A/N: Once again, huge thanks to everyone who has read this, put it on their alerts or reviewed, I appreciate every, single one and also thank you to testship. To the Guest reviewer who mentioned a scenario between John and Lizzy where his knee troubles him, thank you for the suggestion, I had wanted to write something along those lines I just lacked ideas, and I hope the scene I wrote in this chapter works well. As a little note, since this story is AU from 3.7 Matthew is still alive.

The Long and Winding Road

Chapter Seven

Anna looked down at the flailing baby in her arms, laughing at him as he shook his fist for her to catch gently in her hand. She obliged and smiled down at him warmly as she began to rock him gently in her arms, taking in all of the features that were still so new to everyone.

She turned her head briefly and looked across at Lady Mary who was applying a little blush to her own cheeks and moisturising her hands. Anna turned back and smiled at the baby in her arms. Master George was a lively, healthy baby even for just over one month old. He had been born at the end of May, taking his mother, father and the whole household by surprise by arriving a few weeks earlier than he was due. But Doctor Clarkson had assured them that he would be perfectly fine, and he was certainly proving that now. The baby provided Anna with a gummy smile, making adorable noises as he attempted to reach up and grab her face with his tiny fist.

"He is beautiful, m'lady." Anna cooed as she watched his eyes light up, continuing to rock him gently.

"He certainly takes after Mr Matthew."

Anna raised an eyebrow and turned around sceptically to her lady, but Lady Mary admonished it with a simple smirk after she stood from her dressing table and approached Anna and her son. Anna carefully shifted George into the arms of his mother, soothing him as he let a small, disgruntled noise at the movement. Lady Mary took George gracefully into her arms, and Anna smiled at the thought that she had taken to motherhood so well.

Just as she had passed George back to his mother, the door opened and Matthew entered.

"Hello," Matthew greeted them all, although Anna watched as he sent his wife a knowing look. She smiled at the two of them, and it widened even further as she noticed that George had become particularly restless at the sound of his father, he having recognised his voice.

Anna watched as Matthew continued to interact with his wife and child.

"And how is the little chap?" Matthew asked, bending slightly to pass his hand across George's cheek gently.

Anna smiled as she watched father and son interact together, but jumped as Matthew suddenly turned and smiled at her warmly.

"It can't be long for you either, Anna." Anna smiled gleefully in recognition. Her hands instinctively went to her six-month-old bump, very visible now even in her loose-fitting dress. "Is Bates excited?"

"We both are, Sir." Anna grinned.

As Matthew went back to looking adoringly at his son, Anna's mind drifted to the baby.

The baby was due in September. This was the reason she had agreed to remain with Lady Mary until the end of the summer, instead of earlier as she would have had it not been for her discovering she was with child. She had wanted to be at the cottage to tend to Lizzy more, and this news had made it the perfect timing. Anna cast her mind back to the moment she had told John she was carrying his child. She still remembered that day in February – Valentine's Day. It had been quite the –

"Anna…"

Anna turned her head and looked at Lady Mary, who was watching her with a smirk. Suddenly dazed, Anna shook her head. "Will that be all, m'lady?"

Lady Mary smiled. "Yes, thank you, Anna."

Anna nodded and swiftly left the bedroom, leaving the little family to themselves.

As Anna made her way downstairs, down the servant staircase, her thoughts drifted back once more to the time she had told John about their child. She had been feeling out of sorts for a few weeks, so upon the insistence of Mrs Hughes and her husband she had visited Doctor Clarkson, and he had been the one to deliver her the joyous news. It had been quite the Valentine's Day present for John.

She remembered now, revealing the news as the two had buried themselves beneath the sheets that night.

"You know I have been a bit short-tempered recently." Anna started by way of apology, although after their excursions just moments ago her husband would insist there was no need to be. Her fingers played with the coarse, dark hairs on his chest as they lay together, their breathing slowly going back to normal.

"A bit?"

Anna would have laughed with him had it not been for the situation. She closed her eyes as she relished in the feel of John trailing his fingers up and down her naked back, and placed an absent minded kiss upon his chest.

