Author's Note: Thank you all so much for coming back to read this chapter!


It made Anna smile to see that her husband was still sound asleep when she crept into their dimmed bedroom after having breakfast with Adelaide, and once she'd closed the door so not to let the warm air out she approached their bed before sighing as she sat down beside him. Almost a full week had passed since he had caught a chest infection, and it was clear to her as she watched over him that he hadn't improved much. He was soaked with sweat even though all he had on were his pyjama bottoms, she could hear him wheezing as he breathed in and out, and his grimace told her that he wasn't comfortable at all. She couldn't stand seeing him so weak and sick.

He groaned in his sleep as he moved from his back to his side a couple of minutes later, and once he had slid his hand underneath his pillow and settled again, she stroked his hair in a soothing manner before leaning down to brush a kiss against his damp temple. She allowed her kiss to linger for a moment-or-so, but when she felt him start to stir beneath her lips she pulled back and a smile crossed her lips when his eyes flickered open and he ran a hand over his face. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you,' She kept her voice as soft as possible while running her hand down the outside of his arm as he gazed up at her with weariness in his eyes. 'How are you feeling?'

'Honestly? I don't think I've ever felt worse,' He admitted. 'My head's pounding and I'm freezing one minute and sweltering the next.'

She felt her heart sink. 'I wish that there was something I could do.'

'I won't lie here and listen to you talk like that,' He scoffed. 'I might be sick, but there's no doubt in my mind that I would be far sicker if I didn't have you. You've taken such good care of me over the past couple of days, sweetheart, and I'm so proud of you because you have the girls to take care of as well. I don't understand how you do it sometimes, I honestly don't.' He slipped his hand into her own.

She looked at him with utter love in her eyes before looking down at their hands when he began to run his thumb over her knuckles. 'Addie's been quite the little helper since you fell ill,' She told him. 'She's been helping me to clean downstairs, to bathe Evie and keep her entertained, to cook, and to care for Bella. She's missing you something rotten, though, and she doesn't understand why she can't come up and cuddle with you.' She watched his face fall a little at the mention of their daughter and she could tell that he missed her.

'I never imagined that I would miss reading Winnie the Pooh so much.' He chuckled to himself which caused his wife to giggle gently.

'Don't worry, she'll have you reading it to her again as soon as you show the first sign of improvement,' She teased. 'She says that I'm not bad, but I'm nowhere near as good as you at doing different voices for the characters.' She smirked with a playful roll of her eyes.

'You've either got it or you don't.' He patted the back of her hand.

When he winced and fell quiet a couple of seconds later, it was obvious to her that his headache was worsening and she sighed while stroking his hand. 'Do you want me to pop downstairs and make you a Beecham's powder? It might take the edge off.' She suggested.

'Would you?' He asked.

'Of course,' She smiled before shuffling a little closer to him, cupping his face in her hands, and pressing her lips against his forehead. The sound of his contented sigh as she ran her thumbs across his cheeks made her love for him deepen. 'I love you so much,' She told him after pulling back and looking at him, the slight sparkle that was in his eyes making her heart swell. 'Try and rest until I'm back.'

The two of them shared one more smile before she got up from their bed, walked across the bedroom towards the door, and stepped out onto the landing. She made her way back downstairs after closing the door behind her, but before she headed for the kitchen she decided to check on her girls in the sitting room. Adelaide was still sitting at the little table in the corner when she entered the room, and she smiled as she approached her daughter before stroking her curls and taking a look at the picture that she was busy drawing. 'That's such a wonderful drawing, darling,' She rested a hand on her shoulder when she looked up at her. 'Can you tell me what it is?'

'It's a picture of me and daddy,' Adelaide told her while using her brown crayon to add her father's hair. 'It's to make him feel better.'

If there was one thing that Anna adored the most about John and Adelaide, it was the beautiful bond that they had been forming ever since she had come to live with them. The pair of them were as thick as thieves, always getting up to something, and even though she sometimes wondered which one of them was more mature, she just loved seeing them together. Adelaide loved her father more than anything else in the world, that was plain to see. She was a true daddy's girl, Anna knew that, and it didn't bother her in the slightest.

It reminded her of the bond that she and her own father had shared when she had been little.

'I shouldn't really be letting you, if I'm honest,' She sighed. 'But do you want to come upstairs with me and give daddy your drawing?'

