A/N We have reached the final chapter. I'm sorry to have kept you all waiting for so long, but it's been a little hectic with my personal schedule lately. I'm hoping to be able to update the other stories I have more regularly now. As always your reviews and feedback are much appreciated. Enjoy!

Epilogue

Part XXIII

"Amelia, my love. Settle down for Mummy and drink your bottle so you can take your nap," Anna encouraged. Their little girl was just a little over a year and proving to be a handful when it came to nap time, but it didn't bother her in the slightest. She knew the reason for their daughter's fussiness, Amelia was awaiting the arrival of her father just as eagerly as Anna was. She finally set the bottle aside and lifted her daughter to meet her eye level. "I know what you are playing at little love, he'll be here shortly. I promise to wake you when he arrives." Anna rocked the baby in her arms and smoothed her blonde curls into place hoping to lull her to sleep.

Amelia eyed her mother suspiciously, and pursed her lips together before finally shaking her head in disagreement.

"Oh alright, we'll wait together. Mummy, needs to tend to the laundry anyhow. Can you be a good girl and keep yourself entertained while remove the clothes from the line outside?" Anna asked. Their little girl shot her a sweet grin before blowing a raspberry with her lips. Anna laughed aloud and kissed the baby's cheek, "I was hoping you'd say that."

Anna carried Amelia out on her hip and eventually set the little girl down in the moses basket filled with blankets. She removed a tiny wooden rattle from her pocket and gave it a shake, drawing a smile across Amelia's lips. "Here you go sweetheart," Anna said as she offered the baby her toy.

Without haste, the rattle promptly ended up in Amelia's mouth and Anna could only smile and shrug. She unpinned the clean sheets, folded them, and placed them into the empty basket beside their baby girl. Anna shielded her eyes from the sun as she looked towards the horizon to see if John was coming up the road yet. There was still no sign of him.

Amelia caught her mother's attention when she began gurgling and babbling incessantly. Her shoulder's slumped a little. It wasn't so much that she was missing John (although that was part of it), but she wished she could have gone with him. He had travelled to Ripon to take a look at some new farming equipment for this year's harvest and had been gone for three days. He was supposed to be stopping in Downton today to catch up with Lord Grantham and some of the downstairs staff before catching his train back. She wondered if he would have time to stop by the cemetery to place flowers on David's grave. This was the first year she hadn't been able to make a trip to Downton, but it had been for good reason. The arrival of Amelia coupled with the spike in business had prompted more productivity in preparation for the year's harvest. Even prior to Amelia's arrival John didn't think it wise for Anna to travel in her condition, and had been adamant she be close to home should their baby decide to arrive unexpectedly. She expected that this time around would be no different as she ran a hand along the small swell of her stomach. It was still early days, but she was already more than eager to meet their latest addition to the family. The discovery that she was pregnant again so soon after Amelia had been born had been a surprise, but a welcome one to both of them.

Anna bent down over Amelia to play peekaboo behind the sheet she had been folding. Their daughter was an endless source of joy as she smiled up fondly at Anna and clapped her hands together with excitement. Each time their daughter laughed she thought her heart might burst with love, still not quite able to believe their good fortune since moving here. Anna's relationship with her mother had only grown stronger in the seven years since they had moved to the farm, being close to her brother had allowed her to rekindle a relationship with the one sibling she had left, and John had never been happier taking the reins in running the farm. Being here allowed her and John more time to nurture their own relationship, and while it had been hard leaving their cottage and friends behind, it wasn't so far that visits weren't possible. But most of all, living here ensured that she and John were the masters of their own destiny, that they would have something to pass on to their children, and they would have time for their children.

She continued to play with their baby and lifted her in the air to spin her around in the air. A kiss to their little one's chubby cheeks brought a smile to both of their faces until the familiar sound of a car coming up the road caused them to freeze in place. Anna whispered sweetly into her daughter's ear, "Amelia, can you guess who that is?"

Amelia pointed in the direction of the road with her tiny index finger. "Da," she stated sweetly in a whisper.

"That's right my darling. Your Daddy is back," Anna said as she waved in the direction of the car. She took up Amelia's hand and began waving it as well.

Her brother, David, was sat in front driving John. And even in the distance Anna could see their eldest, Michael sat on John's lap and waving back to her. He looked every bit the spitting image of his father with his dark hair billowing in the breeze as the car travelled up the dirt road. He was going to be tall, of that she had no doubt, but his eyes were blue like hers. A feature that John was quick to point out shortly after his birthday.

