A/N: Here we go with the next instalment of modern!Anna/John. Hope you Banna lovers enjoy :)

"Good morning."

John's warm breath was on her face before she opened her eyes, his voice the only thing her senses were aware of, and tingles travelled up from the tips of her toes on hearing and feeling him so close to her. She made a little muffled groan, which was snatched away when his hand came to rest on the flat of her bare stomach. It was getting increasingly hard to pretend that she was still asleep, but she managed to keep her eyelids shut.

"Hmmm, it can't be morning," Anna rasped in a voice that was a little gruff, attempting to turn onto her side but finding that his large hand was keeping her in place, the tips of his fingers burning wonderfully against her skin. "No, I won't believe it."

She gaped a sizeable yawn, which crossed her mind probably wasn't that attractive a sight when he was leaning over her. They couldn't have got all that much sleep in the last few hours that almost seemed like a blur, aside from the delightfully prolonged time they had spent exploring, tasting, touching, loving one another luxuriously, several times over. She fought hard to stop her lips dissolving into a smile that would stretch across her face considering all they had done. Instead, she brought a hand upwards to try and shield her growing delight.

"Even if it is, I'm not getting up."

"Who said anything about that?" His words were a low rumble in her ear, and she felt them reverberating in his chest as it pressed softly against hers. "It was my plan to stay exactly where we are."

His fingers were dancing in slow swirls across her stomach and Anna sighed against the pillow. Still her eyes remained closed; she was enjoying the sensation of feeling his touch blindly upon her, specks of light travelling up to glow behind the darkness.

John lowered his head, his lips trailing down the curve of her cheek, kissing the corner of her mouth, travelling down to where her jaw began to give way to her neck. Now both hands were cradling the sides of her body underneath the sheets, and as he dotted light kisses over her skin he could feel her back arching keenly in response.

A wolfish grin that she couldn't see exploded on his face. Neither was she aware of the embers kindling in his eyes, which had darkened a few shades in colour.

"You know, I'd much rather go on with this if you were awake."

"You'll have a job. It's not wise to prise me from sleep."

She'd long since abandoned all ideas, finding it near on impossible to rest when he was so close. God, she loved having him there, tangled up with her, melting and moulding so much that it was as if their forms had been one all night long.

Now, his mouth was on the hollow of her throat, pressing delightfully. When the very tip of his tongue darted out against the sensitive patch of skin, sending shivers exploding inside of her, she hissed a breath against her teeth.

John's lips smiled against her neck, getting precisely the reaction he had sought. Shifting himself upwards, he frowned a little when he took in her face.

Anna was serene as she lay upon the pillow. Two could play at that game, and she was nothing if not exceedingly good at being stubborn.

She refused to smile this time as his sigh settled upon her.

"Well, I suppose there's nothing for it but to wake Sleeping Beauty with a kiss."

The excitement she always felt welled up within her as she anticipated the way in which he would choose to kiss her this time. She registered his body holding closer to her first, the tickle of his chest hair against the swell of her right breast as he manoeuvred his mouth to meet hers. He captured her bottom lip with both of his first, being ever so tender and pleasantly teasing. One of his hands drew up over her body, leaving a path of raw electricity in its wake, cupping her cheek gently. Moving up just a touch, he greeted both of her lips and kissed her softly and slowly, taking his time to let the kiss linger and cover every dip of her mouth. Anna's body hummed with the heavenly sensation as he prised her lips apart, letting his tongue sweep in delicately.

She moved her head up from the pillow, groaning her discontent when his lips moved away. Now her eyes were wide open, and she could see John grinning before her.

"I thought that might do the trick."

She had to smile as the backs of his fingers swept upon her cheek, and she sunk hers into his messy hair.

"I'll let you know it takes a lot to wake me up properly."

Before he could reply, Anna pulled him back down to her, meeting his mouth with fervour. She snaked her fingers back and forth over the fine creases at the back of his neck as they carried out their kissing, and his lips pressed with urgency to hers as she hit upon a spot that was especially affecting.

It was extremely tempting to go on in that way all morning, but the air seemed scarce enough in the room as it was.

John looked a little stunned as he rolled onto his side, propping himself up by an elbow. Anna mirrored his action, tangling a hand into the back of her hair while she faced him, a little breathless from their efforts. The duvet, slightly askew and clinging desperately to the edges of the bed, covered them to just above the waist. Anna naturally rested her hand over John's, which cupped her hipbone over the top of the covers.

