A/N Once again I owe a huge debt of gratitude to a-lady-to-me who helped tremendously with this chapter. And also a big thank you to all of you who take the time to review each chapter. They really make my day.

My posting schedule is a little funky these days so I just post when I can so here you go. Oh ya, and this chapter is rated M so read at your own risk.

I don't own yadda… yadda… yadda...

"To John, may this year be your best ever." Rob looked from John to Anna and back again, a huge smile on his face, "I have a strong suspicion it will be."

Everyone raised their glasses and said, "To John!" There were smiles all around, each of the others thinking about how glad they were that he had finally found the one who could make him so happy. John took a sip of his champagne and then leaned over to give Anna a soft kiss and hug. Just then the waiter brought a cake with candles and they all sang.

"Make a wish," Leslie shouted.

John locked eyes with his girlfriend and said, "I don't need a wish. I have everything I've ever wanted right here." He smiled broadly and blew out the candles, then pulled Anna close for another kiss. He passed the cake over to Cora and she cut pieces for each of the members of the dinner party.

"Aren't you going to open your presents, John?" Leslie asked from across the table.

"Alright," John affirmed, "but as I've said, I have everything I need right around this table." He smiled at all of the friends gathered there.

"Here, open mine first," Mary handed John a brightly wrapped package, "I'm sure it's the least sentimental so we might as well get it out of the way."

John smiled and began to tear off the paper revealing a cookbook called "The Hook Up Cookbook: How to Impress a Date in the Kitchen".

Mary laughed as she said, "It's really more of a present for you Anna. I'm sure you've had both John's scampi and spaghetti bolognese too many times to count already."

Everyone at the table looked to Anna and laughed. She waved her hands and replied, "I'm not saying a word, not a single word."

"Thank you, dear," John responded with a peck on her cheek, "and thank you Mary, I guess. Next?"

"Here, open mine," Rob said, handing John a very badly wrapped gift.

"Wrapped it yourself, did you?" John smiled.

"I did, thank you very much," Rob feigned being offended, "Nothings too good for you, mate."

"Right," John replied, "and this isn't too good."

"Very funny," Rob scowled.

John opened the package and held up a set of 5 pairs of reading glasses.

"So you can always have a set wherever you are. It's much easier learning your lines if you can actually see them."

Everyone laughed again and Anna looked on skeptically. Finally, Cora leaned over and whispered, "John is famous for losing his reading glasses on set."

"Ah, I see," said Anna.

Rob chimed in, "Yes, you see, but John doesn't!" The table broke into another wave of laughter and John just shook his head.

"Here's our real present John," Cora interjected kindly, "Rob and I are inviting you and Anna to come stay with us for a weekend as soon as your schedule opens up. We'd love to spend some time with you both at our home in the country."

John leaned over and kissed Cora's cheek, "That's lovely, we'll be sure to take you up on that, won't we Anna?"

"Of course we will."

John looked to Rob again and held up his glasses, "I'll be sure to bring these along so I can read the paper in the morning."

"Now mine," Anna handed him a box wrapped in bright red paper. "It's not much really, but I have something special picked out for Christmas."

"You didn't have to get me anything, love. You're already the greatest gift of my life."

He kissed her sweetly and the two remained in an embrace, whispering nothings to each other until Mary interjected, "Yes, yes, you're crazy about each other. We know. Now open your gift; my coffee is getting cold."

John lifted the lid from the box and held up a Manchester United jersey embroidered with the name "Bates" above the number of his favorite player. "This is brilliant, love. Thank you." John smiled happily and gave Anna another kiss.

"I hope you like it," she said, kissing him back, "Leslie helped me pick it out."

"I love it, it's perfect. Thank you to both my girls." He looked at both of them fondly. For some reason it pleased him to no end that the two of them had worked on his present together. It felt like all the pieces of his life were finally fitting together.

"Well here's ours then," Leslie smiled handing over the package she and Tim had brought, "I'm afraid I used up all my creativity helping Anna pick a gift."