Adelaide gasped and the happiness that she felt when she looked up at her mother was evident in her eyes. 'May I, mummy? Please?'

'Yes, but I want you to be quiet and gentle around him because he's not feeling well at all,' Anna said. 'You can kiss his cheek, but you can't give him a proper kiss and you need to wash your hands after we've seen him because I don't need you or Evelyn catching this.'

Adelaide nodded. 'I promise.'

'That's a good girl,' Anna replied. 'I just need to go and fix him a Beecham's powder, so why don't you quickly finish off your picture?'

'Okay, mummy.' Adelaide smiled before picking up her brown crayon once again and getting back to work.

After watching her little girl for a couple of seconds, Anna left her in peace and walked over to Evelyn's Moses basket before glancing at her and feeling relief course through her veins when she realised that she was still fast asleep. Not wanting to touch her due to the fact that she had just been with John, she simply whispered that she loved her before turning around and leaving the room to go and make her husband's powder. She hated the things. They tasted horrid, although they did the trick, and she truly couldn't stand them.

It didn't take her too long to find one in the medicine cabinet and swirl it with some water in a glass, and after exiting the kitchen she stopped outside the sitting room and waited for Adelaide to join her. 'Daddy's quite tired, sweet pea, so he might be dozing when we go in,' She explained to her daughter as the two of them ascended the stairs together. 'If he is, we'll leave his powder and drawing on the bedside table and leave him to get some sleep, all right? Sleep is the thing that's going to help him to start feeling better, after all.'

'Can I still give him a kiss?' Adelaide asked once they had reached the top of the stairs.

'Yes, you can.' Anna reassured her with a smile before taking her hand in hers and walking her to the room that she and John shared.

Adelaide turned the door handle and walked into the bedroom ahead of her mother, and the moment she noticed that her father was sitting up in bed, a smile broke out across her face and she hurried over to him before climbing onto the bed and sitting down beside him. 'Daddy!' She cuddled against him and laid her head on his chest before nuzzling her cheek against the hairs there. 'I missed you.'

'I missed you too, princess,' He released a sigh of happiness while slipping an arm around her and holding her close to him, his other hand coming up to brush through her hair before she moved her head to his shoulder and looked up at him. 'What's that you've got?'

'It's a drawing I made for you because I want you to feel better,' She explained before turning the paper to let him see the picture she had drawn for him. 'It's a drawing of me and you building our snowman in the garden, daddy, because it was fun and I liked doing it.'

John smiled and gave his little girl a weak squeeze. 'It's absolutely perfect, sweetness. Mummy and I have a little artist on our hands!'

'Do you like it? Will it help you feel better?' She asked when she looked up at him again.

'Oh, I love it,' He reassured her before accepting the drawing from her and leaning it against the lamp on his nightstand. 'I'm going to leave it right here, too, so that I can see it the moment I wake up and be reminded of you even if you can't come upstairs and see me.'

Adelaide giggled and cuddled closer to him before hiding her face in his chest and settling as her mother sat herself down on the bed. 'Here,' Anna gave the Beecham's powder to her husband before resting her hands in her lap. 'It shouldn't take too long to take effect.'

'I don't deserve you.' He shook his head as he looked into her eyes.

She tutted. 'Don't be silly, I'm only doing what you would do for me if I were the one in your position.'

'Even so,' He replied. 'I'm so blessed to have you.'

She gave him a good-natured roll of her eyes before watching as he took his medication, and the expression that crossed his face due to the taste made her laugh before she took the glass from him. 'Shall I go and get you some water to take the taste away?' She asked.

'Please.' He chuckled.

She gave his arm a tender squeeze before leaving the bed and walking out of the room, and he smiled when Adelaide snuggled closer to him and looked at him. 'Daddy, do you think you'll be better soon?' She asked with hope in her eyes. 'I don't like it when you're ill.'

'I'm sure I'll feel better in no time, Addie, as long as I rest and do as mummy says.' He tickled her side before sharing a smile with her.

Just as she cuddled up to him once again, the bedroom door opened and Anna entered with some water in her hand for her husband. 'Addie, I think it might be time for us to go back downstairs so that daddy can get some sleep,' She said once she'd set the glass down on John's nightstand. 'You can come back upstairs and see him for a couple of minutes before I put you to bed later, though, all right?'

