A/N: We hope you enjoy this chapter of The Anna & Mr Bates Journal. We don't own John & Anna, but we love them as much as if we did. We do own Eamon, Will, the twins, and Percy. Terriejane & Handy-for-the-bus welcome your reviews. They make our day. :)

For Good & Proper

Friday, April 29th ~

From the moment John climbed out of bed, wishing he could stay with Anna, who was still sleeping soundly, he knew this was going to be a very long morning.

He washed, dressed and took his breakfast quietly; a glass of milk and a piece of toast, reading the documents one last time. Documents that Mrs Dolan would have to sign, and that he needed to take to the hospital before nine. The time had been settled with a local solicitor and now it seemed so far off. He looked up at the kitchen clock. 7.10. At moments like these, he hated his habit of rising so early. These two hours would take an age to go by so he decided to take out the Journal and record his thoughts.

x

Friday, April 29th ~

If I'd been asked a month ago to predict where we'd be today...I would not even have come close, because today is the day we officially take custody of Percy Dolan, hopefully. I have an appointment with my solicitor to see his granny in two hours. I must admit I'm a bit worried about meeting with her. We will be asking her to sign a document giving Percy over into our care, permanently. I think she'll sign. She's been heard many times saying she wants to be shed of the boy. I don't think there'll be a problem, but I also don't think she's the most rational person around.

I know Percy wants to be with us and he's happy here, but Anna tells me he goes quiet at times and he's mentioned his granny's name almost wistfully. The woman treated him horribly since the day he was born, but I don't think he honestly ever realised it. It's just the way his life was.

Anna and I have vowed to never speak ill of the woman in front of Percy and I've had to take my father aside a couple of times to stem a tirade against her. Whatever else she is, she's his grandmother and the only real family he's ever had. And she is a tie to his mother.

Will is as happy as I've ever seen him. This is all like a dream come true, as far as he's concerned. Oh, the plans they have for the summer! I'm sure they'll have their squabbles, they always have, but that's normal with siblings.

One morning last week I watched them from my window in the office. They were looking up as they walked around the old cedar tree which lost its top to a lightening strike last Spring. I'd been thinking about having it taken down, but we've been told it was over five hundred years old and I hesitated to do that. And now it was obvious to me that they were planning something. Possibly something dangerous. I decided I should check up on what they were plotting.

x

'Morning, boys. What are you up to?' I asked, walking up behind them and causing them to jump and Will to hide something behind his back.

'Oh, hey Mr Bates! We're...uh….'

'What's that behind your back, Will?'

'Hey, Daddy…,' and he showed me a magazine. I don't know where they found it. It was folded open to a picture of a treehouse in a tree similar to the one we were standing under. 'Will you build this for us. I told Percy how good you are at building things.'

'Yeah, Mr Bates! That would be really great!'

I took the magazine from Will's hand and studied it for a minute. By this point, both boys were hanging on me and jumping up and down. I shook them off and began circling the tree.

'Can you do it, Dad? Can you? Me and Percy will help,' Will was fairly shouting with excitement.

'Hm, I think I can. Not as fancy as this one, but, yes. I can do this, with some help from Caleb and Archie, and you boys, of course. It might take a few weeks, but it would put this old tree to good use. There's quite a bit of lumber left from the gazebo. And we'll need to check with Mum first, but I don't see why not…'

Every boy needs a treehouse and I am no exception.

x

Another thirty minutes and I need to leave for my meeting.

Percy will be starting back to school on Monday. That's causing Will no small amount of anguish. He wants to go so badly - almost as much as Percy doesn't. What a pair they are.

We'll have to watch Percy like a hawk to making sure he doesn't start skipping school again. To that end, Will and I will walk him to the school gate and Anna and the girls will pick him up. I'll speak to Mr Molesley about keeping an eye on him at lunch. Lunchtime, in the past, has been when he usually made his get-a-way. This might seem overly cautious, but we need to set down some rules for him. Still, at heart, he's a free-spirit and probably always will be.

Anna thinks he's been picked on at school before, about his disreputable uncle, surely, but also on his appearance, his shoddy clothing, all nothing the poor lad could help. So, tomorrow we're going shopping for new clothes which he needs desperately.

Time to put this away and walk down to the Cottage Hospital. Wish me luck. Things are changing and they're changing fast.

