A/N : I'm currently writing a modern fanfiction and I'm starting school tomorrow but I found some time to write this.
It's been inspired by a frame from A New Era when John smiles at his wife after coming back from France.
As everyone went to their tasks, John leaned in to his wife
"Hi Mrs Bates" he whispered, a big smile plastered on his face.
"Hi Mr Bates" she said back, an even brighter smile threatening to split her face in two.
They left the room, her hand sleeping into his as they moved further into the hall to find a secluded corner.
"Haven't you missed your old husband ? Won't you greet him properly ?" He teased her, his hand still in hers.
"Of course I missed you, you silly beggar. I missed you an awful lot" she said, watching around them to check that they really were alone before leaning in to kiss him on the lips. The kiss was chaste considering where they were but still lingering, conveying the depth of their feelings for each other and how they had missed each other.
"You certainly have," he said, chuckling when they parted. "Though, it still isn't enough of a greeting"
"Don't worry, Mr Bates, you'll get your greeting once we're really alone" she said in a sultry voice that made John shiver. He couldn't wait to be home. But before he remembered someone he had also missed a lot.
"Should we fetch Johnny ? His Lordship gave me the night and as usual you won't have to undress Lady Mary"
"Let's go" she replied eagerly, placing a kiss on his cheek. Oh, how she had missed her John.
They were in front of the nursery door and John decided he wanted to surprise his boy so he let Anna step in first. He watched his wife as she greeted the nanny before kneeling, her arms open to gather her son.
"Mummy !" the blonde haired boy shouted, launching himself into her arms.
"Hello, my baby" she said, sweeping him off the floor, pressing a kiss against his chubby cheeks.
"Are we going home yet, Mummy ?" he asked, fidgeting his mother dress' collar.
"We are, but I have a surprise for you first" She explained, watching Johnny's little face lightening.
"A puppy ?" She laughed and John had to suppress his own laughter to avoid giving himself away.
"No, baby. But I'm sure you'll be happy when you see what it is" she said with a smile "I'm sure you have missed someone quite a lot these days" Just in cue, John entered the room.
"Daddy !!" the boy shouted, trying to get off his mum so he could run toward his dad. Anna let go of him and she felt suddenly really emotional, seeing her baby boy jumping into his dad's arms. John bent a little to gather him and squeeze him into a loving embrace.
"Hello, son. I've missed you so much" John whispered into his blonde head.
"I've missed you too, Daddy" he squeezed his father a little tighter.
Anna felt the tears stinging her eyes at the sight of her two boys reunited. She loved her little family so much and thanked God everyday for them. They were the most precious people in her life and hated to be part of any of them for too long. She was happy to be able to see her son almost as much as she wanted, thanks to her employer, Lady Mary - who was more like a friend to her now - who had allowed her to leave earlier at night to put her son to bed. She and John visited the nursery often in the day, getting on Nanny's nerves for being under her feet.
"Okay, now let's get home, what do you say ?" John asked, looking at his son.
"Yay !"
"Yay, indeed" John and Anna chuckled. "Let's say goodbye to Nanny and your friends". The Crawley children were all here. With their parents gone to the South of France for the last week, both Sybbie and Marigold were there, as well as Peter - Marigold's little brother - and obviously Caroline and George were there too. Johnny, thanks to his parents' work, had the chance to grow up among the family's children. Obviously, he wasn't expected to learn French like his little friends had to, and when they were brought upstairs to see their parents, he would go downstairs to spend the time with his own parents. John and Anna had insisted they wanted to spend as much time with their son as was allowed. Thomas, the new butler, didn't mind in the least. He was fond of the little Bates, he would even offer him piggyback rides like he had done with master George when he was younger. Anyway, Johnny had developed a strong friendship with Mary's children. George considered the boy like his little brother, happy to not be the only boy there - Peter still being a baby meant he was always with Nanny and couldn't be much company to the young Crawley - and Caroline was Johnny's best friend. As they were of the same age, they played the most together, to Anna and Lady Mary's greatest joy. The two ladies would often joke they would end up getting married, even though it was unlikely minding the divide of class. You never know, had said Lady Mary, after all my darling Sybil married Tom and he was a chauffeur.
After saying goodbye to his friends and Nanny, the Bateses headed home. John had taken his son upon his shoulders which caused Anna to fret. At four, Johnny wasn't all that light anymore and she was worried carrying him would worsen John's injury. He always assured her he was okay, he wasn't an invalid and could manage it. Sixteen years of knowing him and her dear husband was still the same. She wouldn't change him for the world, though.
Arriving at the cottage, John opened the door, happy to finally be home, with his family, where he belonged. Anna put his traveling case, that she was holding since they left the Abbey, in their bedroom then went back downstairs to find her two men on the settee. John was bombed with questions from his son, desirous to know more about France. She smiled and joined them, sitting on John's armchair, opposite to them. She would sit on it with Johnny in her arms when John was away. It was a way of coping with him being far from them. After all the separations they had known during almost the decade they had been married, she still hated to be apart from her husband. She had prayed all the time of his boat journey to and back from France that he would be okay and come back safe to her. And he had.
"Daddy, did you see the Eiffel Tower ?" His son asked.
"No, little man, I was in the South of France. I saw the sea" He replied, chuckling.
"Wow ! How is it ? Is it beautiful ?" His son's face was so eager.
"It's really beautiful," he said, looking at his wife. They had both been there but always without the other. He longed to treat his wife with a romantic trip to France. Well, it would be more of a family trip because they would bring their son with them.
