Thanks to autumnrose2010 for the request. I'm going to do one with Elizabeth as a boy in the next one shot. Once again, thanks for all the reviews and requests. Keep them coming.
What If Mary Was A Boy?
On a cold winter's day on the 18th February 1516, the king and queen of England gave birth to a healthy young son. Catherine Of Aragon and Henry VIII named the infant Arthur after her previous husband and the king's deceased brother respectively. To the King, Arthur was nothing more than a blessing of God. Catherine and Henry had suffered the misfortune of miscarriages and stillborn children.
Just as Henry began to believe that his marriage was cursed by God for taking his brother's life, Arthur came along. Henry didn't know what he did to upset God, but since the birth of Arthur, he prayed every day to ensure the health of Catherine and Arthur. The joy around the king had filled him with a passion that he wanted to put to good use. He loved the feeling of becoming a parent. He loved watching the child grow inside his queen, knowing that it could be the future heir of England and perhaps their children's children's children will become kings of the world.
"You know Henry," Catherine told Henry. "If we ever have a daughter... I want to name her Mary."
"That is also my sister's name," Henry said.
"Mary is a very special name," Catherine reminded him. She held onto his hand and smiled. "I'm sure you know why?"
"She is the mother of Christ. It is a glorious name." And what if he had daughters? It never sprung to Henry's mind. He so desired to have sons that he had no plans for what would happen if they turned out to be a girl. "So how is my son?"
"He is doing very well," Catherine confirmed. "He is starting to crawl around."
The pair of them turned round and saw the little Arthur crawling around the bed. He gurgled as he explored the bedroom in all its glory. The king and queen laughed. They had never had been happier. The kind of happiness proven to be irresistible. He had the eyes of his mother and the auburn hair of his father. Arthur's smile - the smile of the future king of England.
"We should have more children," Henry suggested. "Before you are no longer of child bearing age."
Catherine's happy expression faded to a look of fear. She knew that she was prone to miscarriages and stillborn babies. Could she bring herself to go it all again if the next lot of pregnancies were unsuccessful? Could another miscarriage and stillborn drive Henry to utter ruin. And what would she say to Arthur as they had both promised him a sibling, but God took them away before they got a chance to breathe? As much as she wanted another child to please her husband, she did not want to go through the heartbreak of losing a child again.
"What's the matter, Catherine?" Henry wrapped her arms around Catherine. She wept.
"What if..."
"Don't dwell on the past," Henry demanded. "This is a new beginning. A fresh start for us."
About a year later, Catherine gave birth to triplets. One boy and two girls: Edward, Mary and Elizabeth. Many people expected them all to die, but they had surpassed all expectations. Prince Arthur was still alive to watch his siblings grow. Henry was pleased with Catherine and took pride in all of his children.