John strode forward, hand clutching tightly to the head of the cane, and aimed for Sybil. Katie-Anne stood next to her, cheering and dancing with each step John managed toward the duo. As he reached the halfway point, John stalling for a moment as his leg seized, Katie-Anne leapt toward him to walk the remainder of the distance by his side. With her hand in his, he reached Sybil and she immediately grasped his shoulder to help him into a chair.

"Alright, I think that's enough for today."

"I must've looked like I was struggling quite a bit on that last one."

"It's three times the distance you went yesterday so I'd better not be hearing a tone of disappointment in your voice when you're doing so well Mr. Bates." She put her hand on the cane and John released it from his shaking, aching fingers. "I think we'll try only a tad farther tomorrow and then see how your leg is doing."

"Are you worried about it?"

"Absolutely not." Sybil squeezed John's hand, shaking it a moment. "You're doing far beyond our grandest hopes and I think your progress is very promising."

She took her final notes, stretching and manipulating John's leg a few times before bidding them goodbye. As she left the shop, John and Katie-Anne waved at her enthusiastically before she turned out of their view. Katie-Anne sighed as she dropped her arm and John nudged her with his shoulder.

"Why don't you help me by locking the door there since Mrs. Bates won't like it if we let anyone in past business hours."

"Okay."

Katie-Anne dashed across the space to lock the door, giggling as she did so, before sprinting back to collide with John's legs. He gritted his teeth past the shock of pain that flared through his nerves but accepted it again when she maneuvered herself onto John's lap. Her little hand gripped tightly to his, squeezing his still-cramped fingers, and positioned herself as she wanted so her legs dangled off the sides of his. But when John tried to take his fingers away she tugged them back toward her, pulling each one straight before massaging over the skin.

When she finished, Katie-Anne straightened his hand and laid hers over it, comparing the sizes. She tugged it up, as if John could not see it from his position, and showed him. "Your hand's bigger than mine."

"Because I'm bigger than you."

"Will my hand ever be bigger than yours?"

"I don't think so."

"Why?" Katie-Anne kept her hand in his and John swooped down to kiss her palm. As she giggled, he brushed back a bit of her hair before speaking.

"Because I'm a man and we're usually bigger."

"Always?"

"There are a few smaller men but mostly we're bigger."

"So you can protect me?" Katie-Anne curled John's fingers around hers and John hugged her closer a moment.

"Always."

"Then you're all better now."

"Thank you, Miss Katie-Anne." John leaned around and laid kisses over her cheeks until she giggled, squirming to the side to hang over his legs so she could snag a book from a pile next to them. "Oh, I see. It was all so I could turn pages."

"Yes." She hissed on the 's' and snuggled closer.

"And what book is this?" Before John could open the cover a rattling knock came at the back door. "You may have to start reading this on your own."

John carefully managed to maneuver Katie-Anne to the chair with one hand while he took his cane with stiff fingers to get himself to his feet. His body complained and John gritted his teeth for a moment to conquer the pain. Once it settled to a dull throb, focused on his healing knee, John shuffled toward the rattling door. Once there he slumped against the wall to manage his breathing as he waited for his leg to stop twitching. He could not wait long, however, as the pounding persisted at an almost manic rate for every second he let it lie.

Checking over his shoulder to make sure Katie-Anne occupied herself on the chair, reading aloud as she turned pages in the book she selected, John opened the door. His jaw could not have hit the floor fast enough or with enough force as he stared at Vera. She merely quirked her eyebrow at his expression and nodded toward the back room as she spoke.

"Mind if I slip in?"

"I'd be a fool to let you."

"Why?"

John came through the door, leaving it cracked to give him a view into the interior to keep his eye on Katie-Anne. She, however, was fully engrossed in her book and paid neither of them any mind at all. "Because you wouldn't allow a cobra to slithering into your home so neither will I."

"That's not very kind."

"Neither were you, last time we met." John paused, biting his tongue. "Why should I let you in?"

"Because a gentleman wouldn't keep me out in the cold." She scoffed at him, "Are you a gentleman?"

"It's not cold."

"But are you a gentleman?"

"It's not cold." John repeated, punctuating each word with a heavy pause.

Vera pointed to the sky, "It's looking like rain."

"Then I guess we're getting wet." John peeked back to check on Katie-Anne, noting the furrow to her brow as she struggled with a few words. "I won't you let you in there with her."

