The embrace from her parents was almost enough to strangle but Anna would have it no other way. In a way she was hugging them for the first time in ten years. Just as it felt like her first time home in ten years.

John stood to the side, refusing to interfere, and waited until they finally separated. After a communal breath, that elicited some nervous laughter that led to real laughter as they released all the tension that still hung in the air. Anna wiped at her eyes and edged close to her mother as her father extended a hand to John.

"Thank you, sir, for your work there. We… We feared we'd never see her again and you've brought her back to us."

John took Mr. Smith's hand and released it after a moment. "It was, truly, my pleasure to do so." His eyes met Anna's. "She's the most remarkable woman I've ever met and I wouldn't have wanted to leave you without her in your lives."

"And your life?" Mrs. Smith pressed and Anna exchanged a look with John as he swallowed before answering.

"Pardon?"

"You'd mentioned, at hospital, that you love our Anna." Mrs. Smith brushed some of Anna's hair behind her ear. "Is that still true?"

"It's always been true, Mrs. Smith."

"Then," Mr. Smith clapped John on the shoulder. "I believe there are things you and I need to discuss in private."

Anna watched as John followed Mr. Smith into his study, flashing a single cringe at her before disappearing behind the door, and then jerked as her mother took her hand. They separated as if shocked and then stared at one another a second. Her mother practically vibrated in place in her attempts to speak.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean… That is… It's just I… After all this time I-"

"It's fine. Truly." Taking her mother's hand, Anna smoothed over it before smiling at her. "It's just a nervous reaction. I was surprised, that's all."

"It's… It's a bit like when you came back the first time." Her mother's hand firmed around Anna's and she smiled. "Back when you wouldn't let us touch you and we had to announce if we were coming into a room so you wouldn't hide in a corner. Back when… When I couldn't hug you."

"No, it's not like last time."

"No?"

"No. It's different this time." Anna leaned forward and kissed her mother's cheek. "It'll never happen again and I'm back now. Back for good."

"You've no idea how happy I am to hear you say that." Mrs. Smith drew Anna in for another hug that only released when a knock came at the door. She kissed Anna on the forehead before walking toward where the footman allowed the visitor inside. Both Anna and her mother stood in shock for a moment but her mother spoke first. "James, what an unexpected surprise."

"But not an undesirable one, I hope." His fingers worked around the brim of his hat before he met Anna's eyes. The visible drop of his shoulders timed perfectly with his sigh. "You're alive."

"I am." Anna inspected herself, "Despite attempts to the contrary."

"And well, I hope."

"Well enough and as well as could be expected." Anna tugged at her fingers before closing the distance between them to take James in a hug. He returned it, squeezing tightly before separating them, and then nodded at her.

"Did you just get back?"

"Near enough but not so soon you're invading anything." Anna motioned toward the library, "Do you want tea? I could use some and I've a feeling you and I have some things we need to discuss."

"That's why I'm here." He waved a hand in the air, "Not for the tea but to discuss some things with you."

"I understood." Anna gestured toward the library, "This way then?"

"After you." James moved to follow Anna into the library but she paused, turning to her mother to speak.

Mrs. Smith waved her on. "I'll get the tea. You go and sit down."

"Thank you." Anna followed James into the library and they took their seats on the sofas. It was a moment or two before either one of them spoke and Anna took the initiative at the sight of James crunching the brim of his hat. "I do hope you're not feeling guilty about anything."

"Funny that you're the one to say that to me." James shifted on his sofa cushion. "After all we've been through and I'm nervous to tell you about the nurse I swooned and fell for at hospital."

"If you're asking me for an apology for almost getting you shot, for… not being as true to you as I should've been during our engagement, and then ruining every public appearance we had until you were shot then…" Anna sighed, "I owe you a great deal more than an apology can cover."

"I'd never ask for one, even after all that."

"No?"

James shook his head. "What's there to apologize for when it was arguably the most action my life'd seen to that point."

Anna smiled at him, reaching out to take his hand. "I always thought myself lucky that we matched the way we did."

"As friends?"

"It could've been a rather dull affair with photographs that actually came out, parties we endured, and then a marriage with a relative stranger with no humor." Anna let out a breath, "That was what I'd steeled myself for."

"Me as well." They laughed and James released Anna's hand to adjust his position on the sofa again. "But with Ivy… I've found something I don't think we ever had. For all the laughter and secrets and friendship, we never truly loved one another with the kind of passion you need in a marriage. The kind of passion that keeps a marriage going. We just… We never had it."

