A/N- Don't really know much about the album making business so I just winged it. Don't think there are any glaring errors but if you know a bit more about it, please drop me a DM and advise :)

A dollop of family fluff before Waterloo Sunset begin their quest for World domination. Thanks for your reviews and favourites.

Disclaimer: Downton belongs to ITV/ Carnival/ Julian Fellowes.

John pushed the buggy in which Dylan was contentedly babbling along the street towards his mother's home, Anna's arm linked within his. As soon as the scan was complete, revealing Anna's pregnancy was moving along perfectly, the first thing John had wanted to do was to go and inform his mother. They had gone to collect Dylan from Gwen, before catching the tube across town.

It had been a bit of a whirlwind since John had landed in London, heading straight to the hospital then to see his mother. But he couldn't wait to tell her his and Anna's news, wanting her to be the first to know, Gwen and Charles aside.

'I feel I've neglected her recently,' John shrugged as they walked up the path to his mother's front door. 'I feel I've neglected you all.'

'John,' Anna sighed gently as they came to a stop a couple of feet from the front door. She knocked it gently. 'I am not going to have this conversation again. You are doing something so amazing, and you know you'd have regretted it if you hadn't taken the chance. This could be so huge.'

'Hmmm. We'll see.' Before Anna had the opportunity to reply, Helen was opening the door.

'Oh, my darling boy,' Helen exclaimed upon seeing who had visited her.

'Hello Mam,' John replied.

Helen was leaning down, placing her hands gently on Dylan's cheeks. 'Oh, not you, I was talking to my grandson.'

'Thanks Mam,' John looked to Anna and rolled his eyes. 'I hope it's not a bad time, just thought we'd stop by.'

'The three of you could never pick a bad time to come and see me,' Helen stepped aside, sharing an embrace with Anna as she walked past, and pinching John's cheek as he followed his wife. 'But I thought you were in Denmark, my boy.'

'No, Sweden Mam,' John corrected his mother as Anna lifted Dylan from his buggy. 'And the recording is finished. The songs we've recorded are in post production and we have a meeting in two weeks with the record company to decide which songs make the final cut for the album.'

'I'm pleased for you son,' Helen said gently, resting a hand on his arm. 'Your Dad would be so proud.'

'Yeah, well,' John clenched his jaw, clearing his throat. His Dad had been close to his heart whilst he was in Sweden, having been the one to instil his love of music within him. 'Anyway, we have some more news that we wanted you to be the first to know.'

Within a few minutes, John and Anna were in the living room, Anna on the sofa whilst Dylan played happily by her feet, his father next to him on the floor. Helen insisted she made them some tea.

'I can't believe he's sitting up,' John stared at his son in wonder. Dylan was now displaying a fine mop of dark hair like his father, and piecing blue eyes like his mother. The perfect embodiment of them both. 'It's incredible.'

'Yeah, well at ten months he should be starting to crawl, but because he was premature that might take a bit longer.'

'Oh that's alright,' shaking his head, John placed a hand on her knee and looked up at his wife behind him. 'He's our little miracle. '

'He sure is.'

His eyes fell to Anna's stomach. 'Soon to be joined by another little miracle.'

'I'm so excited,' Anna placed a hand where the new life inside her was growing. 'I just can't believe it John.'

Just as John was about to place his hand atop Anna's, Helen announced her arrival by chiding her son.

'John Bates, I almost tripped over you then.'

'Sorry Mam,' John lifted himself to sit beside Anna, 'just can't believe how much my little boy has grown up whilst I've been away.'

'He's a bonny wee thing,' Helen had to agree, handing John and Anna their drinks. 'your darling wife has been bringing him over to see me once a week with that lovely girl, Gwen is it?'

'Yeah, Gwen,' Anna nodded her head. 'She's been amazing whilst you were away.'

'Not helping me with the guilt I feel, darling.'

