A/N-So I was prompted to write this by Handy-For-The-Bus and Umbrella-ella27. After recently finding out that the cast of Downton Abbey was filming beach scenes we had no choice but to imagine what Anna and Bates would have looked like in 1920s bathing suits and hanging out by the sea. I have to thank Umbrella-ella27 for her help in editing this and giving me some ideas for it. By the way google "Bathing Machines" they are by far the most ridiculous things I have ever heard of. It will give you some perspective for later in the story. Hope you all enjoy it!

John trailed behind Anna trying to carry all their belongings down to the beach. His feet shuffled cautiously along the wooden dock that lined the road; he looked up and saw that the beach wasn't too far ahead. It wasn't heavy by any means; but it certainly wasn't easy when he was trying to steady himself without the use of his cane. Anna had insisted on helping but he wouldn't have any of it. His knee served as a constant reminder of the things he couldn't do and he'd be damned if he couldn't manage a picnic basket, umbrella, a few towels and a blanket. But that didn't stop her from stopping every couple steps to turn back and check on him.

"Are you sure I can't carry something for you?" she asked.

"No, my love. You're carrying my cane and that's more than enough," he said while trying to mask his irritation. It wasn't the first time she had offered to help, but he knew she meant well.

John set the load down for a moment to pull a handkerchief from the breast pocket of his vest and remove his straw panama hat. He used the handkerchief to pat the sweat beading at the base of his neck and fanned himself with the hat. John watched as his wife's gaze traveled down to the pile he had been carrying and sighed exasperatedly. He placed the hat back on his head before undoing the buttons on his vest; the cool breeze coming off the sea felt exhilarating and immediately relaxed him. As John stopped to catch his breath he felt a pinch in his right shoulder and he winced a little. He took a moment to allow his free hand to slide up the length of his braces that held his pants in place; the motion seemed to alleviate the tightening of his back and neck muscles. Anna's brow furrowed with concern over her husband, he could be so stubborn sometimes. Always eager to prove he could do just as much as a man with two good legs. She worried that one day he would overdo it and cause himself more damage than he anticipated.

"John, please," she pleaded.

He dabbed at his brow while hiding the roll of his eyes. The heat was getting to him; even without his dress jacket on, his Sunday pants and dress shirt were suffocating him in the summer sun. "Anna, for the last time, no. I can manage," he felt bad the moment the words escaped his mouth. He hadn't meant to be short with her. "Now please don't ask me again or we'll head right back to the hotel," he said with a playful smile. She smiled back assuring him that she had taken no offense to his outburst. She knew that he still had his pride and that sometimes it wasn't worth the argument. If he woke up a little sore the next morning he would have no one to blame but himself.

"That's not much of a threat John Bates. Do you not remember what we did in the hotel room this morning? Or last night?" she teased as she leaned against his cane.

"How could I forget? You naughty girl," he said as he undid the buttons on the cuffs of his long sleeve shirt. She watched as his nimble fingers worked to free the buttons from their hold and was reminded of how they had worked on her in a similar way the night before. Her cheeks flushed at the memory of it all just as his eyes rose to look at her. Anna felt the sensation of butterflies in her stomach build and she gave him a knowing smile. John winked back at her while he began rolling up his sleeves in anticipation of hoisting up the load again. Meanwhile, Anna looked on at him with anticipation of a different sort. She watched as his large hands rubbed his bad knee and before she could say anything he said, "It's always like this, with or without the heavy lifting."

"Mhmm," she sighed sounding unconvinced.

"I'm just preparing myself for the rough terrain ahead," he explained as he gestured to the sand dunes that awaited him.

