It had been an accident. He had moved to trim the top of the door frame and as he did, Anna walked right through his paint filled brush. It splashed across her cheek and into her hair and she gasped and blinked. "John!" she yelped. He set his brush down and his hands flew to her face trying to wipe it away. He was trying to be apologetic, but the grin plastered across his face and the chuckle he was trying and failing to keep in was giving him away.

"Did you do that on purpose" she asked smiling coyly at him.

"Of course not!" he laughed. "I'd never mark such a pretty face." He leaned in to kiss her lightly. With his eyes closed and lips puckered he felt a cold wet smear across his cheek.

"I must apologize as well… Mr. Bates, it was an accident." She was smirking, and as she said it, she brought a paint filled finger down the bridge of his nose, landing a big dollop on the tip. She stared directly into his eyes, daring him.

He stood still for a moment and then pounced. He quickly pushed her up and against the wall, trapping her hands at the wrists above her head. He dipped his face, and smeared the still wet paint on his face against her cheek and neck. She was giggling, wiggling, and begging him to stop. He relented and she smiled that bright smile of hers. Her face was chalky white with paint and he laughed a little. But then she dropped her chin, lifting those fawn like eyes to him… her mouth pursed like it was ever so often. And then the air seemed to leave the room, and he was undone.

He had become undone a lot lately. One would have thought that having to show such strict propriety while just engaged to Anna, and having to spend an entire year away from her would have given him great patience and perfect self control. Alas… this was not the case.

His first night back, lying alone in his old room, old cold bed.. he could think of only her. He had crept to the women's corridor… willing Anna to come out. She did not. He examined the door and the lock… could he pick it? He tried it to see the resistance, and to his great surprise it opened. It was not locked. Had Anna? He didn't care. He quickly, quietly, made his way down the corridor, and softly knocked on Anna's door. At first, he heard nothing and just as he went to turn the knob, it opened slowly.

Her eyes were wide... She ushered him in quickly. Her hands were on him. Hands to shoulders, arms, his back, hips…It was dark and she was whispering to him between sweet soft kisses… "What are you doing? How did you get in?" She asked in the dark.

"It wasn't locked' he said… "I thought you had left it unlocked." He dipped his tongue to hers..

"What?" she stopped briefly… 'It wasn't me."

He raised his eyebrows at her..

"Oh sod it." she said… wrapping her arms around his neck and taking him to bed.

He had been undone every single night that week. And every single night the door was unlocked. He would sneak out just after midnight when they were sure everyone was asleep. And he would stay and make love to his wife, sleep soundly with her softly against him, and then wake to watch her dress before she had to go down for breakfast.

The first morning she had tried to be discreet, but he would have none of that. "Anna.. you are a delight to look at, please don't hide from me."

She blushed terribly, and it was so beautiful. She was very late for breakfast that morning.

Their last night in the house, Bates caught a glimpse of Mrs. Hughes disappearing into the women's corridor. He cursed, and waited for the click of the lock.. but it never came.