We're finally here at the end of the story. I hope that everyone enjoyed the ride. We're a few months later in finishing it than I had planned, but none the less, I hope it meets everyone's expectations. Please let me know what you think of it, all reviews and feedback gratefully accepted.
"So we're not going back to the seaside tomorrow?"
"No darling, we aren't leaving yet. It looks like your little brother or sister is coming out of Mummy's tummy."
"Oh. Why is it coming now?"
John had to take a moment to pause and consider how to answer this question. Josie was firmly ensconced on his lap, wrapped back into her dressing gown and bereft of her adventurous footwear, with a large mug of warm milk on the table beside her. Mary had already taken her errant son back to bed, and John suspected a private telling off would follow once the relief of his return had faded from Mary's countenance.
"Mummy said the baby had more growing to do."
"Well..."
John did not believe in telling outright lies to children, with the sole exception of the story of Father Christmas. He also believed in make sure that his daughter, even at her young age, understood that her actions would affect other people and that sometimes there would be consequences that would follow from them. However, he did not want Josie to blame herself if anything went wrong with the birth of her little sibling, or ... God forbid... if anything should happen to her mother.
"What's wrong Daddy?"
John turned back to Josie and realised that an answer was needed.
"Well darling, the baby was supposed to do some more growing. But you know Mummy has been poorly and needed to rest?"
"Don't all Mummies get poorly when babies grow?"
"Yes most of them do, but Mummy has been specially poorly."
"Oh."
Josie sipped her milk, a little shadow creeping over her face.
"Well, Mummy was sad and a bit scared when she couldn't find you and we didn't know where you were. And because she was sad, the baby in her tummy was sad too. And we think the baby wanted to come out early, because of this."
"To look for me?"
It wasn't exactly the truth, but it would do for now.
"Perhaps darling yes. Because the baby could tell that Mummy was worried about you."
"Oh."
That was a very different 'Oh.' John could hear the timbre of her little voice drop a bit.
"Is the baby going to be OK?"
"We hope so darling. The doctor and Aunt Isobel are in Mummy's bedroom helping her now."
"Can I go and see her?"
"Not right now sweetheart, we don't want to get in the way."
There was a little pause and then, with a quiver in her little voice, Josie asked her final question, which shot straight through her father's heart.
"Is... is Mummy going to be OK?"
John gathered his daughter in close, wrapping her in his arms.
"I hope so sweetheart. I really hope so."
"I want to go to bed Daddy, so I can say my prayers for Mummy and the Baby."
John's voice choked for an instant, forcing him to swallow hard and blink rapidly.
"Ok sweetheart. Let's go and do that. Then you need to get some sleep, so you can help me look after them in the morning, alright."
"Alright."
...
Once John had tucked Josie back into bed and left her under the vigilant care of Miss Greyson, he drifted back towards the Ripon room, to find Mary, Henry and Tom waiting outside, with Barrow standing guard at the end of the corridor near the stairs to the servant's areas, ready to run and fetch more towels or hot water at a moment's notice.
"Any news?" he asked.
Mary shook her head, exhausted, slumped into the chair that John had carried down from the nursery for Anna to rest on. Tom and Henry both greeted John with claps on the shoulder, silent gestures of solidarity from men who had endured their own wives giving birth behind closed doors. Tom, particularly, looked pale, bad memories of another birth in this house coming back to haunt him.
"Things are quieter now," said Henry softly. "I don't know if that's a good sign?"
"It could go either way," said Mary.
"We're possibly in for a long night. Josie's birth wasn't quick."
"No... but Josie's birth wasn't early either."
A silence descended on the little group. There was nothing more to say, or do.
They could only wait.
...
Inside the Ripon room, for the first time since going to bed after agreeing to stay the night, Dr Clarkson was beginning to feel more optimistic. Anna's pulse had strengthened, her blood pressure had dropped back down and the labour was progressing quickly, but according to a pattern that he recognised.
"That's it Anna, little breaths, you're doing so well dear..."
How he could ever have thought he would manage this without Isobel was beyond him. She had been a tower of strength.
"Alright Anna," he said softly. "We're nearly there now, baby's in position, and next time you feel the contraction, give us one almighty push, and you can meet the little thing..."
Anna nodded, took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, taking hold of Isobel's hand again.
"Oh God... here it comes..."
"Push Anna, push..."
With one long gut wrenching groan, a tense few seconds of frantic activity and a lusty wail, Baby Bates finally made it into the world.
"Oh..." Anna gasped, slumping against Isobel. "Is it... is it..."
"It's a boy Anna. And while he's small, he's got a set of lungs on him!"
"A Boy!"
"Yes dear, a beautiful boy..."
"Can I see him...?"
