This is the end! A bit indulgent, but that's what fanfic is for.

Words – 15.4

Downton Abbey does not belong to me and I have borrowed the characters, brilliantly created by Julian Fellowes and the production team of Carnival, in hopes of providing a wee bit of enjoyment. I have loved writing every bit of this AU and I appreciate everybody who has followed along.

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Nine Months after the Incident

"So, we all agree?" Anthony asked John and Anna as they met in the conference room.

"It makes financial sense," John added. "Gwen may not have had the traditional experience when we pushed her into the role, but she's tapped into previously unknown revenue channels and been very successful."

"Her work on the fashion industry accounts has been genius. She's worth her weight in gold, and she deserves to be made Sales Manager, with retroactive contract bonuses." Anna was so proud, thinking how happy Gwen would be.

"Perfect. I will set it up immediately." Anthony was about to make another comment, but stopped when he saw the look on Anna's face deteriorate from happiness to concern.

Anna clutched her abdomen discreetly, and grimaced. She was trying not to be obvious, but it was only three of them in the room and the strange feeling in her abdomen was back.

"Darling, you cannot continue to feel this way and not contact the doctor." John was trying to be stern, but supportive. This wasn't the first time Anna had an episode such as this, and they were getting more frequent.

Anthony, not wanting to be stuck in the middle of another private conversation between the lovebirds, stood up. Before Anna could respond, he offered her a sympathetic smile and offered. "I'll go get this started now."

Anna waited until Anthony had closed the door to respond to her beloved's statement. By that time, John had reached out to touch her hand across the table.

"It's nothing, probably just the intestines reaccomodating themselves in the new space." She took her hand off of her abdomen. "It's really not painful, just weird." As always, she tried to downplay the situation.

John didn't want to be deterred.

"Please just go. Those intestines have been moving quite a lot lately and it would ease my mind to know you've not had any other complications since your surgery." John appealed to her in the voice she couldn't resist. It also didn't help that his eyes took on that worried expression that tugged on her heartstrings. "I'll go with you," he added, and she knew then she had no way out.

"Fine, I'll call now and set up an appointment."

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"Alright Ms. Smith, I'll be doing your ultrasound today." The technician walked in with Anna's chart and gave both John and Anna a handshake. "Your doctor's notes indicate that you have some abdominal pain, so I will be focusing on the region of your incision."

Anna acknowledged the young man's words as she shifted in the bed. She was already lying down, her entire belly uncovered and smothered in ultrasound gel. John had reached out to hold her hand, supporting her as best as he could without actually getting in the way.

The machine was facing away from them and they could not see whatever was being reflected back. The technician passed the probe over the scar of her incision, but moved away from the region, traversing her belly several times. His face appeared concerned.

"What is it?" she asked nervously.

His face changed immediately and he pretended there was no reason to be concerned. He was a bad actor, because neither John nor Anna believed his change in demeanor. His forced calm face didn't fool either of them.

"There's nothing to be concerned about, but I need for a doctor to come." He stood up to leave. "I'll be right back."

"What's wrong? Please tell us," John implored as he saw Anna's face break down with worry. He wondered why this procedure was shrouded under so much mystery. Why were medical employees so evasive?

The young man stopped at the door. "I'm not allowed to say. I'll just fetch the doctor and be back."

He was gone, and with him, he took their valor. Anna didn't want to worry, and wouldn't have, but the young man's face had given him away and now she couldn't keep still. "Oh, John. Something must be happening. You saw his face." She squeezed his hand tighter.

John didn't want to worry her and he agreed 100% that something was fishy, but he needed to calm her down. "We shouldn't worry, darling. You heard him. There is nothing to be concerned about."

His false words did nothing to quell her fears. "Could it be a post-operative adhesion? They told me about those and I read up on them. They cause pain and happen frequently after abdominal surgery."

To John, it was as good a speculation as any other. "Could be, but he said there is nothing to be concerned about. You heard him." He rubbed her shoulder and placed a kiss on her temple.

They waited a few minutes, and the young man came with a pleasant looking woman. "Hello Ms. Smith. I am the radiologist, Dr. Edwards." She turned the machine towards her and the young man pointed at something. He stood back while she took a seat in the chair.

Anna held her breath while Dr. Edwards reviewed the scans. John squeezed her hand tighter.

"You're here because you have abdominal pain?"

"Yes, I had surgery nine months ago, but for the last several months, I've been feeling some pain and my intestines shifting."

The doctor finally smiled and it eased Anna's concern. "You are pregnant, Ms. Smith. The pain is probably the round ligaments that support your uterus, and the shifting is your baby moving."

"Pregnant?" Anna was sure the doctor was mistaken. "I can't be pregnant. I haven't had a period since my surgery. I've one less ovary and my doctor said it wasn't likely that I would ovulate in several months."

The word sent a shiver down his body. He had dreaded those words in his youth when he had flings and one-night stands on a continual basis. He had been lucky to elude fatherhood in that less than ideal situation, even with his reckless behavior. Then Vera had only been pregnant once, early on in their marriage. She had lost that baby and he had been sad. It never came up again and he always wondered if she had done something to prevent it. He would have liked to be a father, and he knew Anna wanted children. If it were happening now, he would embrace the situation. He was slightly excited, but he was confused. Anna would have known if she were pregnant. This had to be a mistake, and he didn't want to get his hopes up.

The radiologist finally turned the monitor towards Anna and John. In front of them, was the unmistakable outline of a baby and it had a big head. If they needed visual proof, there it was.

"I can't tell you why or how it happened. You'll have to see a Gynecologist for that, but this is definitely a pregnancy.

They had been using condoms as a precaution since they returned from their first weekend together. One of them must have failed. As he pondered on the possibilities, the truth finally dawned on John. Anna was pregnant and he was going to be a father.

"Anna! We're having a baby," he exclaimed excitedly. He was thrilled and his voice cracked with emotion. He couldn't be happier. He was having a baby with her – the woman he loved. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed it, but Anna was still speechless. She didn't respond to him, visibly nervous. It was taking her more time to process this information.

Her remaining hand flailed as she tried to formulate her thoughts. It was even hard for her to express the word. "I didn't know I was pregnant. This is a shock." Anna thought this scenario only ever happened in the movies.

Dr. Edwards flashed a sympathetic smile. "I promise that you are not the first woman to find out by ultrasound."

Her words were hardly comforting, and Anna was sure the doctor would think her a horrible future mother for not being self-aware. If there had been any signs, she hadn't picked up on them before. Had there been signs, though? Morning Sickness? She did feel sick every once in a while, but that had happened to her on and off since her injury. Weight gain? She'd lost at least five kilos during the months immediate to her hospitalization. She'd gained them back in the last months, plus another 2 which she assumed were from such little activity. She looked exactly as before. She was still wearing her normal clothes. Perhaps she wasn't that far along and that was the reason she hadn't figured it out. That must be why she was so clueless. Without having had her period in nine months, and with the amount of sex she and Mr. Bates were having, she wouldn't every be able to figure out a possible date for conception.

In her muddled state of mind, she hadn't even turned to look at him. She felt guilty for excluding him, but the news had been too shocking. She was aware his sentiment was positive, having just heard his excitement and having just felt his kiss on her hands. She did turn to gaze at him, wanting a bit of reassurance that she wasn't crazy. What she saw in his face made her want to cry. He could hardly contain his joy. It produced a warm feeling throughout her body, one that brought her much comfort. As surprising as this news was, Anna felt that their love would unite them and they would welcome this child happily into their life. Everything would work out in the end. As if in agreement, she felt the child shift. It was a sign of good things to come.

She squeezed John's hands, and then turned to the Doctor. "I don't suppose you could tell us how far along I am?"

Dr. Edwards turned the monitor back towards her and scanned through several of the images that had been taken.

"You'll have to confirm this with your obstetrician, but….. judging by the size of the fetus, which is currently about 30 cm, I would say anywhere from 23 to 26 weeks."

Anna had to do the math in her head. When she had calculated how many months that meant, she looked down at her belly that was virtually flat. There was no obvious baby bump. How could there be a baby that large in there? "Six months?" she questioned aloud. "How can I be six months pregnant?"

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They retreated from the radiologist directly to his flat. Neither of them was going to get much done in the office if they went back, and they didn't want anybody to guess what was going on with them. They had agreed to keep things quiet about the pregnancy until they had all the facts.

"I can't believe it," she responded quietly when John brought her a cup of tea. "That I would be that far along and not notice."

