Chapter Sixteen

"I'm just so glad that Dr. Clarkson is giong to relax the rules a bit," Anna told Mary as they drove from the hospital to the cottage. "Mr. Bates has been exhausting himself trying to take care of the lot of us."

Mary rolled her eyes, "I told him when you went into the hospital that he should have you recover at Downton. There would have been more people to see to you and the children then."

"It wasn't Mr. Bates' fault," Anna acknowledged. "I wanted to go home, to our home, our bed, and you know Mr. Bates."

Mary nodded, "I know, Bates, and that man cannot deny you anything. He should have known better than to listen, though. He put himself through it, not you."

Now, it was Anna's turn to roll her eyes, "M'lady, you know as well as I that when they go through it, we go through it too, whether we want to or not."

As the car approached the cottage, Anna saw that the chimneys were billowing with smoke. The fire would have to be roaring to get that much smoke into the sky. They kept a small fire in the bedroom because too much cool air increased the likelihood of spams in John's leg and Anna was prone to chill. This was not from a small fire, nor was it only from the bedroom.

When the car stopped in front of the cottage, Anna saw the windows were fogged over toward the ensuite bathroom and master bedroom. When it came around to the front side of the house, she saw Johnny and Maggie, no coats or shoes, on the small front steps.

"What on earth?" Anna looked at Mary, who in turn looked back at Anna.

"Search me," Mary replied. 'But I must know."

Both women stepped out of the car, as did Tom. He looked ready to go and fight a fire, except the children were far too calm as they approached Anna.

Anna held Mary's arm, still shaky on her legs, and advised only to move about for a short time and a short distance unaided. Johnny held Maggie's hand as they rushed up to their mother. "Mummy!"

Anna looked at her son, "What are you doing outside without coats and shoes? Where is your Daddy?"

"He's inside with Uncle Lord Robert," Johnny replied. "He's trying to roast Elizabeth ."

The deadpan way that Johnny said that made Tom bust out into laughter. Anna looked at Mary who merely mumbled, "This I have to see."

Anna pushed the door opened and immediately cracked two windows. "You children come inside at once. Wash your feet and your hands, please." It was clear from Anna's tone there was a new lord at his manor.

Anna could hear the two men from the sitting room. "What are you talking about? You are the one that's trying to cook her until her hair curls!" That was John.

"I've never done this before! You are the one that's always bragging about what a hands-on father you are to your children," came Robert's defense.

"I do not brag! I'm proud that I'm able to tend to my own children when I need to," John countered.

Anna looked at Mary. "Are they grown men, because right now, I couldn't tell you."

Anna pushed the door open and saw John and Robert, with Elizabeth , stripped to her diaper. Robert was seated on the bed, his jacket off, sleeves rolled up. John was in the en suite, bent over the sink with the cold tap running on full, then pouring glasses of cold water into the baby tub.

Anna had to stifle a laugh, it still hurt to laugh, and John would be embarrassed if he felt she was laughing at him. She settled for her best "mum" look, hands on her hips. "What is going on in here?"

Both men turned to see Anna standing in the bedroom. "We were about to bathe the baby," Robert replied.

"I'm sorry, m'Lord," Anna replied. "But it looks like you're trying to steam a pudding! Mr. Bates, did you know your other two children were outside without coats or shoes to escape the heat?"

John only shook his head. "They know better than to do that, Anna. I've told them both about going outside without permission."

Anna nodded, Johnny had escaped her once or twice before the baby was born. John must have experienced the same when she was in hospital.

"Never mind this," Anna smiled. "How about some luncheon before Lord Grantham, Lady Mary, and Mr. Branson go home?"

"I'll fix some sandwiches," John began.

"I'll help you," Anna replied. "Or better still, I'll do it. You can sit down and entertain our guests."

"I'll fix the lunch," John said, again his tone firmer than usual. "You need to get back into bed as soon as we've finished for some rest."

Anna would never say a word against John in front of anyone. She nodded her consent and went and sat on the settee with Mary though her eyes implored Tom to help John. She did her own part, keeping up conversation, and keeping Maggie and Johnny busy while John worked.

