London, England – Present Day

It took everything John had in him to stop his jaw hitting his chest at the sight of her. Instead he forced, almost mechanically, his arm out so his hand could extend in Anna's direction. "It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Smith."

"And you, Mr. Bates." She met his hand, shaking it as stiffly as he did hers. "I didn't expect the Prime Minister to find someone."

"No?"

"No." Anna shrugged, "He's looked for someone who could meet my… particular requirements for awhile and come up short every time."

"I can't imagine I'm the only one capable of doing this job."

"I don't know about that but I do know that I'm in a bit of a… delicate situation." Anna withdrew her hand. "But the Prime Minister says he trusts you with his life and… And that's good enough for me."

"I'll do everything I can to be worthy of that recommendation." John shuffled in place a moment, "It'll be my pleasure to be your PPO, Ms. Smith."

"Then I should ask that you call me 'Anna' since I'm not going to last our entire time together if you're always calling me 'Ms. Smith'." Anna forced a smile and shifted her weight as her fingers tugged at one another. "But the Prime Minister said you… You're one of the best."

"I've been known to give it my all."

"All the way to giving his leg for a cause." Robert missed the glared John sent his way as he checked his watch. "But that's not for me to explain as I've another meeting. However-"

Robert looked between Anna and John. "I hope you'll keep me informed."

"We'll do our best." John nodded at him and waited until Robert left the room before turning to Anna. "Do you mind if we sit?"

"I'd prefer it." Anna retook her seat and John sat across from her. "I'm glad to see you're still alive. And in one piece."

"Two pieces, actually." John offered a shrug at Anna's confusion. "Robert wasn't joking about me giving my leg."

"You're…" Anna frowned and then her mouth formed into an 'O' when John tugged up his trouser leg to show her the carbon fiber prosthetic. "How'd… How'd you lose it?"

"Poor medical care and a lack of access to it." John let his trouser leg fall. "It's the cost of doing my business. Or it was… Until they…"

"Did they fire you?"

"We parted on poor terms, we'll put it that way." John waved off the impending comments. "It's over and done with."

"Not as over as we'd both wish it was since we're here now." Anna snorted a laugh, "And you're protecting me again."

"But the circumstances are very different."

"Vera still seems to want me dead."

"But we're not out in the bush this time."

"No." Anna allowed herself a little smile. "We can both be grateful for that."

"Yes we can." John let out a breath, "I am glad to see you're well."

"As much as I can be." Anna shifted in her seat, "And I'm glad you're well too. They wouldn't tell me anything about your status but I did wonder."

"It's a security clearance thing."

"I figured."

"But…" John interlaced his fingers as his elbows rested on his knees. "Talbot told me, when I was finally conscious enough to register visitors and actually speak without gibbering, that he'd gotten you out."

"He did."

"It wasn't too much of a struggle then?"

"It was what it was." Anna shrugged off John's confusion. "I was running for my life through the bush. My expectations weren't very high to begin with."

"But he found you?"

"He was exactly where you said he'd be." Anna chewed the inside of her cheek, "I owe you my life, John."

"No, you don't."

"I truly do."

"It wasn't anything that…" John coughed, "You don't owe me anything."

"But I do." Anna swallowed and adjusted her weight in her seat. "You put yourself on the line to get me out of there and… It meant the world to me."

"You…" John shook his head. "You should never've been in that situation in the first place."

"No, but you didn't have to help get me out of that situation and yet you got me to safety all the same." Anna offered him a sad smile. "I'll be forever grateful for that and I don't have the words to express how grateful I am."

"Be that as it may, I should've…" John's fingers dug into the material of his chair, plucking at the leather edge. "I should've protected you better."

"You saved my life."

"But Green still got close and…" John closed his eyes and shook his head. "And Vera got away… again. I failed."

"I don't agree."

"To be honest, it doesn't matter if you agree. The truth is that I almost lost someone else to Green and that…" John shuddered, "It was like losing Joseph all over again and I… I couldn't live with myself if that happened."

"Joseph?"

"Joseph Moseley, my partner." John swallowed, "When Vera mentioned Kabul to Green, it was the first time I'd seen him react to anything."

"I remember you saying that." Anna teethed her lip. "Did you ever find out what it meant?"

"I found out what it meant to him."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that Vera told me how Green got impulsive there during an operation and raped someone."

"That's horrible."

"It gets worse."

"Worse?"

John nodded. "Because of what Green did, they burned down a village and killed everyone there to cover it up." John clenched his jaw, "I'd never heard the story from that side of it and… And it put it all into a bit of perspective."

"You'd never heard it from that side?" Anna frowned, "What does that mean?"

