Author's Notes - Apologies for the delay! I went on vacation and then we had a new person start at work so I couldn't use the computer to write. I can't believe that this story is closing in on the 100 review mark! When I first started this, I never imagined it would be so popular! Thanks as always to my reviewers, you guys are the reason I keep writing. Also, to those of you wondering, yes I do have plans to pair Charles and Anne later on in the story. As always, read, review and enjoy! Princess Mary will find out with everyone else at court in the next chapter that Katherine is pregnant. I know y'all are probably dying to see her reaction!

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"My brother is an idiot."

Katherine looked up from her needlework as her sister-in-law was shown into her sitting room. With a motion, she dismissed her ladies as Mary took a seat before her, looking irritated. "You shouldn't talk like that, Mary," she chided, "Your brother he may be but he is also your king."

"Oh, I know," Mary agreed with a sigh. "I just can't believe him sometimes."

"What happened?" Katherine questioned as she unpicked a line of stitches that had somehow ended up crooked. That was what she got for trying to do needlework while pregnant, she supposed. The child within her womb was becoming more active as the months progressed, which seemed to be a good sign.

"Well, as you already know, he and Charles went to see that Boleyn woman and her child," Mary began, waiting until Katherine nodded before continuing, "Charles told me earlier that they were there for all of five minutes before Henry demanded they leave."

Aghast, Katherine looked up, her needlework forgotten. "Henry did not even see the child?" she questioned, her ire rising. Henry had sworn to her he would see and acknowledge the child, and so help her if he hadn't done that simple task…

"Oh, he did. Charles said that Henry was a complete and utter arse to the poor woman and her child. Henry told her that he expected progress reports on the child before they left. He had plans to make, he told Charles on the way back, after all there had to be the formal announcement for the coming child and celebrations to be planned for the birth of his prince," Mary explained, catching her annoyed tone at the end of her speech. "Which, we are all praying for, of course."

"As are we all," Katherine told her, resting a hand on her rounding stomach which was met with a strong kick, "As are we all."

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"May I speak with you, Henry?"

Katherine's soft words caused him to whirl around, smiling as his eyes lit on her. Being with child certainly agreed with her, it always had. "Of course, sweetheart," he agreed enthusiastically, taking her arm in his and leading her away from the commotion in the great hall. They were to have a magnificent banquet to announce the pending birth of a prince and he didn't want her to get over-excited by all the people bustling about. "How are the two of you doing today, darling?"

"The babe and I are well," she replied with a smile. "How did your visit go?"

Damn. He'd privately hoped she'd forgotten about it or would fail to ask. This was Katherine he was talking about, he reminded himself ruefully. There was no way she would forget about that. "Well," he finally settled on replying, "the girl is healthy and definitely a Tudor rose if there ever was one."

"Hmmm," she hummed as he led her out into one of the gardens surrounding Whitehall. Servants curtsied and bowed even as they moved out of the royal couple's way. "Your sister and I had a talk earlier," she informed him after a few moments of easy silence.

Inwardly, Henry winced at those words. Of course Charles would probably have told Mary all about the fiasco that was his visit to the Boleyn estates. Mary, in turn, likely would have gone to Katherine and repeating her husband's retelling of their visit. "I can explain," he finally told her only to be cut off.

"You promised me that you would acknowledge the child. You have," she agreed before he could point out that he had, indeed, kept that promise, "But to hear of the way you treated your daughter, Henry. You may dislike Lady Anne, and I cannot fault you for that. If we have a son, would you have that son treat his child, legitimate or not, the way you treated her child? Or for that matter, would you have treated Mary the same way, had she been illegitimate?"

"Why, of course not," Henry began but trailed off. Would he really want his son to act like he had towards his former mistress and tiny daughter? "You're right," he admitted with a sigh and a shake of his head. "Of course you're right. I just…"

Blue eyes stared at him calmly, and Henry felt himself cracking under the pressure. "You just what, Henry?" she asked after a moment, seeing that he wasn't going to continue without prompting.

"I did not want to leave you in your current state, for even a moment," the words rushed out before he could stop them. It was true; he had not wanted to leave her side. Too many times he had left, be it to go to war or to cavort with his mistresses, only to be given the distressing news that once again Katherine had suffered a miscarriage. Then, of course, there was the memory of his mother. Elizabeth of York had tried desperately to give him another brother after Arthur had died, only to end up giving birth to a girl who'd only lived a few moments before both had succumbed to death.

Cupping his cheek in her hand, Katherine gently forced him to meet her gaze. "Harry," she began gently," You cannot let your fear for our child to rule you. The babe is strong, and continues to grow as such. Nothing is going to happen to us."

Leaning into the caress, Henry closed his eyes as her always soothing tone washed over him. It was silly to be so scared, but part of him couldn't help it. He hadn't always been the best husband to her, he recognized that now. God seemed willing to grant him this second chance but at what price? Masses would soon be said daily though out the country for the queen to safely deliver a prince. Would they help, or would God once again show his disfavor for Henry and fail to give him a son, or worse, take Katherine away from him? "I don't know what I would do without you," he whispered, the truth of those words hitting him like a lance to the gut.

"And I, you," she agreed, "I pray neither of us will ever find out. Will you see little Elizabeth again? And actually be the father she needs, for me?"

Swallowing hard against the sudden lump that had formed in his throat, he nodded. "Yes," he agreed, unable to hold back the single tear that traced down his cheek.