A/N- Your reviews for this story and Someone Like You have been amazing, thank you so much. And also, thanks to those who offered kind words about my bad start to the year. It's very kind of you. I am feeling so much better and in a mood to write again.

So, Vera is back. I am thinking this is going to go one of two ways. I haven't decided which yet. Sorry.

Disclaimer- Nothing belongs to me.

Vera had been unwavering in her insistence to talk to John, despite his protests for her to return to wherever she had come from. Unable to leave work at that moment, John had relented and asked Vera to meet him at the pub opposite the surgery at five. The locum should be here by then. She had seemed satisfied with this response, agreeing to his request. What was she doing here?

Dodging questions asked by Sybil, John went about his business although his mind was on anything than that of healing animals. He hadn't heard from his ex wife in almost five years. Then, as he reached the last patient of the day, it dawned on him. The Irish woman whom Anna had spoken about, the one with such an interest in their family portrait, it must have been Vera.

It was just like his ex wife to be so devious, and his future one to not be suspicious at all and to look for the good in everybody. Having avoided Sybil's line of questioning all afternoon, he left the surgery in the capable hands of the locum before embarking on his meeting at the pub.

As soon as he walked inside, he saw her. She was sitting in the corner, engaged in something on her phone screen, what he assumed to be a vodka and tonic sitting on the table in front of her.

'John, you're here. Take a seat.'

He narrowed his gaze on her as she looked up at him. John wasn't planning on staying very long. 'Lets cut to the chase, shall we? What are you doing here?'

'Come on, Johnny.' She stared back at him with an expression that John knew she was using to try and encourage empathy from him. None would be forthcoming. 'There is no need to be so harsh.'

'Don't call me Johnny,' he winced, deciding to sit down slowly opposite her.

'You never used to mind me calling you that.'

'Yeah, well your opinions of people change when they walk out on their tiny baby daughter and leave her father to raise her single-handedly without a word.'

She didn't like that, John could tell as she bowed her head, taking hold of her glass and bringing it to her lips. 'How is Madison?'

'Don't Vera,' John replied abruptly, 'just don't.'

'She's my daughter, I deserve to know.'

'You don't deserve anything.'

'I saw a picture of her, you know.' She met John's gaze across the table. 'With you, a boy and some woman.'

John knew Vera was trying to evoke a raise from him. 'You met Anna, my fiancée.'

'She's my new accountant,' Vera confirmed his suspicions. 'I was shocked, Johnny to see you had managed to pull someone like her. The little sod yours, is he?'

He screwed his eyes shut, inhaling a sharp intake of breath trying to keep hold of his temper. 'Don't call him that. No, he is not mine. He is Anna's son, and my soon to be step son.'

'Yes, she told me about your plans for the wedding. The bitch sounded like the cat who had got the cream.'

'Damn it, Vera,' John punched his fist on the table. 'Never speak about her in that way again. You don't even know her. Or her boy, so save it. What do you want?'

'To be involved in Maddie's life.'

Her words caused John to laugh, he shaking his head in earnest. 'You've had near on five years to decide this. Why now?'

John could tell she felt wounded. 'Alright, seeing that photo made me realise what a fool I'd been. How I don't want anyone else to me a mother to my daughter. I think about her every day, you know.'

'Anna's been more of a mother to Madison than you ever have.'

Vera remained silent for a moment, processing John's words. They may have sounded insensitive but he didn't care. The truth hurt. 'I want to see her.'

'Absolutely not,' John replied without missing a beat. And with that, he rose to his feet and made to leave.

'I'm her mother, John. I have rights.'

He looked back over his shoulder at her. What he was about to say wasn't strictly true in the eyes of the law, but in his heart it was. 'You lost any rights to Madison the day you walked out and left her. Now, leave us alone.'