Anna could still recall the short months after they had made the decision to move to the farm, they had tried to conceive, and for awhile the both of them, though they never said it aloud, had feared that they had lost their one shot at parenthood with their little boy. It wasn't until a sunny afternoon towards the end of spring when Anna came running through the fields of grain, somewhat disheveled and out of breath from the journey back from town after seeing the village doctor. She only needed to confirm what she had already suspected to be the case. With a glorious smile etched across her face, she nearly knocked John off balance as she kissed him fervently and wrapped her arms around his middle.

"What's gotten into you?" he asked with a look of concern, while the tone of his voice altogether pleased at her actions.

With joyful tears in her eyes she simply replied back, "It happened."

"It did?" John asked. Inside he wanted nothing more than to jump in the air and celebrate this news, but the past had a way of rearing it's ugly head. And all John could think of was the way Anna had looked the last time when they had lost their baby. He knew that neither of them could handle another loss, especially if it meant he might lose his wife in the process.

"John, it's going to be alright this time," her words broke through to him and he allowed himself to be cleansed by her hopeful words and the way her face lit up as she spoke with such conviction. "I can't explain it, but I know in my heart of hearts, this baby is going to be a great blessing to all of us."

Now how could he argue with her, when she looked happier than she had in months? John brushed her unkempt hair back into place and kissed her cheek softly as he cradled the back of her head and whispered in her ear, "Of course it is." He pulled back to look her in the eye and assured her, "You are right. It's going to be alright this time. I'll be with you every step of the way."

In the months that followed, there was worry that followed; just as there would be with any new parent. But each month that passed, brought them a rekindled hope and healing like they had never known. It was a chance to experience what they had missed out on with David and a reassurance that their baby would soon be held within their arms. The labor was long and for awhile John had feared that he might lose them both as Anna crossed into her second day of labor. As evening approached, the doctor came out to assure him things were progressing normally and that this sort of delay was normal with first time mothers. John had to refrain from crying as he was all too painfully reminded this wasn't Anna's first time being a mother. He only hoped and prayed that this time fate would be more kind to them. It was just after the sun had set, their baby's cries pierced the air and brought life back into the farmhouse. He let out a sigh of relief and followed Helen back into their bedroom where he found Anna already captivated with their baby who clearly had a thick, dark head of hair.

The moment was all too precious, and he felt as though he were intruding or stepping on sacred ground as he crossed the threshold of their bedroom door. Their bedroom was bathed in candlelight and the only sounds that filled the room were those of their baby cooing softly back at Anna. It was by far the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. To see his gorgeous wife being rewarded for her faith in him-for loving him, with something that was born of their love. It left him feeling rather vulnerable and simultaneously unstoppable. As he gazed down at their baby, swaddled in Anna's arms, John knew he'd move heaven and earth to ensure their happiness. John slowly moved along his side of the bed to get a closer look at their little one and Anna smiled up at him, "Well?"

"I...I don't quite know what to say…you've done wonderful my darling," John praised her. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before letting his lips settle against her own. "I'm still not really sure what we're dealing with here," he said with a small chuckle.

"See for yourself," Anna encouraged him as she handed the baby over to John.

John let the small weight in his arms tug at his heart strings, falling more and more in love with the little being laid out before him. He slowly pulled back the blankets and took in the sight of long, pudgy limbs, broad chest, and a pot belly and felt the tears slide down his cheeks. "Michael," John whispered as the last of the blankets were pulled back. At the sound of his name, their baby opened his eyes. Blue eyes that mirrored those of the woman who had taken his name and stolen his heart. "He's got your eyes," John noted.

"That's about the only thing he's gotten from me," Anna replied, but she couldn't be happier with the way their baby had taken after John.

"Maybe the next one will look more like you," he quipped.

"Already got your sights on the next one?"

"How could I not want more of you?"

"Dually noted, charmer," Anna settled back against the pillows on the bed as she watched John cuddle up against their baby, who was all but swallowed up in his father's large arms.

"You're Mummy was right about you, Michael. You are going to be more loved and cherished than you will ever know my boy. I promise to do everything in my power to make sure you don't repeat my mistakes and never want for anything. I will be the man your Mummy always believed me to be, someone you can be proud of and look up to. How does that sound?" he asked. But, their little boy was already falling fast asleep in his father's arms. "I'm boring him already," John joked.

"No, he just knows better," Anna said with a smirk.

John raised an eyebrow as he ran a finger down Michael's cheek. "Does he now?"

"Mmmhhmm," she replied proudly.

"Takes after his mother I see."

Anna bit back the smile that crossed her face at the sound of her new title. "Every time I sensed you were doubting yourself, not long after I would assuage your fears I would run a hand along my belly at night to calm him and tell him all the things you just said. That his father is a good man, that he should aspire to be like you, and that we would love him more than he knew."