"You, Anna Smith," he breathed huskily, "are quite the minx."

She smiled a very minx-like smile at him, stroking her fingers against his hand.

"I know," she said nonchalantly. "But I have a feeling that you like it."

"Oh, I certainly do."

He raised an eyebrow at her in a seductive fashion and let out a pronounced growl from the back of his throat. The combination sent Anna off into hysterical giggles. Absolutely charmed, John found it impossible not to laugh as well and they both lay there, giggling at each other. Anna had a feeling that John was the only man she would ever come across who would both make her cry out in intense pleasure and have her collapsing with laughter between the bedsheets, thankfully not at the same time.

The spark that had enlivened their eyes with joy subsequently transformed into something else. John reached his arm around to curve at Anna's back and his other hand rested upon her face as they met once more for a couple of kisses. Twisting his fingers into her hair, he brought her closer to him and she went willingly, relishing the feel of his supple lips sliding over hers. She smiled as he ghosted a kiss upon her forehead and then brought his lips down over her cheek and neck, before trailing light kisses on her shoulder. Anna laced her fingers with his, letting go after a few moments to cradle his elbow.

It was the first time they had woken up together, and the novelty was not lost on Anna. It was an utterly wonderful feeling, she found herself wanting to wake up next to him every morning. She did reason that it was a touch too soon for that, especially as she had just hopefully got a new apartment of her own. But she could very happily pass up the opportunity to be a completely independent woman a hundred per cent of the time. Especially when it meant she got to have mornings like this, and evenings like the one that had preceded it.

They really did have the intention of doing something nice that night, to celebrate their reconciliation. There were plans to go for a bite to eat and a nice bar just on the edge of town, but things went a little off-track when she had arrived at John's place and he had opened the door in his bathrobe, with tousled hair, expecting her a little later. Anna had shown great restraint in not ripping it from his body, but she did admire it on him as he padded around the house, and was a little disappointed when he went to get dressed. However he looked just as gorgeous in his suit jacket, t-shirt and jeans and she was keen to show her appreciation with a sweet kiss. The sweetness soon turned passionate, and they barely made it out of the door with the way they were so frantic upon each other, breathing heavily between ardent kisses. Dinner was considerably rushed, and at a place consciously closer to home. Skipping dessert, they hurried back to his, desire overtaking them by the second. Anna bit her lip as she remembered how much they had wanted each other, the way in which he had pinned her to the wall with his magnificent strength, taking off her clothes as she stood and leaving kisses upon each new bit of skin he uncovered. Even though she was lying down now her knees weakened at the memory; of him kneeling before her and holding her hips in his grasp, lips pressed hot against her belly, and then going lower.

They had done a lot of very nice things that night.

Anna was thinking about all of the nice things that were happening now, very different but equally amazing. The butterflies in her stomach kept fluttering when John stopped lavishing kisses on her shoulder and brought his gaze back to find hers. If anything, they grew even more intense when she saw his eyes again, so full of adoration, boring into her. His hand stroked against her upper arm rhythmically and she smiled at the sensation. Her smile only lessened a bit when she saw his shoulders shrug with a sigh. Her eyes, fixed firm with his, questioned him without words.

"I'm just wondering when it is that I'm going to wake up," he uttered, trailing a finger up and down her arm, sending goosebumps careening there. "Because I'm sure I have to be in another world, being with you. It just can't be real."

She shifted over the sheets, nestling herself in the circle of his arm, her long, loose hair brushing against it and causing him to sigh again, in a different note. Slowly, she ran her fingertips over his chest, thrilling in tangling the dark hair between her fingers, before placing her palm over the left side. The beat of his heart was strong, and thudded more fiercely when she moved her hand in a light circle over where it lay.

"Well, that certainly feels real enough to me," she breathed, flicking her eyes up to him with a deliciously sultry smile laying on her lips.

She mewled a little when his hand reached up to sink into her hair, his thumb tracing her jawline. His other hand cupped the other side of her face, and she was his completely. He looked into her eyes, brighter than any summer sky, and she felt her own heart pound as if it would burst out of her chest. She longed for him to kiss her, but he seemed perfectly content to get gratification by just staring at her. She laughed very lightly, moving barely a fraction of a centimetre when he moved further and brushed her lips with his. Those lovely light touches were all she was afforded for a few moments, as he just brushed over each bit of her mouth in turn. Then all of a sudden the kiss was full and deep and she was sinking into it just as much as she was against the comfortable sheets.

