A/N: The last chapter! Thank you all so much for reviewing and showing an interest in this story. I hope you enjoy this final chapter too. A few of the scenes have been lifted from the show, with a little bit extra in some (either from me or from missing scenes in the script books) so those are credited to Julian Fellowes. Thank you as always to testship for your help with these chapters, sending lots of beer your way!

I have another story lined up to post in September, a prompt from the Banna Celebration on Tumblr to do with the events scheduled for the first episode (I won't say anything in case of spoilers) but that should be posted around the second week in September.

Thank you again for the response to this story!

Every Other Wednesday Afternoon

Anna joined in with the Christmas celebrations at the Abbey, laughing heartily as she pulled her cracker with Daisy over the table in the hall. But as she continued to lose herself in the joy of it all, another figure noticed that her eyes would often lose some of their spark, and that the usually cheery housemaid would seem a little sombre at times.

Mrs Hughes watched Anna with keen interest. She had been curious about Anna ever since she had returned from Thirsk on her afternoon off the other week – well, in truth, she had seemed to sense that something was amiss months ago, but she had decided to ignore it for now. With Anna it was often best to simply wait, because if the maid was good at one thing, it was concealing her thoughts, and not even the devil himself could pry them out of her. In addition, Downton had simply been too hectic, sorting out everything for the convalescents as well as the stresses of every day life for the housekeeper to be able to focus on where Anna disappeared to on her afternoons off.

Mrs Hughes was sat having a rare quiet night in her sitting room a few days after Christmas when there was an unexpected knock at the door.

"Come in," she called out in her thick, Scottish brogue, promptly hiding the small glass of sherry she had poured and started behind a photograph frame on her desk.

The door opened and Anna appeared behind it.

"They're all dressed and in bed, so I'm off up," Anna explained, granting the housekeeper a smile.

Mrs Hughes smiled back, watching the head housemaid closely as she started to turn and leave the sitting room once more. Just as she was about to close the door, however, Mrs Hughes had an idea, and she called out for her to stop,

"Anna, wait a moment."

Anna halted in her actions and opened the door fully once more, stepping through a little. When Mrs Hughes motioned for her to move further inside and shut the door, Anna complied, bringing her hands to her front, holding them together.

"Yes, Mrs Hughes?"

Mrs Hughes stood up herself, pushing her chair back under the desk as she approached the younger maid. She had noticed her demeanour over the last couple of weeks – how Anna would be radiant one moment and quiet and withdrawn the next, often when she had been left alone to her thoughts and had no time to be distracted. The intuitive housekeeper thought she might have known the reason behind it, but she wanted to ask before jumping to conclusions.

"You've seemed a little quiet lately, is all," Mrs Hughes began, now stood in front of Anna. She noticed how Anna averted her eyes briefly, a painful look crossing over them, before she made eye contact with the housekeeper once more. "I only wondered if you'd had news from home. Or… other news. You know you could tell me if you were troubled."

Mrs Hughes watched for a difference in expression, but there was none. Anna had remained as stoic as she had been upon questioning from the other servants over the Christmas period.

"It's nothing like that, Mrs Hughes," Anna replied, albeit sadly. "Honestly."

Mrs Hughes sighed, "I guess it's times like this you appreciate being part of such a large house, surrounded by so many. But it's not quite the same as being with the ones we love most."

This seemed to trigger something for Anna. Mrs Hughes watched as her face turned a little paler at the notion of loved ones, and once again the housemaid averted her eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath as she forced a small smile to grace her lips.

"No, it's not."

Mrs Hughes noticed a look that she had become quite accustomed to seeing from her head housemaid – a look of love. She had seen it in abundance during the times when Mr Bates was still at the house, the times Anna had received a letter from him in London, during the time he had been there for the funeral of his mother. Upon receiving a letter, Anna would change considerably. Almost as though she had been living for his letters. This was almost the same expression, and Mrs Hughes could see Anna reliving some memories. She often considered if Anna had received news from Mr Bates, but she had never asked.

She dismissed Anna, telling her to go to bed and get some sleep.

It was a look of love, that much Mrs Hughes was certain. She just hoped that circumstances would start to better for Anna soon – and that matters would start to work themselves out.

Bates sighed loudly as he washed down the bar, most of the patrons having petered out over the last half an hour, jolly from their financial excursions and returning to their families. There were a few customers left, but those were the usual older men who would sit and indulge the bar tenders in conversations until it was time for closing the doors and going home. Neither Bates, nor the other bar tender minded them in the slightest, often their talk was pleasurable and Bates would often indulge himself in a conversation about poetry or literature in general with one of the older men.

