AU where Anna also contracts the Spanish Flu in 2x08. Thank you for the idea redheadinyellow from tumblr.

Standing with the decanter while keeping a straight face was proving to be quite the challenge. My nose was most certainly a tinge of red and a headache was starting to form. My whole body felt as if I had not slept in days. Oh how I wish Molesley could have done this. At least I had Mr. Bates to think about. How would he answer my proposal? My god, how had I gathered the courage to ask him I would never know. He was surprised but at least he was not offended that a woman had asked him for marriage like any other man would have been. Yes, him proposing earlier had helped but that hadn't come to fruition. God,was my shaking from nerves or this budding cold? I really should discreetly leave before someone from the family notices my condition. At that thought I see Lady Mary peering over at me and avert my gaze quickly and stand up straighter.

I notice the Dowager Grantham's drink needs refilling. I make my way over carefully and try to ignore the dull throbbing in my head so I can hear what Lord Grantham is saying.

"Ah, I thought Molesley had joined the temperance league." he inquired.

"I'm afraid he's been taken ill, milord. I am sorry." I explained.

"Molesley, too? Good heavens, everyone's falling like ninepins."

The conversation fades back out as the throbbing came roaring back with such intensity I swayed a little as I went back over to the side. Lavinia and Mary leave and everyone else starts to filter out. I stifle a sneeze which only makes my head hurt more. I move to help clear the table and start picking up the silverware. I am very glad that my dress billows out so no one can see my legs shaking. Turning around,I'm stopped immediately by Mrs. Hughes scrutinizing stare.

"I'm fine, Mrs. Hughes. Really." I say before she even has the chance to open her mouth.

I can tell that I have already lost the battle by her piercing look. She takes the few silverware I have managed to pick up and leads me from the room.

"I'll have none of that now. You go upstairs, get warm and comfortable, then I'll bring you some medicine." she ordered.

I hear Thomas's doubtful snort as she leads me from the room. I sigh and continue up the stairs slowly while Mrs. Hughes heads to the kitchens. Every step is getting harder and harder to climb as I go. I reach a landing and breath in deeply but am cut short by a horrendous coughing fit. I reach out to catch myself on the wall but find cloth and warmth instead. The coughing does not relent and my legs buckle but instead of falling I feel someone move closer and hold me tightly but tenderly. Mr. Bates!My coughing finally subsides and I look up at him with tired eyes. The only way to explain how he looks at me is terrified. His eyes are wide and as I reach up to touch him, I realize my hand is shaking. Suddenly I can see a fire ignite in him. He shifts so he can hold my waist in his left arm and moves much faster than usual towards the stairs.

"Mr. Bates! Won't this hurt you?" I ask but it was almost inaudible.

"That hardly matters at the moment! Not when my fiance is in this state!" he grunted as he mounted the stairs slowly but surely. I wrap my arms around his waist so he doesn't have to worry about me falling, too. I bury my head in his shoulder and breathe in his scent as much as my nose will let me and sigh with contentment.

Then I stare up at him in astonishment when it finally registers what he called me.

"John... I... I... really?" I stutter and my eyes are starting to well up.

He stares ahead with determination as he climbs the stairs but still answers me.

"Anna. I know now I could never live my life without you being a part of it everyday. And every minute if I had my way. Now since I have been able to stand under your unrelenting love and care of me you will have to let me provide the same for you from this moment on."

I nod and silently cried with joy into his jacket as he finally made it to my door. Thankfully I had left it partly open so he just had to nudge it. He limps heavily over to the bed, his cane louder on the wooden flooring, and lowered me delicately onto it. He lights the bedside candle and then drops down on his good knee. He kisses my forehead as he pulled the blanket over me. I take his face in my hands and bring him down to kiss him lovingly before having to stop to have another coughing fit. He strokes my arm worryingly and moves to get up.

"Don't leave me!" I manage to say and grab his hand. He sinks back down and holds me carefully. He startles and moves a little away from me when he hears footsteps then Mrs. Hughes voice.

"Anna! Dr. Clarkson has just arrived for her Ladyship, Lavinia, and Mr. Carson. I've brought the medicine and... " Mrs. Hughes enters and takes in the scene. Her eyes widen as she sees my face. Mr. Bates looks up at her with fearful eyes. She hands him the bowl, medicine, and extra blanket that she brought and rushes out of the room. "I'm getting Dr. Clarkson!" she calls back.

I start to cough again. Mr. Bates reaches in his pocket and hands me his handkerchief and gets up to wrap the extra blanket around me. I feel so hot but I'm still shaking.

"John, I've never been this ill before. Only when I was a child had I had anything close to this." I whispered to him quietly.

"Shh.." he puts his finger to my lips. "The doctor will let us know everything." He moves closer to me and begins talking. I lace my fingers through his.

"So after we are married, I thought we could move over to Leeds and start that little hotel we were talking about. We could have a little garden that we can tend together every spring and collect the fruits of our labor in the fall. In the hotel we could have this grand library with all our favorite books lining the wall. We'll have a fireplace and a big chair that we can both sit in so we can read together at the end of the day. And our children will have the best rooms in the entire place second only to ours." He smiles down at me lovingly.

I'm beginning to feel warm inside thinking of all these happy memories we will make. A tear rolls down my cheek but he kisses it away. He slowly gets up to get a cup for the medicine. The coughing will not let up and I feel something coming up this time. I look horrifyingly into the handkerchief when I see the blood. Just then the Doctor enters and moves over to the bed. I lean back on the pillow as the headache suddenly comes blaring back to life. I can somewhat hear John and Mrs. Hughes explaining what happened. I fall into a kind of sleep. I'm awakened shortly after from my own coughing and then retching. Mrs. Hughes brings the bowl below me and I vomit up any lunch that was left in me and blood. I can hear the doctor finally.
"It is the Spanish Flu. I cannot do anything more. We just have to wait til morning." he says.
I lay back onto the pillow and sob. I can feel John's hand in mine while the other strokes through my hair. I open my eyes and look into his scared ones.

"I love you, John." I try to say to him not caring about our company but it doesn't come out at all. Just me mouthing the words to him. My eyes droop shut and I fall into blackness but not before hearing John's reply.

"Anna, don't leave me... keep fighting... I love you, too."