"Why? Worried I'll corrupt your little bastard?" John turned to her, about to speak but she interrupted him. "Don't try to say anything about it because I know more than you think I do."

"About what?"

"The little rumor that you registered yourself as her father."

"And how would you know anything about that?"

"Because I've got a friend in the office where they had to file the paperwork." Vera snorted, "Not that anyone in that office or this town'll believe she's yours. Especially when we all know who the real father was: a sodding German wanker."

"But the people in London don't and that's all that matters." John leaned on his cane, trying to stop a grimace at the pounding ache building in his knee. "If that's all you're here for then you should go. I've got nothing more to say to you."

"Is that how you're going to treat the woman who might be bearing your child?" Vera stroked over her abdomen and John almost tripped back into the wall.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm pregnant with your child John."

"That's impossible."

"So we know." Vera winked at him, "But that's what the people around here will think when I start telling them who the baker of the bun in this oven is."

"It's not mine."

"Are you so sure?"

John paused and then nodded. "We quit one another over four months ago. Whatever baby's growing inside you is some other man's."

"I could grow slower than most."

"It might surprise you to know but I saw more than a few pregnant women during the war and I know you're not that kind."

"Would you bet your reputation on that kind of surety?"

"I'd bet more on the fact you weren't faithful to me when we courted and that you couldn't have hurt for company after we were finished either."

"Do you really think so little of me?"

"It doesn't matter what I think of you. It only mattes that I know the truth."

"And does it set you free?" John scowled at her and Vera only shrugged. "I guess it doesn't matter in the end because all that'll matter to your reputation is what I'll do to you when I make everyone aware that this child's yours."

"Why would you do that?" John lowered his voice, peeking back toward Katie-Anne. "Why make it difficult now?"

"I heard you wanted to marry that little trollop and I thought if she could get you to be the father of her child then I could too." Vera pointed toward the interior of the bookshop. "That little bas-"

"Say that word again and I'll make sure you can't speak another word after it." John took a deep breath. "I can't have you ruining their reputation and I won't stand for you trying to ruing their lives. Especially when that little girl in there and her mother have done nothing to you."

"It's got nothing to do with them."

"And I still won't stand for it."

"And what would you do to stop me?" Vera clicked her teeth. "You wouldn't hit a woman would you?"

"I wouldn't have to." John shrugged, "For as modern as the world is I'll bear this better than you will when they all know you've got your own little fatherless secret brewing in your belly."

"Then let me remind you that I've the power to ruin your happiness and everything else associated with that." Vera pointed back into the bookshop. "That means that little girl in there."

"I won't ask why you'd do that since I know you've only got pain to give me for an answer."

"Then you're learning John." Vera leered at him, "I knew you were smarter than you looked if I tried hard enough."

"What do you want then?" John managed, gritting his teeth with each word. "I assume you wouldn't come here to try and squeeze something from me without a plan for how you'd get it beyond just the threats to try and loosen my teeth."

"I'm here for you to agree to sign something when I've got it all drawn up."

"Sign what and why would I agree to it?"

"You'll sign something very similar to the form you filled out for little miss Katie-Anne in there to guarantee this child your name."

John scoffed, "But your child's not mine."

"And Anna Smith's bas- girl isn't yours either but she got your signature."

"I love her and I'm going to marry her mother." John snuck another peek to see Katie-Anne picking up another book. "I don't mind being father to a child with none because she's the child of the woman I intend to marry. I'd be her father anyway so I might as well give her my name when I give it to her mother as well."

"And since there's not a person in this town who doesn't know the raucous times we had when we were together." Vera managed her own smirk. "I'm sure it wouldn't take much to convince people that this little one's yours as well."

"It will when it doesn't look like me."

"And if it does?"

John swallowed, turning to see Katie-Anne turning the pages of her book. After a moment, he sighed and nodded at Vera. "Fine. I'll sign whatever papers you think I should and I'll give your child my name."

"You do realize that'll mean you'll owe it financial support as well."

"That's something I'll have to discuss with Ms. Smith."

"Probably best she hear it from you than from those in town." Vera made to laugh, "What an odd world we live in where you'll be the topic of all the gossip on all sides."

"I beg your pardon?"

