A/N- I cannot believe anyone is still awaiting updates for this story but here is another long overdue one. Slowly but surely I will finish this story.

Disclaimer- Same as every other chapter...

Anna breathed a huge sigh of relief as John parked the Land Rover onto their drive. The food shop was over and done with for another week, an activity which was definitely not at the top of her list of fun things to do with her family. As John switched off the ignition he turned to look at his wife.

'You okay?'

She smiled at him in response. 'Perfectly.'

'Mummy, can I have my comic from the shopping bag?' Milo asked as he began to unbuckle himself. Anna rolled her eyes. 'You did say when we got home.'

'Yeah, and mine,' Madison piped up. 'Please Daddy.'

'Can we just unpack the shopping first?' Anna suggested as she followed the children out of the car. Once at the boot she saw Milo trying to pull the handle, Madison standing by expectedly.

'Let me, eh mate?' John said softly. 'Why don't you go in with Mum and get sorted and I'll bring the shopping bags in. Then we'll find your comics.'

'Now that is a good idea,' Anna said, turning on her heel, the gravel crunching under her feet as she walked towards the front door. Come on Trouble one and Trouble two.'

Unable to carry the bags all in one trip, John spent the next five minutes walking in and out of the house with what seemed like enough food to last them a month. But knowing his family life as he did, this amount of shopping would indeed need replenishing the same time again next week. And now with the still fairly new news they were soon to add to their brood, John knew the weekly shop would have nappies milk and the like added to it. And he couldn't wait.

The pregnancy was still his and Anna's little secret, and John had to admit he quite liked it that way, having this special thing between them that only they knew. He had never imagined when Vera left him and Madison, he would ever be this happy again. The three month scan was soon to be upon them, and all being well they would soon be able to share their happy news.

Having brought in the last of the shopping bags, John peered into the living room to see Milo and Madison lying on the living room floor, exploring the comics they were promised every week if they were well behaved in the supermarket. Maxwell was sat beside them, John liking to believe the sheepdog felt he was helping if he was minding the children whilst John and Anna were busy.

Continuing his journey down the hallway to the kitchen, John stopped in his tracks as he saw Anna kneeling on the counter, sorting our something or other on the top shelf of the cupboard. He dropped the bags immediately then strode towards his wife.

'Hey, hey, get down from there,' John chided, putting his hands on Anna's hips.

'What?' Anna looked down over shoulder at him. 'I always do this.'

'Yes, but you're not always pregnant. Go and sit with the kids and put your feet up, I'll put the shopping away.'

Exhaling a heavy breath, Anna carefully got herself down from the counter before offering her husband a smirk. 'I don't know. Insisting you pushed the trolley, that you put the kids in the car, that you put the shopping away. Can I expect this for the remaining months of this pregnancy?'

'Very likely you can, yes,' John replied as he continued to put the tins away that Anna had started. She sat down at the kitchen table and watched John as he carried on putting the food away, making a mental note she would probably have to rearrange it whilst John was mucking out the pigs later on. She placed a hand on her stomach.

'I can't wait to tell people about the baby.'

'What baby?'

Both John and Anna looked opened mouth as they turned their heads to see Madison at the door, Maxwell bounding past them and placing himself down less than delicately by the back door.

'Erm, well...' John looked towards his wife worriedly, she shaking her head. John tried to think. 'One of Daddy's clients, well her horse is having a foal.'

'Mummy, Can I have some of the strawberry milk yet?' Milo appeared then with his empty drinks bottle.

'Oh yes, me too,' Madison said, Anna and John exchanging a glance filled with relief.

'Tell you what,' Anna stood up, taking Milo's bottle from him and placing it on the kitchen counter. 'It looks like Maxwell needs a run outside. Why don't you two take him whilst me and Daddy finish putting the shopping away. Your boots are by the door.'

This suggestion seemed to go down well, the two children putting on their welly boots and running outside, followed by their four legged friend.

'That's one reason I can't wait for it to be out in the open,' Anna said as she sat the back door behind Milo and Madison..