But tonight, this man was not present, having gone home earlier than usual, and in general Bates was not in the mood for conversation.

"Got a face like sour milk there, Bates. Missing your special lady?" The other bar tender approached him, moving a few of the glasses that were stranded on the bar, allowing Bates to wipe the now empty area.

Bates turned to the other tender and gave him a tired look and said nothing, choosing to remain silent on the matter.

The truth was, he missed Anna terribly. She had been right in assuming that she would be too preoccupied with work over the Christmas period to find time to visit him. She had not managed a trip to Kirkbymoorside since their time in his flat exchanging gifts. The two of them had managed to exchange a letter or two since, and Anna had explained that since she only had a couple of hours to herself during her free afternoons at the moment, she had taken to going down to the hospital a lot more and helping wherever she could. She had once mentioned that on the afternoon she had seen him in Downton for that first time, she had spoken to Mrs Crawley about the possibility of helping in the hospital.*

Bates smiled as he imagined her there, helping out the nurses. She was such a kind soul, and although he wished she still had the time to come and see him, he knew it was impossible at the moment. And he travelling any closer to Downton to visit her was a risk.

"I'll take that as a yes." The other bar tender, Patrick, noticed the smile on Bates' face. "My little girl looks the same, her sweetheart is over in France. Never did like him much. But I guess the heart don't never listen to the head."

Bates shook himself from his thoughts.

"Quite," he sighed in response.

"Cheer up," Patrick continued. "Least you might see her soon. Better than those poor souls fighting the Jerrys."

Bates resigned himself to a small smile at that, knowing that his fortunes were indeed better than most, and that Patrick was only attempting to make him feel better. He liked Patrick. He was too talkative for his liking, and too nosy, but he was nice.

John returned to his flat later that night and immediately sought out the tea-stained photograph of Anna, his thumb gently caressing the area where her face was. He imagined where she might be now – probably asleep, as he checked his pocket watch – and he smiled.

Soon.

He would see her soon.

Anna made her way down to the village on her afternoon off, a small sigh escaping her lips as she imagined what she could have been doing this afternoon if she had more time on her hands.

As it were, because of the Christmas celebrations and the upcoming New Year festivities, there was no time to have the usual time off that was given to servants. Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes found time for them to have a few hours to themselves one afternoon a fortnight, but as it were, it was not enough time for Anna to go and see John.

Instead, she had asked Mrs Crawley about helping at the hospital again. The dear old lady had been thrilled at the offer, stating that the hospital was short of a few nurses because of the time, and that help anywhere would be greatly appreciated. Even if it would just mean sitting with some of the men, or helping with the bed linens.

"Ah, Anna. How lovely to see you," Doctor Clarkson smiled as he noticed her entering the hospital.

"Good afternoon, Doctor Clarkson." Anna removed her coat as she was shown through by Doctor Clarkson, guiding her to the cloakroom. "Is there anything that needs to be done?"

"Not really," Doctor Clarkson smiled, knowing that a lot of the jobs that needed doing were impossible for Anna to complete. His shortage of nurses was a problem at the moment. "But there is a pile of bed linens to take up, if you wouldn't mind? Then just to check everyone is stable. Keep them talking, if they want to, of course."

Anna smiled and nodded, "No problem."

Anna briskly left the room, dressed in her blouse and long skirt with her hair tied back in her usual tight bun. She collected the linens and made her way upstairs, leaving them with another nurse who asked for her help stripping some of the empty beds.

Once this task was completed, Anna made her way through one of the wards, her eyes scanning over the beds and checking if anything was amiss. Most of the patients were either asleep or content in their own thoughts, until one voice piped up,

"Here, nurse."

"I'm not a nurse," Anna smiled, regarding his thick, Liverpool accent. "Just miss."

The man gave her a crooked smile, and for a moment Anna thought he was just like another of the convalescent soldiers at the Abbey. A lot of them tried to flirt with her and the other housemaids, but she ignored them most of the time. Some of them had managed to corner some of the maids, as she had heard, but luckily there was another nurse or soldier close by. Lady Edith also put a lot of them in their place if even so much as a wrong word was sent in the direction of one of the maids, and of course Mrs Hughes was always at hand with her stern glares.

"What's your name?" he asked, although his smile soon disappeared as he noticed her brief discomfort. "Or is that a bit too impertinent?"

Anna sighed, realising that this was what she had signed up for. She was usually talkative with other people, but recently she had felt herself becoming a little more withdrawn. It was not their fault that Anna missed John so much that any other male attention was entirely unwanted, even if it was innocent. "I'm Anna."

