AU: I Love all of you who read this story and I appreciate you all so much, thank you for the positive feedback, you are really making this experience easy and fun for me, thank you
Queen Catherine- 16 December, 1485- 29 years
Charles Brandon- 17 April, 1484- 31 years
Henry VIII- 28 June, 1488-27 years
Anne Boleyn- 16 December, 1496- 18 years
Princess Mary- 18 February, 1514- 1 year old
Frances Brandon- 16 July, 1512- 3 years
Princess Elizabeth- 7 September, 1515
Charles Brandon jr (Charlie)- 8 September, 1515
September 12
Charlie's christening took place immediately, since Charles had to return to Greenwich for the christening of the princess Elizabeth. Catherine had asked ambassador Chapuys to be one of his god fathers, While Charles asked his friend Anthony Knivert to be the other. Maria de Salinas and Charles's ward Catherine Willoughby were his god mothers. Catherine adored her son and so did Charles, the boy looked so much like Catherine, which was fortunate for them, He had her eyes and her thick black hair, he also shared her olive toned skin, but he defiantly had Henry's build.
'No wonder he put you in labor for so long' Charles joked earlier. When Frances met her little brother, it was hard to take her away from him. She had been excited that her parents actually named him Charlie, when they had asked her how she knew; she just shrugged and said 'I don't know"
Charles arrived at Greenwich, it was hard for him to leave his family at home now, since this was one of the happiest moments of their lives, but he had to be here, plus he was to bring the Princess Mary back with him. Catherine was very excited to see her daughter again, for it had been long since the two were together.
Elizabeth's christening went well, Thomas Cranmer did the blessings and everything, it was different for Charles because now there were some elements of the reformed religion, his son had been christened as a catholic. Thomas Cranmer was one of Elizabeth's god fathers; her god mother was the Duchess of Norfolk. Once the ceremony was over, everyone gathered in the queens chambers, where the royal family sat so they could all present their gifts to the new princess.
"The Duke of Suffolk" a herald announced and Charles walked in and bowed to the King and Queen.
"Your majesties, for the princess Elizabeth, from me and the duchess" He said and his servant presented a bundle of new fine blankets for the new baby, amongst them a few handmade baby dresses, made by Catherine herself.
"Thank you Charles" Henry said. He'd come around to the fact that he had another daughter now, Elizabeth was beautiful and she reminded him a lot of his mother, but he was still a bit mad at Anne for not fulfilling her promise.
"And how is the Duchess" He asked curious to know about Catherine. Anne looked at him sharply before looking back at Charles
"She is well, your majesty" He said not sure he should announce he was a father again, to a son at that, especially when it was not his son, but Henry's
"And her pregnancy?" Henry kept pushing. People were curious as to why the king wanted to know, some started whispering to one another. Charles wanted to be nervous about Henrys reaction to hearing he had a son from his old wife, but then again, he wanted to rub it in face, because he was the one who had abandoned such a fine woman as Catherine, and upon finding out about the child, he was the one who decided not to acknowledge it.
"Catherine actually had the child a month early, but both she and the babe are well and healthy" He said, he had to mention the one month early part for those who thought the child was actually his, which was everyone, but him, Henry and the Boleyn's.
"What did she have?" Henry was nervous, he did not expect Catherine would actually carry the child full term and the fact that both were healthy was a shock to him.
Charles looked around a bit. He smiled slyly at Henry
"She gave me a son" Henry felt his whole body freeze "We named him Charles for myself and her nephew, the emperor" Charles finished and Henry, whose were eyes still widened sat frozen. There was a tense feeling in the atmosphere. People were whispering. Catherine who had bore no healthy sons for the King gave Charles Brandon a son. Some even wondered if it was really the king's child and therefore they had an heir. Anne, who was sitting in her bed with her new born child in her arms, felt like her world had stopped turning
"Come with me" Henry growled as he got up from his chair and walked out of the door. Charles bowed slightly to the Queen before going after the king.
