A/N I want to take a moment to again thank all of you who leave reviews. It has really been fun to discuss this story with you. Many of you see things that even I don't see. Your comments and suggestions often inspire my writing and challenge me to incorporate your ideas. This chapter was inspired by Eady of Old who is a great fanfic writer! Check her/his (?) stories out.

I don't own anything Yadda, yadda, yadda...

John had made arrangements for he and Anna to have their anniversary dinner at the most expensive restaurant in St. Andrews the night after his arrival. When he parked outside Gwen's flat he looked at his watch to make sure he wasn't too early. Before getting out of the car, he waited a couple of minutes and then reached over and grabbed the bouquet of flowers he had bought Anna earlier that afternoon. He knocked on the door and carefully adjusted his jacket, tie and shirt sleeves as he waited for Gwen to answer.

"Hello, John." Gwen smiled at him, "Come on in. Anna isn't quite ready but I'm sure she will be in a minute."

"Thank you, Gwen." John answered politely, "It's always good to see you."

"Have a seat. I'll just go back and tell Anna you're ready." Gwen walked the short distance to her bedroom door and entered calmly. As soon as the door closed behind her however she leaned against it and said, "Oh Anna, you're in for a treat...he looks gorgeous. He's all kitted out in a proper suit and tie and he's brought you flowers and everything. Just like a proper date."

"It's not a date, Gwen." Anna rolled her eyes at her friend, "We're just celebrating a successful partnership." She looked herself over in the mirror again and adjusted her hair slightly one last time. "Do you think I look alright?" she asked nervously.

"I won't say you look as amazing as John does," Gwen teased, "but if I were a man I would. I bet no one in the whole restaurant will be looking at anyone other than the pair of you."

"I guess I'll be off then. You're sure I'm alright?" Anna didn't know why, but she felt shy and nervous. It wasn't like she and John hadn't had dinner together before. They ate together often, but somehow this felt different. Maybe it was the fact that she knew the restaurant had won an award for being the best in all of Scotland, or that she knew it was frightfully expensive. She would have been just as happy to celebrate at the pub, but John had insisted and it was really very sweet of him to do so.

He was idly flipping through one of Anna's textbooks as she entered the room. "Good evening, John." Anna spoke shyly.

He leaped to his feet immediately upon hearing Anna's voice but he was nowhere near prepared for how beautiful she looked. She was wearing a light blue dress with a simple top and a fluffy, frilly skirt. Her hair was partially up and curled into random soft waves and she had on a pair of heels that made her legs look miles long. John could barely catch his breath.

"Um...wow." he finally managed.

"Do I pass inspection, Mr. Bates?" She tilted her head to one side and smiled slightly, self consciously tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

"You're a vision of loveliness." He made his way over to her, took the hand she had used for her hair, and kissed her cheek, "I shall have to beat all the other men off with a stick."

"John." She giggled and rolled her eyes.

He suddenly remembered the flowers he was holding and handed them to Anna. "These are for you. I hope you like them."

"They're beautiful, John. Thank you."

Anna had been using his Christian name for awhile now, but the way she said it just then sounded more like music than speaking. He was unsettled by the way it was making him feel.

Gwen felt like an intruder watching the two of them take one another in from head to toe, but at the same time, she was thrilled to see it. Finally she cleared her throat and said, "You two better hit the road. You don't want to be late. I'll just take those." She reached for the flowers in Anna's hand.

"Right... Gwen's right. We should be going." John placed his hand on Anna's back as he walked her to the door, making sure to do so beneath the wrap she had draped over her shoulders.

They walked down the path and to the car, where John opened the door for Anna and helped her as she got in. He made his way to the driver's side and waved at Gwen before getting in himself.

"Don't worry, Mom," he joked, "I'll have her home by midnight."

Gwen watched as they drove away and then began to fan herself with a magazine, And she thinks I'm imagining things? she thought to herself.

When John and Anna were seated at their table, she began the conversation, "Wow, this place is really fancy."

"It is, but I suppose you're used to that, what with your uncle and all."

"Yes and no. We actually spent so much of our time eating at banquets, awards dinners or restaurants on the road, that we really didn't go out much the rest of the time. Even when we were traveling we usually went somewhere simple. There were five children to lug around after all."

"True... it's the same for me really. I prefer to eat at home or get some simple carry away. Vera likes to go out though." When he said it he wondered if talking about his girlfriend would make the conversation awkward, but it didn't seem to faze Anna at all.

"You should bring her here sometime. If you can ever convince her to come up to Scotland that is."

Before John could say anything, the wine steward approached the table with a bottle of champagne and a wine bucket filled with ice. He showed the bottle to John and said, "I believe this is what you ordered, sir?"