Both were a little overwhelmed by the potency of that particular kiss, and collapsed back onto the mattress, sides pressed together and hands entwined.

After a few moments, Anna made the mistake of glancing to the clock at the bedside and moaned while she heaved herself up.

She had barely swung her legs out of the bed when John's arms were circled around her waist, his chest against her back.

"And where do you think you're going?"

"I promised Gwen I'd go shopping with her…oh."

His lips were burrowed against her shoulder blades, working their magic attentively, while his hands had wandered up to rest just beneath her breasts, caressing the skin there lightly. Perhaps Gwen wouldn't mind too much if she called it off.

"I really need to go," she managed to get out against rapid sighs.

"If you say so."

She found herself angling her head so that he could plant kisses upon her neck, humming happily and then gasping as his fingertips ghosted purposely over a nipple. Before she could be taken any further, she scrambled from the bed, hearing him huff as she escaped his grasp.

Anna was leisurely in dressing, finding that she quite enjoyed wandering around his bedroom floor naked. As she fumbled with the fastener on her bra, before she pulled it upwards, she stole a look over her shoulder at John reclined on the bed, eyes wide and a roguish smirk on his lips. He seemed to get just as much enjoyment from seeing her put on as well as take off her clothes. She giggled hearing him groan when she slowly, deliberately stroked her hand at the base of her stomach.

"I promise we'll be done by this evening. Then I'm free to come back and be all yours until tomorrow afternoon, at the very least."

"That sounds very good to me," he rasped, catching her lightly as she wandered back to where he was sitting on the bed. "I'll cook us something this time, and make sure dessert is extra special."

Anna teethed her bottom lip softly, stifling a giggle. "I'd be happy to just have you again for dessert."

"You naughty girl."

She felt a very peculiar thrill surge through her when he said those words, his hands holding her underneath her unbuttoned blouse.

His smile, which had been smouldering wildly, softened when he gazed deeply up at her.

"I can't wait," he said, before any other words he could utter were stopped by a beautifully sweet kiss that made her heart soar.

She was sure even before she pulled back to look into the dark pools of his eyes that poured with emotion.

She was absolutely in love with John Bates.

Anna walked up the stairs to the little office, the final box straining in her hands. She eased it with a thud down onto the table top, where Mary's feet were also balancing as she leaned back in the reclining chair.

"You won't pull a muscle if you lift one, you know," Anna teased at her completely unruffled looking business partner, pulling her vest away from her slightly sticky skin.

"I only had this manicure done yesterday, though," Mary replied, swirling around lightly on the wheels of the chair. "I don't think I should risk it." She waved a neatly manicured hand around in the air. "Besides, you're so good at it. Deceptively good given your size. You must have a magnificent core. I'm completely envious."

Anna shook her head and laughed as Mary just tossed her hair, bringing her feet back to the floor.

"Pass me those scissors, if you don't think it'll chip your nail varnish."

Mary threw a partly mock-scowl at Anna before she reached lazily across the table to the desk tidy full of stationery. With cautious fingers, she handed the weighty scissors to Anna, who plunged them into the first cardboard box strapped with tape.

Anna's eyes were bright as she unpacked the contents; reams of letterheads, notepads and business cards. Taking one of the little white cards between her thumb and finger, a content feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. This was really happening now, their own business. This one little card confirmed it all. Placing it back with the rest on the table, she smiled as she ran a fingertip over the black print with the office's address and hers and Mary's mobile numbers. A little insignia of a castle was at the right edge of the card. It all looked very professional. The only thing missing was a name for the company, which they still hadn't managed to come up with as yet. This particular matter was where she was encountering Mary's fussiness full-on.

"We're going to have to call ourselves something soon," Anna broached the subject again while it was still fresh in her mind, Mary picking up and studying the fonts on one of the letterheads. "What about Crawley and Smith?"

Mary grimaced, holding the paper carefully between her plum coloured nails.

"God, no," she exclaimed, and Anna held back an impatient sigh. "It makes us sound like a solicitor's, and I have never met a solicitor that didn't bore the pants off me."

Anna had to chuckle at Mary's fervent response. She did suppose it didn't have quite the ring to it.

