Downton Christmas Countdown!

Dec 10th: How I met your Father

When William Bates was thirteen, and when Lillian Bates was eleven, they went to their parents, and asked them how they met.

"I met your father in 1912, when he came to Downton Abbey to be valet for his Lordship." explained Anna, holding hands with her husband.

"So.. were you married right away?" asked Lillian, ever the romantic. Anna looked over at John, wondering how best to explain every barrier that had blocked their happiness.

"No, darling girl, we weren't married for seven years after we met, and we married in 1919."

"But weren't you two working at Downton Abbey at the time?" asked William, putting the pieces together.

"We were allowed to stay in service, because there were special circumstances... surrounding our marriage." explained John, a little uncomfortable.

"Like what?" asked Lillian.

John and Anna shared a glance, and for a second, both were taken back to the horror of their tearful parting upon John's arrest.

"Mother?" prompted William. "What were the special circumstances?"

"Your father and I were separated soon after we were married. And I was allowed to visit him where he was, but he couldn't come home with me."

"Why?" Lillian asked innocently. "Was he ill?"

"No darling," said John, smoothing over his daughter's blood hair. "I was in prison for a crime I didn't commit."

William and Lillian both looked shocked. "Daddy," asked Lillian, using her pet name for her father. "Why were you there if you didn't do anything?"

"Were you framed?" asked William, intelligent to the end.

"You see children, we didn't want to tell you, but I was married when I met your mother..."

"So you had an affair?" asked William, horrified.

"What's an affair?" asked Lillian.

"No. I didn't even propose to your mother until I thought I could divorce my first wife. But she commited suicide, after repeatedly holding up the divorce. And she framed me for killing her. I was sent to prison, but your mother never stopped searching for the evidence that would free me. And she found it."

"She must have really loved you to wait seven years." commented Wiliam.

"I did, and I still do. We have stood by each other through thick and thin, and I want you two to be lucky enough to find someone and love them for them."

And later that evening, when John and Anna were finally alone, he said to her. "Anna darlling, after everything... after prison, and Vera, and your attack, and the children, I want you to know that I will always love you."

"Truly?" she asked softly, remembering the devastating weeks after the attack.

"Truly." He responded, just as he had then. He kissed her softly, and they went to bed.