Back at the Abbey, Anna only had time to put her coat and hat off and go up the stairs when Lady Mary came on to her, an expectant look on her face:
- Anna! So? Tell me, please, the suspense is killing me!
Her Lady's maid shining smile told her pretty much all that had to be said. Her own face lit up in response.
- It seems it went well?
- Oh, m'lady, I don't know how to put it... It was… like love at first sight you know? Those children are so sweet!
- I'm so happy for you and Mr Bates! Oh we have to talk to Papa right away.
- I guess we do, indeed. And we'll need to talk to Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes too.
- When are you going to bring them back home?
- Well the Head Nurse said she won't keep them beyond Friday, so it's either tomorrow or the day after. And honestly, the sooner the better, because I miss them already, Anna said with bright eyes.
- Oh Lord, that is going to be the biggest and most sudden change in your lives.
- You could say that m'lady, acknowledged Anna. But Mr Bates and I feel like it's the right thing to do.
- Alright, so go fetch your husband, and wait for me in the library. I'll find Papa and join you.
x x x x
Moments later, Bates and Anna had explained their plan to Lord Grantham. As they had hoped, he was thrilled for them.
- Bates, Anna, I am so glad for you two. To be honest, for all this time you've been married, I was wondering what took you so long to start a family. Now I understand, and I'm very happy that you'll have one.
- Thank you very much m'lord, answered Bates.
- Now, you've shared your news, added Lord Grantham with a mysterious smile, I have one for you too. You still intend to invest in a hotel?
- Yes m'lord, we do. My mother's house in London is about to be sold, so we're going to start searching.
- Well, maybe you won't have to search too long. I just learnt that the Grantham Arms is on sale.
Lady Mary looked at her father, a happy gleam in her eyes:
- Oh really?! Well that would be just perfect! That way you can keep in touch with everyone here!
Anna chuckled. It warmed her heart to see Lady Mary so intent on keeping them close by.
- Yes, that'd be nice, she answered. We'll have to go and visit, see if it suits us, what price they're asking…
- Of course, acknowledged Lady Mary. I don't want to influence you…
No one present really believed that, but no one contradicted her.
- That's a very good news indeed m'lord, said Bates. We'll go check it out as soon as possible.
They went on discussing the practical management of the children's arrival. Lord Grantham and Lady Mary agreed to give both Anna and John a month off to settle them. They declined them giving out their notice before they had settled where they were going to go next, preferring to keep them on a lighter schedule. Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes were summoned to inform them of the big news. Mrs Hughes beamed when she heard about the imminent adoption. Mr Carson, being his usual self, looked rather grumpy at the idea of servants being parents. This unexpected situation did not fit into his frame of mind. He considered that the Bateses should have handed their notice since they couldn't continue to fulfil their whole duties. He did not like that so many rules were being bended to accommodate them. To him this was setting a dangerous precedent, and they risked any servant coming to ask for arrangements to suit their own private life. But then he had to admit that Anna and Bates were more than just servants to Lady Mary and Lord Grantham, and he was not the ultimate decision maker, so he could only accept it. Besides, his fondness for Lady Mary brought him to adapt to any situation that she agreed to. If the Lady was willing to keep her Lady's maid even when she was busy with two young children, he had nothing to say about that. The six of them were ready to part and go on with their day, when Anna asked:
- Mrs Hughes, Mr Carson, would you please not tell anyone downstairs yet?
- Of course Anna, nodded Mrs Hughes.
It seemed right that the Bateses chose when and how they shared their news with the rest of the household.
x x x x
It seemed that they wanted to keep it to themselves a little while longer, because they did not mention it to anyone at luncheon, tea or dinner that day. The other servants only noticed that they both looked unusually happy, and that it made a big change from a few months before. Anna had only confided in Baxter that afternoon when they were alone in the laundry room, and her friend had been thrilled at the news. As Anna and John walked hand in hand towards the cottage in the cold December night, their hearts were glowing so warm that they did not feel the cold.
- Can you believe that tomorrow at that same hour we'll be at home with two children? marveled Anna.
John chuckled:
- I know… If someone had told us that last week, we would've thought they were mad as hatters…
- We'll have to decorate the cottage for Christmas this year! Our first Christmas as a family… Oh Lord I may say it out loud but I still can't wrap my head around it…
As they were coming close to the cottage, John suddenly stopped on the path:
- What is this?
There was a big black form in front of the cottage's door. In the night from the distance they couldn't quite distinguish what it was, so they walked faster, until they came to the door, and gasped. Several big cardboard boxes were standing there, in front of their door, along with a pram. They looked at each other, bewildered, until Anna noticed an envelop taped to one of the boxes. She took it and opened it. Tears came to her eyes, as she read the note and recognized Lady Mary's handwriting. She read it out loud for John:
- "Here are a few things I thought you might need for the little ones. Keep them as long as you need them (I shouldn't be needing them shortly). I am so very glad for both of you, and these children, who are very lucky that you have found them. Yours, Mary Crawley". Oh Lord, dear, dear Lady Mary… That's why she looked so mysterious tonight!
Looking at all the boxes, John replied:
- Gosh, she really went out of her way… How did she manage to get all this delivered here without anyone noticing?
- I guess I'll learn that tomorrow. Now we should really get all this inside before we both freeze.