John opened the present and found a bottle of very old, single malt scotch.

"We figured if you weren't going to drink often anymore, you might as well have the best for when you do indulge," Tim spoke jovially.

"Wow, this is amazing," John felt humbled by the outpouring of love he was receiving from his friends. "Thank you all so much," he returned his gaze to Anna once more, "This has been the best birthday ever."

They continued to talk and laugh as they finished their cake, coffee and after dinner drinks, but finally, it was time to return home. They walked to the valet together handshaking and hugging as they got into their various cabs.

When John and Anna got to John's flat he was about to open the door when Anna stopped him. "No, let me do the honors," she spoke proudly and brandished her new key before placing it into the lock. It warmed John's heart to see the look of pure delight on his girlfriend's face. As they entered, John flipped on the lights and placed all his presents down on the coffee table. He sat on the sofa where Anna came to join him.

"That was a wonderful night, wasn't it?" she said, tucking her feet under her body and snuggling into John's side.

"Mmmm, it was," he sighed, putting his arm around her and pulling her close. "But the best part was knowing that at the end, I would be going home with you." He kissed her deeply and their hands began to roam each other's bodies. When they stopped briefly, John said, "Anna, I know it was a sacrifice for you to come down here this weekend, but that was the best present of all. I know it's selfish of me, but I just hate being apart from you." His eyes had taken on a pleading look.

"I know," she agreed, "I hate it too, but it's what we have. It's where we are right now. I'm surprised we've been spending as much time together as we have."

"All thanks to you, darling."

"You'd do the same if the situation were reversed. Anyway, in about three weeks we'll get to spend a whole month together." She smiled mischieviously, "I hope you don't get sick of me."

"Not a chance," John kissed her again, "now let's go to bed before I officially turn 47 and there are even more years between us."

"Alright," Anna chuckled. She went to the coffee table and picked up John's new jersey. "I think I'll wear this to bed tonight." She gave him a sultry look and continued, "It will go perfectly with the new red underwear I bought especially for your birthday."

She took his hand and pulled him from the sofa, leading him happily into the bedroom.

No words were exchanged between them as they walked down the hall and into his room. Anna simply led him to the bed, and motioned for him to sit down. John felt his insides tighten. Her taking the lead was definitely one of the sexiest things he'd ever seen. She kissed him deeply, then trailed kisses along his jawline and up to his ear where she whispered, "You stay put, Mr. Bates. Don't move a muscle."

"Yes ma'am," he said huskily, sighing as she pulled away from him. John drank in the delicious sight of her as she sauntered off to the bathroom, giving a little extra sway to her hips, which he was fairly certain was for his benefit. When she closed the door he wanted to undress and be waiting for her but decided it was best to follow her orders tonight.

On the other side of the door Anna found herself slightly nervous. She'd never really thought of herself as a temptress, or as very seductive. How on earth was she going to play this role? But her desire to please him, to give him this gift, far out weighed her insecurities. She knew that John loved her. She knew he desired her. She knew he thought her beautiful and sexy. That knowledge was enough to spur her on. She quickly undressed, removing her bra but leaving the red panties in place. Next, she slipped his jersey over her head, letting it fall to just over her mid-thigh. Looking at herself in the mirror, she decided to take her hair down and give it a good shake. He loved her hair down. She roughed it up a bit, gave her cheeks a pinch, and took a deep breath before she opened the bathroom door.

John couldn't breath. This is it, he thought, this is how I'm going to die. She's actually going to steal my breath away. He had never seen anyone as drop dead gorgeous as Anna looked in that moment. She stood seductively in the doorway of the bathroom, her hair down and mussed, with nothing but his jersey covering her irresistible body. She turned around and flipped off the bathroom light and John could barely contain himself as he saw his name embroidered on her back. The jersey was meant for him, but her wearing the name 'Bates' was another sure sign that Anna was his, and only his.

"Dear god," He practically moaned.

She sashayed over to him, and his eyes were immediately drawn to her legs. They looked impossibly long and perfect beneath the little bit of her that the jersey covered.