~John Bates

x

'Mr Bates, right on time.' The solicitor greeted him, tipping his hat in a respectful manner.

'Good morning, Mr Wells.'

'Ready to have things settled before noon?' the man asked him, with a cheery smile.

'Oh yes, I'm more than ready for that.'

They walked inside the hospital, where Doctor Clarkson met them right away, showing them to Mrs Dolan's bed. 'This seems like a good time to see her. She's alert and as reasonable as I've seen her, which isn't saying much. She'll be leaving tomorrow,' the doctor said. 'We've found a home for her.'

'That's good,' John nodded, relieved.

'It will do her better than staying here. She can't take care of herself any longer. Her heart is weak, she gets very tired whenever she walks. The death of her son nearly did her in,' Clarkson explained as they walked along the hall. 'And, well...she says there's nothing here for her. We found a place in Lancaster, she's from there.'

'That's a long way!' John exclaimed, quite surprised.

'Yes, it is but that's what she wanted. She said she wanted to go back home. She only came here after marrying. Her husband was from York.'

'I see…'

'Mrs Dolan,' Doctor Clarkson went ahead as they neared her bedside, and with a calm voice he said, 'How are we doing today?'

'We? I feel like I'm dead, that's how.' The old woman spat out the words in annoyance. 'No better than tomorrow, I assure you. No better than the last few years either.'

'Oh, I'm sure you are better, Mrs Dolan, the nurse was saying you walked a bit last night,' the Doctor tried in vain to cheer her up.

'I had to drag myself, to do it, that's what I did. Oh! Do I have visitors now?'

'Don't you remember, Mr Bates?' The Doctor placed a hand on John's shoulder, as he smiled down at the old woman.

'Mr Bates…' She eyed him from head to toe, sneering, 'I do, yes. The bloke from Grantham Arms.'

'The gentleman who's taking care of your grandson, Mrs Dolan,' Clarkson replied in an almost scolding manner.

'Ah! Taking care…as if! No one could care for that child. He's the devil, all right.'

At her words, John had to hold his tongue and take a deep breath and shake away the feeling of parental protection washing over him. Who did she think she was? How could anyone talk about a child like that, least of all her own grandchild? Now he knew why his father said what he did about this woman, and why the boy was the way he was.

Doctor Clarkson noticed John's distress and tried to move things along. 'Mrs Dolan...'

'All right, but he ain't good, I tell ya. He's got the blood of his grandpa in him. That man was an evil piece of shit.'

That's when John spoke, trying as best as he could not to sound too harsh, after all, she was nearly old enough to be his mother and she was not the sanest person to ever walk the earth. 'I assure you, Mrs Dolan, Percy is a good lad, we are very happy to have him with us.'

The woman narrowed her eyes as if to size John up. 'You're happy to have him with ya? You're a fool then, and you should have taken him in sooner! Would have spared me some trouble, it would. Had enough on my plate with my...George.' She began to sob then, and from her sleeve, she took a handkerchief that she brought to her eyes. 'That boy robbed me of my daughter he did. My sweet, darling Olivia. An angel on earth, she was. Took after my very own mother, may God give them peace. That whelp killed her on the day he was born. Oh, my poor girl...my poor Olivia!' the woman wailed.

'We're here for you to sign a document, Mrs Dolan,' the solicitor spoke at last. '...giving one Percy Dolan over to the care of Mr and Mrs Bates. Do you sign it freely?'

Jeanette Dolan's head snapped up. 'Oh, I do! Give it here, I'll sign your blasted paper. The sooner I get rid of that pest, the sooner I'll have a bit of peace in my life.'

The papers were signed, and John could finally take a deep, relieving breath. Memory took him back, to a time where he wanted Percy as far away as possible, a time much different from now. How things change, how unpredictable is life... now, knowing that the boy was in their care made him so him happy, and he couldn't wait to get home and tell everyone the good news.

But before going, there was something else he felt compelled to ask, and he took the opportunity to do so when Mr Wells and Doctor Clarkson stepped aside to talk to each other.

'Do you think your Olivia would like to hear you speaking of her son in the way that you do?' John asked, in a low voice. The papers secure in his hands. 'Do you think she would like you treating him so harshly?'

Mrs Dolan was silent for a moment, taking in John's words. Suddenly, he saw tears in her eyes again. 'I had her when I was forty-five, you know? She was my gift from God. Then that little...the likes of him...he's got her eyes, you know? Her hair, her smile...day after day, watching him grow so much like her, I couldn't take it. No one could! And I wouldn't take it. I'm not a forgiving person, Mr Bates. Maybe you are, but I ain't. I wasn't born for charity.'

'Not even for your daughter?'

'That boy, he killed her. That's it. And he can look like her all he wants, it won't bring her back! And now, even my George is gone. I just hope...I just hope I won't last too long either. I don't want to.'

'One last question, Mrs Dolan, then you'll not hear from me again.' John managed a sad smile. After everything, now he pitied this woman. This ignorant and miserable woman, who probably never knew what happiness was. Whose life had been as bitter as she was now.

'What's that then?'

'Who's Percy's father? The boy says he does-,'

'I'm tired, go away.' Mrs Dolan turned her face from him before he could finish. 'You have what you want now, don't you? Leave me be.'

'But-'

'Bloody hell, are you deaf?' she yelled, sitting up in bed, furiously gesturing for him to go. 'Get out!'

John stepped back and nodded his head. 'Have a good day, Mrs Dolan,' then he turned and walked away. That's the last he would ever see of Jeanette Dolan. They might never know who Percy's birth father was. For all intents and purposes, Anna and he were his parents now...and that's what really mattered.

xxx

Saturday, April, 30th

Saturday was the day Percy had been looking forward to the whole week! A day of shopping in the village - and it wasn't just any kind of shopping - but shopping for him.

'Boys!'

Anna called from the kitchen window; William and Percy had been spending their afternoon in the garden, playing with the kittens next to one of the big lilac bushes. They had asked Anna if they could bring the little ones outside, just for a bit, so they could feel the grass and enjoy the good weather of late; of course Anna had allowed it, and Lily seemed to be happy too, enjoying some sun on her shiny fur.

'Bring the kittens inside and get ready to go.'

They did as she said, carrying each two kittens in their hands, under the attentive eyes of mother cat Lily, who followed them inside right away.

'They loved it, Mummy!' William said with a big grin as he came in the door, Percy following behind. 'They even tried to walk and all!'

'Yeah! Pearly didn't leave my side though, she kept licking my fingers and my nose,' Percy told Anna. 'I think she loves me.'

'Of course, she does,' Anna said. 'They all do. Are you boys ready? Put your caps on, Daddy's waiting outside with the pram.'

'I can hardly wait to have new clothes!' Percy exclaimed. 'I never had new clothes before.'

'Well, you are going to have some now, so you can go to school all handsome.' Anna kneeled before him, brushing his thick hair with her fingertips and using a bit of saliva to mold one wild lock.

'School…?' Percy moaned, wrinkling his nose.

'School, indeed! Come here, Will, you have a smudge... here.' She then cleaned her son's cheek with her thumb. 'Clean boys are the best kind of boys. Now let's go before daddy grows tired of waiting.'

The boys ran out the front door where John waited with the twins all set inside their pram, and soon enough, the six were out and about in the village, entering the same stores where bought clothes for William and John.

x

'I think this one fits you perfectly, what you think?' Anna eyed Percy now, as he looked himself in the mirror. He was trying another pair of shorts; dark green ones with golden buttons.

'I like it! I like green,' the boy replied, smiling at his image. 'They look real good on me, don't they?'

'Everything looks good on a handsome boy like you,' she said, pinching the tip of his nose. 'It's settled then, we're taking these, and the brown ones, and the nice trousers for church, right?'

'Yes. And the shirts!'

'The shirts, yes,' Anna nodded. 'Now, all we need is a new pair of shoes.'

'New shoes?! That'll be grand.'

'Let's pay for this and see if the others are still waiting on the bench. Maybe we can sit down with them for a bit,' Anna said, taking the clothes they were buying. Percy would look like a new boy come Monday morning.

x

'How's it going? Bought everything you needed?' John asked, sitting on a bench under a hazel tree. William sat beside him eating a penny lick, while the twins were in their pram enjoying the view and people passing by.

'Yes. We need to buy shoes yet and then we're all done,' Anna smiled down at her husband, placing the boxes of new clothes on his lap.

John chuckled, 'I can go with him now, you stay with William and the girls.'

'Are you sure?'

'Yes! Why don't you buy yourself a penny lick? William's been saying how good they are.'

'They really are!' William nodded, closing his eyes in delight.

'Do you want one, Percy?' John asked.

'I want to buy my new shoes first,' Percy replied. Penny licks he could have another time.

'I'll go with him then,' John insisted, standing from his seat and gesturing for Anna to take it. 'You sit down and enjoy this beautiful afternoon.'

x

'What about these?' John pointed out a pair brown shoes, much like the ones William had. 'What? They look nice.'

'I wouldn't mind having ones like yours.' Percy craned his neck, looking up to the shelves.

'Oh, you wouldn't, would you?' John laughed, finding it funny that Percy wanted to look like him lately. 'All right then...let's see…' he looked around the shop, spotting the perfect ones. 'Ah! Here, try these on...how do they fit?'

'I like 'em!' Percy exclaimed.

'But are they comfortable? Where's your toe, let me see…' John touched the edge of the boot. 'I think they're good. Walk around a bit to try them.'

'They feel good,' Percy said. 'And they look grand, don't they, Mr Bates?'

'Oh yes, very grand, indeed.'

'I look like you, almost.'

'I reckon you do,' John smiled. 'Want those? All right then, let's pay for them and then buy you a penny lick, what do you say?'

'Yes! But... I don't want to take them off.'

'You don't? All right, but you'll have to show them to Mr Quentin, so he knows you're taking them. Come on, now.'

It had been the best Saturday ever! Percy sat on the bench with his best friend, enjoying a penny lick and wearing the best-looking boots he had ever owned. Anna and John were each helping a girl walk on the grass, and the sound of their laughter was happier and louder than all the other sounds in the village, at least to Percy's ears. He loved this family of his. His new brother and sisters, his new Mama and Papa.

xxx

Monday, May 2nd ~

… and when finally Monday came, Percy couldn't deny the excitement he felt. All right, maybe it was just due to the fact that he had new clothes for the first time in his life, and shoes, and a pretty notepad John had given him the previous day. Maybe it was also because Mr Bates and Will would accompany him to the school's gate. It was almost like he was a brand new boy, doing brand new things. Yes, he couldn't deny he was excited about it.

'Now, what do you have to do, Percy?' Anna asked him, as she as she made sure his cap was straight on his head.

'I have to behave…' the boy began to list what he had been told the night before. 'Can't swear. I can't call the teacher a dumb arse.'

'Good, that's good, what else?' Anna insisted. John and William listened attentively as they waited for him.

'Can't say shit?'

'That's part of swearing, Percy.' Anna shot him a look.

'Oh! I can't raise my voice and I can't leave the classroom without permission.'

'What about the other children?' John questioned.

'I can't beat them.'

'Exactly,' Anna said.

'But I only do when they make fun of me!'

'You should never do it, love,' she reasoned. 'If they make fun of you, you tell Mr Molesley and us, all right? Promise?'

'I promise.'

'Good boy!' Anna kissed the top of his head over his cap. 'Now, off with you before you're late. The girls and I will be waiting for you at the gate when you get out. And don't forget to eat the piece of cake you have in your lunch bag.'

'Will you hold my hand too, Mr Bates?' Percy smiled up at John. 'Just like you do with Will!'

'Of course, Percy. Let's go now.' John waved goodbye to Anna before taking each boy by their hand, and soon the three were walking up the path that led to the school.

From the door, Anna watched them go. She couldn't help but smile. It was the first time she sent a child off to school, and surprisingly enough it hadn't been her son, but somehow, she felt nervous and a bit sad. Well, she would have to get used to it. William would be going soon and her mornings would never be the same again.

x

'I wish I could go too,' William sighed as the school came into view.

'You don't know what you're talking about, Will,' Percy said, shaking his head.

'You'll go in a few months, William,' John spoke. 'And then you and Percy will see each other during lunch break.'

'I can't wait for it,' William stated.

'All right, here we are!' John stopped before the old building, spotting Mr Molesley by the door, greeting the children as they arrived.

'Good morning, Mr Bates! I'm glad to see you, and you Percy, and of course, William too.'

'Good morning Mr Molesley. How are you?' John asked.

'Good, very good. I was expecting to see you this morning,' Molesley smiled. 'Are you ready for today's lessons, Percy?'

'I won't say I am, 'cause I ain't,' Percy replied, averting his eyes from the teacher.

'Percy,' John squeezed the boy's hand softly, but in a scolding manner.

'Oh, not to worry, Mr Bates. What matters is that he's here and he's here to stay.'

Percy eyed Molesley with a scowl.

'He is, Mr Molesley, I assure you.'

'Do you know I am coming in a few months too?' William told the teacher. 'When mummy doesn't need me to help her with my sisters anymore?'

'Oh really? I'll be looking forward to that, young Will,' Molesley chuckled.

'Yeah! And I can't wait. I'm not like Percy because I really want to go to school.'

'Oh, I'm glad! That's not something we hear often.' The teacher patted Will's head. 'Let's go inside, Percy? It's time.'

'I suppose,' Percy shrugged his shoulders, before turning to face John.

'Have a good day, Percy. Behave, hm?' John advised and before he could react, Percy wrapped his arms around his waist, holding him tight.

'I will. I promise.'

John leaned down to the boy then, and taking the cap from his head, he placed a kiss against his red hair.

'Take your cap now,' he said, smiling at the boy. '...and go inside like Mr Molesley told you. I'll see you later, son.'

'See ya later, Percy.' William waved at his friend.

'See ya, Will,' said Percy, hanging his head as if on his way to the gallows.

'Uh, Mr Molesley…' John called the teacher aside for a moment. 'Don't let him leave without me, all right? Even if he begs. He knows I'll fetch him but...we're still teaching him rules.'

'Don't worry, Mr Bates. He won't go anywhere without you or Mrs Bates. I'll make sure of that.'

'Thank you. Have a good day, Mr Molesley.'

'You too, Mr Bates. William.'

Mr Molesley went inside after that, and John and William returned home. Much like Anna, John felt a bit nervous for Percy but also happy that the boy would now have a chance at a good education. And truth to be told, he really couldn't wait to see Percy later that afternoon and hear all about his day. The boy was already a big part of their lives, a very important one, and after being assured he would stay with them for good, the attachment began to take place. He was their child now.

xxx

Tuesday, May 3th ~

Hi, my name is Percy and Mr Bates said I could write in here just like Will does. He says it will help me with my spelling and make my letters better, and because I'm part of the family now. He told me to write from my heart. I'm not sure what that means, but I'll try. Mr. Bates is going to read it when I'm done.

I live with Mr and Mrs Bates now because Granny couldn't take care of me anymore. My mum's name is Olivia and she's beautiful and dead. She died on the day I was born. Mrs Bates says that it wasn't my fault, it just happens that way sometimes. She told me I look like my mum and she put Mum's photograph in a silver frame for me and put it next to my bed. And Mr Bates said we'll visit Mum at her grave and take her flowers every Sunday. I didn't know where it was before, but she's right across the lane from my new house, in the churchyard.

I sleep in a nice bed here. I don't think I ever did sleep in a real bed before. I share it with my new brother, Will Bates. He's my best friend. I have two little sisters and a grandad now too. He's kind of grumpy, and sometimes we fight, but I think he likes me. I like him.

Today at tea Mrs Bates asked me again what I want to call her and Mr Bates. She's like a mum to me now, and I love her, but it doesn't seem right to call her that 'cause I just met my own mum for the first time last week. I've been thinking about it though and I've decided. I'll tell them tonight at dinner.

I'll probably live here forever because Granny signed a paper saying I could. I'm glad. I like it here.

~ Percy

x

Tuesday, May 3rd ~

Hi, it's me, William Bates.

Percy's writing in our journal today too. He lives with us now and he's my new brother. We're going to have lots of fun! We were writing in our hide-out under the kitchen table but my dad said we had to come out and write at the table properly. So that's where we are now. He's sitting here too, drinking his tea. He'll check what we write.

Daddy and I have been walking Percy to school this week. I sure wish I could start school. I told Mum I'm ready but she say's she needs my help with the twins for a few more months and that I can start at the end of Summer. Percy says it's not very fun anyway and he wishes I could go in his place, but I think he might be saying that to make me feel better.

My pea patch is starting to grow! Mum says we'll be eating big bowls of them soon enough if Dad and I don't eat all of them raw first. They're so good.

