Thank you all! Enjoy!

Chapter 82

Fall 1971

Like clockwork, one of the three children would be at their bedside each morning as Mary and Anna woke up. Mary found it to be less intrusive than she'd been expecting. This morning George helped her up and out of bed, kissing her cheek, and slipping on her slippers. He then walked over to Anna, helping her to sit up. He also kissed Anna's cheek, handing her the morning pill she needed to take.

It was nice not seeing nurses first thing when she woke up, Mary found. While the nurses were still there, she did prefer seeing George, Johnny, or Pippa in the morning. It didn't feel as technical with them. These past few weeks with them taking the brunt of the work over had been a blessing, one Mary never thought she'd need.

"Tonight," Mary began, making her way over next to George. "I want us to have dinner, just the five of us."

"Alright," George said with a smile. "I'll make sure that happens, Mother."

"Where's Johnny?" Anna asked. Her eyes scanned the room. "Is he with Nanny?"

"Yes, darling," Mary soothed, placing her hand on Anna's cheek. "I'll have her bring him down in a little while, alright?"

"I – " Anna's eyes bore into Mary, making her uneasy.

"Aunt Anna, what is your favorite meal?" George broke into the conversation, seeing his mother's distress. "What would you like for dinner?"

"Oh, Mr. Crawley. Why would you ask me such a question? I eat downstairs."

George glanced up at Mary, who let out a slow exhale. Her hands shook before her, but she clasped them together to keep anyone from noticing.

"Not tonight," George continued. "Tonight, it's a special meal. What would you like?"

Anna pondered this question, her brows knitting tightly in confusion of being asked such a thing.

"Cake," she said a moment later. Both George and Mary met eyes before a chuckle left their lips. This didn't deter Anna. "Chocolate cake."

"Well, if that's what you want, that's what you'll have, darling," Mary told her. "George, make sure cake is on the menu for tonight."

"Certainly, Mother." He patted Mary's hand before exiting the library and leaving both Mary and Anna alone for a little while.

Mary sat down on the edge of the bed next to Anna. She gathered Anna's hand within her own, touching the fragile skin. As her eyes searched over Anna's face, her memories went back to when she and Anna still slept upstairs in the Queen Caroline bedroom. She thought of all the years they kept their secret well hidden from the world around them. How was this woman the same woman from before? A tear slipped down her cheek.

"Oh Mary!" Anna said, her free hand reaching out to touch Mary's face. "What's happened, love?"

And just like that, for a moment, Anna would be back to her. Mary shook her head.

"Nothing is the matter, darling. I'm just so glad to be here with you."

1960s – Downton Abbey

They arrived back to Downton with a large welcoming. Johnny and George were there with their families, as well as all of the staff at Downton. They'd been away from the house for nearly half a year, having too much fun seeing the world around them. But they wanted to be back for Christmas. They arrived just a week before the holiday.

"Well, they have returned," Barrow said, assisting Mary as she stepped out of the car. "I thought you two had decided there was a better world outside of Downton."

"Never, Barrow. This will always be home."

Anna came out behind Mary. She held a small package of sweets they'd picked up for the children in New York.

"Pippa said she, Dennis, and the girls will be here tomorrow," Johnny said.

"A lovely Christmas it'll be."

They went inside. The grandchildren had many questions about their trip. Mary and Anna enjoyed telling them their tales about everywhere they'd gone.

"Alright boys, we should let your granny and Aunt Anna rest," Amelia said, patting on her boy's heads for them to stand.

"But I want to hear more about what they found when they were with Aunt Pippa!" Tommy complained.

"We will tell you all about it later this week, but your mother is right, Anna and I are very tired. We've been traveling for over twenty-four hours."

Jack stood next to his cousins. He placed his hands into his pockets.

"Would you let me write about it?"

"About what, darling?" Mary asked.

"Your trips. I want to be a writer."

"Oh," Anna said, grinning. "Well, that sounds like a wonderful aspiration."

"It really does," Mary agreed. "Yes, of course, you can write all about it."

The boys' families left. Mary and Anna went upstairs, ready to go right to bed. Anna slipped out of her dress and then sat down on the bed.

"I did miss our bed."

Mary moved to be next to her lover. She ran her fingers over her bare back. Leaning forward, she kissed her.

"Me too."

Anna laughed.

"I thought we were going to bed."

"We are, doesn't mean we can't enjoy being back in our bed first."

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

Over the next several years, Anna and Mary did a lot of traveling. At least once a year, they'd visit Pippa, Dennis, and their girls wherever they were during that time. Mary even slept in a tent, but only once.

"Even though we've flown plenty, it still makes me nervous," Anna confessed, as they walked onto the plane in Sydney.

"Me too," Mary said. "Something about being up in the air and not falling out of the sky seems unnatural."

They took their seats. No expense was too much when it came to flying for Mary. She always made sure they were comfortable and had anything they wanted at their disposal.

They had several flights to make it back to London. On their way back, they would stop to visit Dennis and Pippa in Tokyo. There, they were doing a presentation.

"Did you ever think we'd be here," Anna asked Mary, as their plane took off.

"No," Mary said. "But I am glad we are."

"Me too."

July 1967

"It's happened! It's happened!"

The front doors of Downton Abbey were opened as all three grandsons ran into the house. Behind them were their fathers, George and Johnny, who both held flowers in their hands.

