Sadly we don't own John & Anna Bates, we just gently use them. Eamon, Will & the twins Do belong to us, however.

Your Shipper hearts are safe with us

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John Bates ~ March 29th, 1928 1:10 pm

I may have just had one of the most humiliating days of my life, and believe me; I've had my share.

Today the village council members held our monthly meeting in the banquet room. It's time to start planning for our Summer fête already, and because it was such a success last year, I was chosen to organize the whole thing once again.

Anyway, the meeting went reasonably well. Everyone had agreed to their assigned tasks - Lord Grantham would see to providing the pony rides, Mr. Carson said he wouldn't mind handling the children's games, our new mayor, Mr. Bostwick would open the fête and pass out the prizes. And even though Mr. Mason and Mr. Moseley are not on the council, they've generously agreed to run a pig riding contest, and a poetry contest.

The meeting had adjourned, and all but a handful of the members had left the room, when…

x

'Hi, Daddy. Hi, Mr. Earl, sir!' Will walked in with a big jar of the biscuits Anna had been making lately and sat it on the long banquet table. They are rather good, so I offered one to his Lordship and took one for myself and asked Will to fetch us a fresh pot of tea. Will just stood there with a quizzical expression on his face.

'Go on, lad. Find your Mum or Sarah and ask if they can freshen up our teapot.'

'But, Daddy...'

'Please, son...'

'Okay, but Mummy won't like it much,' and with that, he left to find his mother.

His Lordship and I had resumed our seats and were nibbling on the biscuits, both remarking on how tasty they were when we heard from the doorway, 'Oh my Lord!' and saw Anna standing there with her hand over her mouth, and a horrified look in her eyes.

"What?' I asked.

'Good grief, John! You're eating the dog biscuits again - and you're feeding them to his Lordship!'

'What?' I exclaimed. His Lordship echoed, 'What?' and immediately spat the remains of his into his handkerchief.

'Anna, how could you let this happen?' I declared. 'You saw me eating these a few nights ago and never said a word!'

Will was practically on the floor in fits of laughter at this point. Lord Grantham, for his part, was motioning for the teapot Anna held in her hands, his eyes popping and his hand to his throat. Mr. Carson, who was still in the room, rushed to his Lordship's assistance, glaring at me as if I had deliberately poisoned the man. He grabbed the teapot from Anna and poured a cup for his Lordship, but alas, the palsy chose that moment to rear its ugly head and he spilled it all down the front of his former master.

Mr. Carson, the poor man, was devastated and had to be lead to a chair and sat down. Will was still having a laughing fit, and it looked as if Anna was about to join him when she pulled herself together and helped his Lordship off with his sopping jacket and waistcoat. 'I am so sorry, your Lordship,' she said, once she trusted her voice to speak. 'Yes, you and John did eat a dog biscuit, but I promise you, they're perfectly safe. I only make them with oatmeal, applesauce and eggs. Nothing else. Why John's been sneaking them all week, and he's perfectly fine,' she finished with a sweet smile on her lips.

'Anna! Why didn't you tell me they were for the dog? For heaven's sake!' I said, maybe a little too loudly, but I was shocked by what I was hearing.

'Have you really, Bates? Have you really grown an affinity to dog biscuits?' Lord Grantham shook his head in disbelief, a smile growing wide on his face and a full-blown guffaw about to explode from his mouth.

'I had no idea, milord! I've been tricked as well, ' I tried to explain. I could hear Anna snort, beside me.

Once his lordship's cackling had subsided, he added, 'I'll not let you forget this, Bates. They are tasty, rather.' And with that, he offered one to Mr Carson. His offer was declined.

In the end, Will sold the whole jar of those amazing, dog trick inducing biscuits to his friend, Mr. Earl with a handshake and the promise of a sale every month if they worked as well on Tiaa as the did on our Jack. On his way out the door, his jacket and waistcoat over his arm, I thought for sure I saw him pop another biscuit into his mouth.

Anna looked up at me and smiled. 'Well, all's well that ends well.'

'Don't say that to Mr. Carson.'

xxx

Kittens

12:10 am March 30th

'What the...Anna?' John called for her in the middle of the night. His voice hoarse and sleepy, his eyes trying to pierce the darkness. As usual, Anna was spread all over him; her right arm had just been flung across his throat. He was sleeping on his back, she on her belly, with her knee poking into his bladder, her breathing raspy against the pillow...and that incessant meowing. He had to insist.