At story time, last night Daddy said he was going to see about getting a bunk bed for me and Percy. He said he knows a man who might have one. That would be great but we both want to sleep on the top bunk. Mum said we'd figure something out. I think it should be me because I've been here longer.

Grandad's taking us fishing after Percy gets home tomorrow if it isn't raining. I sure hope it's not raining. When it gets dark, we're going to use Dad's torch and go out in the garden and look for fishing worms. There's some big ones in there!

It looks like Percy's done, so I guess I am too. I'll let you know how many fish we catch.

~William Bates

xxx

'Oh, that fish is smelling good!' Eamon said, sniffing the air around him as Anna placed the platter of fried fish in the middle of the table. 'And knowin' you caught them yourself makes it all the better!'

Eamon, William and Percy's fishing adventure that afternoon had been a success. The three of them had had headed for the stream as soon as Percy arrived home from school, with the important task of bringing dinner home and success had been theirs. They were now seated to eat a banquet worthy of a king, according to Anna, with fried potatoes, honey glazed carrots and bread and cheese.

'William and I caught that big one together!' Percy bragged, puffing out his chest.

'It was really heavy!' William added, opening his eyes extra wide to make his point. 'Percy and I caught almost all of them, didn't we, Grandad?'

Eamon didn't respond, he just continued eating.

'We did! And all by ourselves. I had to hit 'em like this…' Percy gestured how he had done it. 'And then they were dead. William didn't want to do it because he felt sorry for 'em..'

William nodded, pouting his lips.

'And you were acting like you caught them all!' John laughed, looking over at his father. 'Taking advantage of the boy's, I see.'

'Pfff...I didn't say that...and I was there telling 'em how to do it, which is as important as catching. There's a way to kill a fish, you know. It needs technique, I taught 'em that. Just because he caught a fish with his hands once, by accident, mind you,' Eamon rolled his eyes, 'he thinks he's the best fisherman around.'

Anna giggled at the usual bickering between father and son. Then looked right at them and said, 'Boys, please. Eat your food and quit arguing.'

'I wouldn't mind being a fisherman all the time…' Percy thought aloud as Anna placed his plate before him. 'Maybe I should be one. Maybe I should not go to school anymore and just go fishing. We could have fish for dinner every night, you know.'

William began to eat right away. The fish was delicious! 'Yum…'

'You are pushing your luck, son,' John shot Percy a look. 'You can go fish after school whenever you want, but that's it.'

'Yeah but…' Percy sighed, resting his elbows on the table to support his long face, and with his tongue, he tried to draw a piece of carrot from his plate into his mouth. 'If I went earlier I would catch more fish.'

'Darling, where are your manners! Sit up straight, no elbows, and use your fork…' Anna instructed. 'And John's right. School is more important than fishing, and that's that.'

'All right…' Percy replied weakly, bringing his fork filled with fish and potatoes to his mouth. 'But... I might take a rest tomorrow…' he tried to speak and chew at the same time. '...like I used to do. Only tomorrow... because I'm tired of school already.'

'Don't talk with your mouth full, Percy,' William told his friend.

'Exactly Will,' John smiled at his son. 'And I'm afraid you'll have to go, Percy. You won't be missing classes anymore. It's settled and you know it,' John told him.

'Ugh,' Percy moaned.

'There are rules we have to follow, son. And going to school every day without missing any class, is one of them. You'll thank me for it someday,' John reasoned with the child.

'But why...it's so boring?'

'I wish I could go instead,' William stated, looking downcast.

Eamon was as silent as a mouse, relishing the food before him. When he ate, the world would usually stop.

'Me too,' Percy continued his moaning. 'I could work at the hotel with you, and William could go in my place.'

'I already told you that won't do,' John insisted.

'Ah school…' Eamon sighed aloud, finally proving he was still there with them. 'Never liked going either. It's as bad as bad can be...'

'Father,' John scolded. 'You're not helping.'

'I wasn't finished yet, dammit. Always interrupting my thoughts. But Percy, it's a sacrifice worth making. Without an education, you ain't going far. See me, a sailor, a simple man. Why was going to school so important? 'Cause one day, the captain needed help with lists and counts and all that stuff, and he was as dumb as a door, so I said I could do it. I'm good at Mathematics and Writing, and next thing you know I was his right-hand man and earning more than all the others.'

