A/N- The last part is M rated, which gives you an idea how this chapter goes. Thank you for your reviews, follows and favourites as always.

Disclaimer- Nothing belongs to us...

Opening her eyes, momentarily confused as to her surroundings, Anna sat up. She was in the living room, the throw from the chair falling from her lap to the floor. Memories of the previous night seeped into her mind. She had spoken to John, told him she wanted to work things out, then she had fallen asleep in his arms. However this morning, his reassuring presence was not behind her.

It was then that she looked at the time, it was nearing nine o clock. Saturday. The twins would usually have woken her by now. The twins. Anna rose to her feet, walking to the living room door and opening it. As soon as she was in the hallway, her ears were filled with noises from the kitchen.

Anna walked to just outside the doorway and leant against the wall, stopping to take in the scene before her. Jean was stood at the kitchen counter, buttering some toast and chatting happily to Michael. He was holding his little sister, she sitting contentedly in one arm whilst Michael worked his way through his cereal with his free hand. John, who was dressed in his training kit, had his back to the door, Heath leant over his right shoulder whilst his Dad was trying to wind him. It was the picture of domestic bliss.

'Anna, love.'

Jean had noticed her, Anna standing up straighter upon hearing her name and taking a few steps into the kitchen. She met John's gaze, his smirk in her direction affecting her in the way it always had. It had felt nice to have spent the night in his arms.

'Morning,' Anna said, her voice still gruff with sleep. 'The twins been up long?'

'Only an hour or so,' John was quick to reply as Anna sat beside him, stroking Heath on the back. 'Mia woke at four and in turn woke her brother but I settled them back down and they slept till half seven.'

'You should have woken me, you have work today.'

'It was no bother,' John insisted, handing their son to Anna and making sure he held her attention before continuing, 'I slept better last night than I have done in a long time.'

'Me too,' Anna agreed with a nod of the head, a slight smile playing on her lips.

'Will you have some breakfast, Anna love?'

'Just some toast please, Jean,' Anna replied, settling Heath in his arms as John rose to his feet. She looked up at him. 'Who have you got today?'

'Crawley Town,' John answered before looking to his eldest son. 'Are you coming today, Mikey?'

'Obviously. I'm meeting Nathan and his Dad before the match. Anna's dropping me off in Downton on the way to Mary's.'

Nathan and Michael had formed a solid friendship after being in the same form group at school, through their mutual love of Downton Athletic and being selected to play for Matthew's youth team, before Michael broke his leg.

'Ahh yes, you're doing the food for tomorrow with Mary, aren't you?' John addressed his wife, 'are the twins going with you?'

'No, your mother has agreed to look after them. Some women from her afternoon club wanted to meet them.'

'Really,' John raised his eyebrows. 'I don't know about you, my love but perhaps we should start charging for these little public appearances our children are making.'

His remark caused Anna to chuckle, and John couldn't fail to see the smile on Jean's face. 'I need to go, Robert wants to go over what he missed yesterday.'

'Good luck,' Anna reached out to take John's hand in hers, gently squeezing it. John's gesture took her by surprise but he welcomed it all the same.

'Thank you,' John lifted his head to look at Michael. 'See you later, son.'

John couldn't help the smile that threatened to split his face in two as he made his way to the front door. Picking up his bag, John looked back over his shoulder, the laughter between the people he had left behind echoing down the hall. Perhaps things were going to be alright after all.

Anna watched as Michael walked towards Nathan and his Dad outside the home turnstiles. Her step son afforded her a wave before Anna drove away safe in the knowledge he was now with his friends. It still felt strange to be driving away from Highclere Stadium on a match day, but Anna was the first to admit she was never the biggest football fan.

The job she had with the team had given her a chance to start again, and Anna had been grateful Mary had pulled the strings that she had but she had never been one for getting into the games.

