Thank you to my kind guest reviewers! To answer your question, yes, there will be one more chapter after this one to wrap up this story! They are no longer writing letters though, so back to "normal" narration (which is far more easier for me! ^^)

July 1920

John held his breath as he took in the beautiful Yorkshire scenery outside the car. He had missed that too. Not as much as Anna and his son, of course, but still. You could never look far away inside a prison, there was always a wall in front of you. A smile dawned on his thoughtful face when the large silhouette of the Abbey appeared in the distance. He looked back at Anna, who gave him his smile back, and squeezed his hand silently. He moved his eyes to the little boy, sitting safely tucked in Anna's lap, who was still observing him warily. He gently stroked the back of one little chubby hand with his forefinger, and Johnny grabbed the large finger in his small fist. Warmth filled John, as the baby gurgled some incomprehensible babbling. As he turned his gaze outside again, he noticed that the driver was not going towards the Abbey's main entrance. He looked to Anna, bemused:

- Are we not going to the Abbey?

Anna gave him a mischievous smile.

- No. We are going to the cottage first.

They didn't elaborate further, until the car stopped in front of the cottage. When the three of them had disembarked, Anna bent in front of the front passenger's seat and said:

- Thank you so much, Mr Stark. Have a good day.

And the car was off, leaving them alone, in front of their new home.

John offered Anna a dazed smile, and breathed:

- I can't believe I'm here. I keep pinching myself.

- Well believe, she stated firmly. Welcome home, she added, taking his hand to drag him inside.

As they came inside, Anna put the baby in his cot, and proceeded to rid John of his coat. While she hung the coats on the hangers near the front door, John took in his new surroundings. He looked at Anna questioningly:

- Where is Leslie? Shouldn't she be here?

- She's at the House. She won't be here before lunch time. She wanted to give us some family space, and I must say I had no objection to it… The morning is just for the three of us. Then she'll come for lunch, and she'll take Johnny out for a walk and then back at the Abbey. We're not expected up there before tea. I warned Mrs Hughes.

John's eyes grew large.

- Do you mean we get to spend the whole afternoon just the two of us?

A hot gleam burnt in her eyes as she replied quietly:

- Absolutely.

- My, my… I didn't dare hope for that in my wildest dreams.

But before they could spend more time day-dreaming over how they would spend their afternoon, Johnny called them back to reality.

- Lord, it's almost eight o'clock, he must be hungry. We got up very early this morning, didn't we sweetie, she said, bending over the cot to pick up the baby. She wrinkled her nose and added:

- And someone needs a new nappy. Come on darling, let's get you clean and dry, and then we'll have a little snack.

As she started to make her way towards the stairs, John asked:

- May I come with you?

Anna laughed:

- Why, of course you can! This is your home, you don't need to ask me permission to go wherever you like!

- Yes, sorry, I think it'll take me a little time to register the fact that I can go wherever I like. So, show me how you take care of this little man. I want to learn every little thing.

- Well, this is not the most endearing part, but alright.

- I don't care. Every part is important to me.

A few minutes later, Johnny had been put into a fresh nappy, and they had gone back to the sitting-room. Anna sat in the settee, and started unbuttoning her blouse to feed the baby. A surge of modesty lit her cheeks with a pink glow as she looked sideways to John, only to quickly remind herself that he was her husband, and had already seen her naked. It had been such a long time ago, and so shortly… She shrugged her embarrassment away and expertly settled Johnny at her breast. The baby quickly calmed down and enjoyed nursing. John sat himself cautiously next to them, his eyes wide, tears threatening, and gently rubbed the sole of the baby's foot.

- What's wrong John?, asked Anna, worried at the tears now running down his cheeks.

- Nothing whatsoever my darling, he said in a shaky voice. I have never seen anything more beautiful than my wife feeding my son. I am so happy…

She chuckled softly, and bent slightly towards him, kissing him on the lips.

- I am so happy too that you are here. It's been a long time coming.

- That it has, he concluded, before watching them in silence until Johnny fell asleep on his mother's breast.

x x x x

The three of them had fully enjoyed their morning of getting acquainted or re-acquainted. It had all felt like a dream to John, and like a victory, when he had earned a few smiles from his son, and even made him laugh, still safely tucked in his mother's lap. Noon had just rung on the grandfather clock in the kitchen, when Leslie knocked and entered, carrying a large wicker basket. John got up swiftly and smiled to the young woman. Had he not known she was Anna's younger sister, he would have had no trouble guessing it, since they looked very much alike.

