AN: Thank you for taking the time to read this chapter of The Journal. We don't own John & Anna, we just gently use them. We do however own, Eamon, Will, The Twins and Percy. Please, if this chapter brings you a chuckle or a case of the warm fuzzies, drop us a review. It makes our day. :) Handy & Terriejane

~ Exhausted ~

Anna Bates was exhausted, that much was for sure, from the moment she woke up, until the time she collapsed in bed at night.

It was breakfast for the family, two boys running back and forth, two girls teething, crawling, trying to walk around. The kittens were on the move too, jumping on things, getting under feet, using her potted plants for their personal potty.

Then it was dinner at night - a banquet, more like. Two grown men eating their weight in food, two young men trying to match them, the babies making a mess in their high chairs and down the front of their clothes; bath time, and then everyone was off to bed again.

The hotel and pub were just entering the busy season, so that meant John wasn't home to help out much, although he did try, bless him. He'd help with the evening dishes or do them completely. He'd cuddle the fussy twins. He'd do anything he could to help, but the fact was, John was tired too.

Time to herself was rare. Time for her husband was impossible to find. They were both so beat at the end of the day; sleep would come faster than a flash, and when morning came, it was time to repeat everything all over again.

'Finnie, my poor darling.' She now sat on the settee with Finn whimpering in her arms. On the floor, Fee was doing just the same. 'My poor darlings...I'm so sorry. What can I do? Tell me. Tell mummy.'

But the girls only cried and fussed, trying to get anything they could find into their mouths.

'Mummy needs to do the dishes from breakfast. Do you want to come with me? Come with mummy, all right?'

With practised ease, she balanced both girls in each of her arms, and walked to the kitchen; Lilly the mama cat was already waiting for her on the counter. Anna sat the girls in their high chairs, dragging them near her so she could stand at the sink and tend to the babies if needed.

'There, you can see mummy, how lovely,' Anna cheered, clapping her hands together, doing everything she could to improve her daughter's moods, but nothing seemed to do. Finn and Fee pouted sadly, their eyes the epitome of suffering. Oh, her heart grew tighter in her chest, as the complaints increased.

She set to work on the pile of dishes, filling the sink with warm water as Lily watched her every movement.

'I know you understand, Lily...your babies are a handful too, aren't they? And they refuse to eat solids! They only want your milk,' Anna said, and the mama cat purred as if joining in the conversation. 'Cheeky beggars, but who can blame them? There's nothing like a mama's warmth and love, is there?'

Outside the window, she could hear Percy and William playing happily in their treehouse, and when she looked to the right, she could see her husband, through his opened office window. He was writing at his desk, his glasses sliding to the tip of his nose, a focused expression on his face; the very image of handsomeness and hard work. That put a smile on her lips.

Butter the canary sang, from his cage, the flowery garden adding to his inspiration. It was a lovely day; no clouds, a gentle breeze and a pleasant temperature. Summer was indeed just about to begin. The babies seemed to have grown quiet until...

'MAMA!' Anna turned around to see its source. 'Mama!'

'Finnie? Oh my goodness.' Anna brought her hands to her face in amazement. 'Did you call mummy, Finnie? Did you, my love?'

'Mama!' It was Fee's turn to cry for her mother, her arms stretched out, begging to be held.

'Oh, my precious.'

Anna wrapped her arms around both girls, kissing the top of their heads as she did. 'You are so, so smart...but you need to say daddy now too,' she managed a giggle. '...or he'll be so sad.'

'Anna?' Speaking of the devil. 'What's wrong? I can hear their cries from my office. Are they all right?'

John came in at once, walking quickly to his daughters, making sure they were well.

'They are. The poor darlings gums hurt so bad. They even have a bit of a temperature. They'll be all right, though,' Anna said, smiling at him. The girls began to calm down as soon as they saw their daddy and reached their chubby arms for him.

'My poor loves,' John cooed. 'Daddy's kisses will make it all better, hm?' he said, leaning to kiss his babies, and even managing to get a few giggles from the two, before facing his wife again. 'Need help?'

Anna shrugged her shoulders, chancing a look at the sink. 'I have dishes to do, babies to take care of, soon those boys will run inside to eat. I have to dust the cottage, change the beddings, oh look…' At that very moment, three kitties ran from through the garden door down the hall and up the stairs, their hisses echoing through the house. 'I have to make sure my potted plants stay poo free. Do you still want to help?' She folded her arms and winked at him.