'Anna?'

'Hmmm…'

'Can you hear that?'

'What?' she raised her head and asked him, still half asleep.

'The kittens won't stop meowing...and think I hear movement.'

'Let them be, John,' she replied, dragging her words lazily.

'But I can hear them moving across the room, Anna.'

'John, the kittens don't walk yet, don't be silly.'

'Can you…' he tried to shift in bed, but it was almost impossible. 'Can you move off me? Can't you hear it? Let me turn on the light. Move, Anna.'

She moved, stubbornly, with an annoyed sigh, turning on her side with her back to him.

'Anna, look!' He poked her shoulder. 'I knew it!'

'What?' Anna sat up, blinking and rubbing her eyes. Then she saw it too. Lily, the newly named mama cat, was carrying one of her kittens in her mouth back to the cabinet. Charlie was at the door, waiting for her. Two kitties were already inside.

'Why is she taking them back there?' John wondered, confused.

'Aw Lily,' Anna rose from the bed and walked toward her; John followed. Lily shrunk back, resting her baby gently on the floor. She was still a bit shy and scared of these new people of hers. 'Don't you like your box?'

The box. A sturdy cardboard box right beside John's nightstand and under the window. It was lined with a comfy blanket and was deep enough so no kitten could escape or fall.

'It's a great box!' John stated, taking the other two babies from the cabinet. Charlie was eyeing him attentively, a skeptical look on his face. 'Don't worry, Charlie, I won't do any harm to your babies,' he assured the new father, rubbing one of the kitties against his cheek.

'Let's put them back in the box,' Anna suggested.

But that didn't last for long. As soon as they placed the kittens back, Lily tried to take another one out with Charlie's help.

'No, no, Lily. Don't take your baby out,' John said, and both mother and father sat down looking at the two humans. Their faces weren't very happy, and the babies meowed urgently missing the heat of their parents.

'Hmm...I think they love the cabinet too much, John. Maybe...we can keep the clean laundry somewhere else.'

'What do you mean? Give them the cabinet?'

'Yes. It's Charlie's favourite place, and I think she feels safe there too. Cats love hiding places, and that's a perfect place for that. We could leave the door slightly open, and they can come and go whenever they want.'

'Charlie even knows how to open that bloody door,' John shook his head.

'It's the perfect solution then,' Anna smiled, running a hand over Lily's head. 'Let's take the blanket from the box and put it there.'

'Where do you want me to put the ironing?'

'In the bathroom cabinet for now. I'll take care of it tomorrow.'

'All right then.'

While John stored the laundry in the bathroom, Anna put the blanket inside the cabinet, all cozy and welcoming. When John returned to the room, both took the baby kittens and placed them where their parents had demanded.

'There, what do you think, Lily? Fancy that?' As soon as John spoke, Lily got in the cabinet, licked each of her babies, taking care not to step on them. She circled twice and laid down, finally content. All was well in her world.

'Well, I think that answers to your question. Lily is a happy mummy now. Oh, and you too Charlie, you are a happy daddy,' Anna said as Charlie bumped his head against her leg, demanding a nose rub, before jumping inside the cabinet and settling beside his girl.

'One happy family,' John said, watching as the kittens suckled contentedly while Charlie watched over them.

'Let's go to bed, John. It's time for us to settle now.'

'Indeed! I'm ready for more kicks and pokes.'

'Whatever are you talking about, John Bates? I don't kick and poke you.' Anna shot him a look as they got into bed.

'Oh, you do. All night long. I'm not complaining, though…' he winked. 'Well, maybe a little.'

'You cheeky, come here!'

He reached for her then and pulled her close, kissing her passionately.

'Sleep well, John,' Anna whispered, burying her face in the warm crook of his neck.

'You too, my Anna.'

And the rest of the night was peaceful for all.

xxx

March 30th, 1928 4:20 pm

I took the afternoon off so Will and I could plant his little pea patch, bless his heart. He's really excited about that. But that done, he ran back to the hotel when John mentioned he was going up into the attic today because he remembered seeing an old mirror up there he thought would look wonderful over the mantle in the pub. For Will, that was a chance too great to be missed, for who knows what other treasures are to be found? I've never been up there myself, but John says it's packed full of trunks, old furniture and bric-a-brac.