'Okay,' Adelaide pouted as her heart sank in her chest before her father gave her a squeeze. 'Are you going to be okay on your own?'

'I'm going to be fine, I promise,' He reassured her. 'Why don't you do something fun with mummy that you can tell me about tonight?'

She nodded while giving him one last cuddle. 'I love you, daddy.'

'I love you too, sweetheart,' He sighed. 'So much.'

Once their embrace had ended, Adelaide moved over to the edge of the bed before sliding off and padding over to the bedroom door. 'Get some rest and I'll come up and see if you feel like eating anything at lunchtime.' Anna smiled before lovingly stroking John's hair.

'Thank you.' He caught her hand and left a kiss to the back of it.

'You don't have to thank me,' She whispered with a shake of her head. 'You just have to get better.'

The two of them shared a smile before she gave his hand a squeeze, slid her hand out of his and walked over to where their daughter was waiting. 'Come on,' She took hold of Adelaide's hand. 'Let's go and find something to do while we wait for Evie to finish napping.'

'Can we make some gingerbread men?' Adelaide asked while her mother led her out of the room.

'What a good idea! Why didn't I think of that?' Anna gasped as she shut the bedroom door behind her. 'Shall we make one for daddy?'

'Yes!' Adelaide beamed. 'Daddy loves gingerbread men!'

Anna smiled and ran the back of her free hand down her little girl's cheek. 'I love you so much, Adelaide Bates.'

'I love you too, mummy.' Adelaide tightened her hold on her mother's hand and slid her fingers through the gaps in her own.

The two of them then began to head downstairs to the kitchen and even though Anna wished that John felt well enough to join them, she had to admit that it filled her heart with happiness to know that she and Adelaide were able to spend some quality time together.

She had just as much time for her as she had for Evelyn and she was never going to let her think otherwise again.

Never.


Adelaide huffed and approached the bench in the back garden to rest her legs after going on rather a long search through the bushes for sleeping fairies. She had tried to have fun like her mother had told her, but searching for fairies alone was nowhere near as fun as searching for them with her father. She had learned so much about searching for them from him and she wished that he could search with her, but he just wasn't well enough. He'd been ill for such a long time now, and she wanted him to get better as soon as possible.

She snapped herself out of her thoughts when she saw something come over the garden fence out of the corner of her eye, and when she turned her head and saw it lying on the grass she realised that it had been a football. Deciding to go exploring again and discover who it was that had kicked their ball into the garden, she got up from the bench and ran back inside the house so that she could fetch her step-stool from the kitchen. She then returned to the garden, placed the step-stool down beside the fence and stepped up onto it.

She wasn't sure about what she had expected to see when she held onto the fence and rose onto her tiptoes, but she definitely hadn't expected to find herself face-to-face with a dark-haired boy. 'Oh,' She paused for a moment before offering him a gentle smile. 'Hello.'

'Hi,' The boy returned her smile while easing a black curl away from his forehead. 'I'm sorry, I think my ball might be in your garden.'

Adelaide looked over her shoulder at the ball that was still sitting on the grass near the bench before turning back to him with a nod. 'I'll go and get it for you,' She reassured him before stepping down from her step-stool, running over to his football, and picking it up so that she could give it back to him. Once she had returned to the fence, she stepped onto her step-stool once more before lifting her arms over the fence and letting the boy take his ball from her. 'Don't you play outside a lot? I've never seen you before.' She told him.

'No, it's not that,' He shook his head. 'My mum and I only moved here two days ago. She's got a job at Downton Abbey.'

'That's where my daddy works!' She revealed. 'My mummy worked there too, once, but she left to be at home with me and my sister.'

The boy hummed. 'What's your name?'

'Adelaide. Adelaide Bates and I'm four,' She told him. 'What's yours?'

'Walter Blackwood and I'm seven,' He replied. 'It's nice to meet you.'

'It's nice to meet you, too.' She said.

'Addie, sweetheart, I think it's time for you…' She looked over at the cottage at the sound of her mother's voice. 'What are you up to?'

She smiled at her mother as she came outside. 'I'm talking to my new friend, Walter, mummy.'

Once Anna had walked up to her little girl, she rested a hand on her back through her coat before looking over the fence and sharing a smile with Walter. 'Hello.' She greeted him as Adelaide cuddled against her and she slid her arm around her waist to hold her close.

