"Missives and His Mother"

Disclaimer: They're still not mine, sadly, but I'd love to borrow a few of them for a little bit. ;)

Author's Note: I'm using my story "Comrades in Arms" as a sort of prologue for this story, but you don't have to have read it to get this one. You should read it anyway, just to make me happy and because you want to know what happened during the rest of Anna's visit with Mrs. Bates.

Mr. John Bates, valet to Robert Crawley the Earl of Grantham had just left his lordship in a sorry state. The miscarriage of her ladyship's baby had hit him very hard indeed. John wished there was something he could do for him. Lord Grantham had, after all, done so much for him. Sadly, there was nothing a lowly valet could do to reassure an earl, but provide a kind ear willing to sympathize.

Speaking of sympathy, he needed to have a word with his own sympathetic angel. What had Anna done while she was in London?

He made his slow and steady way into the kitchen and found her at the table, darning one of Lady Mary's stockings. (They were always Lady Mary's. Her frequent horse rides made frequent holes.) John stood and glowered at her until she raised her fair head and smiled tenderly at him, as she always did.

His heart melted a little, as it always did, but his words were still firm as he said, "Lord Grantham informed me that you spoke to him about what you discovered in London." He almost gave in as her eyes widened and she dropped her gaze to the needle she was trying to thread. "What, exactly, did you discover?"

"Well," she said, looking up at him through her lashes and making his knees a little weak, "I went to your army barracks and spoke to a soldier who mentioned your 'odd business' and who gave me the address for your mother."

"You—I can't believe you— " A little of the calm he prided himself on went out the window.

Anna jumped to her feet. "I couldn't just let your story stand! I knew there was more to it than you were saying and I couldn't bear it that you might have to leave Downton because of something that was only half true!" She sighed and said, "If you could have seen the relief on his lordship's face when I told him, you wouldn't be so upset."

All the anger in him faded at that. He slid into a chair. "You went to see my mother?"

"I did."

"And she told you about Vera?"

"Yes."

"You still think I'm a good man?" he asked, as if reluctant to know the answer.

She laid a soft hand on his shoulder. "Even more than before."

That little smile that she adored appeared on his face just as Mrs. Patmore passed through yelling for Daisy.

Later that evening, Mr. Bates sat at his small desk and penned a letter to his mother.

Dear Mother,

I hope this letter finds you well.

I hear that Miss Anna Smith came to visit you the other day. She has been my staunch supporter since I came to Downton and would not let things lie when I told her of my past. Thank God she didn't, I suppose, since she's saved my post. I didn't tell you of my trouble, mother, because that last thing I wanted was to worry you. Please forgive a son for trying to protect his mother.

We've had another misfortune here at Downton Abbey. Her Ladyship has miscarried her baby and the doctor tells us that it was a boy. The whole house is in mourning and the family is, naturally, taking it very hard. Hopefully, the garden party next week will lighten some moods.

Thank you for the tea you sent with your last letter. You well know it's my favorite and it's so comforting to me, I save it for very special occasions.

I love you and miss you and I'll write again soon.

Your loving son,

-John

Next: Mrs. Bates tells her son just how much she likes Anna.