Loved it so so much ! Kudos!

this is a brilliant end to an amazing story! :D thank you for writing this for me! :D you are one of my favourite writer and you have no idea what this mean to me! :D so once again THANK YOU! :) xoxoxxo

My goodness, by the time I reached the end, I forgot all the things I wanted to say about the beginning of the chapter. Holy wow.
1. I loved this
2. Mama bates is a hoot and I love her to the moon and back.
3. I'm happy she got through to john/he finally came to his senses.
4. I love that this was 18 gazillion words long.
5. Thank you for writing this.

Oh my goodness where does one begin to review! I am still laughing about how Mrs Bates was telling them they would have their private moments and then discussing it with John hahaha then mary seeing him in the back ground and Anna telling how great his bum was, snowball fighting with his kids was so precious and him protecting anna after she threatened him if he didn't, what's not to love about the little Bates family! Thank you so much and will reread this many times :)

Oh my, that was superb. All of it. This third part did not disappoint and was amazing! The delicate conversations at the hospital made me teary. The hilarious moments, like, cinema night for Margaret, "peachy and firm," Ethel's present to Anna, et al., literally made me laugh out loud. And the continuing parts after John accepted their fate was the perfect culmination. This fic was a masterpiece.

I may have read this at 3 in the morning on Boxing Day (sobbing), but it is still one of my favourite chapters to anything ever. Ever.
Small things that I just loved:
John when he realised how 'serious' Anna's childhood was, not wanting to push her. You captured the very moment when he realised what he was dealing with beautifully. I mean, any decent human being should be sickened but this was more.
The mistletoe. Oh the mistletoe. And the fact that he made the first move which I think was very important for Anna.
"We can have one long weekend of shagging." you know, I was wondering if Margaret had heard this (it made me chuckle), and then oh yes, she did. The humour you managed to get down was incredible. God Margaret ships it so damn hard it's the best.
The moment where it finally clicked for them that they were there, at his bedroom door. The feels. Even if you left out the good bit;)
The fact that they got married in one of her free periods! Absolutely brilliant. Very clever on your part, to find something that was new but still 'them'.
The children, each very much their own individual people. The love that is in that Bates household.
The scene from Starfish which absolutely destroyed me in the film (as of course I knew what was coming) in a much more positive ending was just lovely.

Thank you for this. Thank you so much!

The length of your writing is the best part! There's just so much goodness. It makes me feel better about totally ditching published literature to read fanfic because you write so well.

The sense of lost opportunity following the almost kiss (they were so close) was so poignant, and I'm glad that it fired Anna up and made her confront him. And then they kissed, swooooon. Even if it didn't end correctly between them, it was still beautiful while it lasted.

Despite wanting Anna to stay, a little bit of me was rooting for her to go. She was far too unselfish for her own good, because it felt like he was almost stringing her along. But I suppose that deep down, she knows that he hasn't seen it that way. Oh my HEART BE STILL.

I am so behind in my reviewing, sorry. I read the first two chapters as you posted them, so apologies if these reviews aren't as detailed as I had hoped!
As always, you set the scene effortlessly. Somehow every Modern AU you write is different, but still so them. I'll never understand how you manage it!
Ethel commenting on older men in bed made me chuckle.
"Because you're beautiful" oh, how three such simple words can DESTROY ME.
"You know, Johnny is single too" Margaret gets it, ships it and pines for it. Me too, Margaret. Me too.
The parallel of the period drama is just brilliant. Anna drifting off to sleep next to John as the characters confess their love for each other...ha! Margaret covered them with a blanket! Damn right she ships it.
Love this.

I would just like to thank you for this brilliant story published at a very short span of time. Reading this definitely made my December. I hope you continue to write more Banna fics in the future.

ah, this was the most perfect christmas present (even though it's already boxing day for me as i write this) thank you!
what a journey this story has been, and this last chapter was such a rollercoaster on it's own (just like the other chapters). and i've got to say, the long chapters made this a better reading experience, because the narration wasn't constantly stopped. the chapters and their content felt natural, each of them were just the perfect length.

loved again how the character felt, realistic and true to themselves. you did good job with john and his feelings, they way he spoke of the event and his past with vera. i cannot even begin to fanthom how people with any sort of trauma feel as they relive and tell others about it. and anna too, i believe it was hard for her as well, to share things she's never spoken to anyone else. but you handled this well!
it's good that they take things slow, and of course their trust needed to be built again, after all the shit they've faced. but they got through, and that as all that matters in the end. loved the mistletoe and john's speech with anna's middle name included!