'Hello, Mrs. Bates,' Walter readjusted his hold on his football. 'How do you do?'

'Very well, thank you,' She nodded. 'Are you and your family new to Downton?'

'Yes,' He admitted. 'I've just moved here from London with my mum because she's been taken on at Downton Abbey.'

It was then that Anna realised who Walter's mother was. 'Your mum must be Martha Blackwood, Lady Mary's new lady's maid?'

'That's right.' He told her.

'Well,' She traced the curve of Adelaide's side with her hand. 'I'm afraid Addie needs to come in for her lunch now, but she can come out again a bit later on. Could you do me a favour and tell your mum that I said welcome to Downton? I look forward to meeting her.'

He nodded. 'I will. See you later, Addie.'

'Bye-bye, Walter,' Adelaide waved before slipping her hand into her mother's and allowing her to help her down from her step-stool. Once she had picked up the stool, she and her mother started to head back inside their cottage and she gazed up at her when she felt her stroke her back. 'Can we invite Walter and his mummy over for dinner when daddy's feeling better, mummy? You and daddy can make friends with his mummy then, and Walter can meet Evie and make friends with Bella!' She asked while they entered the house.

Anna stopped and thought about her little girl's suggestion for a moment as she watched her wash her hands at the sink, and she felt pride run through her veins when Adelaide looked over her shoulder at her. 'That actually sounds like a wonderful idea, sweetheart,' She handed her daughter a tea-towel so that she could dry her hands. 'It might not be for a couple of weeks because it's going to take time for daddy to feel like himself again, but we can definitely invite them both 'round and we can make something special for them!'

'Thank you, mummy!' Adelaide hurried over to her mother and laced both arms around her waist before hiding her face in her dress.

'You're welcome,' Anna giggled while running a hand over her gorgeous curls. 'Now, what would you like for your lunch?'

'Gingerbread men?' Adelaide smirked as tilted her head back on her stomach and looked up into her eyes with a sparkle in her own.

'I don't think so, misses,' Anna tickled her waist and revelled in her sweet laughter. 'Daddy might allow that, but I'm not your daddy.'

Adelaide tightened her hold of her mother and thought for a moment. 'I liked the sandwich that daddy made for me last week.'

'The one with marmalade on it?' Anna asked.

'Yes!' Adelaide beamed. 'The marmalade one!'

Anna ran the back of her hand down her little girl's cheek. 'Have a seat at the table and I'll bring it over in a moment.'

Adelaide released her mother from her hold then and padded over to the dining table before pulling out a chair, climbing onto it and making herself comfortable. 'Have you been upstairs to see daddy, mummy? Is he feeling a little bit better now?' She asked hopefully.

'I checked on him before I came outside and he was still asleep, princess, but I don't think he's feeling much better than he did earlier on. His temperature's still rather high and his chest doesn't sound too good, either,' Anna looked over at her once she had spread the marmalade over the two slices of bread on the plate in front of her, a deep sigh escaping her at the disheartened expression that was on her little girl's face. 'Oh, Addie,' She left the kitchen counter and made her way over to her. 'Daddy will be just fine, I promise you.'

'I miss him,' Adelaide whimpered. 'I miss having cuddles with him and I miss reading with him before I go to sleep because he makes me laugh when he does the voices. He might start to get sad because he's all on his own, mummy, and I don't want daddy to feel sad.'

When a single tear fell down her little girl's cheek, Anna felt a lump come to her throat and she forced herself to remain composed as she sat down in the chair next to her daughter. 'Come here,' She whispered while resting her hands on her waist before she lifted her into her lap and cradled her close. 'Do you remember the special medals that daddy showed you not too long ago?' She used the back of her hand to brush the tears from Adelaide's cheeks. 'The medals that he received while in the army before he moved to Downton?'

'The ones on his jacket?' Adelaide sniffled.

'Those ones,' Anna nodded. 'He received them because he earned them, my darling, and he earned one of them through being brave.'

'He did?' Adelaide asked.

'Yes,' Anna brought her closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead. 'If he was brave enough to leave for war and save Lord Grantham's life, do you think he might be brave enough to cope with his poorly chest and get through what the next few days are going to bring?'

'I think so,' Adelaide curled her fingers into the front of her mother's dress. 'I have the best daddy, don't I, mummy?'

Anna ran her fingers through her wild curls while looking into her eyes. 'You do, Addie, and I want you to swear to never forget that.'