"Yes, that will be fine." John answered, barely looking at the man. He couldn't seem to take his eyes off Anna, "I hope you don't mind that I ordered us some champagne? We are celebrating after all."

"Mmmm, I love champagne. And red wine… and rum." Anna waggled her eyebrows.

"My, my… how racy, Miss Smith." John's eyes sparkled.

"I am racy." She matched his look with her own and gave him a cheeky grin.

At Anna's remark, a little look of surprise crossed John's face. Try as he might, he couldn't form a response. Anna felt a small sense of triumph at rendering him speechless. He reached for his now full champagne glass, raised it and said, "To us."

Anna mirrored his actions and repeated his words. When they had finished taking their first sip, John reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out an envelope. "I do have one last gift for you." He handed it across the table to Anna.

"No John!" she protested. "You've already been far too generous. Angus would have been enough all by himself... or dinner… or flowers, but you've done all three."

"Never the less," He inclined his head toward the unopened card, indicating that she should open it.

"But I haven't gotten anything for you."

"Anna," John sighed, "You've already given me more than I could ever repay." He took both her hands in his, gently rubbing his thumb back and forth over one of them. "You've guarded my privacy and my home, you've left me flowers and notes, bought groceries for me and my dog...more than that, you've been the truest friend I've ever had."

"What about Rob?"

"Yes, and Rob." He readily agreed, "It's funny how all the best things in my life have happened so recently. Rob, 'Highclere', you."

Anna explained simply, "Good things happen to good people."

John chuckled once at her words, "You really believe that don't you… that I'm a good person? You almost make me believe it as well. I want to be," he continued wistfully, "When I'm around you, I want to be a good person."

"I believe it because I know it to be true, you are a good person. One of the best I've ever met. Why do you have such a hard time believing it?" She felt sad that she even had to ask the question.

At first he was going to say he didn't know, but the truth was, he did and he couldn't pretend he didn't, not to Anna. He never wanted to lie to Anna, or even mislead her. He sighed and said, "I think because of my father. My father wasn't a bad man necessarily, he just wasn't the best one. He got angry… and he drank. And then he got more angry. He didn't always treat my mother the way I thought he should."

"But you're not like that, surely." Anna responded, patting John's hand.

"You don't really know me, Anna. There are aspects of my personality that remind me far too much of him. It scares me... because I want to be better than that." He stopped speaking and stared off for a moment.

Anna decided to lighten the mood, "Well, you'll not convince me that you need improving John Bates, and that's that!"

"Good. Something else for us to toast then." He raised his glass again, "To your belief in me." He took another swallow, smiled honestly and finished, "Now open the card."

Anna ripped open the envelope and unfolded the card, but before she could read it something fell out. It was a credit card… a credit card with her name on it. She looked up puzzled, "I don't understand?"

"No, I don't suppose you would. It's for expenses you incur on my behalf. It's so inconvenient to for you to get my approval before having something done. Then you have to get a bill, send it to me and then I pay workmen or vendors I've never even met. This way you can get whatever you want or need for the house or yourself without having to ask me first. But that's not the real gift. The real gift is what the card represents. It represents my complete faith in you. You could buy a car with that card, or go on a world cruise. It has a huge credit limit."

"John, I would never do that!"

"I know, that's the point. That card is a symbol of how much I rely on you, respect you and trust you, Anna May Smith... which is completely." He had finished his little speech and was waiting for her response. He was gratified to see the beginnings of tears forming in her eyes.

"John," she whispered, "I don't know what to say."

"Don't say anything, just accept it." John smiled happily.

She hesitated for a moment, then picked up the card and put it into her clutch. "Thank you, John. I promise to treat it with the reverence it deserves."

Dinner passed in a pleasant swirl of conversation and laughter. Both Anna and John understood that one of the best aspects of their relationship was the ease that existed between them and the real interest they took in every facet of one another's lives. When dinner was over John talked Anna into sharing a dessert, even though she swore she couldn't eat another bite.

There was a small band playing in the corner of the dining room and the music was lovely, "Would you like to dance?" John asked, "It will help you make some room for that dessert I forced you to order." He didn't give her a chance to refuse before he stood and held his hand out to her.

As they began to dance Anna looked up at John and said, "I haven't been dancing in years."

"Haven't you?" John spoke softly, "What a waste."

At John's words, Anna could feel the heat rising in her cheeks and the idea that he would see horrified her. She had no choice but to tuck her head under his chin. She was a little afraid John would say something or pull away, but instead he slid his arm further around her back and held her more closely. And in that moment Anna's whole world changed.