"First for going with me. Then for going with the divorcee Jerry-bag. Then for taking on the responsibility of the Jerry brat, which was harder for people to forgive than wanting to shag her mother. Then you wanted to marry the damaged goods… causing many a broken heart. And now…"

"And now?"

Vera grinned, "Now you'll be the father to my child as well. Two little bastards with your name and none of your to claim as their own."

"I'm sure that makes you very happy."

"Not happy, John. Never happy." Vera left it a beat and then sneered. "I'm ecstatic. I got the last word in on this."

"I never wanted-"

"It doesn't matter what you wanted, John. It matters what you did to me and I'm going to do all I can to drive you into the ground as long as I've got breath in me to stand." Vera waved at him, walking off as the rain started with a clap of thunder. "You tell Ms. Smith I said 'hello'. I wouldn't want you to forget and be rude about it."

It took everything John had in him not to slam the door once he got back inside. Instead he dedicated his flagging energy to getting himself into a chair. One just shy of where Katie-Anne waited for him, looking up at him expectantly and then dropping that expression in exchange for one of worry. She hurried over to him, dropping her book to bounce on the floor, and went to climb on his lap.

John stopped her with a hand and pointed to a small stool. "I need that for my leg first please."

She pushed it across the floor as a door opened. A moment later Katie-Anne flew into her mother's arms, almost upsetting a large portfolio case and a smaller suitcase, to hug her tightly. Anna held tightly, dropping her bags to take a better grip on her daughter.

"You'd think I was gone an eternity." Anna kissed her cheek and let Katie-Anne gently to the floor before pulling her things out of the way. "It was only a week."

"It was forever." Katie-Anne insisted and then pointed to John, where he grabbed the arms of his chair with white-knuckled fingers. "He's walking farther."

"Are you?" Anna removed her coat and then grabbed a stool of her own to come to his side. "Are you alright?"

"I stood too long after a session with Sybil and now it's-" His leg seized and John clutched the arm of the chair to try and hide the hiss of pain that snuck through his teeth. "Sorry, it's-"

"Painful." Anna tossed her hat and gloves toward her coat and immediately set to work rolling John's trouser leg up so she could better manipulate the skin around John's knee. "Not sure if this is helping but it's the best I've got."

"It's perfect."

"Or it will be." Anna turned to Katie-Anne. "I need you to retrieve those cloths from the icebox and one of the heating pads I keep. Can you do that?"

Katie-Anne nodded her response and scampered off, her little feet pounding their padding rhythm up the stairs toward her flat. Anna smiled, digging her fingers into the inflamed skin around John's knee to seek a soothing touch to the ache. "What did Sybil say?"

"That I'm improving better that expected and I shouldn't worry about getting back to walking normally."

"You'll still have a slight limp yes?"

"That aside." John winced, twitching away from Anna's fingers but she persisted. "I won't need a cane all the time."

"That's good news." Anna paused, letting his leg shift into a natural position in its stretched state, and turned to him. "But I'd like to know what's actually bothering you."

"Is the throbbing red leg in front of you not enough?"

"Not when I know it's not all that's troubling you." Anna pointed upward. "She won't be back for a moment and I know you wouldn't want her to hear whatever it is that's troubling you."

John took a breath, "Did you see Vera?"

"I might've recognized the outline of the Evil Fairy herself but couldn't be sure and I wasn't about to call out to her." Anna stopped, her brow furrowing so she looked just like Katie-Anne did when she worked out harder words. "Why? Was she here?"

"She came by."

"And what could that horrible woman want?"

John took a breath, "She's pregnant."

Part of him wanted to say more but the expressions on Anna's face manipulated and shifted so quickly he waited for her to finally speak whatever thoughts zipped like lightning over her brain. With a swallow she turned to him. "Is it yours?"

"I'm sure it's not. We've not been together since February and if she was carrying my child we would've known by Liberation Day. As it is, we're almost deep into June. It can't be my child."

"Then that's all I'll ever ask further about that." Anna put her hand on John's arm. "I trust you so please don't believe I asked out of anything-"

"You're right to be worried." John took her hands, working an awkward angle to lean toward her without pulling his leg off the stool. "I know it seems odd and very-"

"Sinister and convenient come to mind." Anna sucked the inside of her cheek. "What did she want from you about it?"

"She wants a form like the one I signed for Katie-Anne so the child will have my name."

"But it's not your child."