John walked down the stairs, knowing now the children were asleep he was going to have to broach the subject of his ex wife with Anna. She had arrived home just as John was reading the children a bedtime story. He encouraged her to get settled and that he would put Milo and Madison to bed. Now his task was complete.

Anna was sitting on the sofa in her pyjamas, half way through eating the dinner John had saved her from the meal he had shared with the children earlier. She was engrossed in some wedding show, this being her favourite type of programme now they were well into planning their own.

'Oh John,' she said, noticing him standing behind her. 'This couple had a string quartet at their wedding on the beach. How romantic is that?'

'Very,' John said half heartedly, making his way into the living room. He perched himself down beside his wife to be, running a hand through this hair as he did so.

'Are you alright, my darling?' Anna asked, turning the television down a little. She placed her tray on the coffee table. 'You seemed a bit distracted when I came in.'

Exhaling a shaky breath, John tried to search for a way to broach the subject. He had thought Vera was long gone and that he would never be having this conversation with Anna. 'You remember you told me about that client, an Irish lady.'

'Yes, the one who took an interest in the photograph.' Anna's face was etched in confusion, why would John want to speak about that woman? 'What about her?'

Turning his head to meet Anna's gaze, John cleared his throat before speaking. 'She's my ex -wife, and therefore Madison's mother.'

Anna was slack jawed. She had had absolutely no idea. 'What?'

'She came over to the surgery today.'

'God John, I didn't have a clue who she was.'

'Of course you didn't, why would you?' John rested his head against the back of the sofa, pinching the bridge of his nose. 'I thought she was in Ireland, I haven't heard head nor tail from her since the divorce was finalised.'

'What does she want?'

John could hear the uncertainty in Anna's voice. He took her hand in his in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture. 'She says meeting you has made her realise she doesn't want anyone else to be Maddie's mother and wants a role in her life.'

Anna nodded slowly, averting her eyes from John to look straight ahead. 'Of course she would. I'd feel threatened if I was in her situation.'

Turning on the sofa, still clutching on to Anna's hand, John leant forward and placing his free hand on Anna's chin, he moved her head gently to look at him. He could see the shimmering of tears in Anna's eyes, feeling his heart breaking a little at the sight. 'I love you, you know that?' Anna looked down at their entwined hands. 'And Maddie loves you. This doesn't change a thing. We are going to be a family whether Vera likes it or not.'

She wasn't convinced, but Anna nodded in agreement anyway. 'I'll ask my boss not to handle her accounts. I'll have to explain the situation but she should understand.'

'Okay.' It was then that there was a knocking at the door, John looking towards the open living room door upon hearing it. He rose to his feet. 'I can guess who that is.'

Getting to her feet, Anna tied her robe tighter around her waist, looking up at John with a concerned expression. 'Shall I go upstairs?'

John shook his head. 'This is your home. Stay where you are.' He rested a hand on her cheek, offering her a warm smile. 'Carry on watching your programme. I'll deal with this.'

Shutting the living room door behind him, John trod the hallway towards the door. He winced as the knocking continued. Opening the door as quietly as he could, he placed a finger on his lips as Vera came into view, his voice a harsh whisper.

'The kids are asleep. Keep it down, will you?'

'I want to talk to you,' Vera replied, stepping over the threshold without an invitation. 'You were out of order in the pub earlier.'

'Go down to the kitchen, will you?'

Vera complied to his request, John casting a worried gaze in the direction of the living room. He followed her, closing the door behind him. Vera sat at the table, watching as John joined her.

'She's in there is she? Making herself at home?'

'Anna is making herself at home because this is her home,' John uttered in response, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the table. 'What is this all about? Do you want some money?'

'I'm insulted,' Vera placed her hand on her chest, 'I want to make things up to my daughter.'

Releasing a cynical chuckle, John moved back in his chair. 'Indignation never was your style, Vera.'

'It's true,' she insisted, John squeezing his eyes shut as her tone reverberated around the room. Silence fell for a while, John not willing to give an inch and Vera not willing to back down. 'Does she ever ask about me?'