"Well, I went to Doctor Clarkson, and he told me why."

"There's a condition for it now?"

"John!" Anna snapped, tired of his quips. "Will you listen?"

Anna looked up and watched as he nodded solemnly.

But despite her solemn expression, she could not keep that at bay for long. Her lips turned into a small smile, which slowly started to grow as she took in his increasingly confused expression.

"Anna, what is it?"

"I'm pregnant."

Anna still remembered his face. She remembered how the confused expression suddenly turned to shock for just the briefest moment, and then his face broke into a grin, the kind that reached his eyes and caused the skin around them to crease. Anna would never forget that look. Not for as long as she lived.

Anna reached the hall and sat down in her usual spot. It was almost empty, save for a hall boy and maid who were whispering to themselves and laughing occasionally. Anna picked up some of her mending and began to focus on that.

John and she were beyond excited at the prospect of parenthood. Anna was glad that little time had passed since she expressed to John her wishes to have a child that she fell pregnant. She remembered the brief anxiety that had passed through her when she believed children might never have been a gift for them. It had been silly, now that she thought about it, because John had barely been out of prison for six months. But even she could not describe the emotions she had felt upon discovering their pregnancy. Motherhood was an exciting prospect, even if she was anxious at times. But she had seen the same emotions in Lady Mary, so Anna was not apprehensive.

Anna smiled to herself as she continued the mending, some of her more light tasks that Mrs Hughes had insisted she take to. Anna would also begin to take earlier evenings starting next week. Mrs Hughes had insisted either she or one of the candidates for the new role could tend to Lady Mary, and Lady Mary had agreed to it too. There were a few candidates for her position since she would be leaving service, and this had proven the best opportunity for them to "be thrown into the action" as Lady Mary had termed it. She knew John had something to do with that as well.

When she thought about John, she smiled even more. She thought about the past months and how her husband had grown close to Lizzy, and had proved himself a father figure of sorts already, even before their child was born. It made soothing his anxiety about fatherhood ever the more simple. Lizzy was excited about the new baby too, looking forward to the prospect of being a cousin, although Anna and John both knew that Lizzy would come to be more of an older sister to their child. She was flourishing in her studies at school, her teacher Miss Bunting was keen to praise her every time she came across John or Anna in the village, or when Anna would collect Lizzy from school on her afternoon off. Anna could not have been more proud, and neither could John.

When John read to Lizzy at night now, he would insist that she read the occasional word. He had a way of surprising her every so often, asking her to read various words or sentences that she would not expect. Some of them were easy; some of them were a struggle. But John always coached her through the harder words or phrases, and soon Lizzy was becoming all the more confident.

It had also been John's idea to plant a tree in their garden come spring, by ways of commemorating Rose. As the months passed, Lizzy had asked to go and see the grave in Claxton on numerous occasions, and neither John nor Anna would be able to refuse her. But these trips were often difficult and would often have to be taken when all of them had the time off, which was a rarity.

When John had approached her with the idea, her heart had skipped a beat. It was such a beautiful idea, and fitting because Lizzy still spent so much time in the garden, especially after John had enquired about installing a swing. He knew her father had once built her one, and he had no wish to step on his toes as such, or even evoke painful memories. But Lizzy had been eager once hearing the plan, and John had started to prepare for the task on the first afternoon off he could get. It was done quickly, and soon Lizzy spent even more time in the garden. The three of them had spent one afternoon together and planted the tree in a sombre mood, considering its meaning. But husband and wife knew it had helped Lizzy immensely.

Anna had been given a Saturday afternoon off not long after their tree had been planted, and she had taken Lizzy into the village. The two of them had talked about the tree, and the decision had been made to plant some flowers around the base of it. Anna had enquired to Mr Molesley the elder about which flowers would be best to plant and, with some input from Lizzy too, they had planted a few different types of flowers, including some favourites of Rose's.

Anna was pulled from her thoughts as the baby kicked rather powerfully. She let out a surprised yelp, garnering the attention of the hall boy and maid, and also Jimmy and Thomas who had come into the hall.

