Anna thought John was such a good Orator. Too bad she died too early to see her son take on the role…..

…..And thank you to Cherry88 for always pre-reading to make sure my ideas are sound!

10 Years Later

William looked at the crowd. He was surprised that so many people had come to hear him speak, to listen to his acceptance speech. He was thrilled, excited and nervous at the same time. It wasn't his first speech, he had given many before, but it was the most important one he had ever given. From behind the platform stairs, he scanned the crowd looking for those he loved and found them nearly at the front. They were all there and that brought peace to his heart.

Before going out to address the crowd, he needed to do one last thing. He took out the folded sheet from his left breast pocket as carefully as he could. He opened it slowly and reverently, recognizing its fragility. He hoped to preserve it for much longer. This was one of his treasures and it had provided much comfort in the past years. He scanned his mother's writing for the paragraph he was looking for and started to read fragments.

"…..You have an aptitude for so many things, you are blessed with intellect and have all the perseverance, character and strength to do anything you want in your life. Your father and I see you as a great Orator and a great Leader and no doubt, one day, you will be a great man. Whether you decide to use these skills for farming, service, commerce, or politics, we couldn't be prouder of the man you are becoming and the opportunities you have made for yourself. Your father and I had little options when we were young and we went in to service. It was only through your grandmother's inheritance that we were lucky enough to acquire the Inn and change our fortunes. You, on the other hand, have options. You are wise, survived the war and have the privilege of a great benefactor. Use the opportunity wisely.

When your father and I are no longer here, we will be with you always. Remember your humble origins, keep your integrity in order, mind your honor and always do everything with pride. No task or job is ever menial, no person ever unimportant. Keep these truths as a compass and they will guide you through your life. Never shy from a challenge and learn from your mistakes. Overall, find joy in everything you do, as this way, it does not become a burden….."

There were so many things his mother had written him in this last letter she posted. Had he received it prior to her passing, he might think her mad, but, when he arrived home after their funeral, it was there, waiting for him. She never wrote it explicitly, but the letter had been penned with the knowledge that it was her last and there were all manner of recommendations and good-byes. It was now his most cherished possession and it had served as his guide. It had brought him here, to this moment.

"Are, you ready love?"

He turned to see Penelope behind him in a new and beautiful emerald colored dress, her hair coiffed in loose waves around her. She was a vision of loveliness. Two year old Marianne clung against her mother's hip in an adorable pink dress with many ruffles and ribbons. She was wearing a little crown of flowers and looked like a little angel. She seemed oblivious to what was happening and hummed to herself, keeping herself busy. Standing to attention beside them, three year old Frederick wore a miniature mariner outfit and looked the part. He was stood straight, with a stoic face to match. He was a happy child, but seemed rather overwhelmed by the amount of people and what was going on around him. He was not used to such commotion.

"Yes, I am ready." He leaned over to kiss his wife. His excitement was palpable as their lips met each other briefly. He kissed Marianne on her temple and reached down to scoop his son into his arms. The boy immediately felt comforted. Taking his wife's hand, they walked out as a family into the cheering crowd.

Annabelle looked at her four children to make sure they were still presentable. It was hard to keep them looking tidy and proper, as they were full of energy and excitement. This was their uncle's big day and Annabelle understood. She felt it herself. She was nervous and excited too. She glanced at Mamie, but she should not have worried about her. She was a proper little lady of 13 and she never had a hair out of place, or her shoes untied, or her dress out of order. She was a little princess and she looked up to her Aunt Penelope, who was the epitome of grace and beauty. If anybody in their family was going to look the part, it would always be their eldest. John, at 10, was just like his father and grandfather, quiet and introverted. He was very absent minded and a little awkward, but a very kind soul. Annabelle always seemed to have to look him over, because more often than not, he would button his shirt all wrong or get mud all over his shoes. He never seemed to comb his hair right either. He was a nature lover and wildly attracted to bugs and small critters. Annabelle always had to be on alert that he did not bring anything into the Inn that could scare their guests if it became loose. The twins, Michael and Samantha, at age 6, had much vitality and also liked being outdoors. They were always running, and continually making her worry. They were inseparable, as twins ought, and they were always getting into mischief. She hoped they would outgrow this phase soon, as more than a handful of guests had already been a party to their practical jokes. To make sure nothing happened to them today and that they did not interrupt the events, their father held on to each one of their hands.

Beside Annabelle, Lady Mary stood, looking as regal and elegant as she ever did. The Earl of Grantham, George Crawley, came with his wife, the Countess and their two children. Sir Oliver was with them, escorting his American fiancé. Annabelle was surprised that the Earl would come, as he was a member of the House of Lords and not completely in agreement with her brother's politics. Regardless of their diverging thoughts on certain matters, he was present and championing his brother in law, if not supporting the politics. His achievements merited his presence and in these times, the Crawley family was always together.

Annabelle was proud of her brother and what he had accomplished in the ten years since their parents had died. When he told her he was running for the vacant MP seat in the West Riding Yorkshire County, Ripon constituency, she couldn't believe it. He had already achieved many accomplishments and while she had faith in him and his capacity, she thought he might be heading for disappointment, but he attained what he had set out to do. He won the seat in the same way he succeeded at everything else.

He had finished school with honors and settled in Ripon after graduation. Even while he was still close to Downton and the Inn, he made his home in this larger city, his main goal to make money and to establish himself so that he could be worthy enough to court his beloved in the eyes of the Crawley family. Together, with another school friend who provided capital, they had started a business that was successful. They managed to make money and as he had pledged to his sister, had managed to woo Penelope and convince his Godmother that he was worthy.

Perhaps Lady Mary had seen her share of grief and heartbreak over the years, enough so that when she saw how her daughter doted on her youngest Godchild, she silently sighed and said nothing. She had not realized that they corresponded with each other at all and didn't think to observe them the many times they were together when the Bates' family had been invited to visit Downton. Her daughter was considered quite a beauty and had many aristocratic suitors, but she never took to any of them. She later learned that William had started writing to Lady Penelope shortly after his parent's deaths and the young Lady had answered him back promptly. She had gone away, to a Swiss finishing school and their correspondence continued. He was the reason she never paid any attention to the invitations that came her way. They weren't hiding their relationship and there was nothing illicit or sordid in their dealings with each other. IT just did not come up in family conversations and William was away at Cambridge, then Ripon, while she was on the European mainland. When she had come home, within their first meeting, they had planned to marry and William had agreed to speak to the Earl and Lady Mary.

Annabelle couldn't be prouder when she saw him, all dressed up, ready to ask permission to marry his sweetheart. He was handsome and confident, a fine young man. He had done well and her parents would be so proud. As the matriarch of the Bates' family and representing his deceased parents, Annabelle escorted her brother and together, as a family, they requested Lady Penelope's hand. He was nervous, but very eloquent when he spoke. His impassioned plea was well received. Penelope looked like she would burst. Nobody in the room could deny that the young lovers weren't meant for each other. One look at them was all it took. There was an evident longing and love in their eyes, one that Annabelle could only ever remember seeing between her parents, Anna and John Bates.

Lady Mary was silent and for a moment Annabelle thought that she would protest, regardless of her affection for William, but she didn't. Years later, when Frederick was born, she confided in Annabelle that she was very pleased and hoped that all her children married for love. In her old age, she was very sentimental and partial to sharing information, something she never used to do. She reminisced that she almost married for money once and was thankful that she had reconsidered and had been able to marry two men she had loved. She then shed a tear remembering her dear sister, one who Annabelle never met, who had been courageous and followed her heart and married a chauffeur, Sybbies father, much to her family's detriment. As the daughter of an aristocrat, that was scandalous. She had heard of the brave Lady Sybil from her mother, who spoke about her with much admiration and respect. It made sense to Annabelle now that the Crawley family had not stood in her brother's way. He had been embraced and soon after they were married.

After the nuptials, they stayed in Ripon and he continued to make money, all the while, working actively with the city council and making himself known throughout the county. They had a good life together. They were not rich, but, Penelope Bates wanted for nothing. They had a comfortable life, much like Annabelle had at the Inn. She now had four children, had a wonderful husband and their business had not declined through the years. For both the Bates' children, their lives were much different than those of their parents.

Annabelle was brought out of her thoughts by the wild clapping that took place when her brother and his family took to the small stage that was set up in Ripon's City Center. After a long fought campaign, he won the vacant seat and was now taking over, as the youngest MP ever for that region. She was there, as they all were, to witness his acceptance speech as history was made.

William stood with confidence in front of the metallic tube placed before him. It was a small stage, with only the microphone on it, but beside him, his family stood proudly. He still held Frederick in his arms, while Penelope held Marianne. He could see his sister beaming with pride, his Godmother, and the other family members besides them, accompanied by several hundred citizens, all come to hear him speak.

He breathed deeply and started.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I stand before you today, honored to have been elected your representative to the House of Commons. I am humbled by your vote and the confidence that comes with it. I take the responsibility of representing you with great pride, and endeavor to do it as best I can.

