Author's Note: Thank you all for coming back to check out this chapter! There has been something on my mind while I've been writing this, and I was just wondering if people are still interested in this story? I feel like some people have lost interest in it, and if that's the case then I want to know how I can improve because I write this fanfiction with my readers in mind. It also makes me think about the sequel that I have in mind to write afterwards. Would people be interested in reading that, or should I just leave this as a stand-alone fanfiction? Let me know what you think, but nevertheless, thank you for your support :)


Anna thought that the snowfall looked so magical as she sat and watched it through the sitting room window with Evelyn in her arms, but that wasn't the main thing she was focusing on for once. She was much more interested in watching her husband and daughter add the finishing touches to their snowman. The two of them had been out there for over an hour, and even though she was a little worried that Adelaide was getting cold, she had to admit that it was quite lovely to see them laughing and spending some quality time together.

She leaned against the wall and held Evelyn a little closer to her chest before gazing down at her, and she felt a surge of intense love for her course through her veins as she watched her stare up at her. 'It won't be too long until you can go out there with them, sweet pea…' She crooned while running the back of her forefinger down her silken cheek. 'Until you're big enough, though, you can stay here where it's warm and have cuddles with me.' Evelyn simply blinked at her, and she giggled before lowering her head to kiss the tip of her nose.

The sound of clapping and laughter made her look up once again, and she smirked with a shake of her head when she noticed that John had put his hat, scarf, and gloves on the snowman. That was one of the many things that she adored about him. He would do anything, even the most ridiculous things, purely to see a smile on their little girl's face. She couldn't imagine a better father for their sweet girls. He was fiercely protective, compassionate, gentle, fun, and he was one of the most loving people she had ever met. He was just perfect.

When she saw Adelaide fold her arms across her chest a couple of minutes later, she knew that she had been outside for a little too long and that it was time for her to come inside and sit near the fireplace. Easing Evelyn into one arm, she opened the window with her free hand and leaned forward a little when John and Adelaide looked at her. 'I think it might be time for the two of you to come back inside and get warmed up, my darlings,' She told them while stroking her thumb against Evelyn's arm. 'You've been outside for a while now.'

'Five more minutes?' John asked with hope in his eyes.

'John Bates!' She laughed. 'If you want to stay outside and make snow angels, be my guest, but I won't have Addie catching her death.'

Adelaide tugged on the hem of her father's coat. 'We can come back outside and make another snowman later, daddy.'

'Do you promise?' John offered his little finger to her.

She giggled and curled her little finger around his before smiling up at him. 'I promise.'

The two of them laughed together before he took her hand in his own and began to lead her back toward the front door of their cottage. 'Leave your shoes on the mat, darling, because we don't want mummy to slip on the floor and hurt herself.' He said as they entered the cottage and he closed the front door behind them. He held her hand in order to help her keep her balance as she removed her shoes, and once he had taken his own shoes off, the two of them walked into the sitting room and felt the welcome warmth from the fire hit them.

'Is Evie still awake, mummy?' Adelaide asked as she walked over to her mother who was now curled up on the settee.

'She is, the little monkey,' Anna smiled at her little girl. 'Do you want to have a cuddle with her and see if you can help her fall asleep?'

The happiness was evident in Adelaide's eyes as she nodded.

'Get a cushion and sit down on the rug then, precious,' Anna told her before she walked over to the chair opposite her father's, took the cushion, and placed it in her lap once she'd made herself comfortable on the rug on the floor. Anna then left the settee and knelt next to Adelaide, the gentlest of smiles on her face as she placed Evelyn in the cradle of her arms. 'Have you got her?' She raised a brow at her.

'Yes, mummy.' Adelaide reassured her before smiling when her mother kissed her hairline before moving to curl back up on the settee.

The next couple of minutes passed in a comfortable silence as Anna watched Adelaide hold her sister close and stroke her hair with her fingers, but her husband soon came back into the room after disappearing for a time, and she sighed as she saw a steaming cup of tea in his hand. 'You should have made yourself some tea, not me,' She told him once he had handed her the teacup and saucer and joined her on the settee. 'You were out there with Addie for almost two hours, and all I've done is sit here with Evie. You need it more than I do.'

John put an arm around her shoulders and allowed her to shuffle closer to him on the settee, his lips curling into a smile when her head found his shoulder and she looked up at him. 'You've not stopped for the last couple of days,' He reminded her. 'If you weren't looking after the girls, you were washing clothes, and if you weren't washing clothes, you were cooking something. You deserved to have a rest this morning, my love, because you do far more than you think you do and I'm grateful.' The look that she gave him warmed his heart.