"Not to worry, I'm sure we'll figure it out."

Anna drifted around the room with a light step, sorting the stacks of stationery and stopping more than she should have done to smile at the sunshine hitting the flowers on the terrace. Mary caught sight of her jubilant expression and narrowed her eyes while Anna stared down dreamily at the blank leaves.

"I have to say, I've never seen somebody so enamoured by paper."

"Oh?" Anna shook herself, looking up to see Mary's intent stare and knowingly curled lips. "Sorry, I was just somewhere else for a moment."

"I'm sure I know where," Mary remarked as she stood, resting against the wooden desk. "Just, please, spare me all of the finer details. It is my father's best friend we're talking about, I'd rather not have those images in my head."

"Mary!" she shrieked, wafting one of the sheets and nearly sending it cascading from the open window.

"Oh, come on, don't tell me you're not at it like rabbits." Mary's face turned a little sour, before she allowed a smirk to return. "Anyone can tell by just looking at you."

A blush burned in Anna's cheeks, the fingers of one hand resting on her collarbone. "Really?"

Mary pursed her lips as she nodded her head, and Anna glowed profusely under observation.

"At least one of us is getting some."

Anna let out a chuckle as Mary glanced at her with a funny mixture of displeasure, frustration and more than a hint of mischief. She attempted to continue with her task, but it was difficult to do so with a pair of watchful eyes upon her. Turning around from the shelves, she huffed a little, placing her hands on her hips.

"So," Mary drawled, "you and Bates." She shook her head, sending her dark hair flouncing. "Sorry, force of habit. I mean, you and John."

"I thought you didn't want to know the details?" Anna questioned, a smile on her face increasing by the second as they continued to talk of him.

"No, not those details I don't. You can keep them all to yourself, don't worry."

Anna laughed and coloured a little. She was glad she didn't have to share that much, glad she could keep him all to herself in every way.

Mary picked up a pen, twirling it in her fingertips. "But I suppose I am intrigued. I mean, I've never known him to be with anyone, really."

Her ears pricked up and she turned back towards Mary, going to sit down in the chair opposite.

"He always says that, about how he's no good with women and his disastrous relationships." She leant her elbow on the arm rest, fingers raking through her hair. "But I thought, surely, he had to be joking, trying to make me feel less intimidated. I mean, has he actually seen himself in the mirror?"

Mary swerved answering that question adeptly. "No, it's pretty accurate. Obviously he's had dates, but they never got too far off the mark. He's just always been Uncle John, on his own. Although we did try and set him up with our nanny when we were little. It didn't go that well, I hadn't quite honed my matchmaking skills at age eight."

Anna smiled as she tried to imagine, always utterly charmed by the thought of a big man like John being thoroughly jostled by the little incarnations of the Crawley girls.

"Well, I'm glad you hadn't."

Mary smiled back. "You're the first to last this long, Anna. That's quite an achievement."

She wasn't too perturbed by the tone in Mary's voice, taking the statement for what it was, distinctly light-hearted.

"You do look very good together. You've got that adorable difference in height thing going on. I'll never find someone who I can get that with," Mary sighed.

"That's because you're permanently in heels."

"And you've had quite the effect. I mean, he's been settled for a while now, but I don't know, there was always still a restlessness. He seems so much more so now that he's with you."

Again, Anna was intrigued. She had an idea what Mary might have been referring to, talking a little about it with John himself. She felt terribly guilty for even venturing to think about prying.

"You mean when his mother died?"

Mary simply nodded. "Not that we saw much of him to know anything at the time. He disappeared completely into some corner of Ireland, well enough fell off the face of the earth. Papa tried to call; when he finally managed to get hold of him he promised to go over. John refused point blank." Her brown eyes seemed to almost turn black with shadows. "It was all very strange. Almost like the person I had grown up with had disappeared, too. I think he did for a while."

Anna found herself frowning, deep lines marking her face. It was silly, she hadn't even known him then. Yet she found herself yearning to have been able to comfort him, console him. He had clearly needed it. She hated to think of him shutting himself away, being so alone in such a dark time.

"But I suppose that's all in the past now, thank goodness."

The sound of Mary's assurance shattered the echo in her head, and she found it in herself to nod along. She thought of his many wonderful smiles, his resonant laugh, his eyes glowing with love for her. He'd share it all in time, when he was ready to let her in to that part of his past, and she would repay him with all the love and support that he had believed was never meant to be his.

