A/N: I realize it's been far too long since I last updated. I'm in the middle of training for a new position at work right now so free time is sparse and it's been so long since I got around to this I wanted to do it justice. We are in for a bumpy ride ahead on the next couple chapters. I have to thank my lovely Betas on this annambates, terriejane, a-lady-to-me, and chisoxtam. Thanks so much for all the lovely reviews and your patience. I'm going to try to update this one more frequently so I'm not leaving you all on constant cliff hangers. Enjoy the update and the weekend!

Chapter 22

John watched on with slight irritation as Mr. Green reviewed the newest proposal that Robert was submitting for their contract now that the publishing company had increased its production numbers to one million copies. The long conference table divided them and it was colder in the room than John preferred as a small shiver traveled up his spine. The silence was deafening, only to be interrupted by the sound of Mr. Green clicking his pen annoyingly when he came to the dotted line he was to sign. It wasn't as if negotiations were anything new to John, but given that he had been there as Robert had written up the contract with their legal department he knew that Mr. Green was getting a better offer than most of the authors they were currently managing. He couldn't tell if Mr. Green was really that full of himself, or just toying with them in hopes they would give in a little more on their asking price for the upcoming years to represent him for the second and third installment of the book that were sure to follow.

"Hmmm," Mr. Green sighed with a hint of displeasure. "This seems a bit steep for the next five years don't you think?"

"It's better than most. Given that you came to the game so early, it made it easier to get the book on the market. We still have the book launch party and a book signing tour. John's been talking with our marketing division and there is already talks that a movie could be made out of it," Robert gushed.

"I don't know," Mr. Green added as he let his fingers rub along his chin.

"We are only asking for the initial sign on fee to show that you are committed to stick with us through the first book," John said. He was finding it hard to mask his frustration with this individual who seemed to thrive off cat and mouse games. "That is the same that any other PR firm would ask of you. It's what's fair."

"And what if the book doesn't do well? What if you don't represent me the way I feel you should have?" Mr. Green fired back.

"Then you get the same option as everyone else to walk out of your contract after the first book is released. But if we make goal, you still owe us our first year's installment payment," Robert clarified. He looked to his partner and could tell John was a little rough around the edges today. Robert could tell Henry was still not satisfied and he wouldn't risk losing a client like this when they were so close to tying things up nicely. "What if we cover the cost of the book launch party?"

"What?" John asked with wide eyes. "Robert, a word." John stepped away from the table to speak with Robert in the hallway. While they weren't exactly out of earshot, at least Mr. Green couldn't hear everything or see the look of outrage on his face.

Once they were out in the hallway, John tried to remain calm as he paced the hallway. His arms were folded over one another when he turned and began ripping into Robert. "Are you mad? We bend over backwards for him and every other client that walks in through those doors will be expecting the same treatment. That's not how you run a business, Rob. That's how you run a charity," John was nearly foaming at the mouth. Seething with anger as he watched his friend be taken for a fool by this Green fellow.

"John, he told me the publishing company didn't advance him as much as they normally do for first time authors. He's hurting financially. Can't we help, just this once? Ever hear of a little thing called, 'karma'? We help him now and he could help us out down the road," Robert expressed confidently.

"Were we even sitting in on the same conversation, Robert?" John asked. "He only cares about what's in it for him. You hired me to help this place turn a profit. This is not how one makes a profit."

"You're right, but I want to help. I would think as a person who was able to get a fresh start here, you would be more than willing to return the favor," Robert hinted.

"You're going to guilt me into this?"

"No. I'm just asking you to think about it, and do the right thing," Robert commented before walking back into the room to meet Mr. Green.

John did his best to reign in his frustration.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," Robert announced as he walked back into the room. "Just had to go over something with Mr. Bates."

"I hope my demands haven't placed any strain on your partnership," Mr. Green said.

"None whatsoever," John assured.

"So we'll cover the book launch party," Robert said. "Is there anything else you'd like to cover or alter in the contract?"

