Anna stopped, holding at her back as the pain shot through there. Branson turned toward her, the new server stopping as well. "You alright boss?"

"Just back pain. It's been bothering me since this morning."

"Want a lie down?"

"It was fine earlier. It's just gotten worse now I think. It'll pass." Anna went to the back, behind the bar. She managed to make it into the store room before another jolt of pain had her grabbing for the wall. Anna dug her fingers into the metal, holding herself up until the pain passed. She walked forward and gasped again, only keeping herself up by grabbing for the storage shelves just to her right.

"That's not normal back pain." Branson came to her side, helping her sit down. "Want me to get the Doctor?"

"No, I don't need-" Anna seized, reaching for something and clutching it in a bone-crushing grip as another spasm of pain contorted her body. When it passed Anna realized she had grabbed Branson's hand and the poor man was trying to extricate his fingers from her hold. Anna released, cringing. "Sorry."

"This isn't normal pain boss."

"No I don't think so." Anna groaned with another contraction of her muscles.

"I'll get the Doctor."

Anna nodded, trying to breathe easily as she rested against the back wall of the storage closet. The bar was quiet, a few hours from opening, and the lack of other noise just amplified the terror gripping Anna as the baby moved within her. Her hand clung to the storage shelf, digging in her fingers as her muscles tightened to wrangle another level of pain from her. Sweat beaded on her forehead and Anna struggled to force air into her constricting lungs.

Another surge of pain ripped through her and Anna gritted her teeth in an attempt to keep the volume down on the shout echoing around the storage room. A rattle at the door alerted her to someone opening the storage room but her vision hazed with the numbing pain and she could only make out a broad figure. Hands came around her, moving her to the floor, and sat behind her.

"Anna I'm here." She clawed into the shirt sleeve of the arm wrapped around her shoulders, burying her head in John's neck as he held her close to him, "It'll be alright."

Anna tried to nod but instead she groaned, the pain digging into the small of her back. She scrabbled a hand on hers, forcing John to put his own hand there. He caught on quickly, rubbing in an attempt to reduce the ache. Anna sighed, temporary release proving just enough to keep the edge off her suffering.

The door opened again and Anna heard Branson's voice calling out to her before Doctor Clarkson's face hazed in her vision. "Anna, can you hear me? Nod if you can so you don't have to speak."

Anna nodded, clawing into John's hand holding hers as fresh sweat broke over her forehead. Doctor Clarkson surveyed the area and sighed, removing his coat. "We don't have time to move you so we need to work here."

"Why?" Anna tried to move, looking down, and cried out at the sight of blood. "Doctor, what's wrong?"

"It could be nothing but I don't want you to move."

Anna clung tighter to John and he wrapped his arms move securely around her. The pain fogged her senses and she struggled to hear what anyone said. John's soothing voice was gibberish in her ears as her body convulsed and quivered in his hold. Sometimes he would move her, manipulating her body to a different position for the Doctor, but mostly he just held her tight to him, giving the only comfort he could with his body wrapped around her.

"Alright Anna," Doctor Clarkson's voice cut through the tumult and Anna forced herself to focus on the details of his mustache to stop herself moving back to the fog. "I need you to push now. Use the pain to do it."

John wrapped Anna's hand in his while her fingers dug into the trouser covering his cybernetic leg. She pushed, screaming out her pain while pulling her knees toward her chest, and then flopped back onto John's chest. His hands rubbed her arms, keeping her close as the Doctor looked over the baby.

Anna hauled air into her lungs and turned to John, "Why isn't he crying?"

"I don't know." John kept her in place when Anna tried to move. "The Doctor's checking him now."

Anna went to say something else before her body contracted again and she slumped on John. Doctor Clarkson made an approving noise, recording almost to himself, "Placental expulsion good. Everything intact, no detectable tears. I've never seen a first delivery this fast. Might have something to do with the defective prophylactic in your system speeding up the process or affecting the hormones."

"Doctor," Anna called out, her voice barely whimpering, "What about our baby? Is he alright?"

"He's having a little trouble breathing but he'll be fine." Doctor Clarkson maneuvered their baby over his arm, directing the head toward the floor and massaging at his back.

Anna interlaced her fingers with John's tears of relief, pain, and fear all combining to course down her cheeks. John almost crushed her hand in his, the slight tremor in his hand and jaw betraying his own fear as he tried to stay strong for her. They waited another minute and gave full-bodied gasps when a shriek split the air. Followed by a steady wail and the flailing of small limbs.

Doctor Clarkson smiled, pulling the boy up, and handed him to Anna, "You've a healthy little screamer here."

"He can scream all he wants." John shook Doctor Clarkson's hand, reaching over Anna's head, "Thank you Doctor."

"I assume you're the father of Baby Bates here."

"I am." John beamed down at Anna and she turned to him.

"We've got a son John."

"I know." John hugged Anna, running a finger over the little flailing arm of the boy. "He's perfect."

"Yes he is." Anna counted, "All ten fingers and toes."

"I think you'd best move to a slightly more comfortable venue." Doctor Clarkson looked about them, "This isn't the best place for recovery."

Anna took her own survey, "It needs a clean."

