Just a fluffy one-shot set on the evening after the cricket match. There aren't many normal day Anna and John fictions around at the moment and we wanted to rectify that. We will get back to our current modern day fiction in due course.

Enjoy :)

Disclaimer: We offered to take Downton off Mr Fellowes hands, but he said he wouldn't make us that happy.

John stood by the entrance to the servants hall, standing impatiently as Anna chatted with Daisy about some gossip. He huffed as they erupted into giggles. It wasn't that the sound of his wife's laughter wasn't music to his ears, it was just after the couple of days he had had, he wanted to take her home and forget about their workplace for a little while.

'Come on, Anna,' he said with a half smile, poking his head around the servants hall door. 'While we're still young.' Anna and Daisy stopped to look at him before he continued. 'Well, one of us at least.'

'I'll see you in the morning, Daisy.'

'Night Daisy,' John said cheerfully as he watched Anna walk out of the servants hall in front of him.

'Mr Bates, will you help me with my coat please? Like the gentleman that you are,' Anna asked, standing beside the hat rack.

'Who told you I was gentleman?'

Anna flashed him a look as he smirked back then raised his eyebrows in response before helping her with her coat. Once she had fastened the buttons, she began to walk down the corridor towards the back door without another word. John followed in his usual half step, which Anna tried to ignore was now getting worse. She blamed the fact he wasn't allowed the use of his cane in prison.

Once in the chilly night air of the courtyard, it was almost second nature for one of them to find the others hand. John had barely shut the back door before he felt Anna's fingers attempting to entwine with his.

'You know, you shouldn't put yourself down about your age,' Anna said, breaking the silence that had fell between them as they left the courtyard and found themselves on the main route out of the Downton grounds. 'Like Mr Carson says, you are like a fine wine. Only getting better with age.'

John smiled before looking down at her. Her gaze was so full of love and sincerity, he often wondered what he had done to deserve someone as perfect as her give him the time of day, let alone promise her life to him.

'The cricket team did well, to only lose by ten runs.' Anna continued. 'Thomas was really good.'

'Don't talk to me about Thomas,' John replied, shaking his head.

'Well, I did ask why you were bothering to help him.'

'I didn't realise my tinkering would result in him getting promoted to a position senior to me, did I?'

'To be honest, what have you really lost?' Anna questioned as they reached the front gates of the house. 'Yes, Thomas may be slightly senior.' Anna looked up to see the unease on his face. 'Emphasis on the slightly. He's just a footman with a little bit more power. Mr Carson will keep him in line and by all accounts it seems he won't be at Downton for much longer if a Butler's job comes up around here.'

'Hopefully that's sooner rather than later.' John replied coldly. Anna stopped walking and John walked on a couple of paces before realising she wasn't by his side. He turned to see her smirking, one eyebrow raised. He shrugged. 'What?'

'Stop being such an old grump.'

'I thought you said I wasn't old.'

'Oh, sshh.' Anna sighed before walking towards him. She placed a hand on his forearm to steady herself before standing on tiptoes to meet his lips with hers in a soft kiss. 'I did tell you not to meddle.'

'I know.'

'But you did the right thing like you always do. And that's one of the many reasons why I love you.'

'I love you too.'

'I should hope so too, Mr Bates,' Anna replied, taking his hand once more. 'Let's go home.'

'But it's your turn,' Anna groaned as she hung up her coat.

'Really, it's not,' John replied. 'I made tea at breakfast this morning and the tea before bed last night.' He continued through to the living room and turned on the light before assessing the amount of coal they had. 'And we have enough coal for a fire. This is the evening that keeps on giving. My wife making me some tea and no need to go back outside for coal.'

'I've been on my feet all day.'

'And what do you think I have been doing?' John asked as he took his coat off.

'Well, I'll have to put double the amount of sugar in yours as your mood needs sweetening up,' Anna called back as she walked to the kitchen. John smiled as he followed her. He stood leant against the kitchen counter as she busied herself, making sure she slammed the cupboard doors in the process.

'Did you know Moseley was so God awful at cricket?' John asked, trying to get back on her good side. 'After all his talk.'

'Bless him.' Anna stopped and looked at the garden which was bathed in moonlight before speaking again. 'Now if I was his wife he would make me tea morning, noon and night.'

John walked to her and placed his hands around her waist. 'I could have stayed in prison you know.' He stilled her hands and gestured for her to move away before he carried on the job she had started.

After reaching up to kiss him on the cheek, she rested her head on his shoulder. 'You wouldn't get that in prison.'

'Oh, I don't know,' John teased. 'There were many a type like Thomas in York, I can tell you.'

Anna playfully slapped him on the arm before he began to take his suit jacket off. 'Go and sit down and I'll bring it through.' He then handed her his jacket. 'Hang that up on your way though. You know, if it isn't too much trouble.'

John walked through to the living room with the tray of tea he had lovingly prepared. He smiled as he saw Anna stretched out on the sofa, the fire still unlit. He placed the tray on the small table in front of the sofa.

'It's alright, I'll light the fire as well.' John mocked. 'Crikey, you're working me hard tonight.'

'And we haven't even got to bed yet,' Anna added.

John turned his head to look at her before nodding. 'I'll let you come to me tonight. First the tea, then the fire. You owe me.'

Anna just smiled before closing her eyes as he began to light the fire. Afterwards, he preceded to pour two cups of tea. Anna sat up and took the cup he was holding towards her. 'Thank you my darling.'

'It's a pleasure,' John said before sitting beside her. 'I've been waiting all day for this.'