'And I keep telling you, it's alright,' Anna reiterated her words from earlier, before taking a sip of her tea.

Helen could sense the change in atmosphere, so decided to divert the topic of conversation. 'So what's this news no one else could possibly hear first but me?'

Anna and John exchanged a smile before John placed his tea on the coffee table and lifted Dylan into his arms. 'Would you like to tell her?'

'No, you tell her,' was Anna's reply, she nearly giddy with her happiness.

'Will someone tell me?' Helen asked impatiently. John met Anna's gaze and nodded, his wife turning to face her mother in law.

'I'm pregnant.'

'Oh, my darlings,' Helen brought her hands to face, she seemingly as shocked as Anna and John had been when they found out. She rose to her feet, Anna and John reciprocating her movements. 'That's wonderful news.'

She wrapped Anna in an embrace, the smile threatening to break John's face in two as he looked on at the two women he loved the most in the world. Kissing Dylan on the temple, he wondered if he had ever felt happier in his entire life. All of a sudden, he happened upon an idea. An idea that would ease the guilt he had been feeling, albeit unnecessarily in the eyes of his wife.

'Can we go away, the four of us?'

'What?' Anna's brow was furrowed as she turned to look at her husband.

'Yeah, my treat,' John continued, bouncing Dylan in his arms. 'Dylan's first family holiday. We could take him to the Isle Of Wight, you used to take me there all the time when I was a kid, Mam.'

Helen shrugged, her look as confused as Anna's. 'That sounds lovely, my boy. But what has brought this on?'

'Well, the weather is still nice, and whilst I have these two weeks before life will probably turn crazy, I want to spend some time with the three most important people in my life.'

'I've never been to the Isle of Wight,' Anna smiled, looking at John. 'You sure?'

'I am.'

'I suppose the girls won't mind if I miss bingo just this once,' Helen remarked, tapping her chin. 'If you are sure, John, that sounds wonderful.'

Anna stood aside as John packed the car, Helen busy getting Dylan comfortable in the passenger seats. He had booked them a long weekend on the Isle Of Wight, the weathermen predicting a mini heat wave just across the Solent. They were to stay in Ryde in a Bed and Breakfast with a view overlooking the seafront.

'You know, we could buy our own car instead of asking to borrow Robert's the whole time.'

'I'll get around to it,' John assured his wife, gently placing his guitar upon the carefully loaded luggage. 'Blimey, you'd think we were going for four weeks, rather than four nights.'

'Do you really need to bring the guitar?' Anna rolled her eyes.

John shrugged his shoulders. 'You never know when inspiration might strike.'

'What time is the ferry across, John?'

Helen's Irish burr came through the open boot to them standing at the back of the vehicle. 'Ten Mam.'

'Best get a move on then, it's half seven now and it's an hour and forty minute drive to Portsmouth, my boy. That's not taking into account the traffic and checking in.'

'Yes Mam,' John sighed, shutting the boot whilst Anna giggled beside him. 'Who invited her?'

'Don't be mean,' Anna gently hit John on the top of his arm, he pretending to be injured.

'Ouch,' John exclaimed, rubbing his arm furiously. 'That's my guitar strumming arm.'

'That didn't hurt.' Anna rested an arm around his waist before leaning on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. 'Thanks for this.'

'No need to thank me, it's the least I could do before I…'

'Don't even carry on with that sentence,' Anna silenced him by placing her finger on his lips. 'I for one can't wait to hear the songs you've written with your band.'

'Look, if we don't leave now we will miss the boat.'

'Yes Mam,' John's voice was slightly harsher than he would have liked, but Helen mustn't have noticed as she slammed the car door shut once more. He met Anna's gaze with his own, eyebrows raised. 'We best get going.'

The weather was glorious as John, Anna and Helen took Dylan for a walk along the seafront in Ryde. Their bed and breakfast was most satisfactory, Helen having her own room on the floor below John and Anna. All had agreed it was nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and to be awoken at the crack of dawn not by the busy city traffic but the noises of birds instead, even if they happened to be seagulls.