"I was in Kabul, when Vera was there."

"Were you with Vera's group then?"

"No," John shook his head. "I wasn't working for her when I was there. I was in Kabul for other reasons."

"Other reasons?"

"My former job related reasons."

"Oh." Anna nodded as John gave her a grimace. After a moment she spoke again, "Is Kabul… Is that where you lost your partner?"

John nodded but did not say more. Another moment passed and Anna asked a question, her voice soft. "How did you lose him?"

"I… It was…"

"You don't have to say if you-"

"No," John swallowed and Anna stopped, "You deserve to know. After all we've been through, it'd be nice to tell you something about myself that's true and not classified."

"It would be nice to get to know you better." Anna offered him a little smile, "Especially since we're going to be working pretty closely together."

"It'll be good to not have it be so tense between us." John dry-washed his hands. "Not like last time."

"This'll be a lot different from last time."

"I'm aim to make it that way." John let out a breath, "But, as far as Kanul goes… The parts I can say, anyway, Joseph and I were there, doing some local work. On the ground stuff that had us working real close with the local population."

"Anything specific?"

"Mostly trying to suss out what Vera and her people were doing in the region."

"Why was she there?"

"We never really worked out the specifics but we were worried that they'd get in with the Taliban or some other local warlord to access poppy fields to make themselves a heroin trade."

"To go with the rest of her drug trafficking?"

"Make a more secure backbone to it more like." John let out a puff of air. "We'd been sniffing around for weeks without much luck so that day I'd left to do some work in the mountains, following up on the few leads we had, while Joseph stayed back at the village. And when I got back…"

"He was dead?"

"They were all dead." John fidgeted in his seat. "I was the only one to walk away from the ruin."

They were silent a moment before Anna spoke. "I'm so sorry."

"So was I." John took a breath, held it, and then released it slowly. "And I'm… I'm sorry, for what Green did to you."

"You don't have to be sorry about that."

"Don't I?"

"What could you possibly be sorry about where…" Anna swallowed, "Where that's concerned?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop it."

"It's not your fault."

"I could've done more."

"No, you couldn't have." Anna sat straighter. "And neither could I… although it took me an awful lot of therapy to say that about myself."

"But you can say it?"

Anna nodded, "I thought… for awhile, that I should've fought harder, struggled longer, helped you but… But I didn't. And, after awhile, I realized there wasn't anything I could do." She took a deep breath, "So when I say it's not your fault I mean it. It wasn't you fault or my fault or anyone's fault but Green's. He made a choice and that's on him."

"Until I broke his back and neck."

"I believe in an afterlife where he'll have to answer for what he did." Anna's fingers twisted as she tugged them and then settled when she released a deep breath. "And that'll have to suffice for me whenever I wonder if he's got justice for what he did."

John chewed the inside of his cheek a moment. "Are you… Are you alright?"

"All things considered?"

"Or as many things as you're willing to consider I guess."

Anna was quiet a moment before shrugging one shoulder. "I don't think I'll ever be 'alright' the way I was, before it happened, but I'm better now than I was then so that's something." She took a breath, "And I'm a survivor, not a victim, so that's something else."

"It is."

Anna nodded her agreement, "It is indeed."

"I'm sorry I had to…" John swallowed, "I'm sorry I had to leave you like that when I did. I couldn't… I couldn't save you by staying but I wish I hadn't… I wish I hadn't just sent you off into the bush with… With a wing and a prayer."

"The prayers I said were enough and the wings you gave me worked just fine."

"All the same…" John struggled for words and then shook his head. "I'm sorry. I wish it could've been different."

"It wasn't perfect but it was the choice between two horrible options." Anna shrugged, "You did what you could and that was enough."

"It wasn't enough."

"You killed Green and that…" Anna released some of the tension in her shoulders. "And that helped me sleep a bit easier to night."

"But it didn't really fix anything. It didn't… It wasn't justice."

"Maybe not but it solved a problem for you."

"Temporarily, yes." John shook his head, "But it still didn't actually fix anything. And I knew that, despite how much I wanted to choke the life out of him with my two hands. Despite how often I still have nightmares that he's not as dead as I know he is."

"You did what you could."

"Then why doesn't it feel like that was enough?"

"Because death is only the beginning." Anna shrugged, "And sometimes a problem last longer in the effect than with the affect."

"I think I understand what that means but…" John shook his head, "It's all muddled inside me and I… I wish I could've done it differently and I'm sorry for all the pain it caused you."

"Be that as it may," Anna sighed, "You still saved me that day."

"I guess I did."