"I'm glad you're happy. The both of you," Mary smiled as she made to stand. "Even if I am very fed up that it seems like I'm destined to spend my later years as an old maid."

Anna stifled a chortle and tutted instead. "Something will turn up."

Mary rolled her eyes, her heels clicking across the floor as she went over to the door. Anna was about to go back to stacking the remainder of the supplies when she heard Mary call out from under the doorframe.

"Downton Associates," she exclaimed brightly.

"What?" Anna swerved around.

"The name," Mary explained, walking a little into the office again. "If you like it, that is. It's from Papa's estate. Well, not exactly his, but you know. I have hopes it might fall into my lap one day."

Anna smiled, turning it over in her head. It did have the ring to it.

"Yes, I like it. Downton Associates." It sounded even better when she said it aloud. "That's us, then."

Mary seemed as if she would bounce off her heels up to the ceiling.

"I'll go and call the supplier, get them to make the stamps." She dashed to the desk in a whirlwind and Anna could only stand, laughing. "Oh, I'll get the coffee as well. Maybe some chocolate too."

A clicking ricocheting down the stairs, Anna folded her arms and smirked.

"There really is a first time for everything."

"You do know what they say. A watched phone never rings."

Anna glanced up at Gwen from where her arms were splayed across the table, her mobile in the middle of their circle.

"Or at least that's the modern version. Who actually watches a pot anyway? Not when you can have takeaway."

Gwen snatched up the last slice of pizza from the box, holding it out to Anna before she started to eat any. She held up a hand to decline, tentatively picking up the handset instead.

"The agent said she'd call by now. She said she would call a couple of days ago, actually."

"That's their game, they like to keep people dangling like mice with cheese."

As she said this, Gwen stretched a string of cheese from the top of the slice of pizza, curling into a ball and happily munching on it as Anna looked on bemused. Happily, the phone rang to distract her from studying Gwen's eating habits in detail. Both women shot back their shoulders, and Anna let it ring out for a few seconds, composing herself before she answered.

"Hello."

"Hey, sis."

Anna's mouth drooped, though she did her best to keep the smile in her voice as she spoke.

"Beth, hi. Look, do you mind if I call you back later? I'm just waiting for a message."

"Oh well, that's very nice," her little sister was pouting, she could tell just by listening. "You ring your sister, who by the way hasn't called you in months, to see how she is and she tells you to get lost? That really hurts a girl's feelings."

"It hasn't been months."

"Yes it has. End of February was the last time. It's nearly June."

"Oh, wow, I didn't realise. I'm sorry. Life's been a little crazy. How's everything with you, baby sis?"

"Are you purposely trying to annoy me? I'm two years younger than you," Beth exclaimed. "You're just trying to make yourself feel better about nearly being thirty."

"Twenty nine plus one," Anna corrected with a laugh.

"Whatever," Beth retorted. "Anyway, I'm fine. Things are the same old, same old here. You know, saving lives, the usual."

"Good to hear it. How's Mum?"

There was a silence on the line, followed by a groan. Anna's heart quickened.

"Beth?"

"Oh, she's just beside herself. Can barely drag her out of bed in the morning, she's that grief-stricken."

"Oh god, you're kidding," Anna sighed heavily. "I thought she'd be over it by now."

"Nope. Well, she doesn't give a stuff about that loser. She's just devastated that her first child to get married isn't doing so anymore. She actually said that she's got nothing to look forward to in life."

"She's so dramatic. Nothing had even been planned."

Though her mum had never been particularly taken with Jeremy, she had been absolutely ecstatic when she'd known he had proposed. Almost from the very next day, she'd started keeping scrapbooks, bombarding Anna with bridal magazines and e-mailing her pictures of flower arrangements and possible wedding venues. The news of their break-up had been bittersweet, and it was especially hard for Susan Smith that her dreams for her daughter had been shattered. Anna understood it in a way; her mum had a tendency to go a little over-the-top and cling desperately onto the good in life, ever since her dad had died. She just had to make her see that, despite all the ruined plans, this was actually very good for her indeed.

"Well," Beth uttered, "that's Mum for you."

Anna smirked as a thought occurred. "Maybe Stuart should pop the question to you then, that might cheer her up."