"Nice to meet you, Anna. Do you live 'round here?" Again, the younger man looked a little uncomfortable. "Forgive me. You look an awful lot like me little sister. I miss her, being here."

Anna stopped then, realising that this man was probably not like some of the soldiers at the Abbey. Like Ethel and Major Bryant. He was just a soldier missing home. She had known that feeling all too well when she had first left home for Downton Abbey all those years ago. She turned properly now and regarded the man, his thick strands of blonde hair falling over his face and his deep brown eyes watching her. She smiled at him warmly. "Could you not go home over Christmas?"

The man shook his head sadly. "The Doctor gave me the strict no. And me family canna afford the trip. Liverpool can be quite a way."

Anna found herself becoming quite endeared to this man, and she approached the bed a little further, taking a seat on the chair beside the bed.

"Could they not have found a hospital closer for you?"

The man shrugged. "Apparently not."

A moment of silence lulled over them momentarily, before the man asked,

"So, where do you work? If you ain't a nurse."

Anna smiled at his curiosity, "I work up at Downton Abbey, I'm the head housemaid."

"Head housemaid? Quite the title," the man joked, forcing a laugh to leave her lips.

"Not so," Anna replied. "It still means ungodly hours and early mornings."

"I was never a morning person either," the man offered with a smile.

Anna smiled at him sympathetically. "What's your name?"

"George," he replied, smiling back. "George Rigby."

"It's nice to meet you," Anna responded. She then asked regarding his family, "Have you written to them, your family?"

George turned to his side table and pulled the letter from the top, it clearly having been there for a while, and showed Anna a response he had.

"It came a few days ago, along with some Christmas cake me ma made." George laughed, and Anna laughed along with him. "But I haven't been able to read it."

Anna tilted her head sideways. "You can't read?"

George shook his head. "No, I can. It's just… after the gas attack, I have some problems with me eyes. I can see just fine, but reading's a bit more tricky." He sighed.

Anna held out her hand slightly, "I could read it to you? If you wanted." George smiled widely, handing her the letter. "I could also try and find you a pair of reading glasses. See if they can help."

George smiled even wider, "Thank you."

Anna opened the letter, which had already been removed from the envelope, as if George had attempted to read it on multiple occasions. Her heart ached for his situation, and she was suddenly glad that she had offered to help at the hospital.

Anna began to read the letter,

My dear George,

You must know how happy we all are that you will be safe over Christmas, even if we can't afford to come to you. But just to know that you're safe is the greatest Christmas gift. I sent some of the cake in a separate parcel – so you can have a piece of home with you at least. With any luck the Doctor can send you home to us soon, and then I can get to fattening you up. I'm fairly sure this hospital won't be feeding you as well as I can. I hope Yorkshire is still treating you well though.

We are all doing fine back home, apart from missing you. Ellie is asking after her big brother, and she sends you a bucket full of hugs and kisses, which I'm sure you'll be on the end of when you get back. Your da sends his love and regards too. He found some more work in the Blue Bell, not much but it's something. One of the lads that used to work there has been called up. It seems everyone has now. And no family is being left untouched.

Which brings me to the sad news. Nellie wanted to write, but she is far too upset at the present. I imagine seeing you again will help and do her the world of good, she has missed you so. Poor David has been killed at the front

Anna stopped for a moment, shocked by the turn of events in the letter. She felt tears stinging her eyes, but as she looked up to George, he motioned for her to continue.

Ellen had a telegram just the other morning. It's very sad news. Of course, there can be no funeral but they want to hold a sermon for him next week. A lot of people have said they will come. You know how everyone liked David. Such a sweet boy.

When will you be home, love? Please write and spare your old ma with the news. As soon as you have the time. We all miss you, and I can't wait to have you back under this roof. It seems that this is the only place I can keep you safe from harm.

Stay safe, and well. And know that you have all of our love coming your way.

Your loving ma.

Anna stopped reading, and remained silent for a few moments. She watched George for a few moments as he digested the news and noticed the unshed tears in his eyes.

It was George who ended the silence, however, when he looked up and extended his hand for the letter, "Thank you for that. I appreciate it."

Anna smiled sympathetically, handing him back the letter, "I'm sorry about David."

"He is… was, Nellie's brother. He was a great lad."

There was a moment of silence as they both mourned the loss of another young man. Then Anna decided to change the subject, realising that George needed to focus on something else.

"Who is Nellie?"

Anna could see the change in George instantly, "The most beautiful girl in the world. I fancied her for ages."

Anna smiled herself at the evident joy and love in his voice, "So a slow burning romance?"

George blushed.

