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?

After losing his job at Downton Comprehensive, John Bates is attempting to rebuild his life. Former student Anna Smith is on the verge of small screen stardom. A school reunion brings new perspectives and second chances, bringing two different worlds together once more. Modern Anna x Bates AU. M rated from Chapter 12.

"No man can regret loving, as I have loved you." He'd spoken the words before he truly understood both the profoundness of her love and what it might mean if he ever lost it. If he ever lost her. Sequel to "No Man Can Regret Loving"

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

Pre Downton Abbey. 1902 -1903. The life and times of young John Bates during the Second Boer War. Twists and turns of his life that take him from being a happily married young soldier to a cripple and a drunk.Discover the soul crushing secret that convinced him he was undeserving of a good woman's love. And learn about a secret love who held John's heart after Vera and before Anna.

They've never spoken but their paths cross every day... can you really love at first sight?

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.

Modern AU. John Bates, an eclectic Artist and Dr. Anna Bates, a controlling surgeon meet on Christmas Eve while waiting for news about loved ones in the hospital. They are quickly captivated by one another's kindness and caring ways, but will their polar opposite lives prove to be too much chaos for a chance at real love?

Modern AU — Grey's Anatomy, ER, House MD and all your favorite Downton Abbey characters (including the dead ones!) Kind of a Chelsie heavy tale but there's plenty of Cobert, Banna, Richobel and Baxley tossed in for good measure. Lots of medical drama, cussing and even some sexytimes. Stays close to canon in terms of major events, just transplanted into a modern setting! Spoiler-y?

Modern A/U John Bates is an international acting sensation who has just bought a vacation home in St. Andrews. Anna Smith is a grad student at St. Andrews University. When John hires Anna as his house sitter will the two of them finally find forever?

This is post Series 3 Episode 7 a few months after John has been released from jail and it goes A/U from there.  This story is in response to a prompt from allcoyledup who asked for a scene with Anna's mother meeting John.

Modern AU. John Bates is struggling to get his life back on track after a traumatic experience. He follows his mother's advice and seeks help with a therapist, Anna Smith. Can she help him get through this difficult period and ignore the growing connection between them?

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

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.

Struggling with guilt and the thought that Anna would have been better off if they'd never met, Bates must face his doubts by witnessing the world as it would have been had he died years before. *Spoilers through S5.*

Set in a present day modern A/U- John Bates is a fire fighter struggling with the law and life. After a court order forces him to get the help he needs, John meets Anna, his saving grace. The timing could not be more wrong and John's past continues to haunt him. Plus, Anna has a few secrets of her own as well.

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

Series 2/AU - After John leaves with Vera, Anna is devastated. But what if someone had come along to mend Anna's broken heart? When John returns about to be free from his wife, and ready to marry Anna; he may not find things exactly how he left them. Will John fight to keep the love of his life? Or will he let his insecurities get in the way, and watch her slip away to another man?

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...

Bates finds something Anna did not intend for him to see and misunderstands why she has it. SPOILERS for S5E2

'Another' Modern A/U: Moving to the north of England to put his past behind him, will Anna Smith prove to be John Bates's salvation?

When the shrapnel in Bates' knee shifts unexpectedly, the pain is nearly unbearable. Will he and Anna be able to cope with the change in his circumstances, or will it be enough to finally break them apart?

"Remind me why I thought going to a pub was a good idea?" she asked. John smiled at her indulgently. "You said you'd never been drunk before."

Modern/AU. John Bates has taken up the vacant Deputy Headmaster post at St Peter's Secondary School in York. Here he meets up again with old friend and headmaster Robert Crawley, as well as Head Of English, Anna Smith.

Anna and Bates meet at a wedding, but when disaster strikes and they are forced together will it bring them closer or tear them apart?

In the space of a few hours, Anna Smith's life is turned upside down. Can a chance encounter on a Underground train change everything for the better, and guide her to where she is meant to be? Modern Anna and Bates AU, based on the film Sliding Doors. M Rated from Chapter 10. [Winner of 2014 Highclere Award for Anna/Bates Modern AU story]

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

"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

Modern/AU - Inspired by this 'Imagine Your OTP' prompt on Tumblr - "Imagine Person A teaching Person B of your OTP how to kiss, and Person B ends up kissing Person A really quick, nervously asks "Like that?" and leaves Person A silent and flustered for a moment."

Wedding Weekend Smut

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

Set during the Christmas Special, Anna offers to buy John a penny lick. With that simple phrase John is reminded of the last time Anna offered to buy him a penny lick.

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*

Modern story about our favourite Downton couple. John Bates is a history professor who gives a lecture in Ghent. Anna Smith is an actress who's shooting a film in Ghent. The two meet by chance.

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.

John fights depression and tries to get his life back on track. Anna's past still torments her and she's forced to take some time away from work to move on. They both end up in a place called Calm Waters. Will they be able to help each other and cure themselves? Modern AU. M-rated from Chapter 9. Nominated for two Highclere Awards, winner of A/B angst.

I had the idea for this story after making a fan video to the song "Love Will Always Win." Basically no matter what obstacles Anna and Bates go through, in the end they will always be together. This is my first attempt at fan fiction in years, so I hope you enjoy it. I plan to update several times a week. Please leave a review.

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...

More modern Anna and Bates. John moves up to the north to run Robert's chain of Bars and Restaurants. With some baggage in tow...

Anna's life has been standing still. Her life changes forever when she moves in with Mary and meets a knight to rescue her. Modern AU Anna/Bates with a side of most other characters and couples throughout. Will become M later on.

Sequel to 'A Quiet Man', Bates and Anna are married and this story begins on their Wedding Night.'M' rated with good reason.

Jack thanks Liz