He chuckled before suggesting, 'Why don't you put the boys to work? They could dust the house for you.'

'And interrupt their fun?' The two looked out of the window then to see Percy and Will playing without a care in the world. 'I couldn't do that. Maybe later if they get bored, I'll tell them to help me peel potatoes for dinner or something.'

'Listen,' John said, walking to her and resting his hands on her shoulders. 'I'll tell them to see Archie about a ham sandwich for lunch. They can eat in their treehouse; they'll like that, and we can easily eat our dinner at the hotel too.'

'No, I want dinner to be at home. I like to cook for my family.' She smiled when he placed a sweet kiss on her forehead.

'If you insist... All right then,' he took off his jacket as he spoke and rolled up his shirtsleeves, looking around to check on the stack of dirty dishes next to the sink. 'I can do the rest of the dishes, and maybe help you with the beds in the boy's room, but then I'll have to go. I have five guests to pick up at the train station today, and paperwork to do. Today is delivery day too.

'I'll accept your help for as long as I can get it,' Anna said with a big smile. She walked behind him and tied her apron around his waist, then giving him a squeeze, she leant her head against his back. 'Maybe tonight we'll have more time for each other,' she whispered into the fabric of his waistcoat, making him shiver.

'I hope so,' he sighed, already picturing what he missed so much. But before his imaginings could get any further than a few kisses, one of the girls decided to speak up again.

'Mama!' Finn screamed, as if to say, I'm in pain! Hold me, not him!

'What on -' John turned around at once. 'Did she say mama?'

'Yes, they both did this morning,' Anna bit her lower lip as she gauged his expression. 'But come on, don't be sad…'

'I'm not sad,' John shook his head, eyeing his daughters. '...but…' he sighed, 'they can say, Grandpa…'

'John, they love you more than anything,' she assured him, taking his face between her hands. 'Even in pain, their little faces lit up when they saw you. You are their world, their favourite person ever. It's just... they say what they hear more, and here with me they hear more 'mama', and you know Father didn't rest until they said his name.'

'I know,' he nodded, managing a small smile. 'You're probably right. Let's get this dishes done now; I can't take too long.'

Had he been sad? Well, maybe a little, but soon enough 'dada' would be Finn and Fee's favourite word.

xxx

Will and Percy walked in the back door some time later. John had returned to work, the dishes done and put away.

They looked for their mother in the kitchen, but the found her in the parlour instead, dusting the furniture, a scarf around her head and her apron tied at her waist. The two girls were in their playpen, crying 'Mama' and begging to be held.

The boys watched the scene with attentive eyes. 'Mama? We're hungry,' Percy said hesitantly.

'Oh, you are? I thought your dad was going to tell you to grab a sandwich from the hotel kitchen,' Anna turned to face them, wiping the sweat from her brow and managing a tiny smile, like she always did, no matter how tired she was.

'Yeah,' answered Will, 'he did, but your food tastes better, Mum.'

'Uh-huh. Go wash your hands; I'll fix something for you to eat. I'm afraid I didn't have time for biscuits or a cake today. Oh no…' she grimaced, just now taking a look at the state of their clothes. 'What have you been up to outside?'

'Playing,' William replied, looking down at his dirty shorts.

'Dogs and cats. We were fierce dogs trying to catch the kittens for our lunch,' Percy explained.

Anna shook her head with a sigh, walking past the two babies crying for her in their pen. 'Just, don't sit down in here, all right? Take your shoes off out in the kitchen.' More clothes to wash later, ugh.

The boys did as she told them and soon they were sitting at the table, waiting for their food. Their bellies growling at the smell of ham and milk - exactly the same thing Archie would have fixed them.

'So, I made ham sandwiches and we have milk, how's that?' she questioned, placing the food before them.

'It's good, mummy!' William grinned up at her. 'Yours are better than Archie's.'

'Is that so? Tomorrow we can bake a cake…' Anna said. 'If I have time.'

'Why are the girls so fussy, mama?' Percy asked. Finn and Fee were trying to support themselves against the boy's chairs. Anything to call their attention would do.