you balanced the angst in this and the earlier chapters so well with the rest of the story. it really took a long time for him to heal, but she was alongside him for the whole time. my heart swelled when i imagined anna crying with john as he finally took his first step! john lamenting that she was the one to see him home safely when it was supposed to be the other way around was so like him!
margaret and her conversation with john about him and anna "committing carnal sins" made me laugh, such a typical mother she is!
their alone time most definitely did go to waste. of course she would think him beautiful, and of course he wouldn't believe it. and i too, alongside anna, loved how comfortable they felt around each other. i am quite picky when it comes to intimacy in fics, but you most definitely wrote it well!
more margaret and her snappy comments about john not buttoning his shirt correctly and how the bed is for sleeping, haha! they finally got their peace, after everything, and im very happy about it.

i loved their happy ending! john proposing anna outside is such a cute idea! and of course they'd get married just like that, it is so them to not have a big fancy wedding because all they need is each other. john daniel bates - literally my name headcanon for their boy. and lily and ciara, you chose the names well!
their family was so lovely. john's little talk to the unborn baby, the children's fear of looking downstairs, the christmas sweaters and the snowball fight - all so domestic and wonderful! i laughed so much at mary's sudden appearance, she definitely would have spoken to anna about matthew's qualities, so why wouldn't anna be allowed to talk about john's?!
their speeches to each other in the end really culminated their love. what a good way to end this story.

thank you again for this amazing story. you're such a good writer, and you really bring these characters to life, whether it is in canon or in an AU.

I can only imagine how Margaret would have been able to deal with John’s withdrawal without Anna’s support. What a terrible tragedy, to see a vibrant man depart life and leave people who love him behind. John is hurting everyone who has ever cared for him by his actions. He is going to be a hard nut to crack, but Anna is the one to do it. Her strength of spirit is just the thing to get through to John’s self-pity. Robert is heartbroken too. He only wants to help the man who saved his life. Oh man he is also carrying the guilt for William’s death inside of him too. Where are the counselors when you need them? How can they allow this to go on, a soldier trying to cope with his actions all alone. Anna handled John perfectly once he decided to talk to her. She is amazing! The scene where John tells Anna his story was so powerfully written. You are amazing! John’s agony was so deep seated. *weeps* Noooo Margaret can’t be sick! She needs to stay alive and healthy to see Baby Bates when he makes his debut! Anna decorating John, and his room, for Christmas was super sweet! I need to see a picture of John in that Christmas jumper. Uh oh, the enveople containing the letter of doom! Talk about a turd in the wassail bowl! I wonder if John will ever be able to out argue Anna. She is so strong and knows her mind so well. He still cannot accept the fact that she loves him and will do anything for him and their love. He sees himself as doomed and she sees him for who he is, faults and all. At least John is bartering with Anna know. It is best they get all the dirt out from underneath their respective carpets. Margaret truly loves Anna too. I hope she is feeling better. Vera is a harpy and John is well rid of her. She certainly likes to torture people and make them dance to her tune. Good thing John quit the booze and was able to move back in with his mum. He has had a tough life but been very lucky with the people who truly love him. If only he could see that for the gift that it is. I am not sure John is ready to hear Anna’s tale anymore than she is ready to tell it. Ahhh! Bring John’s dinner later! This is important stuff! Anna is so amazing the way she sees the upside of everything. John would never judge you Anna. Okay here comes the big pay off! Anna’s secret weapon was very Christmasy. Did she climb an oak tree for it, or buy it in a store? Yeah Anna! You have him right where you want him! Their first true kiss was amazing! John is a very romantic man once he gets rolling. I am so happy they got to say those three little words to each other and on Christmas Day too. Hooray John is getting the professional support he so badly needs. I am so glad they are taking things slowly with respect to their relationship. They do have to build trust and affection while John continues to heal. The timing is very realistic too. I am also happy Margaret did not pass away at Christmas. I was scared there for a bit. Too funny how she kept walking in on Banna snogging each other’s faces off. Hahaha! I love Margaret so much! She is helping to arrange a dirty weekend for her son and his girl! *hugs Margaret* Hahaha! The dialog between Margaret and her son at the door was priceless! There is no way Anna is going to let John’s hang up about how his knee looks interfere with their night. Anna is good at taking charge. I think she has been thinking of positions for awhile now ;) It is so nice to see how they can talk to one another about anything now. They are establishing the basis of a very strong relationship. Hahaha! Johnny…your mum is home! Anna get up and lock the door! I am surpried Margaret didn’t stop by Anna’s to pack her an overnight bag. Leo and John could have a smack down to see who can be Anna’s chief bedwarmer. I am surprised Margaret didn’t make them keep the door open. Their lives are running smoothly after the rough start they had. Baby Bates made his appearance and Margaret got to see him! Hooray! I totally got tears in my eyes when John was talking to the latest Baby Bates. What a wondrous scene. John can get Anna pregnant by eye sex alone! It is the power of Banna! Hahaha, here’s Banna all happy after their intimate shower and then Mary gets an eyeful of John neked! Too funny! I can only imagine how difficult Anna’s realtionship is with her mother. She has not been a part of Anna’s life for so long. What did she expect Anna to do? Welcome her with open arms as if nothing ever happened? Not happening honey. Anna has a very powerful support group with her now. It is as it should be that John finds Anna sexy even after all these years. How beautiful that John is able to tell Anna exactly what she means to him. He sees his injury as the door to accepting Anna’s love and returning it to her 100 fold. Anna telling John what he has done to make her happy was perfect too. Everything is as it should be! What an amazing story you have shared with us. Thank you so much for posting this for all of us!