"I've got it," Branson held up a hand to stop Anna arguing with him, "It's no problem and you need time to recover."

"I don't pay you enough for this." Anna stood with John's help, leaning heavily on him until he picked her up into his arms.

"You can give me a raise." Branson whistled at the sight of the storage room, "When I took William's old job I didn't expect it to end like this but it's interesting to say the least."

Anna only laughed as John carried her out of the storage room. Doctor Clarkson waited there, writing something quickly before handing her a slip of paper. She read over it quickly, holding the settling boy closer to her chest.

"Get these as soon as you can. It'll help with the pain and the residual care. When he wants a feed in a few hours call over to the surgery and I'll have a nurse teach you how to help him latch and give you his formula." Doctor Clarkson nodded to John. "Thank you for coming Mr. Bates. Mother and baby could use all the help you can give them over the next few days."

"I intend to give it."

"And," Doctor Clarkson lowered his voice, "I'll bury the birth certificate in a few other boring files. I know you wouldn't want it spread around that you're now a father… what with you on the run and all."

"That's considerate of you Doctor but I couldn't ask you to risk that kind of wrath for me."

"I'm not risking anything. I'm just doing my civic duty, I think." Doctor Clarkson pulled at his coat, "It's the least I can do for someone sacrificing so much so we all know the truth."

"All the same." John nodded at him, shifting Anna in his grip slightly, "It's very risky."

"So is the work you do Mr. Bates." Doctor Clarkson gathered his things, "I'll see you tomorrow for a quick check up Ms. Smith. And to see to the young Master Bates here."

"Thank you Doctor." Anna adjusted the boy in her arms as John walked them to the lift.

They ascended in silence, Anna gently rocking the calming boy to sleep. She ran a finger over his tiny ones, smiling as they opened slightly and clamped over her own to hold there. Even after John opened the door and placed her on the bed, Anna could do little else but stare at the boy in her arms.

"I think I should give you both a wash." John turned on the water to the shower and played with a few buttons until Anna heard the sound of the floor rising to form the tub. "You'll feel better and sleep easier."

"You don't have to do that." Anna argued as John tested the water before walking over to her.

"I think I do." He helped Anna remove her clothes while she traded the boy between her arms.

When it came to her shirt she stopped and held the baby toward him, "Would you like to hold your son John?"

"May I?"

Anna laughed, "Of course you can. He's yours too."

His hands shook slightly but he held their boy gently. Anna removed the remainder of her clothes and hobbled over to the tub, slipping into the water. She turned back, tearing at the sight of John keeping the baby close to his chest.

John walked the distance and handed their baby back to Anna. "He's so small."

"I know." Anna brushed a finger in the dark hair, "He's got your hair."

"As long as he has your eyes I don't care." John gathered the soap and worked up a lather to run over Anna. "He's got your nose."

"Poor little thing," Anna ran a finger down it. "He'll get teased for it I'm sure. Everyone at school always teased me for mine."

"I don't see why," John stopped, leaning close to place a kiss at the end of Anna's nose. "I think it's perfect."

"Don't try and be charming."

"Why not?"

Anna grinned at him. "I can't reward you yet."

"Being with you is reward enough for me." John washed over Anna and she relaxed in his care while holding their now sleeping son above the water. "I didn't think I'd get back in time."

"How'd you find me?"

"I heard you shouting and just ran to you." John paused, "I thought you were in danger."

Anna lifted their boy and John held him again as she finished cleaning herself. Draining the water and rinsing off John helped her into a dressing gown and back onto the bed. She settled back as John took their son to the little sink and washed over him with touches so soft and slow Anna wondered how a man, as large as he was, could be so careful.

In a few minutes John finished and handed the boy back before climbing beside them. Anna slotted herself under his arm and John held her shoulder. His other hand came up under her arms to support the yawning baby in her arms.

"He's perfect Anna."

"Yes he is." Anna ran a finger down the face with red, wrinkled skin. "He's wonderful."

"What are we going to name him?"

"John." Anna smiled at the man next to her. "John Smith Bates."

"Is that wise?"

"It'll make a good joke the next time someone comes banging at my door looking for you." Anna laughed, "I'll tell them I named him after you because the name got stuck in my head from all the times they bandied it about my bar."

John chuckled, "If you insist."

"I do." Anna settled in John's grip. "I'll call him Jack for now. I don't want there to be any confusion."

John kissed her forehead, "I think that's a wonderful idea." He pulled away a moment, "But I've got something to say that you're not going to like."

"What?"

"We're going to get married."

"John," Anna shifted Jack in her arms, "It's too dangerous. Both sides are still looking for you and the last thing they need is anything tying you to me."

"You're not listening," John rubbed his hand over hers. "We're going to get married because it's what you deserve."

"It's too dangerous."

"You said that but aren't I strong enough for this?" John pointed to the baby in Anna's arms. "Don't I have a right to protect my son?"

"Yes."

"You've stood by me through thin and thinner, Anna. I know that and I'm not a fool." John sighed, "But I need a way to take care of you. A way to ensure that they can't use me against you."

"How?"