The moon? The heavens? A million pounds perhaps? John tried to keep a straight face as Robert and Henry continued to banter back and forth.

Anna walked out of her appointment and immediately sought out her phone. She needed to talk to John and hear his voice. It wasn't out of fear or desperation; it had just become habit. His voice always had a way of calming her nerves and he had helped her open up more than anyone else in the past year. It rang twice and for a moment she thought it might go straight to voicemail but he picked up just as the third ring began to call out.

"Say that was fast," he greeted her.

"Should I go back inside," she joked.

"No, of course not. I just didn't expect you to be done so soon," John clarified. "So..."

"I don't have to go back until next month. The doctor wants to follow up then and see how I'm progressing, but she thinks I'm doing much better," Anna said.

"Well that's good news, right?"

"Oh yes, very good news. I feel like the anxiety is decreasing and the nightmares certainly aren't as frequent…" she said as her voice trailed off.

"But?"

"I just can't shake this feeling that something bad is going to happen," she said.

"You aren't getting cold feet are you?" John asked.

"No. Absolutely not," she quickly responded.

There had been visions, or at least that's what she thought they were. Sometimes it would be flashbacks that would come out of nowhere, other times it was worse. She hadn't told John that she thought she saw Henry in London the other day when she had gone wedding dress shopping with Gwen, Sybil, and Mary. She had nearly had an anxiety attack, but had managed to calm herself down when she looked back and couldn't find him. Anna had assumed her mind was playing tricks on her. The girls had been sworn to secrecy not to mention it to John. Dr. Gibson had encouraged Anna to share these visions with John, but Anna shook her head. It wasn't that she didn't think she couldn't confide in him, but she worried that if she told him he'd think her mad.

"Anna, you can't possibly believe that nothing good would come from sharing this with John."

"What if he thinks I'm still hung up on Henry? What if he starts to think it will always be like this? That I'll never be able to move forward," she clarified.

"From what you've told me, John seems to be a very patient and understanding man. You need to give him a little more credit. But if you think keeping it to yourself is for the best, that is your decision. I won't force you," Dr. Gibson said.

Her therapist had praised her as usual for her progress and surmised that these sudden appearances could have been a result of stress and her past being on her mind. Anna only hoped that once she and John were married, Henry would be a small blip on her radar.

"If you are having second thoughts or want to delay the wedding we can," John offered.

His words drew her back to the present. "It's fine. I swear," she assured.

John sighed in defeat. He actually would have been relieved to know that she had cold feet rather than worrying about something he couldn't help her with. He wasn't stupid. She had seemed distracted and preoccupied lately. The evening before when he arrived home late from a meeting with Robert, she pulled away when he came up behind her and rested his hand on her hip. She immediately returned to his embrace when she realized it was only him, but it didn't change the fact that it hurt him more than ever to know that her ex still had some kind of hold over her. Rather than insist there was something more to it, John tried to redirect her attentions to the positives aspects of their life together.

"Then I shall meet you at the church my dear," John responded with an eager grin.

"Yes. Just as soon as I pick up Aidan," she reminded him.

He could practically see her smile through the phone, the way she so often lit up when talking about her son. Soon to be their son. Words could not properly convey how excited he was at the prospect of taking on the role of fatherhood. "I look forward to it, talk to you later, sweetheart," John said before hanging up the phone. He paused as he noticed a figure of a man looming outside his office. It was Henry. John recognized him instantly.

"What's all this about a church?" Henry asked as he let himself in.

"Why? Are you going to turn religious on me?"

"Oh no. I don't step foot in those places," Henry said.

John chuckled to himself as he imagined Henry bursting into flame upon walking into a church. Immediately, he tried to correct the thought; John wasn't sure why he naturally hated this man so much, but for Robert's sake and the sake of their company he was trying to remain amicable. With a smile pasted across his face, John responded back, "If you must know, I'm attending a wedding rehearsal tonight."

"Your own?" Henry asked with an air of curiosity. "I heard of your pending nuptials from Daisy."

