Scotland, Present Day

Anna smiled, her eyes still tightly shut, "I do hope you're not just going to tease me like that."

"Why would I do that?"

"Because you're the worst." She looked at him over her shoulder. "You've spent practically every minute of this holiday seducing me."

"Would you prefer I didn't seduce you?" John's hand traced over her abdomen. "Because, if so, we're a little late."

"You're right." Anna sighed into her pillow, scooting back over the bed toward him. "As you were."

"If you want me to not…"

Anna took John's hand, turning over to face him. "It's not that I'm not more than happy to accept the time and attention you're giving me. I just… I'm afraid you're trying to make up for lost time or something."

"Because we haven't done that already?"

Anna shrugged, "I dunno."

"I promise, it's got nothing to do with that." John kissed her fingers, "Unless you've got reservations."

"I guess…" Anna sighed, "I don't feel beautiful enough to be seduced."

"Are you mad?" John gestured to her body. "You look phenomenal."

"I look like a beached whale."

"Smallest whale I've ever seen." John paused, "You're not regretting having the baby are you?"

"Absolutely not." Anna took John's hand back to where the bump protruded. "This is the greatest thing we could ever do together."

"I think so too." John leaned over to kiss her but stopped just before her lips. "Could we…"

"What?"

"We've not done it like this since Bangkok and I know this gets a little more difficult the more our little girl wants to come into the world but-"

"John," Anna put her hands on either side of John's face. "What do you want?"

"Can you do it if we're…"

Anna's smile widened. "I think we'll manage."

"But if you're not feeling-"

"We're just going to have to get more creative." Anna shifted to get her legs up under her. "You're a writer, you should know how to be creative right?"

"I'm sure I could oblige you." John slipped off the bed and urged Anna to the edge so her knees and legs rested there. "If you're amenable."

"As I said, I've nothing against you seducing me to… Holy shit!"

John's tongue set to work, tracing the lines of her back while the fingers of one hand worked between her folds. His other hand sculpted up to hold her breast, massaging it before squeezing a nipple in time with a particularly deep plunge of his fingers. Anna crunched the blanket under her hands and buried her face to cover the noises he brought out of her. Noises she was sure any potential neighbors on either side of their room would regret… if they had neighbors.

A particularly determined suck at the rise of her ass sent Anna's back arching before it bent the other direction to thrust her hips toward John's mouth. But he did not stay there long. Instead he thrust forward and waited for Anna to adjust before driving slowly into her.

"You've gotten so much better at this than you were in Bangkok." Anna managed, her forehead pressing against the mattress while her body worked independent of her efforts.

"We're better at this than we were in Bangkok." John paused, pressing a kiss to the small of her back. "We'll have to get even better at it."

"What?" Anna struggled to lift her head, almost biting through her lip when John's grip on her hips helped him grind deeper inside of her.

"When the baby comes. We'll not be able to just do it whenever we please."

"Our schedules take care of that."

"We'll have to keep the volume down."

"I've not got a-" Anna shrieked out her finish and let a series of whimpers and moans take her through John's.

They lay over the bed, perpendicular to the headboard, and John turned to her with a laugh. "I think you were about to say you don't have a volume problem."

"Mr. Bates," Anna huffed, swiveling her head to look at him. "That kind of talk is beneath you."

"I stand corrected." He closed his eyes a second but his chuckles did not stop.

"What is so funny?"

"I don't know." He wiped at his eyes, the laugh still in his eyes. "Maybe it's because I've been too busy to notice but it's only just hit me."

"Hm?"

"Bangkok." Anna shook her head and John slowed down his words. "Bang-Cock."

"Are you twelve?"

"On the scale of one to ten."

"You've got a point there." Anna tilted her head to lay it on his shoulder. "And you're right."

"About Ban-"

"About me having a volume problem." Anna let her lips twitch toward a smile as she forced herself to climb on top of him. "But I think you might have one too."

