AN: Just a question can you be a Duchess and a Princess? Because if not then my title doesn't really make sense. Also although this is serious AU from this chapter onwards please be aware that I haven't seen episode 8 yet here in Australia, so I apologize for any inaccuracies in this story.

Henry didn't know what to do. He had seen Duke Phillip dancing with his daughter Mary earlier, she had looked so happy, that Henry didn't have the heart to interrupt them. He had a feeling that a formal proposal of marriage from Duke Phillip to Mary might come sooner, rather than later.

He decided that he had better talk to Mary, maybe there was nothing to worry about, and maybe she didn't even like him. Henry knew that the chances of that were slim; he had seen the way Mary looked at Phillip. She hadn't looked that happy in years.

Henry didn't know why he was so opposed to the idea of Mary getting married, after all she was in her early twenties, she was certainly ready for a marriage. Now that she had signed the Oath, there was no confusion surrounding the succession. So there was no reason why he couldn't allow Mary to marry.

The Duke was young, handsome, rich and charming, he genuinely seemed to care for Mary and best of all in Henry's mind was that the Duke was a Lutheran. Maybe Henry just didn't want to let her go; after all she was his first-born.

Or maybe…. whispered a voice in the back of Henry's mind, maybe you just don't want her to be happy. But as Henry usually did with his very small voice of reason, he ignored it.

But before he made any decisions he would have to talk to Mary, after all it was the right thing to do, and Henry always did the right thing.

Duke Phillip was not normally a nervous man, but today he could safely say that he was the most nervous he had been in his entire life. It was a mere day after he and Mary had first kissed and here he was about to ask his cousin the Queen if she would accept his idea of proposing to Mary. Phillip knew he would need all the help he could get if he wanted any chance of marrying Mary. Henry of England wasn't exactly known for his kindness.

Anne of Cleves looked up as the lady in waiting announced that her cousin Phillip wanted an audience with her, Anne smiled, she had a feeling that it was about Mary.

"Cousin Anne" Phillip said, embracing her and then sitting down.

"I must confess that I need your help"

Now Anne was becoming alarmed. "What is it Phillip?" she asked worriedly.

She was startled when he suddenly grinned.

"I have decided to present a formal proposal of marriage to the Princess Mary and for that I need your blessing."

"Of course dear cousin, you have my blessings, but it is not me you need to convince, it is the King," she warned him.

"I know" Phillip replied.

He knew that he had to face the King sooner rather than later, but all the same; he wasn't looking forward to an audience him.

But the Queen's blessing was a step in the right direction.

"I know you will do the right thing" Queen Anne said, seeing the sour look on his face, "After all, why would the King not like you?" Anne said, smiling naively.

Phillip hoped to God that she was right.

"Your Majesty, Duke Phillip of Bavaria requests an audience".

Henry sighed,

"Let him in then"

Phillip made his way into the room and bowed,

"Your Majesty, surely knows why I am here?"

When Henry made no further comment Philip continued.

"I am here to submit a formal proposal of marriage to your Majesty, between your daughter, the Princess Mary and myself"

"Have you spoken with my daughter about this?" Henry said, suspiciously.

"I intended to seek your Majesty's permission first", Philip, said smoothly.

" I will speak with Mary, you may go now"

Philip bowed and quickly made his way out of the room. That had gone better than he had anticipated; maybe there was hope for them after all.

Who knows? With any luck Princess Mary Tudor would become The Duchess of Bavaria.

All he could do was wait.

AN: Sorry for the short chapter, had a slight case of writers block as well as not enough time since the holidays have ended now. I will try to update ASAP.