12th November 1550: Cumnor Place, Oxfordshire, England, Home of the Princess Elizabeth

Robert Dudley looked up as Lady Catherine Grey, aged ten, burst into his chambers. "What is the meaning of this?" he asked, looking up from the parchment on his desk. Catherine was breathing hard. "Y-Your wife has gone into labour, Your Grace,"

The quill in Robert's hand shook for a moment, and he placed both hands onto the table and gripped it, hard. He took a deep breath "Thank you, Lady Catherine. I assume that my wife's ladies have been informed?"

"Yes, Your Grace. They are with her now,"

Robert nodded, and got to his feet "Lead the way, Catherine,"

Lady Catherine Grey dipped a curtsey and left the room, with Robert following her. Henry Dudley, aged eleven, and Henry Herbert, aged twelve, watched her go. She was slim, had dark red hair and was well proportioned. She was, by far, the most beautiful of the Grey sisters. Her elder sister, Jane, was a bluebell, while her younger sister was a hunchbacked dwarf.

A few moments later, Robert and Catherine reached Elizabeth's chambers. A loud scream echoed from the birthing room, and Robert unconsciously winced. Catherine Grey disappeared into the crowd of ladies, who were preparing everything for the birth of the Princess Elizabeth's child, and returned, a few moments later, with Lady Katherine Ashley nee Champernowne, commonly known as Kat.

"How is my wife?" Robert asked. Kat made a gesture for Catherine to leave. Catherine dropped a curtsey and headed off into the crowd of ladies to find her elder sister, Jane. Kat moved forward, and began to speak, making sure that none of the Princess Elizabeth's catholic ladies could hear. "Her Highness is doing well, Your Grace. The Midwife has assured me that everything is as it should be,"

Robert nodded, and began to pace. Up and down. Up and down.

13th November 1550: Cumnor Place, Oxfordshire, England, Home of the Princess Elizabeth

A loud, primal scream echoed, as Elizabeth pushed one last time. Robert's head snapped up as the cry of a baby echoed throughout Elizabeth's chambers.

Robert pushed open the door, and his wife's ladies turned to him. They dropped a curtsey, and he moved to the bed, where Elizabeth sat. A bundle of blankets were in her arms and a red haired and blue eyed baby was glancing up at Elizabeth.

"Robert!"

Elizabeth noticed her husband as he sat on the side of the bed and the midwife gently took the child from Elizabeth, so that the child could be cleaned up.

"Next time," Elizabeth began "It will be a son," Robert looked down to her, and scoffed "Oh, Elizabeth,"

"We must have a son, Robert," she replied "It is our duty. You know that,"

Robert got to his feet "Oh, duty can be damned for all I care!" he moved to the midwife who had cleaned up the child. She wrapped the child up in the bundle of blankets and gently handed the child to Robert. He took the child, and returned to the bed. "She's beautiful," Elizabeth gently took the child from him, and moved a small part of the blanket aside. The child gripped her finger tightly.

"Oh, gracious," Elizabeth exclaimed, "What a grip!"

"Well," Robert began "There's no doubt about the name then, is there? Elizabeth." he moved a small part of the blanket aside and the baby released Elizabeth's finger before grabbing his. A few moments later, the baby decided that Elizabeth's finger was more fun. Elizabeth smiled. "Yes," she agreed "Lady Elizabeth Tudor,"

Robert smiled "Your sister is here," he informed his wife.

"I don't remember asking her to come." Elizabeth replied, looking up to Robert. "I asked her," he replied.

"Did you, indeed?" Elizabeth asked, raising her eyebrows. He placed a kiss to her forehead "I thought it right,"

Well, I can't see her now," Elizabeth replied, leaning gently against Robert "I'm worn out,"

"She's been so anxious, Bess," Robert informed her, but Elizabeth was sticking to her principles, and her stubborn nature rose to the surface again "No,"

"For a moment?" he asked "She's just in the next room,"

"Very well," Elizabeth replied, conceding defeat to her husband and the father of her daughter "But only for a moment,"

Robert got up, crossed the room, and opened the door. He left the room for a moment, and returned a few moments later, with Lady Mary Tudor behind him. As Mary entered the room baby Elizabeth gave a few small cries, before becoming quiet again and staring up to her mother. Elizabeth looked up from her daughter to her sister "Mary,"

"Elizabeth," Mary dipped a curtsey to her sister and moved to the chair by the side of the bed "They say that you have been in labour for almost the whole night. You must be exhausted." Elizabeth did not reply, and the two sisters could easily sense the tension in the room. Mary decided to break it first "Can I hold her?"

"Yes, of course," Elizabeth handed the baby over to Mary, who gently took the baby from her. Elizabeth saw her sister's face light up as baby Elizabeth cooed up to her. "She's enchanting, Elizabeth. I swear that, never before, have I seen such a beautiful child," Mary adjusted the blanket a little and looked up "She's far too pretty to put her dear mother under such a great deal of pain... and trouble," Mary looked back to her niece, who was gurgling in the blankets.

"I had hoped for a boy," Elizabeth replied. Mary looked up to her "So had I," she replied "Just to spite father. He went through five wives, and only one gave him a son. It would have been so good if one of us, the neglected daughters, had a son before Edward did. It was not a son this time, Bess, but, next time, it will be... I promise. After all, your mother," Mary faltered for a moment "Anne Boleyn," Elizabeth could see that Mary still wasn't comfortable about those years "had three sons. They were all stillborn, yes, but, with our father's lack of children, that cannot be blamed on her... You will have a son, Bess. I know that you will."

Elizabeth could tell that her daughter, Lady Elizabeth Tudor, was going to bring her and Mary closer, and hopefully reunite them truly, once more, as sisters...