Thank you all!
Chapter 76
1940s- Downton Abbey
"Lady Mary," a voice said in quiet hushed tones, pushing on her shoulder. Mary groaned, hiding her head further into her covers. "Lady Mary!" The voice became more insistent. She jerked up, realizing someone other than Anna was in her room. Were they found out?
As her eyes tried to adjust to the darkness in the room, she just made out a figure standing before her. A scream left her lips.
"Mary?" Anna's quiet voice came beside her, as her hand came around her.
"Who are you?" Mary demanded. As the face came closer, she calmed. It was Barrow. "Mr. Barrow?" That was when she noticed he held a smaller figure in his arms. He placed the figure down onto the bed. "Jack?"
"Johnny is outside in a car. He's had to rush Molly to the hospital, something with the babies. He asked if I'd get Mrs. Bates. Sorry to be the one to wake you, I just worried if anyone else…"
"No, you were right," Mary said. She turned to see Anna had fallen back asleep. "Anna, darling. You need to wake up."
"Gran!" Jack exclaimed. He jumped between them, forcing Anna to jump up.
"Thank you, Barrow. Please tell Johnny that Anna will be there shortly."
"Yes, m'lady."
He slipped out of the room just as quietly as he had entered. Anna adjusted Jack in her lap, running her fingers through his dark hair.
"You need to go, darling. Johnny is waiting for you in the car. I'll keep Jack with me. He's had to rush Molly to the hospital."
Anna's eyes widened. She kissed Jack's cheek before setting him down onto the bed and quickly getting up and out of the bed.
"And don't fret about Jack or me, alright? Just ring me when you can to let me know what's going on."
"I will," Anna promised. She finished getting dressed then dashed out of the room.
Jack looked to Mary, unsure of what all was going on. Mary checked the time. It was only two in the morning.
"Why don't you lay down?" She suggested.
Jack did as he was told, laying down on Anna's side of the bed. He plopped his thumb into his mouth. Mary reached over to brush his hair off his cheeks and then rub his back.
"That's a good boy. We'll play in the morning."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Time stood still. Anna kept going between worrying about Molly and worrying about her son, who stood helpless. They'd run Molly back for emergency surgery. Anna hated that she was back there, all alone. It made her heart ache, wishing she could be there to hold her hand.
"Why don't we sit," she suggested to her son.
"I can't." Tears were in his eyes.
"Mr. Bates?"
They turned to see the doctor now standing before them. His eyes were grim.
"Doctor?"
"I'm afraid your wife was losing a lot of blood. We had to perform a cesarean section. But it was too late, neither of the babies survived."
A loud gasp escaped Johnny's lips. He fell forward slightly. Anna took hold of his arm to both comfort and steady him.
"My wife?"
"She is still very weak. We had to perform a hysterectomy to save her life. She will not be able to have any more children."
"Will she…." Johnny paused, his breath catching in his throat. "Will she be alright?"
"She will," the doctor assured him. "She's awake now, but still very weak. Would you like to see her?"
"Yes."
Johnny grabbed onto his mother's hand. Anna knew she couldn't leave his side. She wiped her face, realizing she too had been crying. They were both led down the hall until they reached the hospital room where Molly laid. Her eyes were closed. Johnny let go of Anna's hand to go to his wife. Anna remained at the door, not wanting to intrude in their time.
"Johnny?" Molly croaked.
"I'm here," he murmured. "I'm here."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"What do we think?" Mary asked Jack, bouncing him up on her hip. "Shall we go for a walk through the gardens? Or go downstairs to see what is being made in the kitchens?"
Jack tapped his cheek with his finger as he thought about it.
"Gardens!"
"Good pick," Mary brightly said.
Her thoughts, however, were with Anna, Johnny, and Molly. She'd just received the news about the babies. Two baby girls born sleeping. Anna informed her that Johnny and Molly were being given time with their girls to hold them. Mary couldn't imagine the pain they were facing. So for now, she could give Jack all the love in the world while his parents faced this tragedy.
"We could have one of the maids come up and watch him," Cora said, as she entered the room. Mary adjusted the boy in her arms.
"No, he's fine here with me. We're having a grand time, aren't we, darling?" She asked Jack, who eagerly nodded.
"It is a tragedy, what happened," Cora said with a frown.
"It is. Anna will need time off to help as Molly gets better," Mary said. She didn't care that she'd called her Anna instead of Mrs. Bates. Her mother seemed not to even notice.
"Of course, she will."
"I am going to go down to the hospital and visit in a little while. George and Amelia will keep Jack."
"Will you take a gift from us? Some desserts from the kitchens or something of the sort they may like?"
"I will."
Cora gave her a nod before disappearing around the corner. Over time, Mary had noticed her mother becoming more comfortable with Johnny and Anna's place in her life where they were more than just servants and close to Mary as friends. It seemed in her older age, she began to care less about where everyone stood in society. Of course, the world was changing around them. And George was already learning the ropes of becoming the Earl in the future. He was married to a bright woman and already had his own child on the way, the next Earl in line.
"Let's go to the gardens," Mary said, looking at Jack. "Then you're going to play with Uncle George and Aunt Amelia. How does that sound?"
"Hooray!"
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
In the dark corner at the hospital, Mary held Anna as she cried.
"They were so little," Anna whispered, looking up at her. "So tiny. It isn't fair."
"No, darling," Mary murmured, brushing her hair out of her face. "It's not."
"They said Molly will have to say here a few days. I doubt Johnny will want to leave her side."
"Of course. Jack is just fine with me. He's having a ball at the big house. You stay as long as you need."