- Hello, you must be Leslie I presume, he said, holding out his hand to her.

She took his hand warmly, and replied:

- And you must be John. Glad to be meeting you at last.

- The pleasure is all mine, he said. I am so very grateful to you for what you did for us.

- I was very glad I could help. Being with Anna and Johnny helped me too.

Johnny started shrieking happily at the sight of his aunt, and Anna came closer to Leslie.

- What's all this, she asked, mentioning the basket Leslie was carrying.

- Oh, this, it's Mrs Patmore's welcome-back gift for Mr Bates, she said, putting the basket on the table.

- Oh, that's so nice of her, said John. I'll have to thank her tonight.

- I'll go and get lunch ready, said Leslie, taking the basket over to the kitchen.

- Thank you Leslie, said Anna.

She turned to John, and added:

- I must go to the privy, could you take your son?

And before he could say anything about it, she had put the baby in his arms, and disappeared through the back door. John looked warily back at his son, bracing himself for the cries that were surely going to erupt pretty soon. But the baby only studied his face seriously, and suddenly grabbed his nose strongly.

- Ouch, said John, startled.

He gently seized the little boy's hand and made him open his fingers, and took the little hand to his lips to kiss it.

- So? Just you and me then? And… you seem to be alright with it?

The baby replied with a happy coo.

- Good. I'm sorry I wasn't there before, son, he said, as he paced the sitting-room holding the baby. But I love you, very very much, and from now on, I'll be there always. I promise.

- Aaaeurgh!

John chuckled.

- Fine. I'm glad you're alright with it.

He turned around as he heard Anna's voice behind him.

- So, you two getting on fine?

- Seems so…

- See, I told you he only needed a little time, she concluded, coming near them. I've never seen anything more beautiful than my husband holding my son, she added, with a wink, before kissing Johnny's cheek, and then John's.

- Lunch's ready, called Leslie's voice from the kitchen.

x x x x

Lunch had been eaten, the dishes had been washed and dried and put away in the cupboards, and Leslie had settled Johnny into his pram and started her way to the Abbey, with a wink and a joyful "Enjoy your afternoon, I'll see you for tea!". And the door had closed on her, and it was just the two of them, looking sheepishly at each other.

- So…, started Anna.

- So?

- What shall we do?

He arched an eyebrow at her.

- What would you like to do? Shall we… go for a walk?

- Hmm. Maybe later?

- Sure. What then?

- Maybe we could… take a nap? Upstairs?, she said, motioning towards the stairs with her head.

Seconds later they were in the main bedroom, and had closed the door on themselves. Before John could register anything, soft, warm lips had crashed onto his, and Anna's hands had closed on the back of his neck, playing with his hairline. He received her with a muffled cry, before happily melting into the kiss, and circling her waist. Anna's hands slid from his neck to his torso and started pushing his jacket away from his shoulders. The jacket fell to the floor, and as Anna's fingers attacked his waistcoat's buttons, he seized her hands and pulled apart from the kiss. Panting, he said:

- Anna, we don't have to do this right away. I can wait a little while if you need me to.

Anna frowned, puzzled:

- Don't you think we've waited long enough? Don't you want to?

- Oh I definitely want to. I've been dreaming of this moment every day for the last fifteen months. But I don't want you to feel pressured into anything you're not ready for. It's been a long time.

Anna chuckled in disbelief.

- But of course I want to, you silly beggar! I've been dreaming of this just as often as you have. Now stop babbling nonsense and make love to me!

- Yes Ma'am, he breathed, his lips already starting to work their way along the side of her neck.

It wasn't long before they hungrily melted into each other, desperately longing to make up for fifteen months of emotional and physical starvation. Very quickly they became one soul, joined in ecstasy, mixing their tears and crying out each other's names.

- Oh my God, murmured Anna, her face buried into John's chest.

He was still inside her, and she revelled in the feeling of completeness, and felt like she would never be able to let go of him.

- Sometimes I wondered if I had not imagined how good it was, she went on. Now I know I had not.