"There's no 'guess' about it." Anna took a breath and John noted the tension returning to her shoulders. "And there's no guess about you getting a chance to save my life again."

"But I'll get it right this time."

"I've faith in that promise."

John offered a small smile and then noticed the way Anna still tugged at her fingers. "Is… Is there something else?"

"Else?"

"I get the…" John flexed his jaw as he felt out the right words. "I get the feeling that you're not entirely sure about that."

"Your promise?" John nodded and Anna tried to wave the issue away. "I'm certain you can perform your duties as needed."

"But you're still hesitant."

"Not about you."

"Then what about?" John waited as Anna looked down at her hands. "If we're going to work closely then we need to establish trust. I'll do everything I can to keep you safe but I can't be in the dark about anything."

"That's fair." John waited again but Anna did not continue.

"Then what else has you nervous?"

"I…It's… I'm…" Anna swallowed and gave a nervous laugh, "I'm actually glad you're the one the Prime Minister chose to protect me."

"Because we know one another?"

"Because you know what happened in Nepal and it'll… It'll be easier to explain… Especially given the circumstances of what… I wouldn't want to have to… I couldn't quite…"

"Anna?" John carefully reached out a hand and laid it over where Anna almost tugged her fingers out of join. "What is it?"

"It's…" She flustered and moved her hands from his grip to dig around in her purse. "It's easier if I show you."

"Show me what?"

"This." Anna fiddled her phone a moment before handing it over to John. "You're not just protecting me on this assignment."

"Who else would I be protecting?" John took the phone and his eyebrows rose at the picture of a baby. "That… You've a…"

"That's Michael." Anna swallowed as John met her eyes. "He's my son."

"He's…" John looked back at the picture a moment before looking back at Anna. "Green's the father, isn't he?"

Anna nodded, "The medical care I received wasn't the best either."

"I…" John handed the phone back. "I don't really know what to say."

"Say you can protect me and my son from Vera. Or anyone else who might come after us for what I'm going to say in court." Anna held his gaze. "Say you've got a plan for finally putting that bitch in prison or in the ground."

John swallowed and nodded, "I can protect you and your son. And I do have a plan for how I can finally get Vera to a place where she'll never hurt anyone again."

Anna's entire frame relaxed as if she could finally release a beath she held for over a year. "Thank you."

"Starting with," John leaned forward, "Moving you to another location. Somewhere they won't think to find you."

"Where?" Anna swallowed, "I've no family and nowhere else to go."

"I do."

"You do?" Anna's brow furrowed as John nodded. "Where?"

"I've…" John flexed his jaw, "I've got a rather large house in Yorkshire that I don't like to admit I have."

"And why's that?"

"Because then I have to tell people that my family has money and a title and it makes everyone very awkward." John cringed, "It's… It's a bit embarrassing."

"It is?" Anna snorted, "How could it be embarrassing?"

John nodded, "Because being a Duke can be very embarrassing."

Anna blinked at him, "Excuse me?"

John extended his hand to her again, "John Bates, tenth Duke of Reerbourne… or some number like that."

Anna only looked at his hand and then back to his face. "You're shitting me."

"I honestly wish I was." John sighed and stood, changing the way he held out his hand so instead of shaking hers he could help Anna stand. "Do you want to see my house?"

"Because you're showing off?"

"Because it's the safest place I can think to take you."

"Then," Anna gave him her hand, "Lead the way."

John gave a nod but paused, "Are you saying you wouldn't want to see my house if I was showing off?"

"I'd think you were overcompensating for something more personal."

"Trust me," John managed a genuine smile, "I've not got to overcompensate for anything in that arena."

"No?"

"No." John released Anna's hand and held it up, fingers spread. "It's all proportional, in case you were curious."

"I am now."

"Maybe one day you'll find out. But, for now," John let out a breath, "Lets get you and Michael to a safe place."

Yorkshire, England – 1816

"And that," John removed his scarf and handed it to the footman as he began removing his coat. "Is the last of them."

"Don't sound so excited." Anna matched his motions. "I found our visits impressively productive."

"As did I, but it was almost as exhausting as this Spring Ball you've planned." John shivered, "Although I don't think Spring is actually coming."

"We could make it a winter's ball." Anna grinned at him, "It'd be a shame to waste those plans."

"I'll leave the theme in your capable hands." John leaned in and kissed Anna briefly. "It'll be a marvelous end to our rather ambitious honeymoon."

"I should hope so." Anna smiled at him before extending her hand, "Here, let me show you what I've planned so far."

"As her Ladyship commands." John put his hand in hers and followed Anna into the large study where papers spread over three tables. "Now I'm a bit nervous."

