A/N: I found a list of drabble prompts on Tumblr, and I've been working on these since January 2015. A few are old WIPs that I've worked into a drabble instead (the final one in this chapter being the most obvious). Mostly fluff, a lot of introspection, a handful of angst. I wrote this without any S6 spoilers in mind. The drabbles are arranged in order here by DA timeline (and beyond, with some encompassing the whole) but were not written in that order, so I apologize for the disjointedness, and any flow between the drabbles is actually accidental.

There are a two are that set in between S4E5 and S4E6, so a slight trigger warning for "Seeking Solace" and "Broken Pieces".

Disclaimer: I don't own Downton Abbey.

Introduction

John knocked on the door, but there was no answer. He was a day early, so course no was waiting for him. He could wait outside but then ne might have to wait awhile for someone to come out and find him. What if he was out there for hours? That would defeat the purpose of him being there early.

Miss O'Brien opened the baize door for them. Anna followed the lady's maid down the stairs, gossiping about the lost heirs. How dreadful for both of them to perish in the icy water. And how bad it must feel for the family. And who would inherit now?

At the base of the stairs, there he was.

"Hello. I've been waiting at the back door. I knocked, but no one came."

"So you pushed in?" That was Miss O'Brien for you, ever the charmer.

He took it in stride. "I'm John Bates, the new valet."

"The new valet?"

This seemed to be the countess' lady's maid, but apparently she didn't want too spare any pleasantries. "That's right," he responded in spite of her.

"You're early." Miss O'Brien was sizing him up, noting that he had a cane. Anna however saw a tall man with kind eyes.

He explained himself. "Came on the milk train, thought I'd use the day to get to know the place, start tonight."

"I'm Anna, the head housemaid." Miss O'Brien did not make the best of first impressions, and Anna thought it extremely unfair to this Mr Bates. She shifted the sheets and candle she was carrying and off him her hand.

Her handshake was firm. "How do you do?"

Little did they know where that handshake would lead.

Love

It had been the furthest thing from her mind when she met him. She welcomed him as she would any new staff member, not knowing that her subconscious had already latched onto him.

When she brought him the tray she knew that he was a friend – a friend she was said to see go, and a friend she was delighted to see stay.

She gossiped with Gwen about Lady Mary, about the earl's daughter and the Honorable Evelyn Napier. Fleetingly, she wondered what it would be like to be courted. She'd always been happy with her lot, thinking that what happens will happen. But in those fleeting moments, she realized by whom by she wanted to be courted by. She tried not to blush in the candlelight. Gwen didn't need to know.

Looking back now, she's not sure when it turned into love. At least by the time that he brought her a tray, reciprocating her earlier gesture. She remembers how hard her heart pounded in her chest, and the admiration in his eyes. She can't remember if that's when she knew for sure, or if she felt then but neither could form the words to admit it. It would talk that walk to the flower show for that.

Silence

The candles were burning low now. He watched her, his wife, sleeping peacefully in the silence, a smile on her face. He wished that he could fall off as easily as her, but he still could not believe that they were really married. If he were to sleep, would he wake up from this dream?

He gently moved a section of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear, careful not to rouse her. He couldn't resist the temptation to stroke her cheek with the back of hand, his knuckles ghosting her skin. He wished that they could live forever in this bubble, where nothing could stand in their way, and nothing could harm her.

He pushed down those thoughts of fleeting despair. They would just have to do their best, together, as husband and wife.

Seeking Solace

He was unsure if she wanted to share the same bed that first night. He made sure to leave the bedroom when she changed for the night, busying himself with gathering linen from the closet to put on the sofa.

She emerged from their room in her winter nightgown, the collar buttoned up at the top, long sleeves down to her wrists.

"What are you doing with those?" she asked, her voice quiet.

"I thought—" He stopped himself. What he thought was that he was doing the right the thing by her. But he hadn't asked her what she wanted.

There was an awkward pause. He didn't know where to look, afraid she'd avert her gaze like she had most of this past month. His eyes fell to her hands, watching her fingers twists her wedding band.

"Where would you like to sleep?" he finally said, trying to maintain a normal tone, attempting to deliver the question as if it was a mundane comment on the weather.

