The first of my one shots come from Charles Brandon's line in the first episode - Just a moment of reminiscing. Please read and review

Disclaimer: I own nothing


Charles Brandon stood in the great hall at the King's Palace of Hampton Court. Though in his late 50s, his devastating good looks still earned him more than his fair share of female attention – almost as much as the King. But he no longer wanted to share his bed with a different girl every night, as he had done in his youth. He missed his beloved wife Catherine, and longed for her forgiveness and trust.

As he awaited the King and (new) Queen, Charles thought back over his long career as royal 'best friend'. This would be the fifth Queen he'd seen marry Henry – he hoped she would follow the example of her namesake, Katherine of Aragon, and not that of her cousin, Anne Boleyn. He almost fancied that he could see them all there, as though he were transported in time. He could feel Margaret's hand on his arm, as he led her through a dance – oh, how he missed Margaret. The sadness and grief he felt over her death had faded with time, but was still there and would be with him until his dying day.

If he turned, maybe he would catch a glimpse of Henry whispering something secret in Anne Boleyn's ear, tucked away in a corner like love struck teenagers. Anne's eyes would dance with humour and flirtation, even as she moved away, one eye always on the true Queen, across the room and flanked by Lady Margaret Pole and Sir Thomas More – both now long gone, having met their ends on a scaffold.

As always, when the whisper of intrigue was in the air, Charles felt the keen eyes of Wolsey searing into the back of his head. As an upstart with trade roots, Wolsey had always despised other upstarts, which was what Charles himself had once been, a long time ago. And just behind Wolsey would be his ever-present, silent lackey, Thomas Cromwell.

The Duke felt a great deal of regret for Thomas Cromwell, only executed within the last month. Though the two men had never seen eye to eye, and were always enemies, Charles had never felt hatred towards Cromwell, unlike Sir Francis Bryan, who had hated him with a cold and vicious brutality.

Lost in his reminiscing, Charles longed to actually be able to turn back the clock. He wanted to feel young again, as he hadn't felt in a long time. He wanted to see the smiles on the old, familiar faces, and see the tell-tale signs of old familiar intrigues play across those faces. He was tired of new faces, new plots, and new alliances. Mostly, he was just tired. He longed for the comforts of his home, and the joy of seeing his children and grandchildren growing into fine young men and women,

His eldest daughter Francis, now the very image of her mother, had given birth to a daughter at the same time that Queen Jane had given the King his precious son and heir. Charles doted on little baby Jane, named in honour of the then Queen. Though barely three years old, she already was proving to be a clever young girl, and she always had a smile for her 'grand-papa', however serious she usually was.

Charles' greatest desire was to feel Catherine's hand creep shyly into his. He longed for the warmth of her embrace, and he longed to her he lilting, sing song voice speaking softly to him.

But for now, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk would have to remain firmly in the present, and would have to content himself with dancing attendance on Henry's fifth Queen, and trying to keep his majesty happy.


Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Please review, let me know any criticisms, any requests for one shots. Thank you.