A/N: As promised, Chapter 5 is here. Some Carson and Hughes sprinkled in here, but no interaction between them yet. Thanks for all the lovely feedback and for sticking with this story. I know I keep promising to get back to my other fic, but I am still trying to crank out a Valentine's Day contribution even though it's late. Big thanks to A-Lady-To-Me for giving me feedback on this. And again please review.

Chapter 5

The ride had been relatively uneventful, occasionally Anna's phone would chirp to indicate another text had come through with an update. He didn't want to pry, but he could tell by her apprehensive demeanor that she wasn't handling it well. Even when the phone wasn't going off she kept glancing at the time on the clock as if counting down how long it was taking them to get home. John sped up as fast as he was legally allowed without endangering them and at one point reached over to her side of the car to grab her hand and rub his thumb across it. He told her that whatever it was, he'd stay with her for as long as she needed him to. She didn't even respond to his words, she was in a daze as she stared out the window and nodded her head in agreement mechanically.

They arrived outside of Anna's flat in less than a half hour. Still clad in her dress from the ball and with John's jacket wrapped around her shoulders, Anna ran up the stairs to her door, taking them two at a time. The keys were already in her hand so that she wouldn't waste time getting them into the lock. When she went to push in, she was ambushed by Jasper who was barking up a storm until he recognized Anna. Ms. Hughes had just walked out from the hallway to see what the commotion was about when Anna started in with the questions, "How bad is it?"

"Apparently shortly after you left his fever shot up. We put him in a cool bath to bring it down and got him to take a fever reducer. He still has one, but it's manageable," Elsie explained as Anna removed the jacket and placed it over the back of the sofa. "I'm so sorry we had to cut your evening short," the older woman apologized.

Anna took off the heels and placed them by the door. She would have to tend to the dress later, she only knew that she had to see Aidan and make sure he was alright. John walked in behind her after having parked the car up the street. Anna saw that Ms. Hughes instantly recognized John and hoped the older woman wouldn't ask any questions about the evening, at least not until he had left. John handed Anna her clutch that she had left in the car. She placed it on the side table and turned her attentions back to Ms. Hughes, "It's quite alright. I know you wouldn't have called if you could have handled it on your own."

"Well, we could have handled Aidan just fine…but he's only asking for his 'mummy' now," Ms. Hughes reported.

At the sound of her words, Anna froze in place for a moment staring at John. This was it. This is when he would give up the chase and would walk out of her life. She would seal her fate with the next words she directed at Ms. Hughes, "Well, I'm here now." John stood there motionless with his mouth agape. She couldn't wait for him to ask questions or watch him leave; she had to attend to her son. "Is he in his room then?"

"Yes, Charles was trying to put him down for the night," she answered back. "He offered to give me a ride back home once you and Aidan were settled. I'll just wait out here," Elsie said as she began to clean up around the living room.

"Thank you, Ms. Hughes," Anna said as she prepared to walk back to Aidan's room. She turned to John, her voice filled with emotion as she attempted to apologize, "John, I…"

"Go ahead," John said softly. "Aidan needs you." She nodded her head in agreement as she headed back to see Aidan. John watched her walk off and stood in the living room almost in a daze. He chided himself for not putting the pieces together sooner. How could he not have seen the similarities between Aidan and Anna? John walked around, stopping every now and then to look at the pictures on the wall and the mantle. He saw some of the wide, toothy-grinned, little boy he had come to know. There were some of him growing up through the years; all the firsts' one would expect to see: first steps, first tooth, and first birthday. He also saw some of a young woman who came into her own as she grew up alongside her child and he couldn't help but be moved by the images that sat before him. John had to admit he felt a little overwhelmed; he had never expected to be with someone that already had a child and it was certainly a big responsibility to take on. If he were to continue things with Anna he wouldn't just be dating her, he would be essentially trying out for a role as a father. While he did get along with Aidan, John didn't know that he would measure up to the expectations that Anna and Aidan would have. He'd already failed at one marriage. What would happen if he failed at this?

John contemplated leaving; not for good of course, but this was just a lot of information to take in in a single night. Then he spotted a photo of Anna on a side table beside an arm chair, he squinted his eyes as he stepped closer and picked up the picture frame. John studied it in silence for a moment before easing himself into the arm chair.

