Hi reader! Big day coming up! Things will get a little hot around the middle of the chapter (it's a wedding night ahah), just saying in case you're not comfortable with that kind of scenes. Nothing too graphic though. Enjoy!

October 2021

- Good evening my darling, said John, kissing Anna on the cheek as he came back from work at the Abbey on this late October afternoon. How've you been since yesterday?

They had only seen each other in a hurry the night before, as Anna was leaving for her night shift when he was coming home from the Abbey, and she was not yet back when he had left again that morning.

- How was the shift? he added.

- A little tense, but alright.

- Did you manage to go to the registry office today?

After they had put together their file for a wedding, Anna had said she would go to the registry office and put down an application for a wedding celebration, as soon as possible. Once she had made her decision, she didn't want to wait any longer than necessary. They had decided to have the legal ceremony privately, and that they would throw a proper wedding/adoption party when Timmy's adoption would be complete too. Right now the only people who knew they were getting married were Matthew, as their lawyer who was handling the adoption process, Mary and Elsie, who was keeping Timmy. They would tell everyone else later.

- As a matter of fact, yes, I did, beamed Anna, excited by the news she had to deliver.

- And?

- And they offered a date to me right away. They had only just had a cancellation.

- Oh? When's that then?

- On Friday.

John looked puzzled:

- Friday? You mean that Friday?

- Yep, she exclaimed, a wide grin on her face.

- Oh, wow. That's efficient, he laughed. So you booked it?

- Of course I did, silly beggar! Why wait longer?!

- So, you're telling me, that three days from now we'll be husband and wife?

- Looks like it.

- Oh darling, he said, taking her into a loving hug.

When he let go of her, she looked at him seriously and added:

- There's one last thing we need to get straight.

- What is it?

- I'm not changing my name. Not that I'm that proud of my father's name, but it's part of my history, and I don't want to erase that. I won't be Mrs Bates. Or Dr Bates for that matter. I graduated as Dr Smith, and I don't want to change it.

- I've been thinking about that, and I've had an idea.

- Yeah? What is it?

- I thought we could maybe all change our names. Me, you, and Timmy. To Smith-Bates. And our future baby could have that name too. That way we would all bear the same name, as I think a proper family should, and no one gets erased or forgotten.

Anna looked up to John, obviously thinking over his suggestion, and a smile broke up on her lips again:

- Yes… I'd like that, she admitted. I had not thought of that possibility! Yes, that would be perfect! That way we're all adding our history and creating a new one. Oh I love you John! she said putting herself on her tiptoes to kiss him.

x x x x

Anna and Mary were sitting in Mary's kitchen, having lunch, on the following Friday. Mary had stated that John shouldn't see Anna before their appointment at the registry office at three o'clock, so she had kidnapped her friend to "get her ready". She had already taken Anna a few days before on an emergency shopping spree, to find a suitable dress for the occasion. After many fancy shops and dresses that Anna had deemed much too posh and expensive, she had finally settled on a very simple white knee-length dress. She had had a hard time containing Mary's enthusiasm, but had finally convinced her that it was only a small thing, and that she should keep her party-planning energy for when they held the real party, when Timmy's adoption was completed. They hoped to be able to have that party in the next Spring.

- So… stated Mary, picking her fork into her shrimp curry. The secret Mrs Bates…

Anna smiled, but corrected:

- Not yet. And I won't be Mrs Bates. We will all be Smith-Bateses.

- Oh? John will be changing his name too?

- Yes. He suggested it. I didn't want to completely change my name to Bates, so he came up with that, and I thought it was right.

- Nice. You know I've booked you both a private table at the Abbey tonight. Mrs Patmore has planned a very special wedding menu for you two. And I've kept you the Queen Caroline bedroom.

Anna flushed:

- Really Mary, you needn't have done all this.

- Come on Anna, it's your wedding night!