"For as broken as our system is, no court can force a husband to testify against a wife or vice versa. If I ever was caught, they couldn't call you to trial and they'd have to leave you out of it. If I marry you, you're safe."

Anna took a breath, "You're leaving out the part where they'd have to keep me informed as to your fate if they caught you. They'd inform me about the trial and all it's updates." She looked at him, tears hazing the edge of her vision. "And they'd have to tell me, if you died, I was a widow."

"That won't happen, Anna."

"But that's what you're worried about, isn't it." Anna tried to wipe at her tears but John did it for her. "You're worried you'll never escape them and they'll kill you."

"Not anymore." John dug into his bag, "I've almost got what I need."

"Really?"

"Yes." John showed Anna a disc. "There's another writer out there, Arsenic, that I worked with before. We'd swap suspicions and information when we ran into one another in different dives across the galaxy."

"And?"

"Just a stop from here I ran into a bloke in a bar. Never met him before and I was there for another interview about the underground work of the Lithium Women so I wasn't expecting to meet anyone else." John looked at the disc, "Whoever he was, he pressed this into my hands and said, 'Arsenic needs you to tell his story' and then vanished."

"It could be a trap John."

"No," John shook his head, "It's too subtle for the government and too obvious for the RA."

"What is it then?"

"I checked the information, because it could've been a trap," John tucked the disc away. "But it wasn't Anna. It's a collection smuggled surveillance tapes of the government's capture and torture of Arsenic. He's a known writer that a lot of people respect and his disappearance had some people worried but the government swore itself blue they weren't involved."

"But they were?"

"From top to bottom."

Anna nodded, "What does the release of the information do?"

"If I publish it along with the other files on there, notes Arsenic made from his observations and investigations, then I expose the destabilized nature of the government factions." John's eyes were alight, "This is it Anna. The beginning of the end for them."

"Because if you publish his work then people will know they've been lied to?"

"Exactly. People are already suspicious but they need the proof. They need the call-to-arms."

Anna nodded, "And that's why you want to marry me? Because it's almost over?"

"I wanted to marry you before but now, with us closer to freedom, it's a no man's land. They can't touch me and they can't touch you."

Anna nodded, "Then alright."

"Really?" John looked positively giddy and Anna pulled his face close to kiss him. "You're serious? You'll really marry me?"

"Really." She pulled back, "Because I want to be 'Mrs. Bates' and to hell with the consequences."

Anna pulled the cooing baby from the pram and smiled at him as she lifted him to her shoulder. "And why are you so happy today?"

"Probably because he's seeing all the spirits he'll drink when he's older and making plans." Branson laughed from under the bar, pulling at a few wires. "I know I'd be happy about that."

"He's barely two months old."

"No harm in planning for the future." Branson grinned, "Sybil and I already are. With little Sybbie running around everywhere it's hard not to."

"I'd think so." Anna turned to the door as it opened. "Sorry we're-"

"Not opened until later," William walked to the bar, wringing his hands. "I know but I'm not here for a drink."

Anna turned to Branson as he crawled from under the bar, jerking his thumb behind him, "I've got to run inventory anyway."

Shifting Jack to her other shoulder Anna waited for William to speak. When he did not she went ahead, "How's Daisy?"

"She and Beryl are doing great." William tapped his knuckles on the bar. "It's actually why I came by."

"Oh?" Anna patted Jack on the back, helping a burp leave him, "How can I help?"

William hung his head, hunting for the right words, and cleared his throat when he seemed to settle on a few. "I was holding Beryl the other night, trying to rock her to sleep because she's been colicky these last few days. What with the Wuthering only just passing and all."

Anna nodded, "We all got a touch of the coughs after that I think."

"Right." William took a breath, "But I was holding her and looking over at Daisy, sleeping on a bed that's three years old for us and older than that since we got it second-hand, and I thought to myself that they deserve better than that."

William summoned his courage but still could not meet Anna's eyes, "My daughter and my wife deserve better. They deserve to believe they can have the stars if they want them instead of having to be satisfied with scraps because of where they're born or where they grew up or the jobs our parents have."

"I see."

William cleared his throat, "I owe you an apology Anna. I was rude and frightened. I acted like a coward because I thought I was being brave or protecting my family when I was really just allowing a system to kick me down more." He held out a hand, finally meeting Anna's gaze. "I'd like to apologize and ask if you'll forgive me being a complete ass."

Anna chuckled, nodding, and extended her hand. William shook it and released after a moment. Shifting Jack in her hold Anna adjusted him to face front, "I accept your apology and I know why you said what you said."

"Doesn't excuse it."

"No, but I do understand it." Anna sighed, "I want to give you your job back."

"I couldn't." William pointed toward the back, "You've given it to Mr. Branson."

"No, Mr. Branson works here as a fixer and manager. I want you to man the bar." Anna nodded at Jack, gurgling in her arms. "He's a bit of a handful for the next few weeks and I can't do all I used to so I need the help. If you're willing."

"Is Mr. Bates alright with that?" William pointed at Anna's finger were a simple platinum band wrapped it.

"He's fine with it." Anna waited, "So, do you want the job?"

"I'd be honored to have it Mrs. Bates."

"Good. You start as soon as you can."