A/N It's taken me two weeks to write this chapter. I hope it was worth the wait. Thanks for everyone who has taken the time to review, I really appreciate it.

This chapter includes some lovely Bates family fluff. With a few old friends aswell.

Disclaimer- Nothing belongs to me, Downton belongs to Julian Fellowes/ITV/ Carnival.

'Now come along, Ella Louise.' John whispered gently, holding the small grizzling baby in his arms tightly to his chest before kissing the top of her head as he walked down the stairs. 'You're just like your Daddy, ever the insomniac. Let's leave Mummy and your sister in peace shall we? '

Reaching the kitchen, John looked out of the window and noticed the sun bathing the garden. He decided in that moment he would take the younger of his twin daughters out for an early morning stroll. Reaching for a blanket that had been left on the back of one of the kitchen table chairs, John carefully set about wrapping little Ella. Although she was now a month old, John was still a little nervous when handling her, and her sister Lily May. Anna, however, had taken to motherhood like she did most tasks she undertook- with ease. John would never be able to put into words how it felt to see Anna when she held the twins in her arms. His girls.

Anxiety plagued John at first. He found himself checking on the girls every few minutes if they were sleeping, Anna would softly tease him as he hovered over them, to ensure they were both still breathing. In the week immediately after they were born, John only registered one or two hours of sleep a night as his apprehension overtook him. Although he would have never have admitted it to Anna, he just couldn't believe his luck. Things had never been better in his whole life, it would just be his luck if something went wrong. It was all too good to be true.

Lily was laid back, hardly ever making a fuss unless she was hungry or tired. She definitely took after her mother, at ease with the world. The older of the sisters was perfectly content to sit with Anna as she read. This was usually whilst John was dealing with Ella, who was Lily's polar opposite in terms of temperament and much more like her father. From the beginning, Ella had proved herself to be very much a Daddy's girl. She did respond well to Anna during the day, she had no choice when he had to return to the pub after a short period of leave. However at night, whereas Lily settled with little trouble at all and would sleep for a number of hours, Ella wouldn't finally give in to sleep until she was in John's arms. Consultation with Doctor Harris returned the diagnosis that there was nothing medically wrong with Ella, she was just inquisitive and probably took after John in terms of insomnia.

Now safely wrapped up in her blanket, John took Ella back into his embrace and continued on out into the back garden. He himself was only in his undershirt and pyjama bottoms, but was confident that at half past five on this summer morning he wouldn't be noticed. Reaching the flowers that Anna had planted alongside the left side of the garden path, John stopped to admire her handiwork.

'See those Bearded Irises Mummy planted have come up beautifully,' John began, before looking to his right at the small vegetable patch he had tried to sow in the winter months. 'If only the same could be said for Daddy's carrots and potatoes. I should stick to what I'm good at. Polishing shoes and brushing riding jackets.'

Hearing a shuffling behind him, followed by a sound John had grown to adore, he looked back over his shoulder to see Anna laughing as she was standing just inside the back door.

'Morning,' she said through her giggling. 'Your potatoes weren't that bad.'

'What are you doing up?' John began to tread the garden path back towards Anna, Ella complaining slightly when his foot met a wobbly part of the path made a clunking noise. 'It's barely six.'

'I know that,' Anna replied, pulling the blanket away from Ella's face to have a look at her. 'I just wanted to make sure the two of you were alright.'

'We're fine,' John said with a smile, gently rocking Ella in his arms. 'Go back to bed. Please. Lily might wake and...'

'Lily is sound asleep after you settled her earlier.' Anna interrupted with an insistent tone, before raising her eyebrows. 'Again. I do wish you would wake me, it's not fair you deal with them every time they wake up. You need sleep too.'

John stared back at Anna with a grin on his face, gently rocking on his feet to keep the motion that was rendering Ella peaceful going. 'Anna, sleep doesn't come easily to me as it is. You should know this about me by now. And besides, my time is wrapped up with this little one, it was nice to have a cuddle with my other beautiful girl whilst Ella was quiet.'

Anna leant up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to John cheek before whispering in his ear. 'And what about a cuddle in bed with their mummy? Do you think that might be on the cards in the near future?'

'As soon as Ella is settled, you try and keep me away.'

As the summer months turned into Autumn, John and Anna set about arranging the christening for their twin daughters. George had been chosen to be Godfather to the both of them, and Anna had chosen Daisy to be their Godmother. John sent a letter to Lord Grantham, making him aware of the ceremony and that he would be honoured if he would be present. John was moved when he received correspondence from his former employer, saying he and his wife would love to attend.