So while my boys are off on their treasure hunt, I'm sitting here in John's easy chair, watching my baby girls trying to crawl their way to the big front window. And when I say crawl I use the term lightly. Fee gets to where she wants to go by shuffling on her little bottom and kind of scoots her way to her goal. Finnie slithers on her tummy, looking like an adorable inchworm as she makes her way across the room. Will crawled in the normal way and I've never actually seen anything but this, but I was talking to other mothers in my sewing circle, and I'm told it's very common. I need to keep an eye on them like a mama hawk now, or they'll surely be out the door. We now have gates at the top and bottom of the stairs because it looks like they'll be trying to climb them any day now.

Since they've begun pulling themselves up, standing has become their favourite pastime. Hanging on to the sofa, or a chair or anyone nearby them. They'll stand at a window as long as their little legs will bear and squeal at birds on the lawn or Jack rolling in the grass until he spies them and comes over to lick the window pane, a big grin on his face. Their world is growing larger every day.

I see John has mentioned me tricking him into feeding Lord Grantham dog biscuits. After I got over my initial horror of watching his Lordship wolfing them down, I did find it quite funny. John was mortified, however, and I fear we nearly killed poor Mr Carson. Thankfully, Lord Grantham is an affable gentleman with a good sense of humour.

It's been a very busy couple of weeks here, what with Spring cleaning at the hotel and Easter, last Sunday. Easter is a favorite time in the Bates household.

After Good Friday services, as tradition dictates, Sarah and I planted our parsley and potatoes. But I don't think this makes much sense as the date changes every year, so the crops might not grow as well! Still, tradition...

We all love colouring Easter eggs and that includes John and me. Of course, this year it also included Granddad and even Percy, because his granny doesn't celebrate Easter. Will was thrilled to have his friend there, John was not so much, but he did concede.

We all had several eggs to colour. Turmeric added to boiling water makes a beautiful yellow egg. We used red cabbage for blue; spinach leaves for green and red onion skins for red. The girls sat around the kitchen table with us and watched, mesmerised. We had a grand time. I told Percy if he got back over here bright and early in the morning he would find that the Easter Bunny had hidden the eggs in our garden. He looked like he didn't buy that but, at least, he didn't say anything, except that he'd be there to get his share. And he was.

I need to stop. Time to feed the girls and get them down for their naps so I can fix dinner, cottage pie, a nice custard tart and of course, boiled eggs.

Anna Bates ~

xxx

O thou with dewy locks, who lookest down

Through the clear windows of the morning, turn

Thine angel eyes upon our western isle,

Which in full choir hails thy approach, O Spring!

x

It was another glorious day. The temperature was mild. Happy yellow daffodils were standing proudly out of the greening grass. Migrating birds were returning from their Winter homes. Anna stepped out of the back door, lifting her face to the sun, 'Ah, I love Spring,' she murmured.

Will had heard this before. 'You already said that mum,' he voiced for the third time on that afternoon. 'You keep saying it over and over again.'

'But that's because I do love Spring! And I can't get enough of it.' Anna giggled as she rested a tray on top of the garden table; four tea mugs and a steamy teapot.

'Four mugs?' Will asked, kneeling down on the grass playing with his boat, a huge green ocean to sail. Jack was snoozing in the shade. Fee and Finn found themselves trapped behind a brand new, fancy fenced in area, purposely made for them, to avoid any escape. They did try to climb out of it, pulling themselves to a standing position with their strong little arms, but they soon gave up and settled to play with their toys.

'Dad and granddad are coming too. It'll be a family tea garden party or something like that,' Anna explained. 'No, girls, you can't come out of there just yet.'

'Why not? They don't like the fence,' William said, looking sadly at his sisters.

'I have to take the cake out of the oven. I don't want them to scoot away while I come and go. Just a few more minutes and they can crawl around the garden all they want.'

William shrugged his shoulders, not quite understanding the fuss. He could very well take care of them while mum was away, but that wasn't allowed. He had asked before. Apparently not even big boy is allowed to take care of babies.

He walked over to the pen. 'I wouldn't like being there either.' Will wrinkled his nose, watching as his sisters tried again to find a way over the fence. 'But mum says you have to...if I take you out I'll be in trouble. Anyway you can't drool all over my stuff from there, can you?'