The Crawley's had been so supportive in her hour of need, and Anna would be eternally grateful to them. Not only for Robert's offer of a job, but for bringing her to Downton in the first place. Her life had only really begun when she moved here, when she'd met John.

John. Anna still couldn't believe the way he had spoken to her mother, in defence of her. No one had ever really stood up and fought for her before, certainly not a man. It was going to take time, but in the cold light of day after the night before, it felt good that they had taken steps to get back on the right path again. She missed him, pure and simple.

Stuck in traffic on the way to Mary's, Anna turned on her stereo to listen out for any reports on what might be causing the standstill. She looked to the display on the dash, expecting to see the radio stations call signal but instead it read, 'Reading CD.' Anna was sure she had left the radio on when she got out of the car the previous evening. It was then that music began to fill the car, and Anna released a small chuckle when she recognised the tune.

'Oh John,' she sighed aloud. He had clearly been in her car and left her a little musical message, so to speak like he had done on the occasions she had borrowed his 4 x 4.

'Everybody wants a little time away, I heard her say, from each other…'

'Such a cliché,' she said to herself, shaking her head as the traffic ahead began to move. She didn't stop the song though, allowing it to play on as she negotiated the roundabout she was approaching.

'Hold me now, it's hard for me to say I'm sorry. I just want you to stay. After all that we've been through, I will make it up to you, I promise to. And after all that's been said and done, you're just a part of me I can't let go.'

'You eejit,' Anna whispered under her breath, feeling the unmistakable stinging of tears in her eyes. Although John made her happier than she had ever had been, he had never been overly romantic, only when it really mattered. This was one of those times though, Anna supposed.

As the intensity of the song increased, the early afternoon sun was beginning to affect her vision. Reaching for the visor above her head as she joined the back of yet another queue of cars, a flash of yellow caught her eye. Anna looked up to see a post it note, John's handwriting recognisable.

You're my everything. I love you x

Anna lifted a hand to run her fingers over John's handwriting. This was why she had to fight for her marriage, this was why it was worth it. He had hurt her, but John was making the effort. Now she decided, it was time for Anna to do the same.

'So what's got you all chipper?' Robert asked as the team left their changing room for the warm up. John met Robert's gaze, trying to remain nonchalant but his smile gave him away. 'Has this got something to do with the lovely Anna?'

'Perhaps,' John shrugged as he walked to the tactics board, wiping off the formation from the previous match.

'You can't fool me, John Bates. We go back over twenty years.'

John exhaled deeply before turning around to regard his friend. 'She wants to work things out.'

'That's fantastic news,' Robert enthused, walking to John and slapping him on the back. 'Does this mean you'll stop being moody around the place, now?'

John shook his head then turned back to the task in hand, of writing the formation for today's match on the board. 'My wife wasn't speaking to me. How was I meant to have been acting?'

'Shows the differences in the length of our marriages,' Robert continued, scrutinising John's handwriting over his shoulder. 'When Cora doesn't speak to me, I see it as a blessing.'

John didn't reply initially, busily scribbling down the names of the players on the board as he was. 'She's with Mary today, sorting out the food for tomorrow. Which reminds me. What are you wearing, so we can avoid the fashion faux pas of the 1990 PFA awards?'

'I told you I was wearing the green suit that evening,' Robert argued, 'just because you're Irish doesn't give you the monopoly on emerald coloured clothing. I'm wearing a grey suit with a green and black tie.'

'So the club suit, then?'

'Why pay for a new suit when you don't need to?'

'Because you are Heath's Godfather, doesn't he deserve a new suit?'

'It's been to cleaners,' Robert argued. John offered him an annoyed glare. 'Fine, I'll wear a different tie.'

'Thanks for making an effort.' John's voice was dripping with sarcasm. The team was now complete, John and Robert taking a step back to analyse it. 'There they are. The men we have moulded into a team on the cusp of the League One play offs.'

'Yeah, who'd have thought a bunch of no hopers would actually turn out to be quite good?'

