I DO NOT OWN THE TUDORS OR THE DIALOGUE. SHOUTOUT TO QUEENMARYOFENGLAND AND SUGARBUTTERFLOUR1904 FOR ALL OF THEIR ENCOURAGEMENT.

Whitehall Palace. July 9, 1540.

The Barker brothers spent the next week getting familiar with their new surroundings. Anthony was desperately trying to put aside his feelings for Catherine Howard. He was able to distract himself through visiting pleasure houses to keep the company of women, although that did Anthony little good as he could only imagine the face of Catherine Howard through his immodest adventures.

When he had moments to himself Anthony would pull out his iPhone and play with it, as there was no Wi-Fi in 1540, there were limited options available to him as to what he could do with it and for the most part, its main function served as a way to keep him aware that this wasn't some God forsaken dream and that he had actually come from the future. As of right now, Anthony had placed his phone on the battery saver mode even though it was still at 90% capacity. Browsing through his photo gallery and reminiscing on the memories of his past, or future? It was hard to tell if he was supposed to think of things like that now. Technically, it was his past but it was also the future of the world he now lived in. a sudden knock on the door snapped Anthony back to attention as he focused on the where the sound had been coming from.

"One moment," he called out as he cursed to himself. He hid the iPhone in the dresser and went to the door. To his shock, it was Lady Catherine Howard.

"Hello your Grace," Catherine said as Anthony bowed his head.

"Milady, to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?" he asked.

"May I come in please?" she asked as Duke Springfield stood aside. Once she was inside, he closed the door.

"After our discussion, I didn't know if you would want to see me again," Anthony admitted.

"That is my dilemma, your Grace. I do want to see you. I hope that I did not give you an impression to the contrary?," Catherine admitted. "You...you intrigue me."

"And you me," Anthony replied as he took her hand in his. "I understand that you are here on the King's business, whatever that may be; If nothing else, I would be sincerely honored to be counted as your friend." This earned a smile from Lady Howard.

"I would appreciate having a friend at court very much. Sometimes I feel very much alone in this place. My uncle brought me here to serve the Queen, only me; none of my friends from Lambeth were permitted to follow me, and the Queen, for as good and kind a mistress as she is, does not attract many visitors. Therefore, your friendship would be very welcome,"" she agreed.

"That's good."

"Your Grace?" Catherine curiously inquired.

"Yes, Mistress Howard?"

"If we are to become friends, which I hope with all my heart we shall be I would like to know more about you. It seems for once I am not as ignorant as the others around me. No one quite knows who you or your brother are, perhaps I may be as bold as to educate myself on this matter?"

Anthony laughed to himself softly as he took in her words. She was right. If he and Ethan were to maintain their places at court and convince others that they belonged here they would have to create meaningful relationships by opening up about themselves. That such a thing would have to involve a few lies would have to do. How would thy be able to explain themselves anyway? 'Oh, me and my brother here were taking a nice tour of Windsor castle and now were here in sixteenth century England!' Anthony smiled as he thought of an idea.

"Milady...have you ever engaged in a thumb war?" he asked.

"I have not, is it some kind of military strategy?" Catherine asked naively which earned a chuckle from Lord Springfield.

"No, it's an old game that Illinoisan children play," Anthony clarified. "Would you like me to teach you?"

"Yes please!" Catherine exclaimed as the two sat down at a table. Quickly explaining to Catherine, the basic rules and requirements of the game Anthony reached out to grab her hand. It was soft and small in his larger hands and just the small intimacy of holding her hand sent Anthony further down the path of ruining history as he felt an even stronger connection to the woman in front of his grow. 'God please let Catherine like me back. Wait no that would throw the timeline off! Why does it all have to be so confusing!'

The two of them engaged in Anthony's little game for sometime as he fought hard to win against his opponent, refusing to believe that a woman who had never heard of such a game nor played it before could win against him but alas he was soundly defeated within a matter of minutes.