"I know." Anna met James's eyes. "But you feel it with Ivy?"

"We'll have conversations that last hours and then… I don't know. It's different than when we had the same conversations."

"How so?

"It's like… It's like fire. A fire that's always between us with the only change being the energy behind it. Sometimes it's small and comforting and other times it's a roaring inferno. But it's always there. And I… I want to spend the rest of my life keeping that fire going between us." James let out a little laugh. "Is that terribly naïve of me to hope?"

"I think it's beautiful." Anna sat back in her seat, to observe James. "And I wish we'd had something like that."

"I always loved talking to you."

"As did I." Anna leaned forward enough to pat her hand over James's knee. "When you're married and a bit settled, I'm having you both over for tea so we can all talk together."

"Really?

"I insist on it." Anna smiled at him, "I want to speak with the woman who's so thoroughly captured your imagination it's lit a fire in you."

"Then you're not horribly put off that I've thrown you over and ruined our engagement and…" James paused, "Sorry, I was trying to remember all the accusations my father threw at me at hospital."

"I'm none of those things." Anna shook her head, "He was always the one reservation I had about marrying you."

"I don't blame you." James's fingers took to crunching the brim of his hat again. "It's the reservation I have about marrying Ivy. She'll be related, by law, to my father. And after he sacked me at the bank…"

"You're unemployed?"

"No. Well yes, I was, but not anymore." James shook his head, "One of his competitors took me on immediately."

"Lucky you."

"Very." James shrugged, "It's good for me, to get out from under him. And I'm good at my job. Even better now that he's not breathing down my neck so I enjoy my work more."

"That's lovely James."

He snorted a laugh, "Could you imagine the life we would've had together? The kind over overbearing grief we'd suffer every time we had to celebrate a holiday with him?"

"Please don't make me envision that kind of nightmare." Anna went to smile to stopped at the sight of James's face. "What is it?"

"What happened to you, on the island this time, was it… Was it like the nightmares you told me you used to have about what happened to you?"

"No, it wasn't as bad as last time. And it's over now so there's nothing hanging over my head any longer." Anna let a little smile come over her, more for herself than James. "I found myself there this time. For the first time in a very long time I'm whole James. Whole and healthy and ready to greet whatever changes I have before me now."

"Anything in particular?"

"Mr. Gregson would like me to write up my adventures for children in an age-appropriate fashion. They'll be the first ones I get to write under my name… Or any name really. His first requests for my work."

"He wants you to write up what happened to you?"

"Heavily edited, obviously, but yes."

"And that'll take up all of your time?"

Anna nodded. "Between that and helping Mr. Talbot as he resettles all those they saved I imagine I'll keep quite busy."

"Is that what you want?"

"I don't know what I want yet. But…" Anna paused, sucking the inside of her cheek as she formed the words she needed. "Helping them… Come to terms with what happened and maybe get them back home if they've got one to return to is a good use of my time. And maybe we'll all heal better together than alone."

"That's very noble of you." James sighed, "I… Part of me wishes things had been different between us, Anna. That maybe we'd loved each other more."

"I think it would've befitted us to love in a different way, if that were possible, but we were honestly doomed in this from the very start." Anna stood, James following her example. She took his hand and looked into his eyes. "But I'm genuinely very happy for you and I want you to be happy. With Ivy and your new job and whatever else comes your way. I truly wish you the very best James. Always."

James leaned forward and they kissed one another on opposite cheeks before releasing their hands. "I wish the same for you Anna. And that we'll remain friends, no matter what happens to us."

"I could hardly forget you." Anna smiled at him, "And I think we'll remain close. You don't endure what we have together without being bonded for life."

"Like you and John?"

Anna nodded, "It's one of the reasons John and I are so close."

"You love him?" Anna nodded and James sighed. "Like you never loved me."

"Part of the reason why I don't feel slighted about you canceling the engagement." Anna sighed, "It gave me a lift really, to know you'd found someone who made you happy the way I couldn't."

"It still wasn't exactly gentlemanly of me."

"It wasn't ladylike of me to have an affair behind your back during our engagement." Anna took James's hand. "But I've never claimed to be a lady. It's no excuse for my behavior but I'll never claim what isn't mine."

"Then I'll tell you that I don't claim to be a gentleman either but I promise that I'll treat Ivy as well as any gentleman can."

"That's all I can hope for." Anna led James to the door. "And remember, there are no hard feelings from me toward you. I hope the same in return."

