He tried to concentrate. The chair he was sitting in was entirely too uncomfortable. He couldn't keep his hands still. He was sure the woman next to him was becoming increasingly irritated. The auditorium was dark, John was glad for that. His flat cap disguised him to a point. He focused on Joseph on the corner of the stage, his character delivering a monologue that John knew word for word from the times he had helped him to practice,the last scene in the play and the big ending. Yet his mind drifted again.

Tomorrow morning a car would be collecting him to take him to his first day working on Downton Grange. Highclere School in the depths of leafy Surrey would be his destination, John staying in a nearby hotel for the next few weeks whilst they filmed the scenes that would take place in the grounds of the school. John had never felt so nervous before over a role. Perhaps it was the prospect of joining the cast of one of the country's most popular shows, perhaps it was because this was his first major role since his rather public marriage breakdown. He couldn't pinpoint one reason why.

The sound of the audience clapping startled John, he looking around to see some of those gathered on their feet. John decided to join them, managing to look to Joseph who nodded subtly in his direction. He wanted to be there for his friend, of course he did but he supposed it was the prerogative of an actor. You needed a tiny bit of an ego to be successful. As long as you had that person who kept it in check, you would be alright. John supposed he and Joseph were that grounding influence on one another.

As the audience began to filter out, John made his way backstage. He was shown to Joseph's dressing room by a stage hand, Joseph eagerly ushering his friend inside for the post show debrief. John assured his friend he was amazing, hence the standing ovation and rapturous applause. It was true, Joseph was an exceptional actor. He had just never found his big break. He was well known in West End circles and was continually in work. Most actors would give anything for that.

'How are you feeling about tomorrow?' Joseph changed the subject, 'nervous?'

'A little,' John replied, cocking his head to the side. 'Although I don't know why. I've done hundreds of television roles. This one feels different, I can't put my finger on why yet.'

'You'll smash it, John. I know it and deep down, you know it.' John smiled upon hearing his friend's words. 'I on the other hand will be doing crap plays in small theatres and earning next to nothing for the rest of my life.'

John shook his head. 'You do fine for yourself, and as long as you are my friend, you'll never struggle, Joe. You know that. I owe you so much. '

'Yeah, well...' The two friends met the others gaze, an understanding passing between them that didn't need words. It was Joseph who broke the silence.

'Anyway, get out of here you big girls blouse,' he punched John on the shoulder. 'I'm very busy and important. There is a journalist outside wanting to talk to me apparently. Don't wait up.'

'Alright,' John walked towards the door. 'I'm leaving early in the morning, so probably won't see you. I'll call you in a couple of days.'

'Yep, whatever. Good luck, break a leg and all that crap.'

John stopped to look back at Joseph over his shoulder. He grinned. 'Thanks mate. Take it easy.'

Joseph laughed. 'When do I ever not?'

Anna looked at herself once more in the mirror. She knew she didn't have to worry too much about what she looked like, the make up artists would take care of that when she arrived on set. She ran a hand through her freshly washed and dried hair and exhaled a deep breath. First day of filming always filled her with nerves.

'Do you really have to leave this early?'

Closing her eyes, Anna tried to keep her patience as yet another grumble came from the bed she had shared with Jack the night previously. It had been a surprise to see him at her door last night. A nice surprise, but something really unexpected. Something that had thrown her preparations a mile off course.

'I have to be on set before ten, so yes, I have to leave this early.' Anna sat on the edge of the bed, Jack moving closer to her and taking her hand in his.

'I go away for three months in a couple of days.'

She rolled her eyes. 'Yes Jack, and who's fault is that?'

'I know,' Jack rolled away from Anna to look at the ceiling. 'It's all my fault, I'm a terrible person and an even more terrible boyfriend. How dare I want to chase my dream that I've worked so hard for.'

'I have dreams too, Jack.' Her phone buzzed on the dresser. 'That will be my driver. Now are you going to give me a proper goodbye or shall we leave each other on an argument?'

