A/N: I must apologize for not showcasing Chelsie more in this chapter, but I did include them. I hope it was enjoyable for you all. I couldn't have all the drama end just because Anna agreed to see a therapist and quite frankly I think that's realistic, so I hope you don't hold it against me. Thanks to a-lady-to-me and terriejane for reading through this for me. I tried to respond back to all the reviews, hopefully I didn't miss anyone. Thanks again for the feedback. Enjoy!

Anna exited the building feeling lighter than she had in days. The fear and anxiety hadn't been completely absolved, and she wasn't so naive to think it would be, after only one session with Dr. Gibson. A weight seemed to have lifted though and some of her paranoia had ebbed, especially when she would talk to John. Which reminded her, she had promised to call him and let him know how it went. Anna began to retrieve the phone from her purse and posted it on. Her face lit up when she saw a picture on her phone's backgrounds of John and Aidan making silly faces at the zoo. She slid the unlock button on the screen and dialed his number. It rang twice and she began to think she might have missed him before heading out to drinks with a client.

Before the third ring could finish, John's voice came across the line. "How was it?" he asked immediately.

"It went surprisingly well. I like Dr. Gibson," Anna said as she walked across the parking lot to get to her car.

"Is this a Mr. Gibson or a Mrs. Gibson?" he teased. "I'm not sure I could compete with a doctor."

"It's Kathy Gibson," she answered with a roll of the eyes.

"What an effeminate name for a man," John egged her on.

"Honestly, you are the worst sometimes," she replied with a hearty laugh. Anna could hear his own laughter echoing back and it made her long for him all the more. She was imagining what his brilliant smile looked like at that very moment and wondered if he was smiling so broadly that the corner of his eyes had crinkled. Oh how she loved it when his eyes did that.

"Maybe so, but it made you laugh and I really needed to hear that today," he answered back.

"Why? Is your day not going well?" Anna asked once she was in her car.

"Oh it's going fine. But I needed that reassurance that you were managing alright. I keep feeling the urge to hop on the next flight back home just to see you and Aidan again," he said simply. "We are going to give this Pamuk thing a go again. I think we'd have better luck if we just left Mary and Kamal in a room together to duke it out. You could cut the tension in the room with a knife," John joked.

"Kamal Pamuk?" Anna asked. "As in the son to the Turkish diplomat?"

"One in the same," he answered back. "Why do you ask?"

"I guess, it's just all the times you had mentioned his name I had only heard his last name. I didn't think to ask about it any more than that," she sated.

"Well what difference does it make what his name is?" Anna became quiet for a moment, not sure if she should divulge such information. She wasn't even sure if Robert was aware of what had transpired between the two of them. "Anna? What do you know that I don't?"

"You have to swear not to tell if I were to reveal what happened," she said.

"Her secret is safe with me," he replied.

"Not long after Mary met Matthew and things went south, she travelled to London to clear her head and take a break from it all. She was staying at her Aunt Rosamund's house, Robert's sister. I wasn't there at the time but I remember her talking about meeting some dashing, foreign fellow with a cheeky grin that went by the name, Pamuk, at a club called, 'The Lotus'. I don't recall all the details because I was dealing with my own problems at the time...but I got the impression she was very much taken with him. Apparently, once they slept together he left her high and dry without so much as an explanation of why he was leaving and refused to return her phone calls."

"Now that makes more sense," he announced. " I was wondering why everything was turning into such an epic battle during the contract negotiation meeting. "

"Yes and I imagine you will have to pretend you haven't the faintest idea why they are still at odds with one another. I'm sure Matthew knows nothing of the suitors Mary was considering in their time apart. And I'm certain he will be even less keen on the idea that one of his clients slept with his fiancé," she said.

"Well it's not as if he didn't know what he was getting into when he chose to date Mary. And then he proposed to her. He's a better man than I am, Gunga Din," John muttered.

"Oh she's not all that bad," Anna said

John had to laugh at that remark. "Of course someone like you would say that."

"What is that supposed to mean? Someone like me?"

"Take no offense love. It's a compliment. I only meant you don't have a mean bone in your body. You couldn't say anything horrible about someone else if you tried," he answered.

"Maybe that's my problem. I might have stood my ground more if I had a little more back bone," she said regretfully.

Without saying anything more he knew exactly what she was referring to. "Anna…."

"It's true isn't it?" she cut him off. "If I would have stood up to him or left sooner...I could have avoided all of this."