She smiled at them softly, assuring them that she was perfectly fine, and then continued with her mending.

But she could not hide the smile that adorned her lips for the coming moments, and her hands moved from her mending to cradle her stomach as the baby continued to wriggle inside her. Anna still could not fail to be amazed every time she felt the proof of their love. Especially considering the times she thought she might never experience moments like these with her husband.

Anna let out a contented sigh and moved back to fix Lady Mary's blouse, the smile never leaving her lips.

Anna sat in the boot room, her mind a little absent as she brushed furiously at a pair of Lady Mary's heels. She contemplated heatedly how this mud could have slipped her mind, and how it had gotten there in the first place, she was always so meticulous with her cleaning. Anna would always clean the shoes first thing, otherwise leaving it would only make the task harder. And since she had discovered about the baby, she became tired all the more quickly, and even these small tasks often required double the usual motivation.

"I thought I'd come and find you." Anna looked up to see her husband at the door, leaning heavily on his cane as he offered her a casual, warm smile. He began to approach her at the table, sitting himself beside her on one of the stools. "How are you?"

Anna rolled her eyes. This was a common subject of questioning when it came to her husband now. Although she could hardly blame him for being protective of her and the baby… of their baby.

"Much as I was this morning, and will be later tonight." She responded cheekily.

Anna watched as John shook his head. "I am allowed to worry about you."

Anna raised an eyebrow.

"As your husband it's my divine right."

Anna looked at him sceptically, but eventually gave in and smiled. She turned and brought the shoes back towards her that she had been cleaning, although she was subconsciously edging closer to her husband. After a few moments of peaceful and comfortable silence, Anna began to ask him, "Did you ask His Lordship about September?"

Since the birth of their child, who was due in September, was likely to coincide with the family and their annual trip to Duneagle, understandably Anna wanted to ensure John was there with her. Although he would not be allowed in the room with her during the birth, as society would dictate, she wanted him to be close by, and not hundreds of miles away up in the Scottish Highlands.

"I did," John sighed, stretching his leg out in front of him beneath the table. Anna turned her head to watch his expression, noting that his knee was troubling him once again. She would most definitely take this up with him later that night. But he had continued before she had the chance to dwell on the matter for much longer. "The family will still be heading to Duneagle. But he did say that he would ask Thomas about filling my place during that time."

"I should hardly think he would have too many complaints."

It was true. Scotland was very different to Yorkshire, and surely Thomas would find something to interest him up there. He had also been considerately understanding towards Anna since the two of them had revealed their joyous news. He still carried that pompous air that Anna had never been able to decide whether to pity or deride – he had shown his more vulnerable side to her on occasions – but he had, once or twice, offered to help John with some of His Lordship's more trying tasks when he had wanted to accompany Anna into the village for an appointment with Doctor Clarkson.

"Well, even if he does," John reached over and placed his hand across her extended stomach, stroking it softly as smiles erupted on both of their faces. These smiles widened even more as the two of them felt another sign of life, a sign of their child. "One thing is for certain, I will not be leaving you."

Anna smiled gladly and reached across to kiss him softly and chastely. She loved it whenever he interacted with the child growing inside her stomach, whether that was kissing her soft swell or talking to their child at night.

They were interrupted, however, by a rather embarrassed cough from the doorway.

Pulling apart, both of them felt their hearts stop as Mr Carson stood there, looking slightly awkward as he tried and failed not to look from one of them to the other.

He coughed once more to clear his throat.

"Anna, I'm glad to have found you."

Anna swallowed. She knew John would be fidgeting beside her. The two of them had always tried to remain professional at work, and to be caught out by their commander and chief made them both uncomfortable.

"Mrs Hughes would like a word with you. She is in her sitting room."

With that, the butler nodded at them both and left, and both guessed that he was glad to.

Both of them sat and turned to each other, sharing shy smiles before Anna got to her feet, running her hand along his shoulder as she passed him. Before she left the boot room, she turned and looked over her shoulder, flashing him a smile.

