August, 13th.1927 ~

I had an odd encounter this morning. I bumped into Mr. Molesley, not that that was odd, but what happened next certainly was...unexpected, at the very least. He was sitting on a bench outside the Post Office with his nose buried in the morning paper. And he was so intent on his reading that he didn't see me coming. When I sat down next to him to chat for a moment he actually let out a yelp and shoved his newspaper down to his side, out of my view!

When I joked about him reading the Agony Aunt column he began to stammer and grow pale, as only he can. After a minor hesitation, he slowly pulled out the paper and with a shaky hand pointed to a particular letter.

How did you know? he asked.

Well, I didn't, I was just joking. You wrote this? I said, as I skimmed the letter. A letter asking advice on how to go about wooing a lady friend. The writer professing to have no experience at all with the fairer sex. None, as in...well, none.

I was at loss for words, as the poor man seemed to be looking to me for advice. Never? I said.

Mr. Molesley just shook his head, solemnly and whispered, I promised Mother. I know you've seen more of the world than I have and you being married to Anna and all...Could you advise me, Mr. Bates?

If only he hadn't looked so sincere and so sad...but he did. Even though I knew the answer, I asked, Do you have a particular lady in mind?

Oh I do! Yes, I do! He lowered his voice again before continuing. It's Miss Baxter. We've been friendly of course for years, but I just lack the courage to take that final step, to...well, you know?

He looked at me like I actually did know. Luckily I was saved from giving him an answer because at that exact moment The Reverend Travis walked past and this caused Mr. Molesley to break out in a sweat and look very guilty, indeed. End of conversation. Praise the Lord!

As I bid him good day I suggested he bring Miss Baxter to the Pub to dine soon and I would think about what he shared with me and try to help him. Advise him. He seemed most grateful. What have I gotten myself into?

I might need to seek Anna's counsel on this.

~ John Bates

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My girls are behaving so good for such young babies. They only cry for food and a change, and they don't really cry that often, and it's more a whimper than a cry really. William was so much more fussy than they are! Thank God for that! I thought I was going to be pulling my hair out having two at once. I was proven wrong and I couldn't be happier.

It's still hard when I have to feed them though. I have trouble feeding both at once, so when one is eating the other is fussing and I do feel bad about that. Thankfully, John is always popping around to check on us and it happens to be usually when they are hungry...I think he has their 'scheduled' memorised in his head so he can help me. But I told him that he needs to do his work without worrying about us. I can manage! He just smiles at me and I know he won't stop, but I am glad for that, truth to be told. It's wonderful to know you can count on someone to help you always and even better when that someone is your husband.

Speaking of John, something was up with him at lunch today, and tea too, for that matter. He kept looking at me like he wanted to discuss something. I asked him, but he said it could wait. Oh well, I'm sure when he's ready he'll say.

I've bragged on my girls and my husband, now I shall brag on my boy! William must be the best big brother ever. He's always trying to help me with the girls. And you'll never guess what he did today. He changed a nappy for the very first time this afternoon, with my help, of course but he did rather well for a little boy his age. He was so proud of himself and I was too. When John came home for tea Will couldn't stop talking about it.

John will be arriving home for dinner soon. William is playing with Jack while Charlie watches them from the window sill, as always. Finn and Fee are asleep and should be for a couple more hours. Hopefully until I get the dinner dishes washed. Time now to finish this and pull the roast from the oven and set the table.

~ Anna Bates

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Before he even walked in the back door John smelled dinner cooking and was greeted by a smiling Anna. She was usually waiting eagerly for him and sometimes it made his heart take a tumble to realise that after all these years, she was still as in love with him as she was in the first time she declared her feelings.

After a kiss or two or even more than that, Anna told him to wash his hands and sit down for dinner. Then mother, father and son ate their meal, talking about the day and laughing over some funny thing William had done.

John was anxious to speak to Anna about the problem Mr. Molesley had presented him with that morning, but certainly not with his son there. He decided to wait until they were alone in their bedroom, with the girls asleep and no one else to hear to them.