'Certainly not me with the encouragement you give them,' John answered with a chuckle. 'Nelson needs to be careful today, though. One more booking and he misses the rest of the season.'

'Well, lets hope we get the three points we need to make the play off's today, or I'll be one sour Godfather at the church tomorrow.' Robert moved to the door, pushing it open before turning to look back at John over his shoulder. 'And it is great to have you back in the room, Norm.'

John walked down the stairs, clutching his suit jacket over his shoulder. He had a blinding headache, perhaps down to the celebrations after Downton clinched a play off spot, and he had decided to wear his glasses for today's proceedings. He hadn't yet shown Anna what he was wearing, given their difficulties over the past few weeks and he was hoping she'd appreciate the efforts he had gone to. It seemed like Jean and Michael were still getting ready, and John was glad of a little time alone with his wife and their babies. Stopping just short of the living room door, John had to catch his breath as he saw Anna clutching Mia in her arms.

His daughter looked gorgeous in a frilly white dress, a bow of the same colour sitting upon her blonde curls which were slowly getting longer as the days passed. However it was Anna who John couldn't take his eyes away from, looking absolutely resplendent in a knee length light blue dress, her blonde hair resting on her shoulders. She was stunning.

It was then that Heath began to kick up a fuss in his bouncy chair, Anna turning to tend to him before she looked up to see John entering the room. Their eyes locked and Anna felt like her knees had turned to jelly. He was wearing a dark blue suit with a tartan pattern woven into the fabric, one she had mentioned to John she liked on a shopping trip months ago. He had remembered, and was also wearing the light blue shirt and a tie which matched the colour of the suit she had suggested would go nicely.

'I'll get Heath,' John said as he lifted his son up into his arms. He was wearing a little cream coloured three piece suit and looked every inch the suave gentleman to John, even if he was only a little over four months old.

'You're wearing your glasses, everything alright?'

'Yeah, just can't shift a headache. I'll take them off before the Christening if you want.'

'No,' Anna said rather over eagerly, backtracking as John met her gaze. 'I mean, they look nice and if they help your headache, all the better.'

A beat of silence passed then, the two of them simply looking at each other before Anna began to speak. 'Do the twins look okay?'

'They look perfect,' John replied, the emotion in his voice clear for Anna to hear. 'And you look wonderful, as well. For the record.'

'Thank you.' Her smile was beautiful, reaching her eyes and all of a sudden John realised what he nearly lost. The thought that Anna might have never smiled at him again was devastating. 'And you look very handsome, too.'

John moved closer to Anna, he holding Heath and Anna, Mia. She knew he was about to kiss her, and Anna didn't know if she was relieved or frustrated when John's mother came bustling into the room.

'I've laid out the plates and cutlery for later, Anna.' Jean announced her arrival, coming into the room as she fastened her watch on her wrist, the time piece that was a gift from her husband and that she only wore on special occasions.

'Making sure a piece of Dad is with us, Mum?'

'What?' Jean furrowed her brow before recognising John was relating to her watch. 'Oh, the watch. Something like that, Johnny. He would have been so proud to see how far you've come, my lad and he'd have loved to be here today.'

'I know,' John nodded, acknowledging the tremor in his mother's voice and taking a step towards her, resting an arm around her shoulder and kissing her temple. 'Thanks Mammy.'

And again, Anna was reminded of the family she had married into as Michael walked into the room, Jean and John praising his appearance as he appeared in the living room doorway. Supportive of each other, unconditional love. That was they shared, none of it forced or fake. It was very real and very natural. She suddenly felt very lucky to be a Bates. Not only did she have John, but a second mother in Jean and an elder son in Michael. They were her family now, and Anna couldn't have wished for a better one.

Sure, John had made mistakes but she could see in his reaction that he loved her with all of his heart. Life without him simply wasn't an option and deep down, Anna knew it was never going to come to that. Like the song that had played in her car the day before, the lyric that said 'after all that we've been through.' She and John had been through too much for Anna to let this break them.