She felt him smile against her temple.

- I know. Sometimes I thought it had been a dream too. How I survived so long without holding you remains a mystery to me.

To Anna's regret, he slipped out of her and settled next to her. She smiled though, when he started nuzzling her hair and passing his fingers through it.

- God I've missed your hair, he said.

She rolled on her side to face him, and hid her face in the crook of his neck.

- From now on we can hold each other every single day of our life. Until death do us part.

- Oh yes, and I will enjoy every hour of every day until that day, my darling. I love you Anna, he said, bending to kiss her lips.

- I love you too John.

x x x x

After an actual nap, followed by another, less hurried love-making, John and Anna were walking hand in hand on the path from the cottage to the Abbey, enjoying the late afternoon summer sun. The walk still felt unfamiliar to them, although they knew it would now become their daily travel from home to work. John's heart beat faster as they approached the big house, thinking of all the people who were waiting for him, that he hadn't seen in so long, and those he didn't know yet. As they came near the back door, he slowed down a little, in hesitation. She turned back to him, shooting an encouraging smile.

- Every one's been missing you, you know, she said.

- Oh, really?, he teased. Even Thomas?

She rolled her eyes.

- Alright, maybe not him. But never mind him, she stated strongly, tugging on his hand.

As they walked down the corridor leading to the Servants' hall, he heard voices chatting, some familiar, some unknown.

- So, how do we talk to him?, asked a young male voice he didn't recognize.

- Normally! How do you think you talk to him?, replied Mrs Hughes's voice in her usual no-nonsense tone.

- But what about prison? Or do we pretend it never happened?

- I don't think that'll be necessary, said John, as he entered the Servants' Hall.

- Mr Bates!, beamed Mrs Hughes.

Mr Carson stood up, all the staff following him as duty commanded them.

- Mr Bates!, boomed the butler. Welcome back. I've been waiting a long time to say that, he added, while vigorously shaking John's hand.

- Thank you Mr Carson, replied John.

- Take a seat, Mr Bates, said Mr Molesley, gesturing to an empty chair.

John sat down, and Anna took the chair next to him, holding Johnny she had retrieved from Leslie's arms. The look of complete happiness on her face made his heart flutter. Anna turned to him and handed the little child to him. He happily took the baby and settled him on his lap, as Mrs Patmore filled his teacup.

- So, I see you've been introduced to your son?, said Mrs Hughes.

- Such a cute little family you make, added Mrs Patmore, dotting on the chubby child.

- Yes, we've gotten acquainted, replied John with a smile. I am so very happy and proud to finally meet him, he said, with a wink to Anna.

- So you should be, agreed Mr Carson. He's a sturdy little lad!

Chatter was lively around the large table, when Mr Carson said:

- Mr Bates, sorry to interrupt, but His Lordship asked that you meet him in the library before the gong. And I'm going to ring in about ten minutes, so I think you should go up.

- Oh, yes, of course, said John. I'll go at once.

He handed his son back to Anna, and got up. As he started to make his way to the stairs, he crossed Thomas's glance, burning with jealousy.

Upstairs, John knocked on the library's door.

- Come in!

As he entered, a large grin lit up Lord Grantham's face. He came to him and offered a friendly handshake, which John gladly returned.

- Bates! My dear fellow! I'm so glad to have you back!

- I'm very glad to be back m'Lord.

- Have you settled alright? Is the cottage to your liking?

- It is perfect m'Lord. I'm sure we will be very happy there.

- Very good, very good. I guess we can all be grateful to Anna for this happy ending.

- That we can, m'Lord. If I may, m'Lord?

- Yes?

- About Mr Barrow?

Lord Grantham shrugged.

- We'll figure this out Bates. Don't worry. But in the meantime, take a rest. Stay in bed, read some books. Enjoy your wife and son. How did you find him, by the way?

- He's just perfect m'Lord. Thank you for asking.

Later that night, John was lying in a soft warm bed, holding his beloved wife against his chest. He could feel the soft rush of air from her breathing against his clavicle, and he could hear his son's soft snores, coming from the cot near their bed. He slowly inhaled, and exhaled, and brushed the relieved tear coming down his cheek. For the hundredth time since the morning, he repeated to himself: "This is not another dream, this time it is for real."