A/N: Un-realistic Christmas fluff alert. I was going to save this for nearer Christmas but after the lovely reviews for the last chapter I wanted to post it now- thank you so much to anyone who reviews, they really make my day:') This one is set just as Bates is being release ( I can't get used to calling him 'John'), and I've used a few lines of dialogue from the show, so credit to Julian Fellowes for that. I am aware that there's other fics out there that are about Bates' homecoming, and if this bares any resemblance to those then it was not intended; I have an enormous amount of respect for all the fantastic authors on here and I admire them immensely. I have a couple more ideas that I'd like to explore so I'll hopefully have another chapter up this weekend. I realised last night I haven't done a disclaimer yet, so all characters belong to Julian Fellowes and the Downton crew (boo!), if only I'd got to ITV first...
He was coming back to Downton, and just in time for Christmas. It was Christmas Eve and Anna was supposed to be hard at work, but she simply couldn't concentrate knowing he'd be free and walking through the back door in a matter of minutes. The Servants' hall was unusually quiet considering it was the night before Christmas, but Anna supposed everyone was busy making the final arrangements for the days ahead. Lord Grantham had kept to his word- their cottage was now ready to move in to. As soon as he heard of Bates' imminent release, Lord Grantham had ordered his daughters to help Anna sort out the cottage, as it was in quite a state. Lady Mary was particularly eager to help; Anna was grateful for the unlikely friendship she had with her Mistress, and had to try hard to bite back a grin when they were putting the finishing touches to what would be her and her husband's bedroom. Her husband. They had had so little time after the wedding to get used to being husband and wife that it almost seemed unreal, but it was real. She smiled fondly at the memory of their wedding and then her thoughts drifted to the last few times she'd visited him in prison- the last times she'd ever go to that place, with its iron gates and guards watching their every move. She'd written to him to tell him of the evidence she'd uncovered and when she'd visited that week he was brighter, happier, and more optimistic. For the first time in a long time the smile had reached his eyes, forming the crinkles that she'd fallen in love with all those years ago. Anna sighed contentedly and stood up to take her mending up to her room- it could wait for a few days, Lady Mary would understand and probably smile coyly when Anna explained she hadn't had time...
Anna made her way slowly down the stairs and pondered what she could do to pass the time. Her thoughts were interrupted by the distant sound of the back door opening. It was distant, but there was no mistaking it- he was back. She made her way down the rest of the steps at record speed just as he was about to step into the servants' hall, having hung up his hat and coat. He was looking round as if he was new to the place, it had been so long. It was as if time had stopped; she took in the sight of him; happy, free and back home. He turned round and gazed at her, smiling broadly. He rested his cane against the wall and held out his arms for her. Anna stepped down from the final step and ran into his open arms. Bates chuckled softly; it had been a long time since she'd heard him laugh-far too long, but she'd soon rectify that. His arms found her waist and his hands rubbed lazily up and down her back as he pressed a soft kiss against her hairline. She snuggled further into his neck and sighed, her lip quivering slightly. She quickly recovered and gazed up at him. He was still smiling and the crinkles were there. He looked happy, so blissfully happy she felt as if she'd burst.
She took a deep breath and scanned his face, memorizing all the tiny details. They'd been deprived of this closeness for over a year, and both took some time to simply smile and study the other. Still no words had been spoken; just smiles and chuckles, the joy of Christmas intensified.
"Thank God" was all she could think to say, any other words had escaped her.
He laughed "Yes, thank God!" he took a deep breath and composed himself before continuing "and you." She could do nothing but smile and gaze lovingly, until her gaze flickered to his lips that were now approaching her. It felt like their first kiss all over again; she had to grip his shoulders for support as he drew her even closer, if that was still possible. When their lips found each other they could each feel the smile of the other widening. It was their first kiss in over a year, when she thought she'd be losing him forever, but now he was back, for good and proper, and they could finally enjoy living side by side. He broke the kiss, suddenly aware of their current surroundings, but she didn't mind. The settled in his embrace once more and he pressed more kisses on her forehead, her hairline, her cheeks. Her face was beginning to ache from constantly smiling, but she couldn't help it when he was looking down at her, eyes full of the love that he was now free to show. Their reunion was interrupted by Mrs Hughes, who had opened her sitting room door and gasped when she saw them, a warm smile instantly spreading across her face at the sight of them together.
"Oh, you're back!" She walked towards them and stroked his arm tenderly "welcome home." She was fond of Mr Bates, fond of the pair of them and glad they'd finally found happiness after the trials and tribulations of the past few years. A few others had filtered into the servants' hall now, including Daisy, Mrs Patmore and Mr Carson, and a couple of new faces, who had all welcomed him back happily. Bates and Mr Carson had shared a rather dignified handshake, but the Butler and Valet's joy at seeing one another again was clear to see on their normally stoic and sober faces. Bates respected Mr Carson, and hoped he approved of his and Anna's situation. His wife's hand hadn't left his throughout all the welcomes and pleasantries, and he glanced down at her just as she was looking up at him. They smiled and held each other's gaze; his squeezed he hand slightly and interlaced their fingers. Words were not needed; they couldn't have a private conversation in the servants' hall but both knew what the other was thinking, what they felt for each other.
This exchange had not gone unnoticed by Mrs Hughes, who wore a motherly smile before looking away bashfully, not wanting to disturb their moment. Their moment was however disturbed by Ivy, who was pointing enthusiastically just above their heads. They were still standing in the doorway and Bates glanced upwards to see what Ivy was so excited about. He grinned at what he saw, before sneaking a look at Anna, whose cheeks had coloured slightly at the realisation. Mistletoe hung above their heads; Anna had completely forgotten about it until now but it was clear everyone else had not. Mrs Hughes tried to bite back a grin and scolded Thomas silently for rolling his eyes. Miss O'Brien kept quiet- she and Mr Bates were not friends but they were no longer enemies. Mr Carson tried to look discontented but even he could not hide a small smile forming.
"Well go on then, we haven't got all day!" Daisy cried, quickly losing patience. Everyone chuckled, and the eyes of the room were now fixed on the pair. Their gaze found each other and he shyly placed a hand on her hip, the other still laced with hers. Anna lightly placed her hands on his chest as he stooped down to meet her lips for the second time that day. They were both smiling as their eyes drifted close; his lips lingered slightly too long on hers to pass as chaste, but neither Mrs Hughes nor Mr Carson had the heart to tell them off. They parted smiling broadly, to friendly claps and cheers from those gathered in the servants' hall.
As they bowed and curtsied to the applause, Lord Grantham appeared at the bottom of the stairs to welcome John back, clapping him heartily on the back before handing him a set of keys. He wished all the servants a Merry Christmas and disappeared back upstairs. Bates looked at his wife with a mix of elation, disbelief and confusion, until they sat down in their usual seats and Anna explained.
"You may remember Lord Grantham promising us a cottage..."