A/N: It's been awhile since I updated. We finally got all moved in to our new house, so I'm hoping to update more regularly. I know this is focusing more on Anna's brother than her mother. But I'm getting there. Once I started writing Anna's brother, I couldn't help myself. I hope you all enjoy. Please review.

Part XIX

John stared down at Anna as she curled up beside him on the train. She had drifted off to sleep, lulled into a slumber by the gentle, constant rhythm of the train. He saw a smile on her face as she dreamt and it pleased him. Arranging to get the time off for the two of them had not been easy and in the days just before their trip Anna nearly called the trip off all together; she had been worried about leaving David for so long. But John knew that staying in Downton so close to Lady Mary's time to give birth would do Anna no favors and even the Crawleys were understanding of that. They had visited his grave once more before leaving and Mrs. Hughes had offered to stop by and check in to put fresh flowers there. The gesture was not lost on either of them and John was grateful for it. She was doing so much better in the months since their loss and he was hopeful that a trip to the countryside and in the company of her family would only further the progress she had made.

John watched as the scenery passed them by and smiled softly to himself. He had passed through Yorkshire once or twice as a young man, shortly before joining the army. And then again sometime after the army. How ironic to think that the love of his life wasn't far away from him then. Still a young girl scampering through the fields, without a care in the world. Possibly dreaming of what the future held for her; maybe even him. He let out a small giggle; being careful not to wake her. She still claimed she'd always wished and prayed for a man like him even back then. It still amazed him what it was she saw in him, but he'd never complain.

"Anna, love," he whispered into her ear. "We're nearly there," John said as he nudged her shoulder. He hated to wake her, but he was sure she'd want to freshen up a bit before they stepped off the train and met the rest of her little family on the platform.

Anna blinked harshly back at the light coming in through the train window. She rubbed her eyes with her fists and mumbled, "Was I out long?"

"No," John answered back sweetly.

"I wasn't snoring was I?"

"Maybe just a little," he teased.

"Was I really?" she asked. But before John could answer get Anna's stomach began to grumble.

"Well you are just a symphony of sounds today," John commented as he gently nudged her.

"I'm famished," she replied.

"That's good. I'm glad to see you are getting your appetite back. Your mother will be happy too. I wouldn't want her to accuse me of not taking care of you," John said playfully.

Anna let a smile play across her face. She was glad the visit from her mother hadn't completely deterred John from wanting to get to know her mother or impress her. "My mother will do no such thing. She knows I am very well taken care of by you."

"I'm glad to hear you think so," John replied as he gave Anna's arm a gentle squeeze. "Are you excited to be back?" he asked.

"I am," she answered with a bit of hesitation.

He wished it had been under different circumstances. That their trip wasn't to avoid the arrival of Lady Mary's baby, but rather to share in the joy of their own baby and introduce it to the rest of their family. That would have to be an occasion for the future. For now, this would be a chance to better acquaint himself with Anna's mother, brother, and sister-in-law. And if that's all it took to make his wife happy and let go of their troubles for a few days he was all too willing to accommodate her.

"Anna!" a voice shouted out across the small, but crowded platform.

John was in the process of helping Anna down the last step of the train when her eyes travelled up to address the voice that was calling out to her. "David!" Anna shouted back as she waved to her brother.

John's head turned to see who she was looking at. It moved him so, to see her smiling as brightly as she was. There was something childlike about her enthusiasm that was almost infectious.

As she descended onto the platform John urged her to go ahead while he retrieved their bags.

Anna ran as fast as her feet would carry her into the open arms of David.

He was considerably taller than her and with sun-kissed skin from years of toiling in the fields from dawn until dusk. He had dirty-blonde hair swayed easily in the breeze. It was slightly darker than Anna's, but they shared the same shade of blue eyes. David kissed her cheek as he swept her up in his arms and spun her around before setting her back down on the ground. "It's been too long," David said as he took a step back to observe her. He was dressed in his best trousers and shirt, but it was evident David had just come back from working the fields.

"I quite agree," Anna replied. It had been ages since she'd been able to return to the farm. The last time she had come Peter was home on leave and David was still at the front. She had been able to get a picture of him in his uniform that he sent to her when he first enlisted. He still looked so much like a boy then it was almost too hard to believe he'd be fighting side by side with the likes of Thomas, William, and Mr. Matthew. But he had proven his worth; even received a nasty scar from a bullet to his side. If only their brother, Peter had been so lucky.

"Hello," a sweet voice with an accent Anna couldn't quite place called from behind David.

David stepped aside and said, "Of course, I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Anna, this is Ingrid." He brought his wife forward to meet Anna and the two women exchanged pleasantries.

"My husband has told me so much about you," Ingrid said. She was a tiny little thing, with soft blonde hair. It was done up in a lovely bun, almost as good as the ones Anna would have done for Lady Mary.

"Good things I hope," Anna retorted.

"Yes. So many lovely memories of you and your brothers growing up," Ingrid explained.

"I got all the bags," John said with a huff as he set them down by Anna's feet to straighten his tie and remove his bowler hat. "You must be Anna's brother, David," John assumed as he outstretched his hand to shake with him.

"I am. And you must be the fetching fellow that has kept her away from us for so long," David teased as he took John's hand in his own.

"It was never my intention, but I'll accept the compliment all the same," John said with an easy smile. "It's so good of you to have us."

