Modern AU: John Bates is a football coach, an injury forcing him to retire from playing football at an early age. A visit from an old friend changes his life forever. Has John finally found something more important than football?

Bates and Anna's road to happiness has already had more than its share of bumps; his arrest and what comes of it is only the next test of their love. Short vignettes covering on- and offscreen scenes in their romance; sequel to "For This Love."

Inspired by the song "Bus Stop" by the Hollies.

"He was back. Her body told her so. It was singing with it." Giving the Bates' the love life they deserve. S 3, post prison. Enter at your own discretion.

AU. John Bates' only way to divorce his wife and keep his company is to prove she is having an affair. Anna Smith of Carson's Private Investigators goes undercover on the case. What starts out as an infidelity investigation becomes much more and when John finds himself in serious trouble, Anna's skills and heart are put to the test.

Sequel to 'A Long Needed Holiday'. 3 Years after their visit to Mr Mason's farm, the Bates family are invited to join the Masons for Christmas at Yew Tree Farm. Rated K for now. Might go up later.

Anna feels a soft kiss upon her neck, just below her ear, and she knows that it's time to wake up. Set post-S5, with some S6 "spoilers".

The question comes as she sits at the little table she uses for work.

Anna is the only child of Simon and Amelia Smith, owners of a successful cotton factory. When she reaches the age of 21, they decide she's old enough to learn the family business and wed the son of Simon's most trusted business partner. However her parents plans don't go as they wish when Anna discovers that the world holds more than an arranged life. AU, begins in 1851, London

A "fill-in-the-blank" canon-style journey through Anna and Bates' courtship. I think of this as a "prequel" to A Meeting at Night and Homecoming, but each of the stories can stand alone. This is to be a multiple chapter fic, which began with a T rating and firmly MOVED UP TO A STRONG M AT CHAPTER 16.

After her release from prison, Anna must not only live with the uncertainty of her husband's fate, but she must also confront the fact that her attack has become public knowledge. Oneshot set at the end of S5.

A series of drabbles and one shots, some long some short, about my favorite Downton couple, Bates and Anna. Most are based on scenes I would have like to see between them. Now some are modern! No particular order either. Enjoy! Disclaimer for all chapters: I own nothing when it comes to Downton Abbey. If I did, they'd have to rename the show Happy Fluffy Cottage Times.

Anna investigates a curious mystery, but she soon finds herself struggling to tell what is real and what is in her mind. Post Series 5.

Modern AU. Life can always come up with a few surprises. (completely A/B, but with other characters' appearances as well)

Bates and Anna couldn't have known where that first handshake would lead them: short vignettes covering on- and off-screen scenes in their romance.

My take on what happened after the Season 5 Christmas Special.

Amorous meetings at night. Chapter 1: A wedding night. Chapter 2: A homecoming.

"It was never simply physical for us, no. But in light of everything that has happened, it means so much more." Set after S5CS.

Bates found the Earl in his dressing room and based on the state of the unmade and rumpled bed, it was clear he had slept there. And at breakfast, the valet asked his wife if she had a bandage. Addition to S5E5/E6.

Bates discovers that Married Love is actually about how to please women in bed. He puts his new knowledge to good use.

They were married and then he was taken, but oh how joyous (and steamy) their reunion was after he was released from prison and they moved into the cottage. Anna and Bates get to know each other and various rooms of their new home...

If God wouldn't give them a chance, perhaps they should make one themselves, Anna decided. But she knew God worked in mysterious ways.

There is joy, there is heartbreak, but in between, in those small moments that define us, there is true love. The story of Anna and Mr. Bates, told in multiple installments.

They'd made attempts. But resuming the intimacy of married life was difficult for Anna and Bates, and each time they failed made it even more difficult to try again. Spoilers through S5E1

He could not keep his hands off of her. Spoilers for S5CS.

Fill in the gap, after conversation between Anna and John Bates in Cottage scene. Warning S5E6 (Spoilers) - Mature.

Set in S5 ep7 (possible spoilers? maybe) John and Anna enjoy the rest of the evening in each other's arms...and his *magical* chair.

S5 Ep4: What should have happened after the adorable "smack" kiss Anna and Bates shared in Lady Mary's bedroom had they not started in with the mood killing Green talk. Upstairs shenanigans. Started as a fluffy one shot, then was asked to continue it. And it may have gone into smut-ish territory... Special thanks to annambates and a-lady-to-me for their encouragement and praise!

The shelves in bookstores or libraries hold all manner of secrets about their racy readers. John and Anna have some adventures. Slight mentions to M/M. Modern AU. The plot thickens...

