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Chapter 14

1920s- Downton Abbey

Anna turned around to her other side and her eyes slowly fluttered open. Despite what she had said, months had passed and she was still sleeping in Lady Mary's bed. The two of them had fallen back into the short routine they began on the ship all that time ago. It came rather easy to them both. With Anna being Mary's lady's maid and with Johnny in the nursery, it was easier to pull off than they could have even expected. Anna had many reasons she could be walking out of Mary's room. She was never questioned.

Anna had to admit that she slept better in this bed with Mary. There was comfort here between them. The two had both lost the loves of their lives and having the other helped them both make it through the nights.

Mary still awoke some nights in tears as a nightmare would come, but Anna was there to help her settle back down. She would just hold her close or stay nearby, whatever Mary needed.

This particular morning, Mary was already awake when Anna woke up. This was not common. More often than not, Anna was up much earlier than she was. She'd often dress and head back upstairs to pretend she had been there all night. But no, this morning was very different.

Mary was staring at her, her lips curled up slightly. Her hand came up and brushed along Anna's cheek, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. But when the hair was tucked safely in its spot, Mary's hand didn't move. It remained.

"Do you think we ought to take the children to the pond today, have a picnic?" Mary questioned. Her hand dropped from its place behind Anna's ear. "I think they would quite enjoy it. George is nearly sitting up on his own now."

"That could be lovely, m'lady," Anna replied.

"Anna, you know in here, I am Mary. You and I are friends, remember?" Anna merely nodded. She knew that Mary really meant what she said. The two had been very much like friends as they took the boys out daily and chatted in the evenings. They spent many hours of the day together. In those moments, it was almost as though the two of them and their boys were the only people who mattered.

"Anna, are you happy here?" Anna glanced back up. In her thoughts she had brought her eyes down to her hands.

"Yes, I am happy. I still miss what could have been with Mr. Bates, but I get to be with Johnny and I enjoy my time with you." Anna studied Mary's face. "Are you happy?"

"Me?" Mary chuckled slightly. "I don't know that I'll ever be truly happy again, Anna. Matthew is gone." Her lips curled downwards and a stray tear slipped down her cheek. Anna frowned.

"Oh, Mary, I didn't mean to upset you," she fretted, touching Mary's cheek with her thumb to wipe away the tear. Mary's hand fell over Anna's and she held it for a moment.

"It's quite alright. I miss him terribly, but you understand that."

"I do," Anna murmured. She heard the sound of birds singing outside of the window and she realized that she had remained in the bed a bit too long this particular morning. "Oh, I best get ready and going. They'll be serving breakfast soon."

Sliding out of the bed, Anna gathered the extra dress from the small drawer where she now stored some of her things.

"I do wish you could eat breakfast in here with me, just nip down and grab a tray for the both of us," Mary stated.

"I don't think that would be looked at too kindly," Anna said. They were already pressing the limits as it was. Even though this was only done out of the need for comfort, a maid staying in the same room with her lady would not be accepted.

Mary rolled her eyes. "Really, I am quite over the tradition of things." Anna smiled.

"I know you are, m'lady." She slipped her shoes on and then peeked out the door. Thankfully no one was in the hallway.

Sadly, she wouldn't have time to check in on Johnny this morning. She would have to go after bringing Mary up her breakfast. That should allow her some time to read Johnny a book before she had to get to work.

As she entered the servant's hall, she saw that most everyone was already sitting down to eat. She ducked her head and took her seat next to Mrs. Hughes, who gave her a quick glance.

"I was worried about you," Mrs. Hughes said, handing her a plate. "You weren't in your room or the nursery." Anna could feel the blood draining from her face. Was this the moment she and Lady Mary would be found out? "I was worried you were sick and in one of the privies."

"No," Anna quickly shook her head, glad Mrs. Hughes was not expecting anything untoward. "Um, Lady Mary asked me to come into her room earlier this morning. She needed to talk about Mr. Matthew. With my past with Mr. Bates, sometimes speaking with me helps her." A warm, but sad smile graced Mrs. Hughes' lips.

"Oh, of course it does, dear. She's lucky to have you."

Anna thought about that statement from Mrs. Hughes, but she was sure that it was she who was lucky to have Mary.

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

There wasn't much of a better feeling than when her son would fall asleep on her chest. As she had walked him back and forth in the library, George had fallen right to sleep. He fit perfectly in her arms; the two of them were a perfect match.

Mary took a seat on the settee, not planning on giving George up to the nursery quite yet. She knew that Nanny liked to keep him on a specific schedule, but she was the mother and if she wanted a cuddle with her son then she was going to do it.

Cora slipped onto the settee next to Mary and brought her hand up to George's back, smiling.

"You know," Cora started, "I do like this new way of doing things with the children. I get to see my grandchildren more with the way you and Sybil have chosen to raise them. It isn't how it's been done traditionally, but sometimes that is a good thing."

"I agree," Mary replied.

"But," Cora added. "I do wonder if all your time should be spent with Anna and her son, too."

