Thanks again for all the reviews everyone! Hope you like the new chapter, sorry it took so long to put up but inspiration has been slow to come these last few days. Enjoy!
February gave way to March as the weeks rolled slowly by. Bates' leg was growing stronger every day, hurting less and less as the weather warmed. Spring was arriving in earnest at Downton. The trees and flowers were all budding out and Anna was also in full bloom. She still had a few weeks to go by the doctor's reckoning but Anna felt as if it were impossible for her to get any bigger. Her belly was now beginning to be quite a burden. Simple tasks such as tying shoelaces and getting out of a chair were proving nearly impossible. Her back ached endlessly and her feet were often swollen at night from carrying the extra weight. Though the air had warmed a bit Anna felt it was hot all the time. She was so tired now that John getting up in the morning didn't wake her. Thankfully she didn't have to worry about his breakfast, there was always a meal ready for him when he arrived at Downton in the mornings. She often asked her husband to soothe her weary muscles with his hands and of course he was happy to oblige. Also she had her mother here with her now to help with the cooking and cleaning and also to help prepare things for the babies. The woman's presence had proved a godsend. Anna's cumbersome middle made it increasingly difficult for her to properly clean her home and she wanted things spotless for when the babies arrived. The babes now moved within her a bit less often, something that had alarmed Anna at first but the doctor assured her that this was normal as they grew and ran out of room to move. Most days now when Anna was bathing or changing clothes she could watch her belly distort as her babes shifted. It was thrilling and bit unsettling at the same time.
Today was John's day off from Downton. He, Anna and Mrs. Smith were having a light lunch. He and her mother were going into town afterwards to fetch a few last things for the nursery. Anna was delighted that John and her mother seemed to be getting on so well. Even though they had been married for nearly three years John had never met her mother, the trip being too long for her to make until now. Anna wouldn't be joining them as they shopped, the journey would be far too long for her to walk all the way and to be honest she wasn't feeling at her best in her current state. She would stay behind while they were out so she could do a bit of spring cleaning. Anna wished she could be a fly on the wall as John and her mother went to town. She was a kind woman but she could be a bit forceful at times, though John no doubt would be able to handle anything that she threw his way. She kissed her husband and her mother goodbye as they walked out of the door. After they left Anna cleared away the lunch plates and tidied up the kitchen then moved on to do some work in the living room. She could hear the birds outside chirping merrily as she worked around the house. Anna smiled to herself, enjoying the simple pleasure of being happy.
John found that he enjoyed the company of Anna's mother. She was a bright woman and he saw where Anna got her wit, her fire and many other of her better attributes. She was a little shorter than Anna but they had the same build. Mrs. Smith's hair had once been blonde like Anna's but time had turned it into a pleasant shade of silver. Here eyes were green however. Anna had inherited her father's blue eyes. He'd been a hard-working man and had raised his children with love and taught them the merits of hard work and having respect for others and for yourself. Sadly he passed away before he could see his daughter grow into the fine young woman she'd become. John was sure Mr. Smith would have been as proud of his daughter as he was. John thanked God every day for sending Anna his way, she was his final redemption after the many long years he'd spend lost in his own life. And now he was shopping for baby things with his mother-in-law. The woman's presence made him miss his own mother. It had been nearly seven years since she'd died but he missed her every day. She had raised him nearly by herself, his father was killed in an accident at the factory he worked at when John was just a baby. Mrs. Bates had taught her son how to read at an early age and instilled in him his love of literature and poetry. He always made excellent marks at school and his mother held hope that he would do well enough to go to college. She was always putting books into his hands when he was young. Bates' childhood was tough but his mother worked hard to make sure he was provided for and his grandparents helped when they could. His mother's mother spoke very little English, Irish being her first and almost only language (and she being too obstinate and proud to better her English.) John had picked it up easily when he was a boy but most of it was gone to him now, though he could still remember a few Irish phrases. She was a kind woman with bright blue eyes who would hug John breathless whenever she came to visit. She passed away when he was only thirteen and he'd never been so heartbroken in his young life. After she was gone things got harder for John and his mother and he had to quit school and leave Ireland to find work. He started out as a hall boy in a grand house in London. After six years he'd grown tall and handsome enough to become a footman. Another three years would see him rise to the rank of first footman. He kept his head down and worked hard. After a time his mother was also able to leave Ireland and move to London where she found work as a seamstress. She even married again, a kind man who worked as a blacksmith and the two of them bought the house that since had been passed to John. Sadly this man passed away while John was away at war, tuberculosis. His mother was heartbroken, so much so that she went back to calling herself Mrs. Bates instead of her new married name. Then Bates met Vera. He was so enamored of her that he allowed her to entice him to quit his job and come work at the house where she was employed. Then came all the heartache that she put him through and the war. As terrible as things were in Africa John was almost grateful for being away from Vera, and of course he'd forged many a strong bond, especially with Robert Crawley, future Earl of Grantham.
