A/N: I so wanted them to kiss in series 1. This is me indulging myself, I hope you have as much fun reading this as I did writing it. Detailed kissing here- I feel no shame- we need fluff! I have a New Year-themed chapter written, so that will be posted on New Years' Eve. Credit to Fellowes for the dialogue, although one sentence of it is mine...Or maybe two :D I was listening to 'Say something' by Great Big World ft Christina Aguilera on repeat whilst writing this, it fits them so well... *sigh* Now before I start blubbering like a beach whale (and start making ugly dying- seal noises), I give you chapter 5...

John Bates sat alone in the courtyard. It was a cold and dark night; the rain had been pouring down ferociously and the clouds closed in as his world fell apart. A servant found guilty of stealing should be sacked immediately, but Lord Grantham and Mr Carson had been generous with their delay. He was glad of that; it gave him a chance to say a proper goodbye to her-Anna- the woman he loved silently with all his heart and soul. She deserved better than him, if only he hadn't made such a mess of his life before he would've perhaps had chance but alas, he had rushed into a hasty marriage and was paying the price. What a cruel hand fate had dealt to that dear, sweet girl. His thoughts were interrupted by the one who occupied them so often- Anna.

"I thought I'd find you out here." She smiled, albeit a bit sadly. The light from the back door filtered into the courtyard and outlined her silhouette as she made her way towards him.

"And you'd be right." He kept staring straight ahead as she sat beside him. The crate they sat upon was cold and soaked from the rain but neither of them minded. He bowed his head as she shifted to face him.

"Can't you just tell them about Thomas?" She sounded desperate- desperate for him to stay. Oh, how he wished everything was different.

"Not now, it would sound like a false accusation" He shook his head in defeat, and her heart ached for him. There he was, the love of her life, and he wasn't prepared to put up a fight. She was angry with him, but she loved him.

"Because you can't take it lying down. You're not guilty of any wrong, and before it's over I'm going to tell the world." She was growing more and more indignant. He looked at her then, and her unfaltering determination and courage made him yearn for her. He needed her by his side like he needed water and air, more than he needed those things even. His defences were slowly but surely crumbling.

"Will you? Well I'm not sure the world is listening." He smiled weakly. Anna's eyes sparkled in the half darkness- were there traces of tears there?

"I'm listening." She grabbed his hand and stroked it reassuringly. They both gasped at the contact; their gazes locked on one another and they leaned subconsciously towards each other. "Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes know you didn't do it, if you would only tell them." she was whispering softly now and he closed his eyes, fighting back tears of his own.

"It's for the best." Somehow his stoicism triumphed, but he was so close to her now...

"I still love you, Mr Bates, and I always will. I could never stop." He could feel her warm breath hitting his face as he reached for her waist. He rubbed slow circles before his hand reached for the small of her back. How could he deny his feeling for her now, when they were this close? Her nose rubbed against his and their breaths mingled, becoming one.

"I love you, Anna." She looked into his eyes as he confessed, and saw nothing but affection and love and pure devotion in the murky depths of hazel and green. Her hands rested on his chest; he was so warm, so wonderfully warm she felt as if she could stay there forever. His other hand cupped her face as their lips sought each other out, finally meeting in kiss that filled them both with warmth and completion and love. It was barely a brush of their lips before they parted, still remaining close, eyes closed.

"Truly?" she whispered.

"Truly." He confirmed, opening his eyes ever so slightly. Anna kept her eyes closed, smiling radiantly, and he decided then and there that it was a look he wanted to see over and over again. He ran his thumb over her lips, which were slightly parted. He leaned in again, slowly; savouring every moment. Their lips met tentatively and moved over one another. Their tongues tangled as old lovers.

She filled his mind and heart with a warmth he was unaccustomed to, and it was the best feeling in the world. They continued kissing, slowly and languidly, savouring each other and their moment together. She shuffled closer to him and his arms encircled her fully, stroking up and down her back. Her hands travelled slowly from his chest to his face, delighting in his freshly shaven complexion. Her thumb moved across his cheeks reassuringly, and she could feel his smile widening through her lips. Neither of them wanted it to end, but it had to. She gasped for breath when they eventually parted and he left a trail of kisses from her neck to the very corner of her lips, murmuring soft words of love as he did so. She ran a hand through his hair, releasing it from the pomade. John raised his head to look in her eyes; he could've lost himself in their beauty forever. He placed one last light kiss on her swollen lips and she buried her head in his neck, surrounding herself with his warmth. They basked in the shaft of light that peeked through the slightly-open door.

The world may not be on their side, and may even be unprepared to listen to them, but they had each other, and that was more than either of them could've hoped for.