"Whatever makes you feel better," she called back to him over her shoulder. Anna had already forged ahead letting her finger tips graze the top of the Marram grass that grew along the shore. The beach grass nearly came up to her shoulders and swayed in the breeze while the warm sun kissed her alabaster skin. He caught a glimpse of her lively smile as her straw cloche hat hid most of her face and he felt his heart swell. John let out a heavy sigh as he hitched the load up a little higher to get a better grip on the picnic basket at the base. "You'll not convince me otherwise Mr. Bates," she said as she enunciated the long "a" in his name. Anna continued ahead with her white lace parasol clutched close to her. It had been a hand me down from Lady Mary along with the dress she wore. Even still, she looked picturesque in the form fitting dress that came down just past her knees and seemed to hug at her curves in all the right places. John remembered how Anna had to take it in to fit her petite frame and added her own special touch to it with a pink sash tied around the waist. It may as well have been a brand new dress to him; for no one else could have filled it or looked as gorgeous in it as his Anna.

John felt his knee throb once on the sand and he had hoped that Anna would have already picked a spot to settle in, but that was wishful thinking. Even though the beach was relatively empty she took her time and found fault with the first three places John suggested. If John didn't know any better he would have sworn his wife was trying to test his resolve when she insisted on bringing nearly every item from home with them. And now she was meandering about searching for the "Holy Grail" of picnic spots while he stood there like a chump carrying it all. But again, he could not find fault with his lovely wife.

Anna had been out of sorts for weeks and this trip couldn't have come at a better time. Lady Mary had finally shown some signs of progress since the death of her husband and Anna wasn't needed as often to help out with baby George. The sale of his mother's house to the current tenants was already in the works and Lord Grantham had granted them the weekend off for Anna's birthday. Aside from her sickness on the train she had been all smiles from the moment they stepped foot into the seaside town. John had suggested that they take a trip to take a look at two hotels he had considered purchasing. Of course, he couldn't do it without his wife's blessing and the holiday away from Downton was much deserved. He and Anna had gone for nearly ten years without time off except for when his mother had passed and the time spent in jail. And he hardly would have called those vacations.

He finally broke free of his thoughts when Anna called his name and asked, "John, what were you thinking about?"

"Hmmm…what?" he asked as he maneuvered himself closer to the spot she finally chose. She grabbed the blanket from the top of the pile he was carrying and fanned it out on the sand before sitting down.

John set the rest of the stuff down and handed her the towels as she asked again, "I asked what had you so deep in thought?"

"Oh nothing dear," he said. He began to remove his vest and grimaced when he realized the sand had already begun to seep into his shoes. But all was quickly forgotten as he looked down at Anna. She stared out wistfully at the sea as she took her shoes off and let her toes wriggle in her stockings. Against the backdrop of the sea her eyes somehow shone even brighter and looked cerulean as opposed to the crystal blue he was used to. Anna finally looked up at him and offered him a wide grin as she patted the blanket, motioning for him to sit next to her. John eased himself down next to her and rubbed at his aching knee as he leaned in for a kiss at the base of her neck. "I was thinking how beautiful you look right now," he said sweetly.

"You cheeky beggar," she shot back as she placed her hand atop of his and took over massaging his knee.

"Just what are you implying?" he asked.

"John Bates, sometimes you think so loudly I can hear your thoughts from miles away," she said and he gave her a look of defeat. There would be no winning with her. There usually never was; but he was more than fine with those odds. John considered himself a champion the day he married her, if it meant she won every day after that he would be a happy man. No one could say she hadn't earned it after the years she had waited for him to confess his love for her; his time away with Vera; the year and a half spent in jail. Anna deserved nothing but bright days and that was his life's goal. "I know you weren't thinking of how beautiful I am," she said.

John readjusted himself so that he was facing Anna and moved her legs so that her feet were sitting in his lap. He began rubbing her feet and she sighed contentedly with her eyes half lidded. "Are you calling me a liar?" he asked good-humoredly. Anna chose to keep tight lipped but he saw the corners of her lips begin to turn up and it excited him to no end. John allowed his fingers to glide up the length of her leg, stopping only to lightly squeeze her knee. He watched eagerly to see if she would give in easily or if she would put up a fight; sometimes she could be just as stubborn as he was. When she refused to smile for him and answer his question he slid his hands underneath her dress to unclip her garter belt. Anna let out a small moan at the action and nearly gasped aloud when she felt John take a hold of her stockings. He slowly rolled them down to reveal her smooth, milky-white calves and leaned forward to kiss her once more, but this time he kissed her long and deep on the lips.