"What's all this?" Mary asked.

"Where's Mum?" Johnny just asked in return.

"Haven't you heard?" Robbie broke in.

"Heard what? What is going on?"
"Where's Aunt Anna?"

"Out back."

"Let's go to her."

Though Mary had no idea what was going on, she did as her sons and grandsons asked. They walked out back where Anna was sitting and sipping on some fresh lemonade. She glanced up at them all and smiled.

"What is this surprise?"

"Can I?" Jack asked.

"Go on," Mary insisted, just wanting to know what was happening.

"Homosexuality has been decriminalized!"

"What?" Mary breathed. She felt Anna's hand slide into her own.

"When? How?"

"Today, Gran," Jack said. "It's no longer illegal for you to be you, for Mr. Barrow to love who he loves. It's a great day! Can I go tell Mr. Barrow?"

"Yes," Johnny told him. Jack ran off.

Sometimes living at the Abbey, they heard news later than the rest of the world. But today was a good day indeed. Anna stood next to Mary, bringing her arm up and around her waist.

"You should celebrate, go out to dinner."

"Well, even if we won't go to jail, we do still need to be careful," Anna smartly said. "It doesn't mean everyone will accept us."

"But you two go out to dinner all the time," Robbie said. "You don't have to tell anyone what you're celebrating."

"Bright boy." Mary winked. "I say we do go out tonight, darling, and we take Barrow with us. It is a win for him, as well."

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

"To us," Mary said, lifting her glass of wine. Barrow and Anna lifted theirs as well, dinking the sides together. "What will you do now, Barrow?"

"I'm not quite sure," he answered, furrowing his brows. "It took our country long enough to make who I am legal." He lowly growled. "I'm not young anymore."

"You've had love," Anna reminded him.

"Yes, but I never was able to settle down, not like you two. Though I am thankful for having Downton. I was always accepted for who I was, even when I didn't deserve it."

"We can't choose who we are, Barrow. We can't choose how the world will accept us, either, but the world is changing for the better."

Barrow bobbed his head up and down in agreement. He'd been shocked when they invited him out to dinner. Though not everything was done the same as it used to be, there was still little mingling between the staff and the upstairs. Yet, as they sat together, it was as natural as if they did this all the time.

"I think I'm going to retire," Barrow said, surprising them both. "I've worked at Downton for over 50 years. I think it's time I do something for myself."

"While I am happy for you, Barrow, I cannot say we won't miss you. Who would be our butler?"

"I will find someone," Barrow assured her. "And I'll still be around. Downton is my home."

"When will you leave?" Anna asked.

"I'm not sure. But for tonight, we celebrate."

"Yes. We celebrate."

The rest of their dinner was full of a celebration. They ordered bottles of wine and the best food on the menu, staying out until past midnight. Barrow had the driver return him to Downton, but Anna and Mary stayed behind. They got a room at a hotel and went up the stairs.

"What if we get caught?" Anna asked, giggling. Mary closed and locked the door behind them.

"We won't, darling. And if we do, what can they do to us now?"

They sloppily kissed, neither of them drinking this much before. Then they fell on the bed, both laughing heartily.

"Tomorrow, we will not enjoy what we did tonight," Anna said.

"Well, then, we better enjoy it now."

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

As promised, Barrow found them a new butler. He was young, but good at his job. Mr. Michaels became a new part of their family, though Barrow would always remain part of them. And also as he promised, he did come by often.

The final years of the 60s were full of fun for Anna and Mary. They let their guards down even more and continued to enjoy traveling the world. Many in Downton still assumed Mary was just the kind Lady taking care of her former Lady's Maid. They found people liked to believe what they wanted to believe. They surely weren't going to tell them any differently.

"1970," Mary said, shaking her head. "Can you believe it's nearly 1970, darling?"

"No," Anna answered. She scooted closer to Mary in the bed. "We've lived quite a life time, haven't we? We've seen some miraculous things."

"We have." Mary brushed her finger tips over Anna's cheek. "And we have 6 beautiful grandchildren. If you had told me that the first time I told you I loved you, I wouldn't believed all this to be possible."

"Me either."

Mary slid out of the bed. She found it was becoming harder to do; she wasn't as young as she used to be. She walked into the bathroom and started the bath. While water filled the tub, Mary went back out into the bedroom. Anna was gone. Her dress had been lifted from the chair, which made Mary believe she'd gone downstairs to get breakfast.

Mary took her bath, then got herself dressed for the day. This time when she walked back into the bedroom, she found Anna holding an empty tray. Her head was cocked slightly to the side.

"What's this, darling?"

"M'lady, would you like breakfast? I could help you with your hair."

Mary chuckled.

"Oh, are we role playing this morning? Aren't we getting a bit too old for that?"

But Anna didn't laugh.

"M'lady? Is everything alright?"

"Anna, are you alright?" Mary questioned in return. "There's no food on the tray. Is this some sort of joke I'm not getting?"

"Oh my god," Anna said beneath her breath, as she looked down at the tray. "I forgot the food. Please forgive me, m'lady. I'll go back downstairs and ask Mrs. Patmore for –"

"No, it's alright," Mary told her. She walked forward and took the tray from Anna's hands, her body tensing at the realization that this was not teasing. She blinked harshly. "I'm not hungry, Anna. I'm not hungry at all."

To be continued... one last time.