"Can we go to France one day, Daddy ?" It's like his son has read his mind. He thought of it. The life in service wasn't really suitable for that kind of trip, aside from the ones to accompany their employers. But the world was changing and so did their life. Downton Abbey was running with less and less servants, and it was likely to be even more the case in the future. Maybe they wouldn't be needed in a few years or they would have finally bought their hotel. Before that, John also thought of the relation with their employer. They had been through so much together, they had been so loyal to each other they were considered like friends. Next year was his tenth wedding anniversary with Anna, perhaps that could be a way to celebrate. He would ask His Lordship and Lady Mary if they would allow them to go on a small vacation in France. They never had any honeymoon, it would be a way to rectify this.
"Well, maybe one day" he finally answered. Anna's lips frowned upward into a smile.
After an hour spent telling his family about France, while sipping the tea Anna had made for the both of them and some cookies. John put his son to bed. He said he didn't need a story tonight because his father's tale about his trip was already enough. Bless him, John thought. Their little boy was so smart. He was his and Anna's greatest pride.
John was rather worn out by the journey and only wanted to sink into his bed, next to his wife. He went to the bathroom to wash himself before heading to the bedroom. Anna was already in bed when he entered the room. Her short blonde hair didn't need to be tied in a braid anymore but they had been straightened. She was in her nightgown, reading some book. Even in a mundane moment like that, she managed to take his breath away with her beauty. He loved this woman so much and blessed Heaven for her. He made his way to the bed. Anna looked up from her book, she put it aside and gave him a smile.
"You don't know how much this bed felt empty without you in it" she said softly. Of course, he knew. They both had to experience being without the other in their cottage for the saddest reasons. However, since Johnny had entered their life, everything had been smooth so they tried not to dwell on the bad memories, creating good ones instead.
"You don't know how France was much more boring without you" he said in a breath as he leaned next to her. His arms soon circled her waist. Anna felt comfortable in her husband's arms. She rested her head on his upper chest.
"The Riviera is wonderful whether i'm here or not" she huffed.
"It would have been better if you'd been there," he countered, kissing head's crown.
"Were you serious when you said to Johnny we'd go there together someday ?" she tilted her head to look him in the eyes.
"I am. By April it'll be ten years since we married and I thought it would be a great present for both of us, and for Johnny of course"
"Do you think the family would allow it ?"
"They're grown up, they can dress and undress themselves for a week" he laughed but she threw him a bad look. "I'll ask them. It will be a sort of make-up honeymoon"
"A ten years late honeymoon?" She asked, not too convinced. He nodded. She rested her head on his chest once more and sighed. He looked down to see her face, she had tears in her eyes but her lips were turned into a smile.
"Anna, darling, what's the matter ?"
"Ten years. It seems like yesterday I saw you in front of that registry office. It was one of the two happiest days of my life" she said with a wavering voice. They both knew that the second happiest day of their life was their son's birth.
"Mine too. I still can't believe you're my wife. You had always been too good for me but somehow you choose me" he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"And I'll do it again. Our life may have been over complicated but it was worth it in the end. We're both happily married in our house with our wonderful baby boy" she lifted herself to sit next to him, a hand cradling his cheek. She had a look full of love.
"You're quite right Mrs Bates" he smiled. He was drawing circles on her thigh.
"I usually am," she joked.
They laughed but soon the atmosphere shifted. John's hands were higher on Anna's thighs and he leaned to press a kiss on her jawline. Anna sighed appreciatively.
"Remember when you said you were going to greet me properly Mrs Bates" he whispered against the skin of her neck before leaving an open-mouthed kiss there.
"Hum" she moaned, clearly affected by his ministrations. He pushed her so her back was leaning on the bed, with him hovering over her. He straddled her hips with his knees. He never broke the wet kisses on her neck, soon traveling to her collarbones which he sucked. Anna was writhing beneath him. Her hips buckled to meet his, causing him to groan. He slowly undid the ties of her chemise, discovering her lovely breast. They were supple and round and fitted perfectly in his hands. But right now, he wasn't going to greet them with his hands, he kissed the valley between them, licking her there before moving to her breast. He found her hardened nipples and began to suck on them causing Anna to gasp. Her head was now pressed against the pillow, her eyes closed by the pleasure as her husband went on with his ministrations.
She could feel his well grown desire against her stomach. Her knickers were damp with her own desire and she knew she couldn't hold on any longer. There were times when their lovemaking was slow and sensual but at other times it was just fuelled by passion and lust. They needed each other fast. It was one of these times. Anna needed John in her. She started to grind her hips against John's causing him to swear.
"Jesus, Anna"
"I want you, John" she whispered. "I need you, please" she caught his mouth on a heated kiss. Their tongues clashing together and their hands roaming the other's body.
John couldn't deny his wife anything. He quickly undressed the both of them without breaking their kiss before placing himself over her. His length teased her entrance. He started rubbing against her. Anna moaned loudly, begging him to join them already. When he did, she cried louder with each stroke. He quickly increased the pace, going deeper into her.
"Oh God, John" He knew his wife was near her end and helped her reach the climax with his hand, stroking her most sensitive place. Soon, she came with a cry of his name and he followed her quickly after, releasing himself within her.
"God, that was intense," she said, after gathering her mind.
"It certainly was," he chuckled.
They stayed like this for a few moments. He kissed her slowly, their tongues stroking the other in a soothing way.
"I've missed you. I love you John"
"Me too. I love you so, so much Anna"
They made love again that night, slowly, revelling in the feeling of being close to each other.
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