A/N: Once again, I'm blown away by the support this has gotten, I never thought it would come to this. Thank you so much! I'll never get tired of saying it! Also, I loved your reactions when I said that this chapter was all about Anne and Charles, you guys are awesome.

Kate322: Hi! Thank you so much! George and Papa Boleyn will definitely make an appearance in later chapters, count on it.

Giovanna Leblanc: Hi babe! I was so happy to open my mail and see your review! Hahaha. You'd like to see Jane jealous? Well, that's coming in later chapters. Love you too!

MaeganMarie: I loved your review, you cracked me up with the "No Henry hate, just you know, common sense" I swear I had to screenshot it! Hahaha. But yes, I agree with you and that's coming.

QueenAnneTudor: I'm wondering the same, these characters have a mind of their own.

Renata: Not necessarily, that's just the way Charles sees it. Those thoughts are coming too!

Dracoqueen: Yes, I feel the same way about Anne. Nice suggestion! I'll keep it in mind.

Solitude of Love

"Tell him yes. Even if you are dying of fear, even if you are sorry later, because whatever you do, you will be sorry the rest of your life if you say no." Gabriel Garcí a Márquez

Chapter 3

Once Anne and Henry had left, Jane excused herself to go lie down, for the journey had been tiring for her. Charles wanted to stay and wait for the former spouses, but he too decided against it and went to the chambers he was staying at in Hatfield, he spent the time writing a letter to his son who was currently in Suffolk Manor, he planned on visiting him in the following weeks and wanted to know if he needed something. He was finishing the letter when Madge appeared at his doorstep and told him that Anne requested his presence in the gardens. When he got there she was waiting for him in the bench were she had sat with Jane and Edward before, as he approached her he couldn't help but smile, she looked so beautiful just sitting there, his smile got wider when she noticed his presence, beamed at him and patted the seat next to her, when he sat she told him "Tell me Your Grace, did you expect today to be as eventful as it has been?"

He laughed and said "But my Lady, if it's just getting started!"

She just had to laugh back, they knew that with Henry this was nothing, it was still quite early in the day and anything could happen in the next hours. But her smile faded when she remembered something, and with a puzzled, yet knowing expression she told him "I saw you two talking while I was with Edward and Jane, you seemed upset, what did he say to you?"

Damn it, she knew him too well, he knew Henry wouldn't notice his reaction to their conversation, but he should've known Anne would, he didn't want to say anything to her yet, in part because it meant touching the subject of their relationship and they didn't talk about that, they knew why he had divorced Catherine, they knew what they felt for the other, but they had an unspoken agreement of enjoying the other's company and leave it that. Also, he didn't want to tell her because he was afraid she would feel happy to know that Henry was jealous of them, he just couldn't convince himself that Anne was over Henry, he had seen them together for 10 years, theirs had been the love affair that changed England, she wouldn't stop loving Henry just like that, and he couldn't lose her, he loved her too much. So he decided to not say anything, besides, God willing, this would be the last time she and Henry saw each other. He gave her a reassuring smile and said "Oh nothing, he was just telling me more about the uprising in the North"

Actually, Henry had only mentioned the issue when he told him about it the first time, a few days ago, and Charles had mentioned it to Anne on their way to Hatfield, Anne completely forgot about it while she was talking with Henry, not that she would've said anything, but the rebellion could explain why he seemed so pleased with her job in Pembroke, she knew that an uprising was a dangerous threat to the Crown, but a tiny part of her felt like gloating, she had told Cromwell that it was far better to put those religious houses to good use, but he had to go and destroy them and fill his and Henry's pockets, and now here they were. As good as Cromwell was handling the State affairs, his hunger for power and gold got the best of him and she had warned him about it, but instead of listening to her, he decided to destroy her, he had been a fool, he deserved what was coming his way.

Anne remembered her conversation with Henry and said "Well, speaking of that, he praised me for my job in Pembroke, he said that he felt glad the people were truthfully accepting the way things are now. I guess that shows the failure that was destroying the monasteries"

Charles smiled, they had talked about her fights with Cromwell regarding what to do with the religious houses and he had sided with her, but not because they were friends, in fact, at the time they pretty much hated each other. He remembered that day very well.