'I swear,' Adelaide reassured her before sitting up and slipping both arms around her neck. 'Thank you for cheering me up, mummy.'

'You're welcome,' Anna smiled and rested her hands on her little girl's waist, a gentle giggle escaping her when Adelaide nuzzled the tip of her nose against her own. It was something that she had loved to do with her and John every time they had returned her to the adoption centre after an outing, and she still asked them to do it every evening before they turned off the light and she went to sleep. 'How about we both have something to eat now, sweetheart? Then we can see if Evie feels like having some tummy time on her mat!'

'Yes please!' Adelaide's eyes sparkled as she gasped.

Once she had pressed a kiss onto her little girl's hairline, Anna eased her out of her lap and back onto her own chair so that she could get up and walk back over to the counter to continue making her sandwich. As she set about cutting the sandwich into little triangles, knowing how much Adelaide loved it when she did that, she looked over at her once again and sighed with happiness at the precious smile that she could see on her face. She felt like the luckiest woman on earth to have such a beautiful, kind-hearted little girl for her daughter, and she had such adoration for her. She had done so much for her over the past couple of months without even knowing it.

With each cuddle, smile, and laugh she had managed to mend the hole that her miscarriages had left in her heart.

She had given her the chance to be a mother, something that she had longed to be for as long as she could remember, and she adored her for trusting her with both her heart and her life. She wouldn't have blamed her if she had been distant and untrusting at the start because of all that she had been through, but she hadn't been. She knew that she had trusted and loved her from the second they had met, and knowing that made a surge of deep love run through her veins. Her little girl would always have a special place in her heart.

That was one thing that she could always be certain of.


Even though he was exhausted, he ached, and he could feel the pounding in his head worsening by the minute, there was still a smile on John's face as he held Adelaide near and watched her sleep with her head on his shoulder that night. She'd wanted to have a quick cuddle with him before she had to go to bed and so Anna had told her that she could sit with him until she had nursed Evie, but mere moments after she had settled down beside him she had been fast asleep. It was the first time that she had been able to nod off in his arms since he had fallen sick, and he had to admit that he had missed holding her like this more than he had ever imagined he would.

She looked so beautiful and at peace as she laid there, her thumb in her mouth as her curls hung over his arm and the faintest snores came from her, and he longed to press little kisses to her forehead and cheeks. He couldn't take the risk of passing his chest infection on to her, though, because he knew that it would be ten times harder for her and he couldn't bear the thought of her being so unwell. Instead, he settled for running his fingers through her hair and he felt his heart swell when she cuddled closer to him under the quilt. He couldn't wait to regain his strength and be able to spend time with his girls again. Being apart from the three of them was torture.

He missed having skin-to-skin with Evelyn to soothe and settle her when it was his turn to put her down for a nap.

He missed being out in the garden for hours with Adelaide, helping her to search for hidden elves and fairies in the bushes.

One of the things he missed the most, however, was falling asleep and waking up with Anna curled up in his arms.

He knew that she had had no other choice but to move out of their room for the time being since Evelyn was so small and, due to her being premature, she would find it much harder to fight off the illness should she catch it. That didn't make sleeping without her any easier though. He had become so used to falling asleep beside her that he found it hard to do so when her side of the bed was vacant. He longed to have her near and nuzzle his nose into the hair at the back of her head while the two of them fell asleep together, but he had a feeling that it was going to be a couple more days before that could happen. He was just going to have to practice being patient.

The sound of the bedroom door opening brought him out of his thoughts sometime later, and he smiled when he looked up from his little girl to see his wife entering the room. She laughed once she had closed the door behind her and begun to approach the bed, and there was nothing but affection in her eyes when she sat down on the side closest to Adelaide and caressed her face with her fingers. 'She's not been herself this afternoon,' She sighed as she lifted her gaze from their little girl to him. 'She's been so worried about you, John, and the thought of you feeling lonely up here while we're downstairs left her rather upset at lunchtime. She loves you so much.'

'I love her too,' He kept his voice quiet so not to disturb Adelaide as he brushed his thumb against her hip. 'May I tell you something?'

'You can tell me anything.' She nodded.