Anna hummed her agreement as John took off his tie and loosened his collar. Anna took a sip of her tea before putting the cup back down on the tray. John held his arm out for her to tuck herself underneath. Wrapping her arms around his waist, the tea tray was soon forgotten as John began to untie Anna's hair.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, just enjoying the quiet as they held each other. Simple pleasures like these had been a long time coming and no words were needed. John felt he could sit up all night, just to hear Anna's breathing as she rested beside him.

He looked at the clock and realised the stillness between them had lasted nearly forty minutes. 'Anna.' He whispered.

'Hmmm.'

'You're going to finish that tea. Whether it's gone cold or not. Seeing as you insisted I made it.'

'I wouldn't have married you,' Anna began as she sat up. 'If I had known how mean you could be.'

John laughed at her statement before rubbing his hand up and down her back. 'I'll never understand why you did marry me.'

'Well, it's obvious isn't it?' Anna replied in between sips of her drink. 'You make a great cup of tea. And you do limp so beautifully.'

'Well, both have taken years to perfect you know.'

'As well as those two essential qualities you hold me like no other man has in my entire life and you have a lovely smile.'

'Well, that smile is just for you.' John added, trying to remain modest. Suddenly, thoughts of the days events came flooding back into his conscience. 'The Thomas situation has really annoyed me.'

'Oh, not this again,' Anna groaned before leaning back on the sofa. 'You shouldn't worry about it. His Lordship values you more than any other man. You know that.'

John sighed before leaning forward to untie his shoelaces. 'I just thought we were getting rid of Thomas for good.'

'Well I did...'

'Tell you so,' John interrupted before looking back at her with that smile. 'I know.'

'I'm going up.' Anna announced, rising to her feet. John grabbed her wrist gently before clearing his throat. 'What?'

'Have you finished your tea?' John asked.

'Oh for goodness sake,' Anna exclaimed, picking up her tea cup and finishing the remains in one go. She thrust the tea cup in his face. 'There. Can I go to bed now?'

'Just checking,' John said innocently. 'Besides, you would have drunk it had Moseley made it for you.'

Even though he had retired upstairs ten minutes after her, John was still ready for bed before Anna. This was something he could never fathom and had decided early on he would never attempt to. It was almost like her regimen for getting ready for bed was as rigorous as it was when she was preparing to go out. Still, it was what made Anna, Anna, and he wouldn't change her for the world. Whilst waiting, John decided he'd catch up on some reading. He was disappointed when he realised only yesterday's paper was on offer as the novel he was working his way through had been left downstairs. Debating whether to retrieve the book or not, the decision was made for him when Anna came through the bedroom door. John loved it when she loosened her hair and it flowing down her shoulders was a beautiful sight for him to behold. Her thin night dress in the soft light also left nothing to his imagination. However, it always ran wild when it came to his Anna.

Anna felt her breath sharpen a little as she saw him sitting up in bed. There was something about him in his undershirt that made her quiver. His arms looked so strong, so muscular beneath the tight sleeves. She delighted in the fact those arms would soon be around her waist, pulling her close to him. The chest hair threatening to escape over the top of his collar effected her in ways she couldn't explain. Moving around to her side of the bed, knowing she had his undivided attention thrilled her in ways she had never known. There were already stirrings within her and he wasn't even touching her yet.

Once under the covers, it didn't take long for him to move on his side, one hand on her hip as he moved the other arm under her pillow. She rested her head upon his arm under her pillow as her own hands found the muscles of his back.

'How is your leg?' Anna asked softly. She found in times like these, when they were completely alone, he didn't mind as much when she enquired after his injury. Anna knew it was bothering him more since he had left prison.

'A little sore, but I don't really notice it when I am with you.' John replied, gently brushing his lips against hers. He pulled her tighter towards him, so there was no space between them. They fitted together so naturally. His lips resumed their contact with hers before they found their way to the soft skin of her neck. John soon realised she wasn't responding as he would have wished. His suspicions were confirmed when she gently pulled away from him.

'Mr Bates,' she groaned, almost in regret as John rested his forehead against hers. She looked deeply into his eyes. 'John. Do you mind if we don't tonight?'

John sighed before replying. 'You know how to toy with a man.'

'Sorry,' Anna said regretfully. 'As my head hit the pillow just then tiredness overcame me.'

'It's fine, Mrs Bates,' John replied. 'You don't have to explain yourself to me. It's been a long day. With the cricket and everything. We should probably try and get a good nights sleep.'

'Well, I do know best.'

'As you keep reminding me.'

'Can I have a good night kiss, before you turn over.' John knew his wife's sleeping habits enough now to know she liked to sleep facing away from him, with his arm around her waist.

Anna's lips met his in a kiss so passionate John wondered if she was being serious when she said she wasn't in the mood this evening. As she pulled away, John retained his tight grip on her hip. 'I do love you, Anna.'

'I love you too, John,' she replied before brushing her lips against his once more. 'So very much.'

He allowed her the space to move away from him then, and moved back himself to avoid her flailing elbows and legs as she made herself comfortable. Once her movements had stilled, and he was sure she wouldn't move again, he placed a strong arm around her waist.

'You do know you're making the morning tea, my love.'

'That's fine. As long as you promise to never wear that white hat again.' Anna replied.

'You weren't complaining in the score keeper's hut.'

'That had nothing to do with the hat and you know it,' Anna whispered, squeezing his arm.

'What would Mr Carson have said? If he had been a fly on the wall?' John wondered.

'Probably better not to think about it.'

'Hmm,' John agreed before silence fell between them. 'But under-butler, I ask you.'

'John.'

'Yes?'

'Go to sleep.'