Evidently not, Anna thought as she raised an eyebrow.

"As long as she still wants to know me, after…" George now brought the attention to his left lower leg, which had needed to be amputated after a blast.

Anna replied within a heartbeat, "If she loves you as much as you love her, that won't matter. I know a –" She stopped and blushed.

"You have a sweetheart too?" George smiled.

"Of sorts."

"Where is he, is he in France?"

"No. He served his time during the Boers. He injured his leg, saving the life of the Earl of Grantham."

"Quite the reputation."

"He doesn't like to mention it."

George smiled. "And where is he?"

"He's away at the moment. Our situation is… complicated."

"But when you love someone, none of it matters." George replied profoundly, smiling at his new friend.

Anna smiled back too and replied instantly, "No." Anna suddenly noticed the time on the wall. "I need to leave soon." She watched as George's face fell.

"Needed at the Abbey?"

Anna smiled and nodded. "I only had a couple of hours."

But after a moment she continued,

"But, how about speaking to the Doctor? Ask him about going home. Then, when I come in again we could try and reply to your mum's letter."

Anna could instantly see the light in George's eyes, and he smiled appreciatively at her.

"That would be great. Thank you."

"No problem," Anna replied, standing up and straightening her skirt. "Talk to the Doctor, and I will see you soon."

"See you later, Anna."

Anna left the hospital that day feeling invigorated for the first time since she had left Mr Bates in Kirkbymoorside. She still missed him terribly, and once outside she was reminded of this, but as she thought, each day was a day closer to seeing him again. And she could only hope that this day would be very soon indeed.

"Bates in a pub? I can't see that. I think your pal's mistaken."

"He met him here twice before the war. Listen: 'I said to him, "Hello Mr Bates," and he walked off, and wouldn't serve me after.'"

Thomas and O'Brien noticed Daisy but continued with their conversation regardless, the smoke from their cigarettes swirling and rising into the air.

"Next thing you know, we'll have Anna running across the county and dragging him back by his stick."

"I'm surprised he isn't here of his own accord, with his lordship having no valet since the loony went."

"Don't speak ill of Mr Lang."

"You're a funny one. Talk about sweet and sour. Better get back."

Things were about to change.

Anna appeared at the doorway of the library.

"Ah. Good morning, Anna."

She stepped into the room. "You sent for me, m'lord?"

"I did. Come in. I have something to tell you, but I hope I'm right. Carson didn't want you to be troubled with it…"

"Is this about Mr Bates, m'lord?"

"Yes, it is. I have no wish to upset you, but it seems he may be back in Yorkshire and working in a public house. We don't yet know where."

Anna filled in the information for him, knowing there was no use keeping this secret any longer, "The Red Lion, in Kirkbymoorside."

Lord Grantham had not been expecting that, whatever he was expecting. He looked at her, stunned.

"Oh. You've seen him, then?"

Anna thought briefly of all the times she had seen him and smiled slightly. "I have, yes, m'lord."

"And he's well?"

"He is."

There was a short silence after this, neither of the participants knowing who should speak next until Anna spoke up once more and continued,

"He's not been back to Downton for two reasons." She paused and watched as Lord Grantham craned his ear eagerly. "He's hoping to settle certain matters first, with… Mrs Bates." Even now, saying her name felt odd. Especially without John there.

"And does he think he can?"

"He believes so, m'lord." She almost said we, but prevented herself.

"Very good. And what is his second reason for avoiding us?"

Anna thought for a moment and then replied, "He says… he parted with your lordship… on bad terms. He felt it might be… embarrassing."

She could see Lord Grantham turn slightly and then speak quietly but firmly, "It is for me to feel embarrassed."

Anna was desperate to visit him. It had been over a month now, and still she had not managed to find the time off.

Well, in all honesty the house had been in disarray ever since the news about Mr Matthew and William being missing had reached them. And she knew that because her worry grew for them as the hours and the days passed without any information, she wanted John with her even more. She would be able to talk to him about how she was feeling – he would be the only one she really could talk to, and he still was not here.

Maybe if Lord Grantham was to go and visit him, he would return soon. She could only hope. And pray. She would do both.

Anna was sat up in bed that night, tears in her eyes. Ethel was nowhere to be found, and right at this moment Anna was thankful for it.

She looked down at the letters she had planned to send him, and then thrust them into a pile and shoved them into her beside table. She turned over and wrapped her arms around her stomach, fighting away the tears as she attempted to fall asleep, wishing that tomorrow would bring her news of his return, and if not that it be the next day.