John sat on the bed, both the twins lying on their backs looking up at him as he fussed over them after completing yet another lunchtime shift at the pub. Both started waking from their midday sleep almost as soon as he walked through the door. John insisted he would see to them so Anna could put her feet up for an hour or so. Time alone had become sparse since the twins arrived, just as John sat down with Anna in his arms, one of the girls began to cry, the other following suit soon after.

The christening was a few days away, John looked over to the wardrobe to see the two Christening gowns Anna had picked out hanging from the door. His mind drifted to the goings on of the day. His Lordship and Ladyship would be staying with relatives before travelling down to Peterhead on the day of the Christening. It meant so much to John to have Lord Grantham present. He was the closest thing John had to a friend. They had been through so much together.

'Well then, my little darlings,' John cooed as each of his daughters looked up at him, big grins on their faces. Each held one of his index fingers in their little hands, barely able to wrap a whole fist around them. 'I do hope you were good girls for Mummy whilst I was at work.'

'They were little angels,' Anna said as appeared at the door, holding a letter in her hand. 'Even Ella went down easily which doesn't happen often as you well know.'

'Indeed,' John replied with a smirk before looking down at his youngest daughter. 'She's getting better.'

'She is,' Anna agreed, sitting on the edge of the bed beside John. She rested her head on his shoulder. 'You never know, she might even sleep long enough for us to share a few moments alone.'

'She might.' John kissed Anna's temple. 'Stranger things have happened.'

'It's been three months,' Anna whined, John catching on to her meaning almost instantly, letting out a small chuckle.

'Really? That long?'

'I know I wasn't up to it for the few weeks after I gave birth, but now.' She stopped talking and exhaled deeply. 'I'm told it's normal.'

John almost choked at Anna's words. 'Are you telling me you have discussed our private lives with others? I'm shocked.'

'Not everything, but Agnes is a good listener and I trust her. It's nice to have someone to talk to.'

'Right,' John said, raising a sceptical eyebrow. 'And her advice was?'

'Well, she offered to have the twins for us any time we wanted so we could...'

'Anna!' John exclaimed, gently nudging her as she descended into laughter. It was then that the paper in Anna's hand took his attention. 'Who is that from?'

'Mrs Hughes. She says she hopes we don't mind but she will be accompanying Daisy up here for the Christening.'

'I don't mind but what about Mr Carson?'

'She says he'll just have to manage,' Anna replied as she read over the letter once again. 'I'm thirsty, fancy a cup of tea?'

'I'd love one,' John answered with a smile, turning his attentions back to the twins. 'We'll be down in a minute.'

'John, I do wish you'd stop carrying them both around at the same time.' Anna remarked as she rose to her feet.

'What? I haven't dropped them yet, have I?'

'It's not that. I know you wouldn't drop them. It's just with your knee and all...'

'My knee is fine,' John sighed. 'Don't worry about me. They are so light I hardly feel it when I am carrying them. And besides, taking them one by one means one would be left up here alone.' John looked back at his daughters. 'And we can't have that, can we?'

Anna stopped by the door and took in the sight before her. Her heart swelled with love for the three people on the bed. In the beginning, John had been so awkward around the girls but now he was proving to be the father Anna always believed he would be. Loving, affectionate and protective. All in that moment, Anna was perfectly content with the choice of father for her little girls.

'Anna,' John said suddenly as she turned to walk away. She looked back over her shoulder, a smile on her lips that took John's breath away. 'What we were speaking about, earlier. You know, what you confide in Agnes about.'

'Yes,' Anna was finding John's shyness around the situation wholly endearing as she turned and stepped back just inside the bedroom.

'Just because the timing has never been right, or something has got in the way, well...' John stopped for a moment, closing his eyes, trying to formulate what he was trying to say into something cohesive. 'To be utterly candid, I never stop desiring you. Or wanting you. I want you to know that.'

'I know,' Anna responded with a nod of the head. 'I do love you, John Bates.'

'I love you too.'

'Aww Anna, they are both so beautiful,' Mrs Hughes cooed as she looked over both the twins, herself holding Ella and Daisy holding Lily. 'You both must be so pleased.'

'We are, we feel so blessed,' Anna agreed with a nod, hand placed on Daisy's shoulder. 'After everything.'

'I just wish this could have all happened at Downton,' Daisy added, sitting down in the armchair, smiling down at Lily. 'It's not fair. You and Mr Bates belong together, everyone can see that.'

