Thank you all so much!

Chapter 11

Anna sat propped up on the new couch in their new living room, as she watched John and the other men bringing in boxes and placing them wherever Anna told them. While she generally enjoyed being up and doing the work herself, she was quite liking this, being the queen of the castle and bossing around others. Her hands rested on her stomach and she smiled. The two little ones were restless, kicking and moving around within her. It was always such a surreal feeling, a joyful one. She still could not believe that she and John were soon to be parents of three children.

"Where do you want this one?" Matthew asked, lugging a large chair in his hand. Anna sat up slightly and pointed over to the corner. She watched as he placed it in its right spot. And then felt as someone slid onto the couch next to her. As she turned her head, she saw it was Mary, who had been organizing the kitchen for her.

"This place is lovely, Anna," Mary gushed. "You and Bates will enjoy raising the children here."

"Yes," Anna agreed, resting her head back against the cushions. One baby kicked right against her ribs and she winced. Mary's hand came over to where she had seen the small kick and she smiled.

"I love that feeling," Mary mused, rubbing her hand against it in hopes to feel another kick. The baby granted her that and Mary chuckled. Then she met Anna's gaze and her face grew serious. "I…I have a plan and I am wondering if you wouldn't like to join me in it, Anna."

Anna's brows furrowed, confused.

"What plan?"

"Now, I don't want you to feel like you have to say yes, if this isn't something you feel comfortable with, I don't want you to do it. It's something I feel I need to do and I thought that maybe you might want to join me."

Anna sat up slightly.

"Should I be scared?" Anna teased, though she was a little uneasy about whatever this proposal was. Mary seemed a bit intense.

"Not at all," Mary waved away. "I want to start an outreach program for women and girls who have been abused."

Anna pursed her lips. "Oh."

"Maybe even hopefully help prevent it for some. But we could be a place where they could come when they need help, when they aren't listened to at home. I don't know all the details. I don't even quite know where we would begin. However, I feel like it is something I am drawn to do. I know it'll take a while to set up and you are about to have the twins, so….."

"I'll do it," Anna immediately interrupted. "Whatever it ends up being, I want to be a part of it. But I don't think it should just be for girls, boys can be abused too."

"Right," Mary pensively agreed.

"But we can start with girls. It's what we know. It is our experiences. We can be there to help whomever needs us."

Mary then smiled. "Yes."

"So," Anna said, beginning to change the subject. "Was the visit to the Hastings' house eventful? Did you get what you needed?"

Mary nodded. "I did and I now know what I need to do."

"What is that?"

"You'll have to wait and see," Mary winked. "But, I do have some photos from our trip. Would you like to see them? They had an indoor pool."

"Oh yes," Anna laughed. Mary pulled her phone out of her pocket and handed it to Anna, who swiped through the photos, lingering on the ones with Simon a bit longer than the others.

"That's a good one, isn't it?" Mary leaned in closer, while Anna pinched the screen to make Simon larger.

"Oh, should I be jealous?" John's voice came from behind, as he bent down and kissed the top of Anna's head.

"No," Anna giggled, leaning her head up to see his face. "He is just eye candy; you are my real life candy." Winking, she turned and kissed him. Her hands came up to the nape of his neck and she happily sighed. "I like when you're all sweaty like this."

"Okay!" Mary nearly yelled, standing. "I think that's my cue to go and help somewhere else."

As Mary walked away, Anna kissed John more deeply.

"We need to christen every room of this house," Anna chewed on her bottom lip. John's hand wiped at her brow and he smiled.

"Well, most rooms."

"Yes," Anna agreed, understanding what he meant.

"You're not too tired are you?" John questioned, his brows furrowing

"No, why?"

"You look a little pale." Anna sighed. John was always fretting now. "Eat some jelly beans or drink some OJ. I'm checking your sugars within the hour."

"Yes, Lord Bates," Anna playfully replied, though she loved how much he cared.

"I mean it."

"I know you do. I'll drink some juice. Then I'll take a nap. Our bed has been set up, right?"

"It has."

"Might as well enjoy the quiet while Jack is with the Carsons and the twins are in here. Soon, it'll be loud as loud can be in our new home."

"Yes, and I think that will be wonderful, my darling."

"Me too."

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

When the door to her office opened to reveal her older sister, Edith Crawley pursed her lips together into a firm line. She had not seen her sister since the day the two of them had argued and she was too busy to deal with whatever this was going to be today. Edith pushed back her chair and stood, bringing her hands together in front of her.

"I'm afraid I have a client arriving within the next half hour. I don't really have the time to…."

