"Are you sure?" George asked.

Jane smiled and nodded. "The midwife says that I'm about two months along."

"Jane, that's wonderful!" George laughed and hugged his wife tightly but gingerly. "A baby!" he whispered in awe. He lifted her chin to look into her eyes. "You take care, darling. I don't want anything to happen to you, or to the baby."

"I'm fine, George," Jane assured him.

"Have you been eating well? Getting enough rest?"

Jane chuckled. "I'm fine, George. Please don't worry about me."


Henry Percy and Anne laughed as they ran through the fallen leaves, listening to their shoes make crunching noises. Each of them held one of Elizabeth's hands, and the little girl chortled with glee. Henry finally collapsed onto the ground, pulling Elizabeth into his lap. Anne sat down beside him.

"I love this time of year," Henry said. "The breeze feels so nice, and the changing colors of the leaves are so pretty."

"This time last year I was still at Whitehall Palace," Anne said quietly.

"Do you miss it?" asked Henry.

"I miss some things, I suppose," Anne said after giving it some thought. "But I definitely don't miss all the pressure I was under to bear a son for the King, all his temper tantrums and mood swings, and all the viciousness and back-biting of court life."

"Does it hurt you that you're no longer Queen?"

"A little bit, but what truly breaks my heart is that now Elizabeth can never become Queen."

"You never know what the future holds," Henry said cheerfully.

Anne sighed. Henry picked up one of her hands and began gently tracing her palm with one of his fingers.

"I've been thinking about you and me. About us," he said.

"And?"

"And I have come to the conclusion that as I have been given a second chance at happiness, it would be foolish of me not to treasure it as the gift that it is. Will you marry me, Anne?"

"Oh, Henry." Overcome with emotion, she hugged him tightly and buried her face in his neck.

"May I take that as a yes?"


Henry and Anne were married on a beautiful, crisp autumn day. Anne looked absolutely radiant in her wedding gown, and Henry was dashingly handsome in his doublet. George, Jane, and the rest of their family and friends were there. Jane hadn't yet begun to show.

"This seems to be a year for new beginnings," George commented. "A new home for all of us, a new marriage for Anne, and a new baby for us."

"Beginnings and endings." A shadow fell across Jane's face.

"Do you miss life at court?" George asked softly.

"A bit, but I was thinking more so of what happened between you and your father. I still feel responsible for it."

"No, Jane." George's voice was almost a whisper as he put his arms around her and held her close. "You didn't do anything wrong. We made the right choice. If not for the decision we made, Anne and I could very well be dead now, as well as several other innocent men."

Jane still looked mournful. George held her face between his hands and tenderly kissed her forehead. She gave a small smile. "That's my girl." George pinched her cheek playfully and she grinned. He laughed softly and hugged her.


"At last we are together and alone, my love." Henry joined Anne on the bed, where she lay back and he began to kiss her passionately. She returned his kisses with equal fervor, running her hands over his body as she did so. His fingers fumbled with her gown, loosening the ties to give him access to her breasts. Anne felt a fire beginning in the pit of her stomach and spreading in all directions. Her skin felt hot everywhere Henry touched it. She began to moan softly. Henry gently lifted the gown over her head and removed it, then began to lavish attention on her breasts, stimulating them first with his fingers, then with his tongue. Her moaning increased as his fingers slipped deftly between her legs to feel the wetness there. He quickly moved to take off his night shirt and hose, and she reached for him and began to lovingly stroke him. Within seconds he was inside her and they were making love. Henry cried out as he climaxed, then pulled Anne to him and lay very still, holding her tightly. She cuddled up next to him, and they were both fast asleep almost instantly.