'What's wrong?' Anna asked, some hours later, watching him through the vanity mirror. His expression was troubled as he sat in the edge of the bed,he fiddling with his fingers .

'It's just...' he pursed his lips, looking over at his daughters in their cots, sleeping as peacefully as the little angels. Keeping his voice low he said, 'I saw Mr. Molesley today.'

'What's so wrong with that?' Anna furrowed her brow, turning around in her chair to look at him.

'Nothing's wrong about seeing him but...it's what he said.' He thought for a moment, before patting the bed beside him, and she joined him there. 'As I sat with him he, well..he started talking about...Miss Baxter.' John tried to relax but something was making his ears terribly hot. What's wrong with you, John Bates? Anna is your wife! Why are you so shy about bringing this up? he thought.

'And…?' Anna encouraged him with curious eyes. Mr. Molesley and Miss Baxter were sweet on each other, everyone knew that.

'Well...he...' John let go of a desperate sigh before continuing. 'He wanted some advice on...um...making a woman happy, you know?' He looked at her hoping she did know.

'Oh!' Anna exclaimed, rather disappointed. 'That's all?'

'That's all?!'

'I thought it was something bad or perverted even,' she chuckled. 'What did you tell him? You know how to be romantic. You'd be a good adviser on matters of the heart.'

'No, no...Anna,' John shook his head. 'Not the heart. He was asking advice on matters of...' he looked around them and in a very low voice he whispered, '...a sexual nature.'

'What? You told him you'd advise him on lovemaking? That's what has you so...flushed? Why did you offer to advise him if it upsets you so? John...'

' I didn't offer anything of the sort. He asked me first. He pleaded almost.' The red from John's ears had travelled down to his neck. Beads of sweat formed at his hairline. 'What am I to do, Anna?'

She rolled her eyes at him. 'Really...I thought it was something horrible. You are strange one, Mr Bates. I didn't know you were so … prudish.' She couldn't help but laugh.

'It's not funny and I'm not prudish. So, he asked me about it...Anna,he promised his mother he wouldn't...you know...until...well, he...he hasn't.' John face was beet red and Anna's smile was spreading deliciously across her lips. She's enjoying this too much, he thought to himself. 'The point is he asked me for advice and I don't know what to tell him!' He had raised his voice for a moment before remembering they the babies were asleep.

'You don't know?' Anna asked rather amused. 'Well...you have three children, I am sure you know, at least a little bit.'

'Anna...I don't know how to tell him about it. What do I say? You women are so much better at speaking about these things.'

'Do you want me to speak to him?' she asked, surprised.

'No! Oh God no! Not that! Just...tell me how I should tell him.'

'Well...you start,' she began as one of her hands travelled up his arm, reaching his shoulder and squeezing the skin beneath the fabric of his shirt. 'When a man and a woman love each other.'

Her smile was that smile she only had for him at times like this, when they were alone in their bedroom, and he had to swallow back a moan as she kissed him just under his ear. 'They want to be together in the most private way possible. Just the two of them, alone, learning how to touch...' the kisses moved across his neck as she spoke, 'and feel...and...' Her hand proceeded down his body and rested on his thigh. He could feel the heat building up with every word and touch. His trousers were suddenly so tight and his breathing almost painful.

That's when she kissed his lips and stood up from the bed to resume brushing her hair, just like that, and he was left to sit there looking at her, a quizzical expression on his face.

'What?' she giggled at her own wicked ways as, through the mirror she saw where his desired... stood.

John sighed and looked down toward his lap forlornly.

'I am sure you can manage Mr. Molesley by yourself. After all...there's no better man to ask for advice in such matters.' Then she rose and walked back to him, 'You know it's too soon for some activities, Mr Bates, but maybe I can help you out with that.'

John looked up and smiled. 'Oh yes, Mrs. Bates, I believe you can.'

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

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

Thank you for reading :) please review!