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Guest (3) [chapter 51]: Glad you did! :)

Mary gasped when she saw John. He was tall, definitely bigger than the nine-year-old she last saw him as. His curls were now hazel, like Anne's, and his eyes were blue and sharp like Anne's as well. If no one knew who they were, they would have said that John and Anne were twins. But that wasn't the case, same father but different mothers. Way different mothers.

She had requested to see him alone the minute he arrived without his mother. Apparently, Lola had found someone in Italy and was in the process of arranging her wedding so John had come to get away from that conveniently. He wasn't fond of his future stepfather but his mother was happy and that made him content.

Mary stood up from her seat and John bowed low, holding his position until she said, "Don't be stupid. Come and greet me properly."

John straightened his back and eyed her fearfully. "Ma'am?"

"I'm... I'm your stepmother, the mother to your half-siblings and most of all, your godmother," Mary told him gently. "So come and give me a hug."

John slowly walked up to her and she wrapped her arms around him the second he stepped into them. The hug was tense and she could very well feel that and when she pulled away and cupped his cheeks, he faltered.

"Your Majesty?"

"You're so tall. You'll be as tall as your father soon," she said, smiling. She let go of him. "How is your mother?"

"She's happy."

Mary nodded. "That is good. Do you know why you are here?"

"To spend time at Court? I know that Father won't be with me all that much, but I should be able to spend time with people more my age," he replied.

"That is right," Mary said. "But that is also the thing - about your father that is. We have decided to explain to the girls and Robin about your situation. We want you to be a part of our family."

John froze. "Pardon me?"

"I can't deny your existence, John," she told him. "I do care for you, you're not only my husband's child but one of my dear friend's son. I know that she doesn't pay much attention to you these days... Life goes on and she does need to secure her own future but that isn't to say that Francis will continue to neglect you and your own needs."

"I do not need the King's attention," John said. "He has your children to think about. My mother explained this all from an early age-"

"I was selfish," Mary admitted quickly. "Francis's loyalty to me has made your childhood suffer. That ends today. Hopefully, your relationships with your half-sisters and half-brothers will be improved. What do you say?"

John swallowed deeply. "Whatever you say goes, Your Majesty."

"Do drop that nonsense," she muttered lightly. "It's Aunt Mary to you."

"Alright, Aunt Mary," John corrected himself with a smile.

"Welcome home, John."

...

"Anne, it is no problem-"

"Do you know what this means, Rose?" Anne cut her sister off as they got off their horses and let the stable boys take them in.

Rose sighed. "What, Anne?"

"Father won't pay us enough attention. He barely does with James, Joseph and Peter running about," Anne said. "As daughters, we are not important in the hierarchy of things."

Rose rolled her eyes. "You're too jealous. Green is such an ugly colour."

"You're supposed to me on my side!"

"Annie, I will always be on your side but don't you remember being James's age when you and Father always had those little moments and I was disregarded?" Rose retorted, taking off her gloves. "Just-"

Her blue eyes caught someone and she blushed when he waved at her before being scolded by his mother, their head cook. He walked on, giving her a meek smile and a boyish grin before he continued to herd the chickens into the small chicken compound.

"Rose!"

"What?" Rose quickly said, turning back to her sister.

"You had that stupid look in your eyes again," Anne muttered darkly. "We do not mix with the side help, Rose."

Rose scowled. "Must you look down on people?"

"Mother and Father probably have some rich prince for you to marry one day," Anne replied as they headed towards the entrance of the castle. "Sons of cooks won't give you wealth or lands. Our brothers overrule us and we're older than them. Think about it, you'll probably be married to the Queen of Navarre's second son."

"He's younger than us. Both of them are!"

Anne shrugged. "Or the King of Sweden. He's fifteen in the autumn and I saw him eyeing me during your birthday events."

"Next, you'll tell me that you want all of his adorable babies," Rose said with a mocking tone. "He's the one, is he?"

Anne glared at her sister. "At least he's somebody."

"Sisters."

They both looked up to see John bowing in front of them. He had a warm smile on his face and he reached out towards Rose, her hand going into his as he kissed the back of it. He then moved onto Anne who discreetly wiped the kiss off with her riding pants when his gaze landed on Rose.

"John Philip! You're back," Rose said happily. "It's been long."

"It has," John replied kindly. "I missed you both. We used to play with footballs and dollhouses, remember?"

"Vaguely," Anne said, disinterested.

They heard footsteps behind John and Robin appeared with a smirk on his face and Willow scattering about his feet as he walked towards them. He stopped beside John and nodded his greeting. They were cousins, formalities long since gone.

"Rosie, Annie."

"Robin," the girls said, grinning.