"Yes, I have bested you!" she said with glee as Anthony was admittedly stunned.

"Beginners luck," he replied.

"Are you questioning my honor?" she asked, feigning offense.

"What if I am?" Anthony asked teasingly.

"Well then your Grace, I challenged you to a rematch," Catherine said with a sly look in her eyes.

"Challenge accepted!" Anthony declared as they readied their thumbs for a return to the battlefield.

While Duke Anthony was developing a friendship with Henry's soon to be fifth wife, Duke Ethan preferred to spend time with Queen Anne. After all, befriending her would not result in disastrous effects as she was soon to be off to Richmond and Henry clearly cared little for her which hurt Ethan a little as Anne of Cleves was genuinely a nice person. If he and Ethan were lucky perhaps when Anne was removed from the Queen's throne they would be able to travel with her to her comfortable retirement in Richmond and keep a low profile. Not that Anthony and his obsession with Catherine Howard would allow him but hopefully Ethan would be able to talk his brother into seeing the sense in abandoning his flirtation with Mistress Howard before that were both on the wrong side of Henry VIII.

"Your Grace, if you vould, could you explain to me about these games?" Anne of Cleves asked in her heavily German accented English as Ethan sipped his wine.

"They're called...the Olympics," he explained to Queen Anne and her ladies in waiting, minus Catherine Howard. "Basically. Every coun...province in our kingdom sends its best athletes to compete in every kind of sport imaginable. Everyone watches it, it happens every four years and it's a really big deal."

"Vhat do you get if you vin?"

"Well, you get a medal. First prize gets a gold medal, second place is silver, and third place is bronze. Only the top three athletes get medals. Plus, if you win a medal, you get a nice winners fee, not to mention fame."

"Ve should have these games across Europe!" Anne said as Ethan tried not to smirk. The Queen's words would one day be prophetic.

"I can see that happening," he replied with a smile. Suddenly, the door opened and guards came in through it. One man who looked important came forward as Anne of Cleves stood up to receive him. Anthony had previous pointed him out as Edward Seymour: one of Queen Jane's brothers. After Jane's death, the Seymours were still in good graces with Henry.

"Milord," she said.

"Madam, it is my duty to inform you that due to your previous contract with Louraine, his majesty's lack of consent to your union, and the failure to consummate, Parliament has found your marriage to the King to be invalid." Seymour stated. "The marriage is thus declared null and void and it is the King's pleasure that you call yourself his sister." His words hit Anne hard, she knew that Henry had rejected her from day one, but to hear it for herself stung like an incurable wound.

"Oh God..." Ethan whispered even as he had been thinking of this moments before it still shocked him to see these events play out right before him. Anne had been nothing but kind to him in the short time he had known her. Henry didn't deserve her.

"Do you consent?" Edward asked as Anne solemnly nodded having heard what had happened to Katherine of Aragon.

"In that case, I am free to tell you that his majesty will confer upon you several estates and four thousand pounds per year." Lord Seymour explained. "And since the marriage was not consummated, you are still a maid and can marry whoever you choose as long as such a match is approved by the King and council and as long as you choose to remain in England, if not it will be in the hands of your brother the Duke of Cleves."

"Please tell ze king that...I hope I may sometimes have the pleasure of his noble presence and that I beseech ze almighty to grant him long life and gut health," Anne replied as Seymour bowed and left the room. Anne of Cleves was a strong woman. She was taking getting divorced like a champ.

"I offer you my sincerest apologies your highness," Ethan said as Anne slumped into her chair. "You are a good woman and if his majesty can't see that...than forgive me, but he does not deserve you!" Anne turned to the Duke of Chicago with tears in her eyes.

"Vielen Dank," she replied. "Your words give me comfort." Ethan bowed his head and left the former Queen to her grief.

ANNE OF CLEVES IS ON THE WAY OUT AND CATHERINE HOWARD IS ON THE WAY IN. REVIEWS NEEDED AND APPRECIATED.