Helen had arranged for a picnic to be made for her family to take on the beach so they could make a day of it. There was plenty to do on the seafront with a little one, John looking forward to taking Dylan for a paddle in the sea. He had never imagined he'd take his own child on holiday to the seaside, and John was determined to savour every moment.

'He certainly seems content,' Helen remarked as they took their first steps on to the beach, Dylan chatting away using words that made perfect sense to him, if not the adults who accompanied him.

'He's always trying to talk at the moment,' Anna smiled as she pressed a kiss to his head.

'John was the same,' Helen continued as they treaded the sand to find a spot to call their own for the next few hours. 'Always chatting. His Dad joked he'd be the next Michael Parkinson.'

'Yeah, Dad was hilarious,' John said absent-mindedly as he placed the box containing their picnic on the sand in a place he believed was perfect.

'Oh no, not here Johnny,' Helen said shaking her head, picking up the box before turning around. She pointed into the distance. 'Over there, it's more shady.'

'Yeah, and it's also closer to the ice cream van,' John replied, Anna laughing at the interaction between mother and son. He wagged a finger at his mother. 'I know your game.'

Once they were fed and watered, John was seriously considering taking Dylan for his first paddle in the sea. The boy seemed quite happy to play with his bucket and spade however, even if he didn't understand its purpose. Hitting the sand repeatedly with his spade certainly seemed like a fun way to be spending his time.

'I could really go for a mint choc chip ice cream,' Helen said suggestively in John's direction, he pretending to ignore her and help Dylan load his bucket with sand.

'Oh, that sounds good,' Anna joined in, gently rubbing her big toe against John's elbow as he sat with Dylan in front of them.

'I'm helping my son build a sandcastle,' John replied, not bothering to turn around.

'So, have you thought about any names for the new one?' Helen asked.

'I haven't even got my head around the fact we're having another one,' Anna replied, looking at the back of John's head. 'How about you, darling?'

'Not a clue,' John shook his head.

'Well, there's plenty of time for that,' Helen looked over at the ice cream van longingly. 'Oh John, there isn't a queue. It won't take you a minute.'

'Mother,' John whined, looking up towards the heavens.

'Go on, my treat.'

'I can help with Dylan's sandcastle whilst you are gone.' Anna suggested helpfully, John scowling at her over his shoulder. With a groan of exasperation, John heaved himself to his feet, Dylan watching his movements.

'I'm just here to be at your beck and call, aren't I?' John took the ten pound note Helen was handing to him.

The next sound they heard was so soft, so gentle John was sure he had imagined it. Anna's eyes were focussed on their son, her face beaming as she looked at him. John hadn't misheard.

'Did he just say what I think he did,' John murmured, looking down at his son.

Dylan was pointing up at John, a gummy smile upon his lips. 'Dada.'

'I don't believe it,' John reached down to lift Dylan into his arms, holding him tightly against him.

'Oh John,' Anna was close to tears, her hands on her cheeks as she rose to stand beside her son and her husband. 'His first word, and it was Dada.'

'I'm happy for you, my boy,' Helen cooed, 'what a wonderful moment.'

John nodded at his mother, unable to stop smiling. He leant down to meet Anna's lips in a kiss, the two of them so proud of their little boy. 'I will go and get you those ice creams now.'

It had been a wonderful few days. After Dylan's initial breakthrough at the beach, 'Dada' had been almost the only thing he had said. Over and over again. If Anna had felt a little put out his first word had been in reference to John, she hadn't let is show as she encouraged her son to continue to develop his language.

They had visited the zoo together, Dylan enjoying very much the sounds the parrots made, and watching the monkey's as they went about their business. He was his own little person now with his own personality, his own likes and dislikes and John often had to stop and appreciate how much he and his wife had been through to reach this point.

