- So, said John, raising his glass of sparkling water, happy Valentine's day, I guess?

- Happy Valentine's, replied Anna, raising her own. And, happy three-months anniversary of you escaping death, and Vera, and of us being together.

John smiled at the thought of the dark place he had been in only three months earlier, and the contrast with how he felt now, sitting in this cosy restaurant with the love of his life on a Valentine's day. Even if Vera was still after them, things felt so different.

- I don't think we can say that I escaped Vera yet, but yes, it's been three months since you've helped me run away. And, since I've quit drinking!

- Oh, yes, that's an important milestone! Congratulation on that!, she beamed.

- Well, it is easier to resist when you've got someone you care for.

She smiled happily at him. She took his hand silently, and brought it up to her mouth, leaving a gentle kiss on his knuckles.

- I love you, she said, her eyes shining.

- I love you too, he replied with a smile.

- You know, she added, straightening herself on her chair, I think it is actually the first time I am celebrating Valentine's day with my partner.

- Oh really?

- Yes. It somehow never happened before. I never was with someone, or it was too fresh to feel right to celebrate Valentine's day together.

- Well. I had some Valentine's days, but I can't say I really enjoyed them until today, stated John.

- Let's enjoy this one then, concluded Anna.

- Yes, let's. I wish we could talk about the future, but I'm afraid we can't make any actual plan while I'm still married to her…

- Oh, and what kind of plan would that be, if you weren't?, she asked with a crooked smile.

- Our life together. A family, maybe?, he relied, blushing a little, with a sheepish look. Would you mind?

She chuckled.

- Not that I would, really, but don't you think it's a little too soon, after only three months together?

- I don't feel like it is. To talk about it, I mean, not doing it right away. Does it scare you?

- No. We've already lost seven years after all.

- Exactly. And you know, I don't have any doubt about us. Do you?

- I don't, she replied. And I don't doubt that the sun will rise in the east either.

He smiled.

- Anyway, he went on after a few seconds silence, we can't do anything right now, so we might talk all we want… Alistair warned me about not starting anything until I'm officially divorced, because it would weigh against me in the settlement.

- So that means we might have to wait two whole years if she keeps on refusing to settle?

- I'm afraid so…

- Geez…, sighed Anna. I'm not saying I'd like to start a family right now, but two years seems a long time to wait.

- I know the situation is pretty shitty, but you can't know how happy it makes me feel to hear you say that you'd like to have a family with me. I'm sorry, again, that she's always in our way.

- I'll be patient, said Anna. I can bear anything, except for you to go away again.

John chuckled.

- No. I won't. You stuck with me now. For good and proper.

x x x x

The next morning, after lazily enjoying a late lie-in, John discreetly got out of bed to go down to the nearest coffee shop and bring back some breakfast for Anna. He had bought her favourite muffins and latte, and picked up the mail on his way back. Anna was waiting for him in the kitchen as he came back. He put the breakfast things on the kitchen table, and handed the mail to Anna.

- Here's your mail, he said.

- Thanks, she replied, absent-mindedly shuffling through the small pack of letters. Oh, this one's for you, she said, handing a large envelop back to him. From Dublin.

The envelop had the seal of Dublin's courthouse on it. John opened it and scanned the paper.

- Well. It's only the non-settlement statement. Just informing me officially that Vera declined to settle the divorce amiably. Not that it's anything new, he sighed.

- So, what's the next step?, asked Anna.

- Either I try to obtain a divorce on emotional harm grounds, but we would have to give all the evidence to the judge, or I quietly wait out the two years and I can obtain divorce then. I can't offer her anything more to have her accept an amiable divorce, since I have nothing to give to her…

- And which way will you choose?

- Well… If it was just me, I would hide somewhere and wait the two years. I'm not that keen on spreading our private life and everything she did to me on the judge's table. Moreover I have absolutely no proof of all this, so it really is my word against hers.

- But you do have some proofs of her harassing you, and me, since you've left!

- Yes, you're right. But it feels…, I don't know, so childish… I don't feel like telling all this to a divorce judge, not in the slightest. But then…

- Then?

- Then there's you. As you said, two years is a long time to wait. I feel I owe you to at least try and obtain the divorce sooner. Even if it is at the cost of my pride.

- But why should it cost you your pride?! I mean, you'll only be telling things how they really happened. There's no shame in that.

- Well it feels shameful to me. How on earth did I let myself fall into that spider's net…

- It's her who should be ashamed. But I guess this is not a feeling known to her. Anyway, it does mean a lot to me that you're prepared to face her for our sake, although you're ashamed of it. Really.

She bent over the table to kiss him. When they broke the kiss, she threw him a happy smile:

- So. Breakfast.

x x x x

March 2018

- Ready to go home?, asked Anna, entering John's office at Downton Abbey at the end of another workday.

- Yes, sure, let me wrap this up and I'll be done.

Minutes later, Anna was driving her car home, John in the passenger's seat.

- So, how are you getting on with that charity concert?, asked John.