Anna looked at her for a short moment, as if she was only realizing the reality of the situation:

- You're right, she beamed. It is my wedding night. I'd never thought I'd have one ever…

x x x x

Just before three o'clock, John was happily and restlessly waiting in the lobby of the registry office. A wide grin lit up his face when he saw Anna going through the revolving doors, Mary tailing her. His heart swelled as he took in how beautiful his soon-to-be-wife looked with her lovely dress and her hair put up in a bun, adorned with a white flower on the side. His eyes shone bright as she noticed him and went up to him, a shy smile on her lips.

- You look absolutely gorgeous my darling, he whispered in her ear as he kissed her cheek. Thank you for taking care of her Mary, he said, looking to the dark-haired lady, who waited a few feet back.

She nodded warmly to him. He looked back to Anna and held out his hand to her:

- Shall we go? It's almost time.

Anna took his hand and replied with a confident smile:

- Yes. Let's go.

x x x x

The light was fading over the Yorkshire landscape when they arrived at the Abbey, once again driven by Mary. She let them in the hotel lobby, where the receptionist took charge of them.

- Well, enjoy your evening, she told them as she left. And your night, she winked to Anna.

- I think we will, said Anna, blushing a little.

When the receptionist had led them to the Queen Caroline bedroom and closed the door on them, they put down their bags and looked around the large and fancy room.

- Wow, said John. Have you ever slept inside the Abbey before?

Anna smiled at him:

- As a matter of fact, yes I have, but in the staff rooms, under the roofs. When I was a student and I decided to leave my parents' house, Mary convinced Robert to let me a room until I found myself a proper flat. That was the summer I worked in the kitchens under Mrs Patmore too. But I never stayed into the guests' rooms, no.

- Me neither. It's so… majestic.

- It is. Perfect for a wedding night, she concluded, with a happy wink.

- So, he replied, dinner's not for another hour… What are we going to do until then?

- Hmm, tough question, smirked Anna, putting her hand on her chin as if thinking hard over it. Maybe… you could investigate on that alleged new set of lingerie that Mary made me buy to go under that dress?

- That's very interesting indeed… he said, approaching her with a greedy gleam in his eyes.

He came behind her, and softly kissed the back of her neck, then gently shifted aside the neck of the dress, to reveal the lacy bra-strap.

- Yes, yes, very interesting indeed, he breathed on her neck. Though I might have to remove that dress to go over the full matter. We wouldn't want to get it crumpled before dinner…

- Hmm, replied Anna, thoughtful. Well if there's really no other way…

He very slowly pulled down the zipper on the back of the dress, sending sweet tingles all along her spine as he did, and pulled the fabric a little apart, kissing the back of her shoulder.

- Red lingerie on your wedding night, he noticed. Why, that's saucy, Mrs Smith-Bates…

She moaned as he called her with her married name:

- Oh, yes, do call me that again. It feels so good…

- Mrs Smith-Bates? he tried again, as he slid the dress off her shoulders completely and it crumbled on the floor.

She stepped out of it and turned around to face him:

- I love you, Mr Smith-Bates, she whispered, inching herself on her tiptoes to claim his mouth hungrily.

While their tongues danced together, he suddenly lifted her off her feet and laid her gently on the bed. As they parted from their kiss, panting, he answered:

- And I love you too, Mrs Smith-Bates.

She laughed:

- Are you going to call me that always from now on?

- If you want me to. Now, that lingerie set. Let me take a full look, he said, pulling himself a little apart from Anna, to take a full view.

She blushed a little as his eyes roamed her body and enjoyed the red lace bra that fitted her breasts perfectly, her pale belly, then went down with a hungry gleam over the matching red lace panties. He gasped a little when he continued looking down:

- Oh, wow, a garter… You'll be the death of me, Mrs Smith-Bates, he said, appreciatively stroking the hem of the red lace with his fingers.

She laughed and wriggled at the tickling sensation.

- You're so wonderfully beautiful, I can't believe I am looking at my wife, he marvelled. Sometimes I feel I am going to wake up from that dream.

- Well believe, John.

He lowered his head to her thigh, and started leaving light kisses just above the garter's hem.

- Oh Jesus… she whispered.

- May I get you rid of those? he asked, crocheting his finger under the panties.

- You may, husband, she answered gleefully.