John cocked his head to the side. 'Not really.'

'What did you tell her?' Vera ran a hand over the table. 'When she was old enough to understand. Did you try to turn her against me?'

'Give me some credit, Vera. I'm not a vindictive man. I told her that you had to go away, but it's alright because Daddy will never leave her.'

'John the martyr. Bravo.'

The snarl that took over Vera's face caused John's temper to flare. 'For God's sake, Vera. Stop thinking about how your leaving made you feel and put yourself in my shoes for just one second.' She rolled her eyes upon hearing his words, but remained silent. 'You left us. Madison was a few months old, I was a first time father. We needed each other more than ever, and you left. So I had to do it all on my own. The night feeds, nappy changing, caring for her when she was poorly. Worrying, not knowing what was wrong when you had tried everything to get her to stop crying.'

'Don't John,' Vera pleaded, what he was revealing was clearly having an effect.

'No Vera, you need to hear this.' She locked her eyes on his, John waiting a beat before continuing, gathering his patience. 'I would do it all again though, because what I share with that little girl is the most precious thing in the world to me. Being her Daddy is my greatest role. So don't come in here telling me you deserve this and you deserve that. You made your choice nearly five years ago.'

'And what about this Anna? She's going to muscle her way in…'

'She didn't muscle her way into anything,' John was quick to interrupt. 'You weren't here, as far as I was concerned we were never going to see you again. Anna, and Milo for that matter, came into our lives and we all just fitted together. Milo and Maddie adore each other, I quickly realised Anna was the missing part of me.'

That revelation seemed to knock Vera off her stride. She had always possessed a jealous streak and John believed that was what all this business was born out of. Jealousy.

'I want to see my daughter, John. You can tell me I don't have the right, but in the eyes of the law, I do. My name is on her birth certificate. I brought her into the world.'

'And what would do you plan to achieve by doing this? You'll only upset her.'

'Please John. Just let me try. We could do this amicably, or I could get a lawyer involved. It's up to you.'

Realising if Vera took it that far, it would cause more distress for Madison, John found himself relenting. 'If I say yes, I want you to promise me two things.'

'Alright.'

'Firstly, that there is no ulterior motive to your intentions. You don't say anything to poison the relationship she has with me or Anna…'

'Of course not, I can't believe you would even…'

'Let me finish,' John hissed, his hand shaking as he gestured his frustration. 'And secondly, that if she wants to get to know you better, you don't leave her again. She struggled to come to terms with the fact her Mummy didn't want to stay in the first place, another rejection could damage her more.'

Vera nodded weakly. 'Fair enough.'

'I'll talk to her before school tomorrow. Come to the surgery at lunchtime and I'll let you know what she said.'

'Thank you.'

Shrugging his shoulders, John stood up. 'I'm not doing it for you, Vera. I'm doing it because for some reason, against my better judgement, I think Madison probably needs to make her own mind up about you.'

Breakfast time was a quiet affair the next morning. John's mind was full of Vera's reappearance. Anna had left an hour or so before the children had woken up, John offering her words of reassurance as they stood on the doorstep. He needed her to understand that nothing was going to change. It must have been difficult for Anna. She had never had to come face to face with one of John's ex- partners, not in the way John had had to deal with Ryan. She seemed troubled, and it worried John. Why did Vera always have to make things so difficult?

As Milo and Maddie finished their cereals, John contemplated how he was going to broach the subject of her mother with his daughter. He needed to get her on her own, this would be confusing enough for her as it was, let alone the questions Milo would want to ask if he found out. Noticing both their breakfast bowls were now empty, John had a suggestion for his soon to be step son.

'Milo, could you go and run Maxwell around the field for me before school?' John knew the boy wouldn't be able to resist playing with the dog, such was the affinity and closeness he shared with the animal since he had known him.

