With the life she had led, there was not much that surprised Anne anymore. But seeing the most powerful man in England in all of his royal attire standing in the middle of her quarters demanding to know why she, a commoner, was ignoring him, a King, shook her to her core.

And she was dressed in nothing more than a thin nightgown with her hair still untidy from bed.

An uncharacteristic blush stained her cheeks at her blatant state of undress, and despite his obvious anger, Henry's sharp eyes darkened as he slowly took in the sight of her. Despite the rumors that followed Anne's every step, she was still a maid. No man had ever seen her in such a state of undress let alone a King.

But the King - her King - looked at her with heated eyes, and despite Catherine, unexpected babes and her meddling family, she wanted nothing more than for Henry to take her to bed and finally surrender herself to him after years of this game that they have been playing.

But then Anne forced herself to breathe and she crashed back into reality.

She loved him with her whole heart, but she could not allow him into bed.

She was already a fool for letting him into her heart.

Anne lifted her head and stared at Henry as though she was the dressed in her finest clothing and looked every bit the Queen she desired to be.

This is what you will be giving up, she hissed at him in her mind. The moment that woman gives you a son, you will never have me.

"Your Majesty," Anne greeted softly, unable to give him her usual smile as she curtseyed before him, pushing aside the ridiculousness of it all. She averted her eyes as Henry sighed in impatience before he strode towards her. Anne remained in her curtsey until Henry gently took her hands in his and pulled her up.

With only inches between them, Anne kept her eyes averted as Henry gently cupped her cheek. "Look at me Anne," he demanded softly, and though she did not know if she could bare it, Anne complied. She swallowed back her tears at the sight of his familiar soft gaze of this man who wields so much power yet looks at her as though she is the most precious thing in all of England. His eyes tight with worry, Henry said, "What vexes you, my love?"

She wanted to tell him that she knew everything. She did not have the strength to keep up a charade and it was clear that Henry would not let her avoid him for long. Her uncles words come back to her - "You will bite your tongue on the matter in the presence of the King. We cannot jeopardize everything because you cannot control your emotions."

It was true. She could not control her emotions when it came to Henry.

Perhaps if she could, she would be far too busy plotting her next move to become Queen rather than stewing in her misery.

So Anne attempted a smile, failing completely, and said, "Nothing, Your Majesty."

Henry frowned in displeasure, his eyes hardening as his hands came to curl around the tops of her ams. "Do not lie to me Anne," he warned gently as he stepped back to watch her with keen eyes. "You have ignored my invitations for days and have not replied to a single one of my letters. What is going on?"

Anne pursed her lips, and despite her uncles warning, she could not bear to pretend any longer.

"I know that Catherine is with child," she admitted softly, her heart clenching unbearably when Henry made no move to contradict her. A small foolish part of her had been hoping that her family's spies were wrong-

But when it came to Henry, she had already proven that she was a fool.

"Yes, she is," Henry replied stiffly after a long moment.

Anne's lips trembled when she saw no regret in his eyes or an apology on his lips. He was a King after all, and his wife was finally doing her duty. In his eyes Henry had nothing to apologize for.

Yet he did. His dalliance with the Spanish Cow had ruined her future - their future.

Anne knew that she should wear a smile on her lips and wish his new child well, yet she could not. All she could think about was the King - Henry - in bed with that woman-

"You told me that you stopped visiting her bed-"

"I have," Henry snapped, his tone gentling when he saw the misery on her face. "It has been months, and only then it was out of duty. I had to try-"

"Well you succeeded," Anne snapped, unable to help herself. It was with a twisted glee that she watched Henry swallow back his sharp reply as he realized that Anne would not smile and congratulate him.

It should have been her carrying his son, not that dried up old hag.

Henry took her hand in his and lifted it to his lips and then placed it upon his cheek. His touch sent shivers of longing through her, and just for a moment, Anne embraced it as she watched him with sad eyes. "Anne," he said gently as he leaned into her touch. "I love you, my darling. Only you. It changes nothing."

She wanted to believe him. More than anything. But she was a rational woman, and there was no solution to this where she became Henry's wife if Catherine birthed him a son. "It changes everything," Anne whispered brokenly.

Henry remained silent, his jaw clenched as it slowly dawned on him that though he may get his much awaited son, he could lose the woman he loved.

"Nothing has changed, Henry," Anne said softly. "My husband will have my maidenhead. No one else." Fury flashed in the King's eyes at just the thought of any man but him laying a finger on her. "You may get your son, and I shall be happy for you," Anne lied, her heart clenching at the thought. Dropping her hand from his face, she stepped away from him and continued, "But, my love, you shall not have me."

"So that is it then?" Henry demanded furiously. "A son or the woman I love. Why can I not have both?"

Oh Henry.

"Tis not that simple," Anne said. "You said that I would be your wife."

"Is my love not enough?"

"I cannot be your mistress, Henry."

For a long moment, Henry did nothing. Anne watched in silence as his jaw clenched and his eyes tightened as he tried to reign in his anger.

Alas, it was Anne who could not reign in her's when he spoke next.

"So 'tis true then?" Henry bit out coldly. "You want me for only my crown?"

If he was anyone else, she would have struck him for his words. "How dare you question my love for you?" Anne hissed. "I have played the villain of your story for months! The seductive whore who bewitched the good King and turned him from his good, noble wife! I am named a whore and a harlot by nobleman and commoner alike because I love you!" Anne spat, her voice breaking. She cared not what others thought of her, but it broke her heart to think that he thought ill of her as well. "You may keep your crown My King!"

His handsome face twisting in anguish, Henry reached for her, but Anne spun away from him, her rage leaving her as quickly as it had come.

Anne turned her head away to hide her tears. "I do not know if I can bear it," she whispered.

His footsteps echoed in the room until he stopped behind her. He cautiously placed a hand on the curve of her waist and gently asked, "Bear what, my love?"

Anne slowly turned towards him feeling completely and utterly lost. "I do not know if I can be by your side and watch as you have a child with a woman who is not me."

"I love only you," Henry said softly, his calloused hand cupping her cheek.

"I know," Anne replied. "But it matters not. If Catherine gives you a son, she will remain as your wife, will she not?"

"Yes," Henry replied simply, the turmoil clear in his eyes for her to see.

Anne choked back a sob. "I have nothing," she whispered.

"You have me," the King replied, his thumb swiping away her tears, and just when she could not bear it any longer, Henry pulled her into his arms. "You have me," he repeated before pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. Despite it all, Anne welcomed his touch, eager to push her turmoil to the back of her mind as she deepened the kiss.

But I will not have all of you, she thought hopelessly as he pulled her tightly against him until their bodies were one. I will never have all of you.