Anna was left breathless when he pulled away. "What was that for?" she asked when she finally opened her eyes.

"I just wanted to remind the woman who once told me she never doubts that I will always think she is beautiful," he answered. The wrinkles in the corners of his eyes spread wider as his smile grew and she beamed with tears in her eyes. "Hey now, there is no need for tears," he said as he gently squeezed her hand, "this was meant to be a happy occasion."

Anna entwined her fingers with his and used her free hand to wipe at her eyes, "Oh believe me, these are happy tears." But her face told a different story as she looked back at the waves crashing upon the shore. John sat silently waiting for her to go on. He hadn't wanted to push her, but he knew something had been bothering her since they left Downton. "I almost feel guilty being here."

"Guilty?" John asked with concern etched on his face.

"I keep thinking about Lady Mary and little George. I'm just wondering how they are carrying on right now," she said. John didn't need to say anything. It had already been a major topic of conversation in their cottage. In fact it had come up more often than she cared to admit and she knew he was probably tired of it. Since Matthew's death Anna had spent many a late night at the Abbey consoling Lady Mary or caring for George when Mary had not been up for it. He knew she had felt partially responsible for his death; having told Mr. Carson that fateful day to prepare Matthew's car for travel to the hospital. She had admitted it to John in bed the night after the funeral and she had cried in his arms until she had fallen asleep.

"Anna…" he interrupted her thoughts.

"Hold on, let me finish. I'm not blaming myself anymore," she said and he let out a sigh of relief. "I just meant that it's a shame that we are sitting here…enjoying this lovely day while they are back at home without a husband or a father. And they will never get to share days like this…as a family."

Her words tugged at his heart and he knew what she meant. John filled in the rest of her thoughts for her when he said, "And soon I'll be taking you away from them. Not just Mary and George…but all of your family." Anna silently shook her head in agreement. "Anna, my love, as long as I live I promise to spend every day making you happy…no matter where we end up," he said with a smile.

It wasn't that she wasn't happy to be there, but it was hard to say good bye to a place and people that she had known more than half her life. "When I first came to Downton I was so consumed with work and earning my place that I rarely had time to dream, but I dreamed of a day like this. Never in a million years did I think it would come true, that I would be sitting on the beach with my husband… the love of my life and best friend." Anna had barely gotten the last words out of her mouth as she began getting choked up. She looked up at John and now saw that tears were filling the brim of his eyes. "I keep pinching myself," she said in a voice just above a whisper.

John smiled when he remembered saying the same thing to Anna following one of the darkest periods in his life. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed the top of her knuckles and whispered softly back, "Believe."

They shared a laugh when she recognized his words as her own and she asked, "When did you become such an optimist?"

"The day I met you," he answered back without hesitation. Anna was left speechless and she smiled coyly. "Now my love, seeing as how it is your birthday, what would you like to do?"

Anna squinted her eyes as she looked up at the sun and shielded her eyes with her hand. She thought about it for a while before answering, "I want to go for a swim, then lunch, maybe build a sandcastle, and at some point today I want you to read to me."

"My, my sounds like we have a full day ahead," John said as he lightly tugged at a loose strand of her hair that hung out from beneath her hat. He twirled it in his fingers before saying, "Well we better get started now then."

"I agree," Anna said as she began to unravel her towel and pulled her swimsuit out from it. She turned her back to John and asked him, "Can you undo the ties of my dress for me? It goes faster if you do it."