"I asked your assistant and he said you are free until lunch," Mary broke in. Edith let out a low sound.

"What do you want? I really don't want to argue with you Mary. I am sorry that I ran to Mama and Papa with that information, but you can't lie and say you wouldn't have done the same."

Mary didn't respond right away. She instead pulled a small notebook out of her pocketbook.

"I honestly can't say either way," Mary finally answered. "After being what I have been through, I know that I would have come to you first. However, had I not…I can't know for sure…" There was something in Mary's eyes: determinedness. It was one of Mary's finer traits, even Edith could admit that. And Edith realized it was the first time she had seen it in her sister's face for several years.

"But that's not why I am here," Mary continued. "I am not here to fight with you, Edith. I've actually come for your help."

"Help? From me?"

"Yes," Mary coolly replied. "I have been able to get in touch with a few of the other women who were on the list. Some of them want to join me in telling our story. We want to get the truth out about Kemal Pamuk, perhaps help other women who have been scared and afraid to tell their own stories."

"You'd tell everyone?"

"Yes," Mary simply stated. "It's my chance to get out the truth."

"That's awfully brave of you," Edith had to admit.

"I'm not doing it for me," Mary then said. "I'm doing it so that our children can have a better future. I am doing it for George, for Marigold, for Sybbie, and Anna's children. I hope that by doing this, I can help the world be a slightly better place. So, will you help me?"

Edith nodded. "I will."

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

They had been settled in their house for a couple of weeks now. With the extra help at The Servant's Hall, Anna found that she was actually enjoying being home with Jack during the day. He still went to work with John for a couple of hours so that Anna could nap, per John's orders. However, the two of them spent most of their days at the house and playing outside in their nice new backyard.

Knowing that the twins would be arriving soon, both John and Anna decided to keep the extra help on at their restaurant. Anna would stay home with them until they felt she was able to bring them into work. Though, they knew that would remain a part time gig now with three small children.

"I think I am ready," Anna said, handing John the insulin that he would need to administer to her shortly.

"For your shot?"

"No, to visit my mother's grave," Anna sighed. "I think I should. I need closure. I need to say goodbye."

John gave a loving nod. He filled the syringe with the liquid and then gave Anna her shot. She didn't even wince, since she was now so used to getting the shots daily.

"When would you like to go?"

"This afternoon?"

"Alright, I'll bring Jack home and…"

"No, I think I should go by myself." Anna watched as John eyed her carefully.

"Are you sure, my darling? We can leave Jack with…"

Anna reached over and grabbed at John's hand.

"I need to do this alone. You are my strength, John. I know that, but this is something I need you to trust me on. I have to tell her goodbye, by myself."

John brushed Anna's cheek with the back of his hand.

"Alright."

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

As Anna reached the cemetery later that afternoon, she paused several steps away from her mother's grave. She could see the letters of her mother's name on the small stone. Anna's hand clutched over her heart, but she took in a deep breath and forced herself to move forward.

She remained standing. Though she had expected to cry, she didn't. Her eyes just continued to be drawn to her mother's name.

"I made a life for myself," Anna then began. "I am happy. I have a loving husband, a beautiful son, and in a few months I'll have two more beautiful children. I did all of that without you, Mother. I would have loved to have you in my life, but you chose differently. You chose him. And I…well, I forgive you. Not because you deserve it, because you don't. But because I need to move forward with my life. I won't visit you again." Anna paused for a moment. "Goodbye."

She glanced at the grave one more time and then turned, satisfied that she had been able to say her final words and knowing that she had the best family to return home to.

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

Matthew walked into the bathroom, surprised to find Mary crying. Her hand was over her lips and her shoulders shaking. He immediately rushed to her in concern.

"Darling? Mary? Are you alright?"

Mary turned to face him and her lips curled up slightly, before she shoved something into his hands.

"What…what is this?" Matthew asked, looking down to the white stick. His heart skipped a beat. Two pink lines. "Are you….?"

"Oh Matthew! I'm pregnant! I thought…" A soft sob broke through Mary's lips. Matthew couldn't help but smile, as he brought Mary into his arms. "I really thought we wouldn't ever have another."

"But we are," he whispered happily into her ear.

"We are," Mary agreed, leaning back and kissing his cheek. "We are!"

"When do you think….?" Matthew pondered.

"When we visited the Hastings! It has to be. I wonder what's in their water."

Matthew laughed. "Well, whenever it happened, I am pleased."

"Oh, me too, Matthew. I am so pleased."

To be continued...one last time :)