As the winter nights draw in, Margaret Hale feels increasingly confused about her feelings for John Thornton, the man whom she refused, coming to realise she sorely misses his friendship. Then, as Christmas approaches, Margaret decides to do what she can to show the mill master just how much she cares about him.

Here is another holiday inspired North and South story. Credit goes to Elizabeth Gaskell and Sandy Welch (their words in italics).

The is a story about regrets and second chances. The day Margaret Hale left Milton, John felt his world crashing down around him as he watched her carriage roll out of the snowy mill yard. He thought he would never see the one woman he loved ever again. One year later, Margaret comes back to Milton for a few days with a gift for Mr. Thornton that reveals her heart.

A collection of one-shots by different authors with the creative prompt, "heat." While each story may be distinct, they each follow the lives of our beloved John Thornton and Margaret Hale from North and South, telling new tales of their love.

On Valentine's Day, an irritable John learns of a new sensation sweeping the town of Milton, in which people exchange cards by way of showing their affection. At first, he thinks this romantic fad is nothing but nonsense, but then he suddenly gets an idea, thinking of a certain someone whom he would very much like to pay court to. The only thing is, will she welcome his attentions?

Oneshot. John overhears someone speculating that he makes a poor husband. Margaret reassures him that is very much not the case. Praise kink, 18

Set in WW1, this one-shot is dark and different from my other stories in The Thornton Tales collection. However, it still contains the seeds of light and love as it looks at the life of John and Margaret Thornton.

Because this genre needed a sappy St. Valentine's Day story for our beloved couple... Credit goes to Elizabeth Gaskell and Sandy Welch (their words in italics).

An alternate imagining of Mrs. Gaskell's story, assuming Margaret had been hurt more seriously on the day of the riot. Intertwines elements of both the book and the BBC series, but focuses less on angst and more on the relationship of John and Margaret. Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, but am only presuming to borrow them for a while.

One and a half years on from where my story 'Before the Dawn' ended, Margaret and John are still struggling to overcome their status as Milton pariahs. On top of it all, JT is getting drawn into the case of a stranger found dead by the river... Only an accident - or could it be murder?

This is a one-shot based on a future chapter of A Mother's Final Gift. In the extract, John meets Billy once again, an impoverished child who helped bring him and Margaret together. The master finds the lad's cheek and curiosity endearing, leading him to make Billy an offer that will change his life forever.

An alternate exploration of the romance between John Thornton and Margaret Hale

This is a silly little crossover between North & South and Castlevania with John Thornton as Dracula. Credit goes to Warren Ellis, writer of Castlevania the series, and Elizabeth Gaskell and Sandy Welch for N&S, book and adaptation respectively (quotes in italics).

After the unxpected death of her father so soon after that of her mother, Margaret leaves Milton hoping to put the sadness she has experienced there behind her, but no matter what she does, she cannot forget all that transpired and the lie that haunts her continually. One days she recieves news that shocks her to the core and prompts her to return to Milton to seek closure.

John runs into Margaret on Christmas Eve of 1851, and the truth finally comes out.

Short stories and vignettes based on Gaskell's North & South; all of them period, some canon, some AU, and most of them featuring Margaret and John―but various minor characters also make an appearance (see chapter titles for respective protagonists). None of these stories are consecutive.

A fluffy little North and South Christmas fanfic just for fun. Merry Christmas everybody! Credit goes to Elizabeth Gaskell and Sandy Welch for N&S, book and adaptation respectively (quotes in italics).

Meet Emily, 15 year-old daughter of John Thornton MP... This story is about a few weeks in summer 1869 that change the course of her life; it's a coming-of-age fraught with revelations that have precious little to do with finding first love.

This story begins just after Margaret's father has died. With no one showing her any sympathy, what will happen when Mr Thornton is the only person to treat her with genuine kindness?

A continuation based on the TV miniseries: Coming home to Milton after their very public kiss and swift engagement was never going to be simple; but little did Margaret and Mr Thornton expect their challenges to include a broken-down train, leaving them stranded on the way. Yet there's more to come—things that might derail their wedding plans...

Some possible thoughts of the characters surrounding J&M's first meeting. This combines text (in italics) from Sandy Welch's amazing BBC script and Elizabeth Gaskell's wonderful book (neither of which do I own). Reviews and comments are welcome.

Margaret Thornton is walking through the mill yard on a regular visit to her husband's office. She is struck in the head by a falling wooden beam and knocked unconscious. She wakes up…and thinks it is the day of the riot, over two years ago. With no memory of their reconciliation and marriage, can Margaret learn to love Mr. Thornton again? (M rating only for Chapter 9)

What if Mr. Thornton found Margaret in the study when she fainted after the inspector left. This combines text (in italics) from Elizabeth Gaskell's wonderful book and Sandy Welch's amazing BBC script (neither of which do I own). Reviews and comments are welcome.

A period AU: What if something had happened to prevent Margaret from going to Milton with her parents in the first place? What if it had taken another ten years for Mr Thornton—well, a Mr Thornton, anyway—to arrive in her life?

A North & South crossover with It's a Wonderful Life. John, in his deep despair after the failure of his mill and his broken heart, contemplates suicide. Instead he is given a vision of what life would be like had he not been born. Credit to Elizabeth Gaskell, Sandy Welch, Philip Van Doren Stern, Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Frank Capra (their words in italics).