'Shall I put my wellies on?' Milo asked, getting down from the table.

'Good idea, mate,' John said with a nod. 'We don't want Mummy getting annoyed that your school shoes are dirty, do we?'

'I'll go too,' Madison said, following in Milo's direction.

'Actually little one, Daddy needed to speak to you.'

'But Daddy,' Madison protested, pointing as Milo opened the back door and Maxwell bounded outside, a giggling Milo running after him.

'Please Madison,' John reiterated his request, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She huffed but stood in front of him with her arms folded, a disapproving look on her face. The ghost of a smirk played upon his lips as he took in her current demeanour.

'Can I have a cuddle, please?' John was sure he heard her sigh in protest, but Madison did as he asked anyway, clambering into his lap. How to start? 'Someone came to visit Daddy yesterday. At work.'

'Who was it, Daddy?'

He shifted a little on the chair before answering her. 'It was your Mummy.'

John remained silent as he watched Madison try to understand what he had just told her. Her little face was screwed up in puzzlement. 'What, my actual Mummy?'

Nodding, John tightened his hold on her. 'She wants to see you. If you want to, that is.'

'Where did she come from?'

'I don't know where she lives now, but she remembered where we were and has asked to see you.'

'Where would we go?' Madison asked, John noticing the sensation of her gripping his hand tightly. She seemed nervous, exactly what John didn't want.

'Wherever you wanted to. The park, to the café for coffee and cake perhaps.' Her brow was still furrowed, John cold tell she was very confused. Hell, so was he. This had all come out of the blue.

'Daddy, will you be there as well?'

John hadn't thought of that. 'Yes, of course I will be. But if you don't want to see Mummy, then that is okay too. '

'Can we go to the park?' She seemed to disregard his remark, seemingly curious to see what her mother was like.

'Yes, you can go to the park.' Madison nodded, her face emotionless. John moved to reassure her. 'You know that Daddy loves you very much, as does Anna and nothing will change that. Mummy just wants to see you, that's all.'

'Will my Mummy try to take me away?'

He almost whimpered aloud at her strained voice, sounding so tiny and filled with uncertainty. 'No Madison, Daddy will never let that happen. Never.'

'John, I need the toilet.' Milo appeared at the door then, his Wellington boots caked in mud.

'Right, yes,' John encouraged Madison to leave his lap before standing up. 'Both of you go to the toilet, then we'll see about going to school, shall we?'

Milo ran on ahead, Madison hanging back a little still looking the epitome of anxiousness. John was taken aback as the little girl wrapped her arms around his legs. 'I love you, Daddy.'

'Oh little one,' he knelt down so he was on her level, grasping her shoulders gently. 'I love you too. So much. You don't have to see Mummy if you don't want to. You know that, don't you?'

'I want to see her,' she lifted her little hand to toy with the collar of John's shirt. 'Just with you as well.'

'Then Daddy will be there. And afterwards, we'll come home to Anna and Milo. Alright?'

'Alright.'

She turned away then, the next sound John heard was her thundering up the stairs, no doubt to follow his instructions of visiting the bathroom. It hadn't occurred to him that Vera might contemplate taking Madison away. John hated to see Madison so uncertain, scared even. He would do everything within his power to keep his promise, being everything Madison needed him to be. She was his baby. He would die before anyone came between them, even her mother.

A meeting with Vera the next day resulted in an agreement to meet at the park that Saturday afternoon. Madison had seemed nervous in the lead up to their visit, and John had noticed her becoming very clingy towards Anna. She had wanted Anna to put her to bed, to sit next to Anna at mealtimes, to sit on her lap as they watched the television together.

She gripped his hand tightly as they approached the park where they were due to meet Vera. Madison had insisted on picking a flower to give her other upon meeting, exactly the type of gesture his kind hearted daughter would make. It made John proud to be given another reason to realise he had raised such a conscientious daughter.