Dr Clarkson deftly wrapped baby into a warmed towel, snipping the umbilical cord, handing him gently over to Isobel, preparing to finish up Anna's third stage of labour. He smiled to himself, relieved beyond measure. The baby was small, he guessed about four to five pounds, maybe a shade more but not much. But he was strong, and determined.
"Here you are dear..."
Anna summoned the rest of her strength to prop herself up on the pillow, holding out her arms for the little bundle.
"Well hello there..." she said softly, smiling down at the little red screaming face, teasing a finger into the towel to smooth back a soft lock of dark hair. "Hello little man..."
"Shall I go and tell John?"
Anna's face turned to meet Isobel's with a radiant smile.
"Yes... go and tell him... we're fine. And I'll see him soon."
"Won't be long now Anna, and we'll get you all cleaned up and ready to rest."
Isobel breathed her own immense sigh of relief.
...
Outside the room, John and the others had heard the baby's cry and were waiting with baited breath.
"It's alright," said Isobel, softly, her face shining with joy. "It's alright, John. Anna's fine. And you're a father again. It's a little boy."
All of the tension drained out of John, his shoulders and head dropped as if a puppet master had cut his strings. Henry and Tom seized an arm each, shaking his hand in congratulations, while even the stoic Lady Mary embraced Isobel, tears trickling down her face from sheer relief and exhaustion.
"Can I see her?"
"Give Dr Clarkson and me a few more minutes. We just need to tidy up. So to speak. And then you can come in."
"Alright."
Mary motioned for John to sit in the chair she had just vacated. He gratefully sank into it, joy and relief rendering him weaker than water.
"John Bates, if you were any other many, I'd be pouring you a scotch, but I reckon I could assemble a cup of tea instead?"
Tom's face was beaming, relieved that this story was being blessed with a happy ending.
"Why don't you leave that to me sir?"
Barrow appeared beside them, his own face suspiciously white, his eyes shining, and his hand hastily stuffing a hankie back into his pocket. He offered his hand to John, openly.
"Congratulations, John Bates."
John grasped his hand openly.
"Thank you, Thomas Barrow. And thank you for finding my daughter. "
"All in a day's work, Mr Bates. Mr Carson would have done the same."
"Yes he would Barrow. Yes he would."
...
The door opened softly.
"Knock knock? Can I come in?"
"You certainly can, Daddy Bates..."
Drenched, wrung out, thin and pale as she was, Anna had rarely looked more beautiful to John than she did propped up in bed with his son wrapped warmly in her arms. Baby Bates had been bathed, dressed into a little baby suit purloined from the nursery and wrapped into a powder blue cashmere blanket. Anna, in a fresh nightgown and with a warm tartan shawl wrapped around her shoulders, was radiant with happiness.
"How is he?"
"He's beautiful."
"Obviously... but other than that?"
"Doctor says he's small, but strong. He'll need extra careful tending for a little while, while he puts on a bit of weight, and he might be a bit delicate, but he should be fine."
"Well hello there, son..."
John pulled the blanket to one side gently so that he could see his son's face. Sleeping peacefully, lips puckered as if in memory of his recent first meal, long dark lashes resting against his pink cheeks, John marveled at how he and his wife had managed to create a second perfect little life.
"We're going to need a name for you..."
"Would you not like a Jack? Or John Junior, like the Americans say?"
John shook his head. "He's already a Bates. He already has the most important bit of the name sorted. I would like a Bible name, but there's plenty to choose from."
Anna turned to offer the baby to her husband, who opened his arms to accept him readily, expertly joggling him as he perched on the edge of the bed.
"John...?"
"Hmmm?"
"I have an idea. It's only an idea, and if you don't like it just say."
"Say it dear. What is it?"
"Well ... I've been thinking of how kind everyone's been to us. And how there's some people that I really couldn't have made it through all this without, other than you. And I know what I want to name the baby."
John listened and felt the warmth spreading through him, knowing that Anna had found the perfect answer.
...
Eventually, Downton Abbey's residents settled down to sleep. Mary prudently gave Thomas instructions to keep Sunday hours the following day, and not to expect anyone downstairs for breakfast before 9am. Mrs Greyson would see to the children when they woke, but the adults might need a little more time.
Henry had appeared to make one more visit to the Ripon room before bed, bearing a Moses Basket and pile of little blankets. He said little, smiled much and left the family in peace. Anna felt all over again that Mary had been as wise in her second choice of husband as she had in her first.
When the morning dawned, the snow had finally slowed to a scattering of flakes. The countryside was shrouded in deep white drifts, icy white, clean as linen sheets. John woke to find his wife ensconsed in the arm chair, feeding their son.
"Good morning," he said softly.
"Good morning," Anna placed the baby against her shoulder, patting his back to help wind him. She looked brighter for a few hours sleep and had clearly felt all of her old maternal instincts kicking in for a second time around.
"How are we all?"
"Well ... we're both just fine. But I think it's time for this little man to meet the rest of the family, don't you?"