John grimaced and pinched at the bridge of his nose as he tried to shake off the frustration that he felt. It wasn't fair that she had to go through this while he was so far from her. "No, that's not true. The truth is he didn't deserve you to begin with and if he was a real man he wouldn't have treated you that way. Don't you dare let him change you, because I love you just the way you are," he said in a firm but even tone.

Anna continued to sit in her car, unmoving as she digested the words that John had just said.

"Are you still there?

"Mmhhmm," Anna responded as she wiped a new set of tears from her eyes.

"What is it love? Tell me how I can help," he said softly.

"You already are, more than you know. I needed to hear that. Everything just feels so raw right now and knowing you feel that way just reassures me that somehow this is all going to work itself out eventually," she explained.

"Well I'm glad I could help. Although I must admit, I don't feel like I'm doing much of anything right now. Just take it one step at a time and give me a call once you've settled in at Charlie's house. Tell them both I said 'hello' when you see them," John said.

"I will," she said. "I love you."

"I love you too," he replied before hanging up the phone.

"Why are we going to Grandpa's tonight?" Aidan asked for the third time.

"I told you darling, we are sleeping over until John comes back," Anna replied as she pulled up to the curb of her father's house.

"But it's not b'sghetti night," Aidan pointed out.

"You're right, it's not. But we can have spaghetti tonight if you want to," she offered as a consolation.

"Nah, I like the way John makes it better," Aidan replied as he waited for Anna to let him out of his seat.

Anna pretended to be hurt as she opened the passenger side door. She unfastened his belt, "Are you saying you don't like Mummy's cooking?"

"No. I like your biscuits," he replied.

"Why am I not surprised?" she asked rhetorically as she set him down on the lawn.

"I don't know," Aidan answered.

Anna rolled her eyes and stifled a laugh. She shut the passenger side door and popped the trunk of the car.

"But how come you're sleeping over too, Mummy?" Aidan asked as Anna unloaded their bags from the back of the car.

"Uh...Mummy hasn't been able to spend much time with Grandpa lately," she answered truthfully.

"Is it cause you miss your Daddy?" he asked as Anna handed him his bear and pillow.

"Yes, I suppose that's it," she replied and Aidan gave a nod of approval. Anna ruffled his hair as she hitched the load up in her arms and walked up to the house. "Aidan, sweetie, open the door for Mummy."

He ran ahead and tried opening it twice and saw Jasper going crazy in the window.

"Did you open it?" Anna asked as she mounted the last step up to the porch.

"I can't, it's locked," he answered her.

"That's odd, Grandpa always leaves it unlocked," she commented. "Can you grab the key from Mummy's jacket pocket and unlock the door?"

Aidan fished in her pocket, taking his time to check the keys. Anna readjusted the items in her arms once more until she heard the lock click over. Aidan pushed it open and Jasper immediately began jumping up and down in an attempt to lick Aidan's face. "Down boy, down," Aidan said as he kicked off his shoes. The little boy wasted no time heading to the backyard to play with the dog that was ambling after him.

"Dad?" Anna called out across the flat as she set their stuff down on the sofa. "Where are you?" Anna asked as she headed towards her father's room. Anna thought she heard a giggle followed by her father stumbling out of his bedroom with a bathrobe on over his pajamas. "Well this is certainly a surprise," she said. "What were you doing back there?"

Just then Elsie emerged from the bedroom, "Charles who is...oh Anna." Elsie pulled the robe a little tighter and turned a shade of crimson while Charles still struggled to find words. She hoped her hair didn't look too out of place and give them away, but judging by the look on Anna's face their intentions were clear as day.

Anna suddenly felt like an intruder in her own home. Of course she had always suspected, but this was certainly an odd way to find out.

"Anna dear, I thought you said you weren't coming until tomorrow," her father said.

"I did, but that was yesterday," she reminded him.

"Right," Charles said as he stood up a little more straight. His eyes looked down at the small pile of bags on the couch. "So you'll be staying the night then?" he asked as he clapped his hands together.

Was he seriously trying to make small talk as if she had just walked in on her father making breakfast or watching television? she asked herself. Then it really dawned on her what they were most likely doing behind those closed doors. She shuddered at the thought. She didn't begrudge her father the chance at love, but that was one thought Anna wanted to keep far from her mind.

Aidan surprised them all when he came running around the corner and threw his arms around Charles' legs, "Grandpa!" He nearly knocked the wind out of the older man and tilted his head back to place a kiss on his grandfather's cheek.