John smirked and watched as she went.

That night, Anna did inquire to John about his knee. Often he would simply admonish her claims that she should look at it for him and manage to avoid it, but tonight Anna had fixed him with a firm stare and he had surrendered. Being unable to use his cane in prison, his knee had worsened. And it didn't look like it was getting any better, even as the weather was getting warmer.

"At least let me apply some cream to it," Anna suggested.

"Not that it makes it any better," John muttered under his breath, although Anna caught him. She frowned. But he still allowed her to roll up his pyjama leg.

"If it helps for a little while."

"But it doesn't, not really." John raised his voice, although immediately regretted it as he noticed her face fall. John sighed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

He was interrupted as a knock was heard at their door. It could only be one person. Anna called to her softly.

Lizzy opened the door and shuffled in, her eyes a little red as she wiped at them with her hands.

"What is it, sweetheart?" Anna asked softly, concerned.

"I had a nightmare."

Both of their hearts sank at the admission. Whilst the two of them knew that the nightmares might never go completely, after the months where she had hardly suffered from any, they had hoped she would not be burdened with them as much.

"Come up here with us," John suggested before Anna could even open her mouth to say another word.

"How about I go and make us all a drink?" Anna suggested and left before John could argue that he should do it.

Lizzy instantly nodded and obliged to his suggestion, but as Anna left the bedroom Lizzy noticed as John started to pull his pyjama leg down hurriedly. "Is that your bad knee, Uncle John?"

She clambered up onto the bed beside him, instantly bringing the covers up over her, making herself comfortable.

John sighed as he stopped rolling down the fabric, clearly it having been seen. "It is."

"How did you get it?"

John turned to the little, curious girl intent on changing the subject. But when he saw her innocent, curious eyes that wanted nothing more than to learn more about the world around her, he did not have the heart to refuse.

"I got it during a war."

"The war my dad was in?" John could see that Lizzy was confused. He remembered telling her once that he had not fought in that war when she had asked. Now that he thought about it, it was strange that Lizzy had not asked him about his knee yet. He assumed Anna had mentioned something to her. But now it was getting harder to cope with after long, hard days he supposed it would be harder to overlook.

"No, a different war. A war in Africa."

"Africa?" Lizzy gasped.

John had to smile at her new expression, one mixed with amazement, curiosity but slight fear too. He nodded.

"Did you see lions?"

"Some," John laughed.

"Did they hurt your knee?"

John shifted a little. "Um, no. It was a bullet, well, or a shard of one…" John could see that Lizzy was a little bit confused, but he did not really want to elaborate. If Anna knew he was telling her these kinds of stories at this time of night, even if Lizzy had asked for them, well he would hardly be in her good books.

"He got that saving Lord Grantham's life."

Anna, unbeknown to John, had been stood in the doorway and had heard at least some of their conversation. As she walked into the bedroom with their tray of drinks, he rolled his eyes at her. Lizzy gasped.

"Really?"

Lizzy turned to John, and after one look over at Anna he nodded his head.

"So is that why you have a walking stick?" Lizzy asked innocently as Anna passed her the drink, settling under the duvet covers beside them both, Lizzy in the middle.

"It is," John murmured, sipping his own drink.

"We just have to make sure we don't let it worsen," Anna spoke over Lizzy in a low whisper, a concerned look across her face. Lizzy had settled down, passing her mug to Anna and resting her head against John's shoulder.

John smiled at Anna and nodded, hoping it would reassure her. Although, the truth was, even he was not reassured.

A few minutes had passed before anyone said anything else, and Anna and John thought Lizzy was asleep when her small voice, in a barely audible whisper, spoke up,

"I think you're very brave, Uncle John."

Anna looked across at John, with a few tears in her eyes – she would blame them on the pregnancy hormones – and John was having a hard time reigning in his. He felt his heart swell at the compliment from the little girl he was starting to see as a daughter figure. He leaned across and kissed her head as she snuggled back against their pillows, settled between them.

