Well if anyone was looking for fluff you'll be quite happy with this chapter!

Bates took his time walking down to the servants hall. Ever since his return from prison he'd made a promise to himself that he would take time to enjoy things, to observe the world around him. Bates took a quiet moment to admire how beautiful the grand house was. Evening was his favorite time of day at Downton; the light from the setting sun filtered through the many windows in the house giving the rooms a beautiful orange glow. As he walked down a long corridor Isis ambled along to be given some attention. The yellow lab was getting a bit of age on her now and she didn't bound about as she used to. Bates reached down and scratched behind the playful canine's ears until she was satisfied and left him to make her way to the kitchen, no doubt to see if there was a scrap or two to be had from Mrs. Patmore. It made Bates sad to see the effects of time on the dog. It reminded him of his own infirmities and the fact that he was certainly no longer a young man. In a month he'd be celebrating his 50th birthday and some days he felt every one of those years. He often wondered what things would be like if he hadn't been injured in Africa those many years ago. Bates didn't like to think on what he had witnessed during the Boer War. Besides the killing and horrors of that nature there were the atrocities taking place in the camps where their enemies along with their wives and children were sent if they were captured. Disease and hunger were rampant. The images of men, women and children who had turned into walking skeletons from hunger had been burned into Bates brain. When he had been shot in the leg and returned to England he'd hoped being away from everything would help him forget the nightmarish things he'd witnessed. However this was not the case. Many nights he had ghoulish nightmares of the starving people reaching out to him for help. The only thing that helped chase away the terrible images was alcohol and he quickly became a complete drunkard.

That was fifteen years ago. Now he was a completely different man with a wife who loved him and a job he enjoyed. Bates often wished his mother were still here. He had so many things he wanted to tell her, wanted her to see how happy he'd become after so many years of misery. He was grateful at least that she'd met Anna, a result of the young woman's investigative prowess. She'd liked the girl instantly and knew that her son would be in good, loving hands should they ever be able to marry. When she had passed away Anna had been a force of strength for him to draw upon as he grieved. She'd come with him to the funeral even though he hadn't asked her to. If he'd ever doubted his love for her or hers for him before he surely hadn't after that day. Bates had never thought in his life that he would ever be so happy as he was now. He knew for certain that Anna was his reward for suffering through all the misery he'd endured over the last fifteen years.

Bates walked through the entry way into the servant's dining area and sat down heavily at the table. It felt wonderful to sit after being on his feet for so long. He pulled the small novel he'd been reading out of his coat pocket and settled in to finish a few chapters. The small print on the page was getting harder for him to make out lately. He was certain that he'd have to invest in a pair of spectacles soon. While he read Daisy brought him a cup of tea along with some cream and sugar. He said thank you and smiled at the kind young woman. Over the ten years he'd worked at Downton she'd grown from a timid young girl to a fine young lady. Bates fixed up his tea to his liking and took a sip of the steaming liquid. The tea at Downton was always lovely and today was no different. As he read Carson came in and sat at his usual place at the table, sighing heavily as he took his seat. Mr. Carson was never one who could be called lazy but he still tended to overwork himself. Mrs. Hughes neverending mission was to get the butler to take things easy. The butler was able to steal a few minutes of rest before he had to get up again to ring the gong to let everyone know it was time to change. Bates put his book back in his pocket and followed the other servants upstairs to go to their respective duties.

It was a long walk back to the cottage that Anna and Bates shared. He had left Downton a little after eight, having gotten his Lordship squared away for the evening. The air was quite cool but Bates didn't mind. He loved the autumn, even if the cooler air meant an increase in trouble with his leg. He could smell the wood fire of the stove as he neared their cottage. Anna would be putting the final preparations on their dinner. When they could they tried to have dinner at home together. The smell of the cooking dinner greeted him as he opened the door and walked in. Anna was a wonderful cook, a byproduct of the fact that she began her career as a kitchen maid. For dinner she had made John's favorite, shepherd's pie. The smell of it made his mouth water. As he shut the door and placed his cane in the usual spot Anna came over to him and planted a soft kiss on his lips. He held her face in his hands as she broke the kiss, looking deep into his wife's blue eyes. She looked quite tired and was still pale. But there was a gleam in her eye that he'd noticed lately, like she held some secret. He held the back of his hand to her head, feeling for a fever.