As a private investigator, she was paid to spot details and make connections between vague information. How was it possible that with one of the most important situations in her life, the truth had eluded her that long? She was never, in the six months of alleged gestation, remotely suspicious that it was possible.

"Darling, don't be hard on yourself. The last nine months of your life have been a challenge. You've been through so much medically and none of the typical signs were there. Even now, I look at you and you don't appear pregnant to me."

"So, you don't think I'm a prize chump for not figuring it out?"

"Hardly. Come here." He pulled her in for a hug and she felt comforted. She took a deep breath as she laid her head on his shoulder. She could smell the deep musky scent of his aroma. How she loved it.

"Anna, I must ask you."

She didn't move from her spot, feeling very comfortable against him. She answered with a muffled, "What….?"

"What do you want to do about the wedding? Do you want us to be married before the baby comes?"

Wedding? She hadn't thought of it. She pulled away from him to gauge his face. Was it that he wanted to move it up? "I hadn't thought about it all until you mentioned it."

"I'm willing to do whatever you want, but think about it. Our wedding is three and a half months away. If you truly are six months pregnant, you'll have just given birth a few weeks before."

"We'll be figuring out how to be parents." Not to mention the sleepless nights she had heard of from so many other mothers.

"Is it important to you that we marry before?" He flailed his hands. "Maybe 50 years ago, we'd have had to run to the church to get married and save face, but I am not sure it matters these days." He grinned, changing the tone of his voice. "Unless of course, one Mr. Charles Carson will come after me with a shotgun in hand….?" He raised his eyebrows comically, hoping to get a chuckle from her.

He achieved the desired result. She laughed at his last comment and his antics.

"No, Pops will not come at you with a shotgun. I'm not 15, and I can make my own way in life." She reached up to kiss him. They smiled through their kiss, and she was happy that they could have fun in a time like this. "There are some benefits to marrying quickly," she ascertained as she moved back again. "But….we've got three months to find a house and prepare to welcome this child. I'm not sure it's practical to change now, unless you've set your heart on us doing it sooner." She did want a wedding, even if it was later.

"Marrying you is what I want the most. I would do it tomorrow, just you and I, if that's what you wanted and if that's what you thought was right for our child. But me… I've rushed through a wedding once already and wouldn't want to rush through this. I want to show you off, as beautiful as you are." He reached out to touch her cheek, stroking it lovingly. "I am so in love with you, that I want the world to know it and I want everyone to hear me say it publicly."

Her heart started fluttering with emotion. He did that to her all the time with his simple words.

"I think we should wait. I'll marry you, after the baby is born. We'll move it back a few months. He or she will be our special guest and it will be the loveliest event ever."

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A week and several medical consultations later, Anna and John had pieced together what had happened. The current gestation was estimated to be 24 weeks, or exactly six months. That dated the conception to around the time of their magical and lovely weekend in the Lake District. It made sense, since it was the only three days in their relationship that they'd had unprotected sex. After their return from that trip, they had employed the use of prophylactics and they had no proof that one of them would have failed.

Her internist, who had been supervising her recovery since her surgery, had been shocked to hear of her news. They had seen each other once in the last six months and he had never picked up on it. The only conclusion he could reach was that being young and healthy before the shooting, her reproductive system had recuperated to the point where her remaining ovary put out an egg and had she not copulated at that precise moment, she would have had her first post-surgery period in the following weeks.

Her pregnancy, besides being discovered late stage, was deemed high risk because of her recent medical history, and was being managed by one of the best high risk OB/GYN's in England. Dr. Ryder had assured her that even though she had had no prenatal care in the first six months, and had gained virtually no weight, all the tests they had conducted indicated that the baby was fine. Anna and John were relieved. Dr. Ryder calmed her when he explained that not all women's pregnancies are the same, and this being her first, that some first time mothers did not look obviously pregnant until the end of their sixth month. Anna felt encouraged when the next day, she had a hard time closing the zipper on her pants. If she was to be pregnant, she wanted to live through the experience fully, weight and all.

John had been with her to every doctor consultation since the moment they found out. His support, when she was still vexed and anxious, had been outstanding. It wasn't that she wasn't happy about it. She cried of happiness the first night, when she was all alone, and she allowed herself to smile for a brief moment. Her hesitation to rejoice came from concern. During the six months of her pregnancy, she had ingested medications, drunken alcoholic beverages, and taken no vitamins at all. She felt so guilty. Until all the results had come back, she didn't dare relax. She didn't dare start planning. She didn't dare believe that she could be having the child of the man she loved. There was every indication that the baby was healthy and growing as expected. With these encouraging test results, she could finally embrace the reality of her situation.

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There was a side of Pops that would always be more comfortable with tradition. He wasn't necessarily a prude, but the modern ways of the world irked him. Anna and John were expecting a child and weren't moving up their wedding date. He didn't think he had a right to be upset, not with Anna being an adult and in charge of her own destiny. Not after everything she had been through. Still, he worried.

He eyed John who was just a few feet away. He was sitting next to Anna, clearly excited. Their hands were clutched as they shared their joy. His worry, like all fathers in this situation, was that she would be left alone to raise this child. Without the commitment of a wedding, John was free to shirk his duties and run away.

Reason negotiated with concern. John wouldn't run. He loved her. He had been absolutely devoted to her care after the shooting. Why was he even thinking John would leave? He had more than proved he wasn't going anywhere. Their relationship started so hidden, and Charles thought it was a matter of convenience for John Bates. But he had stepped up to the plate. Their relationship was out in the open and approved by all.

Reason started to defeat concern. Slowly, he started to smile. He was an old-fashioned grump, but even he could embrace this. The image of a chubby baby, sitting on his lap came to his mind. He gasped, and thankfully nobody saw him. They were too concerned with each other to notice him. He'd had a nightmare almost a year ago, one that included a wedding and a baby. He suddenly remembered, and that thought overwhelmed him. Back then, the thought of John in Anna's life made him miserable, and the thought of Anna having a child with him made him sick. So much had happened since that dream. It was no longer a nightmare. In fact, he was feeling giddy. Concern evaporated in the face of happiness. He would be a grandfather, and he could think of nothing better than that. He looked at his wife who was overcome with emotion. What a lovely grandmother she would make.

Elsie was gushing, hugging her girl. Both were shedding tears. Anna was glowing, and John was proud. What a wonderful way to end this story, he thought. Nothing could shroud the past better than a new life.

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They figured the best way to tell others was to tell them together. It would save a lot of time and they didn't have much to spare. They had already started looking for houses and had put an offer on a charming five bedroom cottage home with a sizeable garden that John deemed "helicopter-landing worthy." It was just outside Ripon in a more rural enclave, but closer to York. If the offer was accepted, they would have to set up their home at the same time that they were preparing to welcome this child. Anna had been robbed of the full term planning that was done over the course of a pregnancy, and she had to make decisions and get everything done in less than three months. She was thankful that they had both chosen to postpone the wedding. Had she needed to continue planning it within the same time frame, she wasn't sure she would be able to handle it.

They settled on organizing a happy hour on the Friday of that same week. Her pants, finally tight on her, commanded that she start to buy looser clothing, and they couldn't delay in telling the others. It was planned for Crawley's pub, both to make it easier on them, and to include the Crawley family all at the same time. They emailed everybody in the office with the invitation, and made sure some of their other friends were included too.

To their surprise, when they arrived at time indicated, the place was packed. Almost everybody had come. Even Sarah was there, which shocked them both. Lately, she'd been trying to make amends, and was friendlier than ever. They steered clear of her, when possible, and managed their professional relationship cordially. She was trying to be friendly with the others too. She had seen the error of her ways and realized that if she wanted to stay working there, she would have to be the one to change. She must have figured out by now that Mr. Bates wasn't going anywhere.

The Crawley girls were able to come, since they were on a weeklong break from school, and Cora came to help Robert. Sybil immediately gravitated towards Tom and neither made an effort to disguise their love for each other. Mary was working that evening and Matthew just sat at the bar as she helped her father deal with so many customers. It would be one of her last days, having been hired by Highclere Castle as an official full time employee recently.

Most of the pilots were there too, including their new-hires. The only one missing was Jack Ross who was currently on vacation in America. Their new staff members, Jane and Ethel, eager to get to know their colleagues better, came together. All of Anna's guests had arrived, as had John's. That made them nervous. It was a full house. Anna had brought the printout of the sonogram as proof, since nobody would believe how far along she was with her current waist size. It was tucked away in the pocket of her jacket.

She stopped peering around the room when Mary spoke to her.