Lizzy murmured, and mumbled, "Can I stay here tonight?"

John looked across at Anna and spoke simultaneously, "Of course you can."

Anna gave John a watery smile before settling herself down beneath the duvet covers, letting her arm drape across Lizzy as she too succumbed to sleep.

John remained awake longer than the others, and he watched them both, so at peace and looking so serene. His eyes travelled from Anna to Lizzy, and then back to Anna. Lizzy blocked all view he had of her bump, but in the knowledge that it was there, he smiled.

This was his family now. The family he once thought he might never have. And John knew he would move the Earth for either of them, for all three of them.

Following June came a stiflingly hot July.

The family had organised a garden party, one because of the glorious weather and two to celebrate the birth of George properly. There had been a christening, of course, but the hot weather had incited the Crawley family to invite some of their closest friends.

But of course, whilst it was glorious to be out in the sun for the family, for the working servants it was a painful and tremendously tiring task.

All of the servants were involved with trying to make the party a success. Mrs Patmore was bellowing instructions from within an unbearably hot kitchen, and the footmen had an equally tiring job carrying endless trays of food up to the front lawn.

Anna was preparing some refreshing tea on the lawn under a rather large marquee. Sighing loudly and breathing out shakily, she raised a hand to her forehead, aimlessly trying to wipe away some of the perspiration that was appearing there. Mr Molesley was beside her, preparing himself to pick up the tray Anna was carefully arranging and take it to some of their guests. Anna picked up another tea cup to place onto the tray when her hand started to shake. She took another shaky breath. She felt herself swaying gently and she gripped the table to steady herself.

"Anna…"

Moseley, who had been watching her subtly, felt almost conflicted as he grabbed hold of her, keeping her upright as she fell slightly against him.

"Anna…" Moseley spoke to her warily, keeping a firm grip on her shoulders.

"I'm fi…"

Anna tried to reason with Moseley, but it was of no use. He knew she was not fine. None of them were fine in this weather, but Anna especially. The thickness of her black dress made the heat unbearable.

"Mrs Hughes!" Moseley called to the housekeeper subtly, who was some distance away.

Mrs Hughes heard him, and her eyes widened slightly upon seeing their position before steely determination set in her eyes as she walked swiftly across to the both of them.

"Anna?" Mrs Hughes asked her, taking her hand and checking her pulse. It was fast. "Anna, let's get you inside."

Mrs Hughes supported Anna on one side, "Mr Molesley, could you help me take her downstairs?"

Molesley nodded.

"We can take her to my sitting room. It's quite cool in there."

Anna mumbled, "I'm fine. Just a bit hot. And tired."

"Now I'll have none of that."

Once Mrs Hughes and Molesley had taken Anna downstairs and into the little sitting room and placed her on a small settee that had been a new installment for Mrs Hughes a couple of months ago, the housekeeper knelt down beside Anna and felt her forehead. She was still quite warm. Mrs Hughes was sure it was nothing but heat stroke, but in her condition she did not want to just assume anything. She turned to Molesley.

"Mr Molesley, please would you fetch Mr Bates and Doctor Clarkson as soon as you can."

"Very good, Mrs Hughes." Molesley responded, a little bit flushed and almost glad to be out of the room.

"There's no need, really." Anna tried to argue.

Mrs Hughes fixed her with a stare. "Now I told you, there will be none of that."

"He will only fret." Anna sighed, closing her eyes as Mrs Hughes applied a cool rag to her forehead.

"And with good reason," Mrs Hughes screeched in response. The housekeeper continued to apply the rag tenderly and in a motherly fashion for several minutes, occasionally feeling Anna's forehead or taking her pulse. Her heart rate was slowing back to normal. Maybe she was just doing too much. She was seven months pregnant after all! Mrs Hughes sighed. "I will not have you overworking yourself."

"Honestly Mrs Hughes, I –"

Anna was prevented from speaking any further as the door swung open suddenly, her husband appearing at the door, looking flushed and somewhat pained. Anna noticed his knee instantly. It was still bothering him.

