A/N: Once again thanks for the great reviews. I'm glad you are enjoying! Final three chapters coming up!

Chapter 4

December 1918

The war was over, it had been for almost four weeks and slowly bit by bit the men were returning home. That is….the men that had survived. Survival stories were few, it was more tales of lost sons and husbands who were never to return, never to smile and never to love again.

Would the world return to what it had been before this war? Anna doubted that thought very much. How do you pick up your life and carry on as if nothing has happened? You can't, not when the eyes betray so much pain, loss and terror.

She'd realised that early on when William had been sent home injured. His eyes betrayed the horrors he had seen and despite his external injuries healing well the mental scars would never fade. He had changed forever, forever injured by a war he was never born to fight.

It was early morning and the whole household was waiting, waiting for their men to return home. They had been lucky, they all knew that, their only casualties had been William and the sad death of the stable boy Ed. It seemed God had smiled upon Downton, in a strange sort of way.

All the servants stood outside in a line on the gravel driveway in their smartest uniforms waiting for his Lordship's car to arrive. The rest of the men would follow after they had walked home from the station. Lady Grantham, The Dowager Countess, Mary, Sybil and Edith also stood on the steps of the house waiting patiently.

Mary was beside herself with agitation, surely they must be here by now? Whatever could be taking so long?

Lady Grantham tried to keep her face impassive but it was plain to all who knew her that the strain of the last years had taken their toll and now all she wanted was her husband home safely.

In the servant's line Anna was getting edgy, she had waited for him to come home for so long now that these last few minutes felt like they were lasting years. The hardest part was knowing that when he did arrive, she had to remain exactly where she was. No running to him, no smiling, nothing. She had to stand there and remain impassive despite inside feeling like she was going to explode.

No, she would have to wait until they could be alone and God knows when that would be!

There was a ripple of excitement as the car pulled into the driveway and slowly made its way towards the house. Anna's heart was pounding into her chest and just feet away so was Mary's.

The car stopped and Lord Grantham leapt out before the hired chauffeur could turn the engine off. He grinned happily at the awaiting crowd before running up to his wife and taking her into his arms. The Dowager Countess made a noise of disapproval and politely averted her eyes.

Mary was down the steps in a flash and practically threw herself into Matthew's arms as he got out of the back of the car. Anna had never felt so jealous in all her life, if only she could do that!

Mr Bates was the last out of the car; he seemed tired and older as he lifted his bag down from the rack. He helped the chauffeur lift off some of the other bags whilst Mr Carson stepped forward to assist.

Finally he turned to face the line of servants; he'd already spotted her in the line as soon as the house had come into view but now he had chance to look at her more closely. She wasn't looking at him, she was staring straight ahead, her eyes fixed on a distant point but he could tell she was struggling with it. He knew she wanted to look at him, wanted to meet his gaze but it was not allowed, not in the presence of his Lordship.

She hadn't changed much since he had last seen her, she was still as beautiful as he remembered and he couldn't wait to speak to her, hold her, kiss her.

The family were beginning to go inside and Anna thanked God that her wait was almost over, she could feel his eyes upon her and she desperately wanted to look at him. It was taking every ounce of strength she had to keep herself rooted to the spot and gazing out at the surrounding trees.

Then his Lordship spoke and Anna could have screamed,

"Bates my good man! Come into the library and let us sort everything out and then you can go and get some rest!"

Bates could have groaned aloud but instead he turned dejectedly and began to walk towards the house, it seemed their reunion would have to wait a while longer.

Sybil was the last to go inside, she kept her eyes fixed upon the drive but still there was no sign of him. She sighed as the door closed behind her, she would have to wait a while also.

As the door shut, the servants relaxed,

"Flamin' 'ell! I thought they were never going to go inside, I've stood that stiff I've sprained me self!" O'Brien complained.

They began to walk back to the servant's quarters, Anna trailing behind. Why was life never simple? Was it really too much to ask for a little time alone with the man that you love?

Bates had never felt so fidgety in all his life, he was desperate to get back downstairs but his Lordship seemed determined to keep him away for as long as possible. Finally after what seemed like years, Lady Grantham appeared and scolded her husband.

"My darling, you spend so long away from me and now you chose to spend time in here away from me again! I am starting to get a complex!"

Lord Grantham laughed softly, "You are quite right my dear! I shall come directly. Thank you Bates, I don't know what I would have done without you! You may go now, you must be exhausted!"

"Thank you m'Lord, I am rather tired now." Bates gave a polite nod before retreating as fast as he could out of the library.

The servant's hall was empty and only the distant clank and bang of Mrs Patmore's pans could be heard coming from the kitchen. It seemed all the staff were busy going about their duties, he was hanging up his coat when Daisy rounded the corner.

"Mr Bates!" She cried happily, "It's so nice to see you again!"

Bates smiled, "You too Daisy! Tell me, have you seen Anna?"

Daisy frowned slightly as she thought, "Last I saw of her she was stood out in the yard, not sure why though!"

Bates smiled, of course the yard! "Thank you Daisy!" He set off for the back door, his heart pounding.

Anna didn't know how long she had been stood there; she didn't care how long she had to stand there. She would wait and he would come, she was sure of that. At the sound of the door opening, her stomach gave a little leap and she turned slowly to see him stood there. His face lit up, eyes crinkling at the corners. She felt the smile and happiness spread across her own face. He stepped forward, dropped his cane to the floor and held out his arms to her. And she ran. Ran as if her life depended upon it into his waiting arms.

She buried her face into his chest as his arms wrapped around her; he leaned forward and whispered softly,

"My darling Anna!" He nuzzled the side of her face with his, "How I have missed you!"

"I have missed you too." Anna murmured into his chest, "So very much!"

He couldn't help himself; he began to place gentle kisses on her ear, her cheek, her chin. She responded by lifting her head and meeting his dark eyes. How she had missed those eyes!

"Promise me you won't leave again?" Her voice was gentle but pleading,

He smiled (how she had missed that smile!) "I'm not going anywhere, not without you!"

She felt the smile spread across her face and gently he leaned down catching her lips with his. It had been a long time since they had last shared a moment in this way but he remembered every detail of her lips, they had been etched into his memory and now he relished their taste and feel once more. Unconsciously his hands pulled her closer to him as she responded passionately to his deepening kiss, their mouths locked in a dance of simmering passion. Eventually and reluctantly they pulled apart breathless and happy.

"I love you Mr Bates." Anna sighed happily,

He smiled back, "I love you too Anna." His face turned serious for a moment, "I'm a free man now and I'm allowed to say it."

Anna tilted her head slightly in confusion, "I…."

"My wife." He said gently, "She's dead, I only just found out."

The realisation of what his words meant began to dawn upon Anna, "You mean?"

He nodded his smile widening, "Yes, I'm free…free for you."

Anna suddenly realised she should say something about his wife dying, "I'm sorry about Vera."

Bates gave a disgruntled snort, "I'm not! I loved her once but a nastier woman never drew breath! No I saw her for what she was a long time ago but I was stuck, there was nothing I could do. But now….now I can be with the woman who I love and who loves me in return."

Anna smiled happily, "And I do love you, with all my heart!"

Bates smiled back and dipping his head his lips grazed hers, "Good because I never loved anyone as much as I love you." His lips brushed hers again, "My Anna" he murmured before their lips met again in another long and passionate dance.

It didn't matter that the world would never be the same, now Anna had her Mr Bates she was going to be afraid again.