We have stole a scene from another ship of ours, if you can guess who it is then put the answer in a review. There's no prize but perhaps John will share his Whisky with you too.

John isn't a happy bunny at the beginning...

Anna's POV

Things haven't been the same between me and John since that night. I can't believe he is willing to give in to that woman, he can't believe I have such little faith in him. It is now October and we are coming to the end of the season. The park is derelict, retired couples and a few kids on their half term holidays make up the guests. As usual with this time of year, the staff are stressed with finding jobs to last them through the winter and we are also upset another season is coming to an end.

Walking into the office in the morning, I notice John isn't there yet. Thinking how strange that is, I notice Ethel holding up a board on the table. Holding back, I stop and listen to what is being said between herself, Gwen, Thomas and William.

'Okay, so here's the deal. She has spent the last three nights in the girls chalet.' Ethel explains.

'What of it?' William asks.

'It's time to pull out the 'How Long Will It Last' board.' Ethel says, turning the board around so everyone could see what it said. 'Pah, forever. You fool, Tom Branson.' Ethel takes Tom's name off the board and screws it up.

'Just because she's spent the past few nights with us doesn't mean it's over.' Gwen replies, picking up the piece of paper Ethel threw on the floor.

'Says you, who thought they would have broken up by now.' Ethel replies.

'Always knew that Tom Branson was not of a sane mind.' Thomas chips in. 'How long did it last anyway?'

'Nearly eight months,' I say, deciding to make my presence known.

'So, it is over then. That's it?' We turn to see John arrive, half listening to our conversation, half of his attention dedicated to the call on his mobile phone. His phone has been glued to his ear constantly for the past few days. 'No Vera, obviously I'm not talking to you. I'll call you the minute there are any developments.' Hanging up, he moves towards the table. 'What this, more sweepstakes? What part of my life are we gambling on today?' Ethel tries to move the board but John grabs one end of it, stopping her. 'No no, let's share. Who had eight months?'

What had happened to my John? Watching him, I couldn't believe this was the same man I had fallen in love with. He had changed since Vera's return. He had transformed from a happy, funny, kind and caring man to a man who had the weight of the world on his shoulders. All because of that woman. Even his appearance has altered. His hair is messy and he hasn't shaved for over a week. I haven't seen him smile for what seems like weeks, however it has only been a couple of days. I admit, I could have helped matters further by standing by him, but I don't like the fact he is willing to give in to her so easily.

'Maybe we should have involved the guests on this.' John snaps. 'Kept the punters entertained. Is this what passes as entertainment? Betting on my life, which by the way, is falling apart all around me.' John looks at me before looking at the board. 'Who had eight months, anyway.'

'John...' I try to interrupt.

'Ahh, Thomas. You are nearest with seven months. See this Anna, the most we were given was seven months. Nice to see we proved them wrong for all of four weeks.' John turned his attentions to Thomas. ' I have a bottle of whisky that would serve as a great prize. Come around to my chalet tonight to collect your winnings.'

Suddenly, John's phone starts to ring. Ignoring it, he sees the screwed piece of paper on the table and picks it up. 'Ahh, my good friend Branson, my fellow Irish brother. Forever he says. Top man.'

'Boss, your phone is ringing.' William points out.

'Yes, I am aware of that.' John takes his phone out and places it on the table. Taking a paperweight from the desk behind him he slams it on top of his phone, breaking it in two. Silence hits the room as we take in what we have just seen. 'There we go, it's not ringing now is it?' With that, he turns on his heels and leaves the office. All eyes are on me as John slams the door.

'Shouldn't you go after him?' Gwen asks.

I look at my watch before sighing. What had just happened. I had never seen him like that before. 'Let's get to work, shall we?'

'Jeez, I prefer the lovesick fool to the stroppy Bates.' Thomas says. 'You can't leave him like that Anna.'

Getting up from the table, I leave the office to go about my morning.


John's POV

It is lunch time, and although things are a little less than terrible between myself and Anna, the rota's were done weeks ago and it means we still have the same breaks. Deciding to take a stroll, hoping it would relax me, the first thing I notice looking down from the path that leads to the beach is Anna sitting alone. The stubborn side of me says to turn around and walk in the other direction, my heart tells me to go and sit beside her. As with all things that relate to Anna, my heart wins.

Reaching her, I kneel down. 'You know, my bet would have been the same as Branson's.'

'Me too.' she smiles, turning around to look at me.