Smirking, Anna caught Jack's gaze. He rolled back towards her, his arms outstretched. 'Come here, baby.'

Soon, Anna found herself hurtling out of Central London, the early hour meaning the roads were not yet as busy as usual. She had the scripts for Downton Grange on the seat beside her, deciding to use the hour and a half journey to familiarise herself with the first script once more. It was exciting to be going back to work on the show once more, Anna loved her cast mates and indeed her character, Charlotte Atkins. It would be fun to revisit her this time around.

She was going to miss Jack, there was no denying it. They had been dating for over a year now. He was the first proper relationship she had had in a while, having been burned in her early twenties. She didn't like all the time they spent apart however. Jack had let her down a lot recently. And she still wasn't over the fact he wouldn't be there for her birthday. But that was how it had to be, despite how much Anna hated the idea.

Anna soon began to recognise her surroundings as they travelled closer to Highclere School. The cast would be spending the next four to six weeks on location at the school, then a further ten weeks at the studios in London. This was her favourite time, however. Away from the hustle and bustle and in what seemed like the virtual wilderness. No photographers, no journalists. Heaven.

In the make up and wardrobe trailer, she spent a good fifteen minutes catching up with all the artists and costume designers. It wasn't just your co stars you built up a rapport with, it was the people who worked behind the scenes too. Anna had enjoyed learning all about their families, genuinely interested in what had happened since they had last seen each other.

Now ready and dressed to be Miss Charlotte Atkins once again, Anna decided to go back to her trailer and wait to be called. Just as she turned the corner towards her trailer, she stopped dead as she noticed John pacing the gravel outside his own trailer. He was in costume, Peter Henderson had come to life before her very eyes.

The tailored three piece navy suit he was wearing fit John very well. John looked up then and Anna met his gaze. He looked awkward, she was coming to realise she could possibly be spending a lot of their initial interactions together reassuring him. Anna began to walk towards him, John remaining frozen to the spot.

'Hi there,' Anna began, holding her hand out for John to shake. He accepted it, Anna feeling him squeeze her hand gently. 'You okay?'

'Yeah, I'm due on set with Robert in five.' He gestured towards the trailer. 'He's on the phone to his wife, just waiting for him out here. It's too hot in there.'

'It does get warm in the trailers,' Anna agreed. 'Your first scene with Robert, is it?'

'It is, apparently we're the first scene this series so you know, no pressure.'

'You'll do great,' Anna rested an hand on his upper arm.

'Come on then, Bates.' Robert announced his arrival, appearing at the trailer door. 'Let's not keep them waiting any longer.' Anna and John shared a smile, Robert really was a larger than life character. He walked down the stairs from the trailer before pulling Anna into his embrace. 'Anna, you lovely lady. How are you?'

'Very well Rob, and yourself?'

'Good good,' Robert replied before banging John on the back. 'Even better knowing we have this man on board.'

'Stop it Rob, you'll make me blush.' John replied, looking at Anna sheepishly from under his furrowed brow. 'Shall we get moving? They already know about you but I'd like them to think I'm always on time to set for the first couple of days at least.'

Anna smiled at that, John was actually quite witty at times. 'Good luck, I'll pop over and see you in a bit.'

'Make sure you do, Anna. You might learn something,' Robert winked at her, Anna smacking him in the arm as he passed her. Then she noticed John looking at her over his shoulder as he walked away. He smirked slightly, and Anna momentarily felt herself rooted to the spot on which she found herself, unable to look away. She didn't know why, but as soon as it happened it was over and John and Robert were striding away from her, being met by one of the crew and disappearing into the school building. A man in a suit had always been a weakness she had possessed, although none of her fellow male cast mates had ever caused this reaction from her. Turning on her heel and sighing, Anna continued the journey towards her trailer.