- Not bad I think. We've settled many things. There's still work to do, of course, but we still have a month, so I think we'll be good. But it's good we've been three people working on it, because it's such a huge work… I'll be glad when it's over and done with…

- I'm sure it will be a brilliant evening, said John, patting Anna's thigh. Remember, he added, tomorrow morning I won't be coming into the office with you, I've got that appointment with Alistair, we're wrapping up the new divorce request, so that he can send it to the judge in Dublin.

- Oh, right. Do you need me to come?

- No, it's alright. We've got your testimony, and Mary's. It's just going through everything one last time before we send it.

- OK. Come to think of it, it's been almost a month since we've heard about her, hasn't it? It almost feels weird…

- Yes, well, I wouldn't rejoice to soon, if I were you. I guess when she'll have received her copy of my request, we're going to hear about her. And I know we won't like it.

x x x x

Two weeks later, Anna was once again checking her mail as they were coming home from work. Sassenach was rubbing herself against Anna's calves, purring, and meowing for petting.

- Yes, Sassenach, said Anna, bending down to scratch the cat's head. I'm coming, let me finish to go through this.

At the end of the pile, Anna found one blank envelop. It had no address label, and no stamp. Thinking nothing of it, Anna casually opened it and unfolded the sheet of paper that was in it. Then her blood turned cold.

- Er, John?

- Yes sweetheart, what is it?, said John, who had been busy putting some groceries away in the kitchen.

- Look what I found in the mail.

She handed him the sheet, and he quickly read the few words written on it.

- "You'll regret it, John Bates".

John briefly closed his eyes, and sighed.

- I told you she wouldn't take it well…

- Yeah. The thing is, it came into a blank envelop. No stamp, no address. Which means…

- That she's no longer in Ireland.

- Yep. She's come back.

A heavy silence stretched between them.

- So?, said Anna. What do we do now? I mean besides taking this letter to the police?

- I don't know what more we can do… Be careful I guess…

- So we can only wait for it to fall upon us. God I hate it so much!, exclaimed Anna.

- So do I…, stated John.

x x x x

John and Anna lived the next weeks on a permanent alert. They scanned the street each time they went out, kept looking over their shoulder every other minute. However, nothing happened in the following two weeks, and as the month of March came to its end, they slowly relaxed. On one sunny early spring Sunday afternoon, they had decided to go out in the Yorkshire countryside for a walk. After a few hours enjoying the mild spring air and the beautiful scenery, they went back home with a light heart. They were laughing and chatting when they came out of the staircase onto the building's first floor landing, only a few feet from Anna's apartment's door. Anna turned towards the door, and suddenly froze, as she noticed a dark still form on her doormat.

- What…, she started.

John almost bumped into her, and put his hands on her shoulders.

- What is it?

Dread filled Anna in a heartbeat as she understood what the form was.

- Oh no… No, no…, she moaned, running to the door and crumbling down. Sassenach!

John felt a large lump form into his throat. He slowly walked up to her, and knelt next to her. He knew how much Anna loved her cat, and there was nothing he could do to ease the pain right now, so he just held her in silence, while Anna sobbed, holding her dead cat clutched to her chest.

x x x x

The motionless furball was lying on a tea towel on the coffee table, Anna crouching next to her. She couldn't keep herself from caressing the soft fur over and over again. Tears were still running down her cheeks, but they were quiet tears now, no more the hard sobs from before.

- Do you think someone ran her over with a car?, wondered John.

Of course, they were both thinking about another plausible explanation, but neither of them had had the strength to utter it aloud right now.

- But there are no visible wounds, pointed Anna.

- Well there doesn't need to be. Her neck could have just snapped.

- Yes. Maybe. But whoever put her back in front of my door knew it was my cat.

- Maybe one of your neighbours found her dead outside and picked her up to put her there.

- It could be, but then I think they would have left a note, or called me…

- Anyway… I'm so sorry sweetheart. I know how much you loved her.

- I did…, said Anna in a breaking voice, as fresh tears rolled from her eyes. She's been such a faithful companion, for four years…

John took Anna into a close hug as a new sob escaped her lips. Wiping her eyes, Anna straightened and stated:

- I'll take her to her vet tomorrow, and ask for an autopsy. I want to know what happened.

- Alright, yes, maybe it's a good idea.

Neither John nor Anna voiced aloud that if the cat had been voluntarily murdered by Vera, they hoped to be able to prove it, and add it to the list of her despicable actions, for the divorce request.

x x x x

Next evening, John was already home when Anna came back from the vet. She looked devastated, and was holding a small funerary urn. She silently went to put it on one of her bookshelves, and discreetly wiped under her eyes.

- So, that's it. They cremated her, and this is all that's left of her.

John came behind Anna, and circled her shoulders with his arms. He tilted his head on the side to kiss the crook of her neck.

- I'm sorry my darling…

As Anna's hand came up to cover his, he added:

- So, did they manage to find out what caused her death?

- Yep.

Seeing that she wasn't pursuing, he asked again:

- And?

- Insulin overdose. She's been poisoned.

- Oh my God…, whispered John.

- Do you have anything to say about that?, she asked.

- Vera's sister is diabetic…, he whispered, a heavy weight settling on his chest.