The last night of their break had arrived, and Helen had stubbornly insisted she would watch Dylan whilst John and Anna spent a couple of hours alone. Since John had come home from Sweden they hadn't really had any time alone, and after a while both admitted it would be quite nice to be alone together. After dinner, they had decided to take a walk along the seafront, the summer months meaning it was still light outside.

'Come on, Anna.' John tried to encourage his wife as they reached the Crazy Golf course. 'It will be a laugh.'

'I've never played crazy golf a day in my life,' Anna replied, her arms folded and her tongue firmly in her cheek.

'I'm no expert but don't worry, I'll help you.' John wiggled his eyebrows in her direction.

'Oh no, never let it be said Anna Bates doesn't tackle challenges head on. I can manage'

Over the next hour, Anna wondered if marriages had ever ended during a game of crazy golf. John thrashed her on each and every hole, clearly he wasn't a novice at this sport. Anna wasn't a violent woman, but the clown on hole number eight very nearly received a club on his big red nose. However, she had remained determined John wouldn't assist her

'Last hole,' John said as he scribbled on their score card.

'Thank goodness,' Anna sighed.

'Your turn first,' he said, gesturing towards the giant windmill in the middle of the range.

'What's the point?' Anna asked, lining up her ball on the tee. 'I will take about six attempts to get it through the door whilst you are waiting for me at the end.'

'Let me help you on this one?'

Admitting defeat, Anna nodded her permission. John came to a stop behind her, the front of his body pressed up against her back. He reached out in front of him, placing his hands over the top of Anna's on the club. It was intimate and it wasn't all at the same time, it had been a while since they had been this close to one another.

John's tone was teasing as he spoke. 'You know, the way I feel when we're this close I wonder how we're only expecting our second child.'

'Cheeky,' Anna replied with a smile in her voice, she subtly pushing back against him. 'Are you going to help me or not?'

John moved Anna's arms with his, the swing smoother than Anna's attempts alone, she noted. The gentle clock of club hitting ball was heard, before the white sphere travelled along the green surface towards the door of the windmill. It passed through first time.

'There you go,' John said as the two of them moved from their position to see where the ball would end up. Anna couldn't believe it as they caught the ball exiting the windmill and trundle directly into the hole. 'Hole in one.'

'Only because you helped me.'

'As they say, two stars shine more brightly than one.'

After Anna had eventually been magnanimous in defeat, they both decided to take a walk on the beach. It was so quiet and peaceful, and both felt as if they were the only two people in existence. They used to walk a lot early on in their courtship, both lost in each others company they had walked miles before realising. The sun was now setting, and stars were beginning to lighten the night sky. They would need to get back to the bed and breakfast soon.

'Shall we sit?' Anna suggested when they reached a gathering of large rocks beside the boundary wall of the beach. 'Just for a moment.'

'Okay,' John agreed, following his wife. He sat first, opening his legs slightly for Anna to sit between them. She leant back against him as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders, his hands coming to rest on her stomach. They sat in silence for a time, the waves crashing in the distance the only sound. It was John who broke the stillness, gently pressing his lips to Anna's temple.

'I missed you like crazy when I was away Anna. It was like an illness or something. I ached for you.'

'I know,' Anna gently rubbed the back of his leg. 'I felt the same.'

'It's the one thing I'd change about being in the band,' John continued, 'missing you and being away from home.'

'We've both been through worst experiences in our life, those experiences have made us strong enough to live with this.'

'Yeah.'

'Anyway, let's not talk about that now,' Anna placed her hands on top of John's. 'What do you want? A boy or a girl?'

John smiled at her question, entwining his fingers with those of his wife. 'Honestly? If I could choose, a girl. But another boy would be just as welcome.'

'I'd be happy with either, as well. As long as we don't have to go through what we did with Dylan. The doctor seems pretty confident I'll carry to term this time.'

'Thank goodness.'

