Hello everyone! I cannot believe this story is on chapter 28. And it still has so much more of a story to tell. I am not sure how many more chapters part 2 has, but we are growing closer to the end of it. Thank you for sticking around and I hope you continue to enjoy this little story of mine!


Chapter 28

1920s Downton Abbey

She could feel the callouses of his fingers on her cheeks. Her eyes closed and he leaned forward, kissing her temple. Her hands came over his, holding them tightly. She knew their time was almost up; she knew she would never see him again.

The door opened behind them and her fingers dug deeper into his skin. She began to shake her head. It was too soon. They hadn't had enough time.

"Live, Anna, for me," he whispered once more in her ear. "I love you, my darling."

"I love you," she fervently replied, as they tugged him away from her. She watched, helpless. Her hands reached forward, but then he was gone. A sob escaped her lips.

She began to follow where he had been drug, hoping to find him. But it was winding hallway. There was a loud sound of the gallows. She gasped.

"No!" She quickened her steps. "John!? John!?"

Turning the corner, she bumped into someone. Eagerly, she glanced up. But terror then filled her frame. It wasn't John. It was Alex Green. A scream got stuck in her throat and she felt as his hands grasped at her upper arms.

"Where's my baby?" He asked. She struggled to get away. "Where is she?"

"She's not yours!" Anna was finally able to speak. But she couldn't get out of his grasp. It was too tight.

"She is! I want her back!"

Anna continued to attempt to escape his hold, but he only held on more tightly.

"She is mine, Anna. I will get her. I will take her much like the gallows took your husband. It's what you deserve!"

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

A loud scream woke Mary from her slumber. It was still dark out, so Mary had to flip on the light next to her bed. As she turned to Anna, she saw her thrashing around on the bed. She was still sleeping. Mary carefully touched her shoulder, but Anna just moved away from it and screamed again.

"Anna, darling, it's only a nightmare," she tried to soothe. She was grateful that her voice seemed to be enough to wake Anna from her slumber. Anna quickly sat up, her eyes searching the bedroom.

"Where's Pippa?! He…he's going to get Pippa!"

"Who is?" Mary brushed the matted hair off of Anna's cheek, then she left her hand on her cheek and forced Anna to look at her. "Anna, who is going to get Pippa?"

"Green! He…."

"Shh," Mary murmured, shaking her head. "He is dead, remember?"

A shaky breath passed through Anna's lips, before she covered her face with her hands. She bent forward, bringing her knees up to her chest. Mary decided not to say anything. Instead, she rubbed her hand up and down Anna's back. It seemed to be the best way to calm her when she was upset.

"I'm sorry," Anna said between her fingers. "I didn't mean…"

"It's alright," Mary quickly replied. "You've been here for my nightmares. Do you want to talk about it?"

Slowly, Anna sat up. She combed her fingers through her hair and then began twisting a strand with her finger.

"I dreamt of John first…of his…death," Anna covered her mouth with her hands. "You know today is the anniversary of his death."

"Well, that's probably why you dreamt that. It has been on your mind all week," Mary told her. Anna merely nodded. "But what has that got to do with Mr. Green?"

"Then he was there, asking for Pippa…saying he was going to take her away from me. All of it felt so real."

Anna brought her arms around her knees, hugging them to her chest, before resting her head on top of her knees and looking up at Mary.

"I think today I'd like to go to John's grave. I want to take Johnny and Pippa. I'd like John to meet Pippa."

At that, Mary smiled. Her fingers continued their path up and down Anna's back. She found when they were close to one another, her fingers always ached to be touching Anna. It was hardest when they were around others and she had to keep her hands to herself. Anna still hadn't told her that she loved her back, but that was fine with Mary. Mary didn't need the words to know how Anna felt. There was just something special there and they both knew it. If there wasn't, the two of them wouldn't be risking things by sleeping in the same room together or spending so much time with one another.

"That's a wonderful idea," Mary said. "We can all go this afternoon, say we're going on a picnic. I'll take George to visit Matthew." She glanced over at the small clock by her bed and saw it was four in the morning. "Should we try to get some more sleep?"

Anna laid down in response and brought her hand up to Mary's cheek. She stroked the skin and smiled.

"Just for a little while longer. I have to be up shortly."

"One day, you won't have to," Mary promised.

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

When Mary walked into her father's study, she immediately felt a shift in the air. Her father was standing impatiently, as though he had been in that exact position since he sent Carson to find her.

"Yes, Papa?"

"Mary," he greeted. "We must discuss what possessed you to bring home a child with you from Paris."

Mary inhaled sharply. She should not have been surprised that this was where the conversation went. This was likely not the last time Mary would hear about it. She knew she had taken a big chance by bringing Pippa home with her. But she didn't care. Pippa was Anna's child and she would always choose her over what others expected of her as the eldest Crawley daughter.

"I already told you, Papa. She was an orphan who needed a home," Mary easily responded. "Much like Sybil said, we have so much, why shouldn't we share it with someone who needs it?"

Her father shook his head.

"It's a beautiful sentiment, Mary. However, do you not see how this can ruin your chances for future suitors?"

"Who says I want a future suitor? I did my duty. I gave you an heir. I don't want to marry again. I want to help George be who he was born to be and raise Pippa with all the love in the world."

"While you spend your days with Anna and her son," Robert added pointedly.

"Yes," Mary simply agreed. "Anna is my friend, Papa. Bates meant an awful lot to you, didn't he? Didn't you promise to care for Anna? And with that, it extends to Johnny, too?"