'Thank you,' She whispered before brushing a kiss against his lips and taking a sip of tea. 'Can we still walk up to Downton for lunch?'

'Would you like to?' He asked.

She nodded. 'I think it's time that everyone met Evie, and Addie's missed the other children so much. I might take her up to see them.'

John stroked her arm with his thumb before pulling her closer and turning his attention to their two little girls, and his heart swelled as he watched Adelaide lower her head and press a kiss onto Evelyn's forehead. He doubted that she had the first idea of how proud of her he was. He knew that she had found it hard to accept that she was no longer the baby of the family and his and Anna's main focus. She had been emotional and she'd thrown some tantrums over the last couple of weeks, but he and Anna were still so proud of her for being so eager to help them take care of Evelyn. She wanted to help them with everything, whether that was dressing, feeding or settling her.

'Mummy?' The sound of his little girl's voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he smiled when he looked over at Adelaide and saw that she was looking up at him and her mother. 'I think that Evie might be asleep. Her eyes are shut and I think I can hear her snoring.'

Anna giggled and lifted her head off of her husband's chest before setting her empty teacup down on the table beside the settee, leaving the settee and kneeling down beside Adelaide again. 'She must have been exhausted,' She said in a gentle voice while running the backs of her fingers down Evelyn's cheek. 'Shall I take her, my darling, and put her in her Moses basket so that your arms don't start aching?'

'If that's okay.' Adelaide nodded.

There was nothing but deep adoration in Anna's eyes as she looked at her little girl and smoothed her hand over her beautiful red curls. Once she had kissed Adelaide's temple, she reached for Evelyn and lifted her out of her arms before getting to her feet and carrying her over to the Moses basket near the window. Evelyn stirred for a moment and whimpered when she started to lie her down in the basket, but soon settled when she shushed her and stroked her face. 'Sweet dreams, precious.' She sighed quietly before coming away from her.

When she looked at the settee once again while starting to approach it, it was obvious that Evelyn wasn't the only one in need of a nap. Adelaide was curled up in her father's lap with her head on his chest and her hand curled into the front of his jumper, and she could see that she was struggling to keep her eyes open as John ran his fingers through her curls. 'I think it might be time for someone else's nap, too.' She looked into her little girl's eyes after sitting down again. 'I don't want you to be half asleep while we're at Downton, my love.'

'I'm tired, mummy.' Adelaide replied.

'I'm not surprised after the morning you've had,' Anna laid a hand on her cheek and smoothed her thumb over the little freckles on her skin. 'Do you want me to take you upstairs and tuck you into bed, or do you want to nap down here so you can be with me and daddy?'

'Down here,' Adelaide told her. 'I want you to hold me.'

Anna glanced at her husband and shared a smile with him before pulling a cushion behind her back, settling against it, and opening her arms to Adelaide. She then waited for her to leave her father's lap and enter hers before she laid her back a little and cradled her against her chest. There was something about knowing that Adelaide still loved to be cradled like an infant that filled her heart with happiness. She was growing up so fast nowadays, and it wouldn't be long until she started at the village school and was out of the hours for hours, and so these were the moments she was holding on to. She was still her baby girl for the time being, and she was making the most of it.

'Mummy, will you come outside and play in the snow with me and daddy when we get home from Downton?' Adelaide asked sleepily.

'I might do,' Anna brushed a curl out of her face before holding her closer. 'You need to close your eyes and try and sleep now, though.'

Adelaide nodded before curling her fingers into her cardigan and puckering her lips, and Anna felt her heart swell before she gave her a soft kiss. 'I love you so much, sweetheart.' She whispered once she had settled back against the cushion and stroked her little girl's arm.

'I love you too.' Adelaide reassured her before she nuzzled her face into her chest and relaxed in her arms with a huff.

The next couple of minutes passed in silence as Anna watched her little girl fall asleep in her arms, but when she felt her husband shift closer to her and ease an arm around her shoulders, she lifted her gaze to him with a smile. 'She's still our baby.' She sighed with relief.

'Of course she is,' He rested his free hand on the back of Adelaide's head and ran his thumb over her curls. 'She always will be.'

'Do you ever worry about…about how she's going to get on when she starts at the village school?' She asked him a short while later.