"His lordship got a little overzealous with the fires?" Tom asked as he sliced up some bread Mrs. Patmore send over the day before.

"He meant well," John defended. "I wanted to have it over before Anna got home. She needs to stop trying to run before she can walk, she needs rest."

Tom took a deep breath. "I know how you feel, Bates. I do. I, of all people, know how you felt that day when you didn't know if Anna was going to live or die. I understand your drive and your need to protect her."

"But?" John asked his business partner and friend as he laid some jam on the bread and sliced the sandwiches.

"But you're tired," Tom replied. "Anyone can see it. You're letting it effect your mood. You were short with Anna and you'll only regret it later. I know. Let her help a little now Dr. Clarkson has agreed to some movement. Give all you can, but take what's given, that's all I'm saying."

John agreed with Tom. Tom had lived his worst nightmare, putting his dear wife in the ground after she gave their child life. He'd loved Lady Sybil so much he still hadn't found another wife. No one could fill Lady Sybil's shoes for Tom, as no on could ever be like his Anna.

He would have to apologize. Nothing he was going through, physically or mentally, made it okay to be anything less than wholesome and loving. He'd failed twice already in just one day. He would have to be sure he didn't do it again.

When the house was finally quiet and John and Anna were on their own with the children, he eased himself down onto the settee beside her. "So, what did Dr. Clarkson say? Tell me everything."

"He said I had healed well so far and that my blood pressure and heart rate are completely normal. He said that I can come back in three days to have the stitches out and then start getting back to my routine, slowly, but surely. He asked after you, how you were feeling having to keep up with so much."

John held his breath. Dr. Clarkson hadn't mentioned anything to Anna, surely not. When she didn't pursue it beyond that, John let out a breath and slid his arm around her. "That is good news, Mrs. Bates, seeing as how I, even with all the practice, can't seem to run this house without you. Not successfully anyhow. Business, yes. Estates, yes. Small cottages with three kids, not a chance."

Anna nuzzled her face into John's neck and breathed him in. "I don't know, Mr. Bates. I think you did pretty well considering you're not an experienced mum." Anna pulled back and met his eyes. "I mean it, John. I'm grateful to you. You seemed to be everywhere at once. You were with me when I needed you, with Johnny and Maggie, with Elizabeth …you still worked, this house is near perfect. Any other man would have had a nurse for the baby and likely for me and carted the older kids off to the abbey daily, but you…I love you, John Bates, and whenever I think I cannot possibly love you more, I end up doing just that."

John had to bite back his emotions. He didn't know how to take praise that way, even from Anna. A simple "good job" would be too much recognition. He was a husband and father, he did what he was supposed to do.

John bestowed a series of light kisses on Anna's forehead, cheeks, eyes, and one final one on the tip of her nose. "I love you, too, so much. I did what needed doing, nothing short of what you do for me every day since we've wed." John kissed Anna's lips then sighed. "But, I think you've been out of bed long enough. Let's get you changed and back under the covers. You should nap now. I'll take the children outside for an activity. Elizabeth 's asleep after her dramatic bath."

Anna didn't argue. John had been tired and he had been short earlier. He was only doing what he thought was best for her. He was the one that had to watch, and she had to remember that. He suffered when she suffered, same as she'd told him the night before when his leg had kept them both awake. She wouldn't try him anymore or put any more stress on him by arguing she wasn't tired.

Anna sank onto the bed with John's hand guiding her back. He sat down beside her and placed her feet in his lap to remove her shoes and stockings. As he peeled back the material, he let his fingers trace the inside of her calf, down to her delicate foot. He rubbed along the arches and around by her heel before sliding his hands up the outside of her legs to undo her skirt.

Anna smiled at him. "You can tell you have experience with this, Mr. Bates. How daring to start at the bottom."

"You don't know from daring yet, madam," John teased. "When you are healed…When you are healed."

John leaned over Anna and finished undressing her. He let her hair out of its bun and splayed it out on the pillow like a halo. "I'll brush it later," he murmured. "Rest now."

John bestowed one butterfly kiss on Anna's lips and gave her a loving smile that said more than words all the promises he wished to make and to keep for their future.

A/N: Glad to see her story is still enjoyed. We have a looooooong way to go.