"I hold nothing against you Anna." James massaged his chest, "This got me to admit the truth to myself and find the woman I love. How could I possibly hold it against you when I just want to thank you for it?"

"You can't since I wouldn't wish a repeat of anything that's transpired to get us here." Anna kissed his cheek again. "Be well James."

"Take care Anna."

The front door closed just as the door to Anna's father's study opened. John edged out of it and then shut the door behind him before leaning on the wall to let out a deep breath. Approaching cautiously, Anna put a hand on his arm. He covered it with one of his own and smiled at her.

"Not as horrible as I imagined."

"No?"

"No, far fewer awkward questions and more support than I envisioned."

"Would you want to tell me about it?"

"Of course."

"Well then," Anna pointed toward the library as one of the maids entered it. "We've never had tea together before and I'd like to finally do something with you that reeks of normalcy, if I can."

"I'd like that very much."

They sat at the table and Anna smiled at the maid before waving her away to leave them alone in the room. Anna took over setting the tea service and served John his cup before taking one for herself. As they both readied to drink, she could not hold back a snort as John stuck his little finger out to drink.

He paused, "What?"

"Is that what they taught you in all the classes I missed on the island?"

"It's what my mother insisted the upper classes did when they drank tea." John kept his finger pointed out and sipped at his tea. "And she'd turn in her grave if she thought I wasn't on my best behavior."

"I can't imagine she'd be too impressed by the way we've behaved together." Anna shrugged, "Not very upper class of us."

"She wouldn't have much room for judgment there." John winked at Anna, "I was two months earlier than my parents' nine-month mark if you must know."

"I didn't ask." Anna set her tea to the side. "But it's nice to know that about you. To have a conversation that's not… Weighted by more serious concerns."

"Who said this conversation wasn't weighted?" John set his tea to the side and took Anna's hand. "The talk with your father in his study, it wasn't just about me helping rescue you."

"I didn't think so." Anna tensed, "Did he warn you away? Say something about my reputation and demand that you keep it in mind before asking you to leave my life forever?"

"You've a very narrow view of your father."

"I know the pressure he was under when I was engaged to James and now that he's no longer an option I'd hazard he wants me to-" Anna stopped speaking as John moved to one knee in front of her. "Oh goodness."

"I do hope that's an exclamation in good humor and not because you're terrified that I even considered proposing to you."

"I'm…" Anna swallowed, "I never saw this happening."

"You didn't believe that I love you?" John frowned, "That I'd want to marry you? That I'd want to spend my life with you?"

"I believe those things with all my heart." Anna kissed the back of John's hand. "I just… I don't know. I guess in all the struggle and mess of it all I never thought I'd actually get married."

"Your former fiancé was almost killed no less than three times."

"Then you'd appreciate my reticence, yes?"

"Of course." John smiled up at her, "But could I actually ask you before I lose the chance to propose because something horrible and unpredictable happens to drive us apart like another assassination attempt?"

"In a long line of them."

"Exactly." John let his fingers play over her palms before he resettled his grip. "And because I worry you'll answer me before I can make this as romantic as I always dreamed it'd be."

Anna's breath caught, "You've dreamed of this?"

"Every night since you left." John was quiet a moment, his gaze occupied by her hands. "It was what kept me going while you were away."

Anna slid off her chair, kneeling on the floor with John. "Then please ask me before I'm tempted to just say yes."

John put his other hand over Anna's and looked in her eyes. "Anna Smith, will you marry me?"

"With all my heart yes." Anna leaned forward and kissed him as they knelt on the floor of the library.

It was not a passionate kiss like the one she forced on him in the closet at the dance a lifetime ago. Or the ones they exchanged in the dark and shadows as they dealt with their demons. It was calm and sweet and romantic and perfect in all the ways Anna could not find words to properly describe.

They pulled away and Anna put her hand to John's cheek, stroking her fingers slowly over his skin there. "What now?"

"Whatever you want." John grinned and kissed her again, quickly this time. "You're the bride and I've heard that they're not to be interrupted in their plans."

"I've none except marrying you as soon as possible." Anna squeezed his hands, "So nothing interrupts us the way it interrupted James and I."

"Perhaps it was my prayers to God that I could have you for myself."

"Or my prayers to be happy." They both paused and Anna nodded. "You make me so happy John. In a way… A way no one else has and I don't think anyone else ever can. A way I can't describe because it's written on my bones."

"Mine too." John urged them to stand and teethed at his lip. "Would it be inappropriate if I asked to whisk you away to a Registrar's today?"

