A/N : I have other stories waiting to be written but this came instead so enjoy a glimpse into Anna's youth and her relationship with Mrs Hughes.


The Servants' Hall was almost empty, except for two servants. John Bates was sitting on the table bench, facing his wife Anna, comfortably sitting on the rocking chair near the fire. Although it was already late, they were waiting for their employers to call them to undress for the night. His Lordship had been meeting an old army comrade in Ripon and Lady Mary had been to a dinner with some of the tenants at the Grantham Arms and had not yet returned. It wasn't so rare for John and Anna to enjoy the calm of a deserted Servant's Hall late at night, even though it was less common those days. The perks of having their own cottage was that they could have all the private moments they wanted there, instead of finding a moment alone at the Abbey like they used to before.

Nevertheless, they enjoyed their calm moment, sipping a warm cup of tea and chatting about everything. To be honest, they were chatting about only one thing these days, the upcoming birth of their first child. Anna was seven months pregnant and rather showing, yet she was still working. If John could have it his own way, she would have been on bed rest by now. Alas, Anna didn't see it that way. She hated being idle. She had been working in service since she was fourteen and wasn't ready to stop. She would have all the time for that when their little one would be there. Even though she knew she would start working as soon as she would be able to. She was ever so happy to be a mother, to bear John's child, since it was all she had ever dreamed of but she loved her career and loved the Abbey and the people who lived in it. John knew very well he couldn't refuse anything to his precious wife so here she was, though he didn't prevent him from fussing about her and the baby.

They were discussing baby names when Lady Mary's bell rang. Anna got up from the rocking chair, not without John's help, pressed a quick kiss on his lips before leaving the room to go upstairs. He stared at her as she left, his eyes fixed on her swollen belly. He couldn't believe that after so many trials they were finally rewarded with what they had always wanted. Until recently, they had contented themselves with the idea that it would remain the two of them forever. John knew that Anna was all he needed as he was for her, but they both knew that having a child would be a blessing, even more if it was one that came from the both of them. He would have loved any child they raise together, though he couldn't help but dream about a mini Anna toddling around them. She wanted a mini version of him but he wasn't too excited about that. He thought that their child would be far more perfect if they took after their mother. In the end, he knew he would love this baby no matter what, for they would be theirs. He smiled as he imagined Anna rocking their child in this rocking chair with everyone around, fussing about how beautiful the baby is. He knew that Baby Bates would be the most beautiful baby, and he smiled even more.

He was taken away from his reverie by Mrs Hughes - Mrs Carson now - who came to sit next to him. He smiled at the housekeeper, who reciprocated it.

"Good evening Mr Bates"

"Good evening Mrs Hughes, I mean Mrs Carson" he tried to correct himself.

"It's okay dear" she laughed. "What are you brooding at ?"

"I wasn't brooding" she gave him a pointed look. "No really, I was just in my thoughts"

She smirked a little thinking there wasn't much difference between the two things when it came to Mr Bates. John blushed a little. He was a man of few words and wasn't known to show his emotions but these days he felt like the happiest and proudest man on earth and he had no hard time saying it.

"I was thinking about the little one" he said dreamily.

"Oh I see. You must be overjoyed"

"I am. And a little frightened too. I've never been a dad. To be honest, I never been around children that much" He replied, anxiety showing on his face.

"You're going to be great. Both of you. You're made to be parents ! This wee thing will love you to pieces, I promise"

"I hope so"

"Would you like it to be a boy or a girl ?" she asked to avoid him brooding over his doubts.

"As long as they're healthy, I don't really care. Although, I would be over the moon to have a little Anna"

"I'm sure she's thinking the same about having a mini you" she said.

"She is"

"You know, it will be quite something for me too. I've known Anna since she was a kid really. She was fourteen when she came to Downton and I have taken her under my wing. I watched that girl grow up before me and now she's going to be a mum"

"I wonder how Anna was back then"

Of course, Anna and John knew about each other's childhood, even the not-so-bright parts like his father's alcoholism and her stepfather's abuse, but she never really told him about her years as a young housemaid. John wondered why.

"Oh Anna was a shy lass at that time" she confessed.

"Really ?" He was surprised, his wife wasn't the shy type. She had always been the bold one. She confessed her love first and convinced him to marry her for God's sake.

"Yes. She was just a kid when she came here. She had been a tweeny in another house before but it lasted only a few months" He nodded and she kept on talking.

"I remember her first day. She looked so childish. Her hair was styled in two braids and she was so small" He chuckled. Anna was already so short, he had a hard time picturing her even smaller. "She was intimidated by me, I could see it. I know I'm known for being quite strict" She paused and he smirked. Yes, Mrs Hughes was certainly a character.

