This fic takes place at the end of the 5th season, with minor plot adjustments by me to make the whole thing run smoother. Anna and Bates were never married but they work together and are very close friends. Rated for later chapters. Hope you enjoy!

Lady Mary Crawley's eyes flutter open to stare at the elegant framework that lies above her bed. She can tell by the light that it's still early. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she wonders precisely what time it is. It feels very early. She grabs the clock next to her bed and holds close to her still sleepy eyes in order to see the time.

5:30 am? Good grief, Mary thinks to herself before throwing her feet out of the bed and into her slippers. Why in heaven's name have I woken up so early? And why is it so cold in here? She rubs her newly bobbed hair for a moment, sending it into disarray, before it occurs to her.

Darting to the window and throwing back the curtains, a smile is already upon her face. On the ground is a fresh layer of snow, sparkling in the early morning light and reflecting the oranges, yellows, and pinks the sun is giving off. Mary leans against the window, taking in the view. It's so childish, she thinks to herself, to still get so very excited about snow. But I can't help myself. There was something about that sparkling, untouched, white beauty that made her stomach feel inside. Imagine if Edith were to see me like this, she sighed, I'd never hear the end of it.

From behind her, she could hear the door to her room open slowly but she didn't bother to turn around. She knew who it was.

"Good morning, Anna," she said, not taking her eyes off the window.

"Good morning, milady," Anna replied in an unnaturally chipper voice for someone who must've been up since the crack of dawn.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Mary said.

Anna chuckled, "Why, your ladyship sounds almost wistful. It's a tone I rarely ever hear from you. Lady Rose yes, but not you."

"I suppose I don't feel the need to use this tone very often. And certainly not in front of the others, Edith would have a riot. However, since it's just you and I..."

Anna walked over to the chair and grabbed Mary's robe. As she approached the window to drape the robe over her Lady's bare shoulders, she couldn't help but look at the snow and agree.

"Yes, it is very beautiful."

Mary laughed gently, "Now who sounds wistful? By the way, Anna, how did you know I was already up? It can't yet be 6 o' clock."

Anna turned back away from the window and began fussing with the tray of breakfast she had brought up, "You always wake up quite early if it's snowed over night, milady. Not sure how you do it, I suppose you somehow know it's happened and wake yourself up to see it. Anyways, I could tell it was going to snow as I was going home last night so I made sure to wake up early enough to catch you, your ladyship."

Mary finally turned around from the window and levelled her eyes on Anna. It never failed to surprise the maid, the weight that those eyes held. They appeared very dark from the distance she was at but she knew that if she got closer, the rich chesnut they really were would reveal itself.

The corner of Mary's mouth turned up just a bit, in an unusual smile. Certainly not one Anna had ever seen before.

"You know me very well, Anna. Better, perhaps, than anyone else in this house."

Anna busied herself with pouring coffee into a beautiful porcelain cup and handing it to her Ladyship, "I suppose we spend quite a lot of time together, milady."

"I suppose we do," Mary took a sip of her coffee, "I also suppose no one else in the house is awake yet?"

"No madam, I imagine they're all still asleep."

Mary went over to sit at her mirror, "Well, then there's no rush in getting ready for the day yet. Let's brush my hair and I'll just stay in my bedclothes a little longer."

"Of course," Anna quickly set to work. She picked up the heavy handled brush and began brushing Mary's dark, shiny locks. Even though she still found Mary's new haircut a tad scandalous, she had to admit that it made the rountine of doing it every morning and night much easier. Such beautiful hair too. Anna couldn't help but let the now tamed hair run through her fingers. So soft, almost unreal to touch. She began to work her fingers deeper towards Mary's scalp, unaware that she had put the brush down and instead revelling in the beautiful hair.

Mary had noticed but said nothing. Anna's long slender fingers were so gentle but firm, trailing their way across her head. She almost began to purr it felt so good. As this went on, Mary observed Anna's reflection in the mirror in front of her. The maid's blue eyes were distant, far away, like she was daydreaming. Her face was so kind, so pretty. It was all softness and light; it made Mary feel warm just to look at. Very different from her own face: sharp lines, hard edges, and intense, dark features. The longer she stared at Anna and the longer Anna's hands stroked her hair, the more she became aware of a feeling in her stomach. A twisting sensation that was making it's way into her chest. It was tight and hot but not unpleasant.

Neither knew how long this had been going on when Anna's eyes drifted slightly and met Lady Mary's in the mirror. She jerked her hands away and quickly began collecting the contents of the breakfast tray.

"There you are, milady. Will there be anything else?"

Mary stared at her for a moment before responding. Anna's eyes were focused on some spot over her shoulder, refusing to look her in the eyes, "No thank you, Anna. Come back in about half an hour to help me dress."

"Of course, your ladyship," Anna responded before scurrying out the door.

Mary slowly sat back down on her bed. What on earth just happened? She lifted a hand to her own head, stroking it the way Anna had. It didn't yield the same result at all. No matter, Mary thought, it was nothing. Anyways, I have things to do. She sat at the desk, to respond to a letter from her Aunt Rosamund but her mind kept drifting to a certain blonde haired, blue eyed young lady. Frustrated, she threw her pen across the room.

What is going on with me?