"Possibly." Anna smoothed her fingers over his face before letting them fall to his hands so she could lift them to kiss. "But there might be time at the end of the week. It'd give Gwen some time to find a dress she'd be proud to have me wear."

"You could wear what you're wearing now and I'd still think there was no more beautiful woman on the face of the earth than you."

"Charmer."

"Only to you." John dipped for another kiss, drawing this one out before leaving Anna wanting more. When she went to complain he put a finger over her lips. "There'll be time enough for that now. We're going to be married."

"Yes we are." Anna smiled, a lift on her soul unlike any source of happiness ever to expand her before. "We're getting married John."

The details of the engagement were simple and private. A entry in the paper Gregson operated appeared next to the first of a series of stories Anna published. It simply said that Ms. Anna Smith, recently recovered from a spectacular adventure herself, was marrying a Mr. John Bates. Included next to it, to the frustration and the ire of Mr. Kent, was an announcement of the same sort about James Kent marrying an Ivy Stuart. Neither was met with more than an interested sigh from the readership of the paper and passed by into obscurity.

Or almost did.

Due to Anna's 'meddling', in the words of Mr. Kent, Mr. Smith lost his job at the bank. For a terrifying moment Anna felt the emotions she associated with the personality Green had dubbed Mrs. Cotton. The same emotions that planned exactly how to approach the man as he made for the front doors of their house. How to either wrap her elbow around his throat and twist to break his neck or just use her hands to perform the same action.

But her father's hand settled over hers and he attempted to soothe her. It pushed that side of her away and Anna settled. Or most of her emotions settled enough to allow for happiness when James came to the door and immediately offered Mr. Smith a position at his new bank. One Mr. Smith gratefully accepted before encouraging Anna to accept the second offer of sharing the rented space with James and Ivy for their wedding.

With the venue provided for them, Gwen quick hands and her beau's skill embellishing a white dress for Anna to wear, and food catered by Talbot as a form of gratitude for all the work Anna and John put into the operation, it almost seemed as if the only moment of excitement before the wedding was Mr. Kent's anger. It almost seemed, as John kissed Anna before leaving her house to 'not see the bride before the wedding', that they might fade into the same obscurity their wedding announcement had. That they would live the average, normal, boring lives to which they were destined but had not yet managed to find for themselves.

But it was not to be.

The morning of her wedding Anna found her second story published in the margin of a larger exposé on the operation. Another paper her father perused published a matching column from a Mr. Bricker defaming Talbot and giving the history of the mess from Talbot's father all the way to the distinguished Dr. Seward. And yet another paper, this one wrestled by the footman away from the postman who insisted on an autograph, described the rumor that one of the 'escapees' now lived in the house of Dr. Seward in what they obliquely hinted was a 'degenerate relationship' built on murder and sin.

It only elicited a sigh of annoyance from Anna but brought a gaggle of reporters and journalists to her door as she and her father descended the steps to the rented motor. They all shouted questions at Anna and she staunchly ignored them, as she had not always managed to do as a child. A tiny smile graced her lips as she settled in the car and they pushed through the clutch of people still calling out their questions and inquiries.

"What is it?" Anna blinked and turned to her father. He pointed at her mouth, "You're smiling."

"Shouldn't I? It's my wedding day."

"But all these people…" He gestured toward the windows before the motor managed to escape the reporters and wove through the traffic. "All those things the papers reported on you. Doesn't it bother you?"

"It did ten years ago but now…" Anna shook her head. "I'm a different person now. They don't trouble me."

"How will this affect everything else?"

"I don't know." Anna almost laughed, "But I guess we'll find out."

Her father's confusion only masked itself as they arrived at the church. A Catholic one, John's only insistence in the planning, that sported a host of nuns ready to beat the reporters off as they threatened to invade the wedding. Anna paid them no mind as she took her father's hand and entered the church to see John standing proudly at the end of the aisle in a suit with a sash of tartan over a shoulder. It was the only thing that gave Anna any pause.

"My mother was a Keith." John whispered when they took hands and knelt at the altar. "I almost wore a kilt."

"My mother will be grateful you didn't." Anna whispered back and took the sacrament before listening to the vows in Latin.

Throughout the ceremony, John's hand never left hers. The only hint of abandonment was to get the ring he slid over her finger before kissing her hand. They both shared a smile at the Bishop's almost imperceptible huff of disapproval before he continued the ceremony and then allowed them to kiss as man and wife.

