A/N: I wrote these ficlets for the Anna x Bates / Banna Appreciation Week 2020 hosted by KristenAPA (a.k.a. angel-princess-anna) on Tumblr. One from each series, plus an additional one based somewhere around the film.

"I thought they would be back by now. Heavens, there's not long until dinner."

"That weather is terrible."

"They never should have gone in the first place."

"His Lordship was quite insistent."

Anna refrained from adding to the chatter in the hall, bending her head to focus on the blouse she was working upon in the failing light, not wanting to hold a candle too close to the sleeve lest it should catch flame. She was worried, of course. His Lordship, Mr Bates and Mr Branson had been gone since the early afternoon. Even with the pouring rain, a trip into Ripon would not have taken more than a couple of hours all round.

Her head was beginning to fill with all terrible kinds of notions, which were not helped by Thomas and Miss O'Brien's sly looks and snickers. She was ready to jump from her seat and give the pair of them what for, while Mr Carson was distracted by the impending crisis of dinner having to be delayed, when a series of echoing sounds travelled swiftly towards the gathered staff.

Mr Branson entered first, his uniform soaked through, followed by Mr Bates, who had been saved somewhat by his hat and overcoat.

"What on earth happened?" Mrs Hughes questioned, as Gwen and Lily scurried off to fetch some towels and Mrs Patmore set Daisy to work with the teapot.

She felt ridiculous, not to mention incredibly rude, in not going to help, but she found herself fixed to where she had risen from her seat, immobile.

"A spot of trouble with the car," Mr Branson supplied, "broke down not two miles back from Ripon. It was my own fault for not checking."

From the other side of the table Mr Bates's eyes found hers, and he wore a gentle smile, his hands held behind his back. She felt her cheeks starting to flush, and inwardly chided herself for it.

Both dried themselves the best they could with the help of the towels and a fire William hastily stoked in the grate. Mr Carson was beyond relieved that dinner could go ahead as usual, if delayed by half an hour or so.

"Well, nobody was hurt, and that's the blessing," Mrs Hughes said, bringing the matter to a conclusion, and signalling a return to the normal order.

Anna caught up to Mr Bates, and they shared a little conversation – not enough until they had to go their separate ways on the landing.

Once the family were ready and had gone down to dinner, they met again, Anna somewhat surprised to find him in no hurry to go back to his quarters and change.

"You must be uncomfortable," she said, fretting that the incessant rain would cause him to catch a cold.

"I've put up with much worse," he replied, with that same warm, subtle smile.

It would be much easier if he were cold or distant with her, but that was not Mr Bates at all. Even after she had made a fool of herself, telling him as plain as day that she loved him, he had took it all with unbelievably good grace and not changed his attitude towards her at all. Of course, that was part of the reason why she felt the way she did towards him. He was a good man. The word was too little for his immense dignity.

"I hope you don't mind," he began, his feet shuffling slightly, "but I got you something from Ripon."

She was rather taken aback, momentarily forgetting her manners as he handed the token over, wrapped in tissue which had gone somewhat damp.

She gasped a little on seeing it, a beautiful woven bookmark, threaded with cotton in different colours, displaying various flowers.

"It reminded me of you."

His voice sounded a little different, and she lifted her head to find his gaze upon her, before he diverted it, which was just as well.

"It's lovely. I usually use a scrap of paper, this is far nicer."

"So long as you don't fold the pages."

She looked at him with mock horror. "Never."

He chuckled. "Good, because then we would have trouble."

"And there's quite enough of that around here." It was a poor joke to make, what with the scheming of the dastardly duo, but he didn't seem to mind. "Thank you ever so much, Mr Bates. You didn't have to."

"You've done so much for me, it seemed only fair."

"I'm afraid I can't repay you with anything."

"I wouldn't ask."

She smiled, glad that there was no awkwardness or ill-feeling between them.

"I tell you what, I can make you a cup of tea. You must be parched."

"In one manner of speaking, yes."

She found herself laughing, the sound reverberating on the quiet gallery.

"A cup of tea it is, then. But not before you've changed. You've put up with that long enough."

The smile in his eyes caused her heart to leap, far too hopeful for its own good.

"I've been given my orders."