August 9th, 1927

The children are still sleeping and Anna and I are here at the kitchen table having our morning coffee. It's so relaxing after the hectic past couple of weeks. I won't deny I'm not happy to see the Fête over and done with for another year, but a lot of fun was had and a lot of money was raised for our school and our Cottage Hospital.

Anna had mentioned to me a couple of days ago that I might be asked to manage the games next summer. I'd prepared myself with an answer for the council - As much as I enjoyed it, I really think we should give someone else a chance, just to be fair. But is that what I said? Not quite. And I was shocked when I heard these words spill from my mouth - I would be honoured! Of course I will! I did everything but say, I'm your man! Oh well, it is a year away after all!

We just woke from blessed lay-in. After the girl's last feeding at 4:30 this morning we were able to sleep for three more hours. William will probably sleep until noon. That boy had the time of his life! I never once saw him sitting or standing still yesterday. He played nearly every game, multiple times. He won a few prizes and I was amazed he didn't get sick because whenever I looked at him he was eating something. People must have been feeding him because I didn't buy him any food, thinking he would eat from the picnic basket Anna brought. But he had a memorable day, indeed.

We came home around six last night, gave Will a ginger tea, put the children to bed. Sarah offered to come over so Anna and I could go back for the bonfire. It was perfect - a starlit summer night, Anna in my arms and the crackling fire!

The Pub Quiz will be held later tonight, but that should be tame compared to yesterday. Anna has finally conceded that it wouldn't look right for her to take part in the quiz and host it too. She does want to be there though, at least for part of the evening. Sarah has kindly offered to watch Will and the girls in her and Caleb's rooms. She loves them like her own. Our children are so lucky to have such wonderful people in their lives.

Well, I'd better be getting over to the hotel, although I'd rather stay here with my pretty sun-kissed wife. Her cheeks are rather rosy this morning. She should have kept her hat on yesterday, but she does look lovely.

~ John Bates

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I see John mentioned the bonfire last night. And he's right, it was the perfect evening and I had the privilege of being escorted by the handsomest man in the village. If I hadn't had two babies a couple of weeks ago we just might have sneaked off someplace secluded and made good use of that blanket. Oops, I probably shouldn't be saying that in this journal. Oh well, it's in ink. I can't do anything about that now.

It's almost time for the Pub Quiz and the girls and I are ready to go. William is already there with John. He wanted to 'help' his father organise everything before people started coming in. That boy! He seems so grown up for his age, but then he is his father's son. Although he has decided not to 'work' at the hotel for the time being, so he can help me with the babies, I've noticed he might be getting the itch to return. I fear we girls bore him sometimes.

I'm waiting for Sarah now. She's helping me take the babies and all their things to the hotel and then she'll see to them and William while I enjoy the quiz. I do feel a bit bad about it because these gatherings are always so much fun, but she said she'd rather watch the children, and I believe she would. I'll have to feed Finn and Fee later on, so that will give her a break. Then I'll be back in the pub, trying my best not to sit down at one of the tables and start spitting answers all over the room.

I love these games and John knows it better than anyone else, but as he said, it's wiser that, as one of the pub owners, I not participate and just watch. He knows how competitive I am, yes, I admit it, and honestly I am not my better self when that happens. John says I turn rather red and my eyes go wild…silly man. He'll be keeping a good eye on me, I'll wager.

When I still worked at the Abbey we'd occasionally have a Quiz Night. I enjoyed that so much. I wonder if they still have them? Maybe I'll have to pop in and see if they do.

Oh, Sarah just came in. I must be going now. I will try to keep my answers to myself tonight, but God knows it won't be easy.

~ Anna Bates

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When Anna and Sarah arrived at the pub that night, babies in tow, there was already a quite large crowd of people gathering around the tables, discussing teams, themes and making bets on who would go home victorious.

That put a big smile on Anna's face. She loved quizzes, she always had, and even though she was a bit upset that she couldn't participate, she still planned on making the most of the night.

'Let's take the girls to my room and then you are free to enjoy the evening,' Sarah told her, resting one of the babies baskets on a free table.

'Are you sure you don't mind watching over the girls? I know how much fun these quizzes can be…'

'Anna, not at all! Now stop fretting about it. I will have much more fun with these two angels.' Sarah gave her a sincere smile, that helped assuage Anna's guilt. 'Oh, William is with Archie in the kitchen, by the way. I just saw him there before I went to get you.'

'Of course he is. He's my little chef, but…' Anna chuckled as they headed to Sarah and Caleb's quarters. '…isn't Archie participating? I thought he was.'

'Oh, he is, but he wanted to make some sandwiches first, just so there's something to eat later, with the boiled eggs, pickled onions and beer.' Sarah explained.

'Oh good, that's a great idea.'

The two women entered Sarah's parlor with the girls, and it didn't take them long to rest the baskets on the floor. Anna explained to Sarah what she should do in case something happened. The twins would probably cry for food later and Anna planned on taking a break from watching the quiz to feed them. William would join his sisters before the game began, as Anna thought it wise not to have a little boy wandering around the pub so late at night. He would probably fall asleep anyway.