They took the motor to the venue where they greeted James and Ivy, Anna exchanging the only greetings as the only one in their quartet to never meet the other bride, and settled into the festivities. With the odd combination of guests the confusion led to awkward moments but the couples hardly cared. Through dancing, at least one journalist who snuck into the wedding, eating, and a few odd comments they finally dismissed themselves to the motor and drove to the hotel Talbot graciously booked for them under a new name.

Anna laughed as John signed as 'Mr. Cotton' and they took the key to their room. One with a bed almost twice the size of the one Anna owned and an en suite to give them privacy from the rest of the guests. Talbot even provided a note about the room service and the luggage left in the corner for them.

"He's so thoughtful."

"He's still a bit guilty." Anna turned about the room before facing John. "I think he's still hoping to rectify the past."

"Even if it's not his fault?" John took Anna's hands and his thumb brushed over her ring so she attempted to do the same. "Given the good work he's already doing with the survivors, and tracking down the others, I think he's more than paid the debt that's not his."

"But he doesn't think so." Anna sighed, "I just wonder how Dr. Seward handled the reporters on her doorstep this morning."

"With a loaded gun and a firm kick in the pants I'd guess."

Anna laughed with John, her fingers escaping his hands to brush at his hair. "Do you know what happened to Edna?"

"From the work I've done with Mr. Talbot he's already recruited her to help him. I think they've found a place for her since Dr. Seward succeeded in helping her reset her mind." John drew Anna closer to him. "Not like quite like you did but in her own way."

"I wish her the best then." Anna let her hands settle on John's chest. "I feel like we're supposed to start something now but I don't know how."

"What do you mean?"

"Every other time it's been…" Anna sighed, her fingers flexing over John's white shirt. "In the dark or we've been convinced it was the last time. And now…"

"Now we're together forever." John's hands covered hers and Anna met his eyes as his ring slid over her skin. "And you're not sure where to begin."

"I've no idea how you start something like this."

"That part is very easy." John leaned down to leave only a whisper between their lips. "You start by kissing me and then we let ourselves take it the rest of the way. Like always."

Anna closed the distance and smiled against John's grin. They maneuvered back toward the bed, loosening and losing what clothing they could before they reached it as if afraid that any interruption might cost them the momentum they built slowly. Instead it only heightened the pleasure between them.

When John opened Anna's dress he kissed over the skin of her back and left her bent over the bed trying to hold herself up on shaking arms while he eased his fingers between her legs. Legs that trembled and quivered until John aided Anna's climax with the press of his thumb. Legs John left bare as he finished divesting Anna of her clothing.

But Anna used the spare second she had to round on John, pressing him back onto the bed so she could taunt him in the same way. Leave him writhing beneath her with each patch of skin she kissed or sucked until he stretched before her equally nude. A sight that almost had her surrendering her goal to bring them together but Anna teased John first with kisses and her hands wrapping and squeezing his arousal until John almost sobbed for mercy.

Their hands met, pulling at one another until they settled together. John's back against the headboard left Anna's arms free to wrap his shoulders and hold them close as she slid down his erection to bring them together. A position they held, nerves and bodies rippling in the patience of the aftermath, as Anna leaned forward to whisper in John's ear.

"Together forever."

"For good and proper." He whispered back and they moved.

A slow, rolling of their hips that reminded Anna of the boat they shared last. The boat that took them both to the horrible place where they met. And then whisked them away again.

John's hands smoothed over Anna's back, catching and tripping over the scars there but bending forward to brush his lips over any that dotted her shoulders or collarbones. Anna let her fingers rake through John's hair, upsetting the careful product applied to keep it from shifting, and pressed her hand against his chest when John bent low enough to suck at her breasts. Her nails curled against his skin when his fingers massaged against her swollen clit and triggered her vaginal walls to clench around him, clinging harder when their gyrating hips surrendered to a thrusting motion that almost bounced them on the bed.

She pulled his chin from her chest and wrapped her arms tighter around them, bringing them closer until there was no room between them. Then, as they ground together and listened to the gasps and moans of their other, Anna came. Her cries of completion were almost drown out by John's desire to kiss her as he came but their grunting heaves for air forced them apart again.

They settled, wrapping around one another as much as their cooling bodies would allow, and just breathed. Anna's fingers uncurled to run over John's chest and she laughed a little to herself. A noise that had john shifting to better look at her and ask, with only a raised eyebrow, to explain herself.

"We've only done this three times now."