'Or my stuff for that matter.' John came from behind his son, catching the boy by surprise.

'Dad!' William turned to face him, his heart racing, and a grin spreading across his lips.

John chuckled at the boy, running a hand through his blonde hair. 'Where's mum?'

'She's checking on the cake. It's cinnamon.'

'Cinnamon?! That's my favourite,' Eamon said, sitting down in one of the chairs. 'She always makes my favourite things. Bless her heart.' He stretched out, enjoying the sun on his face.

'Your favourite things, also happen to be my favourite things,' John mentioned. 'She made it for me.'

'Can't accept she likes me, can you? But she does.'

'Oh, I know she does, all right. We wouldn't be here if she didn't like you so much.'

'True. Good thing she's as stubborn as you are then.'

An endless bickering between father and son. Will liked this, he thought it was funny, especially when Eamon cursed.

'Mum's more stubborn,' William stated a moment after. His boat had found a port near sprouting daffodils. 'She always gets what she wants. That's what dad says.'

'And that's the truth.' John nodded. 'Now, look at my girls all trapped inside that awful fence. Poor loves. Let's get you out, shall we?' He walked over to Finn and Fee and the babies immediately stretched their arms to him.

'Mum said if we don't keep an eye on them they will be found down by the river bank. I reckon they wouldn't though, they only scoot,' William said.

'Don't you underestimate the power of scooting son. Especially when we are talking about energetic little girls like your sisters. They're as determined as your mummy.'

John took Finn first, only because she was closer to the fence. Fee wasn't at all pleased. Once her sister was out and crawling in the grass, little Fee let go with a wild scream, followed by a pouty whimper

'They could pull themselves around for days without rest. I bet they could,' Eamon said, watching as John took the other girl out of the pen and placed her on the ground.

The little girl's whimper had turned into a laughing fit as she tried to catch her sister on the grass. 'I wish I had half their energy,' their granddad stated. 'Makes me tired just watching them.'

'They get that from their mother,' John said, and their efforts. They were heading in Jack's direction.

'Anna scoots, laughs and squeals?' Eamon asked with a chuckle, winking at William as he did. The boy tried to suppress a giggle.

'I mean they rarely grow tired like their mother.' John shook his head.

'I hope you're only saying good things about me,' Anna commented, walking out of the house with the cake in her hands. The air was filled with the smell of hot cinnamon and lemon zest.

'But of course!' John exclaimed.

'Oh, the cake!' Eamon sat up, watching closely as his daughter in law placed the plate next to the tea tray.

'Your favourite,' Anna smiled.

'Thank yo -' John and Eamon said in unison, eyeing each other before finishing their thanks.

'John, Will and Father's favourite,' Anna continued. 'That's what I meant.'

'I want a big slice!' William jumped up, running to the cake as fast as he could. She gave him the biggest slice, so big he could barely hold it. That didn't mean he wouldn't be the first to finish, though, and to ask for more.

'You took them out.' Anna told John as she watched the girls drag themselves along the grass, squealing in delight and picking up every little leaf they could find. 'They were begging me to, but I'm so scared they'll take off when I'm not looking and get hurt.'

'They are hardly that fast, Anna,' John assured, walking behind her and wrapping his arms around her middle. 'And there's no holes in the garden for them to fall into.'

'Still, I worry.' Anna leaned her head back on his shoulder, and his grasp tightened gently around her. She felt his lips on her neck next. 'And don't kid yourself, John Bates...I can barely keep track of them sometimes. Look at them go...'

'They can finally move on their own; they are excited about it.'

'Jack's in for a treat, poor boy.'

Fee and Finn finally reached for the dog, clutching at his fur and laughing loudly at each other. Finn took one of Jack's ears, inspected it carefully and brought it to her mouth. Fee was enamoured by his tail. It wagged and every time she tried to grab it, it escaped her grasp.

'He loves them,' John declared, smiling at the scene.

'Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Bates.' It was Percy calling from over the garden walls. 'William Bates!' He called, finding a gap between the bricks and pulling his tongue out for his friend. William answered back just the same. John rolled his eyes.

'Hello, Percy!' Anna cheered. 'Wouldn't you like to try the cake that I made?'

'Oh yes, Mrs. Bates! I would like that very much!'

Percy round the corner of the cottage in an instant, not wanting to miss this opportunity.