On the way to the church, Anna had had to ask John to stop with leaving the stereo on songs that demonstrated how sorry he was, What Makes A Man by Westlife playing through the speakers. He had tried to defend himself, saying it was just coincidence but Anna didn't buy his excuses, remembering the many times her husband had berated her for making him listen to boy bands and the like.

The christening had been wonderful and all that Anna was hoping for for her little ones. The Godparents had taken to their task with the utmost seriousness and pride, Anna left in no doubt she and John had made the right choices for the people to lead their children's spiritual guidance.

Mia had absolutely hated her moment at the font, her cries echoing around the grand church. Laughter harmonised with her whimpering, Anna lifting her head to look at John, who offered her a subtle wink in response. She released a breath at that, unable to avert her gaze before the vicar handed a now screaming Mia back to her to settle.

The gathering at the house had been eventful, especially when Heath decided to redecorate his new Godfather's club suit. After wailings of 'I just had this cleaned' and Robert being reminded that it 'can just be cleaned again' by Cora, John's best friend decided to see the funny side.

Michael went to bed after their guests had left, Jean following shortly after leaving John and Anna alone to get the twins ready for the night. Throughout the day, John had noticed how much more friendlier Anna was being towards him, and it thoroughly warmed his heart. Going from how they were a few days ago to now, John thanked his lucky stars the situation between them was beginning to improve.

'It will be their first birthday before we know where we are,' Anna remarked as she did the final popper on Mia's baby gro, John still working on Heath's nappy beside her at the changing table.

'They are only four months,' John reminded his wife, reaching behind Heath for the baby wipes. 'They still have to sit up, start to crawl, walk. Lots of firsts to see.'

Anna lay Mia down in her cot, pulling her blanket over her legs. 'I do believe you are getting sentimental, Mr Bates.'

John looked at Anna, noting the smirk on her lips before shaking his head. 'No. I just don't want them growing up too quickly. They are too little to talk back or run away at the moment. Wait until they are two or three. You'll be longing for these days.'

'I can't wait to see you chasing around after them.'

'Hey, lets just hope with my knee I'll be able to.'

'I did tell you not to play in that match, didn't I?'

John rolled his eyes before sighing. 'Yes, you did. I should learn to listen to you in future, eh?'

'Finally, he gets it.' Anna peered into Mia's cot, fully expecting to have to settle her off to sleep. 'Wow, she must have been tired. She's out like a light.'

'Just like her mother,' John remarked, lifting Heath from the table and resting him in the crook of his arm. 'If you're tired you are usually asleep as soon as your head touches the pillow.'

'Do you think she's like me?' Anna asked, her voice dreamy as she stared at her daughter over the side of her cot.

'Most definitely,' John replied without a hint of doubt in his tone. 'You're both my beautiful girls.' His words hung in the air as Anna searched for his gaze, he could see she was blushing and he cleared his throat in response. 'I'll just settle Heath then we'll tackle that washing up, eh?' Anna nodded, lifting up the monitor on her way out of the room. 'I'll sleep in here with the twins tonight?'

'If that's okay,' Anna replied shyly, stopping with her hand on the doorknob. John felt his heart sink. He had thought after the wonderful day they had with their friends and with what happened on Friday night, she might be ready for them to take the next step. Still, he had all the time in the world for her. And with those words, Anna left the room.

It was a rare occurrence, the house all to themselves, John pondered as he travelled home from Downton's last match of the season. They had secured a play off position a couple of games previously and John had left the team behind celebrating. Jean was down in London visiting friends, and Michael was at Nathan's for a sleepover so John thought he would surprise Anna with a date night. She had fully expected him to be joining his colleagues in their festivities to celebrate the teams fine achievement so would be shocked to see him.

