And so we're here. And as the story says, it has all been and gone too quickly.
Welcome to a return to fluff-ville. It's the end of my wee tale and I hope that you will find it a very happy one indeed. John and Anna are on their way back home with hope and plans for the future.
Keep reading to the end.
The very end.
You'll thank me.
It had all been and gone far too quickly.
The train home chuntered past the same stations as the one they had caught from Downton just one week ago.
How had it been just one week? John could scarcely believe it. But then, he could scarcely believe in the different in the little woman sat next to him, wide awake and glowing with health, reading her book.
Their last evening on the farm had been riotous with laughter, filled with good food beyond even Hetty's usually high standards. The carved roast of pork, nestled in a bed of roast potatoes and crisping slices of sweet apples, was a joy to behold, as was the large jug of gravy, thick with cider.
"Bill, we must have put on pounds this week alone, Hetty is a fabulous cook…"
"Ah well, she's spoilt yer both rotten. She'll 'ave me on short rations, bread and drippin' for a week after you've gone back!" He gave a lazy wink to Anna over his glass of cider, an unusual evening indulgence for him, but quite fitting for what he called his 'goodbye party'.
They were sorry to leave, but eager to move forward. Bill had driven them to the station in the trap once more.
"Well here we are again, and weren't I right… old friends in the making, all three of us turned out to be. "
Bill turned to offer a squeeze to Anna.
"Goodbye darling Bill."
"Bye bye my handsome. Get that man to take good care of you, precious… And you sir…"
He turned to clasp John's hand, with a deep look.
"No cherry cravings?"
"None whatsoever."
"All excess weight gone?"
"We're in the process of a good clear out."
"That's my lad," Bill clapped him on the arm with a final shake. "You look after her, you hear. It's what you do from now forward that matters most."
For the first time, John felt like he could believe him.
With shouts and goodbyes as the train pulled out, they promised to give their love to Daisy, to pass on the basket from their lunch and to ask her to visit as soon as possible.
Bill leaned against the station platform wall, puffing away on his pipe as the train pulled out. Lovely couple, those two. He had no doubt they'd work it out alright in the end.
"What will we say when we get back?"
"Nothing at first. Leave it to me. I have given the agents the number for Downton Abbey if they need to confirm any urgent details, or they can write to us via the cottage. There is no need to telling anyone anything yet."
Anna ran her finger over the sparkling emerald, hidden safe and snug beneath her glove.
"But when we know?"
"When we know, I will speak to Lord Grantham. Put him in the picture, give him as much notice as possible. Then we can decide what to do."
"I hope it won't be long."
"Me too. Will you be alright returning to Downton?"
"I think so… things feel, different now. Somehow."
John knew what she meant. It was as though a veil of unspoken distance had been drawn back between them. Anna could now tell John more of what was upsetting to her, and John could ask and not feel crushed into the ground by guilt and failure. Even if things were rough when they got back, they would be able to tackle them together. Truly together.
The car was there to meet them at Downton, a kind indulgence of Lord Gratham. Parks was in good form, chatting away about the gossip in the servant's hall, and the comings and goings upstairs. Apparently they had just missed a visit from Mr Napier, and Lady Rosamund had been in town to visit Edith.
"Sounds like you've been busy. I hope our absence didn't cause a problem."
"You were missed, both of you. But we managed. I think Mr Carson will be right glad to see you back though, Mr Bates. And Lady Mary will be pleased to have her own maid again, Mrs Bates."
The car drew through the gate up the long driveway toward the house.
Downton Abbey. They were back.
Anna squeezed John's hand, turning to meet him with a face full of light.
"Don't worry," she said softly. "It will be different this time."
He hoped so, patting her hand.
God he hoped so.
EPILOGUE – 2 months later
The telephone call came eventually. All of the offers were accepted, the process was underway. The paperwork, as John had predicted, would take an age. But they were going to have the guesthouse.
Anna sat at the cottage, knitting. John would be home soon. The Abbey was filled with guests tonight. Lady Mary had retired early, pleading a headache, but actually just longing for some respite from the suitors who followed her around from dawn to dusk. She had sent Anna home.
"You look tired out yourself. I hope you've not been overdoing things."
"No Milady, just a little tired is all."
"Well, mind you take care of yourself. Take yourself off home, if you like. I'll let Bates know, he can catch you up when he's done. Papa's likely to be a while."
Gratefully, Anna did as suggested. The walk home gave her time to think.
Sat now in the cottage, she looked around wistfully. She would miss this place, her first home, but it was time to go. She hoped that John would find a moment to speak to Lord Grantham soon, she didn't like keeping secrets from Lady Mary. Although, there was one secret she had right now which gave her immense joy.
She heard his footsteps coming down the path.
"Good evening, darling wife."
His dear face was so tired, so weary but so bright with affection for her. Stretching up from her chair, she accepted the kiss he gave her willingly.
"Still sat up? I thought you were going to bed."
"I thought I'd wait for you."
"You didn't have to."
"I wanted to. Come sit with me for a few minutes."
John did so happily, pleased to take the weight off his leg.
"I had a letter from Mr Mason."
"How is he doing?"
"Getting on well. Daisy's going to visit him next week."
"We should write and tell him about our news. It's been a bit of a big day, hasn't it?"
"It has…" Anna reached for his hand. "And it's about to be a bit bigger."
"What are you up to wife?" John smiled at her.
Anna's face shone in the firelight. Beneath her tiredness, there was something about her that glowed. All in a second, before she even said a word, John knew exactly what she was about to tell him.
"John… we're going to have a baby."
And in that moment, as he folded his wife into the gentlest and fullest embrace of love, John realised that Bill Mason had been absolutely right. It was what you did with your future that counted most, not what you had endured in the past.