The echoes of Diane's screams could be heard throughout the entire east wing of the castle. Catherine had tried to drown them out in any way she could; she hated that she had to be reminded that her husband's mistress had become pregnant before she did. She prayed that the child was a girl, because Henry would not pay any attention to the child if it was. The hurt and pain had been constant for the past nine months, not that Henry had seemed to care. He was too busy helping Diane, making sure that Diane was comfortable, and that Diane was not faced with stressed. It made Catherine want to scream with frustration; didn't Henry realize that she was his wife, not Diane?

Suddenly, the screaming stopped, and the cry of a baby replaced the mother's screams.

"It's a boy!" Catherine heard the midwife announce, and her heart broke once more as she went to go find Henry.

…

He was in the study, pacing. As soon as Catherine saw him, rage overtook her.

"Your bastard son has been born," she told him coldly.

"It's a boy?"

"Isn't that what I just said?"

"There's no need to be so cold about it, Catherine."

"No need? Henry, not only have you taken on a mistress, but you got her pregnant! There's no denying my humiliation now!"

"Maybe I wouldn't have taken a mistress if you actually loved me! You pushed me away!"

"I pushed you?! You brought Diane back, not me!"

"Why do you even care?! You don't love me!"

"I do love you, Henry! I'm hurt! No, hurt isn't even the right word, I am devastated! I'm heartbroken!"

"If you love me, why are you being so cold?!"

"Because that should be me, Henry! I should be giving birth to your son, not her! I should be the only one to bear your children; I am your wife! And you have been treating her like the queen ever since she told you she was pregnant!"

"I need to take care of the mother of my child!"

"Weren't you listening?! I should be the only mother of any children you have! If I don't give you an heir, you could easily toss me aside, it's been done before!" Catherine screamed as tears cascaded down her cheeks and she fell into a chair.

Henry stood there for a moment, speechless. Watching his wife, his strong, beautiful wife, break down like this in front of him absolutely broke his heart. Catherine never cried; it was something she had prided herself with. He walked over to her, wrapped her in his arms, and pulled her to his chest.

"I will never, ever toss you aside, Catherine. I love you," he whispered into her hair.

"Oh, Henry, I want a child so badly."

"I know, love. I want one too. I want a child, a family, with you."

"That's all I want Henry."

"I promise I'll try harder. Diane and the boy will stay, only because they have no place to go. I'll have nothing to do with her."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise."

The royal couple kissed, hopeful for a better marriage and a bright future.