John blushed when he realized the double meaning in her statement. He let his fingers linger on her shoulders before allowing them to travel across her shoulder blades and hovering just above the ties of her dress. It always amazed him that she was his and after years of obstacles the only thing that stood between them now was their own clothing. It was a hindrance that could be easily remedied. Even though they had only shared one night together as husband and wife before he had gone to prison, it had not changed his feelings towards her. Even though he had been desperate to be with her upon his release he had not let prison change his feelings or his treatment of Anna. Now that John could have her whenever he wanted, he chose to take his time and savor each moment with Anna and today was no exception.

When he finally finished with the ties he placed a kiss upon her bare shoulder and removed her hat to expose her golden locks. Her hair was still held in place by the few strategically placed pins Anna had set in earlier and as she began to raise her hands to remove them John gently pushed her hands back down. "Let me…please," he said in an almost pleading tone. Anna smirked and blushed a little at the sensation produced by his lightly calloused hands upon hers and nodded her head in approval. John plucked the pins from her hair with ease and within seconds her hair tumbled down her back like a waterfall. John ran his fingers through it with care as he had so many times before and smiled wickedly when he saw Anna shudder in response.

Anna rose to her feet to change into her bathing suit before she asked, "Won't you be joining me?"

"While you change? Of course," he replied flirtatiously.

"I meant to go into the water," she corrected.

John waved his hands back and forth in a "no" motion as he said, "No, I think I'll just watch from here."

"John, if you don't go with me you won't get to see me in my bathing suit," she replied.

"Well, thankfully the days of bathing machines are over," he said as she began to make her way towards the changing tents.

She stopped in her tracks and turned back to look at him. "Bathing machines?" she asked with a look of confusion.

"Yeah…bathing machines. They used to line the beaches instead of changing tents," he said. "Don't tell me you've never heard of bathing machines before?" he asked with a raised eye brow. Her silence was enough to answer his question, "No offense my love, you're still young, but you aren't that young."

"Excuse me?! Is this how you treat your wife on her birthday? By making her feel ancient," she replied sounding indignant.

John laughed at her look of outrage, so much so that he fell on his back and hardly any sound was coming out. "I just meant they recently went out of style. They were used to maintain propriety, but once they stopped segregating swimming between men and women they got rid of them. Had we had one here I might not get to partake in the marvelous view of my wife in her bathing suit while wading in the water," he said playfully.

"Well, I have never been to the beach before…atleast not to swim. I've only seen it from afar when traveling with Lady Mary," she said.

John was quiet for a moment as he reflected on what she had just said, "Oh alright, I will join you."

"Really? Do you mean it?" she asked with a broad smile.

"Yes. It's your first trip to the beach and I can't have you swimming in the sea on your own," he said as he began to collect his suit and towel.

A few minutes later John found himself in a bathing suit waiting outside of Anna's changing tent while she changed. Every couple minutes she would extend her arm outside of the tent and hand John another item of her clothing to hold. "Nearly finished dear?" he called out as he waited impatiently. Anna didn't respond and instead handed John her corset. The sight of it reminded him of what was to come and he waited a little longer as a small family passed him by.

When Anna finally emerged he nearly dropped all of her clothing on the ground; he couldn't help but be in awe of her. It wasn't as if he hadn't seen her in less before, or even nothing at all. Yet, he always found himself mesmerized by her figure and the way she carried herself. Ever the lady she walked delicately across the sand; almost on tip toes. The ends of her hair bounced faintly in time with the sway of her hips. She gently tucked an errant strand behind her ear when she caught him staring at her and blushed under his gaze. Her one-piece, navy blue bathing suit left little to the imagination; stopping just half way up her thighs and leaving her arms naked for the world to see. The skin-tight suit cradled her small but ample breasts and even managed to accentuate her cleavage. She was a vision in blue and the picture standing beside him left him gob smacked. John was not the jealous type, but he had to admit, he was glad that there weren't many people on the beach that day. He wanted to be the only one to revel in her beauty and remember her like this for all of his days.