There was a sharp intake of breath. "No, no, no. You know that's not happening in a million years. I'd force you to get back with Loserface before that ever happened."

Anna laughed. "Oh well. She'll just have to wallow."

"You should come up and visit for a bit," Beth suggested. "I think that would actually get her out of her stupor, she might even crack a smile. It's been ages since we've seen you."

"Hmmm…" Anna paused to think. She had thought about going back home, especially first thing after everything had happened. But the notion had faded of late, while her mind had been so occupied with other things.

"I'd like to see you by your birthday. Before you turn decrepit."

"Cheeky thing," Anna chortled. "Okay, I'll give it some thought."

"That's not good enough."

She sighed impatiently. Her little sister was always very insistent.

"You have to promise you'll come home for your birthday. Pretty please?"

"Alright, I'll come up then. But only if there's cake."

She smiled to herself as she pondered. What might John say to a little trip to Yorkshire in the summer?

"I might even have a surprise."

Beth yelped down the phone, nearly giving Anna earache. "Now I really can't wait. Okay, I've got to go now."

"But…"

"See you soon, sis!"

Before she could respond, the line had gone dead. She shook her head and sat back down, Gwen eyeing her as she sat opposite with her back against the wall.

"Twenty seven years and a bit I've known her, and she's still a mystery."

Gwen laughed, picking up the remaining crumbs from the pizza box with her finger.

"At least you're actually on speaking terms with your sister."

Anna smiled. No sooner had she placed the phone back on the table did it start to chime again. Gwen arched upwards, clapping her hands, and Anna felt her stomach tighten.

"I swear, I'll swing for Beth if it turns out it's gone to someone else."

"Oh, it won't have done," Gwen waved her hand dismissively.

Pursing her lips again, she pressed the button.

"Hello."

"Hello, Miss Smith? This is Belleview Properties. We've got some good news for you…"

Her laughter trailed behind her, as did he, both sets of steps pounding on the pavement against the night, leading up to the entrance of the train station. Despite it being considerably awkward to do any running in these heels, she had managed very valiantly indeed and against her breaths, she found it possible to giggle heartily. She hadn't felt this free in ages, and she stopped to relish the feeling as it washed over her in a passing moment.

"Come on, slow poke," she teased, leaning against the wall as she saw John approaching, stretching out the upper half of her slender body and smiling like a temptress. "I thought you were supposed to be good at this kind of thing. Time catching up with you, is it?"

She couldn't stop the cheeky lilt in her voice, making the end of her statement rise accusingly, delighting when she saw his gaze flashing towards her.

"Not time," he defended himself when he caught up with her. "Just that meal hasn't quite settled."

"Excuses, excuses," she chimed, waving a finger in the air, biting on her lip as her eyes raked his figure, his cheeks full of colour. "It's little wonder you don't score many goals when you move like that."

John glared at her, his face contorted, his ego clearly bruised.

"Now, that is below the belt."

He made to lunge towards her, grasping for her arm, but she proved too quick for him, squealing as she charged for the stairs. Her soles clicked hard as she bounced up each step and her heart was hammering so quick that she might have been a little scared otherwise. As she felt him speeding up, getting closer behind her back, she knew that it wasn't just the sudden burst of physical exertion that had caused the effect.

She wasn't sure who had thought to start the race, but somewhere along the way, after they'd finished the meal to toast the birth of Downton Associates with Mary, Robert and Cora, they both decided it seemed fun to run along the way back through the streets of London. Anna had been charging along the bridge, skirt scooped in her fists and wind at her heels, when she heard John yelling something unintelligible. She'd just been about able to grind to a halt and swirl around, hair blowing in the night-time breeze, looking at him victoriously when the smile was wiped swiftly from her face, replaced by the all-encompassing sweep of his lips capturing hers. All notion of competition was lost as she melted happily against him. They'd stopped in that distracting manner several times along the way, and a couple of instances Anna was sure she had seen a certain triumphant smile rising on his face afterwards, as the lead changed once again.

John's hand touched her waist as she reached the large stair in the middle of the flight, and she couldn't resist turning around to face him. His breathing was a little ragged as he fought to match her speed but he still wore a brilliant smile, his hair that had been ruffled every which way by the wind giving him an added boyish charm. She circled her hands about his neck, grasping his shoulders as he pulled her to him, toying with her lips before he kissed them sweetly, then more deeply. Anna realised that was what he must have been saving his energy for, and she couldn't find it in her head to complain.

