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K

James stood quietly looking out the window in Renee's room. The last time he was here was when he had told Lily about her mother. James had opened the windows and he closed his eyes as he allowed the cool air of the morning blow in his face. The pond was lively with ducks as usual, the trees were filled with singing bird and the sky was bluer than ever.

Last night, had been wonderful. He had enjoyed every minute of being with Katherine and this morning, things had been so comfortable, it was like they were made for one another. James turned away from the window and surveyed the room he was in. the bed with its red covers were still made. James remembered all the mornings he would wake up with Renee in his arms on this same bed, After all, this had been their chamber. The mornings when he had not woken up with his wife beside him, he would look to the window and watcher as she stood there oblivious to his movements on the bed. She had enjoyed the view very much and now James had come to appreciate it too.

James walked away from the window and settled himself on the chair beside him. His head was in his hands as he tried to figure out what he was really doing. It was not long before he heard footsteps in the room and when the person did not speak, James raised up his head to look at who it might be.

"Katherine" He said softly. She looked…well…hurt and he could not blame her. She had told him to give her a chance and he was not doing that by sitting in here. What was he doing in here?

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked coming to take a seat across from him

James was quiet for a minute. He knew talking about it always made things better. He remembered when he was young and his mother had just died. It took talking about his feeling with his father to make him feel better. Henry Tudor was not a man that usually showed too much emotion, but that day, James had been very grateful that he had listened to him and consoled him. James knew that if he wanted to start afresh with Katherine, he just had to talk to her about it.

"Yes, actually" He said and so it began. He told her everything. From when they first met and the things they always did. He told her about the first pregnancy she had lost before Lily. He told her about the day Lily was born, he told her the things Renee used to do when he was hurt or sick, he told her about the day he was needed at court and because there was a jousting match, he had decided to stay until the competition was over; The news that his wife was dead reached court, as he was already on his way to Pembroke.

"You know it was not your fault, right?" Katherine asked and James nodded.

"I just feel like I could have done something, called for a different physician…I never got to say good bye to her and I think that's what bothers me the most, the fact that we left things unfinished." James was silent as he stared at the floor "The day I left for court, it was so early, she was sleeping and I did not have the heart to wake her, so I left her a note." He looked up at Katherine "I wish I did now" He said softly and Katherine took his hand and gave it a small squeeze.

"I'm sorry that I have been unfair to you" James said and Katherine wanted to disagree, but he continued.

"It isn't fair that I still have this room filled with her things, when I have a wife under this roof. It isn't fair that you find me in hear almost every morning, for that I am sorry and I promise that things are going to change from now on." Katherine smiled a little.

"I do not want you doing anything you don't want because of me" Katherine said "I'm fine with the way things are now" she said and James smiled a bit at her

"That's not what you said last night" James was smiling at her as her cheeks turned a shade of pink

"Well last night, I was…I-"

"You spoke the truth" He said simply before kissing her hands.

"I am going to clear this room up myself" He said looking around

"May I help?" Katherine asked and James smiled at her

"If you want" He said and Katherine smiled at him

"I would love to"

K

They had spent the next two days clearing out Renee's room. James had a story for everything they put away. Many of Renee's jewelry were packed up and saved for Lily. Her dresses were packed up to be given to the poor. The portraits were kept, some in storage, one was placed in the Hall containing other royal family portraits. Lily was given a couple and James's favorite was left hanging in the room. James had not wanted any help from the servants, but for the sake of Katherine he allowed a few to help, just because he did not want her lifting things.

K

That night James and Katherine collapsed in their bed after they had eaten and changed. They were doing more work in that room than they had ever done in their entire lives.

"I'm glad we are finally finished" James said and Katherine smiled and nodded in response. James propped himself up with his hands as he looked at his wife. Katherine felt him staring and so she turned over to look at him as well.

"May I call you Cat?" He asked randomly and Katherine suddenly frowned

"Please no. I…I have always hated cats, the sight of them make me cringe, I will hate to have Cat as a pet name" James chuckled beside her and Katherine smiled a bit in embarrassment. She honestly did not know what was funny. She was not the only one that disliked the little animal; Henry had disliked them too, so it was not a woman thing.

"You are scared of them" James said grinning from ear to ear

"Not scared, I just dislike them"

"Sure" He said "Henry is scared of them too, he thinks they are pets of witches"

"Well, aren't they?" Katherine said a bit defensively

"No, I think they are misunderstood animals. They kill mice and no one likes mice, cats help us rid of the filthy rodents and their fleas" He told her and Katherine knew he had a point, but still…

"I still don't favor them" She said and James smiled before kissing her lips softly.

"I do not promise that the pet name won't slip once in a while, but I shall think of a better pet name for you" He said and Katherine looked at him seriously for a second

"Please do not let the name slip, or you shall have a very unhappy wife" She smiled at him and James laughed

"I like to keep my wife very happy, unless of course, when I am teasing her for my happiness" Katherine playfully smacked him on his arm and rolled her eyes before she settled into his side

"You are impossible" She said softly.

James smiled as he pulled her closer and kissed her head. He felt a lot better now. He had talked to her about Renee and he felt so much better. The guilty feeling did not come when he was holding his wife close or joking with her. Now, he could open his heart completely to Katherine and he could already trust that they were already in good hands.

K

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