"Hello, my boy," Charles greeted warmly.

Aidan took a moment to step back and ask, "Why are you in your pajamas?"

"Well, I was sleeping," Charles quickly explained.

"During the day?" he asked curiously.

"Sure, why not?"

Aidan peered around Charles legs and saw Elsie standing behind him. "And Ms. Elsie was sleeping too?" Aidan asked when he noted Elsie choice of clothing.

Charles wanted to crawl into a hole and die as he searched for the right answer that wouldn't lead to an extended line of questioning. "Umm..." he silently pastured that the words would come to him.

Anna quickly took charge of the direction the conversation was taking, "Aidan, darling go grab your stuff and put it in the guest room. We can do a puzzle together while Grandpa gets ready for dinner." Anna hoped the activity would distract him. Enough from what was really transpiring before his eyes.

"Is Ms. Elsie coming too?"

"We'll leave that up for her to decide. Now do as Mummy asked," Anna insisted with a light pat on his bottom. Aidan ran off to grab his backpack and once it off sight Anna turned her attentions back to her father and Ms. Hughes. "It looks like you two wasted no time in reconciling," she said with a raised eyebrow. Anna pushed a loose hair back behind her ear when she noticed the both of them shifted nervously on their feet at the same time.

"We didn't want you to find out about it this way," Elsie spoke up.

"Well I should certainly hope not. I am just glad we didn't arrive a few minutes earlier," she replied.

"Anna please...let's not be vulgar," Charles requested as he found his voice once more.

"I don't think there's anything vulgar about it. I am happy for you both and you are a grown man. You are allowed to live who you chose to," Anna stated maturely. She buried her hands in her jean pockets and tried not to look directly at the both of them. As if it would make the situation any less awkward.

"Anna I hope you don't think that I am trying to take your mother's place," Elsie fumbled over her words.

"I don't," she replied back without hesitation. "If I may be so bold I would venture a guess that I know you better than my own mother. And you both have been there for me as parents in every way that counted. I would never begrudge you the opportunity to love one another as you deserve to be."

"Well that's a relief," Charles muttered as he let out a heavy sigh.

"Just...let's try to cut these sort of encounters down to a minimum," she said with a giggle. And with that she headed down the hallway to check on Aidan.

"That went over better than I hoped," Charles said to Elsie as they were both left standing there.

"Better than what?" she asked indignantly. "Better than if she walked in on us stark naked in a compromising position?" Elsie fixed him with a series look.

Charles simply shrugged his shoulders and leaned over to steal a kiss.

"You are incorrigible," she playfully scolded him. "I can't believe you neglected to tell me she was coming over today."

"I didn't neglect to tell you. I completely forgot, " he admitted sheepishly.

"I guess this is what I get for settling down with an old man," Elsie joked as she leaned against the door frame of Charles's bedroom.

Something about the way she stood there in just her pajamas and one of his bathrobes made him feel sensations he forgot existed. His blood was boiling over now and the dark look in her eyes called to him again. God did she look gorgeous when she was cross with him, he thought to himself.

"Old man? I didn't hear you complaining last night...or this morning for that matter," he reminded her before kissing her once more and leading her back into the bedroom.

Dinner passed by in relative silence. Everyone except for Aidan seemed to be avoiding eye contact with one another, the events of that afternoon still looming in all their minds. Occasionally, Aidan would chime in with some piece of information that would

get the conversation going, but it would eventually peter out. The only constant sound that seemed to fill the room was the sound of Jasper's tags clanging against one another as he made his rounds around the table in search of a handout or a dropped piece of food. He finally settled beneath Aidan's feet and worked his charm with his puppy dog eyes.

"How long will you be staying dear?" Elsie asked while helping Aidan to another piece of garlic bread.

"Why are we cramping your style already?" Anna inquired with a teasing tone in her voice.

"No not at all," she and Charles both answered in unison.

Anna had to smile at the united front they had already created. Not that they ever had problem reading one another's thoughts, but it had always amazed Anna how in sync they were. Even as they sat there in silence she had noticed the exchange of glance and felt like she had been intruding on some telepathic conversation that was taking place between the two.

"I only asked because if you would like I could stop by the grocery store tomorrow and pick up some more food, perhaps even pick up some of Aidan's favorite snacks," Elsie suggested.

Aidan's smile widened and he quickly sought permission from Anna, "Can I get some gummy worms? Please Mummy, please." The little boy gave a slight tug at her arm and began working his charm as he puffed out his bottom lip.