When they had brought all the boxes inside, lit the lights and the fire and put down their winter clothes, they started going through the content of the boxes. Besides the pram, they found a Moses basket, a high chair, some baby bottles, a handful of toys, and several dozens of baby clothes. As she was checking a pile of clothes, Anna picked out a very beautifully embroidered white baby dress, that she instantly recognized, having herself worked on it. She suddenly felt overwhelmed and broke into tears. John came rushing to her right away, looking worried:
- Lord, Anna, what's the matter? Is something wrong?
Anna shook her head, and hid her face into his chest until she was able to collect herself. As she wiped her cheeks, she half-laughed, and tried to reassure John:
- No, no, darling, nothing's wrong. Look, she went on, showing him the white baby dress, this is George's christening dress. That's too much from Lady Mary, she shouldn't have…
- Oh wow, it is really beautiful.
- Thank you, answered Anna, I sewed it myself.
- Really? Well then I guess Lady Mary thought it was only fair that you got to christen your own child into it…
- That's so thoughtful of her. Oh my God… I guess I can't quite believe that this is really happening. We are about to be parents…
- Yes we are, my love, he said, taking the dress from her hands and carefully putting it down on the nearby table, before picking her up from her feet into a passionate kiss.
It was quite late that night when they finally settled to sleep, after having put away everything as best as they could. They would still need to find a little bed for the boy, and a new chest of drawers to put the children's clothes into. Anna had fallen asleep as soon as her head had touched the pillow, exhausted by the emotional toll of the day. However, a few hours later, John woke up to the sound of her muffled sobbing. She startled a little bit when his hand reached out to her.
- My darling, what's wrong?
- Nothing… I'm just being silly, she whispered.
John shifted in the bed to come closer to her and wrap his arms around her shaking frame.
- Come on, you're not silly. Tell me. It's alright to be afraid.
- I'm not… I just… I had a nightmare.
- Oh. Again?
She had not had any in quite a long time, so he was feeling quite down cast to hear that.
- But not that kind, she explained. I dreamt we went to the hospital and the children were gone, someone had taken them before us.
- Oh.
He couldn't tell her, but he was relieved that it was not some memories of that bastard that had come back to haunt her again.
- Well, as you said, it was only a nightmare. They'll be there tomorrow when we go pick them up. You know that?
- Yes, I do. I'm stupid.
- You're not stupid Anna. It just shows how long we have hoped for this to happen.
She turned around and snuggled her face in the crook of his neck, breathing him in.
- We surely have, she whispered, before going back to sleep, as he gently stroked her blond hair.
x x x x
And indeed there were the children, when at ten o'clock the next morning, they entered the hospital ward to collect them. Mrs Crawley was already there, and waited for them with the children ready and a little suitcase sitting on the bed. She welcomed them with a large smile:
- Good morning Mrs Bates, Mr Bates! I was just talking with Peter about his new home and his new mummy and daddy. Are you ready to go Peter? she asked, turning to the little boy.
The child looked at John and Anna hesitantly. He seemed to gather his courage, and went to grab John's hand, looking up to him:
- Cookie?
All three adults laughed out loud at the boy's bold request. John sat on the edge of the bed, as it was difficult for him to crouch to face Peter.
- No, Peter, I haven't got any cookie this morning, I'm sorry. But I've come to take you and the baby home with me, and Anna, and maybe we can make some cookies later. Alright? he said, patting the boy's cheek.
Mrs Crawley turned to Anna and John, giving him the suitcase.
- There, I have packed all the boy's clothes, there wasn't too many of them I'm afraid… In the suitcase you'll also find an envelop where I put everything I found at their mother's that could be of interest to them later. You know, family pictures, letters, such things. There's also a few books that belonged to her. I trust that you will know to make good use of them when the children are older. The Head Nurse will give you the boy's and the baby's birth certificates. Of course, her surname will be Ivanova, until you have legally adopted them.
- Yes, of course, nodded Anna. Thank you so much, Mrs Crawley. We can never tell you how grateful we are for what you did for us.
- Oh, nonsense, I like to think that I played a happy little game of "family matchmaker", she answered brightly.
The new family walked quietly in Ripon's streets at the end of this sunny December morning. Before going back to Downton, Anna and John had decided to visit a few shops with the children. They went to a carpenter's shop, to order a child's bed for Peter and a chest of drawers, and bought a few more clothes, including a warm coat and winter shoes for the boy, who was freezing in his light clothes. They carefully avoided Mrs Wiggins' haberdashery's surroundings, and the herbalist street.
As they were strolling back to the bus stop to make the journey back to Downton, they had to cross the bridge over the Skell. Anna came to a halt on the bridge, silently watching the very place where she had considered letting herself fall into the river, almost two years ago. She was holding Peter in her arms, and suddenly held tighter to him, as if he could disappear suddenly. Following her gaze's direction, John understood what was on her mind. He put the suitcase on the pavement, and circled her waist with his free arm. The other one was holding Sophia.
- Are you alright my darling, he whispered in her ear.
She looked up to him, tears shining in her eyes.
- I am, she replied. Back then I thought I would never say that again some day, but right now, I am happy.
A smile lit up her face as she left a light kiss on Peter's cheek.
Well there we go! A nice little family for Anna and John! 3