"Oh hush. You weren't nervous when you saw plans three times this size at the warehouse in Whitby."

"I knew what to make of those. This…" John waved his hand at the papers. "This has never been my forte."

"No?"

"No." John motioned to the house about them. "Why do you think this place is as spartan as it is?"

"Because it's missing a woman's touch." Anna waved her hand at it. "Give me some time and I can make it feel like you live in a house instead of a museum."

"Well, your Ladyship," John pulled a low bow. "I trust that you'll put everything in order as you see fit."

"And you'll not help at all?"

"I never said that." John put a hand to his chest and feigned afront. "It is our house after all and if I were to take no interest in its running or design I should regret it most desperately."

"Now you're just having me on." Anna pushed at him and used the motion to direct him toward one of the tables. "These are the potential guests. I had to consult with your steward and the housekeeper to get the names of anyone in town or the county we need to keep in mind but, otherwise, they're all those we already know."

John studied the list, "We'll need to add some of the businessmen of the region and the mercantilists."

"Enchant them with a ball?"

"If you can tell people you can get them what they want simply by rubbing elbows with you, they're far more willing to make time to see you."

"Then you'll need to get me a list." Anna tugged John over to another table. "And these are the plans for the outdoor ballroom and the indoor ballroom."

"The indoor ballroom will need considerable airing out and dusting." John shrugged Anna raised eyebrow. "Since it was never going to be used I had it shut up to save time and tears for cleaning."

"There may be some tears now." Anna led John to the last table. "And here's the expense list thus far. I've tried to be conservative in my estimate but it will cost us a pretty penny to host this ball."

John read through the accounts, tracing his finger along a few of them before nodding. "My dear Mrs. Bates I do believe you were born for this."

"And I believe my husband," Anna leaned her arms on the table to tilt toward John. "Is flattering me."

"Everyday and twice on Sundays." John met her lips, kissing her quickly. "And as many other times as I can manage it."

"Promise?"

"Promise." John kissed Anna again.

This time her hand came up to his jaw, holding him firm when he would pull away. Instead he gave over the lead to her, groaning when she ran her tongue along his lower lip before biting down on it. He sighed into the kiss and tasted his lips when Anna pulled away.

"Shame."

"Shame?"

John nodded. "Shame."

"On me?"

"On the fact that I need to go and arrange the vendors and invitations for this event. Otherwise," John swiped a final kiss. "I'd stay and kiss you for the rest of the afternoon and well into the evening."

"You'd miss tea."

"All I'd need to sate my hunger and thirst is you."

"Charmer." Anna grinned and John noted the blush on her cheeks. "But go on. If you're going to help get things done for this then I shan't stop you."

"Part of me wishes you would."

"There'll be time for kisses later, your Lordship." Anna teased and went back to her papers. "More if you succeed."

"With encouragement like that, I can't do anything but succeed." John bowed to her, "I'll see you at dinner."

"I'll be waiting."

Yorkshire, England – Present Day

John took the bags from the car and led Anna over the gravel path toward the backdoor of the house. She managed the baby carrier and followed John down the short flight of stairs into the basement of the house. Their shoes clacked on the slate floor and John led them into one of the smaller rooms, flicking on the switch as he did so.

"This will do for now, I hope."

Anna entered, setting the baby carrier on a low table and checking Michael before taking stock of the space. "A house this big and you live in your basement?"

"Most of the main floor and the upstairs are part of a museum now. The attic rooms are being renovated for and AirBnB gimmick the land manager came up with so I decided to move into the basement." John shrugged. "It kept me the kitchen, access to the house, and I don't have to pay exorbitant heating bills on the rest of the house."

"No?"

"No." John shook his head, "They get covered by the money pulled in through tours and weddings. You wouldn't believe what they can do with the ballroom upstairs when they get people in here on a good-sized budget."

"But you still live in your basement."

"I've never needed more space than that." John pointed to the bed. "If that one's not comfortable enough let me know and I'll see about getting another mattress for it."

Anna sat on the bed, bouncing a second to test it. "I think it'll do fine. I've slept on worse."

"Me too." John flexed his jaw, "Let me show you the rest of it."

"The house?"

"The space where we'll be staying." John waited as Anna set up a monitor next to the carrier where Michael lay, fast asleep, and turned on her phone to connect to the machine. Once she tucked it into her pocket, Anna followed John down the corridor.

"This is the kitchen, laundry is just in here," John showed her the door, "And the spare linens cupboard is right next to it."

"What about your room?" Anna pointed to the other doors. "Or whatever else is down here."