"Only if you eat the rest of your bread and be sure to say 'thank you' to Ms. Elsie," she said as she wiped the remainder of spaghetti sauce from his chin.

"I will," he replied with his mouth already half full of garlic bread.

"And if I catch you feeding one more meatball to Jasper you will not receive any deseret tonight, do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mummy," he said dejectedly as he put the small meatball that had been sitting in his hand, back on the plate. Jasper was audibly disappointed and placed his paw up on Aidan's lap in one last attempt to gain sympathy from the boy. When Aidan shook his head and continued to finish his food, Jasper's face fell, his body finally giving way to the inevitable and laid on the floor of the kitchen. They all had to restrain a laugh as he settled against the back of his chair and wiped his hand on the napkin Anna had left on the table.

"Good boy, now go wash your hands," Anna instructed.

"Ok," he answered back as he ran off.

"Aidan, when you're done we'll play a game of Go-Fish," Charles said with a smile. Aidan's eyes lit up at the prospect of sharing a card game with his grandfather.

Aidan stopped in his tracks and shouted out, "Oh boy!"

"Aidan, aren't you forgetting something?" Charles asked.

"Thank you, Ms. Elsie!" Aidan called back over his shoulder.

"That was very sweet of you to offer," Anna said as she pushed her hat bit of food around on her plate. "We only need to stay until John gets back. It shouldn't be longer than three days," she filled in for them both.

"Anna, there's no rush. You stay as long as you need to," her father added while giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Is it just the idea of being alone in the house?" he inquired.

Anna checked to make sure Aidan wasn't within ear shot and looked back at her father and Chelsie. "I don't know really. I just don't feel safe in my own skin right now. And I feel like something...or someone...is waiting to jump out at me half the time."

"And does that feeling go away when John is around?" Elsie asked.

"Well, no. Not completely. But I feel safer with him," she explained. Anna didn't dare to mention that she thought she had seen Henry. She knew how John had reacted to that news and he wasn't even anywhere near her when she told him. Anna could only imagine how her father would react; he wouldn't let her out of his sight until John returned. And even then he'd be hovering around her. She just had to give this therapist sometime to work her magic and relax as best she could until John returned.

"You seem to have something else on your mind, would you like to talk about it?" Charles asked.

"It's nothing. I'm being silly is all. I keep waiting for John to go running for the hills. He's been away from us for nearly a week now and I keep waiting for him to come to his senses and see that Aidan and I aren't worth the hassle, but he hasn't yet. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and it's only adding to my anxieties right now," she continued. "Aidan is at such an impressionable age, I just keep worrying I'm doing something that is going to scar him for life."

Charles shared a sympathetic look at Elsie before looking back at his daughter. He wished there was something more they could do for Anna, he had never seen her so distressed before. "What did Dr. Gibson have to say about all this?" Charles questioned his daughter. He had hoped that she could still find a way to trust him and open up to him. But he wouldn't push her too hard. Right now, he knew she was already pushing herself hard enough.

"We've only had one session, Dad."

"And?"

"I think what Anna means to say, is this was more of a 'getting-to-know-you' session, am I right?" Elsie filled in for Charles.

"Yes, that's right," Anna replied.

"Give it a little more time. I know it's difficult right now but you're doing the right thing and you couldn't be in better hands," he noted. Charles reached his hand across the table to touch Anna's.

When his hand drifted across her wrist she swiftly jumped to her feet. Anna felt her blood run cold and the image of Henry flashed across her mind. It didn't last more than a second, but it was enough to scare her out of her wits. She was reminded of those devilish, green eyes. They were nothing like John's. No, these eyes were so dark that they reminded her of a predator void of emotion. And then there was that wicked grin that she had somehow been able to see past when love had consumed her every waking thought. Like a wolf in sheep's skin. Anna thought she was going to be ill and fought off the urge to purge her stomach of everything she had just eaten. It was as if the quick, smack to her face had just happened all over again.

"Are you okay?" Charles asked in a voice laced with concern.

"It's nothing," she replied with a look like a deer caught in the headlights. "I should go check on Aidan. Excuse me," she replied as she disappeared from the dining room.

"I'll go check on her," Elsie said with a gentle pat on Charles's hand.

Elsie knocked on Anna's bedroom door. She waited in silence for a response. "Anna, dear, are you alright?" she asked.