He must have been coming back to the garden party when Mr Molesley had found him. John had gone into the village to fetch Lizzy from school and to bring her back for a little while before Anna would take her home a little later. Anna had been planning, and had offered, to go and get Lizzy herself, but John had outright refused and insisted he go. His Lordship had been dressed already, and there was little he could do at a garden party beyond standing there.

"What happened?"

For the first time, as John walked into the room and worried over her, Anna noticed Lizzy had been stood behind him, leaning against the door. Anna reassured her with a smile. Before Anna could answer her husband, Mrs Hughes did.

"She just had a bit of a turn."

"A bit?" John asked incredulously.

"It was too hot, that's all," Anna reassured him, squeezing his hand as it wrapped around hers.

"You shouldn't be overworking yourself." John spoke to her lowly, although Mrs Hughes heard.

"That's what I told her."

"I'm fine."

Mrs Hughes and Anna replied simultaneously.

They both looked at each other, and Bates looked across at Mrs Hughes.

Anna noticed as John grimaced. He was kneeling slightly on the floor so as to be beside her. She shook her head. However, with Mrs Hughes present in the room and Lizzy by the door, she knew her husband would appreciate it more if she chose to say nothing. Instead, she fixed him with a knowing stare, and when John had seen it he shuffled uncomfortably and attempted to straighten his leg. Mrs Hughes seemed to notice their silent exchange, and innocently offered Mr Bates a chair. He took it with an appreciative smile, still holding onto her hand as he settled back in it.

John leant across and swiped his hand across her forehead.

"You're warm."

"Better than before," Anna responded.

John smiled, albeit worriedly. He then turned to the doorway where Lizzy was still stood and beckoned her to come inside.

Anna noticed her wariness. She spoke softly, "It's fine, honestly." She smiled too. Anna held out her other hand as Lizzy approached the settee, taking the smaller hand in her own as the girl settled herself in the space remaining beside her aunt. Mrs Hughes silently left the room, leaving them to it and waiting for Doctor Clarkson.

Anna smiled at her niece, noticing that she looked increasingly worried. She removed her hand and swept away some of the stray, dark hair that had fallen across her face.

"Honestly, there's nothing to worry about."

Lizzy did not seem entirely convinced.

"I just got a bit hot. I was working too hard." Anna smiled softly at her niece, tucking the loose strand behind her ear before whispering, "You know your Uncle John always says I work too hard."

Anna could see that John was wearing a proud smirk out of the corner of her eye, and she gently squeezed his hand in her own response.

Doctor Clarkson was no more than ten minutes. He came into the sitting room and asked if Mr Bates would leave him alone with Anna and Mrs Hughes, so he could examine her properly. Although conflicted, John understood and went, taking Lizzy into the hall for a glass of juice and some biscuits that Mrs Patmore had offered. Doctor Clarkson then proceeded to examine Anna as best he could. He came to the conclusion that it must have been a combination of everything: stress, fatigue, heat and overwork.

"It can only be expected," Doctor Clarkson surmised after he had invited Mr Bates back into the sitting room. "But you must start to take things easier. You'll do yourself no favours if you carry on like this."

Although Doctor Clarkson meant to be helpful, Anna could not help but flush a little in embarrassment and look away. The man seemed to notice this, and was quick to reassure her.

"But the baby seems perfectly healthy," Doctor Clarkson smiled, turning from Anna to Mr Bates and smiling reassuringly. "You certainly have nothing to worry about. And you can still feel the baby?"

Anna nodded.

Doctor Clarkson nodded too. His smile seemed to explain everything. He then bid the two of them, and Mrs Hughes, farewell and left the sitting room. Mrs Hughes followed him out, leaving Anna and Bates alone.

Anna sat up and got herself comfortable whilst John came to sit beside her. His hand instantly reached across and stroked the swell of her stomach through her dress. "You both had me worried," he began, half talking to Anna and half talking to their unborn child.

"You have nothing to worry about."

She reached across and kissed him softly, taking advantage of their time alone.