Katherine emerged from the bedroom, a smile on her face as she saw her husband had returned earlier than normal once again. It seemed to be a recurring trend ever since she announced her pregnancy.

She leaned in, pressing her lips to Henry's in a tender greeting.

"I'm glad to see you so happy lately, my-" She stopped short, feeling a small flutter in her stomach, but then continued, thinking nothing of it. "Sorry, I think I'm a bit hungry," she explained. "Have you had anything to eat yet, sweetheart?"

"Seeing you makes me happy," Henry said, smiling at his wife. He furrowed his brow slightly when she stopped mid-sentence but then shook his head to answer her question. "Not yet. I thought I might dine with you," he answered, "How are you faring?"

"I'm doing very well," Katherine replied, her smile matching her husband's. "I have nothing to complain ab-" She fell silent again, feeling a small lurch in her stomach, this time more distinct than the other, almost as if someone had flicked her. There was no mistaking the strange sensation. "Harry," she breathed out, clutching at his shoulders in excitement. "I think… I think I can feel our baby moving!"

"Our baby's moving?" Henry echoed in surprise, his mouth falling open. He had a look of complete wonderment as his gaze kept darting between Katherine's growing belly and her face. "Maybe it likes the sound of your voice…" he breathed, "I can't believe it. Katherine, is it really moving?"

"Yes, I think so," Katherine exclaimed, her eyes shining as she looked up at Henry. "Well, it only started moving when it heard its father's voice," she teased before glancing down at her stomach, feeling the baby once more. "Oh, it's done it again!" She took her husband's hands in hers and brought them up to her belly. "Just wait. Maybe you will be able to feel it too."

Henry fell silent for a few moments, his brow furrowing in concentration as if that somehow might cause the baby to move again. "I can't feel anything," he declared, "Maybe it only-" He cut himself off, his eyebrows raising suddenly. At first, he thought maybe he'd just imagined it through sheer force of will, but then it happened once more, unmistakably.

"Katherine, our son is saying hello," he said, grinning from ear to ear.

Katherine let out a small laugh, leaning in to press her lips to Henry's, gently placing her hands atop his which were still resting on her stomach.

/

Katherine looked at the spectacle before her; tears were gathering in her eyes and she could barely retain her anger. Her husband was engaged in a, what seemed rather intimate, conversation with a pretty young woman, laughing and joking. True, she knew that he had not looked the way of other women since they had met, but that was before the pregnancy had changed her body, making her heavier and perhaps less attractive.

She had overheard several ladies whisper and gossip of the fact that some men lost interest in their wives when they were pregnant and sought company elsewhere, implicating that the King could be one of them, but she had never believed that Henry would be like that – nothing in his prior behavior had indicated that.

Although, recently she had noticed that Henry had spent a lot of time talking to this particular young woman. Perhaps it was true then, perhaps he was losing interest in his wife – in her - now that he was on his way to get what was required of them, an heir to the throne. No, she would not endure this any longer; she rose abruptly, although with difficulty, and left the table only nodding slightly at her good-sister, Mary who was keeping her company. Mary immediately got up with a frown directed at her brother, she caught up with the Queen before she reached the door to the royal chambers.

"Katherine, what is wrong; does the baby trouble you?" she inquired.

Katherine just shook her head, unable to say anything.

"Come, let me help you. You must be tired, it has been a long day."Mary tried to soothe her good-sister as she opened the door to the sitting room.

"You are right Mary, I am very tired. You may go back to feast, I will be alright."

"Are you sure."

"Absolutely," Katherine confirmed turning her head to the other side and hoping that Mary doesn't see tears that are threatening to roll down her cheeks.

"Good night then."

By the time Henry reached her chambers, it was late and Katherine was already asleep. Henry stood for a while watching his sleeping wife, even in sleep she seemed troubled and he could tell that she had been crying. He could not for the world to think of why, and he undressed quietly and slid down in bed beside her.

He put his arms around her, silently rejoicing in the fact that he had her – and that he was big enough to still reach around her. She gave a little mewling sound and snuggled up against him still in her sleep, and he put one hand on her belly feeling the baby move inside his wife's body. He smiled; he longed to see their son.

/

Next day Henry returned to his usual caring and tender self he has been since Katherine announced her pregnancy and she soon forgot all about the young lady he paid special attention at the feast.

They were happy. The whole country was waiting for an heir to be born and Henry was certain that it will be a boy.

The second week of January Katherine was woken by the stabbing pain in her stomach. She felt the dampness between her legs and when she looked at the sheets she noticed that they were stained with blood. Her heart sank. She screamed for her ladies to get a doctor, but it was too late. Her daughter was stillborn.

Henry stared at his wife in disbelief when he saw her. She looked a mess. Her auburn hair darkened from sweat and she looked incredibly pale. There was something wild in her red eyes that glistened with unshed tears.

"But the doctors said that everything was fine.." Nothing made sense to him. They were so happy and now their happiness was snatched from them.

"It was. They told me that it happens sometimes. That a woman can lose a child without a real reason." "I thought that we were favored by a God." "We were, we still are. It's not as bad as it seems." She said softly, trying to convince both of them that everything will be all right.

"And how that might be so Catalina?" He asked using her old name. Reminding her who she truly is, a foreigner who he had raised to be his Queen.

"We are fertile, that is important." She didn't flinch at hidden threat instead she raised her chin slightly.

"This was a misfortune. It happens to couples, even a royal one."

"So you don't believe that we are punished by God?"

"No" She replied, willing him to believe.

He barely heard her words, they were just empty comfort. A seed of doubt was planted in his head. Did he make the right choice?

AN: Review please.