"Well, yes, but Mary, don't you see how this looks. There has to be a certain…."

"A certain what?" Mary countered. Her father heavily sighed, frustrated.

"Anna is a lovely person, Mary. She has helped pull you from the darkness when Matthew died and been a great help with George, as well. That all goes without saying. We will always provide a home for her and her son, but we must be careful about those types of relationships. Bates was my friend, but we knew how to keep the boundaries that society has put in place."

"Maybe it is time for a change, Papa. Anna is more than a friend to me. She is like the sister I never had."

"Mary, you have two sisters."

"I said the sister I never had," Mary added. Her father rolled his eyes.

"Fine, I'll leave the business with Anna alone, for now. But I do have to implore that you think more on this child you have brought to our home. Do you really think it is best for your future, for George's?"

"I do," Mary stated. "It is wonderful for George. He gets to grow up with a sister. He gets to know that love comes in all forms, not just from blood."

"Mary, be reasonable. Don't you want George to have a father?"

"He does."

"I mean one that is here, who can be a father figure to him."

"Papa, I won't be remarrying. I think it is best I tell you that now. And I won't be sending Pippa anywhere either."

Her father tightened his jaw.

"Mary…."

"I am going on a picnic with Anna and the children. We will be back way before the gong."

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

Anna shifted the baby in her arms, before bending down to touch John's grave stone. It was small, but it was here. Her hand pressed against it and she closed her eyes, imagining him beside them. She had missed these visits. Before they left for Paris, Anna and Johnny visited his grave often. While they were there, Anna would tell Johnny a story about his father. The little boy always listened intently and then would touch the grave and tell John that he loved him. It was always a special part of their week.

"Hi Daddy!" Johnny brightly said. Anna opened her eyes to find Johnny's little hand next to hers. She smiled at him, placing her hand over his.

"Hi John," she then whispered. "This is Pippa."

"Our baby!" Johnny added.

"Yes, our baby." She had so much she needed to tell him, but she knew he knew. Any time she was near his grave, she could feel his presence strongly around her. At first, she had thought he would have been ashamed of what had happened to her and the child that came from that terrible night. But Anna finally realized that Mary had been right. John would have loved this little girl as his own. They would have been a family.

"There are so many things I wish we could do," Anna whispered to the grave. "But I know you watch over us. And I know you would approve of our happiness, even though it isn't conventional. You would want me happy."

"And me!" Johnny exclaimed.

"Yes, my darling, and you," Anna kissed his cheek.

They remained there for a little while longer, before Anna glanced at John's grave one more time, kissed her fingers, and pressed them against the stone. Then she stood and took Johnny's hand.

Her eyes searched over the cemetery and she found that Mary and George were already over by the front. She smiled and waved. Johnny copied her, before rushing in front to get to Mary and George.

"Aunt Mary! Did you visit Mr. Matthew?"

"I did," Mary answered him with a smile.

"We visited Daddy. He said hello!" Anna furrowed her brows, wondering if it was her son's imagination. She patted her head and liked to imagine that John really could speak with Johnny during these visits.

They walked back toward the big house and Anna asked Mary if she could take Pippa to meet Mrs. Hughes.

"Anna, she is your daughter, you don't have to ask me such things," Mary chuckled.

"But I do. We have to be careful about how we do things here. It isn't like Paris. Here, we have eyes on us at all times."

Mary brought her arm around Anna's shoulders and pulled her closer, kissing the shell of her ear.

"We will be." She then dropped her arm and allowed distance between them, as they grew closer to the home. "You can take all the children downstairs, say I asked you to get George a snack and then take the children to Nanny. That will give you a good enough excuse."

They made it to the house and Anna followed along with the plan. She first handed the boys over to Ms. Patmore for a snack and then found Mrs. Hughes in her parlor.

"Oh Anna!" Mrs. Hughes happily gasped. "She's beautiful! Look at that hair!"

"Here," Anna handed Mrs. Hughes the baby girl. Mrs. Hughes fell in love in an instant. She cooed at the little girl and rocked her gently.

"I am so glad Lady Mary came up with a plan so you could bring her home," Mrs. Hughes said, her eyes still on the little girl.

"Me too. I don't know what I would do without her."

Winter 1970

On Boxing Day, the family had an informal breakfast in the library. They had a table set up with food that everyone could just grab what they wanted to eat. It was their way of having a simple morning before everyone headed back to their own homes.

This particular Boxing Day, it was snowing outside. Violet kept asking her mother if she could please go and play outside.

"Soon," Mary told her with a wink. The little girl happily clapped and ran over to be next to her sisters. Mary then reached over and gave Anna's knee a squeeze. "Are you having a nice morning with the family, darling?"

"Yes, Molly," Anna answered. Mary sat back.

"Gran! That's Mary!" Violet giggled. "You know that!"

But Anna just blinked and asked, "Who is Mary?"

Mary felt as though the world was spinning around her. She quickly stood and exited the room. The tears were relentless, building up behind her eyes and threatening to escape.

"Mother," George was next to her.

"It's happened. She's…she's forgotten me. I…I'm really going to lose her," Mary cried. It was rare her children got to see this vulnerable side from her. George didn't flinch though and he brought her into his arms.

"She's just confused. She'll remember you soon," he promised her. But Mary knew that this was a sign of the end to come.

"I don't know how to live in a world without her, George."


To be continued...

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