A/N: Once again, thank you for the reads and reviews. Every one means a lot to me, and I'm glad I can share my musings with many others who can appreciate them :) This is the last chapter of this little story, so please enjoy.
Yellow Light
Part 4
The woman looked around the small lobby of the hotel. Her wide-brimmed hat hid her eyes a little, but they were a shade of clearest blue. Perhaps there were a few more faint lines beneath them now, but that was largely down to the early mornings she had become happily accustomed to rather than the sleepless nights she had no choice but to endure in the past years. Time had gone on, sometimes faster than she would care to consider, but her appearance hadn't changed all that much. Though she still held a myriad of memories from a life that had not been free from troubles, she was glad that she had let herself be altered enough that she was able to enjoy the days she had now.
And before it had really started, Anna knew that she would enjoy this particular day most of all, considering it was the first one they had afforded themselves off in a while.
She talked easily with Lottie who sat at reception, and double-checked the lists for who would be coming and going with Samuel, their second-in-command. Anna thought that she was lucky to catch him as he dashed in and out of rooms, looking flustered. The poor man needed a break, and yet he rarely took them up on their offers that he should have a holiday. Every now and then both her and John were struck with a pang when they noticed how much he resembled William, and more than one tear came to Anna's eyes as she thought about what their dearest friend might have been doing now if fate had turned in a different direction. Seeing that she was upset, John would gaze down upon her and give her arm a squeeze. She had told him that time ago that he of all people should probably not employ someone based on their appearance and he had simply smiled, saying that his intuition had been proved right. It was one of the many things that he maintained had been improved from the time they had been together.
Guests began to filter out too, and they smiled at her as they went past, wishing her a pleasant day which she reciprocated to each one. An older woman cooed again when she saw the little boy in Anna's arms, his body wriggling and his chubby legs kicking out, eager so soon to begin walking though he surely wasn't ready just yet. Smoothing back his fine baby hair, Anna pressed a kiss to his head while she kept an eye peeled, wondering where her eldest had gotten to. A faint crashing sound emerging from the kitchen made her wince and fill with dread all at once. The baby hadn't been fazed by the noise, gurgling and gumming at his mother's shoulder. Before she could slip behind the desk to inspect further, the little girl came running out, almost faster than her legs could manage to carry her. Anna knew she should have felt more displeased, but it was impossible for the smile to be kept from her face whenever she saw her slightly mischievous but incredibly sweet daughter, knowing that it was something of a miracle that she had been brought into the world.
"Emma," she scolded with not much force, "I've told you a thousand times not to run off when Mummy can't see you, not even in the hotel."
Her small hands flailed and she was almost breathless with her discovery. Anna could already distinguish a scuff-mark on her new sandals and a faint stain on the waistband of her dress. Pale colours were probably not the best idea.
"But Mummy, Mrs Lewis said I could look," her daughter's words came out in a garble. "She made them for our picnic." Emma's face lit up even more excitedly. "Gones."
Anna managed to keep her giggles at bay. "Scones," she corrected, entranced by the beam upon the little girl's face. "Well, that's very kind of her. I hope you said thank you for the one she let you have."
Eyes widening, Emma covered her hands around her mouth, nodding her head vigorously while she hid the trace of strawberry jam that came as the evidence.
"That's good," Anna smiled as she placed a palm on her daughter's hair, feeling prouder still when she was able to take one of her hands. "Now, we'd better collect everything before Daddy wonders where we have got to."
Greeting the cook as she went into the kitchen, Anna made sure the children were placated before she gathered the rest of the food into the modest picnic basket, having prepared it herself the night before. John had gone out before them, still being an early riser. The business called for it, and they were both glad that it was going so well. They had always been sensible in their expectations, knowing that it typically took a few years for a hotel to get established with new owners. The speed at which things had picked up had been surprising but not too demanding, and they had taken on a few extra members of staff to assist just recently. It was all perhaps a little busier than they had pictured in their dreams but they still had more time to themselves here than they did at Downton. She couldn't have imagined being able to look after two young children by herself most of the day and she knew that John cherished every minute he was able to watch them grow before his eyes, encouraging every step and word and doing everything he could to make both of them smile and laugh, which they always did easily and delightedly for their father.