"Anna, what's this all about?" Mary had a pensive look. She also focused on the drink in Anna's hand. It was a soda instead of her habitual cider. Anna was sure Mary would guess her news before the announcement was made. Mary had that sixth sense. She wouldn't admit to anything, though, and she used the excuse of Pops and Elsie making it through the front door to move away from this friendly inquisition.

"In due time all will be revealed," she said and was off before Mary could respond.

Mary turned to her father, standing beside her. "Those two are hiding something."

"Most definitely," responded Robert as he poured a drink. "John has always been very bad at hiding his emotions. He's currently bursting with joy."

"That can only mean one thing." Mary gestured towards her abdomen with her head. There was no hesitation in her words.

She didn't even have to explain it. Her father knew. With confidence, he declared, "Spot on, darling, and I think it's wonderful. Both deserve happiness."

Matthew took a sip of his drink and marveled that father and daughter would be so smug in guessing what the purpose for the happy hour was. "What's spot on and wonderful?" He hadn't understood what that purpose might be, even when both of them seemed confident.

"Oh, Matthew," Mary chided and rolled her eyes. She walked towards the end of the bar to get a better visual of her friend as she greeted her newly arrived parents. Matthew's confusion would have to wait.

"Pops, Elsie," Anna hugged them.

As expected, Pops and Elsie were wearing matching houndstooth jackets and brown loafers. They both donned white oxford type shirts and jeans of the same build and hue. They immediately stood out in the crowd, looking like twins. It was their social uniform, hardly ever showing up to an event without coordinated wardrobes.

"I'm so happy you could come. I wanted you to be a part of this evening." Anna was still beaming.

Elsie loved that it was their little secret. She looked at Anna from head to toe, trying to discern any additional weight gain or characteristics in line with a pregnancy, but she couldn't find any. It had only been a day since they found out and had last seen her, but she was eager for additional proof of what was to come.

"Does anybody else know?" Pops asked in a low voice.

"No. None at all. Only you two, but we were waiting for you to arrive to make the announcement." Now that her most important guests were here, Anna signaled to John that they could start. She walked towards where he was standing.

"Can I have everybody's attention?" he hollered as he took a glass and made noise by hitting a piece of cutlery against it. He was hard to hear amidst the laughter and talking, but eventually, everybody stopped chatting and turned to look at him. He put down the glass and pulled Anna to his side. He put his hand around her waist.

"It was only nine months ago that we came together in this venue to celebrate my release from prison." Tony Gillingham and Alfred Nugent whooped loudly, lending their support. John acknowledged their efforts with a nod of his head before continuing. "Many things have happened since then – some happy and some sad." He hugged Anna tighter, in front of everyone. "We'll only focus on the good for now and I have a lot to be grateful for. Our legal issues are behind us, Bates Airlift is growing and on the right track, we have great new colleagues, and this lovely woman agreed to be my wife."

His list of positive things spurred on the audience to clap and holler. His words were making everybody excited.

He turned to look at Anna with love in his eyes. "You make me truly happy," he addressed her and kissed her forehead before turning back to look at the crowd.

Anna almost choked. She hadn't expected him to say something so endearing in such a public setting. She saw most of the women in the audience appeared affected too.

"…and now, we have one more reason to celebrate. The future Mrs. Bates, who I adore, is pregnant, and I am to be a father very soon."

The whole room erupted in a raucous applause. There might have been some surprised faces, especially from people who still couldn't fathom that Anna and John were together, and that they were getting married. Sarah, specifically fit into this category. She was participating, though, and Anna had to give her credit for trying.

"Annaaaaaaaaaaa" came an excited squeal from Mary as she came from behind the bar and barreled into her friend. "You're pregnant!" she exclaimed as she hugged Anna fiercely. "I knew you were the moment I saw you drinking soda."

Anna chuckled. She always knew Mary was too smart to not figure it out. "Yes, I am." She announced excitedly. "….and I couldn't be happier."

The women in the room congregated towards Anna, eager to hear the news and provide their congratulations, and the men congregated towards John, patting him on the back.

Anna pulled out the sonogram print with everybody in her midst. "Everybody, meet Baby Bates."

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One Year after the Incident

"Is there really a baby in there?" John stroked his hand over Anna's protruding belly. It was not as large as other pregnant women's at that stage, but she was round and it was impossible to not notice. With a month more to go, it rose modestly above her as she lay back.

"Yes, silly," Anna burrowed into John, as they shared the bed in their bedroom for the first time. "Your son or daughter is moving right now." She placed his hand to where she was experiencing a kick. "If you still don't believe it after everything that has happened, here is more proof."

It was only two months since they discovered the pregnancy and they were in their new home. The prior owners left the house in pristine condition, allowing for only cosmetic changes and a speedy move-in. The kitchen was modern and updated, and the bathrooms were also decorated in good enough taste that they did not need to refurbish them immediately. The floors were immaculate. They painted some rooms in different hues, but that work was quick and only a thorough cleaning was required.

Between them, they didn't have much furniture. The few things in Anna's flat were small, and they didn't fit into the set-up of the new house, so they were left for Mary to use. John didn't have anything, having sold his and Vera's home with all of the furniture included. This was perfect for Anna, because they were able to purchase all of their new furniture together, making it their own warm and comfortable abode. They had a lot of space to fill, but for the time being, they only focused on four rooms. They need a dining space, a living room, their bedroom, and a nursery for their baby. The rest could wait.

They'd just experienced their first get-together in their new home. It was supposed to be simple housewarming event, Anna not really having the time to do anything fancy, but Gwen and Mary, not really knowing each other, had independently pitched for that party to become a dual event and also be a baby shower. There wasn't much time, once they were aware how advanced the pregnancy was, and they would have to consolidate concepts if they were to use the time wisely. Anna liked the idea, and put both girls in contact with each other. They agreed to organize everything and let Anna relax.

It had been a great success, and they finally felt ready to welcome their child. They had enough baby items and the house was ready for habitation. In the office, everything was great too. It had been over a year since Thomas and Vera's frauds had been discovered. Restitution had been made to the defrauded clients, they had managed to survive all of the negative events with little impact to their customer base, all frozen accounts had been turned over to them and they had money flowing into their coffers. A year ago, everything seemed to be falling apart, but life was good to them now.

"You know, this is what I always wanted." Keeping his hand on Anna's belly, he rose up to where he could see her from atop, while she still rested. Her eyes, wide and open, were curious.

"What?' she asked. "A baby?" Her hand caressed his cheek. There was a glimmer in her eyes. She knew he wanted this child. He'd been nothing but excited since they found out about the news. Now that they were settled, though, she had some doubts that she needed to discuss.

His steely gaze bore into her soul. "Yes, but you too. I always wanted a family."

There was no hint of deception in his voice, but she had to know. Still caressing his cheek, she asked, "John, this has happened all so fast… Us, the baby, this house….. And I have to wonder if it isn't too much for you, so sudden." She could see the certainty in his eyes, which proved what she was saying, was the farthest thought from his mind. "I wonder if you'll wake up one day, regretting it all, having jumped from one relationship and straight into another."

"I didn't jump from one relationship into another Anna. I had been out of that relationship longer than I had been in it. I assure you, none of this has been too sudden. The baby was as surprising for me, as it was for you, but not unwanted in any way."

"And you don't think..." Anna wanted to continue with her questions, but John wouldn't let her. He kissed her forehead.

"You give me purpose. You give me a reason to look towards the future." A year ago, everything was so complicated, and now it all seemed so simple. "You've given me all of that, my darling. And I love you so much."

There was nothing but love and passion in the bedroom that night. Their house was now their shrine, witness to affection and devotion between them.

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"What is this surprise you have, John Bates?" Anna was a week away from her due date and although she tried not to waddle, it couldn't be helped. She couldn't walk with her same stride anymore, even when she had stopped wearing high heels in lieu of sensible shoes. She had often laughed at the way pregnant women walked, but she wasn't laughing now.

She followed her fiancé out to the tarmac. There was an incoming helicopter, so she stayed on the periphery, close to the entry. Tom and William were already waiting outside to service the incoming bird. They acknowledged her by waving.

Although she was no expert in helicopters, she could almost swear that this wasn't one of theirs. She would recognize their executive service and oil transport choppers readily. This incoming helicopter had different coloring altogether. It looked like somebody else's private asset.

"Do we have visitors?" asked Anna as the aircraft landed at the farthest end of the airfield. "Is that the surprise?"

