and Mr Hughes were having a hard time keeping up with it.

'I didn't know this was so chaotic.'

'It is, Mr Bates. We are the only pub in the village. The two lads who helped me are in the war, but the ones you see in here are either old or are on leave. I know a few who can't go because of health issues, but that's just what they say.' The short man twisted his nose.

John knew well about those health issues. Men would pay the doctors to make up some heart problem so they didn't have to go and fight for their country, but he couldn't judge them. If every man knew what would be waiting for them in the battle field, they would all be doing the same.

XXXXXX

Quickly one week turned into a month, and soon they had a routine.

Anna would wake up at seven with him to make him breakfast, and give him a kiss at the door. Sometimes Alma would be awake, sometimes the restless nights meant she would sleep in a little later.

At first, John would beg Anna to stay in bed and rest, but he learned that nothing he would say would make her give in. She was eager to take care of him.

'You work all day, come home tired at night, the least I can do is feed you well.' She would say to him while they were in bed, resting her head in the crook of his neck. The warm smile that she kept just for him was always there, now more than ever, as his was. Her smell would invade his senses all night while he dreamed, and peace was all he knew, all he could feel. Love, peace, and harmony. Something so foreign to him, something he'd always wanted.

She had learned how to cook the way he liked it, and she loved to take care of him. He would arrive home at eight, with his legs heavy and his brow sweaty. By then she would have his bath prepared and dinner on the stove. She would scrub his back when he asked her to, and she would do it with a pleased look on her face.

They would often go for a walk on Sunday's, his day off, but sometimes they would just stay in the comfort of their small flat, that was so homey to them already, so familiar. John wouldn't let go of his daughter either way. He always wanted to be the one holding her, or changing her whenever he could, and Anna would often see the guilt in his eyes. She knew about that guilt. He told her about it. The guilt of not being there with her when she most needed. The guilt of not being there while their daughter was still forming inside of Anna's womb. She had told him several times that he didn't have to feel any guilt. That they were together now, and all that happened hadn't been their fault. But John would always feel guilty. As long as he lived.

The first month had been fair on them. They were happy, at peace, and his first salary had just been received. It wasn't much, but John would make an effort to support his little family. Anna had some money from the time she was a housemaid, but it wasn't much and John didn't want her to spend it, in case they needed it. Mrs Hughes had come to visit them once, and they had all had lunch together. She was like a mother to Anna, and she adored Alma. Both Anna and John had been thinking about asking her to be the little one's godmother, but they had to be married first to be able to baptize her. Things would get there in time, and they would make the most of their time together.

Yes, they weren't rich nor did they live in a palace, but they were as happy as they could be.

Although there was one little detail that creeped in both of their minds, but neither of them dared to speak of it. They hadn't made love yet. They would sleep every night in each other's arms, and they would kiss as much as they could but nothing more than that. Anna was unsure, and John didn't want her to think he was pushing her. They both felt the same, they both ached for each other more than ever and although they had a daughter, were living as husband and wife, and had all the trust in each other, the truth was the entire situation was new to them. John wanted to be sure Anna was ready, without any doubt in her mind, and Anna thought that maybe, now after carrying a child, that John wouldn't think her as beautiful as before. They were both nervous and they wanted the other to be comfortable. Someone would have to make the first move, but they had no idea who it would be.

His leg was behaving quite well for the amount of work he had, but he knew that sooner rather than later he would have trouble, at least in climbing the stairs back to the flat. But all of this was worth it. Every time he thought of Anna and their daughter waiting for him not even five minutes away, his heart would swell with love. They were worth every sacrifice...but little did he know that all his sacrifices were just about to begin.

A/N: Yes, yes. I'm preparing the ground for "things" to happen. Now, what things? Stick with me and you'll find out. (how cliché xD)

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed :)