Summary: When Anna and John's son signs up to fight in WWII, it causes tension between the two of them.

Background info for this story: John and Anna have three children: Jack (18), Madeline (15), Charlotte (13). John and Anna own a hotel. They run it with the help of their children. Elsie Hughes/Carson and Mr. Carson are the children's godparents, but more like their grandparents. Most of my stories fit within the same universe with these children (except my first: Unwanted). You do not need to read those to understand this one.

Enjoy!

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December 31, 1943- Jack's 18th Birthday

When it came to the children, birthdays were always big in the Bates household. There had been a time when Anna and John believed they would never have children, so once Jack was born they made a huge celebration every year on his birthday. Then they had two more children within four and a half years of Jack's arrival and had even more to celebrate.

There were very few limits to which Anna would go on the children's birthdays. She would try her best to honor any and all requests they had for their special days. None of their kids ever asked for much. Their usual requests were the cake of their choice and one small token.

This year, Jack hadn't asked for any special present. Anna already knew his favorite cake was chocolate and had Daisy help her make the perfect cake for him.

She had been planning all week long. This was the first birthday where she was a complete ball of nerves. The war was going on and now her oldest child and only son would be old enough to be drafted. She wished she could stop time to keep him from coming of age.

Anna pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind. Today her first baby turned eighteen. She wanted to make sure his day was special. One day he would marry, move out, have children of his own, and he wouldn't want these types of celebrations anymore.

"Mum, should I start decorating?" Madeline questioned. She had pulled her dark locks up into a tight braid behind her back. Anna realized how grown she was looking. At fifteen, her shy, sweet girl was beginning to blossom into a beautiful young lady.

"Yes and wake Charlotte to help you," Anna directed. Madeline rolled her eyes. They both knew the last thing the thirteen year old would want would be to wake early on a holiday from school.

"Good morning," John's voice rang through the air, as he joined some of his family in the kitchen. He walked over towards his wife, pulled her close, and pressed a kiss at her temple. "Getting ready to celebrate, Jack, I see."

"Yes," Anna grinned. "Madeline was just about to go up and wake Charlotte to start helping with the decorating."

"She's going to be angry," Madeline sighed.

"Remind her everyone wakes up early on her birthday to celebrate her," John said, giving his oldest daughter a wink.

Madeline ran up the stairs and both John and Anna could hear the two girls arguing moments later.

"Sisters," Anna just shook her head.

In reality, Madeline and Charlotte got along fine. Better than fine, really. They loved one another fiercely. When Anna realized she had two daughters, she had been afraid they would be like Lady Mary and Lady Edith hating one another. But her girls did not. It didn't mean the two didn't have their moments of disagreements, but they mainly got along very well. For that, Anna was grateful.

A few moments later, Charlotte came down behind Madeline. The youngest daughter's hair was disheveled from sleep. Charlotte's hair was always such a mystery to Anna. Both she and John had straight hair. While Charlotte's was blonde like her mother, it was so incredibly curly. It was hard to manage for Charlotte and so she often wore it pulled up and out of her way. Madeline, on the other hand, hand straight, dark hair. Anna often noticed that both girls envied the other's hair, but neither said much about it.

"Why are we up so early? Jack isn't even here," Charlotte complained, as she sat down at the kitchen table and grabbed a banana from the center bowl.

"What do you mean Jack isn't here?" Anna questioned.

"He left super early this morning. I heard him get up and watched as he left from the window," Charlotte said with a shrug of her shoulders.

"But…" Anna's voice trailed off. "John, did you know anything about this?"

John shook his head. "I haven't a clue."

"He's probably just doing something special for you, Mum," Madeline said with a smile. Anna grinned. Madeline, ever the optimist. She always assumed the best in people. And she was likely correct, Jack liked to do sweet things for his mother often. Anna had been extremely fortunate in the children department.

"So does that mean I can go back to bed?" Charlotte questioned with a loud yawn.

"No, it does not. We still have a ton to prepare for the party later today," Anna informed her. John gave Charlotte a wink and smile to encourage her to be excited for her mother.

"Alright," Charlotte said somewhat stubbornly. Then she stood and gave a big, fake smile in an attempt to appease her mother. "What should I do first?"

-X-X-X-X-X-

An hour before the party was to begin, Jack had still not arrived back to their hotel. Anna was beginning to worry. It wasn't like Jack to leave early in the morning without letting her know where he was. What if something had happened to him?

"He's probably just enjoying the freedom of being an adult," John told his wife, stepping toward her and placing his hand gently on her shoulder. Anna twisted her lips.

