This was lovely. Of course they have 40,000 reasons to be proud of each other and think of one another as their hero. Sigh.

It will kill me forever that Anna couldn't be there at the memorial service and see her husband decked out so finely in his medals. So I absolutely loved the fact that you wrote this so that Anna could experience it for herself, and dispel the bad memories of the time previous.

I loved the opening, and how you kept the fact that they have a little daughter from us until almost the last minute of the opening scene. What a very happy surprise that was - and you know that I am always head over heels for John with a daughter. And this didn't disappoint. He is such a cutie with her - I adored the line about there always being time in a hero's day to read a story to her. Can he get any sweeter? I think not.

But of course he can. It's John Bates. ;) I adored the whole memorial service, and how throughout all he could think about was how much of a hero Anna was to him. The way he thinks about her never fails to make my heart swoon, and I really loved the way that John thought about all the heroic qualities that Anna herself possessed. It's so nice to see them through the darkness, "after", finally having their happy ending with another addition on the way (I loved the references to "before" and "after"; painful as they were, you did a great job of highlighting just how far they have come from that dark time).

And the last scene was simply beautiful. I could never grow tired of the two of them snuggling up in bed together, sharing sweet kisses and quiet intimacy in the darkness. I particularly loved the way they kept their joined hands over her bump, and the description of the four of them together (their unborn baby "nestled" between them, heart emoji).

I loved this. Thank you for writing.

I like that they weren't in service anymore, and that they had a little girl... such a special little family

Beautifully written!

This is the kind of happiness I want for them in their future. Thank you for writing it, even if Julian Fellowes hasn't.

Very sweet! And little Emma is precious! :)

John only has eyes for Anna and his daughter Emma. His cup truly runneth over. I love the looks into Series 6 and only wish they can become canon. I doubt John would have ever imagined him becoming anyones hero on his first trip to Downton Abbey all those years ago. I can only imagine Mr Carson having a fit over a pregnant servant working at Downton! My how times have changed. Once John is not in Robert's service, I agree that they would be the best of friends. They have a shared past that goes deeper than a job. Mrs Patmore is psychic and we all know it! They are both each other's greatest supporters. It would have been hard to leave service, but for Banna they knew greater happiness was waiting for them outside the walls of the Abbey. Thank you for this lovely story!

Ahhhh! Loved it! Very beautiful story! Your work is always amazing!

This story is just so precious. I love everything about it: the setting, the year you chose for it, Anna, John and their little, growing family... Emma seems to be the cutest thing, honestly. "Poor Teddy was nearly sent on an adventure to the roof of the car." - that might be my favorite line! Seriously, it's just so adorable. I love to think of them having a young child - still a baby, really, as big as Emma is - and another on the way! It seems just perfect for them. I love how you chose to tell this from John's POV, it was a great touch. He truly is a hero to Anna, and perhaps even more of a hero to little Emma!

I love how they don't need to say anything to communicate - with them it was always about not speaking, sometimes. And of course that hasn't changed. As you can see... I just loooove this! Thanks so much for sharing this with us!

Oh it reads more than okay; it's wonderful! And you tied some many things in here aaaaah. Lovely, lovely, lovely, I enjoyed it so much aaah.

I really enjoyed this! It was lovely and sweet, and just the kind of thing we'd love to see in the show, or at least imagine now is in their future! Thanks for writing it :)

Beautifully written - will there be more?