He looked down at the passenger seat of the car, smiling as he saw the bunch of red roses he had bought for her. It had been a couple of weeks since the Christening, and the situation between them had been improving with each passing day. They had shared a cuddle on the sofa every night, working their way through episodes of Friends. They weren't John's first choice but he was trying to repair a marriage after all.

As he pulled onto the drive, John's heart was beating wildly in anticipation of Anna's face upon seeing him. He was hoping it would be a nice surprise, however doubts suddenly crept into his mind. What if she had a quiet night planned and had been looking forward to the time alone? Tapping the steering wheel as he looked through the living room window, he exhaled a breath before taking the flowers in hand. If she wanted time alone, all he had to do was go upstairs. It wasn't a big deal.

Once carefully across the gravel of the driveway, John unlocked the front door. As soon as he was inside, he wasn't surprised to see Anna appear at the living room doorway. 'Hello.'

'Hi, I wasn't expecting you back until late.'

John shut the door behind him. 'I thought being here with my wife was more important than Robert forcing me to sing Michael Bolton on karaoke.'

She smirked at that, John was relieved to see. 'It's a lovely surprise.'

'Good.' John exhaled a breath before stepping forward, revealing the flowers he had been hiding. 'These are for you.'

'Oh John, they're beautiful,' Anna took the flowers from him before reaching up on her tiptoes and placing a kiss on his cheek. 'Thank you.'

'They are no more than you deserve.'

Taking a step back, Anna smiled at him once more before turning on her heel and striding towards the kitchen. 'I'll just put them in some water.'

'Alright,' John followed the path she had just taken. 'Twins in bed?'

'Yep, both out for the count,' Anna replied as she took a vase from the cupboard and began to fill it.

'Alone at last.'

Their eyes met across the room, and it took all the willpower Anna had to not cross the room and wrap her arms around his shoulders, to cover his lips with her own. These past couple of weeks Anna had been remembering why she fell in love with John in the first place. The hurt he had caused was lessening. He had been the perfect gentleman, nothing was too much trouble and she had loved being in his arms each and every night whilst they did something as mundane as watching the television.

'What do you want to do this evening, then?'

'I thought we'd carry on with your box set if you'd like?' John suggested, watching as Anna began to prepare the roses for putting them in water.

'Sounds lovely.' Just then, a whimper could be heard on the monitor from the living room. Anna sighed, looking to the ceiling. 'They were both flat on their backs, I wonder what the matter is.'

As she began to walk towards the door, John stepped in front of her to block her path. 'I'll go, you finish sorting your flowers then go and get the DVD loaded. I won't be a minute.'

'Alright, thank you.'

John climbed the stairs towards the twins nursery. As soon as he opened the door, John was hit with the smell of a dirty nappy. Heath was crying. 'Woah, no wonder you're upset, mate. Let's change you, shall we?'

Lifting him from the cot, John set about changing him as quickly and as quietly as he could, wary of a sleeping Mia beside him. However, just as he was reaching for the wipes, John felt something warm and wet on his top, he still wearing his match day clothes. Looking down, John saw that Heath was happily relieving himself on his Dad's white Downton Athletic polo shirt.

'Ah, Heath,' John hissed under his breath, stepping back from the change table but the damage was already done. 'You just couldn't wait, could you son?'

Looking from left to right, momentarily confused as to what action to take, John carefully pulled his shirt up over his head and tossed it towards the door. 'That will have to go straight in the washing machine, young man. I ask you, peeing on a Downton shirt. Is this your way of telling me you're going to be a Leeds fan?'

His son's bright smile meant he couldn't stay mad with him for long. The yawn that followed caused John to shake his head and chuckle. The two little ones in the room had turned his world completely on it's head and John wouldn't have it any other way.

'Right, lets settle you back down, shall we?'