They were lucky enough to have their own private cottage next to the hotel, and it was there that their proudest achievements were celebrated. Even after a trying day the best times could be seen ahead of them, Anna and John sharing smiles as they bathed their son and daughter in the same tub. Anna listened just as attentively as the children to the bedtime stories John would tell animatedly, and with kisses upon their foreheads and dreams in their heads they both went off to sleep soundly. Though they could have dropped themselves, John and Anna made the most of the time they had completely to themselves and were always eager to do so, giggles following them down the stairs balanced by a kiss upon every other step.
Anna shook her head after a brief bout of dreaming, safe in the knowledge that what they had now would never disappear. The two little ones with beaming faces sitting upon the counter were proof enough of that. She hooked the wicker basket over one arm so she was able to pick up Christopher with both hands, and smiled as Emma stopped to bid an enthusiastic farewell to everyone she could find. She would have taken longer about it given the time, but the promise of seeing her daddy again speeded the little girl along – at a pace that thankfully Anna was able to keep up with.
The morning was bright, and much warmer than she had imagined an April day would have been. Blue skies with only wisps of white cloud promised that it would remain this way well into the afternoon. It wasn't high season, which meant they were able to take the time without worrying too much. Their staff were perfectly capable and they were fortunate enough to have a good rapport with all of them, but it was in both of their natures to feel a little guilty that they shouldn't have been at the helm. Now they knew the strain that Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes had permanently been under, though their little establishment was not as grand or indeed provided quite so many problems that Downton Abbey had. The much-missed housekeeper had written to Anna a week or so ago to inform them that she would be making a visit for a weekend in the summer, and already Anna was greatly anticipating the thought of seeing the woman who had been like a mother to her again. They kept in touch regularly, and Scarborough wasn't all that far, but this trip would be quite special – it would be the first time Mrs Hughes would meet Christopher, though he was almost a year old. Emma had turned four in November last year. Again, Anna wondered to herself where that time had gone to.
It didn't take long to walk down to the beach, and Anna had to call out to Emma who was getting further away, her hat nearly flinging off as she bounced along to the edge of the sand. When she noticed where their daughter was headed, however, she had to curb the urge to run herself.
John stood, his smile evident beneath his slightly worn and fraying panama hat. His jacket had been discarded onto the wide blanket that was stretched at his feet, yet he was still wearing his waistcoat for the time being. His gaze burned towards Anna and she felt herself beam at his attentions, while the warm weight of their son was held in her arms. He kept his smiling eyes trained on her until Emma's hands pulled at the leg of his trousers, and Anna's heart overflowed when he scooped up their little girl, kissing both of her cheeks and hanging on to all of her exclamations.
"What's all this?" Anna asked with a smile on her face, surprised to see the sizeable hamper lying on top of the blanket.
"It seems Mrs Lewis had prepared it," John answered, putting Emma down gently to allow her to continue frolicking with the sand. He came forth, planting a kiss upon Christopher's head and then a brief but sweet one on his wife's lips. "I didn't want to argue with her, you know that she can be more than a match for Mrs Patmore at times." They both chuckled as they were reminded of Downton's cook, and didn't want to imagine a face-off between the two. "So I graciously accepted. We can always stock up at home if it doesn't all get eaten."
"I'll say. There's enough to feed the five thousand here."
Anna opened her mouth a little too wide on purpose, encouraging a laugh from their baby son who she bounced in her arms before settling him down onto his tummy on the blanket. She began to rifle through the various sandwiches, salads and pies, thinking they would all be very well fed by the end of the day.
"And this one has already had at least one scone." She uncovered the contents of the basket, smirking to herself knowing that her husband was partial to the sweet treat also.
"Is that right, Tinker?"
Emma giggled as her father's hands wrapped around her, tickling her sides and making her shriek out loudly. At any other time Anna might have been worried that she was making a scene, but as they were out on the beach and absolutely free to enjoy their day however they pleased, all cares were far from her mind.
"Daddy, I want to make a sandcastle!"
"Just one?" John teased, raising an eyebrow towards Anna as Emma was already pulling him by the shirt sleeve off in the opposite direction.
"Emma, give your father a chance. He's been out all morning."
"I can manage," John smirked as he gave the assurance to his wife, the expression soon blooming into one of the most beautiful smiles she had ever seen. He had never been so happy than to have them all together as a family, and the only smiles that rivalled the one he was wearing now were the ones plastered upon him on the night Emma and the morning Christopher was born. Anna let the sensations they provided her with radiate as she looked up to her husband's figure, even finer when he had their daughter in his arms. "Come on then, Tink, let's go and find some seashells."