"When my wife's riding me like a prize-winning equestrian I do." John hissed as she ground against him. "I may need to consult a doctor."

"About?"

"If you're experiencing erections lasting longer than four hours-"

"Ah," Anna tilted forward on her knees, "Lucky for you then, your wife is a doctor."

"That's true." John let his hands slide up her thighs, his fingertips barely brushing her skin. "I wouldn't want to impose."

"Impose away." She let his head run over her seam before inching down a touch. "Care to tell me the problem?"

"I've got this woman in my life and she's-" John bit down on the rest of his words when Anna took him as deeply inside her as he could go.

"And she's what, Mr. Bates?" Anna put her hands on his chest, gyrating her hips ever so slightly to the sides. "Remember, this is a professional consultation."

"Well, she's just the hottest, most beautiful woman I think I've ever seen." John's fingers dug into her hips so he could return her motions with steady thrusts. "And I can't stop thinking about her."

"Hence your arousal problem?"

"It's only a problem when she's not around to try and help me out with it." John's hips bucked off the bed and Anna met each thrust with a roll or grind of her own hips. "But sometimes it's like I can't get enough of her, no matter how often I try."

"Sounds like you've got a great turnaround time." Anna forced her words out, fighting the constriction of her lungs.

"I've lost something like twenty pounds with her."

"Close to." Anna squeezed her eyes shut, bouncing on her knees and ignoring the muscle twinges there. "But keep going."

"Sometimes I worry it's too much for her. That she'll think I'm just a hormone monster or something and that I don't love everything else about her too." Anna paused, meeting John's eyes as his hand cupped her cheek. "I'd hate for her to think she's not everything to me in every way."

"She'd never think that" Anna bent down, kissing John as deeply as she could. "I love you, John Bates, and I know you love me too."

"I do love you."

"Then please, Mr. Bates," Anna rose, holding herself at the edge before sinking back down with a solid thump of their pelvic bones. "Finish me."

In the haze afterward, Anna barely heard her phone ring. She fumbled over the bed, crawling through the mess of sheets and blankets and her husband's legs, to find it on the bedside table. Her thumb slipped but she managed to brush the indicator to answer the phone before it went to voicemail.

"Anna Bates."

"It's Gwen. They found him."

"Found who?"

"Green. Anna, they found Alex Green."

Harrogate, Present Day

Anna passed the kit and the filed report over the table. Her eyes barely flicked over Green, almost unrecognizable with his scraggly beard and matted hair. He moved, restrained though he was, and tried to get her to face him again. Anna refused to meet his eyes.

"I'm sure you're all aware of the situation." The solicitor drew her finger down the sheet before her. "The charges will be answered by the British Government and Mr. Green's going to-"

"Lieutenant Green." He mumbled and all eyes landed on him.

"I'm sure, MisterGreen that'll come as no surprise to you that your status as an AWOL soldier and your court martial for your charges has already led to your being stripped of rank and dishonorably discharged." The sharp cheekbones of the woman next to Anna reflected even more severely in the harsh light of the room. "Something I believe you should express a modicum of gratitude for."

"And why's that, Major Crawley?"

"Because if you were being charged in a military court, you'd face a firing squad." She adjusted her paper work, "As it is the British Government has made a deal with the Afghani Government for your extradition for the rape of no less than five of their women and the murder of one of their citizens while you were stationed in Kandahar."

"Even if you could prove that, none of those women'll testify." Green's finger hit the table. "There's no case there."

"You forget, Mr. Green, that you made the mistake of not being regularly treated for possible STIs. Given the advanced stages of your current STI, we've matched the strain to the one treated in all of those women." Major Crawley coughed, "We've also matched the relative size of your penis and it seems to match their descriptions."

"Couldn't forget it eh?"

