It was Wednesday and she was still not there.

Mary Crawley had tried to call her at least twice a day, to ask her if everything was alright, but she had not picked up. She had sent messages but her best friend hadn't even seem those messages.

She knew she could call Oliver but she decided not to. He wouldn't help her anyway.

Mary was sitting with her friends, barely touching her food. She didn't dare to speak about what worried her, that Oliver had done more to her than hitting her, as Gwen and William definitely didn't know about it and Thomas definitely didn't care.

Her gaze went around the cafeteria, staying on the broad back of the man sitting by the window.

There was someone who knew and cared.

He had sat down with his back facing Mary, as Anna wasn't there and thus there was no reason why he should sit opposite of their table, facing them.

"Excuse me for a moment," Mary said to her friends and got up, walking over to John Bates.

She didn't ask if she was allowed to sit down opposite of him, she just did. Why should he have anything against it? They had paired up to save Anna after all.

"She's still not there," John greeted her, whereon Mary nodded. "Have you talked to her?" he asked.

"No," Mary replied quietly. "And I'm really, really worried."

"So am I," John said. "She hasn't even seen my messages. Usually she types back pretty fast."

Mary squinted her eyes at him. "You guys are chatting with each other?"

"We're sending each other messages via the work chat room, yes. Don't you do that?"

"We do send each other text messages on our phones, but we are best friends after all," Mary explained. "Anna doesn't even chat with Thomas or William and only occasionally with Gwen. So why do you guys?"

"I'm not sure," John said with a shrug.

"Who started it?" Mary asked.

John didn't have to think. "She did," he said. "She texted me the day after she had ... gone back to Oliver."

"Wow." Mary was stunned. "Anna rarely starts a chat, as she's usually busy. I'm impressed." Then she smiled lightly. "So you have followed my advice? I have more, if you want to hear them."

"Yes, I've followed them, but that's it," John said. "I'm not accepting your help anymore."

"For courting her?" Mary whispered, her eyes shining. "You want to do it on your own?"

"Yes," John said but then quickly shook his head. "No. I am not courting her, I am merely showing her that someone else can be interested in her, so that she doesn't have to think that no one would want her anymore and stay with Oliver because of it."

Mary wasn't fooled easily.

"So ... you are interested in her?" she asked and John nodded lightly.

"Yes," he said quietly. "But I've already given up the hope of being with her. We've never spent time together besides at work and I don't dare asking her out. And also ... look at me. Why would she want to be with me? I'm over forty, she's not even thirty yet. She's beautiful, sweet and deserves someone better. Look at Oliver. A woman who married a man like Oliver would not want to be with someone like me."

"Hm," Mary just made and leant back, looking at him. She hadn't really listened to John's rant.

A plan was forming in her mind.

A good one. She hoped.

"A Halloween party?" Gwen asked excitedly. "We haven't ever had an actual Halloween party! Awesome idea, Mary!"

"Thanks!" Mary was beaming. "And yes, we did, but you weren't with us back then, Gwen. Do you remember that party, Thomas?"

Thomas rolled his eyes. "The one I made out with that Harry guy?"

"Yep." Mary grinned and looked at Gwen. "He was Edith's boyfriend ... until he met Thomas."

"What?" Gwen gasped.

"Yeah. Edith was heartbroken," Mary said and chuckled. "Poor her but Harry is gay now."

"He was gay before," Thomas corrected her.

"Yes, but now he's openly gay," Mary said. "And I've already wondered why he was with Edith ..."

"Don't be so mean to your sister," Gwen said with a light pout. "She finally deserves some happiness."

"Of course she does," Mary agreed, "but first she has to suffer for ruining my first relationship."

"That was five years ago, Mary, let it go," William said. "Anyhow, that Halloween party is a great idea. Count me in."

"Great. So we're five already, as I will drag Anna along, which means if no one else will join, we'll just have a party on our own."

She pressed 'send'.

A noise in his computer made him jump lightly. Could it be Anna?

