AU – Anne gets free from the Tower finally!!! yay!! The Seymour's and Boleyns enter the story, he he! And Henry meets Anne face to face for the first time since that 'One more chance' scene!

Disclaimer - None of the characters belong to me, I take no credit for it, Showtime & Michael Hurst are the rightful owners, basically its not mine!


Anne couldn't help but grab her skirts and run across the courtyard of the Tower, she didn't care whether she seemed indecent or reckless, she was just glad to be out of the Tower. Her ladies struggled to keep up with her as she raced towards the gate of the Tower, eager to be let out and returned to her rooms at the palace. Master Kingston had talked to her the other day, he said that she was to return to the palace and return to her Queen's rooms, although she wasn't allowed to wear any of the royal gowns or jewellery and she was to dine in her rooms with her ladies only. Anne accepted the terms gladly, she didn't mind whether Henry kept her as his Queen or not anymore, in the past few weeks she had learned that a life was worth more than a throne or a King. In fact Anne wasn't even that bothered by Mistress Seymour, Henry could do what he liked, as she could now...well, Anne hoped so anyway...somehow even being free from the Tower didn't make that much difference when she could still lose her head at any moment....


Edward Seymour glared out the window at the approaching horse drawn carriage carrying the whore Anne Boleyn back to the palace. He still couldn't believe the King had welcomed her back after he had found out about her affairs, but now the whole court was abuzz with the latest gossips that the King had found Thomas Cromwell guilty of drawing up false crimes against Queen Anne. Edward snorted, well at least there would be some form of execution before the year was out, even if it wasn't the whore at least he got to see some blood shed. Edward turned his head at the sound of a sharp rap at the door, he turned from the window as his brother Thomas strode into the room looking pleased with himself. "Well, why that stupid grin on your face?" Edward growled. Thomas smirked and patted his brother on the back, "We still have a chance, Edward." That was all he said before he left the room again, no doubt on his way to their fathers rooms to spread the good news, thought Edward as he grinned and started to make plans.


Anne took a deep breath and tried to stay strong as she entered the palace and walked down the hallway, with her ladies following closely behind her. She glanced shyly at all the courtiers who had gathered to whisper about her, or most unlikely welcome her back to court. Anne almost jumped out of her skin in shock when she started to hear a slow applause start from the end of the crowd and travel towards her getting louder and more triumphant by the minute, she looked at the courtiers, for some strange reason they seemed to be smiling and cheering at her, Anne kept her bewilderment to herself as she smiled bravely back at them before she rounded the corner and made her entrance into the throne room...

Henry focused on standing straight and trying to remember his words as he anxiously waited for Anne to enter the throne room, it was ridiculous how much he wanted her and still...he hated her didn't he? Henry didn't have time to ponder much more, as a servant announced 'Queen Anne'. As she entered an applause could be heard outside Henry almost smiled, how befitting that a woman they once hated would be applauded on her return from the executioners block? He managed to keep a serious face though, as Anne approached him and curtsied deeply. He helped her up and bowed to her as required, after all she was still his Queen. Henry cleared his throat and began to speak, "Queen Anne of England, you have been pardoned of all charges against you as they have been found to be false and highly exaggerated by my Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell, as such you have been permitted to live and remain partially Queen until all matters have been successfully and rightfully dissolved." Henry took a deep breath as he finished his speech and began to smile at Anne, she seemed surprised at first, as any woman would be after being abandoned so wretchedly as she had been, then her expression seemed to soften as she smiled shyly back at him. Henry was taken aback, firstly by the astounding beauty and frailty of her smile, which made him want to hold her tightly and never let her go, as well as the strange shyness that just wasn't Anne...


Anne began to relax even more as she danced through the corridors to her room, she felt truly happy to be back in the familiar surroundings she knew and loved. Anne let out a sigh of happiness as she entered her old rooms again and gazed round at the familiar items. Even though she knew she shouldn't she opened a chest of clothes in the room, and gasped at the beautiful luxury dresses she had worn not long ago, surprisingly she managed to close the chest again and leave it alone, maybe getting adjusted to her new terms wouldn't be so hard after all. Anne smiled and started to undress, she had given all her ladies, including the ones from the Tower, the night off as she wanted to fully enjoy her freedom as well as get used to doing things for herself, after all there was no chance she would be a real Queen again. As Anne was thinking this, someone entered her room, she heard the door close and turned around holding her dress lacing's together with one hand. She could see the dark silhouette of a man, and held her dress tighter together whilst she called out to the unknown man, "Forgive me sir, but who might I be addressing?" Anne hoped it wasn't Henry, maybe he wished to share her bed again?

Before she could worry herself with the identity of the man, he stepped into the light... Anne breathed a sigh of relief as she saw that it was Charles, but then she raised an eyebrow at him, why was he here? And at this hour?

Charles grinned at her and came towards her, he brought his arms around her waist and kissed her passionately before he drew away and began to speak, "I came to welcome you back to court, Your Majesty." He quickly bowed before embracing her with his warmth again. Anne giggled and ran her tongue over his lips, whilst he slid the laces of her dress through her now loose fingers, he then slowly slipped the gown from her shoulders, it dropped to the floor with a quiet rustling of fabric, as Anne stepped from the dress and into Charles' open and waiting arms.


Thomas Boleyn smirked as his gaoler opened his cell door and led him, reluctantly, to freedom.

He waved at the gaoler as he left the Tower in a horse drawn carriage heading towards his brother – in - law's family home. Once he was out of sight of the Tower, Boleyn turned towards his son, George who was seated opposite him, looking glum. "George, sit up straight and stop sulking or else I will make sure you go back to that Tower!" Boleyn wasn't in a particularly good mood, as he now had to come up with another scheme, George knew that and took his words seriously he would play along for a while, well at least until he could safely leave the country and travel elsewhere. George contented himself with the beautiful dreams of life in another country as his father rambled on about his latest plans and disagreements with Uncle Howard.


AU – Everyone's out the Tower!!!!! ^_^ Quick note, sorry if I portray the Boleyns/Howards and Seymour's as evil, I'm pretty biased! Next chapter, Anne meets with Jane and a certain other lady...The Boleyns and Howards plot, and Charles learns of the death of his son by Princess Margaret (Mary in history) Tudor.