'Yes,' John agreed, stepping closer to Anna and pulling her towards him. 'But it's been nice only the two of us knowing.' He placed a kiss on her forehead. 'Our little secret.'

'It has,' Anna agreed, enjoying the sensation of being held by her husband as if it was the first time all over again. 'But I have to admit it will be nice to see them on the screen, to know that he or she is alright. That it's really happening.'

'It will be nice,' John agreed, 'sure to be one of the best days of my life.'

The waiting room was busy, filled with expectant parents waiting for the chance to see the life they had created, to hear it's heartbeat, to find out whether they were having a boy or a girl. Anna felt nervous, and all this had reminded her that she had also felt nervous the first scan she had when she was expecting Milo. It was because, she supposed, nothing had really changed about her physical appearance. The only signs a new life was growing inside her was the acute morning sickness amongst the other usual symptoms.

One thing was different this time, however. And as she felt the hand entwined in hers offer her a little squeeze of reassurance, Anna had never felt more grateful. Last time she had had to do it all herself, that was at least until Ryan had come around to the idea of being a father. But here she was with the love of her life. Their child. They had beaten so much to reach this point, both she and John deserved this. They deserved to be happy.

'I never thought I'd be doing this again.'

John's voice brought Anna out of her reverie. She looked up to be met with his kind, beautiful eyes staring back into hers. Anna smiled. 'I'd hoped, but deep down never thought I would be either.'

'Are you okay?'

'Yeah,' Anna nodded, keeping her gaze focused on him. 'A little nervous.'

'Well, that's to be expected,' John replied matter of factly. Ever since she had met him John had been the biggest calming influence on Anna that she had ever known. She smiled once more before nodding, then moved to rest her head on his shoulder. 'Do you want some more water?'

'Oooh no,' Anna shook her head. 'I'm dying for the toilet.'

'Anna Bates?'

Both John and Anna looked up, the nurse appearing at the top of the waiting room.

'We're up, Sweetheart,' John murmured as they stood up, hands still wrapped around one another's. They walked towards the nurse who was smiling broadly. She gestured down the corridor. 'This way, please.'

They followed in silence until coming to a stop outside a door, the nurse opening it and stepping aside for John and Anna to enter. The doctor, a middle aged lady was sitting at a desk, reading something on the computer before looking up to see them in the room. She rose to her feet.

'Ahh, Mrs Bates. Welcome.'

'Hello,' Anna replied, accepting the doctor's outstretched hand. 'Anna, please.'

' Nice to meet you, Anna. I'm Doctor Wilson, and this is Dad I'm assuming?'

'John Bates.'

'Lovely, now if you'd like to take a seat beside the bed, and Anna, if you hop up on it we'll get started.' Both did as the doctor instructed, John offering Anna a small smirk as she handed him her handbag for him to hold. 'I was reading your notes and I see you were suffering with bad morning sickness at the beginning. How is that?'

'Varies from day to day, really,' Anna informed the doctor as she got comfortable on the bed. 'I'm back at work now though.'

'Even though I wished she'd take it easy,' John gently chided his wife. Anna rolled her eyes.

'Right Anna, if you'll pull your top up we'll get started,' the Doctor continued, 'is this your first child?'

'My second,' Anna replied before looking at John, 'well third if you count my step daughter. We both have children from previous relationships.'

'Ahh, so you've both been through this process before?'

'Yes.' John answered before Anna had a chance to reply. He took her hand in his. 'We have both been through this process before, but I think Anna would agree it will be a completely different experience this time.'

Anna could feel tears stinging in her eyes as she listened to John's words. This moment was already emotional enough for her, but to have him such a beautiful thing made the whole situation even more overwhelming. Her voice was a whisper as she agreed with him. 'Yes it will be.'

'Now this gel might feel cold on your belly,' the doctor warned before Anna felt it on her skin. She visibly jumped, John squeezing her hand as she did so.

'You okay?'

Anna nodded, not taking her eyes away from her husband on her left as the doctor worked beside her on her right. She was clicking a few buttons, the silence in the room deafening as John and Anna waited to see their baby for the first time. It felt like an age until the doctor was turning the screen in their direction.

