This is strangely endearing but for someone like Thomas, turning into a cat makes complete sense. I like that it took that form for him to realize Bates and Anna for the decent human beings they really are. I love how Bates realized it was Barrow at all yet keeping it discreet.

I love it! It's wonderful, well done!

I don't know if I was entirely expecting this, but it was a great read! Needless to say I loved the mentions of Baby Bates and how contented Anna and John are, and I always enjoy fics were the Downstairs staff interact closely. It was nice to not only see how Anna is adjusting to being back at work (in a scenario that feels realistic, especially given Mary's pregnancy), but also to see what Thomas is like as butler. I definitely feel like there has been a positive change in him but he does have a lesson or two to learn, still. I don't envy having to write Thomas more in-depth, but I think you strike the balance very well between his good and more 'conventionally Thomas' side.

A peculiar tale, yes, but a very satisfying one. Not only did Thomas get to learn his lesson but John was able to find an outlet too (even if I'm sure he wouldn't have believed the tale). I also really liked the underlying note of home and belonging, and thought it was a clever way of emphasising how much Downton means to everyone.

A great read!

This is really great! I loved this sympathetic portrayal of Thomas and some hope for a future for him that could be, if not perfect, at least not entirely miserable. Thomas may own the lion's share of the blame for his antagonistic relationship with Bates, but John isn't entirely blameless. I love the idea of them eventually coming to understand each other. Wonderful work!

This was nice. I hate that Thomas got to be the butler in canon, but you did this really well.

I like this a lot, and the message that Thomas learnt. Wonderful as always!

How cute! Loved the whimsical. Thank you!

I think John is going to have to work hard at keeping his thoughts about Thomas to himself. It is time to let him prove that he has truly learned a life lesson and is able to treat people with kindness and fairness. Mr Carson is a tough act to follow and that is an understatement. I am sure Mary misses Anna's presence in a big way. Freaky! Now, now Mr Bates be nice. That is one quick kitty :) John would only trudge up all those stairs, to check on someone he doesn't like, for Anna and that is the truth. Is John opening himself up to a cat, that may not be "just" a cat? Ding! Thomas' glove, hence the white paw on the kitty kat! That was a very nice moment between Bates and Thomas. It was nicely written too :) Yes Downton is home. What a lovely sentiment. I really enjoyed this story ever so much! Thank you for posting it!

I felt like the ending of Downtown was so slapped together, and I just couldn't buy that Anna would rush back to work, Bates would stay on with Thomas at the helm. It would have to be a supernatural event to make that all work out -thank you! I liked Thomas as a villain the first few series, but by the end he was only a tiresome jerk. The cat/Thomas juxtaposition did a much better job at humanizing Thomas for the audience than anything Julian Fellowes wrote.

Gosh, this is so good, Eady! I loved every bit of it. Brought a tear to my eye by the end, a happy tear. :)

When I started this I thought hmmmm, it was very good, I like the understanding they seem to come to by the end, of course I favor Bates over Thomas and how Bates always helped him more because he knew how it felt ... I really like this spin on it all :)

I am enchanted. Lovely story about the life after the show's end. I hope you'll never stop writing about Bates. You describe him perfectly.

Love it, love it. Good angst and hopefully this is going to be a multi-story. Thank you.