His disappointment was huge as he saw that it was Mary, who had sent a message to everyone in the chat room.

Halloween party invitation, it said.

When? Well, on October 31st, of course! It's a Friday, so let's start at seven, what do you say?

Where? Here, I think. William, Gwen and I will prepare the cafeteria (volunteers are very welcome) and arrange food and drinks.

Costumes? Well, yes! As you probably can remember from our last party three years ago, there'll be a prize for the best costume. This time I will beat you, papa!
Anyway, no costume, no entry.

And yes, Baxley, partner costumes are allowed .

I'm really looking forward to this party! Hope to see all of you there!

Cheers, Mary x

"Awesome!" Tom called. "Are you going, Matthew?"

"Well, it's Mary ... so, yes." Matthew smiled dreamily.

"Of course. And you, John?"

"Don't know," he said. But yes, he knew. He'd go, if Anna was there. If she wasn't, there was no point in going there.

Mary was excited for Halloween and she knew that Anna would be too. They had dressed up as partners the last time, Mary as captain Jack Sparrow and Anna as Elizabeth Swann, and Mary was sure that this year they'd do it again. She had already ordered costumes for Snow-White and Rose-Red and it was perfect. They'd win the prize for sure, as Anna was the perfect Snow-White and she was the perfect Rose-Red.

And she already knew what she'd be doing all night long besides winning the prize: Trying to push Anna and John together. They never spent any time with each other, John had said. Well. They'd have a whole night at the party. Mary would make sure that they had the whole night to themselves. In togetherness.

But therefore Anna finally had to pick up her damn phone.

Mary was really worried and that was why, after work, she drove right to Anna's place. If Oliver had beaten the shit out of her, she'd kill him. And John would help her, that she knew.

She rang the doorbell and was not surprised as not Anna but Oliver opened. His face fell. "Mary."

"Hello. Can I speak to Anna, please?"

"She's not here," Oliver said and wanted to close the door already, but Mary stepped inside, right past him.

"Where is she?"

Oliver sighed. "She's ... she's at the hospital."

"Ah," Mary said, not even surprised. It was sad but it wasn't the first time that Anna had been at the hospital because of him. Last time she had an internal bleeding in her stomach area and Oliver had told anyone that she had pushed Lauren on the swing and as she had missed one push, Lauren on the swing had crashed right into her stomach. This had happened more than two years ago, with Lauren being too young to remember that something like this did never happen. "What happened this time?"

"She fell down the stairs."

"Wow," Mary replied. "The swing story was at least creative."

"What?"

"Come on, I'm not stupid," Mary said and glared at him. "Did you push her down?"

"No? Are you crazy, Mary?"

"Maybe I am. So what, are you going to beat me up as well? Try it. I've had private judo lessons as a teen."

"Please leave my house," Oliver said coldly.

"My pleasure," Mary said and left through the front door. Of course she went to the hospital right away.

But not without making a phone call on the way there.

"Where is she?" John was panting. He had run. "How is she?"

"Calm down," Mary said. "She's all right. She looks a little done but she's alive. Nothing is broken and she even smiled as she saw me." Mary looked down on John. "Oh my God, you bought flowers for her!"

"Yes." John blushed. "Is it too much?"

Mary laughed. "It's perfect, John. Perfect. Did you also bring -?"

"Chocolate? Of course." He held up the backpack. "And a book. They're in here."

"My heart," Mary said and pressed her hand on her chest. "John, you're actual boyfriend material. I did not guess that. She will melt."

"Don't be silly," John said with a frown. "I am not doing that to woo her."

"Surely not. Anyhow, now we know why she never checked her messages. She left her phone at home."

"So she couldn't call you and tell you that he has pushed her down the stairs." John shook his head. "Oliver is such a bastard."

"You should talk to her now," Mary said. "You have a past with domestic violence, you will know if she really fell down or if he hurt her again."

She led him to Anna's room and knocked. Opening the door just slightly, she put her head insode. "Anna?"

"Mary? You're still here?" John could hear Anna's weak voice.