John stayed silent but his lips turned into a smile. He loved being mysterious. It was time for them to continue moving forward and he gestured to the golf cart, indicating that she should jump on board. The helicopter wasn't too far, but he didn't want Anna overexerting herself.

The moment Daisy jumped out of the pilot seat, she answered her own question. Daisy did not qualify as a visitor and that could not be the surprise. She took a seat as John had indicated and he drove them the short distance to where Daisy remained next to the helicopter she'd just brought in.

Daisy handed him a key and a gift bag. "All done, boss." The girl stepped back, but stayed close, eager to be present as the supposed shared secret between her and Mr. Bates was revealed to Anna.

"Daisy, John, what is this?" She exited the cart awkwardly, and walked few steps until John stopped her and handed her the brightly decorated package. It was a gift bag with baby motifs. Daisy said nothing and just looked on.

"Open it." John smirked mischievously, very proud of himself.

Anna tilted her head questioningly, a habit of hers whenever she was curious. He loved that trait of hers. Her eyes lit up at the prospect of another small challenge and they looked at him as she repressed the dozens of questions going through her mind. She did as he asked, though, and reached in through all of the colorful tissue paper to pull out an object. She couldn't discern what it was until she was looking at it.

"Tiny headphones?" They were much smaller than the ones she'd worn every time she went up on the helicopter with John.

"Yes, love. The adult ones would never fit over our child's head. These are special order so that the baby can come with us wherever we go."

"Awwww" Anna exclaimed, marveled that such a small item existed. She hadn't even thought of that. How clever of John. "It's adorable," she offered as she inspected them throughout. She was even more tempted to cry, everything making her so emotional these days, when she ready Baby Bates stenciled on the top. Their family could be out and about together.

"But…." Once the emotion of the thoughtful surprise wore away, her rational side told her something wasn't right. There was something she couldn't figure out. Maggie's configuration was small. Where was the child supposed to sit? They'd made love in there. She was aware of just how tight a fit it was. "How?"

She attempted to ask, but John, thought it best to continue with the next surprise. "No questions," he exclaimed when he realized she had figured out the problem that had led him to his next surprise. Instead, he steered her towards the front of the helicopter. That was when she saw it. The name "Anna May" was emblazoned across the lower front. A helicopter. With her name. Dumbfounded, she looked towards the maintenance bay where Maggie normally sat in a corner. The iconic blue helicopter was missing. A rush of emotion hit her as she suspected what was happening.

John gathered Anna in his arms, her belly creating distance between them.

"This, my darling, is our new family friendly helicopter. Maggie just wouldn't do anymore. There wouldn't be room for a baby carrier and this one seats five."

"You sold Maggie?" There was still a tinge of incredulity in her voice. John loved his helicopter and he loved his mother, naming the helicopter after her. IT would have been a sacrifice on his part.

"Yes." He responded very assuredly. He had no regrets. They were close to starting a new chapter in their lives and this was a change he had contemplated making since the moment they discovered Anna's pregnancy.

"But, what about your mum?"

"I know she approves, love. And if she had been here to meet you, she would have loved you just as much as I do and would have wanted me to name this new chopper after you."

0-0-0-0-0-0

"How do I look?" John asked as he walked into the operating room clad in scrubs from head to toe. Even his shoes were covered. He didn't really care the way he looked, but when he gazed upon her face and saw concern, he thought a distraction tactic was best.

She had been wheeled in ahead of him, and the ten minutes that it took the nursing staff to get him ready was ten minutes too long that his beloved was left alone. She was trying to be a good sport, but he could see right through her. The last time she was in a hospital, her life had been in peril and she had been in a great deal of pain. This was a much different experience, yet he couldn't imagine that this type of fear hadn't come over her.

Anna breathed a sigh of relief when he arrived. "You look like a creature from outer space," she offered in jest and the mild teasing generated a smile between them.

Dr. Ryder interrupted their moment. "Alright Dad, Anna, we are ready to start." Before John came in, they had already poked her and tested her pain threshold, making sure that the epidural had done its job.

John immediately took his position beside Anna's head and sat in a little stool provided for him. He reached for Anna's hand and she took it appreciatively. She held on tighter than she normally would, but John didn't fret. From her chest down, they had no visibility. A sheet had been extended to block their view.

Both Anna and John would have preferred a vaginal birth, but from the very first visit with Dr. Ryder, he confirmed that with her recent medical history, he wouldn't recommend it. In due course, as long as her body had time to heal, and with the appropriate medical supervision, any subsequent pregnancies could be "natural." This child would need to be born via C-section.

Anna hadn't been too disappointed. It had taken her a while to get used to the idea of being pregnant and she hadn't dwelled too long on any possible frustrations. The only hint John saw of potential disenchantment was when she teased him that the roadmap of incisions on her abdomen would now rival the scars on his thighs. She had then laughed off the statement, but he couldn't be too sure that she wasn't upset by this.

"You will feel some discomfort and pressure now," the doctor offered and true to his word, a moment later, she could feel tugging on her inside. It didn't hurt, but it was a strange feeling.

It all went quickly after the doctor's initial statement. He kept talking, giving them a step by step narration of what he was doing, but John could remember nothing as soon as he heard the piercing wail that his child emitted when taken from the womb. The infant had good lungs, judging by the loud decibels of his cries.

Anna hadn't let go of him, and in her excitement, she squeezed his hands harder than she had before.

"It's a boy," Dr. Ryder stated and without preamble, the midwife maneuvered around the barriers and placed the newborn on Anna's chest for just a moment while the surgery continued.

A little boy all scrunched up and full of blood and vernix lay before them. He hadn't been washed or weighed yet and it didn't matter to either of them. He was beautiful; a miracle child.

Anna was overwhelmed with emotion, feeling her child so close to her heart. Tears started streaming from her eyes. "Hello, love. I'm your mummy."

Hearing her and seeing the child resting on Anna's chest was the loveliest view John could ever have. Anna's instinct was to cradle the child, and John bashfully reached out to touch his head. He was warm, the little mite, if a bit bewildered with what was going on. The midwife allowed for this interaction for only a minute, and then he was taken from them for his check-up and to have all of the remaining mucous sucked from his mouth and nose.

"We have a son, John," Anna declared proudly. She had lifted her head and shifted in his direction to catch his line of vision. The only reaction he could muster was to kiss her temple reverently. She was forever his goddess now. She had gifted him with something he had always wanted. He now had a family and a legacy.

0-0-0-0-0-0

One Year and a Half after the Incident

"You're so beautiful, Anna." Elsie stood in contemplation at the entrance to the castle room where Anna was dressing. Mary, was stood beside her, and was maneuvering to make sure her veil was well attached under her chignon. She was a vision of loveliness. Very elegant and romantic, yet not overdone. "Your mother and father would be so proud."

Anna turned to her Godmother. She was already feeling emotional, but the mention of her parents threatened to make her cry. "I miss them," she added. "I wish they were here."

"They are here, darling. They are with you, every step of the way." Elsie had walked the few steps towards her girl and Anna stood up to do the same. Elsie reached out to her and Anna came easily, hugging her godmother. Both women stood ensconced in each other's arms for at least a minute. Anna knew that this was going to be an emotional day. She owed the Carson's so much, but she could never forget the parents that were taken from her so soon -especially on a day like this.

Behind them, a cooing sound reminded them that there were others in the room. The baby was chatting with himself, all the while chewing on a toy.

"Look at such a bonnie lad!" Elsie couldn't help fawn over little Charlie who was alert and happy in his carrier. He seemed oblivious to what was happening around him, albeit being decked out for the occasion, wearing a tiny morning suit and clip on bow tie. What little hair he had was smoothed back and he looked impeccable. "He's adorable, Anna." Elsie reached out for him, and the little boy, seeing his granny, happily allowed himself to be carried out. Elsie herself was bedecked in a beautiful dress, one befitting the mother of the bride.

Anna felt proud. Her son was a beautiful boy, and he was so good natured. At just six months, he was a miniature version of John and he looked more and more like him as he grew older. He had her eyes, but his hair. He would also have his height. The little boy was large and would no doubt tower over other infants his age.

Little Charlie, or rather, Charles William, was named after both her fathers – Pops, and the one that left her too soon. John's maternal grandfather was also called William, and he thought it fitting to name his son after a good man and RAF airman who had died in the Battle of Britain almost 70 years ago.

Said little boy was now transfixed with his grandmother's earrings. He pulled on them with curiosity.

"Ouch, little love. Those are not for play." Elsie shifted him on her hip, making it more difficult for him to reach out to tug them.