"Like what you see?" she asked with a smirk.

"More than like. I think it's safe to say no one has ever worn a jersey so well." He reached out for her as she came within arms length of him, but she shooed him off.

"Uh uh, no touching just yet."

He gave her an exaggerated pout, and she giggled, which only spiked his desire higher. She's definitely going to kill me, but at least I will die an extremely happy man, his thoughts continued.

"Lay back, Mr. Bates, and make yourself comfortable." She placed her hands, one on either of his shoulders, and pushed him gently into a reclining position, her eyes never leaving his.

His sweet Anna had gone into that bathroom, but a bloody temptress had come out of it. It only made him fall more deeply in love with the multi-faceted woman who stood before him.

Without saying a word, and never breaking eye contact, Anna climbed onto the foot of the bed and began crawling towards him. First one sock came off, and then the other. She toyed with the skin of his ankle which much to John's surprise caused a tingle to run through his entire body. He'd never realized that was a sensitive spot for him, and Anna, noticing him shiver, continued her slow torture for a few moments. Then she began moving up his legs, the jersey falling open occasionally, being so loose at the neckline, and giving him a tempting peek at her chest. God, he wanted her so badly.

He practically sailed off the bed when he felt her hand graze his growing arousal, and she gave him a very satisfied smirk in reply. Her fingers lingered, tracing his outline through his trousers. It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced with her before, watching her tease him like she was.

Anna was quite enjoying watching her man squirm beneath her as she played with the zipper of his trousers. He was always making her writhe with anticipation; it was time to turn the tables a bit. Finally, she decided to move things along and very carefully removed his pants, tossing them onto the floor. She was greeted with the sight of his tented boxers which made her almost lose her resolve and take him right then. But no, she wanted this to be about him, another present for his birthday.

Shifting herself further up his body, she straddled him and sat herself just above his knees, giving her plenty of access to his upper body. He closed his eyes as she undid his tie and released it from his collar. Then she unbuttoned his shirt, her fingers lightly tracing down his torso. She was silently thankful that he'd had the forethought to not wear an undershirt. When she unhooked the final button, Anna was greeted by the intoxicating sight of his broad chest and its generous covering of hair. She adored running her hands through it and didn't hold back from indulging in the task now.

Eyes still closed tightly, John groaned at her touch, so soft and yet so firm. He opened his eyes and watched her work her magic over him before begging her to unbutton his cuffs so he could sit up and remove the shirt completely. This left him in only his boxers while Anna was still in the football jersey. He had yet to see these red panties she'd teased him with and he simply could not keep from touching her any longer.

"I think it's time we evened out the playing field, don't you agree Miss Smith?" His voice was thick with desire and Anna didn't try to fight him as he reached for the hem of the jersey.

He hesitated a moment, and then met her eyes, "I meant what I said, no one has ever worn a jersey better. You look impossibly beautiful." He delighted in the blush that rose onto her cheeks. He decided then and there that this jersey was now one of his most prized possessions. He removed it from her body and gently tossed it onto a chair not far from the bed.

He allowed himself to shamelessly gaze upon her stunning body before he spoke again, "May I touch you, Anna?" he asked, wondering if she planned on remaining in control the entire night.

"Yes, please," she whimpered.

He wasted no time, He immediately resting his hands on her hips, feeling a small measure of relief now that he was allowed a more active part in the proceedings. He continued to run his hands slowly up her sides until they rested at the edge of her beautiful breasts. He massaged them and marvelled again at how perfectly they fit in his hands; as if her body were made just for his and his alone. Anna tossed her head back and instinctively began to grind against his hardness. It was then that John looked down and noticed the underwear she'd bought just for this occasion. She groaned with disappointment when his hands left her, but it didn't last long as they resumed their attention on her skin just above her hips.

The lacy red fabric hugged her skin perfectly, the see-through nature of the garment leaving little to his imagination. To John's knowledge, no woman had ever worn anything special for him before but Anna had done so twice in the short time they'd been together as a couple. For some reason, the realization struck him and he found himself having to fight back a rush of emotion. Of course, she noticed the change in his demeanor as he stroked his thumb along the hemline of her panties. She brought her hands up to cup his face.