'It's cinnamon cake,' William said with a big grin.

'Oh, that's my favourite! I want a big slice…' The older boy took a moment to think of his manners, and slowly, he hid his hands behind his back and smiled all politely. 'Please.'

'Of course,' Anna smiled.

'Oh it's a good cake, it is. Better than granny's!' Percy devoured it eagerly, 'and it's baked all the way through!'

'So, tell us, Percy, how may we help you today?' John asked, not entirely comfortable about the boy's presence there. He remembered too well one time when Percy asked him if he was Long John Silver's cousin. The little...

'I came to ask William if he wanted to take a walk around the village, and I promise Mrs. Bates that I will take my responsibility on...that I will take care of Will. Tell her.' Percy elbowed his friend.

'Oh, yes!' William cleared his throat. 'Percy saved me from stepping on cow's poop the other day.'

'I did.' Percy nodded proudly.

'He stepped in the poop himself instead,' Will explained.

'Still got some under my boot.' The older boy proudly showed everyone the evidence of this true story, lifting his foot in the air. 'Granny said I would have to scratch it out myself, but I don't really want to do that.'

John grimaced looking away, taking the opportunity to sit down on a chair beside his father, while Eamon held back a chuckle, bringing one hand to his mouth, trying to swallow the piece of cake he had been chewing before he choked on it.

'You two…' Anna shook her head with a giggle. 'Go on then, if you don't want to eat anymore. But please, come home before dark.'

'Don't worry Mrs. Bates. Oh, and Mr. Bates? I tried the dog's biscuits too…I can see how you got fooled. They're really good!'

'I…' John did try to defend himself, but it was too late. The two boys had ran off as fast as they could. An exciting afternoon in the village awaited them. 'I didn't get fooled...that child.'

'I'm really beginning to appreciate Percy. Yes, he's a little rough around the edges, but he really watches out for Will,' Anna said, sitting down with the two men after serving the tea.

'I know I don't like his granny,' Eamon voiced. 'Mouth like a sailor, I may have already said that but it doesn't hurt to say it again.'

'He's...he gets in all sorts of troubles, Anna. He steals from Mr Brent's fruit stalls; he called old Harry a little…' John took a deep breath before whispering. 'A little shit.. and he swears and spits on the ground,' he continued. 'Mr Mason said he took two piglets from the pen and made them race each other. The poor man found them near the Abbey, cold and hungry.'

'I know all that but, he has a good heart,' Anna tried to reason. 'He just... he needs to be tended to, and he needs rules. His Granny is too old to handle such an energetic young boy, even if she cared to do it. We know her son gives her enough to worry about.'

'That George chump…' Eamon spat out angrily. 'Always tries to drink without paying. Had to tell him I would go after his teeth next time he tried to leave without being seen.'

'And he beat Kevin Taylor so bad the man had to spend a week in bed. That was last year,' John added. 'I hope he doesn't take his anger out on the boy. I haven't seen any signs of it, have you, Anna?'

Anna shook her head, 'But I'll watch for it now.'

'Troubled family, I reckon,' Eamon nodded.

'That's exactly why the boy knows no better.' Anna said, shooting both a look. 'If he lives among all that how can he learn?'

'It's genetic, those things. Bad apple doesn't fall far from its tree.' Eamon stated before drinking the last of his tea, but that sentence did make John think. It doesn't fall far from its tree but...maybe with a good wash, and some polishing can be as tasty as any other fruit.

x

Later in the day, Eamon and John walked back in the cottage. Dinner time was fast approaching, and the nights were starting to come slower upon them.

'Where's William? Shouldn't he be home already?' John asked his wife as he helped her set the table. Eamon was sitting down on a chair, babbling silly nonsenses at his granddaughters.

'Well, well, well…' Anna rested her hands on her hips. 'Weren't you the one who said a boy should be allowed to get off his mother's skirts?'

'I did, but it's almost dinner time.'

'I said before dark, it's not dark yet,' Anna reasoned, but deep inside she was starting to worry too.

'Oh! There you are!' John smiled at William but failed to notice the real state of the child.

'We were just talk- ' But before Anna could finish her sentence, William's face was already buried in the fabric of her skirt, his arms around her waist and his sobs muffled. 'Whatever is the matter, Will?'

'Percy...' William managed to say between his cries.

'What did he do this time?' John crouched beside his son, as worried as he could be, running his hand up and down Will's back.