'Is that true?' John asked, always dubious of his father's stories.

'Damn right it's true, and that's why I was able to send my wife and son all the money I sent so they could live a comfortable life.'

'See, Percy? Grandad is a good example of why going to school will help you later in life,' Anna smiled at the boy.

'All right, all right...I know I won't get away with it anyhow.' Percy gave in.

'You certainly won't,' John chuckled, mussing the boy's hair.

'Oh!' Percy exclaimed all of a sudden. 'Oh! I figured out what I'm going to call you now.'

'Oh yes? Tell us then,' Anna encouraged.

'Mama and Papa Bates, because you are Mum and Dad to Will, but I ain't like Will, not exactly, so I'll call you Mama and Papa because it's almost the same, but it's not quite. And my Mum is my Mum,' the boy explained.

'That's a very good idea, Percy!' Anna clapped her hands together. 'No more Mr and Mrs Bates then.'

'Nope.' Percy smiled, chancing a look at John to see if he had been as pleased as Anna.

'I like that just fine, son,' John told him. 'I like Papa much better than Mr Bates.' He winked at the boy with a delighted grin and their reactions made Percy's day, even more than fishing.

'What about me?' Eamon asked with a frown.

'Grandad, because I never had a grandad before. So I can call you that, can't I?'

'Oh, of course, you can,' Eamon chuckled heartily. 'As long as respect comes with the name.'

'Father,' John scolded him again.

'What?!'

'I'm very happy to be your Mama, Percy. Very, very happy,' Anna said, kissing the boy's cheek.

'Yeah, me too,' Percy smiled rather shyly. He was still getting used to Anna's odd need to kiss and hug her children. For him, it was still something strange.

'Let's finish dinner before it gets cold!' John suggested. 'William is winning, look at this plate!' William grinned at his father, before digging in again. 'And I heard there was a chocolate pudding for dessert, made by the best cook in the world, Mrs Mummy Mama Anna Bates.'

They all laughed at John's banter and began to eat. If this was going to be Percy's life now, he wouldn't mind the sacrifice of going to school. Oh yes...he could get used to all of this! And he certainly would.

x

Wednesday, May 4th 9:45 pm

I'll just take a few minutes to write this while John is finishing up with the boys. It took them a bit longer tonight to get to story time. I'll say more about that in a minute. And story time itself is taking longer too. John has been having Will and Percy read the dialogue, like actors in a play. The boys seem to enjoy being 'actors'. I just hope it doesn't get them so worked up that they can't sleep. Percy needs his sleep. He's not the easiest child to wake in the morning.

Things are going well. Percy's fitting right in. Will is the happiest I think he's ever been. Who doesn't want a big brother who happens to be your best friend? Of course, I know there will be jealousy and fights to come. They're already arguing over who will get the top bunk of a bed they don't even have yet. I'm pulling for Percy on this one only because I worry Will will start sleepwalking again. If John's able to get the bed for them I've come up with the idea of making curtains to enclose the bottom bunk. I think that will do the trick. You know how he loves crawling into his hideyholes.

I mentioned they got a late start on story time tonight. Blame the kitties for that...

x

I had the girls fed and put down for the night. I thought John was in the bathroom getting Will and Percy ready for bed. Not so, I walked into our bedroom to find John on the floor, on his knees, with his pyjama clad bottom facing me. There was a boy on either side of him in the same position. John was reaching for something under the kitten cabinet and Will and Percy were cheering him on and giving him directions. Lily, the mama cat was crying from inside the cabinet and Charlie was climbing on John's back, presumably to help.

'Get that cat off my back,' my husband uttered, twitching his shoulders as Charlie settled on the nape of his neck.

'What on earth is going on?' I asked, joining them on the floor.

'Anna! Oh, one of the blasted kittens crawled under here and doesn't want to come out,' John was getting frustrated. 'And his mama will howl all night if we don't get him back in his nest.'

'Which one is it?'

'I don't know. The grey and white one, I think.'

Percy looked at him, 'Yeah, it's Whiskers, Papa Bates. He's always getting in trouble.'

'Ouch! The little bugger attacked me!' John pulled back from the cabinet and sat up, 'Whiskers, huh?' he humphed. John was not at all happy.