He stroked her arm. 'Sometimes.'

'Children can be so cruel sometimes,' She shook her head. 'When Alice and I were little there were twin sisters who lived up the street from us, and they used to tease her something horrid because of the birthmark she had on her cheek. I remember dad gave them a piece of his mind one time, but it didn't do much and Alice ended up feeling too nervous to leave the house because of them,' She ran the pad of her thumb over Adelaide's hip through her dress before turning to John again. 'I can't stand to think of Addie being teased like that.'

He pressed his lips to his forehead in a tender kiss before sighing, bringing her closer, and allowing her to rest her head on his shoulder. 'There are going to be some children who find out that she's adopted and tease her about it, sweetheart, as much as I hate to admit that, and you can rest assured that I'll be giving them and their parents a piece of my mind when that happens. What we have to remember, though, is that there are also going to be some children who find out that she's adopted and accept it because they're her actual friends.'

'I suppose you're right,' She tilted her head back on his shoulder to look up at him. 'I just don't want her to feel ashamed of who she is.'

'We aren't going to let that happen,' He promised her. 'It's our job to remind her of how special she is, regardless of her past.'

Anna smiled. 'If she's anything like her daddy, she'll manage. I was so ashamed of the staff for how they treated you in the beginning.'

'I suppose none of them expected that His Lordship would take on a cripple.' He shrugged.

She winced inwardly. 'Don't use that word. You know I hate it.'

He stroked her hair in a silent apology.

'They might not have expected you to have an ailment, but that still didn't give them the right to make you feel as though you were an outsider,' She pointed out. 'I was so proud of you for how well you handled it, though. You're an incredible example for our daughters.'

He smiled and lifted his free hand to her cheek before running his thumb over her skin. 'Come here.'

He continued to stroke her cheek with his thumb as he caught her in a kiss that was both long and soft, and the sound of her sigh made his heart flutter in his chest. He lingered on her bottom lip for a moment before breaking their kiss sometime later, and the love he had for her deepened when her eyes opened and he was able to see the sparkle that lived in them. 'I love you so much.' He caressed her face.

'I love you too,' She cuddled closer to him before kissing his cheek and resting her head on his shoulder again. 'More than you know.'


'She's so beautiful!'

'She's the double of her father.'

'You must be so proud!'

Those were all things that John could hear the servants saying as they stood around Anna and gushed over Evelyn as she cradled her in her arms. The compliments made him smile, of course they did, but his heart sank a little when he looked over at Adelaide and noticed that she seemed rather dejected as she sat on a chair near the entrance to the servant's hall. She had been so excited when she had found out that they would be visiting Downton, and she hadn't stopped talking about how she was going to tell the staff about the things that Evelyn did, but she was still waiting for that opportunity. Ever since they had arrived, the servants had been all 0ver Anna and Evelyn.

If he was being honest, he was rather frustrated with the lot of them for having their backs to Adelaide and not thinking to include her. Especially Mrs. Hughes. Before Evelyn had made her appearance, she had showered Adelaide with affection and hadn't been able to let go of her whenever Anna had brought her to Downton for a visit. She had barely said two words to her this time, however, and he was surprised at her for that. Adelaide adored her and she knew that, and so he couldn't quite believe that she found it so easy to ignore her.

He watched his little girl let out a deep sigh and look down at her hands as they rested in her lap sometime later, and he realised that he couldn't just sit and watch her anymore. 'Addie,' He said in a quiet voice before holding his hand out and smiling when she focused her attention on him. 'Come and have a cuddle,' She wasted no time in leaving her chair and walking over to him, and once he had brought her to sit in his lap he laced his arms around her waist and kissed the side of her head. 'I don't think it'll be much longer now, princess.'

'I wanted to tell nanny about the snowman we built together, daddy.' She huffed after resting her head on his chest and looking at him.

He lifted his hand and ran the back of it down her cheek in a soothing manner before lifting his gaze to Mrs. Hughes and watching her hold Evelyn in her arms. There was no chance of Adelaide being able to speak to her anytime soon. 'I have an idea,' He looked down at his little girl once again and brought her closer to his chest. 'Shall we head upstairs and ask nanny Lee if you can play with Miss Sybbie and Miss Marigold in the nursery for a little while? You haven't seen them for a couple of weeks now, and I'll bet they're missing you.'

'Can we, daddy, please?' She asked with hope in her eyes as she curled her fingers into the front of his shirt.