It was an hour later when Anna found herself on set with Gwen, some of their other cast mates and the crew gathered around to watch the scene between John and Robert that would be the first one in the can for the new series of Downton Grange. They were in the school's car park, Robert's character, the headmaster James Gallagher meeting Peter just as he arrives for his first day at work. They were on the second or third take, Anna wasn't sure.

'They look good back together, don't they?' Gwen remarked, obviously remembering the two from their days in Camouflage. Anna nodded, finding herself completely drawn in as the director called action. John and Robert played out the scene before them.

'Peter, welcome to Downton Grange,' Robert's character began in his usual booming tone for which he had become famous. 'Thank you for accepting the post.'

'James, nice to see you again,' they shook hands, it so obvious in the way they acted the two of their characters had some sort of backstory. 'And thank you, for offering me the position.'

'Don't be so ridiculous, the school is lucky to have you and your teaching skills.' Robert began to walk away towards the entrance to the school's reception. 'Now come, and let me introduce you to your new colleagues.'

After looking up at the school building and around his new surroundings, John began to follow before the director shouted, 'cut!' Applause erupted from those gathered, Anna joining in and laughing as Robert ran back towards John and wrapped him in his embrace. 'Excellent, much better that time around.'

There was a flurry of activity then as the crew prepared the cast for the next scene to be shot, that of John meeting his new colleagues in the school's reception. Anna liked these scenes in which the whole of the main ensemble were involved. They were required to form themselves into a line ready to greet the new teacher on the scene. Robert would bring John down the line and introduce each character to him. It was also a clever way to remind viewers whom each character was ready for the beginning of the second series. A rehearsal later and the scene was ready to be shot.

Anna was finding it more difficult to not watch John as he acted. He just oozed charisma and charm, it seemed his performance was effortless. She tried to remember Charlotte's line when John's character reached her, she didn't want to be the reason for them to have to film the whole scene over again. Especially when it seemed so far they'd be getting this one in one take.

'I am looking forward to working closely with you in the Maths department, David.' John was currently talking to Charles' character, the elder man clearly showing his characters nose is out of joint with the arrival of Peter.

'Just remember who was here first,' Charles replied crossly, offering John a wry smile. Anna steadied herself as John and Robert came to a stop before her. John locked eyes with her, Anna trying to focus on her cue from Robert. Why did she feel like this?

'And this is Charlotte Atkins. She teaches Biology and is a year seven form tutor, like yourself.' The other characters had dropped out of line at this point having already met Peter, leaving John, Anna and Robert standing together.

'Hello Peter, welcome to Downton,' Anna began, finding the confidence Charlotte has always possessed. 'It must have been daunting being made to meet everyone like that.'

'A little,' John chuckled, looking to Robert who had the next line.

'What? Meet everyone in one hit, saves time if you ask me.' Robert moved away from them then, leaving John and Anna to finish the scene themselves.

'Nervous?' Anna's character asked John. John nodded before Anna placed a hand on his forearm. 'Don't worry, if you need anything please just ask me. I'll look after you.'

Their gaze remained locked on one another's for a moment, both aware of trying to make it appear that something could happen between their characters, and perhaps Anna's line having a little bit of truth in real life. She wanted John to feel welcome. Anna didn't want to admit to herself she was unable to avert her eyes partly because she found John's gaze that intense.

'And cut!' the director shouted once more, John nodding towards Anna before stepping away to look at the man in charge. 'Excellent, brilliant. The most professional cast on television.'

'Well done, first scene done,' Anna said to John, 'it only gets easier from here.'

John laughed at that. 'Having seen the upcoming scripts, I'm not sure about that but thank you for your encouraging words. I'm sure having to act the majority of them with you will make them undoubtedly easier.'

Anna felt her cheeks blush a little as John was called away. She watched him leave. It wasn't often she was left feeling like this by any man. There was something about John she couldn't quite put her finger on, especially since she had seen him in his costume this morning.

'John's great, isn't he?'

Turning her head, Anna saw Gwen standing beside her. She nodded in agreement. 'Yes, he certainly is that.'