What happened during Bates and Anna's trip back from Ripon after their wedding? And how do they feel about having to keep their long-awaited marriage a secret?

"Would you have ever told me, had I not gone to Mrs. Hughes?"

Anna and John are very much enjoying their first few days in the cottage, with readying their home falling a little by the wayside for more pressing activities. But when John takes a bath and Anna decides to join him, things don't quite go as planned.

During those six months, Anna spends every other Wednesday afternoon that she can on the bus to Kirkbymoorside.

John is distracted by something Anna does in the kitchen.

An attempt to reconstruct the events of season 4, particularly the conclusion, in a way that validates the experiences forced on Anna and John.

Months after Anna's attack, she decides she's ready to attempt intimacy again with her husband. But she was not the only one traumatized by the events of that night.

"And what other words have you read in these novels of yours?"

Anna asks Bates to read to her in bed.

Based on a prompt I received via Tumblr: "John always imagined taking Anna from behind and one night he finally has enough courage to ask her. Anna's a bit nervous about it but finds the idea exciting." Strong M Rating!

How do you rebuild the perfect love when it is shattered? Or do you even try?

Adults only. John and Anna enjoy married life in the privacy of their cottage. In other words, cottage smut plain and simple!

"Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light." - Helen Keller :: The worlds of Anna Smith and John Bates become unexpectedly entwined, as they both question everything they've based their lives upon. :: Modern A/U

He gazed across the bed at his wife's face, relaxed and innocent in slumber. In these moments, she looked as young and untouched by life as the first day they'd met. Rated M

Wedding Weekend Smut

S4 Oneshot - An exploration of a way Anna and Bates might have reintroduced intimacy/closeness back into their relationship after her attack.

S4 spoilers. After many months of healing, Mr. and Mrs. Bates begin to make up for lost time.

Written from a prompt I received on Tumblr. Anna and John have some fun in the bath on their first night at the cottage after his release.

"You rest. Stay in bed. Read books," said Lord Grantham to John Bates upon his return from prison.

My take on Anna's first night back at the cottage after John finds out. **Spoiler Alert US Ep 4/UK Ep 5** ***Possible trigger warning*** - there are no details, or anything directly addressing the attack. Just wanted to post a warning to be safe.

Shameless smut inspired by a post on Tumblr!

Anna and John's first Christmas together after his release! John remember a request Anna made in a letter to him, and is only too happy to make all her wishes come true. *shameless smut and fluff because we need it*

John and Anna begin their family life at Downton. A series of scenes and special moments from their cottage. These moments will not necessarily be in chronological order and will be posted when inspiration strikes. Reviews are greatly appreciated!

Prompted by handy-for-the-bus: Anna plans a surprise getaway for John's birthday. Could this weekend trip be the beginning of their future together?

A series. These are the moments I craved to see, as Anna falls more in more in love, beginning at the end of S1 E1. Some interstitial moments, and Anna's stream of consciousness in certain scenes. These are not my characters.

A Banna-Shipping three-part one-off for Midsummer, with little magic and a bit of the Bard. I just want them to be happy. These characters are not mine.

Multichapter - Anna and Mr. Bates have been reunited at last, yet, a cottage has not been made available upon his return. Newlyweds that have been separated, once reunited, cannot be kept apart as a vigilant Mrs. Hughes finds out. Forced to live in separate quarters, will the Housekeeper put an end to their shenanigans or will she enable their reunions? Will transition to M.

Toward the end of Season 3 John Bates was starting to become more expressive, at least to Anna. It's an interesting turn for this character. Considering his deep history and his passionate nature, how does this development emerge in lovemaking? These are not my characters.

AU Modern fiction. John Bates is a single father, former fireman, now a mechanic. Anna Smith is a famous singer. The two meet at Mary Crawley's 30th birthday party. The Crawleys and their daughters also feature heavily...

Anna and John enjoy the sight of each other early in the morning. Prompted by anon on Tumblr.

Anna and John ruminate on each other through the five senses. Prompted by anon on Tumblr.

John's baking session turns messy. Prompted by phoenixwrites on Tumblr.

Anna and Bates' picnic turns a little racy. Smut, mature content.

Bates and Anna go for a stroll and discover a quiet, seemingly empty barn, which gives Anna ideas. Mature, for anon's prompt, smut.

Anna and Bates' wedding night. Mature content ahead.

John and Anna have been married a few months now and are living in their own little cottage. It's winter, Anna is cold and wants John to warm her up... A pure smutty-fluff-fic and M for a good reason! If this happens after S2, I'll be a happy bunny!