August 8th, 1927 - 5am

The day has not yet dawned but it finds me sitting here in the kitchen drinking my first coffee of the morning. I've not been up to stay this early since I left service. Of course the babies get us up but we always go back to bed for a couple extra hours.

The village fête is today! And as you know, I'm in charge of the games and stalls. I never realised how much that entailed until it fell to me to do it.

The crew and I worked all day and well into the night setting things up, and I think we're ready for business. Even though I've never been a "games" kind of person, I believe I've managed quite well, actually.

There will be the ever popular Coconut Shy and the Tug of War, with it's rope burns, grazed knees and grass stains.

The wacky races, including the three-legged race, the egg-and-spoon race, and the sack race.

The Hoopla, where you attempt to throw a wooden ring so that it lands around one of a set of blocks to win a prize.

We'll have the Amazing Remo wandering around the square performing feats of magic to astound and amaze. Mr. Carson will do his Punch & Judy show and juggling act, and the exotic Madam De La Fuente will tell your fortune in the Gypsy Psychic tent.

We can't forget the Crockery Smash which seems to offer a rare opportunity for children to fling heavy balls at stands of crockery for no reason whatsoever! William is looking forward to that one and has been working on his throwing arm all week.

Anna wouldn't miss the fête for the world. She says it will be a good time to introduce Finn and Fee to the village without having the village randomly drop in at our home to see them. Very practical of her, I think. Daisy will be helping her tote them and their baskets over to the square where they'll sit on a blanket under the shade of a tree and hold court. She's really looking forward to getting out of the house and she always enjoys spending time with Daisy. William, I reckon will stay with me, not wanting to miss a thing.

And then tomorrow night we'll be holding a Pub Quiz at the Grantham Arms to benefit the school and the hospital. My lovely wife really wants to take part, but I told her no, it wouldn't be fair. You'd never believe how competitive she is.

Well, I must be off! Fingers crossed that all goes well…

~ John Bates

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It was as beautiful as any August day had ever been! One could believe the entire population of Downton and the surrounding area had turned out to celebrate the Summer Fête. And what a jolly fête it was! Adults gathered in groups, chatting and laughing and lining up to play games and eat food. Children were running after each other begging their parents to buy them sweets or win them a prize or better still buy them tickets so they could win their own prizes.

The Summer Fête was always a success, and one of the most longed for events of the year in this small village of theirs, but this time, everything seemed extra grand, at least to John it did..

He was quite pleased with himself, as he walked around the stalls, nodding in approval as he did so. He had even bought himself a couple of throws at the Hoopla, but all that he managed to win was a little doll in a flowery dress. That would have to be for Anna, as he couldn't very well give it to one of his girls and not the other. Yes, he could buy a few more throws and try to win a couple more dolls for Finn & Fee…and maybe that little boat too, for William. Maybe later…

Now, he looked around, trying to find Anna and the children in this large, milling crowd. She should have been there already…ah, he spotted her in the distance, in the shade oh that wonderful tree she had plotted for days to settle herself and the little ones under.

'That's perfect, Daisy, thank you.' Anna smiled down at the blanket Daisy was spreading on the grass. 'Now we sit and enjoy the day.'

'Mummy, look!' William tugged on her skirt and pointed, 'Here comes Daddy!'

'Hello my darlings.' John approached them with a grin on his face. 'I'm glad no one took this spot. If anyone had tried I might have had to shoo them away.'

'My hero!.' Anna replied. 'It's the perfect spot, and this lovely old tree provides enough shade for all of us.'

'Daddy, can I go with you, please? I want to play games!' William jumped up and down excitedly. All those wonderful stalls were calling out to him. His eyes sparkled. 'Please! Please Daddy! Can I?'

'Of course, son. And mummy, Daisy and the girls will stay here, enjoying themselves and that delicious food they've brought…It smells so good.'

'It's apple and cinnamon pie, ham sandwiches and strawberries. The pie's still hot.' Daisy said as she opened the picnic basket to look inside. 'There's also biscuits that Archie made last night,' she smiled.

'Alright then, I see you are all settled.' John smiled down at his baby girls, who were peacefully sleeping in their moses baskets, 'I'll come check on you now and then…and I'm afraid half the village will as well, so many have asked if you would be here,' he told Anna looking around and seeing people pointing in their direction, ready to come and fuss over the new members of his family. 'Oh! I almost forgot…' he reached in his pocket taking the doll out and giving it to Anna. 'A little present for you,' he smiled.

'It's so pretty,' she took the doll in her hands. 'I'll add it to my collection,' she said, thinking of all the other dolls that he had won for her at past fairs and fêtes over the years .

'I'll try to win two more for Finn and Fee, so they can start their own collection,' John winked, bending down to caress each of the girl's cheeks. 'I should go now,' he said, well aware of a very anxious Will pulling on his hand.

He gave Anna a quick kiss and turned to his rambunctious little boy saying, 'Are you ready son?' and they moved off toward the centre of the action.

'I hope one day I'll have a family just like yours, Anna,' Daisy said, as she nibbled on a vanilla biscuit. 'You are so lucky to have Mr Bates…and he's such a wonderful father to the little ones.'

'I really am…' Anna smiled looking ahead, seeing her husband in the distance. 'But don't you worry, Daisy. One day you'll find a good man too.'

