AN: For the purpose of the story, King Francis eldest son Francis is still alive and he is Dauphin of France and married to Catherine de Medici.
"I am very glad that you decided to join me, Anne," Henry said and kissed his former wife's hand. Two months passed since the birth of her son and she started to see him as a friend again.
"You said that you have to ask me something important." She told him and sat in the armchair next to him.
"I received an offer for our daughter's hand in marriage." He told her and smiled.
"From who?" Anne asked in shock. A year ago nobody wanted to marry her precious daughter and now within the two months she received two offers for marriage.
"King Christian III of Denmark and Norway wants Elizabeth as a bride for his heir Frederick. The boy is a year younger than our daughter and he is closer in age to her than Francis's son."
"That means that Elizabeth would be a Queen."
"Yes, if I agree, but King of France would be offended and I can't have him for enemy right now," Henry explained.
"But what if you offer him someone else instead of Elizabeth? Someone to marry Henri Duke of Orleans. "
"Who?"
"Mary, your daughter." She said and saw the confusion on Henry's face. Anne was ready to do anything to make her daughter Queen.
"But she is illegitimate Anne."
"You can use good faith cause and make her legitimate again and put her in the line of succession after Elizabeth of course," Anne told him and smiled a little bit. She could practically see how the wheels turning inside his head.
"But she has to sign Oath first." She added after a silence.
"She is too stubborn, she won't agree."
"Maybe, or maybe she will. I have a feeling that she will be much more willing now that I'm not the Queen anymore. She has to sign Oath before Jane gives birth or there will always be suspicion of the illegitimacy of your future son and you don't want that, do you?" Anne said in the sweetest voice she could manage.
"Of course, I don't want that. I will send Francis Bryan to her."
"Yes, he is the right man for that task. He will frighten her and make her think, but send Jane few days later. Tell her to talk to Mary about all the advantages she will have once she signs Oath."
"You became very good politician Anne." He praised her and smiled expecting her to return his smile, but instead she a frown formed on her beautiful face.
"I always was, you just didn't listen to me." After that, she rose from her seat, gave him a quick bow and turned to leave, but before she came to the doors Duke of Suffolk rushed in.
"I am sorry for interrupting Your Majesty, but I have very important news."
"Tell me!"Henry ordered.
"The rebellion is crushed; Viscount Beauchamp is returning Your Majesty's army back to London!"
/
Next two weeks Anne spent in waiting for her husband's return. Last week Francis Bryan and Queen Jane visited Lady Mary and the girl finally agreed to sign Oath. There were stories that Francis threatened that Henry will execute if she doesn't sigh, but the most of the people attribute former Princess surrender to the Queen's kindness. Lady Mary was declared legitimate and put in the line of succession after Princess Elizabeth and King's future children. Henry sent the message to Francis to inform him about Mary's new status and to offer her hand in marriage.
"My Lady, your husband just rode into London." Madge rushed in and informed her mistress
"Finally," Anne said and kissed her sleeping son's forehead.
"Bring me my red dress, the one with the gold embroidery," She told her ladies and put little Edd in his cradle. She was so happy and excited that she will see her husband again.
"I can't believe that he is finally back," Anne told Nan while she was arranging her hair. She felt butterflies in her stomach.
Edward Seymour found his wife alone in their chambers He couldn't believe how beautiful his wife looked while she sat before the mirror. He noticed that she wore his favorite dress.
Anne's heart felt as if it would burst from her chest as she saw a man she had not seen for a two months.
"Oh Gods," she breathed, as her eyes welled with tears. She seemed rooted to the spot as she looked Edward blinking several times to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
"Is that really you?" she asked, a smile growing on her face.
"Oh God," she repeated and ran toward him. He had thought of her many, many times while he'd been away, but he could never imagine her as beautiful as she looked to him now, real and right in front of him. For a moment, he couldn't speak, not even to answer her, but his arms reached for her of their own accord when she ran towards him, wrapping tightly around her waist and drawing her to him. His gaze darted over her face for a moment, taking in every feature as he smiled broadly before he leaned in to capture her lips with his.
Anne threw her arms around Edward's neck and kissed him eagerly in return, smiling against his lips. She felt tears run down her face, but that were tears of joy, in disbelief that she was in her husband's arms once more. She pulled away to press her lips to his cheek, his jaw, and his neck.
"Oh, my love, my Edward" she whispered, moving to kiss over his bare skin at his open shirt. Words did not seem enough for the situation. All she could do was kiss him again, gently parting his lips with her tongue and threading her fingers through his hair.
She gave a small laugh as his beard tickled her neck, and she closed her eyes, taking in his scent and the feeling of his arms again.
"I missed you far too much," she told him.
"And I missed you. Every minute, every hour, every day," Edward murmured back, pressing his lips to Anne's cheek before he pulled back to look at her properly. He ran his hand affectionately through her hair.
"Are you well Anne?"
"I am well now." She told him and stood on her toes to press a deep kiss to his lips again, running a hand over her husband's back.
"I was so worried for you." He told her and pulled her closer to him. Anne kissed him once again and then lightly pushed away.
"I want you to meet someone." She told him and walked toward the cradle.
"This is our son Edward Seymour." She said as she took the sleeping infant in her arms.
"He is perfect," Edward said and pressed a kiss on baby's soft bow.
"He truly is." Anne agreed. She saw tears in her husband's eyes.
"May I hold him?" He asked and she put their son in his arms.
"Thank you, Anne, thank you so much." He told her and kissed her on the forehead. Tears were now falling across his cheeks. He carefully put the baby in the cradle and kissed his wife once again.
He picked her up lifting her up into his arms as he pressed his lips to hers again and carried her over to their bed.
"I never want to stop kissing you," he murmured, grinning again against her mouth.
"Mmm, then don't," Anne teased, her fingers trailing over Edward's chest and under his shirt.
"I never want you to." She kissed him back deeply before he placed her on their bed and she broke from him temporarily to undo the fastenings on her dress, letting it fall off of her shoulders. She leaned in to press her lips to her husband's again, gently scratching her nails over his neck.
Edward's eyes grew wide as Anne undid the fastenings on her dress and he then slipped off his own jerkin and shirt as well before he lowered his head. He took his time caressing her skin with his lips, kissing her neck all the way down to her breasts. She let out a whimper, sliding down to her husband's level to kiss him on the lips. She nipped gently at his skin, her hips canting upwards towards his already.
"You are incredible," she remarked, resting her head back against the pillows as she ran her hand over his bare chest. Edward took in a deep breath as he took in the sight of his wife for a moment laid back against the pillows, still looking a little disbelieving. He reached forwards to pull at her skirts and take her dress off completely. She did not hesitate or tease him, this time, around as she guided him into her, her back arching as she felt him inside of her for the first time in a long while. She breathed his name, clutching at his backside. His hands ran over her thighs on either side of his waist, clutching at her skin as he relished the feeling of being connected to her again. Her fingers kneaded into his skin as she moved with him, pressing her hips to his. It was starting to almost become difficult to tell where her body ended and his began, but he managed to slow down their pace a little and move his hand, sliding his fingers in between them to where they were connected. A smile crossed Edward's features for a moment as Anne shuddered beneath him. It only took a little while longer for him to surrender himself to his pleasure, uttering her name several times in her ear as he spent his seed within her.
AN: I hope that you liked this chapter. Next time we will finally see Princess Mary. Review, please.