Thank you all! I am so glad you enjoy this little story! :)

Chapter 11

Unlike before, Anna now found that she looked forward to the days that John had off for his half days. She now rather enjoyed his company and their time together. He made her smile and always checked in on how she was feeling. It never felt like she was just here to watch his son. She felt valued.

Today, John had a half day and would be home after lunch. She was nearly giddy at the thought and it was strange. She caught herself glancing at the mirror to make sure her hair looked nice enough. She frowned, however, when she saw the redness around her eyes. Since she had woken up that morning, she had been battling a cold. It caused her to sneeze all morning, watering and causing her eyes to grow red.

She had thankfully been able to sleep in, because Declan had done the same. The day before the two of them had played outside nearly all afternoon, wearing the both of them out.

When she woke up, John had already left for work. She made herself some tea and was grateful that Declan was happy just hanging out indoors this particular morning. She knew that the house could use some light dusting and that it was time to start on making Declan's new winter jacket, but she was too tired to do any of it.

Instead, she sat in the rocking chair and nursed her tea all morning. Declan sat near her feet and played quietly.

The door opened a while later and Anna realized she hadn't made any snacks for when John got home from work. Usually, for his half days, she tried to have some sort of special treat for them all to enjoy once he was home.

She gathered to her feet and pressed down the front of her dress, where it had bunched up over her growing belly. It seemed to have grown a lot over the past several weeks.

"Papa!" Declan jumped up from the floor and rushed to John, wrapping his arms around his leg.

"Hey," John said, touching his head. "Have you been good for Anna?"

"Yes, I played quietly because she's sick." John then frowned, turning his attention to Anna. She felt a blush rise to her cheeks and wished she hadn't said those exact words to Declan. She could manage just fine. She once worked at the factory through a horrible sickness where she had been sure she was going to die, but she hadn't.

He stepped closer to her, his eyes going over her face, and his frown deepening.

"I'm really fine," Anna tried to assure him. "It's just a little cold."

"Your cheeks are flushed," John then stated, concerned. He brought his hand up and rested his fingers against the top of her head. "And you have a fever."

"Really, I'm fine," Anna repeated. "I did forget to make something, but I can chop up some fruit."

"No," John said, with a shake of his head. "You need to go upstairs and rest."

"I feel alright," Anna insisted. She couldn't remember there ever being a time where she was able to rest when she was ill. It was often you did your work and you hoped to survive through it.

"Doesn't matter, go upstairs. Rest up. If not for yourself, for your little one." At that, Anna had to sigh and nod.

"Oh, alright," Anna finally conceded.

She grabbed her cup of tea and took it upstairs with her to her room. Once she was in her space, she sat her cup next to the bedside table and slid into her bed. She opened up the small drawer to pull out the book she was reading. As she did, the one photo of Lou that she had stared back at her. It was a weathered photo and the corners were bent or torn. She hated that it was all she had of him. Her fingers picked it up, before brushing over his face. No tears came this time, only a smile.

"You would be so thrilled," she murmured to him. "A baby. Our baby." She pressed the photo against her chest and closed her eyes, her memories of him strong. He would have wanted their son or daughter to have the world.

As she thought of Lou, she drifted off into a deep sleep.

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

There came a knock at her door. Anna jerked up, unsure of what day or time of day it was. It was dark and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness.

"Anna?" John's voice asked through the door. She quickly stepped out of her bed and made her way to the door, opening it to see that John was holding a tray of food. Light spilled into the room, and she had to close her eyes slightly before she was able to adjust her eyesight. As her eyes scanned the tray, she saw he had brought her some soup, bread, tea, and a small vase of flowers. Her lips curled up into a small smile. "Are you hungry? I hope I didn't wake you."

"No," she lied. "I wasn't. And yes, I am starving."

She opened the door further so that she could take the tray from his hands. Her mouth began to water.

"Are you going to bed?" She asked him. He shook his head.

"No, I'll probably read a little while."

"Could I join you downstairs?" He smiled at that.

"Of course," he said. "Here, let me take the tray down with me, then. You need to be careful."

"You're the one with the bad leg. I am capable of carrying it." But John gave her a look that said he wasn't going to argue with her. So she handed him the tray and followed him down the stairs.

The downstairs was spotless. After he had put Declan to bed, John must have cleaned the entire downstairs. It wasn't that there was a lot to do, but he had done what needed to be done. It was so strange to Anna. She had always grown up with being told that it was the woman's job to clean the house, take care of the children, and do all the household duties. You were only to expect the man to work and bring home money. John wasn't like that at all. Of course, they weren't a real couple. However, Anna had a feeling that it would be like this even if they were. She was always so confused on how his ex-wife ever could have left him. Not to mention how she left Declan. Though, she had witnessed it herself. Mothers weren't always what you wanted them to be.