When he stopped staring long enough to notice the attention she was giving him he grimaced and his eyes fell to the ground. He hung his head in shame and shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Part of the reason he hadn't wanted to swim was not because he couldn't swim, but rather that he was not keen on showing off his leg. And if he were being honest, he wasn't particularly pleased with his physique. He hated that Anna would never see him for the man he once was, before his injury, with a body worth being proud of.

Instead, she stepped forward and pulled one hand in her own and squeezed it gently. With her other hand she lifted his chin so that his eyes met hers and said, "How did I get so lucky and marry such a handsome man?"

John scoffed at her comment and replied, "I'd hardly call myself that. You're far too kind."

Anna looked him over in his bathing suit. It was a simple black one-piece that looked like a uniform for a wrestler. The fabric clung to him, revealing his robust build as it adhered to his rear and manhood. Anna turned a shade of crimson; she couldn't avert her gaze even if she tried. She found herself thinking what a shame it was that his body spent so much time hidden beneath his valet's uniform. Whenever she saw him exposed like this she realized that the suits didn't do him justice. His strapping chest was bookended by brawny shoulders and framed by powerful arms. His muscular thick thighs, though one of them scared from his time in the war, still held all the promise of a once athletic man. His face still held a boyish charm about it and on occasion she was privy to a full smile accompanied by the crinkles in the corner of his eyes. Sure he wasn't like some of the men she had seen in the picture shows, but he was stunning to her.

"John have you learned nothing about arguing with me in all the years you've known me?" she asked.

"Oh believe me, I'm well aware of how these arguments all end," he said with a smile.

"Then I must insist you stop speaking ill of yourself. I love you and think you are a fine looking man. And as long as I am your wife no one else's opinion should matter," she said.

"Yes ma'am," he said as he offered her his arm to escort her down to the surf.

Anna smiled back in response and slipped her arm through his as they walked back together.

They spent the next two hours tumbling in the waves and floating on their back as they bathed in the sun. John was now glad that he had given in to Anna's pleas to join her in the water; not only did the salt water ease the aching of his knee but seeing her frolicking in the water so care free was a welcome sight. There was something about being here, away from Downton that changed their dynamics for the better. All barriers, both physical and mental, no longer existed. Propriety be damned. They didn't have to worry about time constraints and in its absence they shared laughter, smiles, dreams, secrets, and kisses.

As they returned to their blanket on the sand they found themselves exhausted and famished but inexplicably refreshed. Anna sat down and began pulling the food out from the picnic basket while John dried himself off. The pomade in his hair had been washed away long ago in the water and his hair was now windswept; it aroused Anna in a way she had not expected. Here he was standing in front of her in his wet, tight bathing suit; his bulge had become more evident. With every swipe of the towel on his body his arm flexed and was driving Anna to her end. John was completely unaware of the affect it was having on her and offered her a half smile as he ran the towel through his hair. "What?" he asked when he caught her looking at him.

"Erm…lunch is ready," Anna said as she handed him a cold piece of chicken and a glass bottle of soda.

John quickly took a seat beside her and gladly took the food from her and set the drink on the side of the blanket in the sand. He began to take a bite and said, "Thanks love." As he chewed he looked over at Anna and noticed she had not even registered his comment. She was transfixed as she watched a couple pass by them with a baby. The mother lovingly cradled the child and babbled incoherently to make the baby laugh. Meanwhile the father struggled to follow his wife toward the waves as the baby carriage sunk deeper into the sand. Eventually he turned and looked over at John and tipped his hat to him before walking off. John shook his head in disbelief and chuckled at the scene before muttering, "Poor fella." But when he looked at Anna he saw her in a daze. It wasn't the first time he had seen that look in her eyes, the look of longing. He had seen her with that look when she held little George or Sybbie. She was enamored with that baby; with the idea of having a baby and starting a family. Sadly they had not been blessed yet with a child of their own; it wasn't for lack of trying. He often wondered if she regretted being with him. Maybe he was too old to give her children, or even too old to be a father to one.