Anna answered the door and wiped at the corner of her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt, "I'm just getting Aidan ready for bed," Anna said "I'll send him out in a minute to play Go-Fish with Dad and then I'm going to give John a call."

"Anna…"

"I know you're concerned and I can't thank you enough for all you've done. But this is something I need to deal with on my own, Elsie," Anna said as she tried to keep her emotions in check. Her voice was clearly shaken, but she put on a brave face for Aidan.

"Mummy, I'm dressed for bed. Can I go play cards with Grandpa now?" Aidan asked before jumping off the bed.

He was clad in his race car pajamas and Anna ran a hand through his long, blonde hair. "Yes, you can go. But when Grandpa says it's bedtime no fussing," she instructed Aidan. Aidan skipped off down the hallway and Anna went back to speaking with Elsie, "Is there anything else I can help you with tonight?"

"No, I suppose not," Elsie said as she headed back to the living room to join Charles and Aidan.

John sat in his hotel room with his feet crossed at the ankles as he went over some paper work and memos that were scattered across the comforter of his bed. He heard the familiar ring of his phone go off and quickly began lifting random papers from the bed in search of his mobile. "God. Please don't hang up," he muttered to himself. Finally he located the phone and answered it, "Hello."

"Hi," she replied trying not to give herself away.

"You're early."

"I didn't mean to bother you," she said apologetically.

"No, you could never be a bother. I simply meant that you usually don't call me until you're ready to go to bed," he said. There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, "Anna? Is everything alright? Is Aidan okay?"

"We're both fine. I just needed to hear your voice," she replied. "I really don't want to be that clingy girlfriend, but...waiting another two days for you to come home is seeming more and more impossible."

Not that John doubted Anna's feelings for him, but he was actually relieved to hear her speaking in such a way. He had never heard Vera say anything like that to him. He took comfort in the fact that she and Aidan missed him as much as he was missing them. "I know, but I promise it won't be much longer." They both let out a barely noticeable sigh but it was as if they could read each other's thoughts. John was trying his best to reassure her and keep her distracted. "Are you settled in at Charlie's?"

"We are," she was pleased to report. "Though there has been a new development that sort of caught me off guard."

"Oh?"

"Apparently, Charlie and Elsie are official back in the saddle again," she said with a laugh.

"Can't say I'm surprised there. Is that what has you so upset?" he asked.

"No. I mean I sort of suspected for awhile. I'm actually happy for them. Let's just say our timing couldn't have been better," she reported.

"And what makes you say that?" he shot back.

"Well a few minutes sooner and I'm quite certain we would have walked in on them in the throes of passion," she said.

"Oh God! Was Aidan there?"

"Yes, surprisingly he asked them more questions than he asked about us," she noted.

"Well, we haven't done anything to warrant questioning," John answered simply. He cleared his paperwork off the bed, knowing he wouldn't be able to get much more done for the remainder of the night.

"I know..." Anna replied but hesitated on what to say next. She doubted he would laugh at her but in truth she was nervous as to what his answer would be. They had been dating awhile and she knew their situation was different, with her having Aidan, but it had brought up some doubts in her mind that she couldn't quell. "Why do you think that is?" she finally blurted out before she lost her nerve.

John cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair before rubbing the scruff that had grown in on his chin. "I assume you are referring to our lack of intimacy." He immediately regretted the way he worded it.

Without missing a beat Anna immediately responded back with, "Yes, that's right. You're a man and I'm sure you have needs. I guess it's always just sorry of surprised me that you haven't tried pushing me for more." She had only ever been with Henry and while he never forced her into anything, he had always made her feel like it was her duty as his girlfriend to please him.

John's eyes widened at her words, "Push you? Anna...I...I would never. I just thought that with Aidan and all...and especially now that I know your history...it just never seemed like the right time."

Her insecurities were bubbling over, "Do you not want me?" Oh God, what if he rejected her because of the way Henry was with her? she thought to herself. Did he think less of her? Was she no better than damaged goods?

"Absolutely not. How could you even think such a thing?"

She shook her head in frustration as the palm of her hand made contact with her forehead. "I shouldn't have even brought it up. Just pretend we didn't have this conversation," she was babbling now.

"I love you, Anna May Smith. I know that is not the path for you. I will not waste what we have on a fumble in the dark or a rush for the finish line because you are worried Aidan will come bursting into the bedroom at any moment," he explained. She let out a chuckle and felt her heart beat slow down at the sound of his silky voice. "Our first time together will be special and I want you to want it to. There will be no 'pushing', you can mark my words on that."