"I'll go and get her, and arrange some breakfast for you."
"Thank you darling."
In record time, John was dressed and looking remarkably presentable, given his few hours of sleep and stressful emotional night. He went downstairs first, asked in the dining room for a tray to go up to Anna, assured everyone that they had passed a comfortable night. Then his next stop was the nursery.
The children were just finishing up their breakfast, empty cornflake bowls were being stacked by Miss Greyson and toast with jam was being munched in contentment. Josie was sat next to George, wearing a borrowed maroon dress with white socks and her little dancing shoes. She looked pale, and serious, playing with the corner of her crust.
"Good morning everyone."
"Daddy!"
Josie was out of her seat and into her Daddy's arms in no time, planting a sticky jammy kiss on his cheek.
"Is Mummy ok? Is the baby ok?"
"They are both fine my darling, and you've got a new little brother who wants to meet you."
Miss Greyson watched them go down the corridor fondly, the big man with the limp and the little girl who skipped beside him, holding his hand. She was glad things had worked out well for this little family.
John motioned to Josie to be quiet before they went into the room, having explained to her that babies need lots of sleep, so Josie crept in on tip toes and kept her little voice to a theatrical whisper. Anna badly wanted to giggle, but didn't dare, for fear of offending one of her children and waking the other.
Josie tried her hardest to be impressed with her brother, but felt deep down that babies were rather boring, if they were all like this one. He looked very pink and his eyes weren't even open properly yet. His little fingers were very cute though. Mummy explained that he would get bigger and be able to do more stuff as he got older, but that seemed like a very long time to wait.
There was a gentle tap at the door.
"That will be your breakfast, Mummy," said John, heaving to his feet.
To his surprise, he found Isobel outside the door holding a tray.
"May I come in?"
"Isobel! You didn't have to bring that up for me..."
Anna was delighted to see her, nonetheless.
"I know I didn't. But the truth is, I accosted the maid and relieved her of the job. I wanted to see you."
"Come in... sit down... come and meet the newest member of the Bates family... "
Isobel set down the tray,and went to see the baby.
"He is a bonny little thing isn't he. Have you thought of a name yet?"
Anna and John looked at each other.
"Actually, we think so yes..."
...
Later that morning, the phone rang over at Yew Tree Farm. The Masons and the Moseleys were sat huddled together in the snug, all of them ostensibly trying to keep busy with order forms, knitting and sewing, and all failing, constantly darting glances over towards the telephone, which had hung dead in its cradle all morning. An hour since, they had given up speculating on the news from the Abbey and resolved to just wait it out.
Bill leaped out of his chair and caught up the phone in no time.
"Yew Tree Farm? ... John! ... No no, we're fine, it's you we were all ... yes? ... and Anna ...? Oh, oh that's ... that's marvellous news John, right marvellous news. Are you staying put a bit? ... Aye, very wise lad, don't risk anything ... And the little one? ... oh... oh well that's lovely. I'm right pleased for you. Yes I'll tell the others. Take all of our love to Anna ... I'll get him now..."
Bill turned and beckoned furiously.
"Joseph? You're wanted on the phone."
"M..me?" Joseph scrambled to his feet and hurried over to take the receiver. Bill settled himself down back into his arm chair, the others clustering around him.
"That were John" he said unnecessarily. "Calling from the Abbey."
"Well we knew that much!"exploded Mrs Patmore. "What did he have to say?"
"Anna had the baby. Early hours of this morning. Early yes, but strong and healthy. Luckily the Clarksons were there to help and everything went alright eventually. They're going to stay there at least a night or two until the snow's cleared, then decide what to do next"
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief.
"What's she had, Bill?"
"A little boy."
A smile spread across Phyllis's face. One of each for the Bates family. How wonderful.
"Did John say what they're going to call him?"
"Aye, they've picked a name out. A mighty fine one too."
"What did he say?"
"You'll find out in a few minutes."
The phone pinged as Joseph replaced the receiver. As he turned back and came to join the others, Phyllis noticed that his eyes were brimming.
"Whatever's the matter dear? Did John have bad news?"
"No dear, not at all. The... the very best news, in fact."
"What did he say?"
Joseph took a deep breath.
"John asked if you and I would like to be Godparents, to their new son."
Phyllis gasped for joy.
"Godparents?"
"Yes ... us and the Clarksons. John said... he said that they never would have made it through all this without us taking on the Gull's Nest, and without the Clarksons getting them over here, into your care, and getting Anna through the birth last night."
Phyllis reached for her husband's hand as he smiled, his eyes now streaming a little.
"He ..uh...he also asked me to let you all know they've decided on a name. Matthew Joseph Bates."
Joy and love shone out of every single face as the significance of the names sank in.
"Matthew Joseph Bates," said Bill softly. "Well," his grin spread wide, splitting his face with delight. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I think that's just grand."
FIN.