They both sat down on the settee. Anna balanced the tray on her lap and began to quickly devour the food. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until now. Her stomach was growling.

"Did you make this?" She asked him, incredulously. She wasn't trying to be rude; it was only that from what she had seen he could only make eggs and toast.

"No," John laughed. "Ms. Patmore sent me home with a basket of food. I had sat it by the front door before I came inside."

"Well, please tell her it is delicious."

"I will," he promised.

Once Anna was finished with the food, she took the tray to the kitchen. She began to clean up, but John called from the settee.

"Don't do that right now. You still need your rest. I'll do it before I go up to bed."

"I can manage, Mr. Bates," Anna teased. It had become a regular thing now to call him that in a playful tone from time to time. Anna couldn't quite pinpoint when it had become so natural.

John stood from the settee and walked over to Anna. He took the rag from her hands and pointed to the settee.

"Rest."

Anna chuckled. She stepped forward, but the baby did a large kick right to her side, nearly making her bend over. Her hand quickly reached for John's and placed it where the baby had kicked. And just like that, the baby kicked again.

"Oh my god," John breathed.

"You felt it?" Anna asked, smiling and meeting his eyes.

"I did." A smile was on his face too and his eyes looked full of awe and wonder.

"Did it feel like when Declan used to kick?"

John's smile faded some and he shook his head.

"I don't know. Vera would never let me feel him."

Anna frowned at that. "But why not?"

"Our relationship was complicated. But I got my son out of it, so I'll never regret it."

"You're a good father," Anna said. The baby kicked at her again and then did several in a row, making Anna laugh heartily. "Oh, alright, little one. Calm down." John began to laugh with her. "It's amazing." She then told John. "I can really feel him. He's really here."

"He or she is," John replied with a wink. "You should go on up to bed. I have a long day tomorrow and I don't want you overdoing it if you are sick. I could ask a neighbor…"

"I feel much better already and I was hoping for another chapter of our book."

John smiled.

"I would too."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

John cleaned up the rest of the dishes once Anna went up to bed. He wondered if he shouldn't ask a neighbor to keep Declan for at least part of the day tomorrow. The last thing he wanted was to have Anna overworking herself. At the least, he could ask Mrs. Hughes to drop by during the day.

He made his way upstairs. When he got to the top, he heard sobbing and moving around in Anna's room. It almost sounded like she was turning the bedroom upside down. The door was ajar so he poked his head into the room to find Anna on her hands and knees, looking under the bed.

"Anna? What's wrong?"

Anna glanced up and he could see the side of her face with the small bit of light in his hand. She had her bedside lamp lit, but the room was still very dark. Her face shined with tears and she just looked away, shaking her head.

"I….I can't find it!" She cried, her hands frantically darting under the bed.

"Find what?" He carefully asked, stepping in further to shine more light into the room.

"I…..I fell asleep with Lou's picture in my hands and now it's gone. I…it was the only one I had! Now…" A loud, heartbreaking sob left Anna's lips. John's own heart hurt for her. He bent down with her, ignoring the pain in his knee and used his light to try and look under the bed with her.

Suddenly, he saw a flash of white and reached toward it, to pull out the tattered photo. He lifted it up and showed it to Anna.

"Is this it?"

Anna gave a grateful nod, her body still trembling from the fear of losing it and the sobs. She took it from John and pressed it up against her chest.

"Th…thank you."

John used the side of the bed to help him stand up and then he assisted Anna. She was still attempting to calm herself down from her upset.

"Wait here a moment," John lightly commanded. He quickly left her bedroom and made his way to the small closet in the hallway. His hand searched the top shelf and he found it. Then he walked back to Anna's room and handed it to her.

"What's this?" Anna asked, her eyes falling to his hands.

"A frame for your picture. It'll keep it safe and make it harder to lose." Anna looked so grateful that she might burst. Then, without warning, her arms flew around his neck and she held him close.

"Thank you," she cried against him. Almost as fast as she had done it, her arms fell away from him. "Thank you so much."

"It's really nothing, Anna. I'd hate for you to lose something that precious. Do you need anything else before bed?"

Anna's head shook.

"Are you sure you're up for Declan all day tomorrow?" Anna lightly chucked then, a smile dancing upon her lips.

"Yes, Mr. Bates, I'm sure. Now, off to bed with you," she said with a wink. "You have a long day tomorrow."

"Right, goodnight, Anna."

"Goodnight, John."

To be continued...