She looked back at him as if she had just read his thoughts and smiled lovingly at him before avoiding his stare. John leaned in to steal a kiss and whispered in her ear, "It will happen love." Anna silently shook her head in agreement. "And if it doesn't…I promise we'll still be just as happy. Even if we have to adopt one," he assured her and rubbed her shoulder.

"I know," she said matter-of-factly, but her eyes went right back to staring at the family as they walked further away.

John had wanted to wait until later when they went out for dinner to give her the birthday present he had picked up earlier that week, but he thought now might be a better time. He reached into the picnic basket where he had buried it beneath all the food earlier when she wasn't looking and pulled out a package wrapped in paper and tied in string. "Here you go," he said as he handed it to her.

"What's this for?" she asked as she plopped a grape into her mouth.

"You're birthday, what else?" he asked jokingly.

"Oh John, you shouldn't have. We already spent enough coming here," she said as her hands were already tracing the edges of the package.

"Nonsense, this trip was an investment in our future. What we choose to do in between the time spent looking at hotels is all for you…in celebration of your birthday," he said with a smile. "Now open your present," he encouraged her.

"Uh, you spoil me," she said sweetly as she began to pull at the string and ripped the contents free of the paper. Anna had expected a book when she first began to open it but she hadn't predicted his selection, it seemed her husband was full of surprises. John had always been one for the classics and poetry but instead he had gotten her a fairly new copy of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Anna had eyed it once or twice on their trips to Ripon but it had never found its way into Lord Grantham's library. "How did you know I wanted this one?" she asked innocently.

"Same way any other husband would know…all the friendly reminders and dropping of hints," he said.

"Oh, I wasn't that bad," she said. John playfully rolled his eyes and Anna gently elbowed him in the ribs. "Will you read it to me tonight?" she asked.

"The whole thing?" he replied as he began to chuckle. Her eagerness reminded him of a small child on Christmas morning; she scooted towards him and leaned her back against his front as she propped her head against his chest.

"Well not the whole thing but we can start now," she said as she settled into him and began to open the book.

"I thought you wanted to build a sand castle," he reminded her.

"Who wants that when I can get to listen to a story from my own personal orator," she said.

"Oh, alright but at least read the first page," he instructed.

Anna flipped to the first page and immediately noticed John's handwriting scrawled across the page. "All those years ago, before we married, we always found solace in the courtyard. It was nothing special, but it was a place we could call our own. When I spoke of my vision of a hotel, I had hoped that eventually it would be more than that. You didn't call me silly for thinking it, instead you believed in it just as much as I did. That night I saw hope and magic dancing in your eyes. It gave me a renewed faith like I had never known. Now he we are making our dream a reality and it's all because of you. You have been my miracle…the bit of magic in my life that I never knew I was searching for. May there always be a bit of magic in your life and many more birthdays to come. Love, John." Anna looked up at him and tears were already trailing down her cheeks. "Oh John," she said as she tilted her head back to see him and he leaned forward to press his lips to hers.

He wrapped his hands around her waist and squeezed her tight as he leaned his head against hers, "I meant every word of it my love." They both sat silently staring at the wide ocean stretching for miles before them and the possibilities seemed endless.

John was a few chapters into the book; his voice soft and soothing. There was something about the way he spoke when he read to her; she could lose herself in her thoughts when he spoke to her in that voice. It reminded Anna of all their nights shared in the servants' hall taking turns reading to one another. Back when all their amorous interactions were shared through stolen glances and fleeting moments.

As John continued to read he saw that Anna had still barely touched her food. He noticed her appetite had not been what it used to be. John was concerned but she had been to see Dr. Clarkson, twice in fact at his insistence, and she never said anything about it. He would have been more troubled if she hadn't been looking so well the past week. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"Not really," she answered. She leaned forward from her spot to push her plate aside and returned their uneaten food to the picnic basket.

"Are you not feeling well? We can go back to the hotel if you want," he offered.

"No I'm fine dear. I promise," she said as she forced herself to eat another bite of the chicken before she wrapped it up. But John was not so easily convinced.

