Thank you!

Chapter 6

The entire ride back to Downton Abbey, John felt Anna's hands on his upper arm. She gushed at him and told him how glad she was to have him coming home with her. He couldn't help but grin. He, too, was thrilled to be coming home.

While John knew that he needed to say hello to everyone at the house, he did ask to go to their cottage first. He hadn't seen it yet. Anna had bitten down on her lower lip when he suggested it and when he pressed her about it, she just forced a smile on her lips.

"I do hope you'll like how I decorated the place," she told him.

"My darling, I have no doubt that I will love it." He brought his hand up to rest on her cheek. His eyes searched her face. Her blue eyes were bright, pleased to be with him. But he could also see the pain that sat behind them. Perhaps this evening, she would allow him to hold her as she told him all about their son. She had promised him that they would when he came home and now he was home.

The driver dropped them off near their cottage and helped Anna out of the car. She waited patiently for him to step out and then wrapped her arm around his. She pointed to the door that led to their home and smiled.

"Welcome home," she said. "Come on."

As they stepped inside, John could tell that Anna had taken extra care in setting up the house for his return. On the table, she had placed fresh flowers and biscuits, along with a pie. Upon seeing both the desserts, he chuckled.

"Are you trying to fatten me up, Mrs. Bates?" He playfully asked.

Anna was busying herself by taking off her hat and coat. She turned and looked at the table in front of them, twisting her lips.

"I just thought…."

He brought her toward him, kissing the top of her head.

"It's perfect. Now, give me a tour."

Anna nodded. She led him around the downstairs, explaining all of the work she had put into making their home just right. He frowned.

"You did all of that by yourself?"

"Mrs. Hughes helped some," she shrugged. "Upstairs is the bedroom," she then told him with a wink. She tugged on his hand to lead him upstairs.

As he reached the upstairs, he saw that there was a washroom and two bedrooms. His eyes went into the first room and it was almost completely bare. His throat went dry. This must have been where the nursery had been. But why was it empty now. He stepped inside, wanting to see if there were any remnants of a life that was supposed to live in this room.

"John?" Anna asked. "Don't you want to see our room?"

He kept his eyes searching the room. The only think in the room was a small chest of drawers. He walked over toward it and began opening the drawers, hoping to find a small outfit or little hat.

"Those are empty," Anna said, her voice a bit curt.

"I just thought that maybe some of the baby's things were in there," John said, turning to face her.

Anna inhaled slowly, rubbing her hands together in front of her. She glanced down slightly, not quite meeting his eyes.

"I got rid of all of it," she told him.

"What? Why?" He asked, shocked. "Everything?"

"Yes." She nodded, her eyes still didn't meet his.

"You didn't save any for future children?"

Anna twisted her lips.

"I didn't know…." She allowed her words to fade, but he knew what she was going to say. She couldn't know if he was ever coming home and she wasn't wrong about that. He could see how tense her shoulders were and the pain etched over her face. He moved closer toward her and placed his hands lovingly on her shoulders.

"Shh," he attempted to soothe and draw her close. But she shook his hands away, forcing a tight smile upon her lips.

"Why don't I show you our room?" She said. His lips curled downwards.

"Anna, I'm home. You don't have to hold it in anymore."

"I know," she shakily replied. "But you just got home. I want to be happy right now. Today is a day to celebrate. You are back with me. You are home."

John sighed, but nodded. "Alright. Show me to our room."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Mrs. Hughes was thrilled to see Mr. Bates' face back in the Servants' Hall. It had been far too long, but he was finally back with them. She smiled and welcomed him. He smiled in return. Her eyes didn't miss how Anna kept touching Mr. Bates' arm. Her heart was glad for them both. It was about time.

"Mr. Bates!" A footman called. "Lord Grantham requests you come and see him upstairs."

Mr. Bates nodded. Anna patted his arm and winked, before he made his way toward the stairs.

"Oh, Anna!" Mrs. Hughes gushed. "You look absolutely beaming!"

"I am so happy, Mrs. Hughes," she told her. "Now, we can be a true married couple. I no longer have to schedule my visits with him and not be allowed to touch my husband. It is a great day, indeed."

"Well, I am happy for you, dear."

"And now we will be happy." The way Anna said these words gave Mrs. Hughes pause. She had no doubt that happiness was in the future for both Anna and Mr. Bates and she wished for nothing less. But the way Anna said this made Mrs. Hughes worry that Anna was going to try and ignore the pain that still seeped deep in her bones. It was pain that Mrs. Hughes knew needed to be faced. True grieving needed to take place.