'Their teeth are growing. Babies don't like it very much; it's painful. But mummy has to clean, and she has boys, young and old, to take care of, doesn't she?' Anna smiled to her daughters, but, as before, they didn't seem to appreciate too much.

'Poor Finn and Fee,' William sympathised.

'Yes, poor darlings. Now eat in peace, they'll follow me, I'm sure,' Anna said, straightening the scarf she was wearing to cover her hair. 'I'll be in the parlour. Call me if you need me.'

With that, she left the kitchen, leaving the boys eating, and as she had predicted, the girls crawled along behind her.

'Mama's so tired,' Percy sighed, before taking a big sip of his milk.

'Yeah, poor Mummy,' William nodded, his sandwich half eaten.

'She works hard, Papa does too, but mama has more people to take care of. She has the whole lot!' Percy replied.

'She does,' William agreed.

'Will!' The older boy slapped his brother's shoulder. 'I've got a brilliant idea just now!'

'What is it?' Will asked, his eyes big and his hand rubbing the place where Percy had smacked him.

'Remember what Archie was saying the other day? About the Best Mother's contest? That one he was reading in the paper?'

William gasped. 'The one he used to enter for his mum but never won!'

'Yeah, that's the one. All you have to do is to write why your mama is the best mama in the world, and if you write well enough you'll win! And you know what the prize is?'

'A maid! For a week!'

'Shsss,' Percy gestured for them to lower their voices, and William leant in so he could hear better what his brother had to say. 'Yeah, exactly.'

'We're good writers! We can both write it! We'll win for sure!' the younger boy whispered.

'We could. Grandpa could even help and all. He wouldn't say a word if we asked him...he likes secrets, he does. As much as Jack likes to dig holes where he's not supposed to,' Percy suggested.

'And mum would have a whole week to rest.'

'Yes! Now, we can't say a word about it. If we win, it will be a surprise, if we don't, she'll never know and won't be sad about it.'

'Yeah, you are right.' William rubbed his hands together. 'Let's go to the hotel after we eat and get the paper Archie was reading; we can see where to send it.'

'Let's do it! Mama's gonna be so happy.' Percy smiled, proud of his idea, downing the rest of his sandwich in one bite.

'Yeah, she will.' William did the same, and the boys ran up to the hotel to find that paper. Their idea was put into action that very day. Eamon promised he wouldn't say a word about it. Three days to write it and three more days to learn the results. In their minds, the contest was already won.

xxx

June 14th, 1928 3:15 pm

from the Journal of John Bates

I just realised how long it's been since I found time to write in the journal. To say we've been busy lately is an understatement. And poor Anna is busiest of all. It wouldn't be quite so bad if the girls weren't teething now, but they are. I try to help the best I can; it's never enough, though.

We have three more children than we did a year ago and a booming business to manage. I'm not complaining, well, maybe I am a little bit. Hopefully, Finn and Fee's teeth will pop through soon, and that will take care of one problem. Anna said Fee bit her while she was nursing her last night. Ouch! They just want to chew on something all the time, but not their mother.

I'm keeping a good eye on Will and Percy today. And my father, too, for that matter. They've all been acting a little sketchy this afternoon if you ask me. I don't know what they're up to, but even Archie seems to be in the know. Only time will tell.

The hotel is packed to the rafters. Sarah's asked me to think about hiring a couple more teenage girls to help with the housecleaning. I'll talk it over with Anna at dinner. I'm sure she'll agree.

If the business continues at this rate, we're thinking of remodelling and opening up the attic to more rooms. I took Mr. Grant, the local builder up there last week and he said it could be done rather easily. We could add six rooms and two bathrooms. But we'll see what the season brings. It would be a significant investment.

I need to get to the station to meet the four o'clock train.

~ John Bates

xxx

Much later that night, after dinner, baths and story times, and rocking two crying babies to sleep, Anna and John finally sat down on their bed with an exhausted sigh.

'I hope they sleep the night,' John said, running a hand through his damp hair. 'Poor babes.'

'Remember how it was with Will?' Anna said as she did her hair into a side braid. 'When he turned one he was still having trouble with his teeth…'

'Yes, I remember that. But with two...it's double the trouble. You're having a hard time with them.'

'I can manage,' she smiled at him, that joyful sparkle shining in her eyes. He winked at her with a chuckle and pulled back the sheets.

'Time for a good night's sleep.'