He shot her the happiest and hottest look, and proceeded. Once the panties were lying on the floor, he knelt beside the bed, folding her legs around his shoulders, and went back to kissing her inner thigh above the garter. A cry escaped her lips and she seized two fistfuls of sheets when he finally settled his mouth on her most private place. She closed her eyes and completely surrendered to the burning sensations that were blooming inside her under his expert touch. He needed only a few minutes to lead her over the edge, and she soon convulsed under his lips and fingers, calling out his name. As she slowly came down from her high, he settled on the bed next to her, and lightly stroked her chest and her side.

- Happy wedding day, wife, he beamed.

- Thank you, husband, that was so… Wow, she concluded, at a loss for the adequate word.

He laughed softly.

- I'm happy you liked it.

- I would have to be very difficult not to like that, she noted. But… what about you?

- Oh don't worry, we'll have plenty of time to continue after dinner. Now maybe we should tidy ourselves up a bit before going down.

She raised herself on her elbow and kissed his lips:

- You're my treasure, you know that?

- As you are mine, he answered, cupping her cheek.

x x x x

Mrs Patmore came in person to welcome them when they presented themselves to the Abbey restaurant moments later.

- Anna! John! called the formidable cook. Congratulations my dears! I am so happy for you!

- Thank you Beryl, said John as she hugged them both.

- Now sit yourselves down, and enjoy my very special wedding dinner. I made that menu especially for you.

- That's so kind of you Mrs Patmore, said Anna.

- Nonsense. Now I have to go back to the kitchens, but let me know if anything's not up to scratch.

- I'm pretty sure it will be just perfect, replied John as the cook left the dining-room.

And indeed it was. Mrs Patmore had been a renowned cook at the Abbey for more that a decade now, and her reputation did not waver through the years. Anna and John were delighted and well sated when they came back to their room after dinner. They spent the subsequent evening and a good part of the following night worshipping each other's bodies and making love with the energy of two happy newlyweds.

x x x x

Late on the next morning, John had been watching Anna sleep for a while when she finally started stirring. Seeing that she was at last waking up, John made to open slightly the curtains, so that their eyes could get used to the daylight.

- Good morning, love, he whispered into her ear.

But before she could answer, he saw her crunch her face, and hastily get up to lock herself up in the bathroom. He frowned as he heard the unmistakeable sound of someone being ill. When the sounds stopped, he knocked on the door lightly and called:

- Anna, darling, are you alright?

He heard water running, and then the door opened to reveal Anna, looking a bit pale.

- Better now… she answered. That's odd, she thought. Are you feeling ill too? Could it be something from yesterday's dinner?

- No, I'm feeling perfectly well, he answered.

- Maybe the shrimp curry from yesterday's lunch with Mary. Where's my phone, I'll ask her if she's been ill too. Though I don't feel that ill now, I'm hungry in fact.

While she texted Mary, a maid delivered a breakfast cart to their door. John wheeled it in and settled next to the table.

- So, do you want to eat? This all seems so delicious, he said, looking over the enticing breakfast tray.

- Yes, I'll try, she said.

- Maybe start with a little tea first, see how it goes, he said, pouring her some hot tea in a cup.

- Yes please, she replied, while her phone buzzed with Mary's answer. Oh, so Mary says she's not been ill at all either. How strange.

She sipped a little bit of her tea, then tried a freshly-squeezed orange juice, and a pancake.

- It seems I'm alright now. Well. Maybe I had only eaten too much at dinner. Although, come to think of it, I was feeling a bit nauseous yesterday morning too, I remember now. But I thought it was only the wedding stress you know.

John looked at her with an inquisitive look:

- Could you be?…

She frowned:

- That's very unlikely, as I told you, I have the implant.

- OK.

She looked thoughtful for a minute, then gasped:

- Oh, God, wait…

She hurriedly got up and reached for her purse, and started frantically searching through her wallet. She finally retrieved a little card from it, and looked at it.

- Oh bloody hell! she exclaimed, showing it to John. I mixed up the dates! That thing works for three years in a row, and I had in mind that I had it put in 2019, but I was wrong! It was 2018! So it's been out of date for four months!

Uh-oh... ;D