"Yes, but only because I was waiting for someone. He wants to see you."

"William?" Anna guessed.

"See you at work next week," Mary replied without giving an answer. "Love you, Ann."

Then she turned around and winked at John. "See you tomorrow, heartbreaker. And don't you dare breaking her heart," she whispered.

"You should be on a leash," John muttered and Mary laughed.

"That one's good. And true. Bye."

"Bye, Mary," John said and entered the room.

"John," Anna whispered and her white as a sheet face got some colour. She looked adorable, blushing like that. And she looked so small in the hospital bed.

Carefully he got closer. "I brought ... I brought you something."

"Thank you," Anna mumbled, her face awfully red by now. He placed the flowers into the empty vase on the nightstand.

"Has Oliver not bought you flowers at all?" he asked and Anna shook her head.

"He only visits me because Lauren misses me," she whispered. "If we didn't have a daughter, he wouldn't even visit me. So no, he didn't even bring my phone along."

"Wow," John said lowly. Then he remembered the chocolate and the book. "I got more," he said and opened his backpack. "Mary called me on her way here and told me that you are here. She asked me to bring some stuff for you, chocolate and a magazine. I decided for a book, though. Much better than a magazine. I hope you enjoy it. It is one of my favourites."

He placed the things on her bed.

"I'll read it and give it back to you as soon as possible," Anna said as she noticed that the back of the book was marked already, showing that it wasn't a new book but one of John's.

"Don't be crazy, it's yours now," John said and waved it off. "I've read it for ten times already. I know every word of it."

"I can't accept -"

"You can," John interrupted her. "So ... how are you, Anna?"

"Bad," Anna said quietly and placed the book on her night stand, next to the flowers. "Breathing hurts."

"Why? What happened?"

Anna shifted a little. "I ... fell down the stairs. Got contusions on my ribs, so when I suck in air, they hurt. But it'll be fine. I need a few more days and I'll be out of here." She smiled. "I'll surely go to that Halloween party, will you?"

"How did you fall down?" John asked, ignoring her cheerful attitude and try to change the subject. He knew it too well. His mother had also always talked about everything else but how she got her wounds.

"I don't know." Anna leaned back, closing her eyes. "I remember that I was in Lauren's room, talking to her. It was after her birthday party and she was so happy. On my way down I must have slipped on a toy car. Maybe one of the kids left it there. Oliver says he only heard me scream and then lie on the floor."

"He surely heard and saw that," John said, clenching his fists.

"Hm," Anna just made. "Thanks for the book, John. And your visit." She looked up at him, her eyes suddenly filled with something he could not identify. If he didn't know better he would say it was jealousy. "Why did Mary call you?" she asked quietly.

"She knows we're friends," John replied. "I mean ... if we are friends, Anna."

"I believe we are," Anna replied. "Are you ... friends with Mary?"

"Maybe something like that," John said with a chuckle and the feeling in her eyes intensified. Worry, sadness, more jealousy. John thought it was crazy, why would she be jealous of Mary?

"So ... what are you?" she asked eagerly.

Partners in crime, John thought, who became friends over the goal to save you. "Friends," he then replied. "Mary and I are friends."

"I heard you laughing with her at the door. You said something about her needing a leash ... Are you secretly dating or anything?" Now her voice sounded strange as well. She sounded like she really did not want John and Mary to date. John couldn't help but smile.

"No, we are not. Really, Anna, we aren't dating. Do you really think that Mary would want to date me?"

"Why would she not?" Anna asked.

"No, why would she?" John repeated. "Mary is a beautiful, young woman and I am ... me. An old, ugly and crippled man."

"Don't sell yourself so short." Anna smiled at him. "I think you're good looking." She blushed again. "May I know what happened to your leg?"

"Of course but I'm afraid it is rather boring," John sighed.

"Do tell me," Anna whispered. "I don't care that it's boring. I'd like to know."