John wished Daisy hadn't said anything to Henry about his personal life, but it wasn't as if he told her not to. "Not my own, no. My future in-laws," he answered Henry curtly as he straightened up a few papers and placed them into his briefcase.

"Well, congratulations are still in order then," Henry offered.

"Thanks," John said slowly with a hint of skepticism. He began packing up his laptop and hoped that if he didn't look up, perhaps Henry would take the hint and leave him alone. As John began to shrug on his suit jacket he couldn't help but notice that the younger man was still blocking the doorway.

"So, you in the wedding?" Henry asked.

"No. Why, the sudden interest in me?" John asked.

"Sorry," Henry apologized.

For the first time in all the interactions John had ever had with Henry, the younger man actually sounded genuine.

"Old habit, I'm afraid. I make it my business to know everyone else's," Henry answered back.

"I don't think I'd have anything of interest to share. Just a devoted family man."

"But you were in the army right?"

John's eyes shot up in shock. "Yes, I was. How did you know that?"

"Robert talks," Henry filled in.

"That he does," John said with pursed lips.

"I bet you have some great stories to share from your time there," Henry pried.

"Not sure I'd call them that," John said as he closed the subject and his briefcase.

"Suppose I should take a lesson from the old saying about curiosity killing the cat."

"Right…" John answered back. He gestured with his hand for Henry to exit and the younger man stepped past him. "Well I should be going. Have a good evening, Mr. Green."

Henry began to head down the hallway to the temporary office he had been afforded. "Oh, I will. You enjoy your night with your family, Mr. Bates."

John stopped at Daisy's desk as he feigned scribbling out a memo. "Will you be alright for the evening by yourself?" he asked the young lady in a low voice.

"Of course," she answered cheerfully. "Besides, I'm not by myself. Robert and Mr. Green are here."

That's what he was afraid of. He didn't want to scare her but Henry's interest in the secretary hadn't waned. "Call me if you need anything," John urged her before walking out the door.

"Daddy!" A familiar voice called out from across the church.

John turned to face the source of his joy with an eager smile. "Hey, little man!" he answered back as Aidan ran towards him. John bent down to meet him up at the altar, he looked over the boy's shoulder and spotted Anna walking towards them with a smile pinned on her face. "How was school today?"

"It was great! We got to draw pictures of our family today," Aidan announced. He pulled away from John long enough to take his backpack off of his shoulder and began emptying the contents in the aisle of the church to present his masterpiece. "Look. It's me, you, and Mummy," Aidan said as he pointed to each of the stick figures on the paper. "And that's Jasper, Grandpa, Grammie, and Gran," Aidan continued to chatter on excitedly.

"Wow! You're quite the artist. Now, let me guess...it appears that Mummy is wearing a dress and has a ring on her finger," John said with a knowing smile. "Could it be that this is a wedding portrait?"

Aidan nodded eagerly.

"Well, I hope that isn't exactly what Mummy's dress looks like. I'm not supposed to see her in her dress before the wedding," John informed his future best man in a low voice.

"No, it's not," Aidan replied.

John hoisted Aidan up on his arm before welcoming Anna with a kiss. "You look lovely," he complimented.

"Thanks. Did I miss anything?" she asked.

"No. They were waiting for their ring bearer to arrive," he answered with a proud smile as he looked at Aidan. "It will be good practice for our wedding, don't you think?"

"Definitely," Anna replied. She bent down to pick up Aidan's backpack and set it aside on one of the pews before combing Aidan's hair with her fingertips. "Speaking of which, I think they need him now," she hinted.

Charles and Elsie motioned for Aidan to come join them.

"Oh, go on, little man," John encouraged with a pat on the back as he sent Aidan towards his Grandpa.