"Are you alright, my love? Don't you like them?"

He looked at her then. Truly looked at her. He'd never loved anyone the way he loved this woman.

"They are perfect," he stretched each word out slowly, "you are perfect. I love you so much, Anna. I can't even say how much you mean to me."

Her smile was breathtaking. "I love you too," she whispered simply, and when their lips met they were both completely lost and completely at home all at once.

Their kisses and touches turned from loving and soft, to intense and passionate in a matter of minutes. John felt a suddenly desperate desire to show her the intensity of his feelings for her. He braced her with a sturdy arm around her back and flipped them around so he hovered above her.

"My my," she giggled, "someone is getting feisty."

He growled his response, "You haven't seen anything yet."

He plundered her mouth, tongues clashing and moans mingling in a passionate exchange. Somehow he managed to remove his boxers without breaking their contact. He only pulled away to pay special consideration to her underwear. John left hot kisses down the length of her body, straying away to grant each breast a few moments of attention. When he met the top of her sultry red panties, he gave her a wicked grin, took the hem into his mouth, and lowered them down her legs with his teeth.

Anna thought she would spontaneously combust. There was something animalistic about the way John was with her right now and she loved it. Their eye contact was scorching as he made the trek down her legs. When he finally had the article removed he slingshotted them across the room, then gathered the comforter in his fist and tossed it onto the ground as well. Anna bit her lip to keep from laughing, truth be told it was probably one of the most erotic things she'd ever experienced, watching John this way, but something about the intensity of his actions caused her to want to laugh.

"Come here," he purred, and pulled her up and into his arms. She settled against him, her legs wrapped around his body as they sat up in the middle of the bed. His lips were hot, and insistent, begging her and dominating her. She allowed him to leave marks along her shoulder before she pulled him up to her own waiting mouth. The kiss was all consuming and therefore when John joined their bodies together she gasped with shock at the sensation. He filled her deliciously and completely.

He gave her a moment to adjust, leaving even more kisses all over her exposed skin. His arms held her tightly to his chest and her arms secured him into place. They had never been as close as they were in that moment. John loved being joined with Anna in this position. Both them of them clinging to each other, their bodies impossibly meshed together, as if they were simply one entity in the middle of his bed, no their bed. He flexed his hips into her, checking for a sign that she was ready, and when she returned his thrust he cradled the back of her head and softly laid her down.

He couldn't believe the flux of emotions. It seemed they shifted seamlessly from fiery passion, to soft lovemaking, and back without so much as a thought or a word exchanged. They were one, both physically and mentally. It had never been like this with anyone before.

Anna laced their hands together beside her head on the pillow, silently telling John with her expression and her body that it was time to move. He read her plea and began to move within her, hoping to give her as much pleasure as possible. His movements were slow and measured; neither of them breaking eye contact with the other. It was pure bliss, and heat, and love. He was everywhere around her, invading her senses, and loving her body and soul with a reverence she had never felt before.

They whispered words of love and adoration to each other, and as their ends approached John's thrusts became more frantic and less rhythmic. He never let go of her hands, but his grip increased, and she squeezed back, riding the wave of pleasure with him. The sounds of their laboured breathing filled the room while the joining of their bodies filled their senses. There was no need for him to move his hand to bring her pleasure, his movements inside her were more than enough and they reached their completion together.

John buried his face into her neck, his breathing as harsh against her skin as hers was against his shoulder. He kissed her several times until his weight became too much and he was forced to break their connection. He rolled to the side and quickly pulled her into him. Her arms wrapped around his torso and she resumed her place tucked tightly into his shoulder.

"I love you Anna," he whispered the words to the ceiling like a prayer, "I love you, I love you."

"I love you too. So much."

When the heat died down around them, John reached onto the floor and pulled the blankets back onto the bed to cover them and without another word they fell into a blissful, sated sleep.