'Thank you, Daisy,' Anna knelt down beside her as Mrs Hughes sat on the couch. 'One day we might be able to come back. You never know. So, I take it His Lordship and Her Ladyship left a couple of days ago?'

'Oh yes,' Mrs Hughes nodded. 'They are staying at Duneagle with His Lordship's cousin then travelling down tomorrow morning.'

'It's kind of Mr Bates's cousin to allow us to stay for free.'

'Did I hear my name?'

John appeared at the door, a bottle of wine in hand as he stepped into the living room. Ella immediately began causing a commotion in Mrs Hughes arms at the sound of her father's voice.

'Someone is excited that her Daddy is home,' Mrs Hughes remarked as she stood, John stepping towards her and placing a kiss on the housekeepers cheek. 'So nice to see you, Elsie. And Daisy. How are you?'

'Fine, thank you Mr Bates.'

'Please Daisy, we aren't at Downton now,' John began as he walked to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. 'Call me John.'

'Oh, I couldn't do that,' Daisy shook her head, looking beyond John at Anna and smiling awkwardly as she spoke.

'Who is the wine for?' Anna asked, pointing in the direction of the bottle under John's arms.

'Us. To accompany lunch.' John walked back towards Ella who was now crying, obviously finding it incredulous her father hadn't picked her up yet. Mrs Hughes seemed relieved to offer John his little daughter, John easily scooping her up in his arms. She settled immediately, Mrs Hughes offering Anna an impressed glance. 'Anyone for tea?'

'I'll help,' Anna announced as John left the room. Reaching the door, she looked back over her shoulder as Elsie moved to the armchair in which Lily and Daisy were sitting. 'Are you alright with Lily?'

'We'll be fine,' Mrs Hughes replied without a glance at Anna as she gently stroked Lily's cheek.

Satisfied everything was under control in the living room, Anna walked through to the kitchen where John was busy preparing a tea tray one handed. She leant against the doorframe, tongue in cheek with a smirk on her face as John struggled through cupboards balancing his young daughter precariously with one arm.

'Excuse me,' Anna began, clearing her throat. 'You're not going to get away with that, you know.'

John turned to look at Anna, narrowly missing hitting his head on the cupboard door he had just opened. 'Get away with what?'

'Greeting everyone else and not giving your wife a second glance.'

Anna moved towards John, her arms folded. Stopping in front of him, she leant up on her tiptoes and planted a gentle kiss on John's cheek. She then preceded to take Ella from John's arms, with little complaint from the baby.

'You know it wasn't intentional, my darling,' John smiled, turning back to the task in hand. 'It is nice to see the two of them, though.'

'It is. And guess what?'

'What's that, my angel?'

'Agnes has offered to watch the twins tonight.' Anna replied. 'Meaning we can maybe come over to the pub and have a meal together. I'm sure George won't mind you taking an hour or so to eat with us.'

'We are of one mind,' John said as he stepped towards Anna, gently tapping her on the end of the nose with the back of a teaspoon. 'George's last words to me as I left were that I could have the evening off, and he would love to see the four of us for our supper. If we could make it.'

'Seems it's settled then.'

John closed the kitchen door fully before walking back to Anna. He spoke barely in a whisper. 'Does Daisy know everything? About our situation?'

'Yes, she does.' As Anna replied John winced a little, she suddenly feeling the need to reassure him. She placed a hand on his forearm, squeezing there gently. 'And she's fine with it. She told me herself it's not fair because we belong together.'

A wonderful smile spread across John's lips at Anna's words as he reached for the hand that wasn't cradling Ella. He brought it to his lips, and placed a kiss on the back of Anna's hand.

'We certainly do,' John winked, Anna was sure her heat skipped a beat. 'I best get on with this tea, they'll think we've got lost.'

Once shown to their rooms, Daisy and Mrs Hughes joined Anna and John for something to eat. Anna found it hard to leave the girls, this was the first time in their short lives she had done so with someone other than John. They were in good hands with Agnes, and Emily was there to help her mother. John ushered her away from the house, reassuring her all the way to the pub that their daughters would be perfectly fine.

An evening was shared talking about the old times, working together at Downton. News was shared about William, and Captain Crawley. They arrived at Downton during a concert for the troops at the war hospital the Abbey had now become. Now they were back in action, and hadn't been heard from for a while. Both women were certain they were well, however. Daisy spoke with such pride when talking about William. It warmed Anna's heart that the man she had come to regard almost like a brother had someone so fond of him waiting at home.

