A/N: Once again, thanks to everyone that is reading this story. I see the hit counter ticking up and I know that readers are still following this tale. I'm thinking of updating twice a week now that I am connecting all of the individual parts I've written.

Also, would there be interest in more stories about the Bates'?

Without further eloquence, here's Chapter 8.

Chapter Eight

"Here, have a sip," Robert invited once John had calmed down.

John gratefully sipped the water and leaned back in the chair. "I apologize, that was…"

"Natural," Robert replied. "You've been through Hell these last couple days, it's no wonder. Take another sip then go splash some water on your face. It won't do for them to bring you to Anna and you worry her right off looking a fright."

John nodded in agreement and took a few more sips of the water before rising. Robert could see pain flash in John's eyes as he struggled up. Robert knew the only cure for this was sleep, but John wouldn't hear of that. Truth be told, if it were Cora fighting for her life, neither would he.

Back at the abbey, Mrs. Hughes announced the update to an anxious staff. "Her ladyship has just hung up with Lady Mary and Anna is out of the surgery and will be in her room soon. The baby is doing well so far. Dr. Clarkson hopes they will both do well."

"Oh, that's good news," Mrs. Patmore gushed. "Has Mr. Bates and his lordship said when they will come back?"

"Her ladyship didn't know about that only that his lordship won't return until Mr. Bates is settled. I'm hoping they will both be back tonight. Little Johnny and Maggie will miss their parents."

Upstairs in the nursery that was precisely what was happening. Tom had his hands full with both of the Bates children as Nanny felt a different hand might be more soothing to them. What they didn't realize was that Sybbie had inadvertently caused Johnny to be upset. His upset had trickled down to his little sister and then Sybbie, feeling awful for speaking out of turn, had started to sob. Tom had one Bates child on either knee and Sybbie tucked under his arm, all three in tears.

"I didn't mean it, Daddy," Sybbie sobbed. "I just said what you told me about Mummy."

Johnny had been telling Sybbie, George, and Caroline that his Mummy was busy letting the baby in her belly be born and that he was going to be a big brother again. "I'll get to see my Mummy when she's finished, and Maggie too!" Johnny had informed his friend.

"You might not do," Sybbie said a bit absentmindedly. At ten, she understood her words and actions had consequences, but she never thought an off handed comment would cause such a stir. It simply wasn't in her nature to be cruel. "I didn't. My Mummy went to Heaven when I was born. I never knew her at all. You'll have to be brave if your Mummy goes to Heaven too. I'll help you be brave for Maggie."

Then it started. Johnny melted down in tears, Maggie took up after him, and Tom was in need of a new shirt for all the tears that had fallen on his present one. "I know you didn't mean to hurt Johnny and Maggie's feelings, love. Not all Mummies go to Heaven when they have their babies. Aunt Mary and Aunt Edith didn't."

Sybbie nodded, "No, they didn't but everyone is always saying Mummy was the sweetest spirit in the house, a kind and proper lady. Mrs. Anna is too, a kind and proper lady like Mummy."

Tom could see where Sybbie got confused. He remembered that conversation with Cora, how Sybil was her gentle baby girl and the older two were made of sterner stuff, at least on the outside. Anna was as Sybil was, gentle and true, outside and in, but with a quiet reserved strength that allowed her to appear to be quite delicate.

"We will talk about that later, Sybbie," Tom replied gently. "Now, Johnny, you listen to me now. Your Mummy is a sweet and proper lady that is true. What is not true is that all sweet and proper ladies go to the fairies when they have a baby. Mummy didn't do it when she had you or Maggie, did she?"

Johnny wiped his face with his sleeve and shook his head no. "All right then," Tom said in the surest tone he could muster. "No reason to believe it'll be different now then is there?"

Johnny shook his head and looked at Maggie, "I think it's okay now, Maggie. Mummy and Daddy will be home soon and we can go to the cottage and read stories with Daddy."

Maggie smiled, her emotions predicated on her brother's reactions. Tom couldn't help but laugh when Maggie let out a sharp "Hoo Ray!" and slid off his lap to play with dolls with Caroline.

John's cane clicked on the floor as he approached Anna's room. Robert had spoken with Dr. Clarkson citing the Granthams ongoing patronage over the hospital and her ladyship's presidency as reasons to secure Anna a private room. John would have as much access to her as he would like in the early days.

John felt sick as he approached the room. He had seen Anna after giving birth before. He had seen her tired, pale, sore…sad, happy, scared, everything under the sun, but nothing they had been together ever prepared him for this.

Anna was lying on her back, her golden hair loose and splayed over the pillow forming a sort of halo. She had been bathed and changed since her arrival, her pale skin, though, was sallow and the under part of her eyes dark.

What struck John most was how small she looked. Anna had always been slight, short and small boned, but he never saw her as frail before. The hospital bed seemed to swallow her whole. John got closer to Anna's side. He could hear her breathing. It was shallow and very fast. Hypovolemic shock was what the doctor called it. The solution was fluids apparently, an IV line attached to her left hand.

They didn't have things like this when he fought the Boers, at least not as reliable and safe. He remembered men being shot, bleeding nearly to death, or recovering only to die from infected IVs.

John reached down to take Anna's hand into his. It was cold as ice. John reached his free hand forward and ran it along Anna's cheek. It too was cold and clammy, unnatural and unhealthy.

John sat down heavily in the armchair by the bed and cradled

Anna's small hand in between his two larger ones in an attempt to warm it.

There was no noise save Anna's quick breathing. Her body was eerily still, just the rise and fall of her chest was all the movement there was.

"Oh my darling," John murmured as he held her hand. "I'm here, love. I'm here and you're going to be okay. I promise, we are going to get you through this.

"Our baby is here. You worked so hard and she is a fine little one. She's Elizabeth Charlotte like we agreed. I got a chance to hold her before they took her away. She's such a tiny bit of a lass. I have never been prouder to be a father or to be your husband than I am now at this moment."

The door to Anna's room opened then and John jerked his head up to see who was intruding on their time together. A young, short blonde haired man appeared in the doorway. John could tell by his dress he was a doctor.

John moved to rise but the young man waved him back down. "Keep your seat, Mr. Bates. You are John Bates, are you not?"

John only nodded his affirmation.

"I'm Brian Cooke, I'm the pediatrician that is treating your little girl," Dr. Cooke greeted. "She had a bit of a rough start I'm sorry to hear, but she is doing fine now save for a few injuries she sustained during birth."

John felt his stomach drop. "What sort of Injuries?"

"Some minor bruising along the sides of her head, from the forceps, a broken collarbone, and dislocation of her right shoulder. All of which will heal, all of which are normal for a child born with this complication."

John remembered a dislocation he had received in the Army. It was one of the most painful things he'd experienced at that point in his life. The very thought of his precious little girl feeling that in her first hours of life sickened him.

"Is she…I mean is she in pain?" John asked.

Dr. Cooke shook his head. "No. We adjusted the shoulder and the collarbone will heal on its own. She's had a bottle already and a wet nappy so all of that seems to be in order."

John could read body language well and this young doctor was nor good at hiding anything. He was the easiest read John had seen in a long time. "But?"

"But we don't know if there will be more repercussions from her traumatic birth. We don't know if she sustained any injuries to her brain while your wife was struggling to birth her. It's something we cannot know until she grows some and we see if she keeps time with other babies her own age."

John shut his eyes. "And if she doesn't? What then?"

"We will have to see and determine what functions and skills she has," Dr. Cooke replied. "She may very well be on schedule. Dr. Clarkson says there wasn't a huge time lapse between the head descending and the actual delivery. Babies are resilient, keep faith in that."

John looked at this childlike children's doctor and scoffed at him. "When can I see my daughter again? My wife needs to meet her new one and I should be as involved as I can be in her care."

"I can have her brought to you for her next bottle. Will that be acceptable?'

John gave a curt nod. "Yes, quite," he replied.

John stepped away from Anna only long enough to inform Robert of the baby's condition. "I'll be all right now. She's still sleeping, might do for another day. Once she wakes and can understand me, perhaps Lady Mary could…or her ladyship while I see the children and change clothes?"

"Of course," Robert replied. "I'll head home then. What should I tell Nanny to say to Johnny and Maggie?"

"Just let them know they have a sister and that Mummy is very tired just now and needs to rest," John advised. "Johnny will react strongly, in tears or anger, and Maggie will simply accept it and move on."

"There's no denying they're your children," Robert laughed. "Just call in a while, let us know how they are doing and what, if anything, you need us to do."

"I will," John replied. "Thank you, m'lord." They were in public, nurses hurrying to and fro, doctors barking out orders, the proprieties had to be observed.

The two men shook hands, then Robert took his leave. He peered into the small window to be sure John was being honest, that he truly was all right. He saw his friend holding Anna's entire upper body against his as if trying to warm her. He had done the same many times for Cora and he would do so again. For now, he would go home and hold his wife, thanking God he never found himself as John was now when his daughters were born.