Alright, so now I solemnly swear that there's only fluff and happiness coming! Because they deserve it!
Anna found herself again in the street outside the police station, still dazed from what had just happened. She looked to John with tears in her eyes, and he tentatively took her hand, asking:
- So? What happened?
- I can't believe it… She chickened out! She told Vyner she couldn't be sure it was me. I find it really odd because the way she looked at me she seemed to be sure that it was really me… Why would she take pity on me now?
- Well, we'll never know and do we really care? Surely they'll leave you in peace now, they don't have anything left to prosecute you.
- I guess so. But I will wait until it is official to rejoice over it. Let's go home, I really can't be in this town any longer.
As they entered the servants' hall a little later in the afternoon, Mrs Hughes spotted them right away, and exclaimed:
- Oh Anna, Mr Bates, how did it go? Come in my sitting-room and tell me.
Baxter, who was sitting at the table with some sewing, got up and asked:
- Oh, may I come too?
Anna smiled to both of them, and they all entered Mrs Hughes's parlor.
- So? asked Mrs Hughes hopefully.
Anna exhaled and chuckled:
- The witness bailed out… She said she wasn't sure it was me.
- Oh my God! said Baxter, joining her hands. Anna I'm so glad! I was so worried for you…
- Oh, what a relief, added Mrs Hughes, fondly squeezing Anna's hands. Oh I do hope this is really the end of that story now. You've been through so much… What did Vyner say?
- Well, he looked very annoyed with Mrs Wiggins, and he told me I would be informed by mail of the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to prosecute or not.
- Oh God that's one letter we'll all be looking forward to, said Mrs Hughes.
- Indeed, answered Bates. We would really like to move on now.
- You have to tell Lady Mary, Anna!
- I will Mrs Hughes, don't worry about that, she said with a smile on her face.
As Anna entered Lady Mary's room that evening before dinner, she was immediately assaulted by her employer's questions:
- So, Anna, how did it go, tell me?
- Well, it went a bit strangely really… Mrs Wiggins changed her testimony, and said she wasn't sure it was me anymore. It was rather odd really, because the way she looked at me, she seemed to know that it was me. I don't understand why she did that, although I'm so very glad she did.
Lady Mary chuckled:
- I might have an idea as to why she did.
- You do? asked Anna.
As Lady Mary didn't answer further, but looked at her with a satisfied smile, Anna opened wide eyes and whispered:
- M'lady, what did you do?!
- Oh nothing much, just went there and had a little chat with her. Seems I chose the right words.
- Oh my God, but what if she tells it to the police?
- Trust me, she won't. She knows I will have her shop closed if she does anything to harm you.
Anna looked at Lady Mary as her eyes welled up with grateful tears.
- M'lady, thank you so much. I will forever be in your debt.
- Nonsense. You've earned it fair and square, keeping my secrets for so long. Hiding that fearful Dutch thingamajig. Carrying poor Mr Pamuk's body in the dead of night.
They both laughed.
- We've had our moments, haven't we m'lady? said Anna with a warm smile.
- We have. And I told you we Crawleys are loyal to you and Mr Bates.
- Thank you m'lady. Really.
Lady Mary answered only with a friendly smile.
x x x x
A week later came the so-much-awaited-for letter. As Mr Carson handed it out to Anna at breakfast, her eyes met John's and she got up right away. The two of them locked themselves up in the boot room. Anna gave the envelope to John with a trembling hand:
- Please open it, I can't.
John tore up the envelope and unfolded the letter, quickly scanning the text. He sighed loudly and looked at Anna joyfully:
- "Decline to prosecute"…
Anna grabbed the letter from his hand and looked for herself:
- Oh my God!
She laughed and cried at the same time.
- Oh Lord, John, is it over? Is it really over this time?
- Looks like it my darling, he answered, his own eyes watery.
She threw herself into his arms and wept her relief. He patted her back for a few minutes, tears streaming down his own cheeks too.
- I owe this to Lady Mary and Dr Clarkson, said Anna, when she had straightened herself a bit. Without them I would be rotting in prison for God knows how long. We must go thank Dr Clarkson later. I haven't had the chance to tell him since he testified to Vyner.
- Maybe we can go this morning.
- Yes, I'd like that.
- Now we should get out and get to work, said John, handing her a handkerchief.
She smiled to him as she dabbed it on her cheeks.
x x x x
At the end of the morning, John and Anna had managed to escape the Abbey for a little while, and were enjoying the late summer sunshine, walking hand in hand towards Downton Cottage Hospital.
When they entered the hospital, they asked the first nurse they met:
- Hello Nurse, is Dr Clarkson around?
- I think he's in his office right now.
- May we talk to him? Is he with a patient?
- No, there's no one with him. Go knock.
- Thank you very much.
The nurse went away and they came to Dr Clarkson's office door. They knocked and waited until they heard:
- Yes, come in!
Dr Clarkson got up when he saw the Bateses entering.
- Oh, hello, Mrs Bates, Mr Bates? Is something wrong? he frowned.
Anna smiled to him:
- Not at all doctor, on the contrary. I just received this morning a letter from the CPS, saying they were not going to prosecute me. So, I wanted to come and thank you because I know your testimony has weighed a lot in my favour. I am so very grateful.
Dr Clarkson returned her smile warmly and said:
- Well, I thought you had suffered enough from the consequences of your decision. As far as I'm concerned, you've had a kidney infection.
Bates held out his hand to shake:
- Thank you doctor, really.