I sit beside her then. 'Can you be swayed in to it lasting forever? Branson has a tenner riding on it.'

'That's silly, how would you get his money to him?'

'Anna, you're over thinking this.' I laugh, nicking one of her chips.

'You seem a bit more relaxed than when I last saw you,' she replies.

Our eyes meet and we both smile. 'Yeah, about this morning...'

'You don't need to apologise,' Anna says, shaking her head.

'I wasn't going to, I was going to ask if I could borrow your phone.' Causing her to laugh, I perhaps get too comfortable and put my arm around her.

'What's going on with Vera then?' she asks, instantly causing me to remove my arm.

'The house is nearly sold.'

'That was quick,' Anna says, playing with her chips. 'Is that what all the phone calls were this morning?'

'It would be fair to say she is the reason my phone is now in pieces in the show bar office, yes.' I answer, taking another chip.

'So one more day then. What are you doing once we've finished here?' Anna asks, putting her bag of chips down and hugging her knees.

'Well, I was hoping it would be the start of the rest of our lives together.' I reply, picking up the bag of the chips and preceding to eat them.

'What?' Anna says, looking at me as I continue to eat her lunch.

'Well, I've got to go down south and tie everything up down there.' I say through a mouthful of chips. 'Then, it was my intention to come back up here and be with you.'

'So, you're definitely selling up then?' she asks, looking back out over the sea.

'Ahh, let's not start this again.' I sigh.

'It's not the money John. You know that, don't you.'

'I know,' I nod.

'It's the fact now you've done this for her, she's going to think she can click her fingers and you'll come running.' Anna explains.

'You have such little faith in me.' I reply.

'It's not about faith, John.' she enthuses. 'It's about fear.' I drop the bag of chips on the floor before leaning in and kissing her. It's a beautiful feeling to have her lips on mine again and better still when I feel her responding. 'What was that for?' she asks, pulling away.

'It was to make the fear go away, has it worked?' I smile. She smiles back, letting out a small chuckle. We stand up and I put my hands around her waist. 'Now, I'm going back down south tomorrow. I intend to come back in a few weeks, find you and propose. I'm already decided, if you want it, my life is yours. In the time we are apart, it's up to you to make up your mind.'


Anna's POV

Back at home, two weeks have passed and I haven't heard from John at all. Bearing in mind he did smash his phone up in front of me I thought he would have found some way to get in contact. The worry of having no job, being back home and being governed by my parents at my age and not knowing where John was have cause me to feel ill. I can't eat and if John does turn up and propose this proves I should say yes as I can't function properly without him.

Arriving back downstairs from being ill again, my mother comes and sits besides me as I slump on the sofa.

'Maybe you should go to the doctors darling,' my mum says, feeling my forehead with the back of her hand.

'Maybe,' I sigh, turning on the television.

'Didn't you say you had a fella at Downton this year?' Mum asks as I flick through the endless satellite channels.

'Yeah, John.' I say.

'So...' Mum 's hinting at something, I know that much but her intentions go completely over my head.

I must have drifted off watching some trashy daytime television as I am awoken by my sister tugging on my arm. 'Anna!'

'What?' I yawn waking up and seeing Sophie, my sister, sitting next to me.

'I've been sent in by mother.' She replies.

'Why?' I ask sitting up.

'She's worried about you. We all are.'

'Why?'

'Okay, Anna. Recently you have thrown up. A lot.' Sophie says.

'Yeah. it's the stress,' I shrug, turning off the television.

'Is it though? Mum says you had a boyfriend at Downton...' Suddenly it was all clicking into place. Thoughts of me and John in the shower filled my head and I had to shut my eyes as the vivid images threatened to overtake my senses. What I wouldn't give to be able to run my hand down his chest. Shaking myself out of my daydream, the realisation hits me that I may be pregnant.

'Shall we go to the chemist?' Sophie asks.


A quick visit to the chemist and I am in possession of a pregnancy test. In the bathroom, why is you can never do a simple function such as this when you need to do it on demand.

'I can't believe she didn't take precautions.' I hear Sophie say outside the door. Angered, I open the door.

'Look, I am trying to pee here. Go downstairs.' I snap.

'Okay darling, but come and tell us as soon as you know.' Mum said, tapping me on the shoulder.

'You'll be the first to know,' I half smile.

Finally, I am able to take the test and the minute wait for an answer feels like a lifetime.