They were in the gardens of Pembroke a chilly November afternoon and the subject of the reform had come up, they had been throwing hateful comments at each other for a while, when he said "Why did you even request to be in charge of Pembroke's religious houses? Don't trust Cromwell's integrity to pay you the money he surely must owe you for convincing Henry to destroy them all?"

She had to make a huge effort not to slap him. Instead, she stopped walking, tried to breathe, and with venom in her voice, yet as controlled as she could, said "Your Grace, don't be naive. His Majesty is no fool and if you think that I have influenced his decisions you are more stupid than I thought you were, the things he does are his choice only, I wouldn't be here if it weren't like that. Also, you should know Cromwell is the real scum here, not me, after all, you are friends with him, are you not?" She turned around to leave, but at the last second she grinned maliciously at him and said "On your way out, walk through the town and ask the workers at the monasteries what are they doing"

Trust Anne Boleyn to bark orders while walking away and dismissing him. He did what she told him to do out of pure curiosity an annoyance, but he did not expect to hear one of the workers tell him that they were turning the establishments into schools. He went back to her castle and they talked all afternoon, like civil people, about her plans. Later that day, when it was time for him to leave, he felt angry at himself for feeling apprehensive, he couldn't believe he had enjoyed hearing her ideas. In his state of confusion he left without saying goodbye, the next time he visited she teased him for that and he accompanied her to Hatfield. Since that day their relationship started to get better.

"I'm sure Cromwell must been thinking of you quite bit then" He replied.

Anne's amusement showed on her face at the thought, she smiled widely and raised her eyebrows before saying "I wish I could see his face right now"

Charles smiled, but then shifted in his seat and without looking at her asked "Do you miss court?" It was not the first time he asked that question, she always said she didn't, that she was happier away from it all and that she had spent her whole life in court be it in England or in France, unlike the rest of the English women who spent their childhood and teens in their family's states, and now it was her turn to live in the countryside. But he still had to ask, he had known her since she was a Lady in Waiting to Katherine and she was made for a life in court, she acted like a woman but had the mind of a man, the fact that she had a peerage in her own right proved it, he knew that Henry didn't give her the title of Marquess just because he wanted to marry her, he thought she deserved it too. He didn't give Jane any title other than that of his wife and Queen because he didn't think her capable of being anything more than a son bearer, one would think that he didn't grant her a peerage in fear of her becoming like Katherine or Anne, but it was a naïve though, Jane would never be like her predecessors. However, aside from the fact that she was meant to be in court, Charles had other, more personal, reasons for wanting her answer to be 'yes', he wanted her to go to court with him, he couldn't stand being away from her for so long, the trip to Pembroke was a long one, he couldn't just leave whenever he wanted to see her and he couldn't stay with her for the amount of time he desired, if she lived at court they could see each other every day, they could dance, dine, play cards, walk through the gardens, they could do anything whenever they wanted. He longed for that. When he was younger he tried to stay out of politics as much as he could, he preferred riding, jousting and taking beautiful ladies to his bed. But now he was a member of the Privy Council, he had responsibilities, and even if the court was still full of life, given the choice, he would stay with Anne, his life was dull without her, he didn't take women to his bed anymore, they weren't her, he wanted only her company.

Anne thought about her answer for a while, she too directed her gaze someplace else, she knew why Charles was asking, he wanted her to go with him, and she wanted to spend every day with him too, but she just couldn't bring herself to say 'yes' she still remembered her days at court, how sad she had been, how they all whispered mean comments about her, how she never felt safe, she had to struggle and fight everyday of her life, she couldn't even trust her own husband, she was so powerful that everyone wanted to bring her down, yet she wasn't powerful enough to not feel threatened by it. So she finally answered "In moments like these I do, but I've learned that in court, the same crowd that applauds your coronation will applaud your beheading, and they didn't even applaud my coronation. I know I'm hated Charles and I've been perfectly content not having to worry about my life every waking second"