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Anne looked at her father and uncle terrified. She looked at her child and back at the door Henry had just walked through. She looked back at them and saw them whispering to one another, suddenly her uncle left the room unnoticed to everyone else, but the Boleyns and Howards. Mary saw everything that happened and she knew what was to come, she felt her stomach tighten, 'I'm a Howard girl' she whispered to herself 'I'm a Boleyn girl' She tried to calm her nerves. She looked at her father whispering to her brother George and she gulped 'but I'm also a Stafford girl'
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Henry stormed into his private office, Charles following behind. He knew the drill. Henry would yell and yell and he'll just apologize. He refused to feel bad for Henry, he made his choice already. Charles knew many things might change if the child was a boy, His marriage to his wife was at risk, the fact that Henry would take Charlie from them, he knew about all these things. Charles knew he loved Catherine and he would never let anyone or anything separate them, all he wanted from Henry was the title that was Charlie's right; Whether Henry believed it or not, Charlie was legitimate and he was the true Prince of Wales.
"Where you ever going to tell me?" Henry growled pacing back and forth
"Of course your majesty, but today was about the princess Elizabeth, I was going to tell you later" Charles said
"Later, she has bore me a son and you were going to tell me later!" He yelled
"With all due respect your majesty, you said the child was to be born a Brandon, making him my son, if you wish to acknowledge him Henry, I suggest you make it public" Charles said
Henry was furious. How dare Charles call him his son? Henry was at war within his head. Part of him wanted to go see Catherine and his new son, but part of him, a much bigger part told him Anne was still young and he was very well capable to have more sons in the future, after all her first child was a healthy girl, Catherine's was stillborn. But he had a living son, Catherine or no Catherine, he had a son who was alive right now, but he was to be a Brandon. Yes, he had to be a Brandon; Henry didn't know what the future held, but right now he'd rather his son be a Brandon than anything else.
Henry looked at Charles. He had calmed down
"There shall be no need for that. Anne is young, she would give me sons in the future, Catherine on the other hand is aging, you would benefit more from this child" He said, a part of him telling him he was stupid.
Charles wanted to yell at him and say this was Charlie's right, he was conceived during marriage, he is legitimate and is the true heir to the throne, but he said nothing
"As you wish your majesty" Charles said "With your permission, tomorrow I would like to return to Suffolk Manor with the Princess Mary, so she can see her mother and new sibling"
Henry nodded
Charles was about to leave when Henry stopped him
"I would like to see him Charles" Charles smiled a little. At least they were making progress "Not now, but I would like to meet him someday" Henry said. Charles sighed
"Whenever your majesty pleases" Charles said "You are welcome in our home" Charles bowed before leaving
Henry fell back in his chair and sighed deeply when he heard Charles voice
"He looks a lot like Catherine, but he definately has Tudor blood in him" Henry smiled a bit as he watched Charles leave. For the first time since his divorce from Catherine, he felt regret, he still loved Catherine, he left her because he wanted a son...now he had a son, but then there was Anneā¦and Charles.
As Henry sat there thinking, he came to realize now he really did not like Charles, he got Catherine to fall in love with him, she even seemed happy being with him, in fact she even looked prettier. The worst of it all was that he got to call Henry's son his son.
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September 15
Charles had lead Mary to the gardens, the plan was to surprise Catherine. The two spotted Catherine standing by the pond with Frances beside her, they seemed to be picking flowers. Immediately Mary spotted her mother she screamed with joy
"Mama" She yelled as she ran towards her
Catherine turned in surprise and tears of joy came to her eyes as she picked her daughter, embracing her immediately. Catherine had already been churched and she was really glad to use her legs again, plus, Mary would only be here a short while and the pleasure of being able to run around with her gave her great joy.
"Oh my heart, I have missed you"
"I missed you too mama, Step papa says I have a new brother, is it true mama" Mary asked happily.