"I'm not sure how to help them, Mary," Anna cried. Mary nodded.
"But you are, by being here. It will take time for them to heal, and this is not something they will ever truly get over. We'll do whatever we can for them."
"Yes," Anna said quietly. "I should get back. Do you want to come?"
"I've already seen them. I think it's best I allow it just to be the three of you for now, darling. I love you."
"I love you too," Anna said with a sniffle.
Making sure no one was around them, Mary quickly gave Anna a loving kiss. She then squeezed her hand.
"The best thing you can do for them is just be there when they need you and step away when they need time to themselves."
"Yes."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-
On a warm spring day, Ruth and Judith Bates were laid to rest in the cemetery next to their grandfather, John Bates. The ceremony for the twin girls was small and intimate. Molly and Johnny sat up front, holding hands. Anna held Jack behind them. Mary, George, and Amelia sat beside her. Lord and Lady Grantham, as well as the staff at Downton all came to show their support.
After the ceremony ended, Johnny thanked everyone for coming, but Molly remained hidden away in the car. It was far too much for her to interact with the guests. Anna and Mary still kept Jack. Molly needed more time to heal both emotionally and physically. And Johnny, who was also grieving, needed to be able to be there for his wife while he wasn't at work.
"Your father will take great care of them," Anna said, touching Johnny's shoulder. Jack reached out for his father. Johnny lifted him up, holding him to his chest.
"I know he will."
"Would you like me to come over later? Help with the house?"
Johnny shook his head.
"Molly wants it to just be us tonight. I can manage the housework. She does miss Jack, though. Perhaps, you can bring him back home tomorrow? Though she may need your help to manage him until I can get home."
"Yes, I can do that," Anna said. "I can do whatever you both want."
"Thank you."
Anna gave her son a hug and took her grandson back. The little boy fussed, wanting to stay with his father.
"You'll get to go home tomorrow and see your mama," Anna promised him. He smiled at that, resting his head back on Anna's shoulder. "Why don't we go back to the big house and take a nap?"
He didn't answer. His eyes were already drifting closed.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
For the months following the loss, both Mary and Anna noticed a shift in Molly. She'd understandably become withdrawn and quiet. They assisted her in every way they could, taking Jack for overnights, bringing food, or sending someone over to help clean the house. Johnny was more stoic, but he, too, was heartbroken.
"You've been such strength," Anna told him one evening, handing her son a cup of tea. "Molly has needed you to be, but with me, you don't have to be."
Johnny took the cup and took a small tip. He sat it down beside him and let out a low sigh.
"I know," he murmured. "But I have to hold on a bit longer for her. I'm afraid if I give into the sadness, it will overwhelm me. I can't allow that to happen. She's struggling every day."
Anna frowned. She reached over, touching her son's hand.
"I'll be your strength, while you are hers, my dear son. Oh, how your father would be so proud of you," Anna said. "He always put me first above him, like you do for Molly."
"I love her," Johnny said simply, his hand tremoring beneath Anna's.
"I know you do. It will take time for you both to feel like yourselves again. You'll always carry your girls in your hearts."
Johnny nodded. He took another sip of his tea.
"Thank you," he said. "I should probably check in on Jack and Molly. Do you need a ride back to the Abbey?"
"No," Anna answered. "I have one. Thank you." She stood, bending over to kiss his cheek. "I'll be back by tomorrow."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Spring turned into summer. And like most of life, sweet came with the bitterness. A few months after the loss of the twins, Robert Matthew Crawley (Robby) was born. The house celebrated the arrival of the next heir. Lord Grantham was especially proud of his great-grandson, also his namesake.
Just a little over a year after that, Thomas Reginald Crawley (Tommy) came, playfully called the spare by some. He was also the favorite of Barrow, who had been surprised that the baby was named after him.
"Not sure why," Mary said with a smile. "You and George have always been close."
Barrow only nodded. Mary slipped back down into her bedroom. Most of the staff now were safe for Anna and herself. They only really had to be careful around her parents. She quite enjoyed no longer having to worry as much.
"Hi," Anna said, already in bed.
"Hello."
"How's Amelia settling?"
"Tired, but she's doing well." Mary slid into the bed next to Anna. She brought her arm around her shoulder.
"I love you."
"And I love you, darling."
Fall 1971
"Here," Robby said, handing Mary a cup of tea. "Where is Aunt Anna?"
"She's sleeping," Mary answered.
"Oh," he said disappointed.
Johnny walked into the room, giving Robby a nod. He joined the two of them.
"I must go." Robby stood. "But I'll come back tomorrow."
Robbie left the room, leaving Johnny and Mary alone. Mary noticed the look on Johnny's face, a look of longing.
"You think of them whenever you look at Robby, don't you?"
"I do. I think about how they would be his age now." He shook his head. "How are you doing today?"
"Me? I'm always doing just fine. You don't have to worry about me." Mary waved her hand in the air.
"You haven't had any more spells?"
"No," Mary lied.
"Well, that's good. You're strong for her," Johnny said. "You don't have to lie to me, Aunt Mary. I'll be strong for you, while you're strong for her."
"I love her," Mary said.
"I know. And we love you. Let us be your strength, alright?"
Mary gave a small nod.
"Oh alright. But I promise, I'm fine."
"Mum is right, you are stubborn."
Mary chuckled and shrugged her shoulders. Johnny placed a kiss on the top of her head.
"I'm going to check in on Mum. Don't overdo it. You need your rest as well."
"Of course." She touched his cheek. "You make your mother proud, you know? Us both proud."
"I do." He smiled. "Now, rest."
"I will. I promise."
To be continued...
Next we will be in 1950s. ;)