Father and daughter toddled their way down the beach, John bending a little to be able to hold Emma's hand in his, and Anna knew she would never tire of the sight. Watching Christopher pat his tiny hands against the blanket, she smoothed her hand against the baby's back before picking him up again, settling him into her lap as she looked out towards the sea.
Both of their children had inherited Anna's fair hair and blue eyes, a fact that had delighted John to no end. She believed there was still time for both of their hair to darken at least, but in the sun Christopher's had seemed lighter than ever, Emma's remaining hidden beneath her sun hat which was remarkably still on her head. They had talked about it and thought maybe they would have another child who would take after John in every aspect. Neither of them were getting younger and perhaps there wouldn't be much time left. But they figured that they would leave things up to chance, knowing that even tomorrow could not be precisely planned, never mind the future.
The explorers returned with their treasure, Anna showing her astonishment for all the shells they had unearthed. John settled himself at the edge of the blanket, heaping sand into the bucket with a small spade while Emma used her hands. Anna wiped it off before she ventured to get her daughter something to eat, and shook her head as John explained the reasons why they were called 'sandwiches'. With a vaguely puzzled look on her face, Emma soon sensibly dismissed the notion. After a couple more breaks for nourishment the task came to a successful end, the pair looking very proud with their efforts.
"Well, that is quite something," Anna exclaimed while little Christopher clapped his hands in approval.
"It's Downton Abbey, Mummy," Emma smiled as she stuck the final seashell into the 'door' of the castle for decoration.
"So it is." Anna sucked in a breath regarding the creation, unaware that a tear had sprung to her eye.
"What's wrong, Mummy?" the little girl frowned for a moment. "Don't you like it?"
Anna shook her head quickly, heartbroken to see the look on her daughter's face. She gathered Emma close to her while Christopher continued to babble.
"I love it, my sweetheart," she said, reassuring Emma with a wide smile and a nod of her head. "It's nice to be reminded of it. It has a lot of memories for Mummy and Daddy."
She gazed up to find John smiling at her, and she responded in kind, her heart warming every time she looked at him.
Sometimes she thought of Downton in the midst of a busy day. In moments she would miss the bustle and the chatter, and she would always hold it dear to her heart, regardless of the bad as well as the good that had occurred. She had met John there, and that meant that it was one of the most special places on earth. They had made their home elsewhere now, and perhaps in some years down the line they would find another place to settle. Maybe it was exactly here that they would grow old surrounded by their children – a shining light of a promise John had made to her in a time when darkness had still pervaded. Indeed, they might even have some grandchildren around.
Anna let out a laugh as Christopher poked one of his fingers against her cheek, John laughing just the same, and then smiled at her baby boy as he smoothed his small palm over the same patch on her face. She hoped he wouldn't grow up too fast.
Their children soon tired themselves out, sleeping on the blanket as the afternoon went into evening. Anna rested with her back against John's solid chest, her legs settled between his as they gazed out at the horizon. She was happy enough to listen to the distant waves as well as the steady beat of his heart, knowing how precious their quiet moments together were these days.
"What are you thinking about?" she pondered aloud, having turned and thinking her husband wore something of a solemn expression, though he was remarkably handsome.
"The sea," he responded after a moment or two, smiling as Anna furrowed her brow towards him. "How many times we have watched the tide come in and go out again."
John was still prone to making partially cryptic remarks occasionally, and this one made Anna smile a little while she thought about its significance too.
"You," he said after a few minutes of peaceful silence. "How long it has been, and how I wish sometimes that it could have been sooner."
"I think it was just the right time," she smiled, thinking fondly again about that day when she had made it to the bottom of the stairs to find him waiting there, and finding even then that something had changed within her.
"I do too," John held her more tightly, dropping a kiss against her hairline. "And now I'm thinking that I couldn't live one minute without you."
He could be awfully sentimental sometimes, but she rather loved it.
"Happy anniversary, love."
The fact still made her heart jump with joy. "Happy anniversary, Mr Bates."
She eased out of his embrace, only to be able to look into his eyes, touch his face and then, slowly, to brush her lips with his.
The whole world was here, and though it had taken some time to own it, she wouldn't swap the happiness she had now for anything.
A/N: The ending came out a little different than I had anticipated it, but it just felt right, all things considered. I hope that writing about Baby Bates(es) doesn't prevent it from happening, eventually. I do like to think this is something like the 'peaceful life' Joanne was referring to them having *eventually*.