"I believe the term, in all cases, was unremarkablebut that's not a direct quote." Major Crawley let a small smile slip out. "Further, the medial records of the women indicate the similarities and match the DNA swabbed from your last victim, who will testify that you did it."

Green turned to Anna and this time she held his gaze, refusing to blink. "What? You're going to face a courtroom and stand against my lawyers?"

"I'm not afraid of you."

"What about what they'll ask you?"

"I'm sure when I talk about how you shot and killed a man in front of me, whatever questions they have for me'll just vanish." Anna twiddled her fingers. "And, worst case scenario, I just let the kit speak for me."

"So," Major Crawley addressed Green's lawyer. "It's your choice. On the once hand he faces life in prison, here, and on the other he faces justice in Afghanistan."

Green's lawyer turned to him and then extended his hand to Major Crawley, "I believe we'll take the deal."

"Excellent." Major Crawley stood, nodding at them. "I'd wish you a pleasant day but I'm not entirely sure that's possible at this point. All I can wish you is that your days after this are long and dreadful, but that's unprofessional."

Anna pushed out of her chair, careful of her pregnant belly, and walked toward the door. Both she and Major Crawley paused when Green called after them. "It's not over."

"I'm afraid, Mr. Green, if you think that then you're abysmally misinformed." Major Crawley nodded at him. "Goodbye."

She and Anna left the room, greeting John and Gwen where they hurried from the sitting area. John immediately pulled Anna into his embrace and she returned it to whisper in his ear. "It's over."

John pulled back, "You're sure?"

"Yes."

"It's over?" John checked her face, "Like over and done with? Done and dusted?"

"It's all of those things." Anna gripped his hand. "It's finished."

"And so is he." Major Crawley extended a hand to John. "Mary Crawley, I think it's been awhile since we were properly introduced."

"I do seem to remember something about being overly intoxicated in Bangkok once." John shook her hand. "I can't tell you how grateful I am for all you did here."

"Anna did most of the work for me. The rest of it the military handled and the liaisons between us and the Afghani Government." Mary paused, "I hope they toss him in a hole with only himself for company. I'd love to see what demons greet him in the dark."

"No thank you." Gwen shuddered, "I want nothing more to do with him."

"I'm with Gwen."

"Just as long as you're also withme in terms of the holiday tie I requested." Gwen played with a ring on her left hand. "Jay and I'd really like to look into that place you recommended to us in Scotland."

"You'll love it." Anna interlaced her fingers with John's. "Papa Johann is the absolutely best."

"Good." Gwen saluted them all, "As you were."

Mary snorted as Gwen walked away, "Bit of power runs to that girl's head."

"Better than alcohol." Anna embraced Mary, "Thank you."

"It was my pleasure." Mary nodded at she and John. "Glad I could repay a long-owed favor."

"Perhaps next time it can be one a bit less serious?" John shook her hand.

"I'd like that. Dinner and a show is far more my style."

"Ours too." John tugged lightly on Anna's hand to take her in the opposite direction and toward their car. "Speaking of dinner-"

"I've got to get back to work." Anna cringed, "I'm sure I mentioned it before."

"You're due any day now."

"I'm not due for another month, excuse you, and as I've told you I'm not an invalid."

"You're exposed to pathogens and things and-"

"And I'm not doing surgeries. It's all paperwork, I promise."

"Then it can wait." John tried to urge her toward the car but Anna shook her head. "Fine. But you're only doing an hour and then we're going somewhere you can find a food you actually like now before I take you home for a foot rub."

"Marry me."

"I already did." They drove to the hospital and John waved Anna inside. "I've just got to get something from the boot."

"What?"

"Just something." He waved toward the doors. "The faster you get started the sooner I can get you home for a foot rub."

"You must've planned some foot rub."

"I thought you knew about my magical fingers."

Anna reddened. "Say another word like that and I'll take you in this car."

"I'd not be opposed."

"The dimensions would." Anna sighed, "Plan for the future though."