"I can't express how much it does my heart good to hear you say that."

They continued their conversation until she had to put Aidan to sleep. They both reluctantly hung up the phone after exchanging well wishes of a good night's sleep and 'I love you's, with the comfort that tomorrow would bring them one day closer to a reunion.

The next day, Anna was working her usual shift at the cafe alongside Ms. Hughes. Over the years the two women had worked in an easy rhythm, Anna suspected that Ms. Hughes had plans to retire soon and that those plans would include Anna taking over the business. She would be more than pleased to do so and was certainly up for the task, but she was not sure her heart was in it. Anna had gone to school to study business when she left to attend university and while this was a business Anna had rather hoped to be working in an office setting and making more money so that she wouldn't have to live paycheck to paycheck. She was also aware that taking on such a task could possibly mean more time away from Aidan and at the end of the day that thought did not sit well with her. Perhaps when we was a little older she might be able to get back into the working world again as she had always intended.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket and she snuck a peek as she stood behind the counter.

Good morning, beautiful. Just thought I'd pop in to see how you were doing after our conversation last night. If you're too busy don't feel like you have to text me back right away. I love you and hope you are having a good day. -J

Anna felt herself go weak in the knees at the compliment and promptly text him back.

The day is going much better actually. I hope the same can be said for you. I love you too. And how do you know I look beautiful? I

He took a moment or two to respond, but when she saw all that he had to type it was easy to see why.

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies,

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meets in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

He couldn't have known she would respond in such a way and was taken aback by his words. "Where did he come up with this stuff? He must have known it off the top of his head surely," she thought to herself.

She was about to respond with a text of her own but instead he continued to recite the remainder of the poem to her via text. When he finally reciting the poem to her he sent her one last text.

What time do you think you will be getting off of work?

Anna waited until she had a free moment from serving tables before she was able to get back to him.

"I should be done by three o'clock today; I wanted to pick Aidan up myself instead of having Gwen do it. Why?"

"Just excited to actually hear your voice, rather than imagine it," he replied.

"Silly beggar," she remarked.

Anna immediately went back to work after that and tried to focus on the fact that John would be back tomorrow if everything went according to plan, but she tried to prepare herself for the worst.

"Anna, table number two needs a refill and a bottle of ketchup for their chips," Ms. Hughes said when she walked by the young waitress.

"Right, I'm on it Ms. Hughes," Anna said cheerfully as she grabbed the ketchup and tried to remember what drink the customers at table two had.

Anna eagerly kept one eye on the clock, she had promised Aidan that when she picked him up they would stop by the store to pick out a Halloween costume for him. As soon as the clock struck three she gave Ivy a tap on the shoulder and a quick wave before heading to the back to retrieve her purse and jacket. Anna heard the buzzer ring out from the back, indicating that one of their afternoon deliveries had arrived. She'd just finished shrugging her jacket over her shoulders when Mrs. Patmore came by and said, "Anna, I hate to be a bother. But could you head out back and sign off on the delivery for the food? I have a pot that's coming to a boil, Ivy is busy with tables, and Ms. Hughes had to run an errand."

Anna quickly looked up the clock and surmised it wouldn't take more than five minutes to check the shipment and that Sybil would keep an eye on Aidan a little while longer. She gave Mrs. Patmore a nod and a smile when she agreed to check the delivery. Anna walked to the rear entrance to open the door and prepared herself for the cool, gust of wind that was surely headed her way. She was pleasantly surprised to find John standing on the other side of the door. "John? What are you...I thought you weren't going to be back until tomorrow," she said with a smile on her face that was undeniable.

Her cheeks were quickly tinged with a shade of pink as the wind blew buy and grazed her face. "I told you I was looking forward to hearing your voice in person," he answered back with a smile. "If you want i can come back tomorrow."

"Are you mad?"

He produced a teddy bear with a giant, red bow around its neck and handed it to her, "This is for you and this too." John handed her a box of chocolates. "I figured I've already done the flowers before, why not try something new?"

Anna didn't even have time to process what he was saying, she wasted no time in throwing herself towards him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips pressed firmly against his and the cool tip of her nose rubbed against his warm cheeks. He gladly accepted her weight against him, their bodies as close as they could possibly be in that moment. She wet her lips before planting another kiss on him and conveying just how much she had missed him in their short time apart.

When they pulled apart John was at a loss for words, "Wow! That was some welcome home."

"Good, hopefully you don't have to leave again for awhile," she replied.