'I'll just go and tell mummy where we're going,' He left a kiss to her forehead before helping her out of his lap and rising from his chair to walk over to where his wife was standing. Once he had reached her, he stroked the small of her back and smiled when she looked up at him. 'I'm just going to take Adelaide up to the day nursery and find out if she can spend a bit of time with the children.' He told her.

Anna looked over at their daughter for a moment before looking up at him again. 'Is she okay?'

'She's feeling a little left out, and…' He lowered his voice so that only she could hear him. '…and I can't really say that I blame her.'

Anna frowned.

'She might as well not be in the room,' He pointed out. 'No one can stop looking at Evie long enough to realise that she's actually here.'

'I don't understand why you would be upset with me about this…' She looked rather confused.

'I'm not upset with you, my darling, you haven't done anything,' He comforted her. 'I just don't want her to be sat there all afternoon.'

She allowed him to run his hand along her back for a moment before she stepped around him and made her way over to their little girl, and she offered her a smile as she crouched down in front of her and took hold of her hands. 'I'm sorry that this afternoon didn't go the way that you wanted it to, precious,' She sighed as she looked into Adelaide's eyes. 'But you're going to have so much fun upstairs with the children, and then we'll all go home and build a friend for the snowman you made with daddy.' She smirked gently at her daughter.

'You're going to come out in the snow with us?' Adelaide's eyes sparkled with happiness.

'I am,' Anna nodded. 'And then, a bit later, we're going to snuggle up on the settee and read some more of your Winnie the Pooh book.'

Adelaide smiled before taking a step closer to her mother, sliding her hands out of hers, and slipping both arms around her neck so that she could hug her. 'I love you, mummy.' She closed her eyes and nuzzled her cheek against her shoulder through her soft blue cardigan.

'I love you too,' Anna ran her hand over the curls that cascaded down her little girl's back before easing her back from her and realising that her husband had come to stand beside them. Once he had proffered his hand to her and she had allowed him to help her up, she let her eyes fall closed for a second as he pressed a kiss to her cheek. 'I'll come up to the two of you when I'm ready to start heading home.'

'Right you are,' He replied before chuckling when Adelaide slipped her hand into his own. 'Come on then, misses, let's head upstairs.'

'Bye, bye, mummy,' Adelaide waved at her mother.

'Bye, bye, sweet pea,' Anna giggled. 'Have a nice time.'

John ran his thumb across the back of Adelaide's hand and led her out of the room after sharing a smile with his wife, and it didn't take long for them to ascend the backstairs and find themselves in the corridor on which the day nursery was situated. Just as they began to make their way down the corridor, Mary came walking around the corner and offered them both a warm smile. 'Bates! Adelaide! I was just on my way down to see you, Anna and the baby. What are you doing up here?' She looked at Adelaide who was beaming up at her.

'I'd like to play with Miss Sybbie and Miss Marigold, milady,' Adelaide replied. 'May I? Please?'

Mary felt her heart swell. 'With lovely manners like those, I don't see why it would be a problem. I'm sure they would love to see you!'

The happiness that Adelaide felt was evident on her face.

'I'm so sorry that you and Anna had such a rough patch after the birth, Bates,' Mary said when she lifted her gaze to John. 'I wanted to come down to the hospital to visit her and see how she was getting on, but there wasn't time and I felt as though I would be imposing.'

'Thank you, milady, that's kind,' He smiled. 'You wouldn't have been imposing if you had visited, but I think she would have found it a little hard to focus on a conversation. The treatment left her feeling rather tired and nauseated, so she didn't do much other than sleep.'

'I understand that and I'm glad to hear she's doing much better,' She smiled. 'Now, I'll let the two of you get on.'

She then stepped past the two of them and walked down the corridor, Adelaide lifting her gaze to her father when he gave her hand the warmest squeeze. 'Adelaide Bates, you have the most perfect manners and I'm so proud of you.' John shook his head in slight disbelief.

'Thank you, daddy,' She took a step closer to him and slid her fingers through the gaps in his. 'Can we go and find Sybbie now, please?'

'Come on, princess,' He nodded before leading her down to the end of the corridor, knocking on the door to the nursery, and opening it to find Nanny Lee sitting in the rocking chair while she watched the children do some crafts. 'Good morning, nanny Lee,' He smiled at her when she looked at him and Adelaide. 'We were just wondering if you would mind if Adelaide spent some time with the children?'