'Only that?' Anna teased, wrapping her arms around his neck as soon as they came together on their bed. 'Don't you remember what I said earlier?'

'I do, indeed! But I thought you were only joking,' he swallowed hard, looking down at their bodies. Her legs began to tangle with his.

'You know me well enough, John Bates. You know I don't joke about such things.'

'I should know that, yes,' he smiled, his hands roaming her body now, finding all those places he knew she loved to be touched.

'You should…'

Her muffled giggle soon followed, as John turned them in bed until he was on top of her. They kissed, slow and burning at first, their hands travelling each other's bodies.

'It's been so long,' she heard him whisper in her ear, his fingertips running along her golden braid. He looked down at her with fiery eyes. 'I've missed you, my darling.'

'Too long,' Anna told him, biting her lower lip. 'Almost two weeks.'

'More like, seventeen days. We have a lot to make up for.'

'Seventeen days? Really? You've been counting!' she laughed, pleased with his reply.

'Seventeen days, Anna. Of course, I've been counting.' John stripped his pyjama shirt off and tossed it over his shoulder; then he started on the top buttons of Anna's nightdress.

Every button undone exposed a new place for him to kiss...but that was only until he found her breasts, and Anna knew he wouldn't be caring about anything else.

She had been right, as she always was. John took his time, with his hands and his tongue, the sensations making her moan and gasp. Her legs moved around his waist, holding him there against her.

'Oh, John...that feels...so good.'

His answer was to suckle her with renewed vigour, one of his hands moving down her body, to touch her where she began to ache, where he wanted to be, so badly. John faced her again then, kisses slowing, just a break for what was yet to come; his hardened manhood was pressing firmly against his trousers and her, and he took the opportunity to tease her even further, rubbing against her lazily, until she begged him for more.

'Take them off, John.' Her fingers began to fiddle nervously at the waistband of his pyjama trousers. But there was still her gown to take off and her panties. As he made his move to slip off her nightdress, he felt a twinge of pain on his bare back. It burned like hell.

'Oh damn!' he cried out, stilling his movements at once. 'Get it off, Anna. Get it off!'

'Whatever is the matter?!'

He reached for his back, as best as he could, trying to shoo away whatever it was causing the pain. When Anna looked over his shoulder, she saw it: one little kitten digging his thin, razor-like nails into her husband's back.

'Just get it off my back, Anna. But gently, it's nails are dug right in.'

She did as he begged, but not without a tiny smile on her lips.

'Cheeky beggar,' she said, taking the kitty in her hands. From the floor, three others were trying to jump on the bed as well. 'You are a bad, bad boy.'

'Cheeky beggar? Bad, bad boy?!' John cried again, sitting on his side of the bed and trying to see if he was bleeding. 'Devil cat sounds about right. Am I bleeding?'

'Goodness!' Anna exclaimed as she held the baby cat against her chest. 'You have four...no five! You have five big scratches, but it's not really bleeding.'

'Dammit! It's burning like Hell,' stretching his arm, trying to rub the pain away.

'He was just playing with you,' Anna tried to excuse the kitten. 'They don't know they hurt.'

'Yes, but they do, a lot!' John complained. 'We really should move them out of our room, and we should start finding homes for them too.'

'Now, that will be difficult to do.'

He eyed her. 'But it has to be done… Damn! It was going all too well; I knew it. We're always being interrupted.'

'I know…' Anna sighed, putting the kitten down on the bed. The others had climbed up by then, and the four were now playing with the wrinkles of the sheets. 'But you can always pretend those scratches were done by me.'

'Not quite the same, love, but I wish!'

They laughed together.

'Look how they play,' she said, moving her feet under the sheets. The four babies went mad, trying to chase it. 'They're so sweet.'

'You'll change your tune if they latch their nails into you. All right, all right. Off they go! Let's sleep then.'

'We'll move them out tomorrow, and we can try again,' she suggested, resting her head on his bare chest as they settle in bed to sleep.

'The children will cry or have a nightmare or something...you can almost bet on it. This is it, Anna. We won't be able to make love ever again.'

His drama earned him a smack. He would be proven wrong the very next night.

Next week - We know Anna's the best mum in the world, but will does she win? Will they find homes for the kittens? Will the Twins teeth pop through? Will poor John ever have sex again?