"We've done it a great deal more than that." John's hand raised as if he could count on his fingers but Anna caught it, kissing his palm.

"I meant," Her other hand shoved at him before John wrapped her in a hug to bring her closer to him. "We've only had the chance to stay together afterward three times." Every other it's been…"

"Away before day?" Anna nodded against John's chest and then smiled into his skin when he kissed her head. "I like it better this way."

"As do I." Anna lifted herself away enough to put their heads equal on the pillows. "What do we do now?"

"Enjoy this room for the three days we have it and then hope the world's not waiting for us outside when we're through."

"Simple as that?"

"Simple as that." John lifted himself up and then groaned as he pushed off the bed. "Then we'll just have to navigate the world like everyone else."

Anna gave a little laugh, pushing herself up as well to better enjoy the view of her husband, and slid off the bed as he vanished into the en suite. Gathering their clothes off the floor, she clicked her teeth at the inevitable wrinkles their excitement would cause as she hung them in the wardrobe. John's suit and her dress hung beautifully next to one another and Anna let her fingers play over the materials until it caught on the tartan sash.

Pulling it from the jacket John wore, Anna noticed the complicated folds and tucks gave the illusion of a sash no larger than a winter scarf when it stretched long enough to wrap her body. A thought Anna could not put away as she heard John finishing in the en suite. Before the door could open, she wrapped it around herself and moved back to the bed to take the position John formerly occupied.

His eyes were on her the moment he emerged and Anna shivered at the dilation to his pupils. When her eyes moved a bit lower she bit her lip at the other reaction her appearance invoked. One almost as pointed as the finger John raised to wag at her.

"It's not sporting to be wearing a man's colors and naught else."

"It is if you're planning on sporting." Anna let her legs open slightly and leaned back into the pillows so the tartan rode up enough to leave a hint of her open to his gaze. "If you're ready, that is. Otherwise I can-"

No creature in the history of Anna's existence moved as quickly as John did then. His lips were on her and his tongue between her legs before she could even consider how she might finish her sentence. All she could do was fight the tartan to free her arms enough to dig her nails into John's shoulder and scalp as he left her crying out when he finished her with his tongue. But the sight of her in his colors allowed Anna no quarter as John went in for another orgasm to leave Anna boneless on the mattress as he rose above her.

Their lips met in the frenzy Anna started and their hands scrambled to find purchase on the skin of their spouse. Anna's arms caught in the tartan and she draped it over John's back, keeping it there as she found a spot to hold at his sides and ass. John's hands and lips settled on her breasts and torso before seizing her lips at the moment he entered her again. The moment when their pace slowed.

They arched and moved against one another, bound by the tartan holding them in place and tangling them closer together, but found the rhythm they needed. One that echoed in the dull slap of skin that only drew out the slicker sounds when John slid to the very edge of her before driving back to the depths. Anna left marks to match the ones already scoring John's back as her legs opened wider to accept him deeper into her. A depth that only increased their frenetic pace until John thrust wildly to bring Anna to another climax.

He followed shortly after and they struggled against their flagging energy to wrest themselves free of the strangle of the tartan. But once it no longer wrapped them in mummy-like binds, Anna draped it over them as she settled next to John. They breathed together until their hearts beat in time with the ticking of the clock in the corner.

"Will it really be simple as all that?" Anna finally whispered, not sure if John was still awake beside her.

"Of course it will." His lips brushed over her forehead. "We're together and we're going to be happy. That's all that matters."

"Bad harvest, bad harvest." Anna muttered and only lifted her head when John's laugh rumbled in his chest. "What?"

"What yourself. What does that mean?"

"Where I grew up," Anna slid up the bed, putting herself above John so her fingers could play in his hair. "There were legends that the gods used to look down on mere mortals and see them as enemies. So to ward them off curses or the like when times were good, the farmers would shout 'bad harvest' to keep evil away from them and theirs."

"Shout it?"

"Yes."

John nodded and then opened his mouth, "Bad-"

Anna covered his lips, shushing him as if she could take back the volume of his call that now echoed around their room. "What are you doing?"

"I'm," John pried her hand back from his mouth before kissing her palm. "Keeping evil away."

"Not that loudly you're not." Anna swatted at him. "What if our neighbors hear you? What then?"

"I'm sure they already heard you." John leaned forward, his position giving him the optimal view of her breasts, and pressed a kiss between them. "And they're about to hear you even louder than before."

"Bad harvest." Anna giggled and allowed John to roll her under him again.