"My darling what are you doing? I'm not ill, I don't have a fever."

"No you don't but you do feel a bit warm. Are you feeling alright? You look quite worn out my dear."

"Oh yes I'm fine my dear. Just a bit tired. Now stop worrying about me and come sit down. Dinner's nearly ready."

Bates did as his wife told him. He sat at the table where she had laid their dishes. Even though they had electricity in the house Anna preferred to use candles when they ate dinner, giving things a more romantic feel. As he sat down she came over to him and ran her fingers down his hand. She then grabbed his hand and pulled it up to her mouth, kissing the knuckles. Bates smiled at his wife's tenderness.

Anna then spoke. "My dearest John. I have something to tell you. I went to the doctor today. You were correct in your observation that I haven't been well lately. The doctor confirmed what I thought could be the cause of it." Tears started to well up in Anna's eyes. Bates could feel his heartbeat speed up. Oh God. Please don't let her be ill. I couldn't bear if I lost her.. She then took his hand and placed it gently on her belly and covered it with her own. A smile unlike anything he'd ever seen from her spread across her face. Her features radiated pure happiness as tears of joy started to run down her cheeks. Bates heart jumped up into his throat and he gave a little gasp as he realized what she was about to reveal.

"Anna, my darling, are you telling me...are you…"

"We're going to have a baby John. You're going to be a father."

Bates look stunned for a moment as the information sunk in. He, John Bates, was going to be a father. His Anna was going to have a baby, his baby! Bates could feel himself grinning like a madman as he stood up and looked down at his wife. His beautiful Anna. He didn't think it was possible to fall more in love with this radiant angel but in this moment he had. He cupped her face in his hands once more and kissed her forehead, then hugged her close to him. As they spoke his eyes kept looking down to her belly.

"Oh my darling girl. You had me worried there for a moment. With all the villagers getting sick with TB lately I thought you might have caught it."

"No my dear, doctor Clarkson says what I've been experiencing is typical for a woman in my condition. He says I need to make sure to get enough rest and to make sure I don't overwork myself, especially since I'm not exactly a young woman anymore." This last comment made John remember what he'd been thinking about earlier. He was going to be fifty soon. He couldn't think of anyone he knew becoming a father at his age. But he wouldn't think on that now. If he could muster half as much love for their child as he felt for Anna in this moment then he'd be a happy man.

"So tell me my dear, are you pleased?"

"Oh Anna of course I'm pleased. I've wanted this for us since we got married. I just hope I can keep up with a baby."

"I'm sure you'll be just fine. Any child would be lucky to have you as a father."

"And you as a mother my darling." He kissed her again, long and deep before she went back to readying their dinner. The meal was delicious, as always. After dinner they went up to their room. One of the few luxuries that John was always grateful for was the big tub that he and Anna had purchased so they could bathe together if they wished. Anna and he worked together to fill the tub with hot water before disrobing and slipping in. Anna sat with her back against John's chest. As they soaked their tired bodies in the tub John rubbed his wife's shoulders. He'd do his best to pamper her while she carried his child, it was the least he could do in exchange for the beautiful gift she'd be giving him. As they bathed he let his mind wander. He wondered what their baby would look like, whether it would be a boy or a girl. He couldn't wait to see Anna's body change as their baby grew within her. As he thought on these things he prayed silently that their baby would be healthy and that Anna would come to no harm during her pregnancy. He would do anything in his power to keep her and their baby safe. He placed his hands over her belly protectively and kissed her shoulder. She sighed happily and placed her own hands over his.

"I love you Anna."

"And I love you John. Ready for bed?"

"I am if you are my dear."

As they lay in bed together John traced his thick fingers over Anna's belly, drawing little circles where his child lay within. He still had a happy smile spread across his face.

"I wish my mother were still here. She would have loved a grandchild. I'm an only child so I was her only hope to be a grandmother. If the baby's a girl I'd like to name her after my mother, if that's alright with you."

"Of course it's alright my dear. I think she'd like that very much." Anna stroked John's hair, mirroring the slow strokes he ministered to her belly. John then kissed her belly and said, "Goodnight baby." Anna smiled at her husband's tenderness and settled into his arms as they both drifted off into sleep.