Ms. Hughes walked back into the living room and glanced quickly at the item he was holding, "She didn't tell you did she?" Elsie asked as she picked up two empty glasses.

John simply shook his head.

"She usually doesn't," Elsie said. "In fact, she's never brought anyone back home with her," she noted.

"I only brought her home because she said there was an emergency," he mumbled. John scanned the room for a moment and noticed the back pack and the wrestle buddies he had seen at the restaurant. He turned his attentions back to the photo.

"That's one of my favorites," she said. John's eyes were unmoving as he ran a finger along the wooden frame and listened to her words. "I was there when that sweet boy came into this world. He's held my heart ever since," Elsie said as she let out a heavy sigh.

In the photo, Anna held a newborn Aidan in the hospital. Completely captivated by her son, she wasn't even staring back at the camera. Instead she was beaming, grinning from ear to ear like she had just received the greatest gift in the world. Anna didn't look terrified at all. She looked happy; it reminded him of falling in love. A small smirk drew itself upon his face. Even though he couldn't understand why she hadn't been upfront with him from the start, he knew she must have had her reasons.

John couldn't help but notice then that there were no photos of Aidan's father around. Maybe he had left them. Perhaps they were divorced. Or worse, what if he had died? That would explain her hesitancy to wanting to try being with him. No matter what the reason, she had clearly been doing this on her own all this time. Looking back at the photo John came to the realization that if Anna was able to face parenthood head on without any help and seem so optimistic about it; then there wasn't any reason he couldn't do the same.

Anna sat across from her father, who sat in a rocking chair holding Aidan with such tender love and care. He had always been the best father, a little unsure at times, but she supposed any parent would have gone through that. It hadn't surprised her that he took to being a grandfather so easily; while the circumstances hadn't been ideal at the time, Charlie never questioned her decision to keep Aidan. He never doubted her when she said she'd find a way to finish up school after Aidan was born. There had always been an easiness to their relationship; a level of trust that ran deeper than most. Perhaps it was because they only had each other to lean on for some time. Of course Ms. Hughes had been more than willing to help out; especially when it came to problems or questions of a feminine nature. But Charlie was always the one to pick her up when she fell, to let her sleep in his and her mother's old room when she had nightmares, or share stories of Alice with her.

She watched as Aidan held on tightly to Mr. Bear, even in his sleep. The soft rise and fall of his chest with each breath he took. His cheeks were flushed red and she leaned forward to graze her hand across his cheek and check his temperature. He felt warm, but it had already gotten better since she had arrived home. She noticed that his pajamas were different from the ones he had started off in before she left for the ball. "He must have made a mess out of them," she thought to herself. His eyes were half lidded as he tried to wake up for her and mumbled, "Mummy", in his sleep.

It broke her heart to see him like this; any time he was sick or hurt was like a knife to her chest. She should have known better than to leave him. Earlier that evening when she was getting ready he had been quieter than usual, he wasn't nearly as energetic and he had been very clingy. She thought his eyes had looked a little glazed before she left, but had assumed he was just tired and had been overly active that day. Despite being sick he had been so sweet before she had left with Gwen, wishing her well as she headed out the door and telling her she looked like a 'fairy princess'. Deep down she knew it wasn't her fault, but she couldn't help feeling guilty that she wasn't there to answer his cries when he had called for her.

"I should take him now," Anna offered as she held out her hands for him.

"It's no trouble, he's sleeping fine where he is," Charlie replied.

"No, it's getting late. Besides, you still have to take Ms. Hughes home before you can get back to your own bed," she reminded him with a hint of a smile.

Charlie blushed at that comment and handed the boy over to Anna as he tucked the small blanket back into place over him. "If you need anything tonight…anything at all…please, don't hesitate to call," Charlie said sweetly.

"I won't, Dad," Anna answered, her eyes transfixed on Aidan.

"I'm sorry you didn't get to stay out long. Did you get to enjoy yourself a little at least?"

"I did," she said with a sad smile. "But, I am where I'm supposed to be," Anna added with a sigh as she traced her finger along the edge of Aidan's hairline. There was a little bit of sweat collecting there, she used the cool wash cloth she had seen in a bowl of water by his night stand to dab at his forehead.