"If that is what I can expect every time I return, I'm half tempted to leave again now," he joked as the fingers of his free hand came up to his lips. He could still feel the remnants of her warm kisses on his face.

"Don't you dare," Anna replied as she ran a hand across his cheek. She gladly accepted her gifts. Her eyes darkened at the sight of him. His hair blowing recklessly in the wind and he was dressed smartly in his long, beige, wool coat with a suit to match. His five o'clock shadow had made an early appearance and it gave him a rugged appeal that she hadn't expected to make her stomach do a flip.

His hands were now settled around her waist and he pulled her jacket collar up to keep her warm before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. The wind was whipping the scent of her shampoo around in the air and he took a deep breath, trying to remind himself that she was truly in his arms once again. A glorious grin was etched on his face as he watched the sun dance in her eyes. Suddenly she was yanking him by the lapels of his jacket and he was trying to keep his balance as he followed after her. "Anna...what are you…?"

She quickly scanned the kitchen for any other staff and popped the door to the large freezer open, "Follow me."

He thought she sounded half crazy, but he gladly would have followed her anywhere. "Christ! It's freezing in here!" he nearly shouted.

Anna let the door shut with a slam. "Not for long," Anna replied as she dropped the box of chocolates and bear on a nearby shelf. While running her fingers through his hair she said, "I need to make up for what I've been denied the last six days."

Without further instruction he leaned in to seal their lips together in a most passionate kiss, their breaths mingling together like smoke from the sparks between them. John almost forgot he was standing in a freezer as he leaned both his palms against the wall so that he could gain access to her neck.

The scruff on his chin left her slightly red from the friction, but if she had to be marked again by any man she was glad it was like this. She was his and he was hers. Anna had needed the reassurance of his touch, the sound of his voice, the smell of his skin, all of it pulsing through her like he was her very reason for living. Anna had barely acknowledged the cold that was settling in around them as every touch set her blood boiling over.

He let his hot, plump lips blaze a trail down her neck and adjusted her jacket so he could catch a glimpse of her collarbone and shoulder. "God, I've missed you," John said as he panted. John was well aware of the promise he'd made to her last night, but seeing her like this was sending him into overdrive. He certainly wasn't planning on making love to her in a freezer, but the temptation to at least touch her more than they had in previous encounters was far too great. His breath all but stopped and with a shaky hand extended his arm to brush Anna's coat aside. Her breasts encased beneath her blouse heaved up and down with each unsteady breath she took. "May I?" he asked.

Anna silently nodded in agreement as her eyes followed his hands the rest of the way.

"What the bloody hell is going on in here?" Mrs. Patmore all but screeched as she flung the door open.

John's hand stopped short, having never reached its intended destination. Thankfully there was a rack of lamb hanging off of one of the meat hooks obstructing her view. John quickly retracted his hand and Anna pulled her jacket together at the same time. "Nothing Mrs. Patmore," Anna managed to say as she sidestepped John.

"Sure, that's what your father said when I caught him in here with Ms. Hughes," she said. John did his best to keep a straight face and Anna blushed in response. "Look, I get it. Love is in the air. But lets not make a habit of turning my kitchen into an episode of the Bachelor, shall we?"

John and Anna looked like two children that had just been busted by their parents. Anna hung her head in shame and John replied back in a low voice, "Yes, Mrs. Patmore."

"Good, now wipe that lipstick off your face and you two kids get out of here," Mrs. Patmore instructed.

John wiped the lipstick off with his sleeve and waited for the stout, red-headed cook to be completely out of sight. "I hope I didn't get you in trouble," John said solemnly.

"I'm sure it will be fine. Sounds like she's used to these sort of run-ins here," Anna joked.

"Yeah," John said as he ran a hand across his lips. He could still taste a hint of her there, like mint tea and lavender all rolled into one. Her silence worried him, perhaps he had unintentionally pushed her. "We got a hell of a lot further than we have with Aidan around," he joked.

"Aidan! Oh my god! What time is it?" she asked. But Anna had already grabbed her bag and was heading out the door with John following after her.

They sat in silence in the car, she had her arms and legs crossed as she bit down on her lower lip. John kept his eyes on the road, but continued to venture a glance her way out of the corner of his eyes. He kept asking if she was alright, if he had done something wrong only to be met with the back of her head as she stared out the window.

She heard a heavy sigh come from his side of the car as he drove towards Aidan's school. "I'm the worst mother ever," she scolded herself.