Daisy had long since retired to bed, John, Anna and Mrs Hughes remaining at their table as George rang the bell behind the bar for last call. The conversation had moved on to the subject of Vera, and her whereabouts. No one had heard from her since her meeting with His Lordship.

'And what about Miss O Brien?' John asked. 'Has she been in contact?'

Mrs Hughes sighed before meeting John's eye. 'I couldn't tell you. All I know is Miss O Brien has no way of knowing where you are. All our correspondence is kept in a locked drawer in my sitting room. Only I have the key.'

'That's one thing I suppose,' Anna said in response before looking up at John. 'Seems we got away just in time.'

'It must be a hardship though,' Mrs Hughes remarked before taking a sip of her drink. 'Having to live life like this.'

'You might think so but...'

'It was much harder being apart,' John said, interrupting Anna. 'I can say wholeheartedly I wouldn't change one thing about our life together. My life only began when we moved up here, when myself and Anna were able to live like this.'

Anna met his gaze then, her eyes glistening with a tear at John's words. 'I couldn't have put it better myself.'

After a photo outside the church, John was finally able to speak to his old employer. Lord and Lady Grantham had arrived with only a few minutes to spare, the chauffeur finding it difficult to locate the church in such a remote area. The ceremony passed without a hitch, Daisy and George taking their roles as Godparents very seriously, and with great pride. A few of the locals were present, most confused as to why the well to do couple at the back were there and who they were, but no one questioned it.

John approached Lord Grantham, a wriggling yet content Ella in his arms. a smile from ear to ear as he met his former comrades gaze.

'My Lord, so glad you could make it.'

'Nonsense Bates, it's my pleasure.' Lord Grantham replied, doffing his hat before moving to look at the baby in John's arms. 'And who is this?'

'This, is Ella.' John raised her a little in his arms so she was more easily seen.

'She's beautiful,' Lord Grantham stroked her cheek gently with his index finger. 'She's the image of her mother.'

'Thank God,' John replied with a laugh, His Lordship following suit. 'I never thought the day I'd become a father would arrive. Yet, here I am on my twin daughters christening day.'

'Becoming a father is the best thing I ever did and this is a wonderful age.' Lord Grantham mused, smiling down at Ella. 'Before you know it they are arguing back and telling you how life is. Savour these moments, John.'

Looking up, John was taken aback at Lord Grantham using his given name. He took a moment to compose himself. 'I most certainly will. Thank you. '

'Myself and Lady Cora want you to have this,' Lord Grantham held out an envelope in John's direction. 'I know from experience you are a stubborn fellow but please accept it. I owe you so much more.'

'You boys look deep in conversation.' Both men looked to their right to see Lady Cora, Mrs Hughes, Daisy and Anna, Lily in her arms approaching them. 'Robert, Anna has invited us back to the local inn for something to eat.'

'It's just a light buffet, nothing to grand but...'

'We'd love to,' Lord Grantham replied with a smile, cutting Anna off mid sentence. He placed a solid hand on John's shoulder. 'Myself and my old comrade have some catching up to do.'

Night time fell, everyone safely on a train travelling back down south to Yorkshire. John and Anna lay beside each other, Ella and Lily softly cooing, perfectly content in their cribs at the bottom of the bed. John's arm was firmly around Anna's shoulder, she resting her head on his chest. John loved evenings like this, when the twins were settled and he could hold Anna in his arms.

'Can I ask you something, John?'

'Anything,' he whispered back. 'But nothing too taxing, it's been a long day.'

'Do you feel a bit of a fraud? Our daughters christened and we aren't even married.'

The next sound she heard was that of a deep sigh from the man lying beside her. 'I thought I said nothing too taxing.'

Anna laughed softly before cuddling into John a little more. 'Sorry.'

'As far as everyone knows we are married, Anna. I don't need a piece of paper to tell me what I know in my heart.'

'And what does your heart tell you, Mr Bates?'

'Only that my life without you doesn't even bear thinking about. I was made for you, Anna. I truly believe we were meant to be together, no matter what. We were meant to bring Ella and Lily into the world. Their parents might not be married but they are truly in love and committed to the other, how many children can say that about their mother and father?'

'You are so perfect, did I ever tell you that?'

John kissed Anna on the top of her head before pulling her closer to him. 'I'll never understand what you see in me. Why you love me the way you do.'

'Then don't try to. Just accept that I do, with all my heart and nothing is ever going to change that.'