"You can always read me, Mr. Bates," she teased. "But do you think something has happened to him?"

"I don't," John replied. "Maybe he has a sweetheart."

"You don't think?" Anna's mouth gaped open. A sweetheart? No, Jack couldn't have a girl he was dating. He would have told her. She hadn't heard him speak of liking anyone since he was much younger and had a crush on Miss Sybbie Branson.

"Stop fretting, Jack will be back before the party. He knows how important these are to you. He would never let his Mum down."

"Mum? When will Godmama and Godpapa be here again? And is Daisy coming early with the cake?" Madeline called from the other room.

"I don't know why they insist on yelling," John said to Anna. Anna just chuckled.

"They are young," Anna said with a shrug.

Madeline's head peeked around the corner. "Mum? Did you hear me?"

"The whole hotel heard you," Anna teased. "Daisy should be here shortly. Your godparents will be here when the party begins. Is everything finished?"

Anna followed Madeline into the sitting room to check over the decorations.

"Yes. Charlotte went over to clean some rooms." Anna was impressed. She couldn't remember a time that Charlotte chose to go and clean rooms on her own.

"Very good," then Anna paused. When had Charlotte done something without an ulterior motive. "Do you know what she wants?"

"No clue, but probably something big," Madeline laughed.

At that moment, the front door opened and Jack walked in holding a large bouquet of flowers.

"Jack!" Anna said happily, walking over toward him. He handed her the flowers. "For me?"

"See, I told you," Madeline stated, before headed upstairs to finish getting herself ready for the party.

"Happy birthday," Anna told Jack, putting down her flowers and then pulling Jack into a hug.

"Thanks, Mum."

"Where have you been?" Anna questioned, as she pulled back.

"Is Pa nearby?"

"He's just in the kitchen," Anna said, leading him back into the kitchen where they caught John sneaking some of the food that had been prepared for the party.

"I only had one," John confessed, lifting his hands up in the air in submission. Anna couldn't help but smile.

"You better not have had more, Mr. Bates." Anna chuckled.

"Ah, Jack. You're back. Where have you been all morning?"

"I went in this morning to sign up."

"Sign up for what?" John questioned carefully. Anna noticed John stiffening as though he knew how Jack was going to answer. Her eyes narrowed. What was going on?

"I volunteered for the war. I will leave for training in a week."

All of the color drained from Anna's face and her heart began to pump wildly in her chest.

"No," she murmured. John placed his hand on Anna's shoulder to hold her steady. Anna sharply turned toward him. "You knew about this," she accused.

"I did not," he replied, hurt she would think he would keep something of this magnitude from her.

"Mum, this was something I wanted to do. I felt it was right," Jack said strongly, but carefully. Anna turned back to face him.

"But ...why today? Why not say something to us?" Tears began to fill in her eyes. She blinked hard to push them away.

"I needed to make this decision on my own. I…"

"Knock, knock," Daisy said, opening the door that led into the kitchen. Her five year old, Liam, ran into the room in front of her. "Sorry, hope it's okay I brought him in early with me. Andy and Mr. Mason had some things to finish."

"That's fine, Daisy," John told her with a bright smile. "I'm sure Charlotte and Madeline would be happy to keep him company while you set up the cake."

"Yes, come here Liam," Anna said attempting to push a smile out to the small child. She put her hand out and Liam took it.

Anna recalled when Daisy had asked if it would be strange to want to name her son after William, her first husband. She explained marrying William had changed her life for the better. Without him, she wouldn't have had Mr. Mason, the farm, her lessons, or Andy. Anna had told her she thought it was a wonderful idea. A great way to honor him and Andy had agreed. It had made Mr. Mason so proud that Daisy's boy was named after his son and he was even more grateful that Daisy named him Liam's grandfather.

"Girls, I need you to come and play with Liam please."

Both girls quickly came down the stairs. They enjoyed little Liam. They often helped watch him for Daisy when she needed help.

When Anna walked back into the kitchen, she asked that John and Jack would follow her into the bedroom.

"I want this party to be fun. We will discuss this later," she told them both.

"There really isn't much to discuss, Mum. I leave in a week."

"Jack, there must be…"

"Anna, Jack is an adult. If this is what he wants…"

"No!" Anna yelled. She paused and closed her eyes to take a deep breath.

"Mum, I didn't do this to hurt you," Jack told her. "It's just something I need to do."

Anna's eyes glanced between her husband and her son. She felt betrayed. Her lips trembled slightly, but she refused to let a sob escape them. For the first time, the two of them had let her down.

To be continued….