They expected that the children might sleep a little longer that morning, given that they'd been at the Abbey the night before. Yet dawn had hardly broken and the sound of footsteps could be heard on the landing.

Anna turned onto her side to face John, a smile curving her lips as she took her first sight of him that day.

"Do you regret not taking up Lady Mary on her offer of staying over for the day?" she said while the duvet cocooned them both, "I think she had the room we stayed in on our wedding night ready and waiting for us. That would have been a very nice way to wake up on Christmas morning."

"It would," John replied, his hand resting snug over her hipbone and his eyes, not long woken from sleep, warm and happy as they looked at her, "but nowhere could be nicer than being right here with you, my love."

"You are a charmer," Anna laughed, her hand moving down his arm to cup his elbow. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, mo ghrá."

Their lips met for a kiss, which they managed to enjoy alone. Between them they counted down to the moment when the first of their children entered the room to ask them if they could check whether Father Christmas had been; after all, as they had met the man himself at the Abbey the night before, then surely he would have dropped off their presents quite soon afterwards.

They had not made it to five until the door opened and Charlotte came running through, followed closely behind by Emma and Jack.

"Merry Christmas Mummy, Merry Christmas Daddy," the girls chorused almost in unison.

"Merry Christmas, Mum and Dad," Jack said, as he remained by the door.

"Merry Christmas, darlings," Anna said, reaching down to Charlotte for a hug, while John did the same to Emma. "Did you get enough sleep?"

"Yes," both Emma and Charlotte replied.

"Are you sure?" John asked, his voice deliberately serious, which made Anna smile.

"Yes!" the girls shouted.

"Okay," John answered, "We believe you."

"Can we go downstairs now?" asked Charlotte, sounding very sweet indeed.

"It's going to be quite a long day," John said, "are you sure you wouldn't like to get a little more sleep, just so that you're set up and ready for it?"

"Daddy, you are a silly egg," Emma, who was usually the quieter of the two, piped up, which caused Anna to erupt with laughter.

"A silly egg?" said John, pronouncing the words carefully, making them sound all the funnier.

"Yes," Charlotte cut in to back up her sister, "Mummy calls you it all the time."

John and Anna looked at one another over the heads of their little girls, smiling, and glad that they hadn't worked out the true saying just yet.

"And now you shall call me it too, and I couldn't think of a better title," he uttered, kissing the top of Emma's head.

"I don't think you are, Dad," Jack said, looking so tall in his pyjamas.

"Well, thank you, my lad."

Anna was beaming as she smiled at all three of her children and her husband, finding it hard to recall another time when she had felt as much peace.

"Come on, then," she said, "I think we've all waited quite long enough. Let's go downstairs and see what's what, shall we?"

The girls were thrilled to be given the full permission, and Jack looked very happy too, even if he was trying to be a bit more grown-up. They let the children head down the stairs, promising that they'd be with them right away – otherwise who knew what might await them both if they lingered for too long.

John's gaze was soft as it lingered upon Anna, watching her with pure love as she put her robe on. She caught him looking at her before too long, and broke into a wide grin.

"What are you smiling at, Mr Bates?"

"I could ask the same question of you," he returned without missing a beat.

"Well, I happen to think I'm very lucky," she said, placing her hands upon his sides, "I have the best husband and three wonderful children, and we'll be spending a perfectly lovely day together, just us. I'd say that gives me plenty to smile about."

His smile grew wider, his hand reaching to cover her stomach.

"I definitely think so, and I can't help thinking that I'm the luckiest man. And getting luckier and happier by the second."

She smiled back at him, placing her hand over his.

"I did try and put them off for just a little bit, for your sake," he went on to say.

"What did I tell you?" she said, trying and failing to look stern.

"I know," he answered, "and I'm not worrying, I promise that I'm not. I just know that it'll be a long day, and I don't want you to tire yourself out."

She let out a little laugh, stroking the curve of his hand with her thumb. "They'll be so excited that they'll be asleep by six o'clock, if not earlier. I'd say that gives us more than enough time to put our feet up."

"You do know best," he smiled, dipping a touch to kiss her forehead.

"And now I think it's best that we go downstairs, so that we don't miss out on them opening their presents completely."

They shouldn't have worried, as all three of them were either sitting on the settee or kneeling on the floor, waiting for their parents before making a start on the presents that were gathered at the foot of the tree. Once John had given them the nod to go ahead, it didn't take all that long for them to be fully unveiled. Dolls and teddies, balls and books, games and a kite were laid out across the floor, with cries of delight and an eagerness to start playing with the new toys one by one.

Anna and John exchanged gifts too, though they had only bought each other a couple each, but they were valued all the more. The children also presented their parents with some handmade gifts, which were very happily received.

"All of you," John said, looking at where Anna was perched on the settee, "Mummy and I have another present to let you know about. Though I'm afraid it's not a kitten, a puppy or another animal. But we hope you'll find it just as exciting."

The children went forward, kneeling before Anna, and John couldn't help thinking what a wonderful sight it was to see. He revelled in it for a moment or two, then went to sit beside her.

"Come the time when spring turns to summer, you'll have a little brother or sister," Anna announced, her eyes bright and her smile amongst the most beautiful that could ever be seen.

When their three children smiled back at them, and started excitedly talking about the new addition to their family, they both knew that they had the greatest presents they could ever wish for.

A/N: And there we have the 12 ficlets of Anna and Bates, and their children! A very Merry Christmas / holiday season to you all :)