"Alright," John sighed. "Vera always had dogs. I loved them, I really did. But one day she adopted a dog from the shelter who had been abused by his former owner. Yes, it seems that abuse is haunting me." He shook his head sadly. "The owner of this dog was broad and had dark hair. Apparently he did not look like me at all but the dog almost suffered a heart attack as he saw me. And then he attacked me."

"Oh, no," Anna gasped.

"He bit me a few times but that wound on my knee was the worst. I still can't walk properly, as you know."

"And what happened to the dog?"

"They had to put him to sleep," John said lowly. "He had attacked me, so why should he not have attacked Vera one day? Or a random person in the park, a child? Vera was devastated."

"I believe that," Anna mumbled. "And ... about Vera ... forgive me for asking but ... why did she ..."

"Why Vera committed suicide?" John asked. "I don't know, Anna. I wish I knew. I only know that she swallowed the rodenticide that I bought."

"Oh my God," Anna whispered.

"Yes. That's why I was suspect number one in the case. But why she has killed herself. I don't know either, Anna. She was unhappy with me, but she had never said that she wanted to leave me. She was unhappy with her job but has never quit. I don't know if she had planned it or not. I only know that we were talking, then I went outside to get the newspaper and when I came back only minutes later, I found her dead."

"Wow," Anna whispered. "I'm so sorry."

"Honestly? For a moment I was relieved. Relieved that she was gone, not dead." He shook his head. "I should not say that but she was a pain in the ass."

"Still. You must have loved her at some point. You married her."

"That is true, I did," John replied. "And I never wanted her to commit suicide. But I cannot lie and say I have never daydreamed about ending things with her. So, what about you and Oliver?"

"What?" Anna asked quietly.

"How did you two fall in love?"

"I don't remember," Anna mumbled. "He was a friend of a friend of mine. But we definitely married way too fast."

"And then Lauren came," John said quietly.

"Mhm. I don't think we'd still be together if Lauren hadn't happened."

"That's sad to hear," John said, "but sometimes it's also better for the kid to get a divorce, you know?"

"Lauren loves him," Anna mumbled. "She loves him so much and I would feel like a bad mother if I left him and took her with me. But I need to take her with me. I would not survive without her."

John understood her. He really did. And what he asked next cost him all of his courage.

"Do you still love him, Anna?"

Anna shook her head lowly. "Not as I did."

"Because he hits you?"

"Because he cheated on me," Anna said, simply ignoring John's try to investigate.

"He -?" John was speechless. "How could anyone cheat on you?"

Anna laughed lightly and then gasped. "Ouch," she hissed. "Don't make me laugh, John. It hurts."

"But I meant it. I would ... I would never cheat on you."

Anna smiled gently. "I believe you. You wouldn't cheat on anyone."

"That isn't entirely true," John admitted. "I cheated on Vera. And Vera cheated on me."

"Oh," Anna said quietly.

"But we really didn't love each other anymore. We should just have gotten a divorce."

"Sounds like it."

John chuckled. Then he decided to change the subject. Enough of the sad topics, Anna needed some entertainment as long as she was here. "Have you listened to some more of Eluveitie?" he asked her and Anna giggled.

"So that is how it's pronounced! Yes, I did actually. And I really like them. I've never really listened to - what is it? Folk metal? It's nice. I like the softer songs."

"They sing a lot in Gaelic and they have some songs that sound Irish," John explained. "That's why I started to like them, as I'm half Irish."

"Really?" Anna said and smiled.

"Yes. The other half is Scottish."

Anna beamed at him.

"I like that. I'm only English. Born in Yorkshire, raised in Yorkshire. And I'll probably die in Yorkshire." She sighed.

"Have you been to Scotland before?" John asked and Anna shook her head.

"Sadly not. Furthest away I've ever been is London. No, once my dad took me to Brighton when I was little. But that is it."

"I'll take you to Scotland and Ireland," John said gently. "Once you've escaped your husband's grip. I'll take you there and show you all the beautiful places. You will feel so carefree and happy there, I promise."

Upon seeing her teary but happy eyes, he did something daring. He took her hand.

And Anna let it happen.

They smiled at each other.