That's when Charlie let out a reprimanding howl and the tiny furball emerged from under the cabinet. The daddy cat, who was more than ready for this drama to be over with, picked up his baby by the scruff of the neck and placed him back into to the cabinet.

John slapped his knees 'Well that's done!' and hefted himself off of the floor, then he held out his hand to me and pulled me up into an embrace, causing Will to retch and Percy to giggle. 'I shall return, my love,' he said, in his best Rudolph Valentino voice. Then he threw his imaginary cloak over his shoulder turning to Will and Percy, saying, 'Come boys. We have a story to enact!'

xxx

It took John longer than usual to come back to their room. Anna had the time for a good long soak in the bath.

She was sitting at her vanity when she saw her husband approaching her through the mirror. He had a mischievous smile on his face.

'My darling wife,' he sighed dramatically, kneeling down before her chair. 'I've missed you terribly these past few years we were apart.'

Anna eyed him for a second. 'All that acting you did with the boys has done some damaged in your head.'

'Oh, my love, my moon and stars...how I've longed for your sweet words,' he continued, wrapping his arms around her waist and leaning his head on her lap. 'The warmth of your body against my body. Your gentle voice against my ears.'

'Stop it!' she giggled, swatting the top of his head. 'You silly man.'

He looked up at her then, 'And the names you call me...how I love those endearing, sweet names.'

She rolled her eyes then, as he began to break into a chuckle. 'Is it all right with you if I brush my hair now?'

'No, you may not.' He straightened up, still kneeling before her. 'I'll brush it for you, my love.'

Anna smiled, handing him the brush. She loved when he brushed her hair, it was something so relaxing, so loving, something he had done on their first night in their old cottage. It had quickly grown into their before bed ritual.

'It's been some time since you last brushed my hair…' she said a moment later. Her lids began to weigh heavy under his relaxing touch.

'I know...that won't do,' he whispered, nuzzling his face into her hair 'That has to change.'

'Good,' she moaned, allowing her eyes to for a few seconds. 'You've been so wonderful, you know, with Percy.'

'Are you impressed?'

'I am rather...not that I thought you wouldn't be, but...you've been like a real father to him.'

'I hope so. I don't want the boy to feel he's treated differently because he's not our son.'

'He won't,' Anna assured.

John nodded. 'They were arguing about the bunks again.'

'And they will until we settle who's sleeping where. You know, in case Will ever sleepwalks again he should be on the bottom.

'And he won't be happy about that.'

'Ah, but I have a plan.' Anna continued, 'When we get them, I'll hang a curtain around the bottom bunk that he can close, for privacy. I think he'd like that.'

'I think he would. A tent for a bed? That will appeal to his sense of adventure.'

'And we should start thinking about the girls room. I was thinking I'd rather move the boys into the room at the end of the hall instead of the girls like we talked about. I hate to have them further away from us.'

'That's a good idea. And the sooner the better, then you can start hanging your girly, flowery curtains.'

Anna heard him laugh softly and turned to face him, putting an end to the hair-brushing. She then leaned forward to him and wrapping her arms around his neck she kissed him gently on the lips.

'Do you want me to braid it now?' he asked her when they broke apart.

'No...I know you like it better loose.'

'I do...I love running my hands all over your hair,' he said, touching the golden strands. 'It's so soft, so beautiful.'

'You will be running your hands all over more than my hair, I mean if you don't mind.' She bit her lower lip after speaking and that made him swallow hard in anticipation.

'I wouldn't mind, one bit,' he replied, rising to his feet and taking her with him. 'In fact, I don't want to do anything else tonight, other than, running my hands...all over you.'

He lowered her gently to the bed then, and she couldn't help but shiver when he joined her. His hands, as promised, soon found the hem of her nightdress, travelling up her legs and stopping between her thighs.

'Wait!' She stilled his movements with her hand. 'Lock the door, John. We have to be extra careful now.'

'Right!' John nodded, jumping off the bed and locking the door as fast as he could. 'All right, where were we?' he asked, joining her again.

'Here.' She took his hand, her eyes never leaving his, and guided him to where she needed him most. The rest stayed inside their bedroom walls. Walls that never witness anything but love, care, and passion. Here, it was just the two of them. For good, for proper, forever.