"But I thought your father wouldn't let you come?"

Robin winked at them. "The trick when it comes to my dear father," he said, brushing over a scar on his cheek briefly. "Is to use my beloved mother. She has ways, that I obviously would rather not know but they work. I'll be Uncle Francis's ward."

Rose beamed. "That's amazing!" She said, hugging him tightly. "Oh, the fun we would have! Summer at Avon just wasn't enough. Is Ana alright? Xander too?"

"Slow down, Rose!" Robin chuckled. "Ana and Xander are alright. Keep asking of the boys but my parents promise to visit by Christmas with them."

"I wish Uncle Bash was still Father's King's Deputy," Anne said with a sigh. "Remember when we put Barty the Mouse in Grandmama's pillow?"

Robin chuckled. "How could I forget? The castle was home. At times. Anyway, who is this stranger?"

John looked taken back and he held his hand out to shake Robin's. "Forgotten me that easily, Cousin?"

"John Philip? By God, it is you!" Robin cried out, bringing the boy in for a hug. "Does this mean that I don't have to do what the girls want now?"

"John is not staying for long," Anne said firmly. "Not if I have a say..." She mumbled to herself.

Robin frowned. "Oh, no! B-But-"

"No 'but's, Robert," Anne told him, turning to John. "If you'd excuse us, my sister and cousin need to follow me. Now."

Anne grabbed their arms and Robin turned to give John a meek shrug and an exasperated look to Anne.

"Why were you so rude?" He asked her.

Anne rolled her eyes. "He doesn't belong here."

"She's just jealous," Rose said as Anne spoke. She then continued with, "I am sure it is nothing against John Philip but the fact that Father would probably spend more time with John than he does spend with us girls. She'll end up a bitter spinster at this rate if she pushes away her family."

Anne scowled, stopping at her bedchamber to cross her arms angrily. "How dare you?!"

"Oh, right. She'll end up the bitter wife of some Swedish King. There, I corrected myself," Rose said, smiling at her sister.

Robin laughed. "Well, you both do what you wish. John and I are finally reunited to be boys! I can't always have my lovely hair plaited by you. I need to do my own thing. That and your father will have me working at his ward so I want my free time to be spent appropriately."

"Then you can leave too!" Anne cried out. "In fact, join them, Rose! I will find better friends!"

Rose grinned. "But can you find another sister or... cousin?"

"I can ask Mama and Papa to always have another baby," Anne said defiantly. "As for cousins... I thank Auntie Kenna for giving us, Anastasia. I bet she will be easier to train than you were."

Robin gaped. "My little sister is not your plaything and that is hurtful to say!"

Rose shrugged. "She's said worse," she replied casually. "At this point, I'm keeping score to exact my revenge." She turned to Anne. "Sleep with one eye open."

Anne gasped as her sister and cousin left, laughing.

...

Mary jumped when she felt arms wrap around her waist and she turned in them to kiss Francis on the lips. "Don't do that," she scorned him. "Much less when we're in company."

"What company?" Francis said, kissing her neck.

She shifted away to see that the throne room was empty. Had she really been staring out the window for ages?

"Oh," she mumbled. "Sorry."

"What's wrong?" He asked, bringing her back into his arms. "Are you still in pain?"

Mary shook her head. "I was just watching Rose, John and Robert outside. I'm sorry I lost the baby."

"What? Mary, we spoke about-"

"We could have had another child running about with the others, but I lost it."

Francis hugged her tightly. "No, Mary! Don't blame yourself."

She began to sob. "I know I said that I was fine with it, but looking at the older children made me realise that I do want more children one day. We have five beautiful children, but that needs to be more. Expanded on... Our eldest is growing up and I believe Rose has a little crush-"

"Rose has a 'what'?"

"So, it will be great to have more kids and share the love and-"

"Rose has a crush?!"

"Francis!" Mary cried out, giving him a look of frustration.

Francis looked out the window to glare at his child. "Who is he? I'll find him-"

"Francis Valois!"

He jumped and turned to his wife. "Sorry. You were saying?"

"Forget it-"

"No, no, no," he quickly said, going over to pull her into his arms. "I agree with everything you said. Children and a lot of them, it's a 'yes' from me, my love. And you should never blame yourself for losing our child. It happens, it's normal and if you need someone other than me to talk to about that, ask Kenna. I may be your husband but I am not woman enough to feel the effects you did. I love you."

"I love you too," Mary replied with a smile.

Francis grinned. "Now, tell me who the boy that has my daughter infatuated in is."

Mary rolled her eyes. "You're unbelievable!" She said, leaving his arms.

"Mary!"

"I'm not saying anything!" She sang, walking out of the room.

"Ah, Ma-she's gone."