He laid in silence for a moment longer before he stopped running his fingers through Adelaide's curls and took his wife's hand in his. 'I've been thinking about how we talked about potentially having another baby when Evie's older, and…and the more I think about it the more I think that it's not the best idea,' He felt his heart ache and brushed his thumb against the back of Anna's hand when a hurt expression came to her face. 'It's not that I don't want to, darling, because I do and…and it's taking all I have to talk to you about this.'

'Then…then why do you think it's such a bad idea for us to have another baby?' She sniffed gently. 'It was your idea in the first place.'

'I know,' He soothed. 'But whenever I think about us having another somewhere down the line, I end up thinking about the state you were in when we were in the ambulance. I end up thinking about how close I and the girls came to losing you, Anna, and I don't think I could go through that again. You're a brilliant mother and I would have loved to have more children with you, but I'm not willing to put you in such a position again just to have that. I'm not going to gamble with your life, sweetheart, because I love you far too much.'

Anna squeezed his hand as a single tear rolled down her cheek. 'Would you be upset if I fell pregnant again?'

'No,' He whispered while releasing her hand and lifting his to her face so that he could lie it on the curve of her cheek, a sigh escaping him when she covered his hand with hers and nuzzled into his palm. 'I could never be upset about something like that, but I honestly don't think that we should do anything to increase our chances. I'm not doing any of this to hurt you, darling, I'm doing it out of love.'

The slightest smile curled her lips when she looked into his eyes. 'I didn't doubt that for a second.'

'We could always discuss going down the adoption road again when the girls are older and able to understand,' He suggested. 'Addie brought so much happiness with her when we brought her home, and I feel like she taught us so much about patience and sacrifice. I also think she managed to bring us closer as a couple. It might be a little trickier this time around because we'll be caring for the girls and going through the process at the same time, but I am positive that we'll be able to handle it if it's something that you'd like to do.'

Anna felt her heart swell. 'You...you would really consider adopting another child?'

'Of course,' He nodded. 'Adopting Adelaide was one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.'

She lowered her gaze to their little girl once again and ran a hand over her curls when she sighed in her sleep.

They were the luckiest parents on earth to have her.

'I think we should do it,' She said to him. 'It's so rewarding and I really think that it would help Addie if she had someone to relate to.'

John was just about to respond when he heard their little girl whine as she stirred against his chest, and when he lowered his gaze to her he chuckled at seeing that she was looking up at him. 'There's my beautiful girl…' He whispered. 'I think it might be time for bed.'

'Can't I sleep in the big bed?' She pouted, her voice still rather rough with sleep as she rubbed at her eyes with the back of her hands.

'Not tonight, darling, because I'm still not well enough,' He sighed. 'I promise you, though, that as soon as I'm better you'll be able to.'

'Okay, daddy.' She replied.

Once she had watched her little girl snuggle with her father for a couple of minutes longer, Anna reached out and smoothed her curls down with the palm of her hand and smiled when she turned onto her back and looked at her. 'Let's get you to bed, my lovely, before you wake up properly and can't sleep,' She got up from the bed and opened her arms to her daughter before perching her on her hip once she had left John's embrace. 'I'll be back once I've settled her.' She told her husband before walking over to their bedroom door.

'Can I sleep in your bedroom with you and Evie tonight, mummy?' Adelaide asked once they were out on the landing.

'Do you promise to go to sleep? No talking?' Anna brushed her thumb against her leg through her nightgown.

Adelaide nodded while resting her head on her shoulder.

'All right, then,' Anna left a kiss to her temple before opening the door to the spare bedroom, entering the dimmed room and walking over to the bed opposite to the one she had been sleeping in. She then pulled back the quilt and laid Adelaide down on the bed, a soft smile curling her lips as she watched her make herself comfortable. 'Straight to sleep now, all right?' She sat herself down on the bed for a moment and stroked her little girl's cheek. 'I just need to go and check if daddy needs me to do anything before he goes to sleep and then I'll be coming to bed myself. I expect to see you and your sister sound asleep when I come back, Addie, do you understand?'

'Yes.' Adelaide reassured her.

'Good girl,' Anna whispered before leaning down to give her a kiss when she puckered her lips. 'I love you so much, sweetness.'

'I love you too, mummy.' Adelaide replied as she turned onto her side and eased her hand beneath her pillow before closing her eyes.