She started to say something, but stopped. His heart panged, hating what all this had done to her.

"It's up to you. Whatever you are comfortable with."

Her eyes finally met his. "I want you to sleep in bed. Next to me. I don't –" she breathed in sharply. "I don't think I can take another night of waking up alone."

He nodded, shutting the linen closet door. He longed to touch her but was unsure.

"It's all right. In fact," her voice growing more shy than anxious now, "I'd like it if you held me when we sleep. If you want."

He reached out to gently take her hand. She grasped his in return.

"Of course, my darling, I want to very much. As long as you do."

She gave a half smile, but then it faltered. "Sometimes though… I wake up suddenly… and I have nightmares… and…"

"Just tell me what to do, what you need me to do, and I'll do it."

Her eyes were brimming with tears, "Thank you. I know… I know I'll be safe with you by my side."

Broken Pieces

She had been back a week. They had gently tried to return to some semblance of their old routine, but even that sometimes proved too difficult. She was so frustrated, mostly with herself, wishing that it would just all go away, but she knew that it wouldn't. But what was even tougher was that she could tell he was being overly cautious, and that in and of itself was a reminder of all that had happened.

Something startled her; she couldn't even remember what. The teacup and saucer she was holding hit the ground, pieces of china splintering everywhere. The dam that was holding the tears at bay broke too.

"It's all right, Anna, it's all right," he whispered. He carefully removed what she had already collected from her hands, setting them aside, and slowly encircled her as she buried her head into his chest.

The cup was irreparable, but she was not. They were not. There might have been a seam, a scar, but in time it would bind the pieces back together, in a new variation of wholeness.

67%

"And then multiply by one hundred…"

"Oh! 67%! Thank you, Mr. Bates!" Daisy said enthusiastically. She then scampered off with her book to go finish her maths problems, leaving the couple alone in the servants' hall.

"Sometimes I do envy her," Anna said, running her needle through the fabric of the hem of Lady Mary's dress.

"In what way?" her husband asked.

"Well, I barely had any schooling. It's a miracle I can even read."

John furrowed his brow. "But you can, and you kept at it even out of school, and now it's one of your favorite pastimes." He smiled now in an attempt to soothe her, but she still looked worried. He sensed more that it just being about Daisy's further studies. "What's brought this on?"

"It just… once we do have the hotel, do I even have the skills to manage it?" She put down her mending and turned in her chair to face him more. "Even as an adult, I took the path of a lady's maid and I don't really have the training for keeping the books like a housekeeper has."

He opened his mouth to speak, but she continued, her voice more quiet now, "And… if we do have a little one, when they go school, will I even been able to help with their sums?"

"Anna, darling." John hated when she put herself down, which was much more of an occurrence now than in the years when they first met. "You are one of the most intelligent women I have ever met. I know that you have the skills to be a wonderful innkeeper and mother. And whatever you don't know now, you will learn quickly, as you always have. I believe in you and know that you are always able to do what you put your mind to." He placed his hand over hers on the table and smiled at her.

It took her a bit, but a smile crept across her face, her eyes meeting his again. "Thank you."

Memory

They hurried up the steps of Grantham House to the street alongside some of the other senior staff members. Anna wasn't sure why Miss Denker was going; the Dowager's new lady's maid barely knew Lady Rose. Whereas she and John had spent some time with the girl outside of work, including discussions about peppermints, reeling lessons, and dance halls. And Anna got to dress her for her presentation and for the ceremonies today, which she felt quite the privilege.

"What would Miss Denker think if she knew we were married in a registrar's office too?" she said lowly to her husband. "I mean, I didn't wear a veil either."

John chuckled. "If I recall correctly, you wore a very lovely hat."

"And luckily, it wasn't itchy!" She smiled, remembering. "It really was perfect. It would have been wherever it was held. I married you. And that's what's important."

He took his hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I quite agree. And I am grateful for it everyday."

Keeping a Secret

As a lady's maid, secret keeping was apart of Anna's job description. And over the years, there were many secrets that she had to keep for Lady Mary. Of course, with her husband in the same line of work, and she knew had at the same level of discretion, many things did get repeated to him. Her employer seemed to be aware of this, so for the things she really didn't want known, Anna'd be forbidden to tell even him.