People often ask me what makes me think that I am the better person for this job, how am I more qualified than all the others, given my young life and relatively short political career. I can't talk to you about the others, I don't know them well enough, and I can only talk about me and who I am and I want tell you."

He turned to look at his wife, acknowledging her presence.

"I am William Bates, husband to Penelope and father to Marianne and Frederick. They are the most important thing in the world to me, and they are here, with me, sharing this stage, so that you can see that I am a family man, devoted to them. That is the most important job I have and through my work for you, I seek to make them proud.

I am the youngest child of John and Anna Bates. My father was half Irish, raised by his mother in London. My own mum was born a farmer's daughter, right here in Yorkshire. They were both of the working class, former servants to one of the finest families in the county, the house of the Earl of Grantham."

He smiled at his Godmother. There were few who wouldn't know who she was, or the Earl standing next to her. Even if they weren't known, they stood out in the crowd, impossible to look like anything but the aristocrats they were.

He continued with his speech.

"My mother was a housemaid at Downton Abbey, my father a Valet. Not many of the elected officials in this country can tout such an ordinary background. I can and I am proud of my humble origins. I have not come from money or privilege. I come from an example of hard work and dedication. My parents, after many struggles, and through their own labor and means, managed to buy their own little business. I remember seeing them wake early, work hard, and go to sleep late, every day of their lives, tending to it with love and dedication. There was never a complaint, always a blessing for a full day of work, always an appreciation for having a task to do, somebody to serve. This amazing example of zeal and perseverance was instilled in me from a young age…. Not just in the value of a solid work ethic, but in the matter of duty and patriotism.

My father fought for King and Country and was injured in the Boer War; damage to his leg plaguing the forty years he lived with it. He was left with a limp and the need of a cane to get around. He neither complained about his disability, nor the war in which it was inflicted. Rather, he bore his pain with stoicism and often remarked that it made him who he was and that it gave him character. Born of his example, I too participated in the recent Great War, doing my part to ensure the glory of our great nation. I served then, as I seek to serve you now."

He focused on Annabelle for a moment, happy to see his sister. He couldn't remember a moment where she hadn't supported him and he could tell she was welling up with emotion. She was such a copy of their mother, and represented her well. No doubt, if she or their father had been there today, they would have been speechless, their pride and joy, ready to burst at the seams. He focused on the crowd again.

"That is who I am. I am a father, husband, son, brother and now, your representative."

His demeanor changed, his tone became melancholy for a moment.

"Sadly, my parents are no longer here, they left this earth ten years ago, but, every day I live, I live by their example."

He smiled again, regaining the enthusiasm needed to finalize his thoughts. A flash of them sitting together, in front of the fireplace, sharing tea and smiling came to his mind. They were always like that, happy and together, enjoying simple and quiet times. Suddenly, he felt a gentle breeze caress his cheeks, a warm wind enveloping the stage around him and in that precise moment, he knew they were with him; they were watching over him.

He began again, with assertiveness and confidence present in his tone.

"To finish, I'll tell you something that my mother always used to say. 'William, actions speak louder than words.' I will endeavor to do the job as honorably as I can and represent you, the people of Yorkshire, with nothing but the benefit of this county and all of its citizens equally. I will not be full of false words, or empty promises. I will work tirelessly, with integrity and honor and I tell you now, my actions will speak for me."

He finished and the crowd cheered. His great charm, straightforward thinking and enthusiasm made him a great orator and his discourse was received with much excitement. William clasped his wife's hand and raised it briefly above their heads. Then, Annabelle and William locked eyes on each other once more. Their family had come far from their humble and tormented beginnings. This was a new episode in their family's history - jail sentences, hardships, struggles and separations were forgotten. There was a new Bates' family legacy in its place.

The end!

A/N: I did my best to research English government, constituencies, the MP role, etc. IT seems the area where Ripon is located has been modified many times over in the last three hundred years. It was all too confusing and I was looking for what it would have been in 1955. So, English readers, please forgive me if I make any gross misstatements. I am zero political as well, and had to read several acceptance speeches, from Obama 2008, to Bush 2000, etc. Not sure I stole anything from them, not enough to have to credit them, but, you should know I did read them…. It is much harder writing political speeches than love letters. I really struggled and I realize that I will never have a career as a speech writer… I will just stick to fan fiction. Also, not sure if families took to the stage in the 1950's, but oh well, that scene wouldn't go away as I sat down to write this.

Thank you to everybody who read and reviewed my little story!