"You will," Mrs. Hughes cautiously agreed. "Now you two can grieve together."

Anna froze under her touch and inhaled sharply, before forcing a smile upon her lips.

"We will be so very happy. Thank you, Mrs. Hughes."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

"Bates, my dear fellow!" Robert rushed toward Bates. He still couldn't believe that he was back at that this nightmare was finally over. "I asked for them to send you up as soon as you arrived. I hope I didn't take you from everyone downstairs."

Bates shook his head.

"Thank you for sending Anna and the car," Bates told him.

"Oh nonsense!" Robert said. "Have you seen your cottage, yet? Is it up to your standards?" He smiled.

"Yes, m'lord. It's perfect. Thank you for providing Anna and me with such accommodations."

Robert just shook his head at that and waved his hand, saying it was no bother. It only made sense for the married couple to have their own place.

"About Thomas," Bates began.

"I'll sort it out, Bates," Robert promised. It was a bit of a sticky situation indeed. Obviously, he would have Bates return as his valet, which meant he would need to figure out what to do with Thomas. "In the meantime, you just rest. Stay in bed, read some books. I know you and Anna have some things you need to deal with." He cringed slightly by the way the words came out. But Bates seemed to understand and nodded. "We will get this all sorted out soon."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

Mrs. Hughes was somehow able to pull Mr. Bates away from everyone so she could speak with him in private. He joined her in his parlor as she got Lady Mary ready for bed.

"How has today gone?" She asked him. He seemed to understand the weight of her words and he sighed.

"Well," he replied. "But, I think she's hoping to just move past the trauma of losing our son and not allow us to grieve together," he then admitted. "Any mention of it and she's just avoided it."

"Perhaps, she just needs time to enjoy your arrival back at Downton," Mrs. Hughes tried to be upbeat. "You have been gone for so long. You both need this time together."

"You're worried too," Bates looked at Mrs. Hughes carefully.

"I am," she honestly answered. "But I have faith that you two will be able to grieve and move forward together."

"Yes, let's hope so, Mrs. Hughes."

-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-

That evening John was glad to be back at their cottage. Throughout the day, he had been able to spend it with Anna. She only had to assist Lady Mary in getting ready for bed, otherwise, John had been allowed the day with his wife.

It was a lovely day together, but the weight of their loss hung above them. Any mention of their son had his wife freeze up and quickly change the subject.

He sat down on the settee, per Anna's insistence, and waited on her to bring him his tea. She arrived with the tea, setting his next to him and then walking around to sit across from him. She took a small sip and looked up at him, smiling.

"We get to do this every night now," she said. He grinned.

"We do."

"Tomorrow, I thought we might have a picnic for lunch," Anna said. "Just the two of us. Lady Mary said she will hardly need me over the next several days. It would be nice for us to take as much time as we can with one another."

"I quite agree," he said.

Anna took a few sips of her tea and sat it down.

"I missed you."

"And I missed you."

Anna stood from her chair and walked over to John, sitting next to him now. Her hand rested on his upper arm and she gave it a small squeeze.

"I can touch you now."

"I know," his grin grew. Anna inched up and brought her lips to John's. Immediately, he tasted the whisky on Anna's lips. It shocked him. He had supposed she was drinking tea just like he had been. "Are you drinking?" He tried not to sound accusatory with his tone.

"Oh, I just added a bit of whisky to my tea," Anna simply said, as though it was something she had always done, though he knew she had not. "I find it helps me sleep."

John furrowed his brows.

"It's just a small amount in my cup of tea before bed. That is all," she assured him. "I don't drink any more than that."

John had much he wanted to say about it, but decided it against it. He hadn't been here for a very long time and Anna had been all alone with her grief. As long as she wasn't abusing the substance, then a small amount each night wouldn't hurt her. Though, it would be something he would need to monitor, just in case.

"Ah, I guess we have new things to learn about one another," he said with a wink. Anna kissed him once more. Her hands grasped on the lapels of his jacket, drawing him closer, and nearly leaving him breathless.

"Let's go upstairs," she said to him.

John's hands rested on her cheeks, meeting her eyes.

"We don't have to rush anything," he told her, much like he had on their wedding night. Anna shook her head.

"We've been without for so long. I just want to make love to you."

John wanted the same. He ran his thumb over her cheek bone and gave her a nod.

"Let's go upstairs."

To be continued...