A/N: Short piece here for a tumblr challenge from Terrie for a glimpse into a Christmas day for Anna and Bates.

"John! John wake up!" Anna Bates shook her husband excitedly as she tried to prise him out of a deep sleep. "Mr. Bates, it's Christmas morning, time to get up!" Anna had always loved the festive season of Christmas but never in her life had she been more excited for Christmas than this year. In all honesty she didn't really know why she was in such a rush to get the day started when all she had ever wanted was lying right next to her. Nothing St. Nick could possibly ever bring could compare to the gift that was wrapped in the quilt beside her, snoring softly. She sighed at the thought and pushed back the sad memories of how they had been forced to spend last Christmas-their first as a married couple-apart.

It didn't matter, not any more, and she shook her head and refocused on her sleeping husband. It was so rare he should sleep so soundly and she realized that she had stopped shaking his shoulder to instead slowly run her hand up and down his arm as she lost herself to her warm thoughts of him. She traced his strong jaw with just a fingertip before scooting herself back against him, his breath causing her loose hair to flutter. As she pressed a soft kiss to his lips John finally began to stir as he stretched his arms out and around her bringing her in even closer.

"I don't know why you're so excited for Christmas Mrs. Bates, St Nick doesn't visit the naughty," John's baritone was even deeper still being marked with sleep and though he had yet to open his eyes a wide grin bloomed upon his cheeks.

"Naughty?! And in what ways have I been naughty, Mr. Bates?" Anna questioned as she pushed herself away from him with both hands on his chest. "I think I've been very good all year, especially to you!"

John's eyes opened abruptly at her push and his laugh rang out through the room. "That you have been Mrs. Bates, too good in fact. And therein lies your trouble. You were so good to me last night you were downright sinful, Anna." Her name came from his throat in a growl as he tightened his grip around her and tickled her ribs.

Anna felt her whole body blush and shiver as the memories of their Christmas Eve overtook her even as she squealed and thrashed about lightly in attempt to ward off John's "tickle attack." As the pair wrestled about, the quilt that had been covering them was eventually pushed aside revealing their still naked bodies to each other.

"John! John stop!" Anna's laugh was a song to his ears, the most beautiful of carols on this holiday morn. He stopped his tickling when he lost himself in her beautiful smile and the way her hair -waves of pure gold- ran rivers over her bare shoulders. His breath hitched as he drew his finger under her chin and brought her lips to his. Her laughter melted away as their kiss lingered for endless moments until both were breathless.

He watched as a smile full of love and contentment took her lips as they parted causing one of his own to mirror hers. And in her smile he saw every Christmas wish he could ever make or hope to come true.

Anna's thoughts echoed those of her husband though neither spoke in this moment, instead choosing to just hold each other close and letting the tandem beating of their hearts do the talking. They kissed and teased; whispered professions of love and flirtations to make each other blush until their stomachs reminded them of how famished their exertions the night before had made them.

Reluctantly John and Anna left their warm bed and began to ready themselves for the day, although the staff had been given the morning by the time John and Anna got themselves up and moving they had to rush their late breakfast which they chose to eat in the cottage instead of at the big house. Anna and John knew they were missing quite the breakfast celebration but neither cared. This was their first Christmas together and as such they were not at all inclined to share it -or each other-with the rest of the house until they had to.

Despite the time crunch John and Anna worked side by side in their kitchen to fix breakfast which they savored as Anna sat on John's lap at their small table. They fed each other bits of the meal between many shared smiles, laughs and sweetest of all, lingering kisses.

As the happy couple made their way to the sitting room they each put on a show pretending to be surprised by the few gifts that had "appeared" under the tree. They only had a moment to let their minds wander to what could be lying in wait for them there in the form of neatly wrapped parcels, as they threw on their coats and walked hand in hand slowly up to the Abbey.

Thankfully the day went by in a blur and before they knew it they were walking back home, exhausted from the day of jubilation but never more content. After shedding their coats Anna found herself standing in front of the small tree John had surprised her with a few days prior. Despite the tree being dwarfed in size and grandeur of the tree at the big house she was sure she had never seen anything more beautiful. That was until she saw her husband's reflection in one of the shiny red bulbs that hung delicately from the tree. She saw his smile as he took in the sight of her and she watched her own grow on her face as he wrapped his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder placing a kiss to her neck and nuzzling his nose just below her ear.

"Happy Christmas Mrs Bates." He whispered against her as his breath induced a shiver through her. She turned in his arms and lifted her lips to his.

"Happy Christmas Mr Bates."

The few wrapped presents under the tree remained forgotten as they found all they needed wrapped in each other's embrace where they remained passionately until the next morning. The happiest and sweetest Christmas either had ever celebrated.