A/N: READ IT! *Stares back at computer screen in astonishment* Really guys, I cannot believe the reception this story has gotten! Wow! Once again, I would just like to thank all of you for being SO supportive, and telling me how much you like my story! You guys are what inspires me to write, so thank you! Sorry it took me a while to get this out, but as we all know final exams at the end of the year are stressful! But I am out of school now which means a lot more time for me to write!

Here's the deal, I wrote a bit of a short chapter, only because this is leading to something important, and the next chapter will be coming up in a day or two, I want to say by Saturday.
So this is just a starter for things to come, but I still hope you like it nonetheless! The next chapter will be much longer!

I hope you enjoy the chapter, and please continue to message and review me with words of support and ideas! I really do take them into account!

-Leila =D

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors or any characters associated with it.

Warning: Some foul language kiddies...

Chapter Three: The Cleavage

"Just give in
Don't give up baby
Open up your heart and your mind to me"

-Lady Gaga "So Happy I Could Die"

Rule of the Game #3: Thou shall NEVER back down to a challenge.

August 1, 1529

Whitehall Palace

The Queen's Chambers

The game of cat and mouse seemed more appealing than ever to Henry these days, so Katherine decided on trying it out herself with him.

Whenever Henry wanted something he would set out to have it, and asked questions later. Thomas had been so right to suggest that she ignore Henry...

Katherine smiled at her reflection in her mirror as her maids brushed through her long ebony locks and spritzed her with rose water. Other ladies-in-waiting were arranging roses in ornate vases, and lighting dozens of candles around the room giving off a gold radiance. Katherine's maids had no idea what they were decorating the room in this mood for, or why they were dressing the Queen in revealing attire.

"It's a celebration of sorts. Mi celebración de independencia" was Katherine's reply, and they couldn't help but think she was up to something.

From the corner of her eye, Katherine watched the pageboy Henry sent gawk at her in awe.
If she wasn't going to meet with the King, what other reason would she have to dress like that?

"What does he say now, Mister Gibbs?" Katherine asked the boy casually, but in truth she as anxious upon hearing the answer. Samuel Gibbs's freckled face turned bright red and he tugged at his collar nervously.

"Your Majesty...the King demands that you make yourself shown at once." The ladies-in-waiting stopped what they were doing to gaze at Katherine, awaiting her reply. Especially Elizabeth Darrell who was holding her breath with so much anticipation that she was about to burst. They couldn't imagine how the Queen in her right mind could ever pass this up.

"Does he now?" was all Katherine spoke, and Elizabeth looked just about ready to faint.

At any other time, the old Katherine would have been thrilled by the invitation. She would have been happy to cherish any rare moment with her husband in general and to please him.
Well...the new Katherine still wanted to please him, yes, in more ways than one but now was not the time for that.
The new Katherine was aiming to please herself.
As for the invitation, one for her to dine with Henry, she was not fooled over. For the past three days since she had walked away from him she had decided to take Thomas's advice and ignore the King. Surprisingly, it had proven good for Katherine on a more personal level. Walking away from Henry was like she were walking through a door and into a whole new life.

It was true that a part of her wanted to turn around and face him when he called to her in the courtyard. But she didn't, and for that much she was proud.
After the incident in the courtyard, Henry had decided to play along at first. Once again he attempted to show her how she could not affect him, turning his affections back to the Lady Anne who somehow found a way to slither back to court. It wasn't until he and Anne were walking through the garden maze, and saw Katherine and Sir Thomas talking as though they were sharing secrets yet again that Henry planned on a course of action. Rage sparking back from the courtyard incident, Henry demanded to speak with Katherine, only to be cast off for a second time!

Instead of shame, Henry settled that Katherine refused to acknowledge him this time because he was with Anne. But still, she had walked away from him nonetheless! And what was all this new shared time with Sir Thomas? No doubt Katherine was trying to turn Thomas away from him! Henry didn't like it one bit. He was going to force Katherine to talk to him now, and explain the meaning to all of this! Katherine figured it was only a matter of time before he sought her out himself that night.

The first time he had tried to force Katherine out of her hiding, he requested for her to dine with him. Katherine rejected him, and told the pageboy she had just finished dining. And with that Samuel Gibbs left the golden, rose adorned sanctuary leaving Katherine to prepare, knowing fully well of Henry's reaction.

It hadn't been more than ten minutes that Gibbs was back with word again.

This time Henry was demanding her.

Katherine smirked as her maids finished her hair, and nodded at her reflection in approval.

"Tell the King that I wish to retire. Goodnight Mister Gibbs" Katherine said, dismissing him. The ladies-in-waiting gawked at her as though she had lost her mind.

"Majesty", Gibbs said bowing before leaving the room, bewildered himself. After Katherine heard his heavy footsteps descend down the hall, she rose from her seat with a victorious smile.

30...29...28...

"You ladies may leave if you like", Katherine said picking up her bible and sitting herself in front of her fireplace, crossing her legs. Her very exposed legs...

...20...19...18...

"B-but Your Majesty!" Elizabeth said giving off a shrill shriek, blonde curls bouncing wildly around her face as she shook her head. "I thought you wished to retire to bed?"