"Where's Pops?" asked Anna, aware that it was time for her to make her entrance.

"He's in the hall waiting for you." Elsie walked towards the door, and with the baby in her arms, opened it, revealing a very handsome father of the bride, or in her case, godfather. "I'll be taking this young man now. Everything is ready, and John is already in position. You and Mary can make your grand entrance."

Elsie winked at her husband as she walked out.

Charles Carson was mesmerized with what he saw. Besides his own Elsie, he didn't think he had seen another more beautiful bride in his lifetime. He was motionless, at the door.

"Will I do?" asked Anna. She swayed from one side to the other, giving him a better overall look. She wore an off-white sheath style dress that hugged her in all the right places. Beautiful delicate lace with tiny pearls was overlaid on the silk bodice. It was strapless, and it accentuated her neck, shoulders and bosom. She was effortlessly elegant. His Anna never failed to amaze him.

He breathed in, concentrating on his words. "John is a lucky man for marrying you, and I am a lucky man for getting to walk you down that aisle. You are beautiful, love, and you take my breath away."

Anna expected a kind comment, but his tone was laced with a sincerity that overwhelmed her. Tears threatened to spill, and Mary, noticing the emotions bubbling to the surface quickly handed her a tissue. She dabbed her eyes gently before things got out of hand.

"I love you, Pops." She whispered to him as she reached out for a hug. They kept it quick, aware that it was time for the ceremony to start.

"And I love you, Anna." He kissed her forehead lovingly. "Now, let's go out there and make John quiver."

0-0-0-0-0-0

John waited nervously in Highclere's grand hall. The vicar was ready and all of the guests were seated. From his vantage point in front of the fireplace, where they would be married, he could see the impressive staircase where Anna would make her entrance. White flowers abounded on the railings and in every corner. Mary had done a good job with their wedding. Now that she was permanently on Highclere's staff, she had taken it upon herself to oversee the wedding coordination and he couldn't be more pleased. When Anna suggested it as a venue, he thought it might be too big and impersonal, but after visiting the sight again, he loved it. He had only ever been here during their Make a Wish event, when they were surrounded by volunteers and other people. The ambiance was elegant and romantic, just what he wanted for her, and it was fitting to commemorate the place where they'd shared their first kiss.

Elsie came down the stairs, with Charlie, and John's heart was filled with joy. Fulfilling typical wedding tradition, he had spent the night at Robert's place, leaving Anna and their son the house to themselves. He hadn't seen her or the baby since yesterday. He missed both of them enormously, and the sight of his little boy made him happy. When Charlie saw him too, he squealed in delight, much to the amusement of their guests. His shrieks reverberated throughout the grand hall, and all attention was placed on him. He kicked and fussed good-naturedly. He wanted his daddy. Elsie handed him over and allowed father and son to share a moment.

"Hello darling. Aren't you looking handsome?" Little Charlie was a carbon copy of his father, dressed in the same outfit, albeit a miniature version. They way John was holding him, the baby could be confused for a ventriloquist's dummy or a sidekick. They were a picture worthy, and as John held him close, more than a couple of flashes filled the air from the paid and amateur photographers wanting to capture the moment.

The little boy giggled as his daddy held him. John spun him around so that they could have a conversation. "Tell me. You've seen mummy, right?" Little Charlie looked at his father intently, trying to understand what he was saying. "On a scale of one to ten, how beautiful is she?" Charlie ignored his father and was drawn to the white bow tie he was wearing instead. He pulled on it, but not nearly strongly enough for it to budge. "Wow, was that a ten? You are making me excited, son." John wiggled his eyebrows to entertain the child.

"Are you really trying to extract information from him?" Robert, standing beside John, inquired and laughed at the same time.

"Yes. He and I have a great father-son relationship. We tell each other everything." John said it with a straight face. Elsie and Cora who were seated close enough in the first row to hear, ended up laughing at his funny comment, and Robert was left smiling. Charlie, sensing that they were laughing at him, decided to join into the merriment and he also laughed and chuckled, kicking and flailing his little arms. He was indirectly agreeing with his daddy.

"Oh, she's more beautiful than a 10?" John continued to interpret the squeals as he conversed with his son. "Wow. I might need oxygen?" He added emphasis to his words. "And a doctor?" He scanned the room, pleased to see Mary's future in-laws seated with Matthew. "Well, then, it's a good thing Dr. Clarkson is here. He'll just have to tend to me if I should need a medical intervention."

Just then, the small choir that they had hired to sing at the wedding, and who were lined up against the arches in the gallery, started to hum. This caught everyone's attention and when they all turned, they saw Mary perched at the top of the stairs, ready to start her descent. Anna would likely be right behind her, hidden behind one of the columns.

John shivered. This was it. His wedding was about to start. He handed Charlie to Robert, who was also the child's Godfather, and who would be holding him during the entire ceremony. Both of them were considered his best men, and both Anna and John wanted their son as close as possible to them while they were repeating their vows. The choir started singing something John could not recognize and Mary proceeded down the stairs, alone. As the lone bridesmaid, and maid of honor, she made the solemn walk and took her place at the front, close to where Anna would stand next to him.

Anna appeared, then, at the top of the stairs, next to her Godfather. He felt his breath stop. She was still far from him, but he could already see her glowing and feel the effects of her resplendent beauty. She illuminated the dark room with her brightness. He shivered in anticipation as they came down the stairs.

Anna held on to Pops as the music echoed in the great hall. The acoustics were amazing and she felt herself as if she were walking on clouds. At a distance, she could see him, as handsome as ever. They locked eyes on each other, and she couldn't keep her eyes off him. She was marrying the man she loved; the father of her child, and her best friend and business partner. After such a difficult childhood and almost losing her life, she felt that life was paying her back with kindness. The closer she was to him, the more excited she was. She was glad she was holding on to Pops and he was keeping a steady pace, because she might have run straight towards him if she were by herself.

She was getting close to him, only a few feet away now and he could already feel the tears pooling at his eyes. After such a wasted dreary life the last two decades, how could he be so lucky to have her beside him? She reached his side and he kissed her cheek and took her hand when Charles handed her over. He could hardly focus and hardly follow the vicar as he spoke. He only had eyes for her.

Up until that moment, Charlie behaved perfectly well, not fussing or making it difficult for his own Godfather. When it was time to say their vows, he cooed, as if he were in agreement with everything that was happening. The guests at the ceremony were smitten with the young man, as happy and gregarious as he was. Even the Vicar smiled and he said a few words regarding how lucky they were to have his approval too.

John said his vows, his voice shaking as he repeated the words he was prompted to say. Anna said hers and his heart melted at the sound of her voice.

They exchanged rings. As he held her hand and delicately placed the golden band on her finger, he could see his own dear Anna tremble. She was just as emotional as he was.

Finally, the moment they were waiting for arrived. "You may now kiss the bride" were the words that the vicar used and both John and Anna looked at each other, clearly happy that they had made it to this day. John leaned forward, and his arms came around Anna's waist to bring her closer. He was about to kiss her, when he was interrupted by the noises made by their son. Voicing his glee over the wedding of his parents, Charlie was clapping his little hands and laughing loudly. He was louder than he had been all day.

Anna and John burst out laughing. Their son was too young to understand what was going on, the significance of it all, but it spoke volumes about his perception. He was one bright little chap. He sensed how happy his parents were, and how happy the rest of the guests were, and he wanted to partake in the celebration. He kicked endlessly, making it difficult for Robert to sustain him. Robert held on, though, while Charlie drew all the attention to himself. After about a minute, he seemed to quiet down, and John attempted his move again. He held Anna the same way he had done a moment earlier and as he leaned forward, Charlie giggled loudly again. All of the guests burst out laughing, including Anna, John and the vicar. Nobody was spared from the jolly moment. John tried exactly one more time, to the same result – his son laughing and yelling excitedly.

John hugged Anna from the side, his eyes and her eyes full of happy tears. This was a funny problem to have. He would have never expected his own son to be the reason he couldn't finish his own wedding ceremony. Far from being frustrated, John was very delighted. There was not an entire dry eye in the house, everybody present laughing until their tears had come.

John turned to the congregation when he and Anna were calm once more. "Excuse me for a moment while I talk to my son, man to man."

Robert perched Charlie up so that he was at his father's eye level. Anna was stood beside them, slight back from where John was standing.