Daisy nodded, thinking. 'How will I know, though? I mean…' she sighed. 'I've already fancied some men so…how do I know that I'm fancying the right one? It seems that I always like the wrong one…' she lowered her head, staring at her hands resting in her lap.

'Daisy, look at me. You will see him and you will think, that's the man I want to spend the rest of my days with. That's the man I want my children to look like and to be like, and above all, you will know that no matter what might be thrown at you, you will never give up on your love.'

A cheeky smile spread across Daisy's face. 'I reckon I already found the one.'

'No one smiles like that over a simple crush,' Anna replied.

The two friends laughed but before they could speak again, the curious villagers began to drift toward them, eager to meet the two girls and to ask after Anna's well being.

'I've never seen twins…' one of the younger ladies spoke. 'I think it's rather spectacular a woman having two babies at once.'

'My cousin had twins and I remember her writing to me saying how awful it was to have two babies crying at the same time.' Another remarked, 'God knows one is already hard enough!'

'Oh no…they're little angels. They're not that noisy.' Anna tried to defend her daughters. 'My boy cried much more than they do.'

'Still…when they cry they cry in unison…it must be hard on your ears,' the same woman tried to reason.

'Well, when you decide to have children you have to be prepared for all of that and if you are a good mother everything's worth it. Isn't that right, Anna?' Daisy replied and everyone looked at her in surprise.

'You're right, Daisy. Completely right,' Anna said, chuckling to herself.

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves on that warm afternoon. The babies had many admiring visitors, including Lady Mary, followed by her mother and Lady Edith. Lord Grantham even came over, accompanied by John, who proudly showed off his girls to his former employer and good friend.

Finn and Fee proved to everyone what good babies they were, behaving extremely well, and whimpering only when they were hungry, spending their day either in their baskets or in their mother's and Daisy's arms.

While the babies slept, the two friends talked about their past days at the Abbey and about matters of the heart, and of course Archie, the young chef.

'He's so smart,' Daisy told Anna, 'and he's always so sweet to me.'

'He likes you, Daisy. Everyone can see that,' Anna offered.

'Do you really think so? Because I don't want to be wrong like I always am. You know…he has invited me to the cinema, we just have to settle the date with Mr Bates first.'

Anna widened her eyes with excitement. 'That's wonderful, Daisy!'

Anna's day was going very well…

John's day was going very well too. The games were a huge success and a lot of money was being raised. So many people came up to him to thank for his efforts and ideas and as many came to congratulate him on the beautiful family he had. He felt proud and realised he had held a big smile on his face all day long. Indeed, Anna had changed him, and of course, for the better.

When they met later, to pack up and go home, William had a doll for each girl, that he, himself, had won at one of the many games.

'I won them for Finn and Fee and then Dad won this boat for me. It really floats on water, doesn't it Dad? And we can take it down to the stream, right?' the boy continued.

'It does indeed, son, and yes we can!' John replied.

'The babies can't go because they're too little. Just me and Daddy!' William explained to his mum.

'Won't that be fun?' Anna smiled at her boy.

'And did you know I am as important as George Crawley? People gave me food and games for free because I am that Bates lad,' William said proudly, puffing his little chest out.

'Oh my, really?' Anna looked up at John, who shrugged his shoulders and nodded. 'And did you thank everyone?' his mother asked.

'Of course, Mummy.' Then William look at her with a pained expression, 'But Mummy, now my tummy's all grumbly. '

They went home shortly after that, but with plans of coming back later, without the children. That night, the bonfire would be built and honestly, to Anna, that was the best part of the fête. That and the night stalls filled with food and sweets. Yes, she couldn't wait for that!

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Oh my! What a wonderful day, but I am so tired!

John and I finally packed it in around suppertime and brought the children home. Will was holding his belly with one hand and his winnings in the other. How he came by all that rich food, I don't even want to know. It didn't come from our picnic basket. But he did have fun. I think we all did, even John!

I'm so glad I put the girls in their best little matching dresses that Lady Mary had given them the day after their birth. They looked so pretty. It seemed like half the village stopped by to see them, as I suspected they might. I saw a fair share of men clapping John on the back and shaking his hand too. Whether it was for his prowess at producing twins or the splendid job he did on behalf of the fête, I don't know.

We've fed and bathed the girls, given Will some ginger tea for his tummy and put them all to bed. William was asleep before his head hit the pillow. And now John and I are heading back to the square to see the bonfire being lit. My favourite part of any fête. Sarah's here to stay with the children as Caleb is on duty at the hotel anyway.

Daisy offered to stay with them, but we decided against serving dinners at the pub tonight so as not to compete with the food stalls at the fête. That gave both Archie and Daisy the night off. They do enjoy each others company. I suspect we'll see them together at the bonfire later on. They're just so cute and have many similar interests. John tells me I shouldn't play matchmaker, and I don't…not really, but I can't help thinking they're perfect together.

My face feels hot and a bit stiff. I think I might have gotten a little too much sun today. I kept the babies well shaded but foolishly took my hat off. Well it's too late to worry about that now.

I'll go get something to throw over my shoulders. It's getting cooler outside and then we'll be off. I do love bonfires!

P.S. One more thing, don't believe everything John Bates says. I'm not in the least bit competitive, I just think if you play you should play to win.

~Anna Bates

Journal entries are written by handy for the bus & terriejane.

We'd like to thank the lovely annamays (aka fuzzydream) for being our beta.