John could hardly believe his eyes when he saw Lord Grantham stood there, hat in his hand, looking at his old valet, comrade and friend. John was lost for words, but eventually he pulled out a bar stool and motioned for his ex-employer to sit down.

"How is the divorce process going? Maybe we can see if your lawyer can speed it up."

"It's going well. He thinks we have a case, and there is certain evidence against her."

"I'm glad to hear it. But Carson said your wife made all sorts of threats." Robert continued.

John replied, "She won't carry them out. Not now. Since I left Downton, I've discovered that she was… untrue to me." Robert glanced at him but said nothing. "I may have been as bad in my heart, m'lord. But I've done nothing to be ashamed of. The point is, I can divorce her now, whether she likes it or not."

"But what's to stop her blurting out her stories to the press?"

"If she agrees to keep her silent, I will give her whatever she wants." Apart from me, John thought. "She can't hold me now, so her choice is between poverty and plenty."

"And what was the tale she was going to tell? Carson never made it clear."

Bates swallowed, "Some silly nonsense, m'lord. I wouldn't waste your time with it. What's the news from Downton?"

He wanted to talk about something else. He wanted to talk about what he and Anna spoke of. It reminded him of the times she had come here. He missed her so much.

"Well, bad news I'm afraid." Robert started. "Captain Crawley and William are missing in action." He paused, noticing the pained expression on the face of his old valet, before he continued. "I hate the word 'missing'. It seems to leave so little room for optimism. I tell myself it's too early to despair, but to be honest, Bates, I don't think I can bear it."

"What does her Ladyship say?"

"I haven't told her yet. I haven't told any of them, except Edith, who's sworn to secrecy. I don't know why, exactly. Perhaps I don't want to make it real."

Bates watched as the man he had worked and served alongside for years showed a side of him he had not seen for years – the unguarded side, the frightened side. War brought this side out in people, and John was here witnessing it first hand.

"If you'd rather not talk about it –"

"No, I want to. It's a relief. Losing Patrick was enough, but now the thought of Matthew gone and the future once again destroyed… More than all that, I loved him like a son… No. I love him. Let's stay in the present tense while we still can…" Robert stopped and looked at Bates, who was watching him with sympathy. Then he continued with the real reason he had wanted to come today, "So, will you come back with me? And help me through the vale of shadow?"

Bates would not have expected to come back with him, that was for sure. And part of him was worried about the implications this would have on the divorce. But this was the chance he had been waiting for, and even his lawyer had told him Vera could do little to fight the divorce now.

"It's not what I expected, m'lord, but I will if you want me to."

"I misjudged you, Bates, and I abused you when we parted. I should have had more faith. I'm sorry."

"God knows you've shown more faith in me than I had any right to."

Anna had never felt joy like it when she saw John appear in the hallway downstairs. She could believe it – he was there, she had touched his arm to ensure it was all real – but somewhere in the back of her mind she thought this might still be a dream.

That was until they had found a quiet moment outside.

She huddled closer to him, the brisk winter air meaning that she had reason to move closer to him, without him chastising her light-heartedly.

"You came back, then? Even after all your fears?"

"I've written to Vera, spelling out the case and how she cannot win it. Then I have told her I will be generous, if she will cooperate."

There was still the fear that Vera would discover he was back here. He just hoped his plan would work. He had a friend in the Midlands who got his post and forwarded it, in an attempt to conceal his whereabouts from Vera. He had explained this to Anna before.

"But you're ready to give her everything? Because I am."

"Whatever it takes. I want a clean break, not an open wound. If we can just be patient a little while longer."

Anna nodded and shivered, drawing herself closer to him as he wrapped his arms tighter around her. It felt so good to be back in the arms of each other once more.

"We shouldn't be outside. It's cold."

"I'll be patient, and bear anything. Except for you to go away again."

She made eye contact with him, and he knew.

"No. That's done. You're stuck with me now. For good and proper."

Anna allowed her lips to move upwards into a smile.

"I like the sound of good and proper."

Their eyes met, and suddenly the distance between their lips was closing once more. Their lips met in a passionate, longing kiss that was drawn out for a while longer than usual, perhaps because of the length of their time apart. John kept his arms firmly around her, keeping her warm, while Anna had no intention of leaving them.

When they finally pulled apart, John noticed her shivering once again, and numbly suggested,

"Come on, we can go back inside. You can catch me up on everything that has happened."

Anna pulled him closer to her once more, wrapping her arms around his middle.

"Just one more minute. I'm not quite ready to share you again just yet."

John chuckled, but acquiesced to her request, wrapping his arms around her, kissing the top of her head and inhaling the sweet scent of her hair.

He was home.

THE END