Elsie watched on as John and Anna had a moment to themselves and it made her reminisce about the early days between her and Charles. There had always been something more there between them. They walked a fine line between lovers and friends after the passing of Alice, but for Anna's sake as well as their own as they processed their grief, they had put their feelings aside. Elsie tried to focus more on the restaurant and her relationship with Joe, but it never gave her the same satisfaction she got from spending time with Charles. And somehow, they still got their happy ending. It may not have come when she thought it would, but it happened and that was all that mattered now. Elsie leaned into Charles side as she clutched his arm and doted on her soon-to-be grandson.

"They've certainly come a long way," she commented to Charles.

Charles smoothed Aidan's hair into place and straightened his shirt as he smiled in the direction Elsie was looking. "I think we all have." The road hadn't always been easy, but there was more than enough love to go around now. And he only hoped it would be enough to see them through any other hurdles that life would throw their way. He glanced down at his future bride with such love and devotion, reading her thoughts with ease. "Who knew this motley crew would make up our family?"

"I certainly didn't," she said as she ran her hand tenderly over the boy's back. "And we weren't even planning on it. It's like fate wanted us to all be together for some greater purpose."

"Whatever the reason, I'm glad for it. I can't imagine a life that didn't include any of you."

"Same here," she sighed contently.

"Even me, Grandpa?" Aidan asked.

"Especially, you my handsome boy," Charles said as he lifted the boy up and tossed him in the air filling the church with the sounds of the child's laughter and giggles.

John stepped in to hug her tightly, "You took longer than expected. Was traffic bad?"

"No. Actually, I stopped off at the community college after my appointment."

"Really? What for?"

Anna lowered her voice as she had yet to talk to Elsie on the matter, "I've been giving it some thought, and I want to go back to school." She eyed John expectantly to gage his reaction. "I picked up the course catalog and I think I want to sign up for some photography courses."

"That's wonderful!" he said trying to keep his excitement down to a dull roar.

"Yeah?" she whispered back.

"Absolutely! Anna, I want you to do whatever makes you happy," he reaffirmed his earlier words.

"I don't have to give up working at the cafe, but I don't want to run the shop. I'm sure Elsie had her heart set on it, but I need to do something for me. If you are okay with it, I was thinking I could scale back to working only three days a week so that I have time for my courses and being there for Aidan more," she said shyly.

"Of course I would be okay with it. Anna, I make more than enough to take care of you and Aidan."

"Oh John," Anna said as she leaned forward to kiss him. "You have no idea how much this means to me."

"I may have a hint of an idea," John replied. "You can make it up to me by attending a work function with me."

"I'm intrigued. How was work by the way?" Anna asked as they both took their seat in the front row pew.

"It was good. I made some contacts with potential clients," he responded.

"That's great! Now, tell me more about this work function. Exactly how dolled up am I going to have to get for this thing?"

"I want you to pull out all the stops," John urged with a wink. "Robert is holding a book launch for our latest client. It's a crime solving novel. There's a lot of hype and could be a sequel in the works already."

"A murder mystery?"

"I can't say I've read it yet, but I would imagine so. It's called, 'How to Get Away with Murder'. You like those kind of books, right?" John commented.

"I do. Though I can't say I've read any of those books in forever."

"Well, maybe once you hear about it at the book launch you'll be enticed to read it," he suggested.

"Perhaps...though I'm looking forward to seeing you in a tuxedo more. Especially, since the last time we tried going to a work function together our evening was interrupted," Anna pointed out.

"Our first date," he says in a whisper that sent her stomach into a flurry of butterflies, "well...sort of." John offered her a shy smile as he let the memory of running into her that night fill his senses. "As upset as I was to see our evening cut short, I was glad for it. That moment brought us together and allowed you to open up to me more."

"I'll have to be sure to make it up to you," Anna said.

"There's no need. Any amount of time with you, even when cut short, is well spent," he replied back. John let his hand tenderly graze her thigh and grinned victoriously as her cheeks flushed in response.

"Even still, I think we should make the effort to expand upon our activities for the evening," Anna said with a hint of mischief.

"You naughty girl," John said with a wry smile. He leaned over to place a kiss on her shoulder and whispered into her ear, "So long as these evening activities end with you in my arms, I'm a very happy man."