She was suddenly aware of John's heart beating steadily beneath her ear. She could smell his cologne, his soap and a scent that was just...him. She felt every point of contact between their two bodies in a way she had never felt anything before. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed it for a moment before she gathered her courage and moved a little further away. She was actually a little afraid of the emotions coursing through her body.

"Do you think our dessert is ready? Maybe we should go check."

"I thought you couldn't eat another bite?" John teased.

"Guess I was wrong," she said, hurrying back to the table.

As they sat back down, John pulled his chair closer to Anna's and draped his arm around the back, turning his body toward hers. He spooned up some of the chocolate 'whatever' they had ordered and offered the bite to Anna. She accepted, but some of the whipped cream went astray and ended up at the very corner of her mouth. Without thinking, John slowly placed his hand against Anna's cheek and drew the pad of his thumb across the edge of her lip to clean the spot. Then he did it again, even though the bit of food was no longer there. Anna didn't dare move, she couldn't. She just looked back at John and released the breath she had been holding. Without saying a word, John slowly returned his hand to the table and took a bite of dessert himself.

"We should get the check," he could barely control his voice.

"Yes, I'm sure it's quite late," Anna agreed.

"I promised Gwen I'd have you home by midnight," he smiled.

Their ride back to Gwen's was very quiet, both of them wrapped in their own thoughts. When they got to the flat John, ever the gentleman, went around the car and opened the door for Anna, extending his hand to help her out. He tried not to, but he couldn't help returning his hand to the dip in her back as he walked her to the door. Once there, Anna turned to thank him for the evening.

"I don't even know how to thank you, John. This evening has been more wonderful than I could ever possibly have imagined."

"I agree, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." He stood there making no move to leave. There was a feeling building in the pit of his stomach that he couldn't control. As he looked upon Anna's face he suddenly remembered how soft her cheek had felt when he brushed it during dessert. He had to do it again, he had to. He reached up and placed his hand where it so longed to rest, his thumb caressing her face of its own accord, "Goodnight Anna" his words were less than a whisper. He wasn't smiling this time, not at all. In fact, she didn't think she had ever seen him look this serious.

She knew she should go inside but she was powerless to do so. They stood, just staring at one another until John bent forward and closed the distance between them by half. He paused for the merest instant and then continued. He's going to kiss me, Anna thought as John's lips got closer and closer to her own, but at the last second he turned his head and brushed them against her cheek instead. She was embarrassed by how disappointed she felt. At that moment his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket and glanced at the screen.

"Vera," he said, turning the phone to show Anna the picture.

She pulled her wrap more closely around her shoulders, "I guess you'd better get home and return her call. It's late." At least her voice sounded normal, hopefully John couldn't hear the way her heart was pounding.

"Yes, I guess I better," his smile was a little sad, "Hey, look at the time," he joked, "it's 11:58. Be sure to tell Gwen I kept my word and had you home by midnight. Call me tomorrow? Maybe we can have breakfast before I head back to London."

"I will," she promised and went inside. She was relieved to see that all the lights were off and Gwen had already gone to bed. She couldn't face talking about how the night had gone and how her feelings for John had changed. She knew she would tell Gwen eventually, but not tonight, not yet.

John parked the car in the driveway and went straight to the back yard to take Beauty and Angus for their walk. He couldn't even think about going in the house first. He needed fresh air to clear his mind and cool his blood. What had just happened? He had almost kissed Anna. He knew it was wrong, he was in a relationship with Vera for Christ sake, but he had wanted to. Oh god, how he had wanted to. Even now, when he had left her over ten minutes ago, he could still feel his heart pounding in his chest and his breathing not quite normal. Thank god Vera had called when she had. He didn't want to call her back tonight, he knew she would grill him about his dinner with Anna and he had no idea what he would say, better to wait until morning when he had more of his wits about him. Even so, he was infinitely glad she had called at the precise moment she did. He wasn't the type to cheat in a relationship and he didn't want to be, especially not with Anna being the 'other woman'. If he damaged his relationship with her he would never forgive himself.

It made no sense anyway. Anna was a beautiful, very beautiful, young woman and he was old enough to be...well not exactly old enough to be her father, but certainly old enough to be her much older uncle. She couldn't be interested in him romantically, no matter what it had seemed like this evening. He had let his emotions and imagination run away with him completely.

John had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed that he was already all the way back home. He let himself in the front door and he and the dogs went upstairs to his room. He stripped off his shirt and shoes and made his way into the bathroom. He stared at himself in the mirror and splashed cold water on his face several times. "Get a hold of yourself, l Johnny Boy" he said aloud, "or you could end up with no girlfriend and no house sitter"