Catherine smiled. Her daughter was so grown now
"Yes my dear it is true, come we will go see him shortly" She said putting her down as Mary went to hug her sister, Frances. Catherine took this chance to kissed Charles really hard
"I have missed you like no other" He said
"I too my love. How as everything at court" She asked. Charles knew there was more to the question
"Tonight we will discuss it, but for now let us introduce Mary to her brother" He said picking the little girl up
"Carry me up too papa" Frances said and Charles laughed as he picked her up with his other arm. With both girsl in each arm, Charles led the way back into their home.
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"He is so small" Mary whispered looking at Charlie sleeping in his bassinet
"He used to be smaller" Frances said matter of factly
"You were both this small once" Charles said chuckling and Catherine smiled
"If I can recall, Mary you were much smaller than Charlie is" She said and Mary smiled
"Come my girls, how about we let Charlie sleep while we have our supper" Charles said. Mary quickly kissed her hand and placed it on her brother's head before getting up to leave with her parents
"I can't wait till we can play with him" Mary said
"Me too" Frances replied. The two looked at their parent who were holding hands and laughing
"Do you think we would get more siblings" Frances asked Mary
"I hope so" She said
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Charles sat in bed when Catherine came out of her changing room in her Chemise. He smiled when he saw her; he could not get over how beautiful her figure was.
"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on" He said and Catherine laughed
"I'm flattered" She kissed him quickly "Now tell me, what happened at court?" She asked nervously. She had wanted to ask him all day if Henry knew about his son.
"They named her Elizabeth, for both their mothers" He began and Catherine smiled, she had really liked Henry's mother, rest her soul "She must be a beautiful child" Catherine said and Charles nodded and smiled when he saw his wife's expression. He knew she did not really care for that at the moment
"Yes I told Henry and no, he still won't recognize him, but he did say he wanted to see him. I thought that was a good thing" He said and Catherine smiled a bit, but she was hurt. She liked the fact that Charles wanted to raise Charlie as his own, but she knew Charlie had a much greater fate than to be just a Duke, he was the true heir to the English Throne, but she said nothing.
"Don't worry about Charlie, love, he would be fine, I promise you" Charles said putting his hands through her hair "Whatever he becomes in the future, I'm sure he would be great"
"I know he will. He has you as father" Catherine said smiling at him. Charles leaned in to kiss her, at first softly, but it soon turned into a passionate kiss. His hands moving to the most sensitive parts of her body, he kissed her cheek, her neck, making his way down to his collar bone. He stopped and stared at her for a second. He saw her smile at him, she wanted this too. Though they had been married for eight months now, this was their first time.
Charles took off his night shirt and helped Catherine take off her chemise, she felt shy and a bit nervous and Charles chuckled when he noticed.
"What is so funny?" She asked a bit hurt
"Nothing my dear, is just it seems like we are two small children about to do the deed" Catherine smiled, she didn't know she looked that nervous
"You are beautiful Catherine" He whispered
"Even if I just had a baby?" She asked
"Makes you even more beautiful" He said looking at her larger breasts
Catherine smiled and this time she kissed him and for the first time as Man and wife, Catherine and Charles made love.
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Jane Hudson was not stupid, she knew what they were doing, and she could hear Catherine's moans. She knew they were happy together and they both loved their children and it was exactly what she loved about him. He was a loving father and good husband; she just wished she was the wife. She wanted so badly to become the duchess of Suffolk. She had been waiting for months for this time to come and finally it had arrived. She was holding the letter from the Duke of Norfolk telling her to go ahead. Jane smiled; soon it would be her in Charles's bed.
Review please.
I have a poll I'm gonna post, it's about the request I'm getting from some people to give Anne a son. It was not in my original plans, and I'm not even positive I want to change what I thought of before, but I would like to know how many of you really want this, so please take a minute to vote on my profile. You never know I just might give her one
Thanks so much