'Don't worry, Anna. They're in good hands. I'll come and get you if I need something,' then Sarah shooed her out.

When Anna returned to the pub, she found John sitting at the bar, having a chat with Sam, Caleb and Daisy, giving them instructions for the night.

'You aren't playing, Anna?' Daisy exclaimed rather surprised when she saw her friend approaching them. She knew too well from their times as servants at Downton that Anna always loved these sort of things, and how good she was.

'Mr Bates thinks it best that I don't, he said it wouldn't be fair,' Anna gave John a rather fake sweet smile.

John rested his forehead in his hand thinking, Here we go again.

'Why ever not?' Caleb asked.

'He's afraid I'll win,' Anna explained.

'And people would say the pub owners cheated and knew the answers,' John added.

'You don't even know what the questions are! I mean, if Anna answered right and she won, it wouldn't be cheating,' Daisy reasoned.

'And if she didn't win I would have to go home with a very upset wife…so for everyone's sake, it's better if she only watches.' John looked over at Anna who was shooting him a look. 'Maybe we can organise another quiz just for our friends and you can be in that one,' he said with a smile, trying his best to stay on his wife's good side.

The problem was, Anna Bates did love quizzes and puzzles and working things out more than anything, she would venture to say, even more than bonfires. But she was an adult after all, of course she knew John was right and of course she could control herself and just watch…surely…

The quiz began shortly thereafter, as the teams were settled and seated at their tables. Caleb asked the first question.

'Queen Mary…' Anna whispered to Archie about seven questions in, coughing afterwards to withdraw attention. When the young chef looked over his shoulder at her and she winked, trying her best not to be caught.

But her husband had his eye on her, as he knew this was going to happen. So, he walked over her and discretely murmured in her ear, 'I know what you are up to.'

Anna gasped when she heard his words, bringing her hand to her chest as she did so. 'You gave me a fright!' she told him in a low voice.

'I know what you are up to, Mrs Bates,' he insisted, shooting her a serious look from under a furrowed brow. 'Stop it.'

'I am up to nothing…I am just watching,' she said calmly as she looked ahead, avoiding his judging gaze.

John nodded then, giving her arm a tiny scolding squeeze and she chuckled before turning serious again.

'I'll be watching you, my love,' he warned as he walked away, smiling and nodding politely at people around him.

True to his word he watched her from his place behind the bar. She could feel his eyes on her each time a question was asked and whenever she looked at him he would raise his brow at her.

They sat down together later, as the quiz continued, watching as everyone thought hard on the answers, but at the same time, they could see how much people were enjoying this night.

'Oh John, this one is too easy,' Anna said sipping at her tea and shaking her head, and her husband could only chuckle. 'That one is…'

'Anna…don't.'

'All right.' She crossed her arms, trying her best to control herself. 'Who came up with these questions anyway?'

'We all did, except Archie' John answered, looking around the room. 'Daisy's calling me…and you are warned.' He stood and took a couple steps toward the former kitchen maid. She wanted to know what time she should bring the sandwiches out and if she should make tea or if beer was enough. There were ladies there after all.

'William Shakespeare.'

'Anna Bates!' John moved fast and put his arm around her waist, pulling her up to the bar where they could speak better. 'You did it again.' He hissed, trying his best not to be heard by anyone but her.

'I was just helping Archie.'

'That's cheating, Anna. What if someone sees you.'

She pursed her lips, unamused. 'You should have let me play.'

Damn, she looked so pouty and cute. John smiled then, shaking his head lovingly. 'Do I need to send you to your room? Lock you up with your children in Sarah's parlor? Just like a naughty little girl?'

Anna chuckled.

'What a story that would be. Anna Bates, sent to her room because she couldn't control herself and cheated on a Pub Quiz,' John teased her.

Anna sidled up to him, rather seductively, John thought.

'Well, I wouldn't mind being sent to my room,' she began, pretending to adjust his tie with both of her hands.'…if I was locked in with you..' she whispered.

John did a double take. What? What had she said? Was she…was that a…she just had two babies a couple of weeks ago. She couldn't possibly be…Could she?

But before Anna could say anything else and before he could make sense of her words Daisy was calling him again and Caleb was announcing the last ten questions of the night.

That's when his wife licked her lips and smiled at him, telling him that Sarah was over there, calling her, maybe because the babies were hungry.

She turned to walk away then, but not before looking over her shoulder and blowing him a kiss.

John just stood there for a minute watching her backside as she crossed the pub.

Later that night when they arrived home, exhausted, they put their children to bed and were fast in joining them in dreamland. It wasn't until the next morning that Anna's words from the previous night came back to John.

She had to have been joking, teasing him…after all, those intimate matters still had a few long weeks before they could be addressed…and it had already been seven weeks. This was all difficult enough without her tempting him.

'Oh God help me,' he moaned, getting out of bed to ready himself for the day.

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

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