"You're not the worst mother," he promptly corrected her.

"I forgot about Aidan. I allowed myself to get caught up in this, in us."

"Anna, it was only a few seconds of impulsive kissing. It's not as if he was sitting all alone out in the rain for hours on end."

"That's all it takes, John. I don't hold this against you. You've never been a parent before. But a couple seconds is all it takes for him to fall, touch something he shouldn't', or be whisked away by a stranger. Every second counts." She shook her head wondering if she could ever make him understand. Anna didn't doubt his fondness for Aidan, but this was a full time job and John had to realize all that he was in for when he chose to date her. "I have always promised myself that he comes first and I allowed you to get in the way of that," she argued.

"Anna...I would never…" he began to speak.

She didn't allow him to go any further, "I know. Believe me I know it was and is not your intention."

When they pulled up to the school, John parked the car and unlocked the door so Anna could exit. "Aren't you coming with me?" she asked as she stepped out of the car.

"Only if you want me too. I thought maybe you'd want some time to yourself with Aidan," John replied with his seat belt buckle still firmly in place.

Anna brushed an errant strand of hair away from her face. "John, I didn't mean what I said back there. I mean, I did about Aidan being my top priority. But you're not in the way. I spoke out of turn and I feel horribly about it."

"It's been a rough couple days for you. I wouldn't blame you or hold it against you," he answered back in a rugged voice. "Please, come inside with me," she insisted.

John smiled back shyly as he got out of the car.

They walked over to Aidan's class hand in hand down the hallway lined with hand prints in the shape of flowers. A few older children passed them by as they headed to the pick up spot in the parking lot. Once they were within eyesight of Aidan's classroom, Sybil pointed them out to Aidan. "Mummy!" Aidan called out.

"There they are, I told you your Mummy was just running a little bit late," Sybil said as she smoothed Aidan's hair. "He got a little anxious and upset," she whispered to Anna, "but nothing to worry about." Sybil turned her attention back to Aidan, "Now don't forget your backpack and remember to bring something for show and tell tomorrow," his teacher reminded him.

"I will," he answered back and caught sight of John walking up behind Anna.

"John!" Aidan shouted as he ran up to the man on his mother's arm.

"Hey kiddo," John greeted as he bent down to meet him and hoisted him up in the air.

"Mummy said you wouldn't be back until tomorrow," Aidan stated the obvious.

"Yeah, well Miss Sybil's Daddy said I could leave early so that I could give you your present for being such a good boy. What do you say Sybil, can he have his toy?" John asked with a wink thrown at his friend's youngest daughter.

"Oh I'd say he is most deserving of a new toy," Sybil reported as she stood on tip toe to give John a kiss on the cheek.

Aidan smiled widely up at John and Anna. "Mummy said I get to pick out my Halloween costume today. What are you going to be?"

"Uh….I hadn't really thought about it. Does Mummy dress up with you?"

"Yup. So does Grandpa and Ms. Hughes."

"Of course they do. Well looks like I'll be looking for a costume then," John announced.

"Can we do our 'cedebation' dinner tonight?"

"What do you say Mummy? Can we take Aidan out for his 'cedebation' dinner?" John mimicked Aidan before tickling his stomach.

"Sure."

"You hear that little man? You get to choose dinner tonight. I'll race you to the car," John said as he took off running.

"Hey, you cheated!" Aidan shouted after him as he took off running.

Anna had to laugh as she watched John wait for Aidan at the end of the hallway to the school and pick Aidan up before spinning him around. The two of them laughed together like they were the only two people in the world. She had never seen Aidan so happy. Aidan was clearly enamored with John and vice versa. How could she have even thought for one moment that John was a distraction for her or that he was expecting her to put him before Aidan? The more she thought about it the more she realized that it was her that initiated the exchange in the freezer and that she had only briefly mentioned to John before that she had planned to pick up Aidan. How was he to know that she was leaving to pick him up that second?

"I can honestly say I've never seen two people who were more perfect for one another," Sybil commented.

"Really?" Anna asked.

"Yes. He's changed for the better and I think you and Aidan are a big part of that. John was always a good man, but he didn't have anyone to care for or care for him. I'm glad you all found each other," Sybil said.

"Me too," Anna replied with an unmistakable smile.

A/N: The poem that John recites to Anna is "She Walks in Beauty, Like the Night" by Lord Byron. Francis T. Palgrave, ed. (1824–1897). The Golden Treasury. 1875.