Not until he opened his eyes slowly, letting his large hands travel over her tiny waist, and then with a devilish smirk, dashed up the remaining stairs ahead of her.

"That's just cheating!" Anna protested, her voice echoing from the walls, not best pleased.

"Fair's fair," John shrugged, holding his hands aloft as he stopped some way up. "You put me at a distinct disadvantage enough times doing just the same."

She moved up two stairs at a time, bending to take off her heels, shaking her head at him but unable to stop the smile surfacing on her face.

"Given up the fight?" he teased at her slower pace.

"No, not at all. This will just make me go faster."

"Come on then."

She skipped up the steps to meet him, craning on her tiptoes to try and get her own back. As she was just about to brush his lips, John hopped away with a swift jerk. Anna huffed out a loud sigh and in the next second, he chuckled and relented, bending to leave a soft, light kiss on either corner of her mouth, and then giving her something more substantial as he braced his arms around her. Anna sighed against his mouth as it moved pliable with hers. She wondered how much more there was of him to discover, how many new ways he could find to amaze her. Something told her he had only just begun.

A bellowing noise followed by a rush wrenched her head away sooner than she had hoped.

"Oh god, the train!"

Anna grabbed onto the hand that he had loosened from her back and which was now outstretched towards her, and with a slight tug she was pulled up and they were rushing up the remaining stairs, almost colliding down the ones that trailed off below. She felt as though her knees were about to give way a couple of times with the frantic pace they were going at, and she smiled reassuringly at John as he turned around, squeezing her hand in his to make sure she was okay.

By the time they had reached the platform, legs burning and breathless, they were just in time to see the train whirring into the other side of the tunnel, out of sight.

"Never mind," John puffed, "there'll be another one along in a bit."

The board above their heads told her he was right, and she smiled up at him as they moved at a snail's pace, hand in hand, to sit down in the little plastic booth. They both laughed at it being a bit of a squeeze for the both of them, and then Anna felt herself sliding down, her head rested comfortably just below John's shoulder. She felt soothed by the steadying rhythm of his breathing and was fighting to keep her drooping eyelids open.

"Tired?"

His burr vibrated against her ear, lulling her even further. She managed a sleepy smile and a soft, assenting sigh in response. She didn't open her eyes or look upwards, but she could sense that John was smiling too, and he gently smoothed her hair.

"I'm not surprised. You've had a busy few days."

Anna smiled against his chest, feeling as safe as she could be in the warm shelter of his arms.

"A busy few months," she replied, lifting her head up just enough to look into his eyes. "I'm not sure how many more life-changing events I can handle before my thirtieth."

John chuckled, his fingers falling over her cheek. A hell of a lot had happened, more surprising than she could have possibly imagined, but she wouldn't have changed it for the world, considering where she had ended up now.

She planted a hand upon his chest, settling her head back down in the warm spot. The hushed sounds of the near-empty station echoed around them, making for a peaceful atmosphere. Anna wouldn't have noticed if the rest of the world had disappeared completely.

John's voice suddenly came forth again, to Anna's half-dreaming delight. "I wonder where you'll be in a year."

"Right here, I hope," she drawled sleepily, hugging him a little tighter, a little giggle in her voice. "I don't know. Anything could happen."

"That it could."

His hand moved slowly up and down her back and they both sighed. Neither said it, neither felt they had to. In such an ordinary moment shared by the both of them, it seemed fine, even expected, to reason that whatever happened and wherever they ended up, John would be in Anna's future and she would be in his, too.

"We'll have to wait and see…"

She just about managed to say the words before the world faded away from her, for what seemed like hours but was only a few minutes. The next thing she knew she had been lifted along the platform, drowsy eyes blinking open. She could make out John gazing down at her affectionately, his arms holding her securely by the waist and carrying her along. He answered the puzzled expression on her face before she could speak.

"Train's here."

Anna grasped onto his shoulder as he moved them through the doors, up on board.

"I'll wake up when we get back. I promise…"

Her voice became smaller as she leant into him, unable to stop herself from drifting off once more.

John smiled down at her, looking just like an angel in his arms. Sleep had already claimed her before she heard him utter his reply.

"Don't you worry. You sleep all you need to. It's okay…" he pressed the lightest kiss at her temple, "…my love."