A/N : Sorry for the long wait. I knew how I wanted this one to go, but it was fighting me. I have other plots in my head and one I will do as a request for a good frined on the forum.

1525

"Queen Katherine has died." Mary Boleyn rushed into her family's chambers, it had only been a few months since the King had begun his pursuit of Anne. She had refused his advances, her sister was known as the Great Prostitute across Europe due to her affairs with two Kings.

"How did she die?" Anne asked cautiously, she also secretly worried what lengths her family would now take to push her in front of the King.

"A riding accident during the hunt just this morning." Katherine had fallen from her horse, it had been spooked by some a noise that the source could not be discovered. Henry had run to her, cradling her in his arms begging her not to leave him. But as she took her last breathe she reached up and stroked his face. I love you were her last words to her husband. Henry mourned Katherine, more than he believed possible. He locked himself in his chambers refusing to see anyone including his own 9 year old daughter. Katherine's household was dissolved on orders of the King, Anne and her sister were to return home to Hever. It would be three years before Anne returned to court. The King despite the urging of his council had refused to remarry, he had even stayed celibate after Katherine's death.

1528

"Lady Anne." Henry whispered as she walked into the room, trailing behind the Princess Mary. Mary was now residing at court being groomed to be the Queen of England upon her father's death. He didn't think to remarry, Katherine's death had awakened a part of him that he believed long died. His love for Katherine and more importantly his pearl.

"Henry" Mary stared at her brother, as he watched Anne. Henry was shaken from his daydreams of long ago.

"Papa." Mary curtsied as she reached the King. Henry spent most of the evening glancing over to Lady Anne who was currently dancing with Charles Brandon. He was shocked to learn Anne was still unmarried, but according to rumors she had refused her father's attempt to marry her to a man she did not love. She had told him, she would marry for love not because her father demanded her to marry to advance his own status. Thomas Boleyn had disowned his own daughter for defying him, and Henry's own sister had taken in the young woman into her household. It explained with Charles had chosen Anne as his dance partner, as Mary was once again with child.

"Mary, wife, you planned this reunion?" Charles looked at his wife confused. Mary had been a vocal at her disgust with Henry's flaunting his mistresses in the past, Anne being the last one before Katherine's death. He had been completely caught off guard when she took Anne in after her family disowned her and now he could see she was placing Anne in front of Henry.

"Charles, if Katherine had not died I would have grown to hate the Lady Anne. I could see how my brother looked at her, he would have destroyed the world to possess her. He has mourned for three years, England needs a Queen. Lady Anne is the only woman I know that could pull the King out of his despair." Mary had made sure Lady Anne was seen by Henry over the next few months, she even went so far as to orchestrate elaborate events where Henry would stumble upon Anne reading in the gardens. But to Mary's frustration Henry stood firm to honor the memory of his beloved Katherine. She didn't want her brother to live a life of saddness, she could see how his eyes sparkled when he was with Anne. She knew he did love her, as much as he had loved his Katherine. It wasn't until after the sweating sickness swept England, and Anne was one of the rare cases to survive the dreaded illness did Henry relent. He saw it as a sign that God would not take Anne from him, like he had his beloved Katherine. They married during Christmastide, and just over ten months later little Princess Katherine was born. Much to the shock of all at court, Henry seemed almost relieved it was a daughter. Two more daughters were born to the new Queen, Margaret and Elizabeth. But in 1536, Prince Arthur was born. Henry was devastated, his pearl would be replaced as heir by his son. He loved him, he truly did but he truly believed Katherine's greatest wish would come to pass.

"Father, please do not cry." Mary looked up at Henry as he wept while holding her newborn brother. "This was God's plan, for Arthur to become a great King like you, papa."

"Mary, I promised your mother..."

"Mama knows you meant to keep your promise." Mary took baby Arthur from her father's arms. "Arthur, future King of England. My handsome little brother." Henry could see that Mary was not upset about losing her place as heir, she loved her younger sisters and her face lit up when she held Arthur. Princess Mary was soon betrothed to Prince Henri of France, he was a few years younger than her but the marriage was a happy one. Mary gave the her husband two strong sons, Francis and Henry.

In 1545, Prince Arthur became King of England with his mother and sisters surrounding him. He ruled for 25 years, before his untimely death leaving his crown to his eldest son, Henry. His sisters all lived happily as Queens across Europe.