Downton Christmas Countdown!

Dec 17: William Alfred Bates

XXXX A/N This is a story that take place years after Series 4, after everything between Anna and Bates. Enjoy it, it won't last long ;) Julian Fellowes won't be pleased, I gave them a happy ending ;) But they deserve Baby Bates, without a doubt. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bates was happy, but he wasn't allowed upstairs, and he was reduced to nervously pacing the living room of their tiny cottage, leaning on his cane for support. Finally, the nurse walked in. He turned instantly. "Well?" He asked.

"It's a boy." said the nurse with a smile. "You can go up and see her now, she's fine, a little tired, but otherwise perfect."

He ran up the stairs as fast as his leg would let him. He walked into the bedroom, and smiled, when he saw his wife, holding a small, squirming bundle. She looked up, seeing him. She looked radiant, despite her obvious exhaustion. He moved a chair close to the bed, and asked. "How are you, darling?"

"I'm perfectly fine, John." She said softly. "Say hello to your son." She gave a sad smile, saying "William Alfred Bates."

He looked at the baby, his son, just as the boy's eyes opened. They were a dark brown, just like John's. He was in shock. He turned to his wife, choking out. "My darling, I cannot say how much you mean to me."

"You don't have to tell me." She said.

"Will we ever tell him about who he's named after?" asked Bates softly.

"We should. William would be proud. Do you want to hold your son?" She asked gently.

"You have no idea how much I want to." He said with a smile, tears running down his face.

                                                         ~Flashback~

"Anna, what are we going to name him, do you know?"

"I was thinking..." She said, putting her hands over her swelling stomach. "If it's a girl, I want to call her Rose. After my mother."

"Rose Siobhan, after both of our mothers. Listen..." He said, unsure. "If it's a boy, I want to call him William."

She looked up, the pain suddenly obvious in her eyes. Then she nodded, overwhelmed with emotion. "Yes. I've been thinking that too. He deserves to have someone named after him. But I want his middle name to be Alfred."

He couldn't agree more. "It's settled then." He said, and then he kissed her.

He turned now, to look at his wife, as she handed him the tiny baby. And he couldn't believe that he was a father, that he had created this tiny being that now lay in his arms. And overcome as he was, he couldn't help but lean over, and kiss his wife, who he was so proud of.

"I love you. William, and you."

"I love you too." She said, a promise, a vow that they would live happily ever after.