"I've got a dinning room here," John pointed in, "I think it used to be used for a servants' dining hall but I've never used it. I eat in the kitchen. Then there's a study, two of the rooms I'm using as libraries, and I've got another guest room. I did just renovate the bathrooms so they should be…"

John showed Anna the rest of the rooms before stopping at the door next to hers. "And this is my room."

He opened the door and noted Anna's swallow at the sight of a camp cot and a spartan collection of personal items. Waiting by the door as she toured the small space, John shifted his weight. After a moment Anna turned to face him and pointed at the space. "You can't be serious."

"As the grave."

"You live in the basement of a massive house and you sleep on a camp cot."

"I'm a man of simple pleasures and simple means."

Anna shook her head, "I don't think that's it."

"No?"

"No." She sucked the inside of her cheek a moment. "You can't sleep in a normal bed, can you?"

"Not in a long time." John rolled his shoulders, "I've spent so long on camp cots, in narrow beds like coffins, or the ground that sleeping on a mattress makes me feel like I'm suffocating."

"Can't imagine that's fun for you."

"Since I've been almost stuffocated and or strangled no less than five times, no, it's not." John caught himself at the sight of Anna's face. "Sorry, you didn't need to hear that."

"Maybe I did."

"You didn't."

"Maybe you needed to tell someone." Anna frowned, turning a circle. "How'd… You said you'd recently renovated the bathrooms."

"Yes."

"How?" Anna pointed to the ceiling. "If this is your home and the upstairs is mostly managed and paid for by whomever is running your house like a museum and rental hall, how'd you fund the reno down here?"

"My severance from my old job." John leaned down to knock his knuckles against his leg. "When I got this I also got a fat check with a half-hearted thank you for my service."

"They paid you off?"

"They figured it'd be quieter than trying to explain, once again, how they managed to lose track of Vera and not get me out in time to save my leg." John shrugged, "I didn't have the moral fortitude to not take their money."

"At least you did something with it." Anna twitched as her phone made a noise and she clicked her teeth. "I'd best get everything set up before Michael gets up. Then it'll be all about him."

"I won't keep you then." John stepped to the side and allowed Anna to leave the room. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me."

"I'll keep that in mind." Anna paused, her fingers drumming on the door frame a minute. "You're sure no one can find us here?"

"Very sure."

"How sure?"

"Since no one who knows me personally knows about this place and most of the people who think they know me personally think I'm dead or in prison…" John let out a stream of air. "Ninety percent."

"Okay." Anna nodded but John noted the lack of assurance in her expression.

"If you want, I can take you around the grounds later and show you the security system. It's top of the line."

"I'd like that." Anna fumbled a moment, "I won't understand it but I'd like to see it… To put myself at rest a bit."

"Of course." John shifted his weight, "I can also install some additional measures. Nothing too ostentatious but something you could be in control of. Give you a little more peace of mind."

"You'd do that?"

John nodded, "It's part of the protection. If you feel safe then you'll trust me that you are safe. If you get anxious or antsy then it puts you both in danger."

"I guess we don't think rationally when we're afraid, do we?"

"We think like survivalists when we're trying to survive and that's fine but we're not in a single life-or-death dart. We're engaged in a longer marathon here and that requires patience, not a little bit of cunning, and skill."

"All of which you've got?"

"All of which I hope I have." John took a breath. "You'll have to decide if you think I've got it or not."

"Do I?"

John nodded, "I'm your PPO, Anna. That means, at the end of the day, you're the boss. Whatever you need, or think you need, all you've got to do is tell me."

Anna studied John a moment. "I think I like this you better."

"This me?" John frowned, "I don't understand."

"This you, the one who's… More relaxed?" Anan shook her head, as if trying to mechanically sort her thoughts. "It's… It's hard to explain but… The you I met in India was a survivalist. You were trying to balance on a knife's edge. But here, in this role, you're… You're just as confident but you're different. Softer."

"I can't afford to be soft."

"Then you're gentler." Anna shrugged up a shoulder and gave John a smile. "I think this you."

"I like that I can be this me." John stood tall a moment, "Is there anything you need from me at the moment?"

"No." Anna bit at her lip as she smiled at him. "I think you can go off duty if you like, Mr. Bates."

"As long as you and Michael are in my house, I'll never be off duty. That I can promise you."

"I feel better already." Anna went into her room, pausing at the door. "And I am glad it's you protecting us. I truly am."

"So am I." John waited as Anna entered the room and did not move until the door shut. The moment it did he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. Moving into the old servants' dining room, and biting the inside of his cheek, John waited until the number picked up. "I know I said I hoped I'd never see you again but… I need a favor and I think you're the only one who can help me."