A/N: Here we go, the Epilogue! A little scene in the future of the Bates Family, two years after the last chapter. I hope you enjoy it!

Once again, thank you all for your support! And a super huge big THANK YOU to Terriejane, my wonderful beta, friend and counsellor :D

See you all soon, in my next fic :) Wish you a grand weekend!

Disclaimer: Same as chapter 1-24

It was the summer of 1856. Anna and John strolled hand in hand through the golden fields. The sun was shining and there was little breeze against their skin, as they talked about everything and nothing.

'And you are going in the morning then?' she asked him, her free hand swinging between flowers and tall grass.

'Yes, but I should be home Sunday afternoon. You know the less I am in London the better. It's getting more crowded by the day.'

'Good...neither of us like when you are away for too long.'

'Especially you?' he winked. 'You do hate to sleep alone.'

Anna nodded, letting out a long sigh. 'I just hate when you are away, that's all,'

'Love, we are signing a new contract with folks from America, I need to be going there until it's official,' he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders and kissing her temple. 'It won't be long.'

'I think you should tell Charles to take a rest from finding new partners for a while. At least for now...''

John grinned, rounding her and taking her face between his hands. 'I'll let him know when I'm there... I won't be leaving your side after this one, I promise.'

Anna smiled at him then, as one of his hands travelled down her body to caress her stomach gently. Soon she would be showing and personally he couldn't wait for it. To experience everything again, to see her body change with the development of their child, to see her being a mother again.

Anna had told him the news a few weeks ago, when she was finally sure that she was indeed with child, and he couldn't have been more happy about it. They were certainly not expecting another baby, but then, they weren't being careful either, quite the opposite. Even so, he honestly thought that Mary would be the last of his children. But Anna always surprised him in the best possible ways.

Now, he couldn't wait to tell the whole family about their new addition, and he couldn't wait to hold that second baby of theirs in his arms.

'I will miss you, as I always do,' he finally said, his thoughts filling him with overwhelming joy, as he took her in his arms, sweeping her off her feet and kissing her passionately.

She giggled happily against his lips. But soon he lost his balance, and they both landed on the ground amongst the grass and wildflowers.

'You silly beggar,' she told him, smacking his shoulder.

'Are you alright?' he asked, worried at first, but her laughs put him at ease. Anna had fallen on top of him after all. 'I know you like to lay down on the grass,' he tried to excuse himself with a cheeky smile.

'I really do...' she whispered. 'And I am more than alright.'

She smiled down at him, as she caressed his face. As impossible as it seemed, she adored him more with each day. He had always given her everything she ever wanted, everything she always dreamed off, and now, he had done it again.

Her eyes were teary as he kissed her lips once more. Feelings washed over her, and soon all time was forgotten. No words were needed when they were together like this, nature surrounding them and unconditional love. This time was theirs now, and this place was perfect for life to happen, and they were certain that these days of sunshine and warm embraces would last all their lives.

Hours later, just as the sun was setting, they arrived back at home to a dinner Elsie had prepared. Anna's mother did the cooking now, a task she enjoyed and her daughter helped her out too, now and then.

'I almost sent William to look after you two,' her mother told them as Anna helped her set the table.

'We lost all notion of time,' Anna replied with a grin.

'As you often do,' Elsie winked over at her.

'Papa, look! I made you a drawing.' Mary ran to John with the paper in her hands. She had painted her father, in a brown suit and a cap, long legs and arms as long as his body. 'It's you!'

'Oh look!' John lifted the girl in his arms, looking at the his picture. 'It does look like me! You even drew my big head,' he smiled, kissing the girl's cheek.

'William said I am going to be an artist!' Mary told her father as she looked over at her beloved brother. The boy who always did whatever she wanted.

'Well, I only said the truth. She's rather good, isn't she, pa?' William bragged on her.

'Indeed, she is, son.' John smiled, patting William's head with his free hand. 'You go wash your hands now, all of you. Dinner is about to be served,' he said, putting Mary on the floor, and watching as she ran behind the other children. She was growing up so fast, so smart, and sometimes he missed the tiny baby she had been. He sighed happily then, tears wetting his lashes as he thought about the new baby that would join them in the beginning of the next year.

'Elsie taught me how to plait today,' Elsa said at dinner. 'Soon, I'll be able to make a proper dress!'

'That's exciting!' Anna exclaimed, enthusiastic. 'We are going to have a seamstress in our house.'

'She's doing so well,' Elsie complimented the girl. 'She will be a very good one.'

'I will make dresses for Mary then, when I know how to. And for our dolls as well!'

'What about us?' William asked his cousin.

'Well...I didn't know you wanted me to make you a dress,' Elsa said, playfully.

'Not a dress!' her cousin rolled his eyes. 'A suit.'

'I will be a seamstress, William. I will dress ladies, not gentlemen. You have to go to a tailor for suits.' Elsa answered.

'Maybe George should be a tailor then,' William suggested.

'Why me?!' George asked rather upset with the prospect.

'There's a writer, me, there's a seamstress, there's an artist, and then you could be a tailor.' William reasoned.

'Well, I won't be no tailor...I'll be here, and I'll feed the sheep.' George replied, looking at his uncle for approval.

'You can be whatever you want to be, George,' John said. 'A farmer is just as noble as a tailor, if you do it well and with passion.'

The younger boy nodded then, smiling victoriously.

'Well...' Anna began, taking a deep breath. 'Maybe, who knows, there will be a tailor after all, I mean...possibly.'

John looked at her grinning, as everyone else was now quite confused. The news she was about to tell, would take all the others by surprise and send the children over the edge. But that wouldn't be the last time a baby would be announced. That would happen again, in some years time.

Mary would be their only girl, blonde with blue eyes and her father's gift of speech. Their first boy another perfect mix of both, but their last, the spitting image of John; dark hair, hazel eyes, broad structure, a good and successful businessman.

Looking back at the beginning of their story together, life seemed almost unbelievable. How so much can happen in so little time. How can people change so much, and how some never change at all. They were the masters now, owners of successful enterprises, and just like any business, life is unpredictable, and one's destiny may be harder to achieve, but in the end, with strength, forgiveness and wisdom, there comes prosperity and, above all, a happy ending to all those who believed.

Thank you all so much for reading! :D