"Son, I am so very pleased that you are excited for mummy and I. Both of us love you so very much. You are the light of our life." Charlie cooed in response, as if he were acknowledging what his father was saying. John wasn't trying to be loud, or heard, but the domed ceiling of the great hall allowed for his voice to be transported throughout the area as he addressed the child. His conversation was being followed by all.

"Mummy and I just got married. You know how excited I am? Very much, young man…..and …. I really want to kiss her." He pointed at Anna. "Just look at her. She's beautiful." He turned to look at Anna with some desire in his eyes.

Anna felt herself turn all pink, hearing her new husband talk about her like that to their child, and understanding the look in his eyes. They were in public, but she very much felt a frisson deep within her.

Charlie cooed in response.

John emphasized his words again. "I really, really, want to kiss her. So, man to man ... How about you let me do that right now, and in return, you'll get a big treat before the night is over." John brought his hands up, in a questioning stance. "Just think of it, Charles William Bates. A treat, just for you."

"Bribing our son, John?" Anna bit back her laughter, as the guests enjoyed the moment too.

"Hey, whatever it takes," John answered good-naturedly, and then faced his son again. "Do we have a deal?"

Charlie reached out to touch his father's face, his way of voicing his quiet approval.

"I think that's a yes, Anna." John took his place again, reached for his wife and held her close. Anna looked into his eyes, her smile so wide, he could hardly contain himself. You could hear a pin drop in the vast hall, as expectant as everybody was for the moment to finally happen.

He kissed her then, much to the delight of all of their guests. She was leant backwards, his arms supporting her body. His lips touched hers, and without further interruption, he deepened it. They had practiced before, at home and in private, trying to experiment with what would be an acceptable public, all consuming kiss. Anna felt like they achieved it as he stood her back up to the thundering applause of their guests.

0-0-0-0-0-0-0

"We have twenty minutes at most before they hand us the boy," Charles huffed as he held on to Elsie's hand. "Surely, there should be an old kitchen, storeroom, or a Housekeeper's office we can steal into?"

His voice was filled with exasperation. Anna and John would be leaving their grandson with them, for three days as they enjoyed a small honeymoon. Three days was the maximum that Anna had agreed she could leave her child, this being their first trip alone since his birth. He would then be picked up to join them for an extended week long trip they would make as a family. As much as he loved the little mite, and longed to spend time with him, Charles had found it impossible to think that he could make love to his wife when little Charlie was in the house with them. He just felt guilty; like the child would know. And Elsie looked…. Well, he was ready to ravish her if he could just find a spot.

They found themselves in a long, dark corridor. Much of the rented venue was off limits to them, but Charles had found a door and slid through it, hoping to find a dark secluded place in which he could share some quality time with his wife. They walked down a flight of steps, evading some of the catering staff that was busy with the event. Stealth was their specialty. If, as private investigators, they could get in and out of inconvenient places without being noticed, surely they could manage a quickie, somewhere on the premises?

Elsie wasn't keen on breaking and entering, and much less on their Anna's hallowed wedding day, but Charles looked just dapper in his suit and it reminded her of her own wedding, where she and her husband couldn't wait to start their honeymoon properly and had stolen into a broom cupboard at the local school house whose hall had been rented as their venue. They were able to satisfy their desires, quietly, with people a few feet away from where they were. That was an exhilarating experience and one she looked forward to repeating again.

"For God's sake, this is supposed to be a castle." Elsie's Scottish brogue emphasized the word 'supposed' and 'castle'. She could feel the same exasperation as her husband. Every door they had come to was locked. "I can't imagine Lord what's his name from a hundred years ago taking as long as we are to find someplace to take his Lady to."

Charles snickered. "Well, that "Lord what's his name" would have taken his Lady upstairs, to one of the bedrooms. We cannot, as walking up is not something we can get away with without being seen. We shall be servants for this venture, my darling, and look towards the underground for a solution."

His persistence paid off as a door finally opened to him. "Aha", he muttered as he pulled his wife in. He found a light switch and turned it on. There was a desk, and many boxes stacked all over the place. There was a cupboard in the room, but otherwise, it was empty. He eyed the desk as where they ought to get comfortable and turned off the light to retain the ambiance.

They reached for each other, and their lips met, sending a jolt of electricity throughout their bodies. This ignited their repressed passion. Without losing contact, Charles maneuvered the few steps in the dark until his backside reached the desk. "Sit here," he commanded as their lips parted. Holding her firmly by the waist, he hoisted her and set her down where he needed her to be.

His hands reached across her breasts and up her neck. "Don't you dare undo my hairstyle Charles Carson. That's restricted territory," Elsie exclaimed when she felt her husband's hand dangerously close to her expertly coiffed hair. He did love to pull on it, but she wouldn't let him; not if she was expected to return to the party as if nothing had happened. To compensate this loss, she knew exactly where to put her hands. Her fingers grazed over the ever increasing bulge in his pants.

Charles felt his adrenaline rush. There was at least 100 people upstairs and catering staff not too far away. This was living dangerously in his book. Well, at least as dangerously as a man in his sixties dared. He didn't want to waste their time and as deftly as he could, he moved Elsie's skirt up her legs. Thankfully, it wasn't any of that stiff taffeta. Whatever this gauzy fine fabric was, it was easy to move. She wasn't wearing any hosiery, and that made his job easier. He knew exactly where his hands were needed.

The moment Elsie felt his fingers on her knickers, she had to bite her tongue. She was extra sensitive and he knew exactly what he needed to do. Just the anticipation alone was enough to get her ready. By now, she had succeeded in lowering the zipper and unbuckling his pants. If they were to look as presentable as when they came into the room, she would need to take certain precautions. He would have to drop his pants entirely.

Charles shuddered as he felts his wife's hands on him. She wasn't even really massaging him just yet, but just the tugging and pulling of his garments as she cleared the path, had him wanting more. His pants were down in no time, but she kept his shorts on a moment longer He was ready to take his pleasure, and he would, just as soon as he could give Elsie hers. As he had done a million times before, his fingers found her folds and he sought out her clitoris. There was no sense in wasting time. He had a mission.

Elsie gasped.

And then they heard it. It was the sound of somebody else turning the nob of the room they were in. Dammit, they should have locked the door. It was jostled open, and a sliver of light from a faraway lamp sconce filtered in. It did not illuminate their area, just provided enough light for them to see what was going on. A couple, much like themselves, in search of a room had found this option too. They were kissing at the door, but had stopped just short of entering.

Thank God both still had their wits about them. Charles pulled his hand away.

"Are you sure it is alright?" asked the male voice as he backed into the room. They didn't recognize it. Thank God it wasn't John. It was mortifying enough that they were caught, but they wouldn't be able to face their little girl.

Between heated kisses, the female voice answered, "This room used to be the butler's pantry and nobody will look for us here." Else racked her brain and in the second that it took the intruders to ensconce themselves within and close the door, she realized that it was Mary and her beau, Anna's lawyer, Matthew. They did not turn on the lights, rather leant back against the door.

There was no way for Elsie and Charles to move and cover themselves without being caught, but not moving meant that they were sit through this other couple's time together. They'd never done that, be voyeurs. In another situation, Elsie might not be opposed to it, but being witnesses to somebody they knew, at an event such as this, was too much. She couldn't even look at Charles to hatch a plan. The room was truly dark and in their haste to come inside, neither Matthew nor Mary had seen them. If this were to stop, one of them would have to take action.

And it was escalating quickly. Matthew had already propped Mary up against the wall and the sounds Mary was emitting could only mean there session too, would not last long.

Oh God, what to do? They couldn't even make themselves proper, as any movement would generate a noise and be heard. This was a "no win" situation.

Charles coughed. Loudly. In the end, Elsie knew it was the right thing to do and she applauded him for his bravery.

Mary yelled. Elsie yelled from the surprise. Matthew disentangled himself and took a step back, while Mary attempted to stabilize herself after being dropped most unceremoniously.

"Who's out there?" Matthew asked as he turned on the lights.

Mary was pulling up her dress, as it appeared that Matthew had managed to push down the zipper several inches so that it would leave her upper half exposed. In the ensuing excitement, Charles had managed to reach down and bring his pants upward, although he couldn't even settle them appropriately. Matthew, upon realizing who they were, turned backwards, since he did not have enough time to hide the evidence of his arousal. Elsie was the most proper, since the dress that had been pulled up still covered her and it had taken her no time at all to shift it downwards, even though she was sitting. She was wearing no shoes, having kicked them off, but she was the least embarrassed regarding her state of dress.

"Wha… " struggled Mary to get the words out. "What are you doing here?" she finally said.