She had her own share of secrets, or at least things that she felt private. Most of them to been to conceal pain, or to avoid inflicting pain on him…

But there had been good secrets too. Such as "The Secret Mrs Bates" as Lady Mary had referred to Anna once, in those three days of no one knowing her and John had wed.

And like that secret, this was one that she couldn't wait to tell either. They had agreed to wait, until Dr Clarkson had given her the all clear at her next appointment, but it was proving hard. John had to clear his throat every time he caught her with her hand on her abdomen at work. She'd probably have it permanently glued there otherwise. This elation was something she had not felt in some time, but now she was so happy she could burst. They'd make the announcement in a few weeks, and then everyone would know what the Bateses were beaming about.

Cat

They found the cat in the shed across from the cottage. A little black and white thing, and Anna couldn't stand to let it stay outside in the rain. John relented, what harm could it do. It was really adorable, with her quiet little meows and big eyes, and it made him wistful to see Anna doting on the tiny creature.

But soon they learned that some of the perils of cat ownership. Their black work clothes were soon covered in the white fur, and were having to brush each other off every morning and whenever they popped home to check on her. There was also the awkwardness of her jumping on the bed where they were in the midst of more… heated moments.

But the cat also provided great source comfort for Anna, which John was glad for. Even though it had been a few years now, there still were times where she'd grow quiet, or worst yet had nightmares, and their little Kitty was always there beside her, Anna finding petting the cat soothing.

Finally their greatest wish came true, and as the time drew nearer their little one's arrival, John had been worried about how lonely Anna would be since she left service. But he remembered that his wife would have her ever companion.

Who, he thought with a grin and a shake of his head, probably would become obsessed with Anna's yarn for the all the booties she was knitting.

Smile

It was a fairly brisk day, but the sun was shining, and there was no rain to delay their plans. John watched as Anna pointed to things out the window, their daughter enamored at the moving objects as the bus drove forth to York.

Today was Margaret Elizabeth Bates' first birthday, and they had decided to take her to the zoo to celebrate. They knew that she wouldn't remember this birthday, but they felt like doing something special, especially since they had marked new chapters in their lives. John's plan from long ago had thus far worked out well, with them managing the Grantham Arms and still being able to spent as much time as possible with their daughter. They did sometimes miss working at Downton Abbey, but Mr Carson did not mind them dropping by, as he deemed Margaret a very well behaved baby, and he not so secretly did adore children. His soon to be bride Mrs Hughes would pop in to the Grantham Arms when she was running errands in the village and on her most recent visit insisted that they stop by later today and that Daisy was to bake a cake in Margaret's honor to mark the occasion. Anna had very few living relatives left, and John's cousins were scattered in Scotland and Ireland, so she was moved that she still had her downstairs family.

She also still had Lady Mary, with whom she quite frequently went to tea with in Ripon. It felt almost scandalous to be out with an earl's daughter like they were equals, but Mary called it nonsense, and they passed the time chatting about their children, now that they were both mothers and Mary kept Anna informed of her current "desire" of suitors, which was as of the moment leaning in Mr Talbot's favor, (although Anna thought Mr Napier was also very worthy).

John, however, didn't get to see as much of his lordship, unless they were attending a community event. In most cases, it was short exchanges at church. Their former colleagues had to scamper off quickly after services, but the family could linger. Thus, Robert often would fill in his former valet on the goings on, much to the Dowager's chagrin.

The bus pulled into York, and Margaret turned to face her father as the wheels came to a stop. She had inherited his dark hair, but she has Anna's piercing blue eyes, which looked up at him full of glee.

"We are almost there, dear," he said, giving her a tickle, to which she giggled.

Anna smiled broadly at them, delighted. She always had known he'd dote on a daughter, but it was almost too surreal to believe that this was finally their life, after so much heartbreak and strife. Margaret was a blessing, and being able to move forward and expend their family to three was the best revenge against all that had stood in their way. Even though they could not undo the past, they were happy, and that was ultimately what they needed.

A/N: I'll have the next chapter up when I finish ten more drabbles (hopefully sooner than later). Thank you for reading, and thanks to those who review!