"But she was almost frightened by me. I still don't know why." The housekeeper resumed. "One day, I told her I wanted to see her in my office. The poor child was crying and begging me not to send her back to her home. It broke my heart"

John's smile faded. He knew why she was so desperate, she was afraid of her stepfather. He remembered asking her, on the night after he got back from prison, why she was always talking about her mother, but never went to see her. She had told him that she hated her stepfather and had a hard time being there with him. Later, when he visited her in prison and she told him why she hated her stepfather, he had asked her if she was mad at her mother. She told him that she remembered the good sides of her but couldn't forgive her for protecting that monster.

"I had to comfort her that I wouldn't fire her. In fact she was my best housemaid"

"Oh my poor darling" he ducked his head sadly. "So, apart from being really shy, she was the same hardworking Anna, wasn't she ?"

"Oh yes, Anna was the perfect housemaid. She worked really hard. When she was about 16, they asked her to dress the girls. She was so anxious she would do something wrong. I remember comforting her one night in the Servant's Hall"


Everyone had gone to bed, but Mrs Hughes saw the light of the fire glowing on the Servant's Hall walls. She thought someone might have forgotten to put it out. When she entered the room, she found a young Anna Smith, sobbing in front of the chimney.

"Anna ?" She called.

"Oh Mrs Hughes, I'm sorry I didn't see you" she said, turning to face her and whipping her tears out.

"No it's okay. Why aren't you asleep ? Are you crying, girl ?" Mrs Hughes was concerned. She really loved that young girl. She had never married or had a child but she considered the maids under her protection like her own daughters, especially Anna. She saw something in her that reminded Elsie of the young girl she had been.

"It's silly. I don't want to bother you Mrs Hughes"

"You won't bother me, Anna. Please, I'll make us tea and you will tell me" the young teenager nodded, sniffling.

"Alright. Tell me what is the matter" she said as she set two cups and a hot teapot on the table, where Anna was sitting.

"Her Ladyship asked me if I could dress the girls. Be their maid. She said I would keep on my duties as a housemaid too. I don't know why they chose me really. I don't if I'll be up to the mark, Mrs Hughes" Anna choke on her sobs.

"They choose you because you're a brilliant maid Anna, and you're the kindest person I know. The girls love you, you're of the same age. You can understand why they rather have you dress them and confide in instead of O'Brien" Anna laughed. Miss O'Brien was a dreadful woman. She was so nasty and was often mean to Anna but the young girl wasn't impressed. She never talked back but she knew that when she would be able to, Miss O'Brien would have her character corrected.

"Well, it seems to have cheered you up a little" the older woman said as she saw Anna's little smile.

"Yes, it did. Thank you Mrs Hughes. You're ever so kind" Elsie smiled gently at Anna and took her in her arms. They shared the warm hug that would be the start of a long-lasting friendship between them.


"Two years later, when I asked her to be head housemaid, she was honoured and almost jumped at my neck to thank me. She wasn't that frightened girl anymore. She had grown into the strong woman we both know"

"The strongest of all," he agreed.

"Anna had never let anything or anyone take her head out of the work. She wasn't touched by the nasty remarks of Miss O'Brien. I was so proud of her for always standing tall and following what she felt was the best"

"I'm the proudest man on earth to have her as my wife. And I know our child is going to adore her as much as I do" John confessed.

"I think so too. They will also love you, you know" John lifted a suspicious eyebrow at that. Even after all those years with Anna, he still wondered why she had chosen him of all men, especially when she was so much younger and brighter than him"

"Listen, Mr Bates. Her head had never been turned by a farmer or a footman. She had never let love enter her life. She was destined to follow my path and become a spinster housekeeper" He chuckled "Well, what I was going to be if I never married. But everything changed when you arrived at Downton. All of a sudden, I saw that girl I had known for years, who never daydreamed or acted like a foolish girl, being all shaken up because of love. She loves you like she never had like anyone else. I believe her to be a great judge of character so I knew that she wasn't being foolish, that if she said you were the right one for her, it was true. And I think it is"

"But, I put her through so many trials" He sighed.

"She went through them out of love for you. You're her everything and she never thought any of these moments was a waste of her life. When you left with Vera, she said she was glad she had known true love even if it was gone. You're her true love. And you lived many great moments together too. Look at you, you're going to be parents. You achieved one of your dreams and I'm sure many more will come true too" She told him looking him in the eyes, his hand in her hands.

"Thank you Mrs Hughes. You're ever so kind"

"Already heard that" she laughed and he did too. They were interrupted by His Lordship's bell ringing. John stood up to leave the room but before he did, he turned around.

"Mrs Hughes"

"Yes, Mr Bates ?" She gave him a questioning look.

"With Anna, we were wondering if you might accept to be our baby's godmother" He explained and she blushed, very touched.

"Oh that's very kind of you to offer"

"You're the closest thing to a family Anna and I have and you have always been there for us" he explained.

"I'll be enchanted, Mr Bates" she replied. He smiled and left the Servant's Hall.