Picking him in his arms, John began to place the floor, gently rocking Heath whilst softly patting his bottom. He was relieved to see him already dropping off. As much as he loved his babies John was looking forward to an evening alone in Anna's company. After a couple more minutes, Heath had drifted back off to sleep, John brushing his lips against Heath's forehead before placing him carefully into his cot.

Glancing at a peaceful Mia and smiling, John walked to the door, picked up his shirt and continued on out of the room. Walking down the stairs, John went straight to the kitchen and put his shirt in the washing machine. Anna had heard his footsteps pass the living room and stepped out into the hallway in curiosity. She was sure she could hear the kettle boiling as she moved closer.

Reaching the kitchen, Anna had to stop her movements for a moment. John was topless, and this was the first time Anna had seen her husband in such a state of undress for some time.

As he moved to put the drinking glasses in the cabinet left over from when Anna had washed up, she couldn't help but watch as the muscles contorted in his back, his strong upper arms flexing as he reached. He turned to give her a perfect view of his chest, the soft hair she had loved tangling her fingers in drizzled generously over his skin. Then he looked up to at her, and Anna was sure her gasp was audible.

'Alright?' John asked, creasing his forehead.

'Yes,' Anna replied weakly, stepping into the room. The only thought running through her mind was that she wanted to touch him, to reclaim what she rather greedily thought of as hers. What had happened was in the past, and although it would take time to forget, John was her husband. Anna was quickly remembering how attracted she was to the man before her. 'I heard you on the monitor.'

'Yeah, who needs a nappy when Dad's shirt is there, eh? I threw it in the washing machine before it would stain.'

'Uh huh,' Anna was in a daze as she walked towards the counter where John was stood beside the sink.

'I was just making a tea if you wanted one.'

John was still unaware of what was running through Anna's mind as he took two mugs down from the cupboard. It was then that he was sure he felt her fingers ghosting across his forearm, looking down to confirm his suspicion as her hand rested on his skin, stilling his movements.

'Anna, what do…' His words trailed off as she brushed her lips against his. John closed his eyes. He was confused, this has come on so suddenly. He said her name again. 'Anna. What was that for?'

'John, I want you,' Her lips were on the skin of his chest and John was lost.

Suddenly he understood, taking her hands from his shoulders and clasping them in his own. 'Anna, we don't need to do this.'

'I want to feel close to you,' she whispered in between placing her lips on his chest.

It felt so good to feel her touch once more. Feeling his desire heightening, John covered Anna's mouth with his, pushing her back towards the counter. Her fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of his neck, the feel of her touch after so long threatening to overwhelm John. All of a sudden, he felt a need to tell her how sorry he was again, how sorry he was for causing her pain.

'I'm sorry, Anna. I would never have let them hurt you again. I promised you on our wedding day I would keep you safe, it's a promise I intend to keep for the rest of my life.'

'I don't want to lose you, ever.'

He met her gaze, shaking his head as he furrowed his brow. Those seven words were music to his ears. 'You will never lose me.' He kissed her again. 'I am nothing without you, Anna. Absolutely nothing.'

Anna placed her hands on his cheeks, reigniting the kiss between them, bringing his lips forwards to meet hers with fervour. It was becoming apparent to John where this could be leading. However, the propriety in his nature caused him to want to ensure this was what Anna wanted. They hadn't been together in this way since before the twins were born.

'We have a box set to carry on with,' John breathed. It wasn't important, but he was trying to give Anna a chance to back out of this if she wanted to. Almost as soon as the words had left him, he gasped out loud and looked to the ceiling as Anna began to caress his neck with warm kisses.

'I don't care about that,' Anna replied, 'I want you. Please don't deny me.'

'Never,' John promised, meeting Anna's eyes, his hands moving to the hem of her skirt. Thank God she hadn't got ready for bed yet. As he pulled it up over her thighs, John placed a firm grip on her hips and lifted Anna onto the kitchen counter. Their eyes seemed to be locked on each other as John stepped as close as he could possibly get to her, his arousal straining to be free of his shorts, it brushing against her centre. He had to make sure. 'Is this what you want?'

