Though my first language is German, I usually write in English, so I'm used to writing in another language. Still I'm not used to writing in an older version of English, as spoken in Downton Abbey. I'll try my best but please don't hate me if something said by the characters sounds more modern than in the series :)

Enjoy!

John Bates eyed her in wonder, as he walked behind them, after his first Sunday morning at church with the Crawleys.

She was small, thin and yet seemed to be quite strong in character.
She had smiled at him and introduced herself properly, different than the others, whom he found quite snobby.

But the young woman, Anna, she looked fine. Like a hard worker and fair human being. He hadn't really talked to her yet, but the fact that she had smiled at him and reached out her hand to him had made him think that this girl was a fair one. In more ways than one.

She didn't seem to care about his cane nor his limp. Unlike Thomas and Miss O'Brien she walked slowly, so he could keep up.

"Where are you from?" she asked and turned around, finally interrupting his thoughts.

She stood and waited, making him walk next to her, then she kept on walking slowly.

He cleared his throat. "London. Born and grown up there."

"Did you like it there?" Anna asked, smiling gently.

"Not exactly. I prefer the countryside," John answered with an honest smile.

"Then you will certainly like Downton," Anna promised him.

"I already do," John said and Anna smiled even more.

"Even though the staff is quite snobby?"

"Exactly my thoughts." John couldn't help but laugh quietly. "But yes, even though they are. That is, some of them are. But not all of them."

"That's true. Let me just tell you, stay away from Thomas and Miss O'Brien, as they are snakes. Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes are strict but fair, I find Mrs. Hughes to be a very comfortable person to be with, as long as you follow the rules. Gwen is very sweet and like a second sister to me and don't think Mrs. Patmore doesn't like Daisy, she's a very dear person to her. I would say she sees her as a daughter."

"And you?" John asked her carefully. "You are telling me so much about out fellow servants, but what about you?"

"Nothing," Anna said. "I'm quite boring, really."

"I don't believe so," John said softly, watching Anna's smile grow even wider.

"I am. I'm twenty-six of years, I'm a maid at Downton abbey and I love it. Nothing more to add. I'm boring, Mr. Bates."

John laughed quietly.

He didn't know yet, but he was already smitten with her.

She always wanted to help him.

Whether when he let Gwen's tray fall down, nor when he himself fell down because of Miss O'Brien's mean deceit.

She was always there to lend him a hand, helping him pick up the silver cutlery or clearing his clothes from the dust of the gravel.

Even though he told her not to feel pity for him, she followed him, talking. "It was Miss O'Brien," she told him. "I'm sure of it. Oh, that filthy, little rat."

"Don't swear, Anna," John asked her. He hated to hear her swear, it didn't suit her sweet voice and character.

"Don't you want to get revenge? I'll help," Anna said eagerly and John shook his head.

"I want to live in peace. I've had my share of wars for a lifetime."

"You are right," Anna said. "I'm sorry. It just makes me mad to think that Miss O'Brien will get away with it."

John smiled at the young woman. "At least you know that I didn't fall because of my own stupidity and that is more than enough for me."

Anna smiled but didn't answer, as they entered the servant's hall again.

It was a cloudy Sunday morning a few weeks after Mr. Bates had been about to leave, but brought back by Lord Grantham, much to Anna's happiness.

The whole night had been cold and unfriendly and Anna had used wool socks to keep her toes from falling off during the night.

Thus her mood was not the best in the morning as Daisy woke her and Gwen, it couldn't be lifted even as John greeted her at the table.

She sat down next to him and nodded at him.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked and Anna sighed.

"Not at all. It's getting cold outside."

"Don't you enjoy chilly weather?" he asked her, whereas Anna shook her head.

"I despise it, I might say."

"I rather like it. With the right company it can be quite cosy," Mr. Bates answered and Anna felt warmth crawl into her cheeks as she realised what he had said.

"You're right," she whispered, avoiding his eyes.

How could she walk next to him to church now, after he had said such a thing?

But after all she did, otherwise he would have been alone.

Mrs. Hughes seemed to have become friends with Mr. Bates as well, but not well enough to walk with him slowly. Thus Anna did and neither of them minded.

"You really don't have to walk with me again," Mr. Bates told her, as if he had read her mind.

"I ought to. Everyone is walking too fast nowadays, which is bad for blood pressure. Dr. Clarkson told me so. Slow down, he said. At work, I mean. But I can't."

"So you walk with me, to tell Dr. Clarkson you've been following his advice?" Mr. Bates couldn't help but smile.

"Not only. I also really enjoy your company," Anna replied and smiled up to him. "Gwen is my friend but she's only talking about men."

"That's tiring, I'm sure," Mr. Bates said, "as you already have found your significant other, correct?"

"I am not sure about that," Anna said slowly. "Maybe, yes."

She looked up at him but Mr. Bates didn't look back at her.

Anna opened her mouth to continue speaking, as a sudden cloudburst surprised them.

"Bloody hell!" Anna shouted and Mr. Bates laughed.

"Don't swear, Anna!" he said loudly, to drown out the loud rain.

"How big is the chance to run to church?" Anna asked but Mr. Bates shook his head.

"Not really big. I would say we should look for shelter somewhere. We've passed a barn not long ago, let's walk there."

And they did. As fast as they could walk, they made their way back to the barn that belonged to a farm nearby.

"Let's just wait until the rain stops and then walk back to the abbey," John suggested and looked down at the shaking Anna, suddenly realising that she was completely drenched. "Oh, wait," he said and slipped out of his coat. The outside was wet as well but the inside was dry and warm. He wrapped his coat around her, making it swallow her tiny body.

"Thank you," Anna replied with chattering teeth. "I sometimes wish I was larger, so I wouldn't be as cold as quickly."

"You're good the way you are," John mumbled, not exactly looking at her.

Anna smiled up to him, not able to say a word.

And John tried not to look down at her, as he found her way too cute at the moment, here in his coat with a wet face and wet hair.

"Are you cold?" he asked instead.

"Not anymore," Anna replied softly.

Then they stood for a while and just waited for the rain to pass.

With the right company it can be quite cosy...

After some minutes the rain became less and as they left the barn to walk back, Anna wanted to slip out of his coat.
But Mr. Bates wouldn't let her.

"You'll get ill. Please, don't put it off."

"Okay," Anna said softly. She was speechless by his gallant behaviour. What had he asked her about just before, if she had already found her significant other?

Well, he hadn't exactly asked her, but Anna had sensed the actual question behind the facade.

Everyone else asking her something like this would have gotten a witty answer and then seen the back of her, but not Mr. Bates. She didn't mind talking to him about things like this.

But why?

Why did she always feel so calm in his presence?

Why did she want to be with him all the time? Why did her heart beat like this whenever she looked at him? Why did she want to cry happily when she found him smiling at her?

Th answer was simple but she didn't want to think of it. Not yet. It was too scaring to think about it.

They were still alone, as Anna came down to the servant's hall. She had taken a hot bath and was not surprised to see Mr. Bates sitting by the fire with a book in his hands. "Come here, let the fire warm you up," he told her and Anna did what he wanted.

"Thanks for caring about me, Mr. Bates," she said with a smile and sat down opposite of him. She pulled up her legs, wrapped her arms around them and lay her temple down on her knees, facing Mr. Bates. She closed her eyes and let the fire spread warmth in her whole body.

John watched her, his heart melting.

He had never seen anything more beautiful than Anna Smith rolled up on a chair opposite of him, eyes closed, slowly drifting to sleep.