'Of course I don't mind!' Nanny Lee replied as she set her knitting down. 'Why don't you go…'

'Addie!' Before she had even had the time to complete her sentence, the children had seen Adelaide and abandoned their arts and crafts. Adelaide slid her hand out of her father's and giggled as the three of them ran over to her, and she slid both arms around Sybbie's waist when she caught her in a tight embrace. It had been weeks since she had last seen her friends because her mother hadn't had the energy or felt well enough to bring her up to Downton, and she had missed playing with the three of them more than she'd thought she would.

'Is the baby born?' Sybbie asked once their embrace had reached its end.

Adelaide nodded. 'Mummy had a baby girl and she's called Evelyn Rose Bates. Evie for short.'

'What does she look like?' George smiled.

'She looks like my daddy!' She told him. 'Mummy says that Evie's his double.'

She heard her father chuckle from where he was stood behind her with nanny Lee, and after turning to him she returned to his side and took his hand in hers again. 'Can Evie come up here so that my friends can meet her, daddy? I want them to know what she looks like.'

'Your mummy will be bringing her upstairs with her when she comes to tell us that it's time to go home, darling, and I'm sure that she won't mind introducing her to your friends. How about you go and do some arts and crafts with them for now, though, just to pass the time?' He suggested before his little girl hummed, nuzzled her cheek against the back of his hand, and headed back over to the children.

'Mr. Bates,' Nanny Lee said once the children had sat down. 'I apologize for asking, but would you mind sitting with the children for a moment? I just need to run down to the kitchens and have a word with Mrs. Patmore about their luncheon.' She told him with a smile.

He nodded. 'Of course.'

He then watched as the nanny stepped past him and left the nursery, and once she had closed the door he sat down in the rocking chair and let his gaze travel to his little girl as she made paper dolls with her friends. She was never anything but beautiful in his eyes, but he had to admit that the smile that was on her lips just added to her beauty. For the first time since arriving at Downton, she was enjoying herself and being noticed, and it pleased him to no end that she had friends like Sybbie, George, and Marigold who were so kind to her.

Realising that it would take quite some time for nanny Lee to return from the kitchen, he leaned back into the cushion on the chair and watched Adelaide laugh with her friends and just make the most of the precious time that she was able to spend with the three of them.

One of the most beautiful sights in all the world.


There was nothing but love in Anna's eyes as she sat on the settee with Adelaide curled up in her lap after supper that night, the two of them covered with a thick blanket that was keeping out the chill as she ran her fingers through her little girl's curls and looked into her eyes. They cuddled together like this every evening, without fail, and she had to admit that it was one of her favourite times of the day. The glass of warm milk that Adelaide had with her supper always left her feeling rather sleepy, and so she would come and settle down in her lap and let her hold her until she drifted off or it was time for her to go to bed. The love she had for her grew stronger every day.

'I am so proud of you.' She whispered when Adelaide cuddled closer to her and reached up to tangle her fingers in her long blonde hair.

'What for?' Adelaide asked.

'For being such an incredible sister to Evie and for helping me and daddy so much since I came home from the hospital,' Anna told her. 'I know that everything's changed for you since Evie came along, darling, and I know that you've found it rather difficult to get used to those changes, but daddy and I are so proud of you for being so mature about everything. So proud, in fact, that we're going to take you and Evie on a special trip once she's grown a little more.' Adelaide sat herself up properly in her lap then, her eyes shining with delight.

'Where are we going, mummy, where are we going?' She giggled.

Just as Anna was about to answer her, she heard the sound of John's cane tapping against the sitting room floor as he entered the room, and she couldn't help but smile when she turned her head to look at him. 'I think I'll let daddy tell you,' She ran her hand up and down Adelaide's back through her nightgown as her husband approached the two of them. 'She wants to know about the trip we're planning.'

John chuckled as he sat down beside his girls before opening his arms to Adelaide and allowing her to move out of her mother's lap and into his. 'In summer, when it's a little warmer, I'm going to ask for some time off from work so that we can go to Scotland for a couple of nights,' He explained while holding her close to his chest. 'I'm going to be taking you, mummy, and Evie to all of the places that my mummy used to take me to whenever we went on holiday to Scotland, and we're all going to be staying in a nice cottage near a village.'

Adelaide beamed at him before looking at her mother. 'Have you been to Scotland, mummy?'

