Hello everyone! Here is the beginning of the 5th and final installment of If Love Finds You Worthy. Don't worry, this part has to go through three decades. So it will not be a short part. There is a lot of love, happiness, new characters to love, and some sadness too still on its way. As always, thank you so much for reading and keeping up with this story for so long.

Part 5

Chapter 65

Fall 1971

With a tip of his hat, Jack walked past the butler and into the family home. He entered the comprehensive library before pulling down his hat off the top of his head. His lips curled up as he walked over toward his Gran, kissing her cheek. She was now bedridden, too ill to move about throughout the day. But every day, his Auntie Mary made sure they took her around in a wheelchair in the gardens or around the house if the weather outside was unyielding.

"How are you today, Gran?" His words were soft. He brushed his hand along her cheek. She blinked up at him.

"Her light is fading." Jack's smile fell. Over in the corner sat his Aunt Mary, reading a book. She never left his gran's side. She always was there. "How are you Auntie?"

"Tired." Her tight voice gave way to tears she refused to let fall. Jack moved toward her, taking a seat beside her.

"Are you up for telling me more about your story? We're nearly at the war."

"Oh the war," Mary said. Her hand clutched over her heart. "Dreadful thing."

"Dad and Uncle George served."

Mary nodded. Her eyes hooded over at the memory.

"Your gran and I were so frightened. We had seen what happened in the first war. So many dead. But we didn't show it to our boys. We wanted to let them know how proud we were of them."

1940s- Downton Abbey

A brush of her hand over his shoulder and a tight smile were all Mary could do in order not to burst into terrified tears. She quirked up the side of her lips, giving George a proud nod.

"I'll be alright," George promised. He was tall with nice broad shoulders. He had his father's smile, but her intense stare. Also, her stubbornness. She hoped it served him well out there in the trenches.

"Of course you'll be alright, you are your father's son." Mary tightened her lips. Her eyes moved over to where Anna said her goodbyes to Johnny. Anna spoke just as stoically, but Mary did not miss the pain in her lover's eyes.

She grabbed George's hand, not caring that he was now grown at eighteen years old, forcing him over towards Anna, Johnny, and Pippa.

"I am proud of you," Anna told Johnny. Her hand lingered on his upper arm. Johnny stood even taller than George. Even though he looked so much like Anna, he had inherited that height from his father.

"Mum, I will be fine." Johnny's strong voice reminded Mary just how grown he now was. The war pulled him from university. He would have to wait until he returned to finish his plans. The war was putting everything on hold. Mary swallowed hard. Everything was reminiscent of before.

"Both of our boys will be just fine," Mary said. She patted Johnny's arm.

"How long will you be gone?" Pippa finally spoke up. Her dark lashes settled on her cheeks when she closed her eyes. They now were covered with distinct water droplets. Despite how much she acted as though she was unaffected by this, clearly she worried for both of her brothers.

"We don't know." George adjusted his hat on his head. "We are there as long as they need us."

"Or until you die," Pippa murmured.

"We aren't dying." Johnny winked at Pippa. He touched her cheek, forcing her to look at him. "You think George would let you live a life without him tormenting you?"

"She's the one who torments me," George said. Pippa looked between her brothers. A small, uneasy laugh left her lips.

Mary continued to observe their children. As always, Johnny helped to ease the tension on whatever was going on. George and Pippa picked at one another, but the love for each other held them close. She pondered how they would be without one another for potentially years. Sure, the two studied at different schools, but now war would hold them apart in a different, unsettling way. They were nothing like her and Edith. Their bond was strong, all three of them.

Pippa quickly wrapped her arms around both of her brothers' necks. She buried her face between theirs. Her shoulders shook with the weight of the future. The boys placed their hands on her back and held her tightly for a moment.

Mary stood with Anna, watching their children say their goodbyes. It nearly caused Mary's stoic stance to fade; she felt the tears stinging behind her eyelids. Taking in a shaky breath, she forced them away. Anna's hand took hers, giving it a squeeze before dropping back to her side.

The children pulled away from one another. Pippa kissed both of their cheeks, whispering something in each of their ears before rushing off next to Anna. Now was time for their goodbyes.

Anna gave George a hug as Mary did the same to Johnny before they both pulled their boys to the side.

"Here," Mary said. She drew the small stuffed dog out of her bag, handing it to George. George furrowed his brows.

"I'm much too old for that, Mother." George glanced around him. Mary pressed it into his hand.

"It brought your father luck and now it will bring you luck. He would want you to take it with you."

George's lips faltered as he brought the small dog to his chest. His fingers ran over the top before letting out a shaky breath.

"I'll come home," he promised.

"Of course you will. You and Johnny both."

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

The ride back to the Abbey felt long and quiet. Without the boys, Pippa stared out the window. Anna did the same. She sat up front as required by her position at the home. But she wished she could be in back with Mary and Pippa, holding their hands. A heaviness sat on her chest. Their boys were off to war.

As they reached the house, Anna got out of the car. She waited for both Mary and Pippa. Lord and Lady Grantham stood by the front doors waiting to hear how dropping George off at the station went. Taking this as her cue, Anna walked around to the back of the house. She would speak to Mary later.