"Well, your Mummy is just a bit of terrific isn't she?" John asked their baby. And though he couldn't be sure, John could have swore Michael smiled at him just then.

"Mummy!" Michael called as he clambered out of the car and ran halfway to meet her in a hug.

"Hello, my sweetheart. How was your trip with your father?"

"It was great. We got to go to the bookstore and the toy store in Ripon. And we made a trip to the castle at Downton. Mrs. Patmore and Daisy let me have some meat pie and pudding too."

"Did you now?" Anna asked.

"Daddy showed me where you lived before coming to live with Grandma," Michael added. Sometimes, their five year old was so talkative it was hard to comprehend he could be John's children.

Anna smiled at the memory of their cottage. She so wished she could have accompanied them on their trip.

"Anything else?" Anna asked.

"We went to visit David. We put flowers on his grave. Mrs. Hughes says she still goes there every week, like she promised you she would."

Anna smiled up at John, "You kept your promise."

"Did you have reason to doubt?"

"No. I just wondered if there would be time for a stop on the way back home."

"I would have made time for him...you know I miss him just as much as you do," John declared. "I would do anything to put your mind at ease, you only need to ask."

"You always do," Anna replied with a content smile.

"And you my love, how have you been?"

"We are all doing just fine," Anna said as she held John's hand to her belly.

John caressed her small bump through the fabric with the pad of his thumb as glanced down at their little girl, nestled between them. "Don't worry Miss Amelia, your Daddy has not forgotten about you." He stretched his arms out to pick Amelia up and nuzzled against her chubby cheeks with his own. John had thought the pinnacle of his joy was the moment Michael had been placed in his arms, but he as to be proven wrong with the birth of their daughter. Amela was the spitting image of Anna and John had fallen in love with her just as quickly and just as hard as he had with her mother. The sight of her threatened to choke the very air out of him as he tried to find words to greet her upon her arrival. Yet, somehow he managed to find the words to vow to her the same things he had to Michael.

For a time they thought Michael would be their only child, and the thought suited them just fine. They had never been so happy, making their own schedule and being able to both be present to raise their little boy. John and Anna made every effort to make sure he knew about his brother David. They kept the teddy bear John had won at the fair all those years ago for David in the nursery. With the arrival of Amelia they carried on those traditions. John helped in every way he could and found his own ways of bonding with their children where his physical limitations were not problematic. He'd take Michael and his nephews fishing, showed them how to catch fireflies, how to play cards, and how to box. With Amelia he'd sing her songs, dress her up with ribbons in her hair, and play with her dollies. It warmed Anna's heart to see John fulfill a role she knew he was always capable of playing, and for Helen she was more than happy to be proven wrong. Her son-in-law had become more than a suitable husband to her daughter and doted on his children more than the average father would. As for taking over the farm, John had managed to turn it into a greater success than she had anticipated, and Helen enjoyed seeing the relationship between John and her son thrive with each passing day. With their children growing up together, it only cemented the bond between them even further.

That night as John helped dry off Amelia, and Anna bathed Michael he looked over at her and couldn't help feeling incredibly blessed to lead the life they were living now. He ran the towel along Amelia's chubby arms, and legs while stopping here and there to tickle her little belly and feet. Anna ran her hands through Michael's soapy hair and stopped her motions momentarily as she felt their baby move. She grabbed John's hand quickly and guided it to the spot where their baby was performing somersaults. "Feel," she said softly.

"Is that the first time?" he asked.

"It happened once or twice while you were gone, but I couldn't be sure if it was my imagination or not. Maybe it's because I was missing you terribly and I needed some cheering up," Anna said with a smile as her eyes met her husband's. "This time I can feel it without a doubt."

"Darling, you of all people should know to never doubt," John said before leaning in to kiss her passionately.

"You're right, Mr. Bates. How very foolish of me. What do you say we get these two off to bed and I welcome you home properly?" Anna asked with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"I say, that's the best idea you've ever had," he replied with an eager grin. "I love you, Anna."

"And I love you, Mr. Bates." Anna finished up with Michael as quickly as she could. "We should hurry and take advantage of what time we have together before this one arrives," Anna said as she looked down at her growing belly.

Still so enraptured was he with the lovely housemaid he'd met all those years ago. If only he had known then that this was the life that awaited them. For all the trials and tribulations they had endured, the tears shed had surely been worth the reward. John could only assume that with the arrival of their new baby, their happiness would increase ten fold. The joy written clearly across his face whenever he chanced a glance at his beautiful wife. "I can't wait," John answered back simply.

-The End