Charlie took the rag from her and placed a kiss on her cheek, "I'll be off then."

"Thanks again, Dad. For…well everything really," she said with a small shrug of her shoulders.

He leaned over and placed a large hand on Aidan's head as he kissed him on the nose. He looked at his grandson that he held with the deepest regard for a moment before standing up right. "Of course, all in a day's work. Now, you be sure to take care of yourself too," he whispered with a smile as he quietly made his way out the door.

Anna sat there in the dimly lit room and played over the events of the evening. Everything had been going so well with her and John. It was almost too easy, the way they seemed to get along with one another. He seemed to have his life together, or at least what she had been able to gather so far. He was good looking and he was never short of charm. Then she stopped herself, as she was reminded of him. Henry had been that way too. "Almost too good to be true," she had remembered telling herself all those years ago. Anna pushed the thoughts from her mind; she wouldn't allow herself to think about that now.

She bundled Aidan up tighter and held him closer. Anna stopped to examine his fingers and made a mental note to herself that she would need to trim his nails later. His thumb appeared raw, like he had been sucking it earlier. She was still trying to break him of that habit; at least now he only did it when he was trying to self soothe himself when she wasn't around. After a few minutes more she picked him up and placed him in his bed. She was just about to walk out the door when she heard him ask, "Mummy, did you have fun tonight?" Here was her sweet baby boy, that had been battling a fever all night and all he cared about was her. She never doubted that Aidan had been an angel sent to heal her broken heart when she needed one the most.

"I did. Go back to sleep, Mummy will check in on you after she's gotten ready for bed," she said. She watched as he shifted in his bed to get comfortable and rolled over to fall back into a deep sleep. She left the door cracked after that so she could hear him, in case he woke up in the middle of the night.

Anna wandered into the kitchen to grab herself a glass of water; she was exhausted and had barely been able to manage getting her pajamas on and washing her face without falling asleep then and there. She tied her robe tightly around her waist as she sipped the cool water and noticed out of the corner of her eye that the light on the alarm was blinking green and felt her muscles tense. She knew she hadn't set it when she got home, but her Dad and Ms. Hughes knew the code. Surely they wouldn't have left without setting the alarm. Anna walked over to the little white box on the wall to set it and was startled by a voice coming from the corner of her living room. "Anna?" he asked.

She had nearly screamed but immediately recognized the figure sitting in the chair across from her. "John? What are you doing here?"

"I brought you here," he answered back quickly.

"Yes, but that was over an hour ago," she replied.

"I wanted to make sure you were alright for the evening," he said softly. It wasn't a lie. He didn't want to leave her alone in case she needed help. "Is he alright?"

"Looks like a case of the flu, he should be fine though," she said.

"That's good to hear," he said but she could tell he wanted to say something more. "I was hoping we could talk," he managed to get out as he rubbed at the back of his neck nervously.

Anna stood there staring at him in silence. She hadn't really taken it in earlier because their evening had been cut short, but he looked even more devastatingly handsome when he was stripped down to just a white button down shirt and black dress pants. His hair hung loosely now; slightly feathered around the edges and untamed on the top. A single lock dangled down in front of her enticingly, like a hook trying to lure her in. It was practically begging her to run her fingers through it. She could see the outline of his white undershirt and a tuft of thick, coarse, chest hair poking out on top where he had left his top two buttons undone. At some point, while she had been in Aidan's room he must have undone his tie and the buttons on his cuffs. His sleeves were now rolled up, exposing his toned, hairy forearms and his tie was draped just so around his neck so that an end hung on either side, framing that thatch of chest hair. Her eyes followed the length of his frame down to his feet and saw that he had removed his shoes and was walking around in his socks. As if on cue, he wiggled his toes and Anna looked back up at him to find a boyish smile there. There was something about seeing him like this, so relaxed, that made him impossibly irresistible.

He pulled her from her thoughts when he spoke again, "It doesn't have to be now and we can talk some other time if you'd rather."

"No, now works fine for me," she said coolly. She was preparing herself for what was to come, she didn't expect him to stay around and if he did, she assumed it would only be for her and not for Aidan. "I think I need some tea. Would you care for some?"

"Sure," he answered back.

