A/N: Yet another one of my updated one-shots! I love updating these little ones because they are so much fun to do and I think they're so much better now than they were when I wrote them initially. Happy reading!
The feeling of the sand between her toes and her slumbering little girl's breath on her neck made Anna smile as she strolled along the shore, love shining in her eyes as she watched her husband and their son walk a little way ahead. She loved to see John and Johnnie spending time alone together – even if they were only a couple feet in front – because it was rare they had the chance now that Maggie had found her feet and was toddling.
She found the ten-month-old's obsession with her daddy and big brother charming, of course, and they both adored her in equal measure, she knew that, but she also knew it annoyed Johnnie when she always wanted to walk with them. She could see where he was coming from too because when she had been a newborn, he and John had spent much more time alone together. Now she was older, however, she had the strongest desire to do everything he and their daddy did and would have the most awful tantrums if they dared leave her behind.
Today, thankfully, she had been far more interested in finding beautiful shells and stones and putting them in her pail to notice them walking ahead this time. All of that walking had worn her out rather quickly too and, once she had picked her up, she had been sound asleep in minutes. There were truly no words for how much she adored her children. They were her whole world and so much more and she would do anything for them.
Continuing to walk along the beach, ensuring she kept a little distance between her and the boys, she sighed in satisfaction when she spied the little hotel on the promenade. Spending the night there after being given a wonderful tour had left her and John in no doubt that it was the perfect fit for them. It was on the small side, but they would be comfortable. It was on the beach, it had a private suite on the top floor which meant they would be able to live on-site and there was even adequate space for them to add to their little brood someday.
It was ideal, to be honest, considering she had found out she was pregnant again not too long ago.
The search for their hotel had been a long and hard one. Johnnie had been six months old when it started and he was nearing five now, but there was no doubt in either of their minds that this was the one and they'd put the deposit down for it once they had eaten breakfast. It would be hard to leave those at Downton behind, of course, like it would be hard to box their things up and leave their beautiful cottage for the last time, but they knew it was time. It was time to take control of their lives and finally make their long-awaited dream happen.
It wasn't as though they were never going to see their friends again either.
They had agreed that the hotel would be closed for a week at the end of each year so they could go and spend that time at Downton. They were positive they would go back and forth to see everyone throughout the year as well. The servants were their family and they would have to be dead and buried before they let themselves or their children forget about them. Each of them would always have an incredibly special place in their hearts.
Margaret's hand slipped from the back of her neck to her shoulder a little while later, pulling her back to the present, and when she turned her head to look at her she looked directly into her beautiful blue eyes. "Hello, beautiful girl…" She whispered as she held her a little tighter and stroked her leg through her tights, her heart swelling when she gave her a smile that revealed the three pearly teeth she had. "Oh, mummy is so, so lucky."
Margaret squealed with delight when she grazed the tip of her nose against hers, something she did with both her children and something they both adored, and when she pulled back again she saw that John and Johnnie had stopped and looked back at them. "Shall we go and walk with daddy and Johnnie?" She asked, giving her a little bounce for a second before she laughed when she began to flail her little arms around with excitement.
Pressing her lips to her forehead, she walked over to where her husband and son were waiting before she and her husband shared a smile as he pressed his hand into her back when they reached them. "So, our lovely girls decided to join us at long last, did you?" He made gentle circles into her back with his palm as she looked up at him, his eyes closing as he leaned down to kiss her before they parted when Johnnie began to groan loudly in protest. "You know, little man, there's going to come a day when you'll want to kiss a beautiful girl too."
"No, kissing girls is disgusting!" Johnnie dropped his hand to cross his arms. "I'll only kiss mummy, daddy."
John and Anna laughed before she looked at their little boy. "Darling, I am a girl."
"No," Johnnie frowned. "No, mummy, Sybbie is a girl. You're a mummy."
"You're right," Love for him coursed through her veins. "I am a mummy."
"She is the best mummy ever, isn't she?" John reached out to smooth a hand over their son's hair.
Johnnie nodded in agreement.
Turning to their baby girl, John tickled her beneath the chin. "And Maggie? Do you think you have the best mummy?"
Anna knew their little girl had zero idea what he was going on about, but she was overcome with happiness when Margaret took her face in her chubby hands and gave her a clumsy, delightful baby kiss. She adored her.
"Mummy, mummy, can Maggie come and walk with me?" Johnnie asked sometime later.
She thought for a moment, holding her daughter close. "Promise you'll stay close and hold her hand tight?"
"I promise. You can trust me." He assured her.
"Very well then," She replied before putting Maggie down on the soft sand. "Walk to Johnnie, sweet-pea."
Maggie toddled over to her brother like her mummy said, Anna and John watching her before Johnnie took her hand. They allowed them to get a little way ahead before starting to walk after them. "It was lovely to see you both spend some quality time together," She said as she took her husband's arm. "He loves it, you know."
"I miss having one-on-one time with him," He sighed. "Please, don't misunderstand me, I love Maggie more than you could possibly imagine and spending time with her brings me so much joy, but I can't help but feel I've neglected Johnnie a little since she was born and I want to start making up for that in any way that I can."
"You haven't neglected him," She said. "But I love that you value your time together as much as he does."
They shared a smile before she went back to watching their children and he breathed in the sea air. "Can you believe this is going to be our home in less than two months? I can't wait to be our own bosses and to lounge around in bed with you for as long as I please. I can't wait to have the children with us all day long and spend every single day with the three of you." He stopped for a minute, taking her by the hips and pulling her close.
Resting her hands on his chest, she smiled up at him.
"You are happy about this, sweetheart, aren't you? About all these changes?" He asked.
"Of course," She whispered. "And I love seeing you so happy too."
He ran his hands along her sides while leaning in to kiss her temple. "I'm the happiest man that's ever lived."
"Not yet, you're not, but you may be in a moment." She sucked on her bottom lip.
He brought her flush against him with a smirk. "Mrs. Bates, something tells me you know something I don't."
"I do," She laughed. "Would you like to know what that 'something' is?"
"Enlighten me." He nodded.
"Well, let's just say our sleepless nights and endless nappy changes aren't quite behind us…" Her eyes sparkled.
"Anna…" He breathed, tears brimming in his eyes. "Are we…are…are you pregnant? Really pregnant?"
She rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Yes, John, I'm really pregnant!"
"You have no idea how much I love you," He cupped her face with tears falling down his. "You truly don't."
"I love you too," She beamed. "So much."
He slid his hand around to the back of her neck before stroking the baby hairs there with his thumb, guiding her into a kiss that was long and soft and sweet. "You are so beautiful." He hummed softly between kisses.
"And you are a charmer." She kissed him once more before bringing their kiss to an end.
Taking one another's hand, they turned back to their children and began to walk slowly together once again. "Well, well, well, a new home," John pecked the side of her head, breathing her in. "And a lovely new baby to share it with."
"Mmm…" She leaned her head against his arm and snuggled against him. "The most wonderful fresh start."
A/N: Thank you so much for reading! Reviews, as usual, are welcome and appreciated.