Charles was red. He opened his mouth, attempting words, but nothing came out.

"I suppose the same as you," laughed Elsie, as she helped Charles with his pants. She ought to be more mortified about being caught, but she realized that she had nothing to be ashamed of. Had they been caught by ordinary people, going about their day, she might have said something different. But, no… she was caught by a couple, with the same intentions she and her husband had. That made all the difference.

Before Mary or Matthew could say anything further, she smiled with much confidence. "We won't tell, if you won't."

0-0-0-0-0-0

It had been such a magical day. The wedding had been in the great hall, and their reception dinner had been in the library. While they had dinner, the great hall had been transformed into a party room and a live band had set up. Following the ceremonial seriousness of the wedding, the guests were very upbeat and the ambiance in the hall was exactly what you would want at a wedding. People were having a good time, and the celebration continued.

Anna and John were dancing slowly, her head on his shoulder, and John's cheek was resting at the top of her head. One of their hands was entwined and it was held up to his heart. They were enjoying a particularly romantic tune.

"It's been a great day, hasn't it?" John asked.

"It has," she answered as she scanned the room to look at the guests who had joined them.

The Crawley family, huge supporters of theirs, had all been present. Mary and Matthew, newly engaged, couldn't be separated for even a minute. Cora and Robert, as in love with each other as they had always been, would join the dance floor every time a romantic ballad would play, but sit back down whenever something more modern took its place. Edith came without a date, but Bertie Pelham, seemed to be winning her over. Every time Anna chanced to look upon them, they were both flirting with each other. Sybil and Tom were still together, but they were hardly seen publicly. With her still in school, the lovebirds spent much time apart. Anna guessed that if somebody needed them, they ought to look in the dark corners and there were plenty to choose from.

All of the Bates Airlift staff had been invited and all of them had come too. It pleased Anna and John to have all of them present.

Daisy came as William's date. After much soul searching, and another attempt at a relationship with Alfred, Daisy came to her senses and started dating William. Anna still couldn't figure her motivation to make sure she wasn't using him. William genuinely adored her, but Daisy was more aloof. Anna hoped Daisy was being honest when she said she realized that she needed a good man in her life, one that she could depend on. Instead of shutting out the shy William, Daisy gave him a chance and realized that he balanced her energy. They had started dating recently, and she looked happy. For William's sake, Anna hoped Daisy was right.

James had finally come out of the closet, surprising nobody. He came with a plus one and it was anybody's guess if the guest was his partner or friend. Anna and John were aware that he continued his friendship with Thomas, and visited him constantly. James had disclosed this in an effort to maintain his positive relationship with his bosses and neither Anna nor John minded, since this was his life. They appreciated his candor and his approach. They never discussed Thomas after James' disclosure and all of them probably preferred it that way.

Gwen came with the new man in her life. At a recent transportation convention, held at a local college, she had met one of the school's administrators. He had something to do with Finance, completely different to what she was doing. John Harding had turned out to be a good man so far, and Gwen never stopped talking about him. Anna was pleased for her friend, and he was perfectly charming, fitting in perfectly with all of them. He appeared to be a good dancer too. He swept Gwen around the dance floor, gaining the admiration of the people around them.

Many of the team members came without dates. Anthony was one of them. He spent a lot of time with Jane and Ethel. Anna kept an eye on him throughout the party to see if he was interested in one of the girls, but he looked very respectful. He took turns taking them both out to dance. It was wishful thinking on her part, but she felt like Anthony might benefit from a relationship with one of them. An instant family is something that would be good for him and Anna hoped that he would fall for one of them. Anthony would also be good for either woman. Since they had left Bryant landing, they had thrived. Ethel had recuperated her son from the authorities and her life was good. Jane's son, who had been living with her mother, came to live with her and both girls were leaning heavily on each other. As a sponsor of Bryant Landing, Anna felt pleased that these women were succeeding after the situations they faced.

Sarah came with a man, Henry Lang, which she had started dating recently. Surprisingly, Sarah had shared the news in the kitchen one day, and had explained that she was opening herself up to new experiences. She had met him online, and they'd been seeing each other for a couple of months now. This was the first time they were meeting him, and he appeared to dote on her. Sarah's mood had changed. Anna couldn't say that it was due to this man, since Sarah had been trying to mend her ways since Anna's incident, but he certainly helped. Anna had never seen her so mellow before.

The other pilots all brought their wives or respective girlfriends. Michael Gregson's wife had recuperated from her grief induced depression, and they had finally met her short time ago. Alfred was dating Ivy again, although as much as Anna knew, they were off and on, so often, she could never keep up with them. Evelyn came with his wife, who they were all surprised to find out, was heavily pregnant. He hadn't said a thing, even though this was his first child, after many years of marriage. Tony Gillingham had married Mabel Lane Fox when they traveled to Las Vegas on their last holiday, and he had somehow calmed down. Surprisingly, he was no longer an avid Casanova as Anna had uncovered in her investigation. Jack Ross had also married his girlfriend, and she was the bubbly, life of the party sort. Everybody liked her. Their no longer new employees, Andy Parker and Lavinia Swire came with plus ones, but they didn't seem to quite like their dates much, especially after their dates were caught together, smooching in the bathroom. They pouted the rest of the evening, but were encouraged by their team members to forget them and join in the fun with them.

Perhaps the strangest revelation from recent days was Phyllis and Joe. Anna had never revealed anything regarding what Phyllis knew, or didn't know or why she happened to be at the right place and at the right time, saving her from disaster not once, but twice. When Anna had recovered from her ordeal, John had asked her who the person that had left the anonymous notes was. She was sure that John had probably guessed that it was Phyllis, but Anna asked him to believe in her when she told him that his knowing the truth would hurt his benefactor and that for his and that person's sake, he shouldn't try to get to the bottom of it. She asked for his trust, stating that it was all done with good intention. John acquiesced, and he never brought it up again.

This made Phyllis trust Anna, when she wasn't in the habit of trusting anybody. At odd intervals, Phyllis would share little bits of her previous difficult life and mention her friendship with Joe. She was coming out of her shell slowly, and it pleased Anna to see that she had another friend she could count on. Joseph was nothing if not loyal. Anna's pregnancy and becoming part owner of Bates Airlift had shifted her attention away from private investigations and working for her Godparents. Her interactions with Joe had lessened considerably, so she wasn't aware of what was going on with him, but for the occasional comments made by Phyllis. Thus, it was a surprise when Phyllis asked John and Anna for an extended lunch break on a rather insignificant Tuesday two weeks ago. She claimed to have a lunch commitment she needed to attend to. They had no problem agreeing. They were then requested to come to said lunch, and when Anna and John followed the address as provided by her, it turned out to be the city registry. She was marrying Joe in a no fuss ceremony and she wanted the two people that knew who she really was, to be her witnesses. It was all a shock, but they agreed wholeheartedly. Anna made sure Phyllis did not come back to the office to finish her shift as was her intention and gave her an additional couple of days off without explaining the reason to anyone. In the end, Phyllis and Joe got married before she and John did, even if nobody from the office knew about it. Anna still couldn't believe that it had happened, but she could understand the reason why it did. When she glanced upon them, sitting at the table together, Phyllis' calm exterior was the antidote to Joe's nerves and apprehension, and his awkwardness was gone in her presence. She appeared more confident and secure than she did at the office. Love sure did work in mysterious ways.

"We should be leaving soon, Mrs. Bates." It rolled off of his tongue so naturally, and he felt a warm tingle spread through his body. She was officially a Bates, and he couldn't be prouder. "Unless, you want to stay a little longer," he added, thinking she might want to continue to mingle with their guests.

Anna looked up from her comfortable position and distracted her away from thoughts regarding all their friends. She loved hearing him refer to her as Mrs. Bates. "Mmmm," she said out loud. "Let's, see. Stay and mingle with these wonderful people, or allow my new husband to take me far away, undress me, and make mad, passionate love to me?" She rolled her eyes as if she had to think about it. His expression was neutral, and she wondered if he actually thought she would rather stay. To prove where her decision lay, she stood on her tip toes and reached up. She touched his lips with hers, but John took it a step further, increasing the depth of the kiss. He held her firmly and they were lost in each other for a few precious moments. They were in the middle of the dance floor, but it didn't matter. When they parted, Anna confirmed her choice. "You win, Mr. Bates. Always. There is no place I would rather be."