"Mama," Mary sighed. "Please don't start this again."

"I know she is your lady's maid and that she has a similar experience to yours, but…"

"Anna has been invaluable to me," Mary stated. "She was the one who forced me to be a mother to George. If it weren't for her, I would likely still be locked upstairs in my room. My heart aches every day for Matthew. But she has made it so that I can get out of bed. She has made it so that I can enjoy George. So, I ask that you please drop this."

Cora nodded. "Alright, if that is what you wish."

"I do."

"I am glad that she's helped you, Mary," Cora added. "You are a wonderful mother to George."

Mary offered her mother a small smile, kissing the top of George's head.

"I thought that tomorrow while your father was at the tenant's meeting, your sister, you, and I could go out for a luncheon. Wouldn't that be lovely?"

Glancing up back at her mother, Mary furrowed her brows.

"There's a tenant's meeting tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"But…" She paused, her thoughts swirling around in her mind. To be honest, over the past several months she hadn't thought much about the property. But before Matthew's death, the two of them had spoken about plans and ideas for their home and for their children's futures. There had been so many things the two of them wanted to do together. It had always been so important to Matthew to include her in on it.

"Mary?"

"I'm sorry, Mama," Mary murmured, shaking her head. "I…Shouldn't I go to this tenant's meeting?"

"Oh, I don't think your papa wants you to have to worry yourself with any of that. You have George to focus on and you are still mourning." Mary glanced down at her black dress. "Now, I must go and invite your sister. We'll have lunch tomorrow, alright?"

Mary feebly nodded and her mother left the room. But she was only alone for a moment. The door opened back and she heard the sound of a throat clearing.

"Sorry, m'lady. I didn't realize…" It was Carson.

"It's alright, Carson," she smiled up at the butler. However, he seemed to see something in her eyes.

"What's wrong, m'lady?"

Mary only shook her head and stood, bouncing George slightly.

"There is a tenant's meeting tomorrow. Mama and Papa seem to think I should remain out of it and focus on George and my mourning. What do you think?"

Carson stood there for a moment, his lips tightening.

"M'lady, I think you should do it. I believe Mr. Crawley would want you too. Don't you owe it to him? To protect his work? To fight for the changes he made? To steer Downton in the right direction?"

Carson's words made Mary's breath catch within her throat and a few tears slide down her cheeks. Hearing him speak so kindly to her and about Matthew's wishes only made her miss him more.

"Yes," she whispered. "Do you really think I can do it?"

"I know you can, m'lady."

"I know I can always count on you for a draft of self-confidence whenever I start to doubt."

"And you will always find one here," he promised.

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

When Anna entered Mary's bedroom that evening, she was surprised to find her searching in her wardrobe. For the past six months, Mary had only been wearing black. But now there was a beautiful purple dress resting over her arm.

"What's this?" Anna questioned, pleased to see another color. Though she had no plans to force Mary out of mourning until she was fully ready. She was making great strides, but she could wear black for as long as she needed.

"Carson seems to think that I should be involved in the plans for Downton," Mary simply stated, still looking inside her wardrobe. Then she turned to face Anna. "What do you think?"

"I think he's right," Anna agreed, her smile growing. "I know you have so many plans. This is George's future, Mary. You should oversee it."

"Yes," Mary confidently replied. "I believe so, too. My talk with Carson reminded me of what my plans were with Matthew. Tomorrow, I will go to the tenant's meeting."

"Very good. Is this what you'd wish to wear?" Anna stepped forward and gently took the dress out of Mary's hands. She nodded. Anna moved it to the chair by the door so that it would be ready the next day. "I will gather what else you will need to go with it." Anna turned to leave, but Mary's hand darted out to gently grab at her wrist.

"Wait," Mary said. Anna turned back to her. Mary stood right before her, their noses almost touching. For a moment, neither of them moved. "I…" Mary started, then she stepped back, breaking their connection. "Never mind," Mary brushed off. But Anna could see that her breaths were coming out quickly, much like how Anna's heart was racing. She couldn't explain what had just happened.

"Alright," Anna whispered. Then she was out the door to find Mary's shoes.

Fall 1970

Mary turned to the side on the bed to find Anna still asleep. She smiled. Anna was always so peaceful when she slept. Her hand touched Anna's cheek and Anna barely stirred. But then her eyes opened and she smiled back at her.

"Hi," Anna whispered.

"Hi," Mary whispered back.

"Let's take the children on a picnic," Anna suggested. And instead of growing sad, Mary just nodded. Sometimes, it was easiest just to play along.

"Yes," she agreed. "That sounds lovely."

To be continued...

Next chapter is the last chapter of Fall 1970, winter is coming...This story will be split into 4 parts, but they aren't hard and fast sections. They all still flow together.

A/N: I used lines from the show in the scene between Carson and Mary. Though this is a story about Anna and Mary, I thought it was important to still include a special scene between them. Carson's connection to Mary is still a big part of who she is.

Thank you for reading. As always, please let me know what you think! And more soon!