'Knew that lad was a bad penny, I did!' Eamon remarked, turning to watch the scene, a disapproving expression on his face.

'Percy's uncle…' William cried. 'He's a kitten drownder. Percy told me all about it.'

'Ha! Didn't I say?' Eamon scoffed.

John shot the old man a look. 'Father, please.' It wasn't time for being petty now.

'William, Percy was only joking- ' Anna tried to calm her son down, but nothing would do.

'He wasn't! He said his uncle puts kittens in bags and throws them in the river,' William explained, feeling sick to his stomach. 'How could someone do such thing?'

The adults eyed each other, not knowing exactly what to say.

'Where's my kittens?!' William insisted, cleaning his tears with his sleeves.

'Where they always are. Our kittens are safe, Will,' John promised.

'But what if Percy's uncle breaks in the house during the night and steals them? He's done that before.'

'Percy's uncle steals kittens?' Eamon asked quite surprised.

'No! Breaks in houses, in other villages where people don't know him,' William cried. 'But what if Percy tells him we have kittens, and he wants to drown them too!'

'That won't happen, William, all right?' John reiterated. 'That's why Charlie brought Lily to have their babies here because he knows they couldn't be in a safer place.'

'Yes…' William nodded. His father's words made sense. His mother's hands were gentle against his cheeks, wiping away the remains of tears.

'Now, go wash your hands, my angel.' Anna smiled at her son, kissing his forehead. 'Dinner's almost ready.'

But dinner wouldn't make William feel any better. There was a fear inside him that refused to go away. His beloved kittens were only a week old. So fragile and defenseless, even in the care of their parents. William hated Percy's uncle, more than anything.

It was later that night that John found the boy sitting in front the old clean laundry cabinet, his eyes fixed on the nursing babies and the mother cat, who would lick each of her little ones with care and dedication. Charlie sat beside the boy, knowing that pets and nose rubs would never be in short supply when Will was around.

'What are you doing here?' John asked, sitting down with his son.

'I'm watching over the kittens.'

'Don't worry, son.' He wrapped one arm around William's shoulder, bringing the boy closer to him. 'We will watch over them all night while you sleep, all right?'

'I'm not sure I should be friends with Percy no more...how can I trust the nephew of someone who's a kitten drownder?' William wondered aloud, troubled.

'Son…' John sighed, 'It's not Percy who drowns kittens, is it? In fact, Percy loves them, didn't he say so?'

'Yes.'

'I don't think Percy would ever do such vile thing. He's not a bad boy.'

'I thought you thought he was,' William looked up at his father in surprise.

'Well…' And indeed, John was surprised too. 'Not in that way he's just...a rebel. But, he has a good heart. You wouldn't like him otherwise, would you?'

He squeezed William's cheek gently, smiling, trying to cheer up the boy. Will nodded, chancing a small grin.

'Two men drooling over cats? How sweet is that?' Anna came into the room, admiring the scene before her.

'Oh, yes, we're sweet like that,' John said, hefting himself up off the floor.

'Will you tell me a story, Daddy?' William followed him; his mood had improved. His father's words always made him feel better.

'But don't I always do that?' John chuckled, mussing the boy's hair. 'Go to your room; I'll be there in a minute.'

'Goodnight, Lilly, goodnight Charlie, goodnight babies. Mum and Dad will keep you safe,' Will said as he tucked them in. After that, the boy was out of the room, leaving his parents alone.

'Sometimes you still surprise me, you know,' Anna whispered, approaching John and wrapping her hands over his shoulder.

'Do I?' he smiled, bringing her closer to him.

'Oh yes...I couldn't be prouder to be your wife, and I know that our children couldn't have a better father.'

'Anna…'

She kissed him then, slow and tenderly, letting her hands roam down to his chest while his came to came to rest at the small of her back. One kiss led to another, but before they could lose themselves, she broke them apart, her eyes bright and a cheeky grin gracing her features.

'Go tell your son a story, Mr Bates, and don't make it too long. I'll be waiting for you in bed... in your favourite nightwear.'

'Naked? Oh, you racy woman,' he said with a wink, "It most certainly will be a short story, I promise!'

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Just John & Anna Bates, living their happy life, no more, no less. If you enjoyed it please review. It makes our day. :) Handy-for-the-bus & Terriejane