"The pleasure is all ours. Your help will be much appreciated as we bring in the harvest this year."

John was quite taken aback by the welcome he received from David as opposed to Mrs. Smith. Perhaps their conversation a few months back had gone a longer way than he thought to mend fences and strengthen their bond. And if this was anything to go by, John could see now why Anna had wanted to name their son after him.

Anna was beaming at the two of them. She knew her brother wouldn't let her down.

"Come, now. Mama will want me to bring you back as soon as possible so she can feed you, no doubt," David said as he helped John with the bags. He hadn't even batted an eyelash at John's injury or cane. He even went so far as to reassure him, "I'm sure you can manage just fine. But you are our guests after all."

"Well, that's very kind of you," John answered back.

"Mama would have met you herself, but she had an appointment with the bank. She insisted she could take care of it on her own. You know how stubborn she can be," David said as he lightly elbowed Anna in the ribs. He quickly helped her into the car after seeing to his wife and held the door open for John with his flat cap removed. He set the cap back in place before starting the car up.

"I like him already," John whispered to Anna.

"I knew you would," she said as she bit back a smile.

"Mama, says you can stay in Peter's old room since it's a little bigger than your old bedroom. We took the bed from your room and put it in there to push the mattresses together," he said with a teasing smile.

Anna and John looked to one another as a red blush crept across their faces.

"Mama's down the hall, but her hearing is still just as good as it was when we were children," he added with a chuckle.

"David," Ingrid scolded as she swatted him with a dish cloth.

David rubbed his shoulder, "Ingrid and I are in the cottage on the other side of the farm. Mama can't hear us over there."

"David Smith!" Helen's voice cut through the silence.

They all winced their eyes in response. John bit down on his lower lip to restrain a giggle. Anna covered her mouth but a small snort escaped through her nose. They all began to laugh.

"Sorry Mama," David replied.

Even without Helen being in the room, she was an intimidating presence from downstairs. "Leave the bags there and let John and Anna freshen up before supper."

"Well, we'll leave you to it. See you in a half hour. There's fresh towels for you in the washroom," David said as he and Ingrid let themselves out.

"That was...um...interesting," John replied with a smile and cheerful nod. "But I love them both." He went to sit on the bed and the springs called out louder than he expected. "Well, I guess we won't be doing anything aside from sleeping for the next couple weeks."

"Well, maybe not in this bed," she replied back in a low voice, being mindful of her mother's presence.

"Anna May Bates...you naughty girl," John answered back.

"That smells good, Mama. Can I help you with anything?" Anna offered as she walked into the kitchen.

"Sure, you can set the table," Helen answered as she finished stirring some food on the stove top.

Anna reached for the plates in their usual spot. Funny how some things never changed. Anna began to set the table and stopped when she felt her mother's hand on her own. Her eyes drifted up to meet her mother's.

"It's good to have you home," Helen said with tears in her eyes. "You look much better. But how are you feeling...really?

"I have good and bad days," Anna answered honestly. "It's getting easier. John has been very supportive and patient with me."

"Time will help things along. It hasn't been that long. I'm glad to hear John is doing his part to help you through this." There was a silence between them for a long time. "Have you given any thought to trying again?"

Anna would be lying if she said no. In fact it was running through her mind now more than ever. She felt like time for them was running out, but something was not syncing up between her heart and her mind.

"John, says he's ready whenever I am. It's just...I'm not quite sure when that will be."

Helen offered her daughter a sympathetic smile.

"But we're getting there," Anna added hoping to reassure herself just as much as her mother.

John wasn't far behind as he took a moment to stop by the window that overlooked the back porch and the fields. "You manage all this land by yourself?" he asked David.

"We try," David answered back from his rocking chair beside the fireplace. "Well...I try. Mama has been managing it since Papa passed. We were doing alright before the war...before…"

"Peter," John muttered.

"Yeah," David replied sadly. He motioned for John to come sit beside him as he made himself more comfortable. "Mama lost a lot of good workers; young men," he corrected himself. "Including myself and Peter. She had to rely on the older men in town and young boys that hadn't joined the war efforts yet. When I got back I wasn't the same," David confessed.

John took the empty seat across from David and said, "I don't think anyone really is."

For the first time since his arrival, David looked at John's injury. But the look still wasn't one of pity or one of disgust. It was one of empathy. "My Mama told me you got your injury in the Boer's. What was it like when you came back?"

There were so many words to describe his return from the war. So many times he wanted to give up on life. The only one who had been there for him was his mother. And John was certain the situation was much the same for David when he returned to Helen. "Honestly, I didn't want to come back. Even though my mother kept telling me I was one of the 'lucky ones' I just couldn't see how. I wasn't sure how I was going to find work or provide for myself. I didn't know how my wife at the time would ever look at me the same. And she never did. I thought I was destined to roam the earth by myself like some sort of pariah."

"What changed?"

"I was injured saving my commander. I suppose my actions went a long way to help land me a job regardless of my disability. And of course there was your sister…she saw the best in me before I did."

"Yes, Anna has that effect on people. Ingrid did the same for me when I got back. I worried she would turn her back on me because she knew what I was like before I left. But she didn't. So I guess your mother was right," David said.

"How do you mean?" John asked.

"We are the lucky ones," David concluded.