Anything written by you can never be too long. I adore your fics. You write the characters, especially Anna, John, and Mary, so fully-formed and well-spoken. And I really liked the school kids in this-their antics made me chuckle. I love your version of the slow burn. I can't wait for part three.

Ache. That's what I'm feeling...somewhere in my chest-ish area. This captures the gnawingly frustrating moments of season one. The ones where you just want to slap john. The ones where you sit forward on the couch a little willing them to kiss.

I love me some mama bates.

Of course I'm in the edge of my seat now waiting to see how things unfold from here. (Aka: how to get john out of his own arsehole 101.)

Wonderful update. (Truth moment: I cried).

Long is GOOD. I'm super-invested.

Hahaha, Mary knows the score! Nice trip to Rome though, well done Matthew. I loved Mary’s comment about Robert and John being like a married couple :) BROMANCE! I cannot see Rosamund and John hooking up ever :( Anna has all these ideas about John’s tragic backstories. She has got it bad! Hooray Anna has saved John from that brood of vipers. Perfect timing on the change of music. Someone needs to tip the DJ. They are so sweet dancing together like no one is watching them. Oh man! No tip for you now DJ! Oops Tom wrecked the rug. How did John get under the mistletoe? Must be Anna’s lucky night. I hope this works out for her because if John is not ready to hear what she has to say he is going to run even farther away than where he is already going. How heartbreaking that John should feel so little for himself. He isn’t even thinking about how much he is hurting Anna by not even hearing her out. At least respect her enough to listen and not reject her out of hand. Poor Anna! She had built a castle of dreams around someone she didn’t really know. This is so very sad :( I am glad that Mary is looking after Anna in her own way. Anna is trying so hard to move on but her heart is just not in it. How can John push Anna away and then tell her he thinks of her every day? How can she move on after reading that? It gives her hope that there can be more between them if only she can get him to see his worth. I am sure John feels exactly the same way about Anna’s letters when they arrive. It gives him hope that he can keep her in his life, but on his terms. That is an awful lot to ask of someone who cares so much about you. Mary finally got Matthew up to snuff! Now Anna will feel left behind. Now Ethel has someone in her life too. All Anna has is some letters from a “friend”. You cannot control the way your heart feels. John is slowly killing Anna with his kind words and letters. If only he could see how they affect her. Yeah Gwen! This is just the kind of change Anna needs to immerse her self in. Moving countries takes all your effort that is for sure. If you are serious about a new start, you have made the right decision Anna. I am sure Margaret would have loved to have a relationship with Anna, no matter what John’s situation was. I am sad they couldn’t have been friends. I see that Margaret has some very definite opinions about Anna and John’s relationship. Wow, Anna breaking down on Margaret’s doorstep is not what she had in mind when she got here. I wonder if having someone to talk to about John, who truly knows him, will help her put him in her past. I somehow doubt it. Nice use of the canon conversation between Anna and Margaret. I love how Margaret is all now that I’ve told you you can both live happily ever after. Not happening like that my dear, even if I wish it did. All this conversation has done was hurt Margaret for the way John has treated Anna. Well that and make Anna more sure she is doing the right thing, for her. This is all so tragic! There is no way I would have guessed what that phone call was all about! Nice plot twist you clever author you! Hooray Dr Clarkson is on the case. He make things right! Oops, wrote that lone too soon :( Oh my the drama of the first time she has ever held his hand. *weeps* How can she leave him now that he is such a tragic figure? Anna lives such a complicated life! Sweet William is dead? What a waste! Yeah, I knew that was coming as it is just who Anna is. She seems to live for others and never for herself. I only hope her faith in John is worth the opportunity she has turned down. What will his reaction be to seeing her, knowing he is even less of a man that when he last rejected her? Thank you so much for posting this amazingly dramatic chapter!