"Anna, you would tell me if something was wrong wouldn't you?" he asked.

"Of course. But there's nothing wrong," she said with a smile. "Actually, I was thinking about the hotel. Maybe we should hold off," she said sounding uncertain.

John stopped reading and immediately set the book down on the blanket, "What? What's this all about? I thought you liked the hotel we looked at yesterday."

"I do but…," she hesitated before going on, "I'm wondering if the timing isn't right."

"Anna, what are you talking about? Everything is finally falling into place for us. We have enough money saved up and my mother's house is about to sell. The hotel season is slow now so it would give us time to make any necessary repairs before things ramp up again. You even said so yourself the other day that Lady Mary was finally doing better," John was getting riled up in a way she had never seen before. He was still waiting for a response from her.

"What if our situation were to change?" she asked.

John didn't know where she was going with this and it was beginning to scare him. He wasn't aware of any changes and Anna had always been open and honest with him. The silence between them was deafening. It seemed like minutes had passed and the only reminder that time wasn't standing still was the thunderous boom of waves crashing upon the sand. "Anna…please tell me…what is it?" he begged as he moved closer to her and grabbed the side of her arms gently. He turned her to face him and her lips trembled a little as her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm pregnant, John," she finally blurted out.

John loosened his grip on her arms and his eyes widened in response. He looked as though he had stopped breathing as his eye brows raised. "You're…you're what?" he questioned. "How? When?" he asked out loud; more so for himself than for her. "Never mind that…how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Dr. Clarkson says I'm the picture of health," she said.

John was still in shock, he tried to remember the last time Anna had gone to the doctor, "You've known since last week?" Anna inaudibly agreed and John stared down at her waist and reached his hand out to place it on her stomach. She placed her hand on top of his own and the next time his eyes met hers they were filled with tears. Somehow she had become even more beautiful in his eyes; knowing that she was carrying his child…their child. Anna was practically glowing and she couldn't seem to stop smiling. John had never imagined himself with children; at least not until he had met Anna. Yet he wasn't scared. In fact, he had never felt more confident because he knew that no matter what, at the end of the day, she would be there to guide him.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm more than okay. Anna, I'm over the moon. I'm going to be a father," he said sounding a little choked up. "I've never loved you more than I do right now," he said as he peppered her face with kisses and she responded with fervor. He had never wanted her more but he had to keep reminding himself that they were still in a public setting. "Is this why you were so indifferent about the idea of buying a hotel yesterday?" he asked.

"Yes," she said, "Babies are expensive John. I'd hardly be any help waddling around the hotel as large as a whale or chasing after a toddler in a few years time."

"But don't you see Anna, that's why we have to do this. If we stay at Downton you'd have to leave service to stay at home with the baby and we wouldn't see each other as much as we do now. Once we have the hotel I can be there to help you," he reasoned.

"And what about the money?" she countered.

"What about it?" he asked. She didn't answer and her lips formed a hard line as she suffered silently with her thoughts. "Anna, is this what you want?" he asked even though he already knew the answer.

She sat quietly a moment longer before whispering, "I've never wanted anything more."

"Then it shall be yours," he said. "Who says we can't have the best of both worlds? Aren't we entitled, no deserving, of happiness?"

Anna smiled again. Not only because she was happy about the prospect of their baby but because she had never heard John sound so optimistic and hopeful before. He seemed so sure that things would turn out perfectly; for once he was holding her up, instead of the other way around. "I love you, John," she said simply before throwing her arms around his shoulders. She clung to him tightly like he was her salvation.

"And I you," he said into her hair as he rubbed her back soothingly. "Now when can I expect this little one to arrive?" he asked as he pulled a towel around her shoulders to warm her.

Anna looked up with her big doe eyes that sparkled as bright and blue as the sea when she said, "December."

John displayed an open mouthed smile and his eyes gleamed as he said, "I couldn't imagine a better Christmas gift."