When she entered the back door, sounds of laughter filled the air. The stark contrast to what happened just a while ago pierced at her heart, but she moved forward. Life did not pause because her son and George were off to war.

"Cookies!" an excited voice yelled. Anna moved forward near the sound coming from the kitchens. Turning, she saw it was full of the five children the house had taken in from the blitz in London. Two sets of siblings sent to them to keep for an unknown amount of time.

While it was a change, it was nice to have younger children in the house again. The children ranged from five to ten.

"Mrs. Bates," the eldest said. She shushed the other children.

"It's alright," Anna said. She winked at them all. "Enjoy your treat."

Treats were a rarity nowadays. The children smiled brightly, each taking one cookie from the small pile. The smallest child, a little boy, walked over towards Anna. He snapped his cookie in half, offering her it.

"No, you keep it."

"But you need some too," the little boy said. Anna bent down to his level. Even though he looked nothing like her Johnny, he reminded her of him. Her hand brushed through his bright red locks.

"You need it. You're a growing boy. Now, listen to your sister." Anna stood. "Once you've eaten, back upstairs to the nursery. The nanny is probably wondering where you are."

All the children nodded in agreement. They took big bites from the cookies, happy moans escaping from their lips.

Anna went towards the parlor, only to find Thomas standing in her doorway. She twisted her lips.

"Mr. Barrow?"

"Ah, Mrs. Bates." He always punctuated her title since the day her name in the house changed. "How did this morning go?"

Anna's face softened. Thomas always had a soft spot for the children.

"It went well." But Anna's chest was tight. Her eyes sore from trying not to cry.

"Good. Now, Nanny had some requests."

"Nanny?" Anna chuckled slightly. The newest nanny hired for the children they cared for felt she held more power than she did.

"Yes," Thomas clipped.

"I'll handle her."

"M…" Pippa ran down the hallway. Upon seeing Thomas, she changed her words. "Um, Anna, could you help me with my hair?"

"Isn't there a bell for that?" Thomas picked on Pippa. Pippa's eyes did her mother's distinguishable roll. "And you know her title is Mrs. Bates now, correct?" Again, he received an eye roll.

"I will be up shortly," Anna promised. Pippa eyed Thomas, then her mama, before turning back around to head up the stairs.

"How is she handling not being able to leave for university?"

"Better than expected," Anna answered. A top university in London accepted Pippa. However, with the war and the blitz, she would have to remain home for the next semester. Both Mary and Anna were secretly searching for other universities in safer areas where their daughter could attend. But they did not want to say anything to anyone in case Pippa got her hopes up and then it did not work out.

"Good. Now, this party."

"It's only a dinner party. Just a few guests," Anna explained.

"How many exactly?"

"I'll check my notes."

"Alright."

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

Sometimes Pippa hated her hair. Its unruly curls made it difficult to comb, so most of the time she would draw it up into a bun in order to keep from dealing with it. Her mama, however, could do amazing things with her hair. She knew just how to twist, pull, and comb her curls into beautiful styles.

Her mama said when she noticed the curls coming on top of Pippa's hair, she learned how to care for it. Pippa knew she, too, should learn. At boarding school, her headmistress always complained about her messy hair.

"Mama," Pippa said, glancing up through the mirror. Anna's fingers were twirling a piece of her hair. She slowly unraveled it next to Pippa's cheek. The curl bounced.

"Yes?"

"Are you sad?"

Through the mirror, Pippa saw her mama falter slightly on her feet. Then she glanced up to meet Pippa's eyes in the mirror.

"A little."

"Worried?"

"Yes." Anna sighed. "But we have to have faith that both Johnny and George will be alright."

Pippa turned on her stool to face her mama.

"I think they will be, but I am going to miss them. I…" Her lower lip betrayed her and trembled. "I want them to come home." Suddenly, and without warning, a sob left her lips. She felt her mama pull her into a hug, clinging to her. A kiss came on top of her head before her mama rubbed her back lovingly.

"Me too, darling, me too." Anna's whispers were comforting. With a sniffle, Pippa sat herself back up, wiping her cheeks with her hands.

"Must I go to the dinner party tonight?"

Anna smiled.

"You'd have to ask your mother that one."

Pippa let out a huff.

"She'll say yes."

"Then it's a yes." Anna winked. "Now, come on. I need to finish your hair."

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

Darkness settled in the bedroom before Anna arrived. Mary flicked on the light and sat up in the bed. She drew her hands toward Anna; Anna's hands met hers in the middle. Mary pulled her to the bed, drawing her into her arms. They sat still in the silence.

"We've made it one day," Mary whispered.

"Half a day," Anna corrected with a wry smile.

"Fine. You win." Mary's hand moved to the back of Anna's head to pull out the pins in her hair, making Anna's locks fall down over her shoulders. She then placed her forehead against Anna's, taking in a steady breath. Anna clutched Mary's hand.

"They will be alright. They will come home."

Mary met Anna's eyes.

"They will. They must. There is no other option."

"I agree," Anna whispered. A stray tear slid down her cheek. Mary kissed it away.

"Come on, darling. It's time to try to sleep. We will write them in the morning."

To be continued...