...12...11...10...

"Oh I have no intention of retiring right now. But that is all I will be asking of your services at the moment. Thank you ladies." Her maids all giving hesitant looks to each other gave the Queen low curtsies before leaving. Katherine straightened herself in her seat and cast her eyes downcast to her cleavage. Oh yes, she was ready for him this time...

First mistake dear husband, Katherine thought. Thinking I was undesirable...

...3...2...1...

BOOM!

"KATHERINE!"

"Dios Mio, must you always enter my chambers that way?" Katherine sighed as she flipped through pages of her bible, trying desperately to hold back her smile.

"I will enter your chambers however I like! Now you tell me—!" Henry stopped talking and came to a halt as he took in his surroundings.

The first thing that came to mind were roses. The sweet intoxicating smell was strong, but not overpowering. There were roses set in intricate vases on every stand and table in her chambers. Next Henry noticed the alluring golden glow her room seemed to give off. There were candles adorned everywhere, and gold beaded drapes of silk that covered her walls caught the reflection of the light, making them shimmer.

And then of course, there was Katherine...

Henry seemed to lose track of place and time because to him, it was as if he were nine-years-old again staring it his brother's beautiful and exotic bride-to-be, and future Queen of England.

She wore a dress of deep royal purple with a sleeveless jeweled bodice, which no doubt gave even more attention to her cleavage in the already low cut dress. A necklace of amethyst and gold was worn on her neck, and her long dark locks of hair that cascaded down her shoulders was topped off with a sparkling tiara.

Dare Henry say it she looked...sexy, and regal, and every inch a queen.

His queen, a voice nagged at the back of his head.

"W-what is the meaning of this?" Henry stammered as he found his voice again.

"What is the meaning of what?" Katherine asked innocently, still keeping her eyes on her bible.

"I...well—y-you..." Henry's mind was spinning. Never did he expect to walk in on this, let alone find Katherine attractive when he was supposed to be angry and giving her a piece of his mind!

"You're reading the Bible dressed like that!" Henry managed to say, frustrated at the feelings that were nagging at his brain. Katherine finally looked up at him with piercing blue eyes, and Henry swallowed hard as he caught her gaze.

"Dressed like what, Henry?" Katherine asked softly, a smile slowly appearing on her face. Henry found his eyes drifting down at her cleavage again, and once he caught himself, he quickly shut his eyes and turned away from her.

"That's besides the point!" Henry huffed as he shook his head trying to get the inappropriate images of Katherine out of his mind. "I have come to confront you once and for all, what are you planning with Thomas More?"

Katherine's face fell, and her heart sped up.

"What do you mean?" she asked as she stood from her seat.

"All this new found time with Sir Thomas! The quiet ways you talk to each other, the startled looks and ignoring me upon first sight! Anne thinks you are plotting something together!"

Katherine's eyes narrowed at him.

"Yes well naturally of course the woman will claim anything foul against anyone close to me. And Sir Thomas is one of your most faithful servants, he would never want to hurt you. That girl's words are poison." Henry spun around to her, trying desperately to keep his eyes on her face.

"That is funny you say that Katherine, because she claims the same about you", he spat.

"And you believe her!" Katherine said outraged. Henry shrugged his shoulders and turned his back on her again.

"She gave me reason to believe you are bluffing about you intentions to remarry." Katherine stared at the back of her husband in incredulity, as she tried to steady her breathing.

"On the contrary" Katherine said slowly. "I have every intention, if the annulment were granted." Katherine stepped closer to him, and the intoxicating scent of rose water filled his nose.
"I would never stay here and acknowledge that harlot as queen!"

"Prove it then!" Henry yelled hysterically. "I have not made a decision for you to remarry and leave my realm, nor do I ever! Unless you prove to me that your intentions to remarry are true, which I doubt they are, I will never give it my blessing!"
Henry made way to her door, desperate to leave the room and his outrageous thoughts of Katherine and her cleavage behind. He did not know why every time the topic of Katherine remarrying upset him, especially when he settled that she was bluffing. But he realized he could no longer talk about her with another man while she was dressed like that. Katherine closed her eyes and brought her hands to cover her face as the door slammed behind him.

In a way, their meeting had been bitter sweet.
On one hand, Katherine had succeeded on what she planned to do. To show Henry just how desirable she still was, and judging by the way Henry ogled at her and was speechless every time he set his eyes on her, he must have thought that too. And then on the other hand, there was the bitter...

..."Prove it then! I have not made a decision for you to remarry and leave my realm, nor do I ever! Unless you prove to me that your intentions to remarry are true, which I doubt they are, I will never give it my blessing!"...

Prove it! Prove it! Prove it!

Henry's harsh words rang through her ears, and her hands clutched into tight fists.

If that's what Henry wanted, if he thought she didn't have the will to pull it off, then he was horribly wrong.

A/N: Again, I know this chapter was short, but I just wanted to get this out before I hectic week of packing, because my family is planning to go to Florida in a week and a half! So I want to update as much as possible! I hope you liked it though, and please, do not hesitate to message me! This next chapter will be out VERY soon! In fact, I am working on it right now!

-Leila