Charles looked at her and grabbed her little hand in his, making her look at him, and said "Anne, that was 3 years ago, they no longer want to destroy you, they have nothing to lose if you come back, all that happened is in the past now, Henry is married to Jane and he has a son, the rest doesn't matter"

Anne frowned, sighed and said "That doesn't change the fact that they still hate me Charles, they think, like you did, that all Henry did was because I asked him to and that I did it for my personal advantage. They thought me more powerful than I really was and they haven't forgotten that, for many supporters of Katherine I was the reason she and Mary suffered so much, for many Catholics it's my fault the way things are now. I'm not saying I was completely innocent, you know that, but it wasn't entirely my fault and they think it was"

Charles knew she was right but that didn't mean that she was in danger, he hated that she was afraid of what might happen to her if she came back, he softened his eyes, but with the same force as before said "But it's not a secret to anyone that, for better or for worse, you will always be remembered, you played an important role in Christendom's religion and politics for a very long time. Men craved the power and the intelligence you had, and women wanted your charms and looks, there's nothing you can do about it, it's who you are. Besides, you have done an incredible job in Pembroke, the people love you, they respect you and admire you like never before, you have their support and you never had that"

Anne let go of his hand rather harshly, stood up, and with an exasperated tone while moving her arms around said "And that's exactly why the courtiers would want to destroy me again if I came back, don't you see? it's worse that I have the people's support, they'll feel threatened" She turned around, took a breath, and almost hissing continued "Besides, we both know the rumors about my involvement in your divorce from Catherine" in a mocking tone she made an impression of a noblewoman gasping and saying "The whore Anne Boleyn got rid of 2 Catherine's in less than 10 years, what does she do to men?"

Charles stood up, grabbed her shoulders and looking into her eyes said "Anne, calm down! Why do you care so much about what people think? You have me!"

They both knew that he meant that he was going to be there to protect her, but Anne was done with needing someone to protect her, that's why she stayed in the countryside, there she didn't need protection. And, after all, Charles had always been a womanizer, maybe he was like Henry, maybe once he had her he would get tired of her and discard her, and as much as she loved him, she couldn't take that chance. Her mind was reeling. Forcing herself to calm down she thought "stop it Anne", she knew he was not like that, she knew it, but she just couldn't let herself give into what he had to offer, her fear was greater than any other feeling, that's why she kept giving him, and herself, one excuse after the other. She shook her head, looked into his eyes and said "It doesn't even matter, until His Majesty requests my presence at court I can't come back"

Charles went to open his mouth to say that she could always ask Henry to let her return, but he knew she would never do that, and most importantly, he knew that this was just another excuse, so he shut his mouth and dropped his arms at his sides.

If it had been Henry she would've stormed off in her anger and disappointment. But she knew that this was not Charles' fault, it was hers, she couldn't give him what he wanted, what they both wanted, because she was afraid. It was in moments like these that she remembered why she hated Henry, even after the divorce he still wouldn't let her be happy, what he had done haunted her. And Charles didn't deserve that. She went to him, hugged his middle, and hiding her face in his chest she whispered "I'm sorry" in the saddest voice he had ever heard. How could he blame her? He realized he was being selfish, he wanted her to make a decision that terrified her just for his happiness, but how could he be happy if she was afraid? Her happiness was his. He wrapped his arms around her and held her as close as he could. After a little while she let go of him but kept her hands at his hips, he grabbed her cheeks with both of his hands and kissed her forehead.

That was the thing about their relationship, they knew each other. She didn't have to say it for him to understand that she was afraid, and she didn't feel that she needed to hide her feelings from him, he gave her the comfort of feeling that she could be honest with him. Yes, they didn't really talk about what it all meant, about what their feelings meant, but they didn't need to, as long as they were together the rest didn't matter, the future didn't matter, at least not for now.

A/N: Babes, I wanted to post this chapter a few days ago, but I struggled with adding or not a scene that ended up not making the cut. I decided to save it for later, but I'll tell you that I absolutely love it, I definitely want to update soon because I want to get to that chapter. Maybe you'll get another chapter later today or tomorrow morning! Please let me know what you think! I want to make these characters justice.