"Well that's a good sign," she thought, "maybe that means we can still be friends after all of the dust has settled."

Anna reemerged from the kitchen with a tray of biscuits and tea for them. She noticed John had taken up to sitting on the sofa so that he could sit beside her. She set the tray down and handed him a cup on a saucer then took up the space next to him, while leaving a small gap between them. He was so focused on her he had nearly burnt the top of his mouth when he swallowed the first gulp of tea. She stirred a spoon in her cup methodically leaning forward ever so slightly to blow on it every three turns. Finally, she broke the silence that had settled around them. "What you must think of me? I can only imagine," she said thoughtfully.

John looked back at her, his eyebrows knit together with confusion and his mouth partially open. He looked as if he wanted to interrupt her but she was already talking again. He resigned himself to let her speak her peace before he said anything more on the matter.

"It was never my intention to hurt or deceive you," she clarified. "I said everything I could think of to discourage you and forget you; try as I might. But, now I suppose, we will both pay for my mistake."

John sat there processing her words and considering his response carefully. "Why wouldn't you tell me about him? About Aidan?"

"You never asked," she replied hastily.

"That's true," he said with a sly grin. He set his tea and saucer back down on the coffee table as he formulated his next question. "Did you think it was because I couldn't handle the truth? Or was it because you weren't ready for someone else to come into your life?"

She paused for a moment and then answered honestly, "Both."

John nodded his head in understanding as he let his hand wander over to Anna's free hand that sat resting in her lap. He didn't expect anything in return; he simply wanted to touch her again. Their dance and kiss before, having been cut short, was like a brief moment of ecstasy. Yet some how sitting here with her in silence, even with less contact than they experienced while dancing, somehow felt more intimate and he enjoyed it. Unconsciously the tips of his fingers grazed her ring finger, as his fingers hovered in the spot John realized that she still wasn't wearing one.

She placed her cup down as she observed his movements. Then she placed her hand on top of his and spoke, "I meant what I said before… about my situation being complicated."

"Well, nobody is perfect," John sighed. "Are you still married?" he asked hesitantly, holding on to a glimmer of hope that she wasn't already taken.

"No," she said. "We were never married."

He watched the change in her expression and he was having trouble reading it, she seemed almost relieved that she had never been married, but something about the way she had said it was heartrending. A girl like Anna deserved to have a wedding. All dressed up in a white dress and some man looking like a fool.

"I'd rather have the right man than the perfect wedding," she commented. Though she supposed that was a long forgotten dream.

John wished he had thought that way when he had married Vera. They were never a good match. He knew it then and he knew it now. He never could understand why the two of them had settled for one another when they really only had a few things in common. Maybe it was because he was worried of being alone for the rest of his life. Maybe he had been trying to recreate some sense of family that he had been missing from his life. Whatever it was, the solution did not lie with Vera.

John debated asking her the next question that was running through his mind, but they might as well lay all their cards on the table. "Your ex…does he help you?"

"No," she said solemnly. She pulled her hand away at the mention of her ex. Even without hearing the sound of his name, she felt tainted. Anna couldn't risk spoiling whatever existed between herself and John. "He's always been bettering at destroying things than helping matters. Trust me. We are better off without him." Anna didn't know why but she suddenly felt the urge to cry. Perhaps it was because it was the first time in years she had discussed the matter with anyone. Perhaps it was because she felt like she was about to let him go. "Isn't that what they say you do if you love something? You let it go," she thought.

He thought carefully about her remark, wondering what someone could have said or done to make this amazing woman sitting before him feel so unworthy or unloved. In that moment he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and tell her that with or without the promise of a future for them, he wanted to be there for her.

Anna had to make sure he fully understood that dating her meant dating Aidan as well. "My mornings start well before the sun comes up because I have to make sure I'm ready before I can even wake Aidan. I haven't had a good lie in for the past five years. Once he's up it's an endless cycle of scrapped knees, spilled milk, sticky fingers, and play dates. I haven't been to see a good film in ages; my nights usually consist of watching the latest Disney movie that Aidan has taken up. And, I've not worn a dress like the one I wore tonight since my university days."

He let her have her moment before asking sweetly, "Are you quite finished now?"