"I'm going to put the kettle on to make Mr. Crawley another cup of tea. Would you care for some, Mr. Green?" Daisy called out from her desk.

Sensing an opportunity on the horizon, Henry quickly agreed and then thought to complicate the order a little further. "That would be great. Would you do me a favor while you are in the kitchen?"

"I suppose so," Daisy answered back.

"Would you be a dear and run down to the snack machine and get me a bag of the sweetest candies you can find? I have a low blood sugar problem and I'm feeling a bit light headed," he explained.

"Do you need me to call someone?" she asked with concern.

"No, it will be fine. Happens all the time," he made light of the situation. He just needed to buy a little more time.

"If you insist. I'll be right back. The janitors are just cleaning up the front offices and security will be by to lock up in a half hour, but Robert is still in his office if you need him."

"Thank you, Daisy," Henry replied in the sweetest voice he could manage. He barely peered up from his laptop as he continued with an email. "Let me know what I owe you when you get back."

She smiled easily at him and showed herself out.

Henry waited a few minutes and peered down from the window in the office that overlooked the elevators. He watched as Daisy stepped into the lift and waited for the doors to close. Not wishing to delay himself any further, Henry made his way over to Bates' office and noted the janitor's cleaning cart posted outside of the office. He placed a strip of tape over the strike plate to prevent the lock from latching as the janitor's left.

Undetected he slipped back into his office until he heard the sound of the cleaning crew move further down the hall and then helped himself. Henry worked quickly, knowing that Daisy would be back soon. "What is it that you are so secretive about, Bates?" Henry said in a whisper as he began opening the drawers to John's desk. There wasn't anything of interest there, and John had taken home his laptop so cracking into that for information was not a possibility. He ran his hand through his hair as he glanced around the office for something more, something he could use as leverage or blackmail if Bates got in his way. There was definitely some resistance there and he couldn't have a member of a public relations firm suddenly turning against him. Henry slammed his fist on the desk in defeat, the vibration causing a picture frame to fall over and as he went to retrieve it, he saw her. Staring back at him from the photo was Anna. There was no doubt, but it couldn't be. What were the odds?

He stopped to take a closer look at the photo. His fingers ran along the edge of the frame as he admired her, and for a brief moment he forgot that he was rushed for time. She looked just as incredible as she had when he first met her all those years ago, but there was something different about her. Anna had changed from the girl he knew. She looked wise beyond her years, and happier than he remembered.

His mind shifted gears as the steady hum of the vacuum cleaner down the hallway brought him back to his mission. Is that why Bates had been so difficult with him? He wondered to himself. No, it couldn't be. If that were the case, Bates had given no indication that he was aware of his and Anna's past. Surely, Bates would have throttled him if he knew, or at the very least issued a warning to stay away from her. His hands clutched at the frame tighter as his mouth formed a hard line in anger. Or was it jealousy? The photo was returned to its rightful place as Henry mulled over how to proceed with his plans.

Then it dawned on him as he stood staring at a photo of Bates with the little boy. It was the same photo he had seen before when he teased Bates for dressing up at Halloween. A boy who couldn't have been more than five years old with Anna's same blue eyes and blonde hair. It was the boy he met in the hallway before. That the child couldn't be Mr. Bates', not biologically anyway. There was no way to tell for certain of course, but given the child's age, and the fact that Bates had just been engaged; the idea that the child could be his was not that far fetched. He'd need to confirm his suspicions before he acted. The only way to do that was to arrange an encounter with Anna. In the meantime, Henry was going to have to dig deeper into Bates past. Henry made sure everything looked just as it did when he entered the office and exited undetected.

He returned to his makeshift office just in time, logging back into his computer just as Daisy walked towards the front desk. A few seconds later, she knocked gently on the door and let herself in to drop off his tea and snack.

Henry fished in his pocket for some money to repay her for the snack and slid it across the table without saying a word.

"Is there anything else I can get you?" she asked sweetly.

"No, Daisy. I believe I have everything I need now," Henry replied.