A/N: Sorry everyone, I meant to post this yesterday, but I got swamped. Reviews are appreciated as always.

Disclaimer: My chances of owning DA are about as good as my chances of ever understanding cricket.

Anna was busy making egg and chips for lunch, when the front buzzer rang. She carefully walked over to the intercom. "Who is it?"

"It's your dad."

She paused for a moment and then said, "I'll buzz you in."

A minute later, she heard a knock on the front door and opened it. "Hi Dad."

Bernard walked in and enveloped her in a hug, "Oh Anna Banana."

She started to cry.

"It's alright," he soothed.

"I'm sorry. I can only half blame it on hormones," she said with a choked laugh.

"I know where you're coming from."

"I'm sorry Dad. I didn't mean to yell at her. I meant every word that I said, but I didn't mean to yell at her."

Bernard looked at her, "Anna, I love your mum. I've loved her since she had a fit of giggles in response to a limerick that I wrote, but she's not perfect. The more I think about it, the more that I realise that she never should have been a mother."

"Oh Dad, don't say that."

"It's not that I wish that you'd never been born. There's little that I've done in this life that makes me prouder than being your Dad. I just wish.."

"You've always been there for us and that made all of the difference. I'm sorry if I've caused a rift between you."

A timer in the kitchen went off.

"That will be the oven chips. Do you fancy having egg and chips with me," Anna asked.

"Nothing could make me happier," Bernard said.

After a visit to the doctor to check on the baby, Anna and John made their way to Marks and Spencer. Once inside, Anna made a beeline for the baby clothes section. John smiled good-naturedly as he followed his wife. He knew that he was in for a good hour of hearing her coo over how tiny everything was, but he loved seeing her face light up.

"Look at this," she said holding up a pramsuit covered with penguins, "isn't it just adorable."

"Indeed it is," he said.

"We should start buying some things for the baby."

"Won't there be a baby shower? I seem to recall there being one for Edith and I know that Sybil had one earlier this year."

"I don't particularly want one, " Anna said quietly.

"Why? Aren't they all about celebrating the new mum? I can't think of a mum-to-be who deserves it more."

"I suppose," she giggled, "but I'm just done with celebrations."

"I can't particularly blame you on that front."

Anna picked up a pair of tiny trainers. "I can't believe how small its feet are going to be."

"Well, it's easier that way," he said with a smile.

"We should buy them."

"Tiny trainers aren't the most practical item. It's not going to be doing that much walking for awhile."

"I know. I just want something that will remind me of today."

"Alright dear wife, let's buy them," John said as he put his arm around her waist.

Anna was sitting on the couch writing the editorial for the next issue of La Dolce Vita. With Robert's permission, she had begun to work from home most of the time. He was still the only person outside of family members who knew about the baby. Anna wasn't sure why she was keeping it a secret. All she knew was that it made her hum when Baby Bubbles started to move.

"Are you coming to bed," John asked.

"Not yet. I might sleep on the couch anyway," Anna replied absentmindedly.

John's face fell a little. "Are you sure?"

She looked up at him. "Trust me. I'd much rather be in there with your arm about my waist, then out here. But, I haven't been able to sleep properly for the past couple of weeks and I know that I keep you awake."

He sat down next to her and moved her laptop away. "I don't mind being kept awake."

"But you've got to be a functional person in the office."

"You know that I need less sleep than you do."

"Alright, you've convinced me," she said, heaving herself off the couch.

After they had gotten into bed, John placed a hand on her stomach. "Anna Bates, it might sound cliché, but you've made my life perfect."