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Chapter 24

1920s- Paris

Taking the letter opener, Mary sliced the top of the envelope. It was common for her mother or father to send her a letter every so often while she was away. This one was from her mama, so she knew it would be full of details about all that was happening at Downton Abbey. But there would also be a request for her to return home. They missed her, but they missed George the most.

As she ran over the words, she saw she had been correct. Her mother was asking her when she would be home. They had spoken on the phone not too long ago and that was always the first question that came from her mother's mouth: When are you returning?

Honestly, she didn't have an answer. She didn't know how much time Anna would need to recover after birth and giving the baby to another couple. She was not planning on pressuring Anna to head back to Downton soon after the baby was born. It would be best to give her time to adjust. Tom was ringing her weekly to give her updates on the estate and asking her advice on what to do. It really was going just fine without her there. While she missed her home, she didn't regret leaving for a while.

Folding the letter, she saw that Anna was standing in front of her, sewing George's pants that had gotten a hole in the knee.

"Edith left a month after we did to go off to Switzerland with Aunt Rosamund. Of course she needed to do her own excursion after we were gone. Can't let me be the only Crawley daughter away. You'd think she would stay to help with me gone, but…."

"Be kind," Anna said, taking the seat next to her on the couch. "What else did the letter say?"

"Not much, questions of when we would be returning."

"And what about Sybil?" Anna asked. Mary twisted her lips. Just a few weeks prior, her sister had given birth to a new baby girl: Aisling. Mary hadn't told Anna about the new child, yet.

"She, well, she's had the baby," Mary said, disgusted by the fake brightness in her tone. It was like she was trying to act as though everything was normal right now.

"A girl or a boy? And are they both healthy?"

"A girl: Aisling. Yes, smooth delivery."

"I'm glad," Anna replied, bringing her hand over to rest on Mary's knee. "After how traumatic her birth was with Sybbie, I am glad both Sybil and the new baby are alright." Mary gave Anna a grateful smile. No matter how much Anna was going through, she still recognized that the world around them moved forward. Mary was always so enamored by her care for others, even in her darkest times.

But there was a sadness on Anna's face. Her hand rested on her growing belly and she looked down at her feet. Mary knew Anna was falling in love with the baby inside of her. Despite the baby's conception, she was still Anna's. The baby was still her child, a child she was growing and protecting.

"Anna…" Mary began. Anna took in a shaky inhale and slid back, before standing.

"It may storm in a while. Perhaps, we should take the boys out now while we can."

"Yes, we should."

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

As snow fell from the sky, Mary realized just how quickly time was moving here in Paris. It was already November. It seemed like just yesterday that they had arrived. But Anna was due by the end of December.

The closer the time came, the harder the days seemed to be for Anna. She was still present and with them. She would still smile. However, Mary had caught her crying in dark corners and struggling to find joy in the things that used to bring her happiness. This was going to be hard. Mary had known that to be true before now, but it was growing more real each day.

Mary tried to come up with ideas to make this better for Anna. There seemed to be nothing she could do. It was the 1920s. Women couldn't just have a child without a husband and not have some sort of repercussions. While Mary wished she could change the world for Anna, she did not have that power.

The only idea Mary had thought of was setting Anna up here in Paris, saying she was a widow. But Mary had to return to Downton without her. Even if she would stay here for Anna, eventually she did need to return. Anna had been right about that. Downton Abbey was her home, but more importantly, it was George's future.

Plus, Anna insisted their plan was the only way. She also wanted to return to Downton. It was also her home. And she did not want to be a single mother raising two children. While Mary could provide her with a head start, it would not be the best life for the children. Both children would be better off with the original plan.

Mary stepped outside and felt a set of hands holding around her leg. She glanced down and smiled at Johnny.

"May we play outside?" He asked, smiling brightly.

"Yes, of course, darling. Tell Brigitte to get your and George's jackets on and we'll head out."

Johnny walked toward the nursery and Mary could hear him asking Brigitte to help him and George to get ready to go outside. While there was no snow staying on the ground quite yet, Mary knew they would enjoy just feeling it landing on their noses and trying to catch the snowflakes with their tongues.

"Can I also come?" Anna asked, stepping out of their bedroom. She had her hair down and in a side braid. It was how Mary enjoyed her hair the most.

"Of course," Mary smiled.

Once they all were dressed warmly, the four of them went out to the backyard to see the new snow as it fell from above. The boys ran and tried to catch them with their fingers. Mary had to swoop up George a few times, as he tripped over his own feet. The small child had gone from barely walking to trying to run nearly overnight. He did not like to be kept still.

Mary walked over to the bench where Anna sat and sat down beside her.

"It's lovely out here," Anna stated. "Magical, almost."

"It really is. There isn't much like the first real snow of the season."

"No," Anna agreed. "There isn't."

She brought her hand to sit on top of Mary's. Even though they were wearing gloves, Mary swore she could feel the warmth from Anna seeping into her bones. Their eyes met and Mary was caught blissfully unaware when Anna pressed her lips to hers. Her lips were soft and sweet, just as she remembered it. Mary kissed her back, bringing her hand up to cup Anna's cheek.