"John…John?" Mrs. Smith calling his name snapped John out of his daydream. They'd made it to the store where they would find the items Anna had sent them for. Mrs. Smith went inside to purchase the items and John waited outside. As John waited he spied a familiar couple walking arm in arm at the far end of the path. It was Matthew and Lady Mary out for an afternoon walk. As they approached Bates tipped his hat and gave them a warm smile. The couple looked as happy as Bates felt. After all their years of being apart Bates was glad that they had finally come to their senses and given in to each other.
Lady Mary spoke first, "Ah Bates, what brings you into town."
"Myself and Anna's mother were sent into town to fetch a few last minute things for the babies," John said a bit sheepishly.
"How is Anna? I must admit I miss her terribly. The new girl is nice enough but she's still a bit green I'm afraid. Would you tell Anna I asked after her, I'd love for her to come visit us after the babies are born."
"I will indeed M'Lady. I know she'd love to see you."
"Indeed, well Mr. Bates, Mrs. Smith, good afternoon"
"Good afternoon Lady Mary, Matthew."
And with that the young couple continued their walk back to Crawley House. A few minutes later Mrs. Smith reemerged from the store with the goods Anna sent for. The walk back to the cottage took about an hour but John was grateful for the walk. He and Mrs. Smith talked a little about life as a servant at Downton and about John's time in prison. He told her how steadfast Anna had been while he'd been locked away. As the neared the cottage John could hear what sounded like cries of pain coming from within the house. His heart froze in his chest as he walked as fast as possible and flung open the door. He found Anna standing in the living room. She leaned heavily on the solid loveseat, her hand cradling her belly, her eyes shut tight with pain. Beads of sweat dotted her forehead and her face was flushed. John rushed over to her and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"Anna, are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm alright. But I think it's time for us to send for the doctor. He said he wanted to be the one to deliver me since there are twins coming," Anna said breathlessly, her voice strained with pain.
"We should get her upstairs Mr. Bates," said Mrs. Smith from the doorway, a knowing smile spread across her face. "After she's settled I'll fetch the doctor."
Mrs. Smith came over to help Anna make her way to the bedroom. The wave of pain had passed and Bates helped them as much as he could.
"John, you should stay with her while I'm gone but when we get back you'll have to go downstairs," Mrs. Smith said as they settled Anna on the bed. The older woman then walked downstairs and out the door, her footfalls falling fast upon the path as she hurried toward town. John looked over at his wife, watching her like a hawk. He walked over to her and sat next to her on the bed, drawing a hand up to stroke her face. He felt Anna's grip on his other hand tighten severely as another wave of pain came over her. John did his best to soothe her but he was at a loss for what to do. He knew he couldn't do anything to take away the pain but he stroked the hand she had placed on her belly. He then moved his hand to her belly and was astonished at how hard it felt under his touch. As the pain passed he felt her belly begin to soften again. Anna's breathing regulated and she opened her eyes, smiling at John as they sat together on the bed.
"Is there anything I can do Anna?"
"No dear, just stay here with me until mother returns."
"I'm not going anywhere, wild horses couldn't drag me out of this house until I know you and our babies are safe and healthy."
"Well we might have to wait sometime yet. My mother told me it could day the better part of a day for babies to arrive, sometimes longer."
John's face filled with surprise and worry as Anna told him this. The thought of her in such pain for a day dismayed him to no end. He knew of course that this was what had to happen when babies were born but the thought if his Anna hurting so badly for so long upset him greatly.
"Anna…you know I couldn't go on is something were to happen to you or our babies," he said, laying his hand protectively back on her swollen abdomen.
"I know John, but you must. And don't talk like that. I know you always fear for the worst but this time you mustn't. We'll be fine. I think the good Lord has sent us enough trials for a lifetime."
John sincerely hoped that was true.