'Once,' Anna nodded after reaching out to brush a curl back behind her daughter's ear. 'The family went there a couple of years ago, and daddy and I went with them. It much of a holiday, if I'm honest, but we did manage to sneak a little picnic in when everyone was out.'

'Your mummy's forgetting about the night she put on a nice dress and danced as a surprise for me.' John gave their little girl a squeeze.

'Will you dance when we're in Scotland, mummy? I want to see!' Adelaide gasped.

Anna smirked at her husband before looking into Adelaide's eyes. 'If it means that much to you, sweet pea, then of course.'

Adelaide giggled and laid her head on her father's chest before a large yawn took her by surprise as she curled her fingers into his shirt.

'I think it might be someone's bedtime.' John buried his lips in her hair and kissed the crown of her head.

'But daddy, I'm not sleepy.' Adelaide shook her head as she looked up at him.

He gave her a pointed look before chuckling and leaning his forehead against hers. 'Your eyes are telling me different, Miss Bates.'

She laughed when he tickled her sides before lacing her arms around his neck. 'Can we read some more Winnie, daddy?'

'If you can run upstairs and climb into bed in the time that it takes me to get some water, then yes.' He smirked.

In moments, Adelaide had left his lap and he and Anna laughed as they watched her race out of the sitting room and up the staircase to her bedroom. 'I have a feeling that she might be winning, darling.' Anna shifted closer to him on the settee and laid a hand on his back.

'I think you might be right,' He smiled after turning his head in her direction. 'I feel so blessed to have you and our girls, you know.'

'Me too,' She took his hand in hers and ran her thumb across his knuckles. 'The girls and I love you so much, you know.'

'And I love you,' He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. 'Now, I suppose I had better get upstairs.'

'I'll see you in about an hour then.' She teased.

He rolled his eyes good-naturedly at her before giving her hand one more squeeze, rising from the settee and walking out of the room.

Once she was alone, Anna pulled the blanket a little further around herself and settled back against the back of the settee before sighing with contentment. She couldn't have been happier with her lot. She had the most wonderful husband, two perfect little girls whom she adored with all her heart and soul, and she just felt that – after years of hoping and praying – she finally had all that she'd ever wanted.

She had a family.

She was a mother.

And, as far as she was concerned, there was nothing more perfect than that.


The sensation of her husband running his fingers along her arm made Anna smile when she was relaxed in his arms on the settee sometime later, and she couldn't resist the urge to curl further into his side and breathe in his scent when she nuzzled her nose into his shirt. 'I have to admit that it felt rather nice to get out of the cottage for an hour or so this afternoon,' She admitted after sliding her arm over his stomach and resting her head on his shoulder. 'Mrs. Hughes said that we're welcome to go for lunch again on Thursday if you like.'

'I don't think so, darling, but I'll thank her for the offer when I go up to see if there are any telegrams in the morning.' He replied.

She noticed the subtle change in his demeanour as he spoke, and her forehead creased. 'What's the matter? Why don't you want to go?'

'Since you ask, I'm not too pleased with her and the others for ignoring Adelaide when we were there this afternoon,' He sighed. 'They were excited to meet Evie, I understand that, but that doesn't give them the right to make Addie feel unnoticed. She kept watching and waiting for someone to look up from Evie long enough to realise that she was in the room, but they didn't and she didn't get the chance to tell Mrs. Hughes about the snowman we made earlier on. They completely ignored her, and that's why I took her up to the nursery.'

Anna thought about his words for a moment before moving her hand from his waist to his chest and brushing her thumb softly against his shirt. 'I'm certain it wasn't intentional,' She told him. 'It was the first time they all saw Evie, and I think the excitement took over.'

He used his free hand to brush her hair out of her face before tightening his hold of her and pulling her further into his tender embrace. 'Love, they're grown adults and you shouldn't have to make excuses for them. Besides, that doesn't really excuse Mrs. Hughes' actions. Normally, she gives Adelaide a cuddle the moment she sees her and asks her what she's been up to. She didn't do that when we arrived this afternoon, though, she overlooked her and it seemed as though she was oblivious to the fact that she was standing right beside her.'

'That might have been how you saw it, but…'

'No, Anna, that's how it is!' He raised his voice a little and instantly regretted it when she shrank back from him and dropped his gaze.

'I know you're irritated,' She said as she sat up and left his arms. 'But irritated or not, you don't have the right to speak to me like that.'