"Absolutely." John kissed her quickly. "Go on, get inside."

Anna made her way through the building, smiling at her co-workers and a few of the patients before making it to her office. The files that always loomed over her almost tottered on the desk but she set to work, the promise of a foot rub giving her the motivation she needed, and soon there were actually files in her 'out' box. A box that shifted when the door to her office opened.

If her mouth had not already dropped in shock, Anna might have laughed out loud. But the nervous twitch to John's hands and the red in his cheeks kept her at bay. The entire reason laying below his belt line as a kilt hung from it.

"You said you'd like to see me in one and I promised to get one to wear for you so…"

"At my work?"

"I was going to do it at home, before the foot rub… or after, it wouldn't have mattered, but you needed to work so…"

"Get over here." Anna moved her files out of the way. "This'll be so much easier if you just kiss me."

"How'd you figure?"

"You'll forget what you're wearing and focus on me."

John was on her in a heartbeat and soon she sat on her desk. The dress she wore, with a far more forgiving fabric than many of her other clothes these days, hitched up to her waist and Anna fumbled with the folds of his kilt to find him under there. Their eyes met when she grasped him without restrictions.

"A true Scot?"

"I am Scottish."

"Works for me." Anna spread her legs as widely as she could in her state and John helped her lean back into his supporting arms as he dragged her to the edge of the desk. "This won't take long."

"Good. Because the breeze up this thing already had me going." John drove forward. "But we should keep it for later."

"Definitely." Anna grabbed the back of John's head, forcing their lips together so they could hide their sounds.

Each of John's motions only helped her burn hotter, rise higher, and tighten her hold on him. But a persistent jolt at her back gave her a moment of pause. The edge of pain there, like muscles shifting, tickled something at the corner of her brain. But all her focus went back to John as he finished and then helped her over the edge.

They waited a moment, breathing steadily, before Anna spoke. "John?"

"Hm?" He raised his head from her shoulder.

"I think you need to get us situated and down two floors."

"Why?"

"Because I'm feeling contractions and I think my water might brea-" Anna and John both looked down at the floor as it damped. "That was my water."

John blinked at her and then kissed her as hard as he had all day. Anna blinked at him, as he pulled back. "What was that for?"

"Because you're wonderful." He smiled, "Let's meet our daughter."

"Let's."

Scotland, 1985

John's breaths wheezed out of him, the machine trying to help him breathe switched off as the small, wrinkled hand of the woman sitting by his bedside released her grip for a moment. She turned back to him, her hands covering his far more wrinkled ones, and spoke softly to him in German. "We've had such a long life together, haven't we?"

"More than I could ever have hoped to see." He ran a finger down her face. "We've gotten old together, haven't we?"

"Older than we thought we'd get." She leaned into his hold, her fingers tightening on the hand between her own. "We never imagined we'd be lucky enough to have one another this long."

"Or at all." He whispered. "I still remember, for all the promises I made you at the airport that day, how frightened I was that I'd never see you again."

"I thought the same." She brushed his gray air back from his forehead. "But God brought you back to me."

"He never abandoned us." John managed another wheezing breath. "I love you, Anna. I always have. Perhaps from the first moment I saw you."

"I know I loved you from the first moment I saw you." She smiled, the wrinkles on her sin pulling to show which ones etched there as permanent laugh lines. "I could barely take my eyes off you."

"I promise, to my last moment, my eyes won't leave yours." He blinked, eyelids dropping more each time. "I'll love you however, wherever, and whenever. Because I've loved you for my whole life."

"And I'll love you until the end of mine." She leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his forehead and then his lips. "Sleep now. It's alright."

"I don't… I don't want to leave you."

"You're not." She shrugged up a shoulder. "I'll just have to wait a bit to see you again."

"I'll be waiting."

"It'd be nice for you to wait on me for a change." She laughed and so did he.

"I do love you, Anna."

"I love you John."

And then he breathed no more.