Anna rose from the bed once she was sure that she was comfortable and would be able to fall asleep, and after covering her with her quilt she turned around and left the room. She then closed the door a little, being mindful to leave it ajar in case Adelaide needed her, before padding down the dark landing and re-entering her bedroom. It was clear from the moment she stepped inside the room that John was exhausted and struggling to keep awake. 'I can always leave you to get some sleep if you're too tired, darling.' She told him.

'Get over here.' He scoffed while holding his hand out to her.

With a giggle, she slid a lock of hair back behind her ear before walking across the room to their bed and climbing onto it beside him. She let him wrap his arm around her and pull her close once she had gotten comfortable, and a sigh of satisfaction left her as she laid her head on his shoulder and felt him press a kiss onto her forehead. 'How are you feeling? Do you feel any better than you did when you woke up this morning?' She asked him once he had pulled back and looked into her eyes, her hand coming to rest upon his chest.

'The chest pain's died down a bit, but I've still got a raging headache and my throat's killing me from coughing so much.' He revealed.

She lifted her hand from his chest and smiled at him as she pressed the back of it against his forehead. 'Your temperature's started to come down as well, so that's another good sign,' She stroked his cheek and snuggled closer to him. 'It seems like you're on the mend.'

'And I have you to thank for that,' He tightened his hold of her. 'You are quite the nurse, Mrs. Bates.'

'I told you in my vows that I'd love you in sickness and in health,' She reminded him before sliding her hand into his. 'And I meant it.'

He laced their fingers and ran his thumb across her knuckles while holding her gaze. 'How are you managing with the girls?'

'Quite well,' She hummed. 'Evie's been as good as gold which has meant that Addie and I have been able to spend rather a lot of time together, and that's made Addie happier than ever. I think the two of us might have gone a little mad with the baking because there's around a dozen cupcakes and a biscuit tin fit to burst with gingerbread men downstairs. Addie made a gingerbread man just for you.'

He chuckled. 'Of course, she did.'

'She also made friends with the son of our new neighbour this afternoon,' She told him. 'Do you remember how I said that Lady Mary had managed to find a new lady's maid? Well, her name's Martha Blackwood and she and Walter moved here from London two days ago. Addie wanted to know if we could invite the two of them 'round for dinner one night so that we can introduce ourselves and get to know one another better, and I told her that I would have to ask you. It wouldn't be until you're well enough for guests, of course.'

He ran his hand up and down her back through her nightgown before kissing her on the temple. 'I think that's rather a good idea,' He nodded. 'If I'm going to be working with her at Downton, I think it would be good for both of us to become acquainted beforehand. It would be nice if the pair of you became friends, too, especially since Adelaide and Walter seem to have taken a shine to one another.'

'I agree,' She gave his hand a gentle squeeze and pressed a kiss into his neck when he turned his head to yawn. 'You need to sleep.'

'Will you lie with me until then?' He asked with hope in his eyes after turning back to her. 'I'm so sick of being without you.'

'Soft beggar…' She whispered with a shake of her head. 'If you need me, I'll stay for as long as you like.'

He offered her a grateful smile before she reached over him, turned off the lamp on his nightstand and covered him further with the quilt. She then relaxed in his arms and moved her head from his shoulder to his chest, her arm draping itself over his stomach as she cuddled closer to him and felt him stroke her side. 'I love you so much, John.' She sighed into the darkness as he held her tight to him.

'I love you too, Anna.' He mumbled into her hair.

The two of them drifted into a comfortable silence after that, and it wasn't too long before Anna heard her husband's breathing start to even out. There were countless things that she loved about him, but one of the main things she loved was how he was never afraid to show weakness around her. Even though he was a grown man, he wanted her to lie with him as he fell asleep because he was sick. She knew that that would sound stupid to some people, but she didn't think that it was stupid in the slightest. He would do the exact same for her if she were the ill one, she knew that, and she was determined to do everything in her power to aid him in his recovery.

Because she loved him with all her heart and, no matter what happened, she was certain that that would never change.


Author's Note: Thank you all for taking the time to read this chapter! Walter Blackwood, Adelaide's new friend, is going to be quite a main character in this fic from now on. Also, I really do want to write a sequel after this and I have quite a lot of it planned out in my head. I want to know, though, would you guys be interested in a sequel? It would focus on an older Adelaide and Walter during WW2 (with John, Anna and all the other main characters of course) and she'll be a nurse and helping out with the evacuees at Downton. Let me know what you think! See you all soon :)