Dr Clarkson gladly shook his hand, then Anna's, and excused himself:
- I'm sorry, I must get going.
- Of course, said Anna. Have a good day.
x x x x
Later in the evening, they were walking back to the cottage, after their day's work. Every involved person had been informed of the happy outcome, and they had cheered with each one of them. Lady Mary in particular had been thrilled that the matter was finally settled. Anna was enjoying the sunset light, holding John's hand as they went back leisurely. She breathed in and out deeply, and turned to John:
- I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that it really is over. It seems so unreal.
- Me neither, answered John. I guess it'll take some time for us to relax completely.
- Then we can start planning again for our future? asked Anna with a light in her eyes.
- We could… answered John with a smile.
He felt so happy that Anna had found her will to live again, and was focusing on their future. He didn't fool himself that there would be no more hard moments, but hearing her speak those words was such a relief.
When they had settled in the sofa in the cottage's small living-room, both nursing a cup of tea, he mused:
- So, what do you think? Should we see about adoption, or should we focus first on finding a place to buy, and wait till we're settled before looking for a child?
Anna thought over his question for a moment, and replied:
- Well, as anxious as I am to get serious on this adoption thing, I think we should have our own place to live first… How would we manage a child with our current working hours? Lady Mary did offer me to keep them in the nursery with Master George and Miss Sybbie, but is it really appropriate… That would make me feel a little uncomfortable. And besides I don't want my child to be looked after by the nanny…
- That makes sense. Having our own business would let us keep them around us. So, are we starting to look for a hotel?
- Yes, I think we should! said Anna with a happy gleam in her eyes.
- But first I have to sell my mother's London house. I'll write to the tenants tomorrow to ask them if they want to buy it.
Anna yawned, and said:
- Maybe we should start by going to bed. I'm exhausted.
As they were settling down in bed, she came to snuggle close to John. He wrapped his arms around her frame, and kissed the top of her head. She sighed, and whispered:
- I love you Mr Bates.
- I love you too, Mrs Bates.
He arched his eyebrow as he felt her hand creeping under his pyjama and starting to tease him.
- Hum, didn't you just say you were exhausted?
- Maybe I found a little extra energy left, she smirked. Will you complain?
- Absolutely not, he laughed, before bending to her and taking her lips into a passionate kiss.
x x x x
Two months later
Isobel Crawley was walking towards Ripon hospital, on this grey December morning. She entered and searched for the maternity ward. When she had found it, she stopped a nurse going by and asked her:
- Excuse me, Nurse please?
- Yes, how may I help?
- I'm looking for Mrs Ivanova. I know she was admitted here yesterday, she was about to give birth. Do you know where I might find her?
The nurse's face fell when she heard the woman's name.
- I'm sorry Ma'am, I'm afraid Mrs Ivanova has passed during childbirth. A haemorrhage.
- Oh Lord… Where is her child?
- Her baby and her eldest child are both being looked after in the paediatric ward.
- Alright, thank you very much.
Isobel turned away and started walking towards the paediatric ward. She felt very sad, she had liked this young refugee mother she had tried to help for a few months now. She felt sorry for the two little orphans she left behind. In the paediatric ward, she looked for the Head Nurse.
- Nurse? Hello, I'm sorry to bother you, I am Mrs Isobel Crawley, I work for the Refugee Relief Association, I was taking care of Mrs Ivanova, who passed away last night. I think her children are currently under your care?
- Yes, they are.
- Is the baby healthy?
- She is.
- Oh, it's a girl. So, what will become of them now?
- We're keeping them under supervision until tomorrow, then they'll be sent to the orphanage. Hopefully to be adopted.
- Will they be kept together?
- I can't be sure of that. Babies are often adopted quicker than older children.
- I see.
Suddenly an idea dawned on her.
- Might I ask for a favour, Nurse? Would you keep them just a little while longer? I might have a solution for them.
- Alright, but no more than three days. On Friday whatever happens, they're out of my ward.
- Thank you very much, Nurse. I promise I'll be back before Friday.
While she went out, she stopped for a minute and watched the little dark-haired boy, who was sitting on a bed with a toy car and a Teddy in his hands, looking quite lost, and the baby that slept in a crib nearby. She had to go and see Mary right now.
One hour later, she was knocking on the front door of Downton Abbey. As Jimmy opened and let her in, she asked:
- Is Lady Mary here? I need to talk to her, it's urgent.
- This way Ma'am, answered Jimmy, Lady Mary is in the library.
- Thank you.
She knocked and entered in the library, where Mary was sitting alone.
- Oh, good morning Cousin Isobel. To what do I owe this pleasure?
- Oh, Mary, I need to talk to you. I have an idea, but I want to make sure it is a good one.
Mary looked puzzled. She gestured to the armchair opposite her own.
- Sit down, tell me about this idea of yours…
- You did tell me that your maid and her husband wanted to adopt?
- So she told me, but we haven't talked about it in a while.
- Well, you know about my refugees charity. I was in charge of a young mother, who was pregnant. I just learnt that she died giving birth yesterday. She leaves her newborn baby girl, and a three-years-old boy. They're bound for the orphanage. So, I was wondering…
- You want to ask Anna and Bates if they would foster them?
- Well, yes, that's what I was thinking, but then I don't know if it's a good time for them, so that's why I came to you first.
- I think it's a great idea. I'll call for them right away.
Yay, happiness is on the way (maybe coming a little too fast?) ;D