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"They need a room, soon." Daisy offered as she stood with Gwen and Phyllis at the far end of the hall, looking at the newly married couple dance, or at this moment, kiss. Their dates had chivalrously gone to get them drinks. Or at least, William and John had. Joe was a few feet away from Phyllis, never leaving her for far too long. He didn't know how to be social with anyone else. Daisy chuckled as the ladies witnessed a heated clinch between their bosses. "I bet you twenty quid that they'll be gone in under half an hour."

Gwen shared the laughter, while Phyllis looked on.

"How did that ever happen, underneath our noses?" the redhead asked, good-naturedly. "All of it….I mean, two years ago, she came to work in the office, and now, she's had a child with the boss and married him. I never suspected a thing." Gwen worked with Anna, and she never saw a hint of attraction between them. Ever. The first indication they were together came from Phyllis when she made the revelation. She often wondered if there had been signs that she missed, but she couldn't come up with any.

Phyllis smiled. "…..but, they are good together." She knew a lot more than she would ever admit. She knew exactly where they'd been together, although she too did not know how it started. "…..and that child is adorable. Charlie looks just like his father."

"Oh, absolutely," Gwen explained with enthusiasm. "Don't think I don't approve. John Bates today, is NOT the John Bates from two years ago. The difference is enormous." She wouldn't reference Vera, not on a day such as this, but everybody understood what she meant. "…..and it is all for the better."

"He's much happier," added Daisy. "You can tell how in love they are with each other." She wished William kissed her like that. He was still shy and learning to be bolder.

John and Anna had stopped kissing and Anna was saying something to him.

"Very much in love," Gwen added when they saw the looks that exchanged between the married couple.

At that precise moment, John Bates' hand clasped around Anna's neck and he brought her head forward for a kiss on the forehead.

"Awwww…." All three women swooned as they saw the romantic gesture.

John led Anna off the dance floor and they saw them head upstairs.

Daisy smirked mischievously. "I think I've earned my twenty quid."

0-0-0-0-0-0

"It will only be three days, love." Elsie reassured Anna as she held her sleepy child. Charlie was comfortable, enjoying being held by his mummy. He was tired, the day's events having worn him out. He was hardly moving, falling fast asleep.

"I know. It's just so hard." An unshed tear pooled in her eyes. She was ready to start the journey and had already changed into a more sensible travel outfit. She did want a honeymoon, and that kiss they had just shared on the dancefloor rendered her ready to start it. Just at that moment, though, she realized how much she would miss her son.

John placed a kiss on the boy's head. He too was torn. Becoming a father had changed him. He wanted to spend time with his wife, but he didn't want her to suffer. "If you rather we stayed," he started to offer, but Anna cut him off.

They needed their time together. Cancelling was not an option. "No, we'll go, and have a grand time. I just needed a minute with my little guy." She snuggled him tighter and when she was finished, she handed him over carefully to avoid waking him. Elsie received him and Charlie never stirred. It was better this way, Anna thought. If he were awake, he might make a fuss at seeing them go. She placed a kiss on his little head, and then turned to look at her husband.

"I'm ready," she said to him. "Lead the way." She had so much to look forward too.

"Our bags are already in the helicopter," John advised her, as he led her out of the room down the corridor.

The party was still in full swing, and would be for another hour, but they wouldn't be able to depart without fanfare and a ruckus. They had Mary to thank for that. The band started playing the theme from Mission Impossible and Anna was handed the bouquet. She'd almost forgotten that, so intent as she now was to get away and spend some quiet time with her husband. She'd have to toss it, making some woman giddy with excitement while her partner cowered in a corner. By the time she made it to the perfect spot, the women had congregated before her.

John held her as she leaned backwards over the bannister and tossed it. Sybil caught it without much effort, while all the guests applauded. Surprisingly, Tom came out of a corner and kissed her. She didn't even have to look for him. He came to her and that was sweet, thought Anna. She would have been pleased for any of her friends to catch it, as many of them had worthy young men by their sides, but the love she had seen between these two made it all the more pleasant.

They were followed out by all the guests and she and John walked the short path to where the Anna May had been parked and made available for them to use.

"Oh My God, What's this?" she questioned when they reached the helicopter.

John burst out laughing. He hadn't expected the artwork either. "It must have been Tom, William, and Michael who flew it out here." He was so distracted by his wedding that he never saw them working on it in the compound.

The helicopter had been painted over. Much like had been done when they had painted a dragon on Ava for the Make a Wish event; this bird had been primed and decorated. There was a cartoon of John and Anna adorning the side and a huge banner that read "Just Married." It was whimsical and elegant. Cartoon Anna had a wedding gown, and appeared more voluptuous than she really was. Cartoon John had a big head and they'd given him a cane, like the one he had used for several months after the incident. There was a little cupid that was painted above the banner and the word Charlie was stenciled onto a sash. Even their son was represented.

There was a collective cheer from the guests when they realized that Anna and John had been surprised. As expected, the three men responsible for the feat were congregated, proud of their achievement.

John provided a mock salute, acknowledging that they had done well.

"Are we really going to fly with the helicopter like this?" Anna turned pink, but she was taking the joke very well. Her embarrassment aside, she would follow John to the ends of the earth.

"I don't see that we have any choice, darling." John opened the door and dozens of helium filled balloons spilled out. "And the surprises keep coming." They were so focused on the paint; they hadn't looked through the windows. There were at least two dozen and John reached in, making sure none of them remained. All helium filled, they floated to the heavens above.

Anna caught one before they all disappeared. "Oh, they have our names on them." She read "Best Wishes, Mr. and Mrs. Bates" before letting go of the one in her hand. "This is so sweet." She watched it as it elevated itself and disappeared into the night.

She had anticipated that they might tie cans onto the landing skids to make a ruckus, just like was done on the fenders of automobiles, but on second thought, she guessed that it would be too dangerous for a helicopter to haul that type of debris. She'd learned that from watching William, Tom and the pilots continuously scan the landing zone for loose items that could be propelled into the air and damage the rotors. This drawing was their equivalent fun.

"Are there any other surprises?" John asked his men, good-naturedly.

"There's Frank Sinatra, flowers, a blanket, champagne, glasses, and snacks, among other things," Tom shouted. "Anything you might need."

"Well, thank you." John bowed his head again and gave Anna his hand to help her up.

"Wait!" Mary's voice beamed above the crowd that was gathered. "You have to give her one last kiss before you leave."

John stopped what he was doing. Kiss his wife? That was no chore. He would give the people what they wanted. "Of course, I'll kiss my wife."

He took her in his arms and Anna allowed herself to be held. Accompanied by the cheers of the crowd, they kissed. Again, their passions were enflamed. They did need to get out of there.

He helped Anna up, and she took her seat, waving to all of their guests. John walked around to the other side and boarded the helicopter. When he closed the door, he finally felt alone with her. They had an audience, but they couldn't be heard. He reached over and she met him half way for another kiss.

"Mmmm, Mr. Bates, you need to get me to that surprise destination as soon as possible if you don't want to end up giving these people a free show." His kisses were getting more demanding, and she was feeling just as much need as he was.

"Right. Let's get a move on." He turned the engines on and rotors commenced their rotation. The ladies that were still observing their departure had to hold on to their skirts to avoid embarrassing moments.

The inside was much roomier than Maggie had ever been. There was a basket between them, lying over a nice blanket, and at her feet, a container with chilled champagne. The glasses for the champagne were in the basket. Anna turned red as she saw the amenities that had been provided for them. Condoms. Lots of them, with different textures. Different flavored lubricants. Massage oil. Oh God, this was embarrassing. This was provided by their team? How would she ever look at them when they came back? There was a little vase with flowers too, and there was a card attached. "From your team. Put everything to good use and please don't be offended." Everybody had signed it. Oh well….who was she to go against such good intentions?

There was a CD taped to the dashboard with a sign that said, "Play me." Ah, this must be the mood music, thought Anna. Would it be Barry White? Tom Jones? Or Marvin Gaye? After such candid gifts, she couldn't imagine anything else. As John made the final preparations, she pushed it into the music system. The first few notes started. Tom did say it was Frank Sinatra. It took her a moment to realize what the song was and then the lyrics started.

"Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away….."

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A/N: Anna's pregnancy storyline resulted from watching one too many episodes of "I didn't know I was pregnant", but I didn't want to take her ignorance to full term. I read many pregnancy chat boards to know some terminology, but if any mothers among my readers can catch mistakes, please forgive since I have never been pregnant myself.

A final heartfelt thank you for all of the comments regarding the story, and for everybody's patience while it was written. I've appreciated every single comment, follow and favorite.