As they pulled apart, their foreheads touched.

"Magical," Anna repeated.

"Yes," Mary breathed. Their eyes remained locked for a good minute. Mary could barely believe it had just happened. Finally, she thought. It had been so long. But then the sound of children's giggles made them turn to look at their boys.

As they sat back on the bench, Anna's head rested on Mary's shoulder. Mary wrapped her arm around Anna and kissed the top of her head. There were things she wanted to say, but the courage to say them wasn't there, not yet.

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

Anna rocked herself gently on the rocking chair in the nursery. Both boys were napping and she had been the one to put them down. But she was also exhausted, too exhausted to even make the short steps to her own bed.

She was getting closer and closer to the end of her pregnancy. The baby was running out of room in her belly, so she kicked and pushed harshly against Anna's skin, begging for more space.

"I'm sorry," Anna whispered, rubbing against the baby's foot that was stretching her skin. "I do wish things were different." A hot tear slid down her cheek. "But I promise I'll find you a lovely home. You'll be spoiled and loved. Just know that I do love you."

"Anna?" Mary's voice caught her off-guard. She dropped her hand from her belly and glanced up. Mary's lips were set in a worried line. "What's wrong?"

"I'm tired," Anna quietly answered.

"Come on, I'll lie down with you."

Anna nodded and stood. Walking over toward Mary, she took her hand. Then the two of them made their way to their bedroom. Mary insisted that Anna lay down first and she brought the covers up and over Anna. Then she laid down beside her, bringing her hands over her belly.

"It's been nice, to pretend for a while," Anna murmured. Mary's breath was against her cheek and she felt her nod.

"Anna, I…" But Mary stopped herself and buried her face into Anna's hair. "Go to sleep, Anna. The boys will be up soon enough and today is Brigitte's day off."

Anna was too tired to protest and before she knew it, she was asleep.

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

Mary watched Anna with worry, as they made their way back into the house. The entire walk back from the restaurant, Anna had been quiet. She had her cheeks set and her hat covering as much as her head as possible.

When they came inside, Anna placed her coat and hat on the rack and then nodded her head.

"They…they are very kind," Anna finally spoke. "They have money….not that it is what's important…"

"No," Mary agreed, "But the child will be spoiled rotten, it seems. They do seem like good people, Anna. Most importantly, the baby will be loved."

"Y..yes," Anna shakily replied. Mary placed her hands on Anna's shoulders and made Anna met her eyes.

"They really are lovely. She will be so loved."

A tear slid down Anna's cheek, which made Mary's heart contract. She brought her thumb up to wipe away the tear and then bent forward to kiss where the tear had been. She slid her hands to rest on Anna's cheeks and pressed their foreheads together.

"You're doing the best thing for her, Anna," Mary assured her. "That takes all the love in the world."

A gentle sob passed through Anna's lips.

"I…..I hate him," Anna admitted, a surge of sadness and anger leaving her. "Why…why did I go downstairs alone?"

Mary wrapped her arms around Anna, pulling her close.

"It wasn't your fault. He was a horrid and vile man. What he did to you was pure evil. What you are doing is pure and full of love."

Anna didn't respond. She just wept against Mary's shoulder. It was the first time in a long while that she allowed the pain of everything to escape. And that pain was heartbreaking.

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

Anna rolled over in the bed to find Johnny in the middle of her and Mary. At some point in the night he had a nightmare, so Mary just brought him into the bed to sleep. He was now fast asleep with his thumb in his mouth. Johnny never really had been a thumb sucker, except for when he slept.

Inching closer toward him, she ran her fingers over the outline of his face. Many of his features were hers, but there were little sparks of John in him. She could see John's face when Johnny made certain expressions or she could hear his voice when he made certain sounds. Every day, she was so grateful for him. Leaning forward, she kissed his nose.

Her hand came up to the necklace that she wore around her neck. It held the ring John had placed on her finger. Pregnancy had made it too tight to wear, but she still needed it nearby. She needed John with her, especially now.

A cramp came in her lower abdomen and Anna paused.

"No," she whispered. It was too soon. She was supposed to have a couple more weeks. Christmas was just two days away. Her hand splayed over her stomach and she closed her eyes. Maybe it was just Braxton hicks.

She turned and brought her legs to the edge of the bed. She couldn't sleep. There was already some light, as the sun began to rise. George would be up soon enough. As she stood, she felt a rush of water between her legs.

"No!" She now cried.

"Anna?" Mary was up and beside her in an instant. "What's wrong?"

"My….my waters have broken."

Winter 1970

"Anna?"

Anna's eyes popped opened and she saw Mary before her with her brows furrowed.

"You were sleeping, darling. It's almost time to ring her."

"Oh yes," Anna smiled, sitting up on the chair by the window. She glanced down to see the small bonnet she had been crocheting in her hands. For the life of her, she couldn't remember why she was making a baby bonnet.

Mary must have seen the confusion in her eyes, because she carefully took the bonnet and placed it next to her.

"Jack and Linda will love it for the new baby. It's so very special. Now, come on, darling. Let's go and ring her. We need to wish her a happy birthday."

"Yes. I hope she's had a lovely day."

To be continued...