'And if you look here,' the doctor began, pointing at the screen, 'this is your baby.'

A smile that threatened to split his face in two appeared on John's face, Anna audibly gasping upon the sight of the patchy white blob on the screen. 'Oh my God, John.'

'Our baby,' he whispered, bringing Anna's hand to his mouth and placing a kiss on her knuckles.

'Yes, and it appears to be a baby who is growing normally and healthily by all accounts,' the doctor continued before switching screens. 'And with a strong heartbeat as well.'

'They're okay?' Anna asked the doctor.

'Perfectly.'

John and Anna were still in a daze as they went for a coffee in the hospital cafe. John hadn't been able to take his eyes off the scan picture. His and Anna's baby. It was all too perfect for words.

'February 20th is when it's due,' Anna said aloud again, even though John had heard the doctor loud and clear. 'February.' Anna looked down as she cut a piece of her fudge cake with her fork and placed it in her mouth. 'I'm going to be so fat at Christmas.'

'Everyone gets fat at Christmas.'

'True.'

'And besides, you'll have a feasible excuse unlike the rest of us.'

Both John and Anna went to collect Madison and Milo from school, the suggestion of going for a burger instantly ceasing the questions about why Daddy wasn't at work. Once settled in the sports bar in town and all four had ordered their food, John whispered to Anna behind his menu. 'Shall we tell them, now?'

'Yes,' Anna whispered back. 'Before they want to go and have a go on the pool table.'

'Why are you whispering, Daddy?' Madison asked, John moving his menu to be met with a confused expression from his daughter.

'Mum, can we go play pool now we've told them what we want?'

'Just hang on a minute, baby. Me and John have something we'd like to tell you both.'

'Is it that we're going to Disneyland?' Madison asked.

'No.'

'We're getting a new puppy?' Milo wondered.

'No, we're not,' John sighed, offering Anna a sideward glance. He was expecting many a reaction from the two children, but he was now thinking it was the least favourable of the ones he had anticipated, disappointment. Anna's rather amused expression didn't mirror the same one etched on John's face. 'Show them the picture, Mum.'

Anna reached into her bag for the scan photograph, before revealing it to Milo and Madison. After placing it on the table, both children studied it closely with furrowed brows. Anna offered a sideward glance in John's direction, it was obvious the kids didn't have a clue what they were looking at.

'It's an alien?' Milo wondered aloud.

'No, it's a baby when they are inside their mummy's tummy,' Madison replied, both Anna and John shocked that she knew what it was. 'But whose tummy is it?'

'It's mine,' Anna answered with a laugh in her voice. 'The baby in the picture is going to be your new brother or sister.'

Milo pointed at his mother. 'Mummy, you have a baby in your tummy?'

'I do, Milo.' Anna cast him a worried expression. 'Is that okay?'

Milo was clearly confused and somewhat unimpressed, although the same could not be said for Madison. 'I'm going to be a big sister?'

'Yes little one,' John smiled, before turning his attentions to the little boy sitting beside him. 'And Milo will be a big brother.'

'Well, I will only be a big brother if the baby is a boy.'

'We can't promise you that, Baby,' Anna explained to him but before he had a chance to reply Madison was speaking.

''I can teach it to write and how to look after it's cuddly toys, and how to ride a scooter...'

'Can we go and play pool now?' Milo asked, interrupting his sister and her waxing lyrical about what was soon to be the newest member of the Bates family.

'Yes, sure,' Anna shrugged her shoulders, looking to John as he gave the children a pound coin. 'Do you need me or John to set the balls up for you?'

'No, I remember from when John showed us last time.'

And with those words, both Madison and Milo were away. Anna looked on wistfully, concerned by Milo's reaction. She had known it would take a while for the idea to sink in, but he had seemed completely disinterested.

'He'll come round,' John said to Anna, 'he's been through a lot the past year and a half.'

'Oh, I know that. It's just he's always been a worrier, I don't want him to worry about this as well.'

'Well, he's got six month to come around to the idea. We just have to make sure that he does.'