She made to rise from the settee and leave the sitting room so that he could have some time to calm down, but she felt him take hold of her hand and run his thumb across the back of her palm before she had the chance to walk off. 'I apologize,' He sighed when she turned to look at him. 'You're right, sweetheart, I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. You didn't deserve it.' He felt a surge of relief course through his veins when her features softened and she sat herself down on his good knee, her arms winding themselves around his neck.

She looked at him in silence for a time as her fingers stroked the hair at the nape of his neck, but when he lifted a hand to her waist she couldn't help but kiss him. The kiss was sweet and chaste and over in seconds, but they were still smiling when she rested her forehead against his and grazed the bridge of his nose with the tip of her own. 'If I wasn't so in love with you, you would be in so much trouble.' She let her thumbs stroke the back of his neck as his hands laid on her waist through her dress, and he couldn't help but chuckle gently.

'I really am sorry. You've got enough on your plate, without me acting like a child.' He traced the curve of her waist with his hands.

'I understand where you're coming from, honestly,' She reassured him. 'You're protective and you don't want Addie feeling upset, and that's something I could never criticise you for. I mean it when I say that Mrs. Hughes loves her, though, darling, because she couldn't seem to stop singing her praises before I came upstairs. She kept going on about how grown up she's gotten and how careful she is with Evie. I know that you think she's forgotten her because Evie's in the picture now, but she hasn't. She loves both of them equally, truly.'

He slid his arms around her waist and sighed. 'I've been a complete fool, haven't I?'

'Yes,' She giggled. 'But I don't care in the slightest.'

'You don't?' His brow creased.

She shook her head. 'No. Because you're my fool, and that makes all the difference.'

The two of them laughed together before she smoothed a hand over his pomaded hair and brushed her lips against his in a delicate kiss. She allowed their kiss to linger for several seconds before pulling back and looking into his eyes. 'Now, do you think we might head up to bed and get some sleep? I'm exhausted after this afternoon, and I have a feeling that it won't be long until Evie's crying for her feed.'

'Whatever you want, my darling,' He kissed her forehead before allowing her to leave his lap, and once he had risen from the settee he took her hand in his and laced their fingers. He then led her out of the sitting room and up the stairs to their room, and once the two of them had entered their bedroom, Anna walked over to the Moses basket on her side of the bed before smiling at seeing that Evelyn was still sound asleep. 'I still can't believe she's ours…' John mumbled into her hair after moving to stand behind her and stroking her back.

'I prayed for her for so many years,' She reached into their little girl's Moses basket and ran the back of her index finger down Evelyn's cheek. 'After our last loss, I started to believe that it wouldn't be possible for us to have a baby of our own. I'm so glad I was mistaken.'

John kissed the back of her head and laced an arm around her middle from behind. 'She's made all of that waiting worth it.'

'She has,' She agreed. 'And like Addie, I never want her to forget how precious she is. They're both our miracle girls in their own way.'

'We won't let either of them forget that,' He kept his voice soft. 'I promise.'

The two of them stood together and watched over their sleeping daughter for a short time longer, but it became clear to John that Anna was finding it hard to keep awake when she leaned back against his chest and tucked her head into his neck. 'Let's get changed for bed,' He let his lips caress her temple while he spoke to her. 'You've barely stopped tonight, and I don't want you unwell from lack of sleep.'

She gave him a tired nod in response before he removed his arms from around her and she walked across the room to their wardrobe so that she could find a nightgown to sleep in. Once the two of them had found their nightclothes, it didn't take them long to get changed and climb into bed. Anna turned off the lamp on her bedside table and leaned over the side of Evelyn's Moses basket to leave a soft kiss to her cheek after covering herself with the quilt, and when she laid herself down in her John's arms she instantly felt safe and content.

'Do you want me to read to you?' She heard him ask before he kissed the top of her head and laid his hand on her waist under the quilt.

'Not tonight, sweetheart, I'm too tired, but thank you for offering.' She brought her hand to lie on his chest as she cuddled against him.

Once he was certain that she was comfortable and would be able to sleep in his arms, he used his free hand to turn off the lamp that sat on his bedside table and plunged their bedroom into darkness. 'Get some sleep.' He told her after nuzzling his nose into her silken hair.

'I am…' She mumbled into the darkness. 'Goodnight, John.'

'Goodnight, Anna,' He whispered. 'Sleep well.'


Author's Note: Thank you all for reading this chapter! It took forever to write, but I'm quite proud of it and I hope that it was an enjoyable read! Please let me know what you thought of it with a review, and I'll see you all next time!