'Any names?' Anna questioned further, 'for this little girl you'd like.'

'Crikey, I haven't given it much thought,' John thought for a moment. 'I suppose I'd like Helen as one of the middle names after my Mum. 'But as for first names, I've no idea.' Just then, John felt his phone buzz in his pocket, removing it to see a message from Jack. 'Jack's reminding me about our meeting with Anthony and Evelyn in a couple of days, midday at the office.'

'As if you'd forget,' Anna said, John humming his agreement. 'You're deciding the final track list for the album?'

'Hopefully, if Strallan liked our efforts.'

'I'm sure he will,' Anna replied reassuringly. John didn't answer, putting his phone back in his pocket. 'Come on, lets get back.'

John and his band mates sat in the big office that belonged to Anthony Strallan, silence echoing around the room save for the rhythmic tap of Jack's shoe against the floor. It was like being back at school, waiting for the project you had worked hard on to be marked. John knew what they had produced was good, Lars in Sweden had said as much. But Anthony Strallan had the final say on whether it was good enough to release an album.

Movement outside of the giant glass panels that made up the wall of the office caught each of the men's attention, they watching as Strallan opened the door, followed by Evelyn who was carrying a pile of papers and a music player dock, an iPod connected to it.

'Lads, lads,' he said enthusiastically, each of them standing up to greet their boss, shaking his hand. He indicated for them to sit. 'Evelyn's been playing me some of your tunes.'

'And?' Michael asked.

Strallan grinned, looking to an equally smug looking Evelyn. 'Fantastic. Bloody fantastic. I mean some efforts are better than others but there is definitely enough quality to make an album.'

'Yes,' Jack exclaimed, 'I knew it.'

'Now, myself and Evelyn both believe Love Like Stars, the song you performed on the radio should be the lead single. The production on it is unbelievable.'

'Congratulations John,' Charles said, patting his band mate on the back. 'It's a brilliant choice.'

'It really is,' Michael had to agree, Jack nodding his co operation as well.

'But the eclectic mix of songs, it's going to make for a great album.' Anthony lifted the pile of papers, the band realising they were the lyrics to the songs they had written. 'So I propose we listen to each song, and sort them into yeses, maybes and nos.'

'It seems harsh,' Evelyn chipped in, 'but it's not personal. We just want to make this album the best it can be because we have high hopes for the four of you. Very high hopes.'

'So Love Like Stars is the first yes,' Strallan said, sorting through the papers until he found the lyrics. John reached across for the paper, feeling a shiver down his spine as he saw Bates and Blake as the writers beneath the title. This was really happening. The lyrics he had written were there in black and white.

A few hours passed as each song was played, and it was a relief that it was difficult to pick which songs to cut, rather than which to put on the album. John's song about Dylan, as well as his big 'Motown' number had made it onto the track list. A couple of Jack's 'toe tappers' were on there too, to compliment the rocky and orchestra driven ballads John had written with Charles. There were a few compositions all four band members had worked on together, and all were pleased a number of those had made it too.

It had been a difficult task but as the clock moved closer to five, all believed they had chosen the best possible tracks for Waterloo Sunset's debut album, fifteen in total.

'So what happens now?' Jack asked, the lyrics of the fifteen songs chosen on the desk in front of them.

'We submit this list to the producers and they master the tracks before we put them onto the album. They decide if any bits need re recording, which can be done here in London,' Evelyn was quick to assure everybody. 'The process should take a few weeks, then we'll look into booking you guys on some publicity for Love Like Stars and release that. You'll then take the tracks on the road supporting Harry Thompson on his tour, hopefully with a top ten single under your belts.'

'You think it's that good?' John enquired, unable to believe what he was hearing.

'Yes John,' Strallan replied, 'it's got hit written all over it.'

'We really are very impressed with your work, guys,' Evelyn repeated his and Strallan's thoughts from earlier. 'Be prepared for you lives to change. Big time.'