"No. The truth is this," she motioned to point at her robe and pajamas, "is usually the norm for me." John continued to stare blankly back at her, "I'm not a lady and I don't pretend to be."

John moved his free hand to cup her cheek, the palm of his hand was rough and warm against her skin. "But you are a lady to me…and I've never known a finer one." For the second time that night he watched tears pool at the corner of Anna's eye's. "Anna, I love you as you are. This," he motioned with his finger, "actually suits you just fine. I could get used to this." She smiled through her tears and he smiled back proudly; happy that he could take away a piece of her sadness. He watched as she shifted uncomfortably on the couch trying to pull her robe tighter, but he loved how she looked with her hair loosely braided, make-up free, and wearing mismatched pajamas. "But, I didn't fall in love with a woman in a ball gown. I fell in love with a woman behind a counter in an apron." She was beaming back at him and he let the pad of his thumb swipe away the tears that had begun to trickle down her face. "I may not know the whole story and maybe you won't be ready to share it with me for some time, but I do believe that I am falling in love with you and I would love to see more of you," he stated as her smile began to stretch wider. "The both of you," he corrected himself.

"John, I don't think you've really thought of what you are signing up for," she warned.

"Well, you are wrong there. I've actually had quite some time to think about things since we arrived and you went into the other room. I know I haven't spent a lot of time with him, but Aidan is a sweet boy and if he's as easy to love as you, I think we should make a go of this. I know I won't be perfect, I don't have much experience with kids but I'd be up for the challenge," he said resolutely. She wanted so badly to believe him, but she still looked doubtful. Sensing her apprehension John said, "You won't be seeing my tail lights heading off in the opposite direction anytime soon. I can promise you that."

"Really?" her voice warbled with emotion and was laced with disbelief. She felt her heart hum at the simplest of words from John Bates. Could she truly have found a man that was willing to be there for both her and Aidan?

John leaned forward until his forehead touched hers, sitting there under the cloak of shadows and silence they both held their breath for what felt like hours. "Really," he said with absolute certainty. Their lips were mere inches away from one another now, they could feel one another's breath upon their faces and the urge to move in was becoming too much to bear. "Anna, if we are going to do this. I feel like we should do things properly."

She was surprised at his resolve and was somewhat disheartened to have been halted once again from kissing him, but she also was oddly relieved. She needed John to prove to her he was different and so far he was doing just that. Anna felt herself falling more in love with him as she watched him try to find the words he wanted to say next.

"I never had a father figure growing up and I remember how I felt the few times my mum tried to date. I don't think it would be right for me to just move in on you without Aidan really knowing what's going or me getting to know the two of you better. Maybe we could take things slow?" John suggested as his hand seemed to dance about in the air on its own accord.

Anna couldn't believe what she was hearing. He was putting her and her son's needs before his own. She had heard of such men existing, but she had never imagined she'd be lucky enough to find one of her own. "I like slow. Slow works for me," she answered back.

"Good," he whispered as he placed a kiss on her knuckles. He rose from his seat and began grabbing his jacket and putting his shoes on. "I have to get going back to the office, but I thought you should know I did have a lovely night," he said.

"I did too," she answered with a smile.

"I'll see you around then," he said as he opened the door. "Maybe we could do coffee or breakfast sometime soon," he joked as he made to shut the door.

"Wait, I don't have your number," she reminded him.

He popped his head back in between the door and the frame and said, "Yes you do, I left it on the coffee table next to the picture. Give me a call when you can so I can get your number."

"I will," she said happily. "Goodnight then, John."

"Goodnight, Anna," he responded as he closed the door softly behind him.

As soon as he was out the door she sat up on the couch to reach for the picture frame that John had held earlier. It was the photo of her with Aidan in the hospital on the day he was born. Underneath it was a pad of paper with his phone number scribbled on it and a message that said "Can't wait to hear from you. -J."

She giggled in response and then let herself fall back against the arm of the couch, feigning being shot. She wanted to squeal like a little girl and shout it from the rooftops that she had met the most amazing man that she had ever known. "Oh my goodness, Anna May Smith, what have you gotten yourself into?" she asked herself excitedly as she held her chest. She could feel her heart beating rapidly against her chest, reminding her that she was still alive and she had never been happier.