Vera was waiting for them, on a bench at the far end of the park. John pointed her out, Madison staying close to her father's side as they made their approach. Vera had risen to her feet and was watching as they moved closer. John was looking as his ex wife, her hand shaking as she brought it to cover her mouth. A tear fell from her eye, trickling down her cheek. For all that had passed and conspired between them, John wasn't so callous as to not realise how momentous this was for Vera.

'Madison,' she almost whispered, bending down to regard the little girl who retained a tight grip on her father's hand.

'Are you my Mummy?'

Vera offered a glance up at John, who looked away, sighing. 'Yes, I am your Mummy. It's very nice to see you again, Madison.' They shook hands, albeit reluctantly on Madison's part. She offered her mother the flower she had chosen before Vera stood up once more, gesturing towards the bench she had been waiting on. 'I bought you a present too. Would you like to see?'

Madison nodded, and John could feel her hand on his loosening. He let her go, the loss of contact tugging at his heart as she followed Vera. He closed his eyes, clenching his jaw. This was more difficult than he had been anticipating. Turning his head, John observed as Madison revealed a dolly from the bag Vera had offered her. John walked slowly towards them, Madison keen to show her father her gift.

'Look Daddy, it's a dolly.'

'That's very nice, little one.' John took the toy from Madison, nodding in the direction of the deserted play area. 'Why don't you go and play with Mummy in the park.'

'Daddy, where will you be?'

'Right here,' John replied, sitting on the bench. He made sure he had Vera's attention before continuing. 'I'm not going anywhere.'

Madison enjoyed the park, just like she always did. She showed her mother how good she was on the climbing frame, how she could do the swing by herself all the while explaining about what she enjoyed at school. In a quieter moment, sitting together on the roundabout, it was Madison's turn to question her mother.

'Why did you go away, Mummy?'

Vera had known that question would crop up, yet she hadn't expected it to be so soon. 'I really don't know the answer to that question, Madison.'

'Did you not love me?'

'Oh Madison, that really isn't the case. Of course I love you.'

'Because Daddy says he loves me very much, and so does Anna. And he promised they aren't ever going to leave me.'

'Well,' Vera replied through clenched teeth, looking over at John who was looking at his phone. 'That's very nice.'

'Anna does the best plaits. And she knows all the words to the Disney songs.'

'Well, she seems perfect in every way,' Vera replied, knowing her voice was dripping with sarcasm but hoping her innocent daughter wouldn't notice. The fact this perfect stranger had a better relationship with Madison than she did made her boil with resentment. It also strengthened her resolve to become a part of Madison's life.

The visit had gone better than Vera had expected. Madison had taken a while to come out of herself, but it had been wonderful to talk to her daughter, something she never thought she would crave as much as she did now it was happening. The truth was, she didn't know why she had left all those years ago. One night, hearing Madison cry and being unable to soothe her made Vera crack. She didn't believe she had the ability to be a good mother. John had taken to fatherhood easily, and she had felt bitter towards him for that. But that was then, and this was now. Madison was a clever, five year old girl. Vera wanted desperately to be something to her.

'Would you like to see me again, Madison?'

Madison looked up at a hopeful looking Vera as they made their way back to the bench where John was sitting. 'Maybe. I'd have to ask my Daddy.'

'Finished?' John asked as they neared him, standing and putting his hands in his pockets. 'Did you have fun?'

'I liked the slide,' Madison revealed, moving to his side and taking a handful of his trouser leg within her hold.

'We did a lot of talking,' Vera added, 'didn't we Maddie?' The little girl nodded. 'We'll have to see about another visit.'

'One step at a time, eh?' John replied, placing a hand on Madison's shoulder. 'We have each other's numbers, I'll be in touch.'

John was surprised to see Vera nod her head in agreement. She was offering her hand to Madison in the next moment. 'Goodbye, my darling.'

'Bye,' Madison said weakly, shaking her mother's hand. 'Thank you for my dolly.'

