A/N : I had this headcanon about Johnny calling Robert "Lord Donk" so I decided to write about it. It's just an excuse to write about my favorite godson !!! If you want more headcanons or more fangirling about Johnny, follow me on Twitter (same username)
Wednesday was Anna and John's mutual half-day. Since the couple has been married (and free), Mrs Hughes -who was in charge of the half-days- had always managed to make the Bateses' days coincide. They obviously knew she was doing it on purpose but never said anything, very grateful for that gesture. It has been the chosen day for their dates. Now that they were parents it was an occasion to take their little boy out for a picnic when the weather would allow it. Today was Wednesday and they were in a park, near the church, playing with Johnny. The four-years old had an impressive imagination and was never short in games to play. His favorite game consisted in dressing his plushies. He admired his parents so much and wanted to be like them. Growing up, quite literally, at the Abbey meant that he often witnessed his parents working. He wasn't allowed in the rooms during changing obviously but he would see them take off the coat of the house's guests and would mimic it with his Winnie the Pooh plushies.
Obviously, he had brought his plushies with him at the park. He was combing them with his chubby fingers, adjusting tiny jumpers his mother had knitted. He looked the perfect valet and his father couldn't help but smile at that. John had been anxious during Anna's pregnancy, he feared that he wouldn't be a good father, losing his temper like his own father had - even though he had never done with Anna in all their years together -. But his biggest fear was that he couldn't be up to the mark with his children, because of his leg he couldn't do what most fathers did and he thought his children would be ashamed of their crippled dad. Anna had reassured him by saying that their future child would love him and think of him as a hero when they knew about his story. He doubted that but trusted Anna. If she felt like he would be a great father, he would try his best to be. That's what she and their unborn child deserved. He had been blessed by his little boy who worshiped the ground he walked on.
"Look daddy, I'm a valet like you !" The young boy said cheerfully.
"I see that bud, you're doing well !" He smiled at his son.
"You must be careful or he'll steal your job" Anna teased him.
"Not sure he can reach His Lordship's shoulders" he laughed and his wife laughed along with him.
"Oh that's Donk !!" The little boy yelled, pointing from across the park.
"John William Bates, what I told you about pointing at people !" His mother gently scolded.
"Sorry mummy but there's Donk over there" he replied.
His parents looked toward where he pointed earlier to see His Lordship walking with Teo. They chuckled at the nickname their son has just given the Earl of Grantham. It was the nickname His Lordship's grandchildren gave him but Anna and John knew how he disliked it and doubted that being called like that by his servant's child would please him.
"Johnny, you shouldn't call him that !" His father told him.
"But, daddy, Miss Sybbie and Master George always call him that. Even Miss Caroline !" He argued. His parents knew he had a crush on Miss Caroline and always worshiped everything she did. She was six months younger than him but he admired her a lot.
"Yes, but His Lordship is their grandpa. You don't see Miss Caroline call Mr Carson "grandpa" right ?" His mother told him. The little boy was about to answer when Robert Crawley, who had heard his name, went their way.
"Anna, Bates and Johnny ! Hello" he said. Johnny went to pat Teo.
"Good morning, m'lord" they both said.
"Good morning Donk !" The little boy joyfully said. His parents blushed, embarrassed by his straightforwardness.
"Johnny ! We've told you, you have to call him "m'lord"" Anna said before turning back to Robert who was chuckling "I'm sorry, m'lord, he heard the other children calling you that"
"Don't worry Anna. I'm used to it now" he smiled kindly at her.
His Lordship then excused himself before walking back to the Abbey. Johnny waved to say goodbye to Teo.
Later that day, after luncheon, the Bates family walked back to the Abbey. As he did often on their half-days, Johnny stayed the rest of the day downstairs. He was supervised by whoever was in the Servant's Hall at that time and would often visit the kitchen as well. Daisy, who was fond of the young boy, would sneak him some food behind Mrs Patmore's back - even though the cook didn't mind -. When his parents were downstairs to do some mending or polishing in the boot room, he would stay with them, chatting about everything he could. The Bates family looked quite the happy picture. Johnny was a nice and calm boy and was making no troubles for the people working around him. Everyone loved him dearly here. Even Thomas would offer him rides like he had done with Master George when the boy was younger. It was an endearing sight for everyone.
Anna was already upstairs dressing Lady Mary while John was downstairs because His Lordship had been outside before dinner. He was sitting at the table, reading, next to his little boy who was drawing. He usually drew his family but the characters on his paper sheet weren't the same.
"What are you drawing, son ?"
"It's me and Miss Caroline !" The two characters - who were just lines in a human form - were holding hands. John couldn't help his smile. His son's affection for Miss Caroline was one of the most popular subjects of discussion around the Servant's hall. They were almost inseparable.
His Lordship was back and rung. John raised from his chair and was about to leave the room when a little hand tugged on his shirt's sleeve. He looked down at his son.
"Daddy, can I come with you ?"
"You want to come with me to dress his Lordship" he asked, chuckling at his son's request. He nodded.
"You'll have to be as still as a stone and be respectful while talking to His Lordship" he warned. Johnny agreed with a nod of his head.
They headed upstairs to Robert's room. As he arrived in the hall where was the family room, he saw his wife exiting Lady Mary's room.
"Mummy !!" his son said a bit too loud, before both his parents shushed him with a finger on their lips.
"Hello my darling" she said lovingly, kneeling, her arms open to hug her son. "What are you doing up here ?" She asked, looking up at her husband for an answer.
"Daddy said I could come with him while he worked"
"Did he ?" She raised a questioning an eyebrow to John.
"You know I can't say no to him" John replied, ruffling his son's hair.
"This will get you into trouble one day, John Bates" she joked. He rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
"As if you're not worse than me, anyway, his Lordship is waiting for me. Come along, Johnny !" He stretched his hand for his son to hold. The little boy followed him into the room. John knocked on the door and entered.
"Good evening, m'lord !"
"Good evening Bates !" Robert said without turning to face his Valet. When he did he noticed Johnny and raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sorry m'lord but Johnny wanted to see me work. He can always wait with Anna if it's too impertinent" John couldn't hide his embarrassment.
"When I grow up I want to be a Valet just like daddy !" Johnny cheerfully stated which caused the two men to laugh.
"Really ? You should tell Master George that, maybe he will employ you when he's the Earl" Robert joked, loving the young boy's eagerness. He doubted people will have Valet in 10 years but he couldn't ruin Johnny's mood. The Valet's son was beaming with that answer as his father started to dress his employer.
"Thank you Lord Donk !" He replied in a very dignified way. This caused both men to freeze in their movements. They looked at the boy before bursting into laughter. The boy looked visibly confused as to why they were laughing. He had only followed his parents' advice.
"You know what Bates, I think it's a very dignified nickname. Even Carson would allow it" Robert told John seriously even though his smile betrayed his want to laugh.
"I agree, m'lord"
Later that night, when John had told Anna what their son had called the Earl, they both had a fit of laughter. His wife praised her son's creativity and how well behaved he was. They were both so proud of their child and blessed his pure soul, wishing he would always stay like this - even though they knew he would grow up, they wanted him to keep his innocence as long as he could -. Since that day, Johnny only called Robert "Lord Donk", making everyone smile brightly.