'Please.' There was an air of desperation to her tone as she began to tug down his shorts. 'I want to show you how much I need you.'

'We don't have to do this to show me that, my darling.' John wrapped his hands around hers in an attempt to still her movements, resisting her advances taking all the willpower he could muster.

'I want you to be left in no doubt that I am yours.' She moved her mouth close to his ear. 'And that you are mine. I am so sorry I caused you to doubt.'

'I've never doubted,' John felt his shorts slipping down his thighs. 'Not for a moment.'

John moved his lips to cover Anna's again as she tugged at his boxer shorts. He soon realised he was free, instinct telling him to reciprocate. Their lips never leaving the others, John found the waist band of Anna's underwear and was soon pulling them down, dropping them beside him when they were removed completely.

'God, Anna,' he breathed as he moved a little closer, his length brushing against the heat of Anna's centre. With a thrust of his hips, John joined them and simultaneously, their groans of appreciation filled the air. He had to ask. 'Are you alright?'

'I've missed this,' Anna admitted, and she smiled. A smile that touched every place in John's heart. She hadn't smiled at him that much recently and he hadn't realised how much he had missed it until now.

'Me too. Does it feel alright? After everything? I don't want to hurt you.'

Anna placed her hand on John's cheek, ensuring she had his eye contact before speaking. 'It feels wonderful.'

It was John's turned to smile then, before swallowing hard. 'I'll be gentle.'

'You have never been anything but with me, Mr Bates. And I love you all the more for it.'

She had called him Mr Bates. John knew that was a good sign she was coming around. Her moans of pleasure were even sweeter to his ears now, considering what they had been faced with these past few weeks. Anna's warmth felt wonderful around him as he moved his hips to meet hers. She was forever his, the only person who would ever know her in this way again. He had come so close to blowing it, but John made a vow to never come so close to losing Anna again.

Being connected to John in this way again felt heavenly, sacred even. He had hurt her, but she knew when it came to it she just didn't work without him. Anna could sense her climax building as John continued to move within her, the rhythmic motions of his hips driving her to ecstasy. No man had ever made her feel this way, and no one ever could again. He was her John, and anything he ever did was to make her happy. How could she have ever believed otherwise?

'I'm close, Anna.'

His voice brought her back to the present, 'me too.'

'I'm yours. You know that don't you?'

'Yes.' Her voice was weak, feeling her end edging ever closer. 'And I'm yours.'

With one more thrust of his hips, Anna was crying out, burying her head in John's neck to control the sensations he had evoked within her. He was amazing at making her feel this. With a couple of erratic movements, John emptied himself within her, Anna revelling in the sounds that were leaving him, his shallow breathing feeling absolutely divine against the shell of her ear.

'I love you,' she whispered, lifting her head to look into his eyes.

John nodded before kissing her again, deeply, slowly. When he pulled away he was smiling, Anna's breath catching upon the sight of it. 'I love you too, Mrs Bates.'

'I can't believe we just did that. In the kitchen of all places.' Anna began to chuckle. 'What would your mother say?'

'I don't really want to be thinking of my mother at a time like this,' John admitted, helping Anna onto her still trembling legs. 'She'll just be happy we've worked it out, I hope.'

Now the heat of their love making had cooled he moved to assist his wife in restoring her state of dress before doing the same to himself. Standing up straight, he couldn't resist stealing another kiss as her fingers ran a path down his back.

'We are alright now, aren't we?'

Anna nodded before smiling. 'We're getting there. We'll get there.'

John was satisfied with her answer. 'Shall we go and watch this DVD, then? I'll need to boil the kettle again.'

'No,' Anna replied, wrapping her hand around John's. Her voice was quiet as she continued. 'Lets go to bed, shall we?'

John felt like he could leap for joy. 'Yes Mrs Bates. Let's do that.'