'It's my pleasure.'

'Come on then, little one. Anna and Milo will be waiting for us.'

John regarded Vera with a sceptical gaze before turning on his heel and leading Madison away. As far as he was concerned, the sooner they were home, the better.

It had been a strange day, John reasoned as he waited for Anna in bed. His fiancée had been distant since he had returned from the park with Madison, and it made John feel absolutely terrible. This selfless woman had accepted himself and his daughter into her life whole heartedly, and it took one visit from Vera to cause doubt. As she came into the bedroom, John resolved to reassure Anna that with her was where his and Madison's future lay.

'Everything alright?' John asked as Anna crossed the room, throwing her dressing gown onto the chair in the corner.

'Yeah, Milo needed the toilet. He's asleep again now.'

John remained silent as Anna joined him in bed, laying down before bringing her hand to her forehead. 'So, how was the visit really?'

'It was alright. Madison seemed happy enough. You know, Anna…'

'I like how Vera thinks she can swan in and disrupt out lives like this.'

And there it was. The words John had been fearing. 'That's just it, Anna, she can't. And she won't.'

'She's going to try her damnedest though,' Anna argued back. In the next moment, John had turned to face Anna, his hand possessively taking hold of her hip. She looked at him, his gaze wasn't wavering. 'Madison worships the ground you walk on, Anna. Nothing Vera ever says or does will change that.'

'It's not just that,' Anna closed her eyes, resting her forehead against John's before speaking again. 'I've never felt threatened by anyone else in regards to our relationship before. She was your wife, you were married. You must have shared something once upon a time and….'

John silenced Anna by brushing his lips gently against hers, hearing her sigh softly as he sought to deepen the kiss. Their tongues met in a slow dance, John moving Anna closer to him, clutching the material of her nightdress and pulling it up towards her hips.

'You are the only woman I have ever loved, Anna. What I share with you is incomparable to anything else that has gone before.'

He continued to lift Anna's nightdress, both of them sitting up together so he could remove the garment completely. Still in their upright position, Anna resumed the kiss they had been sharing before John gently pushed her back against the sheets. Removing his own underwear, John soon manoeuvred himself between Anna's thighs, pressing open mouthed kisses over her body, praying his actions were making her realise how loved she was, how much he desired her above all others. Ready to join them both, John looked down at Anna through half lidded eyes, lifting a hand to brush a strand of her golden hair from her perspiring brow.

'It will only ever be you, Anna. I want to marry you, I want children with you, I want to grow old with you. Never doubt that.'

'I love you,' she whispered as John moved his hips forward, filling her completely.

He rested his head on the pillow beside her, his haggard breath at their joining caressing the shell of Anna's ear. 'God knows I love you, Sweetheart.'

He began to move then, Anna lifting her hips to meet the thrusts of John's. They resumed their kiss as they moved together, John's strokes long and slow driving them both to the pinnacle of their desire. Anna had no words as they came together, clutching onto John fearing she would drift away from him if she didn't. The words he had just uttered had touched every place in her heart, making her feel foolish for ever doubting, even if it was only for a short time. As he made to move away, Anna gripped more tightly to his shoulders, holding him in place.

'No, please don't. Not yet.'

John lifted himself slightly, looking down at Anna with a concerned expression. 'You okay?'

'I'm sorry for being so silly. I just lost myself for a little while.'

'Anna, I don't blame you. I just want to make sure you know that you are everything to me and Madison. You and Milo came into our lives and became something we never knew we were missing. We're a family, a unit and nothing is going to break that. I won't let it. Vera can do what she wants, I don't care. It is my mission to make sure the three of you are safe and protected.'

'I can accept her being around, but if she tries to break us all up, she'll have to fight me as well.'

John chuckled at her words, placing a gentle kiss on Anna's nose. 'Well then, she better beware of taking on such formidable opponent.'