"I know." John shrugged, "I can't do anything about who the father of the child is, and certainly nothing about the mother, but perhaps that child needs someone one day. Even if it's not mine, it's something I can do for an otherwise put-upon soul."

Anna raised a hand to John's cheek, running her thumb over the bone there. "You are a singularly charitable man Mr. Bates."

"I'm just…" John sighed, "I don't know what I'm doing."

"You're being noble because you're a noble man."

"Or a hopelessly idiotic one."

Anna grinned, "Those two things run hand-in-hand on occasion."

"They do." John managed another deep breath, "Which leads me to ask you what you think of her possible demand financial compensation."

"I think she's bloody daft and have to wonder if you are as well."

"It's a distinct possibility." John rested his head back on the chair. "That'd be money we'd use for our family. For the shop and your trips to London and Katie-Anne's schooling and-"

"And if there's a price for keeping an otherwise fatherless child fed and clothed then it's nothing different from the charity plate at church." Anna darted her eyes to the side, another stream of indecipherable thoughts whizzing past her eyes. "We'd have to get an iron-clad document guaranteeing any monies you give go only to the child and not to her grubby hands or even darker pockets."

John blinked at her, "You're agreeing to this?"

"I'm agreeing to help support a child who has a chance to not grow up shunned and outcast in this town the way my child has." Anna stood up from the stool. "It's the right thing to do."

"But you don't-"

"We can all be a little more noble, Mr. Bates, and I intend to try." Anna shrugged, "Perhaps this is my chance to turn the other cheek."

John caught her hand as she went to walk away and tugged her to sit on his lap. A flare of pain fired through leg but John ignored it to bring Anna close enough so she leaned on his chest and her legs straddles his. His finger pushed aside a bit of her hair, golden like Katie-Anne's.

"What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"I ask myself that same question every day." Anna exchanged a quick kiss with him, letting his lower lip hold in the grip of her teeth a moment before a sly smile overtook her face. "I see you missed me when I was gone."

"Terribly." John let his hips buck ever-so-gently into hers. "And I'd like to show you just how much."

"With your leg in this state?"

"I'd crawl through fire to show you how much I love you."

"I won't require that." Anna reached her hands down, opening his trousers and helping release him enough to get her hand around the girth of his erection. "We'll just have to be quick since there's a little girl due down any moment."

"Something I'm sure we'll have to do more often in the future when we share a flat with her." John ran his hands over Anna's legs, the rasping tickle of her hosiery when his calloused hands drifted under her skirt to find where she clipped them to her garter belt.

Without a clear path for her knickers, John just used them to his advantage. He pressed his fingers through the fabric to run along her seam in time with her hand working to bring him to full hardness. And with each stroke and tease they exchanged, their breathing hastened all the more until their chests bumped against one another in the struggle to steal enough air to breathe.

Anna clamped her eyes shut, hand tightening in her hold around John as he pressed at her clit through her knickers and worked to press his fingers into her. Her other hand scrambled between then and pulled her knickers out of the way so John could finally touch her bare skin. Then it only took a few moments before Anna came with a muffled shout of his name into the skin of his neck.

They struggled between them to situate themselves given the confines of the chair, John's immobile leg, and their clothing but eventually Anna sank down on him. Her body rose and fell, each time sucking more of him inside of her until their hips met solidly and there was nowhere else to go. There they rested until John tested Anna with a jerk of his hips.

That set her off like a rocket and they moved in a frenzied pace. With one leg on the ground, one of his hands at her hip to hold her in place, and another grasping the chair to give him the leverage his immobile leg lacked, John moved into Anna. Each successive moment took on a more feral, frenzied rut than a smooth stroke or gentle caress. But as his thrusts turned harder, shunting against her when he could not pound as his body desires, Anna dug her nails into his shoulders and sucked red marks down the side of his neck.

It hit them in a flurry and a fury, both breathing hard as they came down. John's lips found Anna's forehead in a gentle kiss that lost none of the emotion he used on their sloppy one a moment later. She ran her fingers over his face, smiling at him, and hurried to move when they heard the return of little feet. After a close call and a moment of fear when Anna's skirt almost flew up and John's trousers threatened not to fasten in his position, they sorted themselves out so Anna could apply the cold towels and the heat to John's leg and Katie-Anne could take her place back on John's lap with a book clutched tightly in her hands.