Disclaimer: The prince and Higgins belong to me, everything else is history.

Hey sorry I haven't updated in a while, lots of stuff has happened but I wont bore you with details.

But here is the new chapter.

Enjoy.

Hampton court Palace – outside the birthing chamber

The wait was agonising, I didn't know how Anne was or whether she had given birth. Higgins stayed by my side and kept me supplied with food and drink but I didn't want to eat. My sister Mary was inside and I was grateful she was there.

Flashback

A few hours ago

I heard the sounds of footsteps, but I didn't want to see anyone. The footsteps got louder and a figure appeared.

"Mary what are you doing here" I said stunned.

"Your wife asked for me." Mary replied.

I had forgotten that Anne had asked for Mary.

"What are you doing out here?" Mary asked.

"I promised Anne I would wait out here until she gave birth." I replied.

"Ah, that is very thoughtful of you, brother. Well, I will take my leave and help attend Anne." Mary said.

"Yes and thank you again. Would you be the one to tell me please?" I asked.

"Of course brother." Mary replied with a short curtsey and went into the birthing chamber.

End of flashback

I sat looking at the door hoping for something to happen, Higgins had left to find some wine but hadn't returned yet. Footsteps sounded again, I thought it must be Higgins coming back but around the corner appeared Charles Brandon.

"Charles, has my father sent you?" I asked.

"No, I asked to come and sit with you. I thought you would like some company." Brandon replied.

"Thank you. I do need some company apart from Higgins" I replied.

"Where is Higgins?" Brandon asked.

"Gone to find some food and wine. He is complaining that I'm not eating or drinking anything." I replied.

Just as I said that Higgins reappeared carrying a platter of sweetmeats and a jug of wine and two glasses. He placed the sweetmeats on a small table and proceeded to pour the wine into the glasses.

"Thank you Higgins." I said taking a glass.

"You're welcome, my Lord." Higgins replied and then offered a glass to Brandon.

"Thank you Higgins, you are a credit to your work." Brandon said taking the glass.

"Thank you, my Lord, I do try and make sure the Prince is looked after even when he is stubborn." Higgins replied.

Another hour went by and still no sign that Anne had given birth. Brandon stayed with me and we talked about the King and the war between France and Spain.

The door to the birthing chamber opened and Mary came out and approached me and Brandon.

"Mary, is Anne alright?" I asked standing up. I was more concerned about Anne then the baby.

"Yes, she is fine. She is tired but fine, she has given birth to healthy twins." Mary replied.

"Twins!" I exclaimed. I was shocked; it was very rare for someone to give birth to twins. "Are they boys or girls?" I asked.

"The first was a girl and the second was a boy." Mary replied.

A boy and a girl, I couldn't believe it. "Can I see her?" I asked.

"Yes." Mary replied.

Turning to Brandon "Would you do me the greatest honour and inform the King?" I asked.

"For you my Prince, anything is an honour." Brandon replied. He bowed to me and Mary then turned and left.

The short journey from the ante-chamber to the birthing chamber felt it was never going to end. As I entered the chamber I could see the midwives still busy putting things away, my eyes were drawn to the bed where Anne lay propped up and she had a glow about her as if she had been blessed from heaven.

"Dearest Anne, how are you?" I asked, approaching the bed.

"I am fine, a little tired but feel blessed with two fine children." Anne replied.

I saw a crib beside the bed with two little bodies lying side by side, I couldn't tell which one was the boy and which was the girl.

"Would you like to hold one of them?" Anne asked.

I nodded and a midwife came forward and picked up one of the bodies, placed it in my arms and said "Your son, your Highness."

I gazed at my son in my arms. He had bright blue eyes that sparkled like Anne's did, he had a little button nose and I could see a little tuft of ginger hair poking out from his bindings.

"He is perfect, he has your eyes. What shall we call him?" I said.

"I was thinking of Henry after you and your father or John after my father?" Anne replied.

"Why not use both, John Henry?" I said.

"That sounds a wonderful idea. Would you like to meet your daughter?" Anne asked.

"Yes please." I replied.

I carefully placed John in his mother's arms and asked a midwife to pick up my daughter. She was in the middle of a nap and wasn't happy about being woken up. As she was placed in my arms she started to cry but after a little rocking she calmed down.

She had hazel eyes and I could almost see my mother in her eyes, like her brother she had a little button nose but unlike her brother she had dark brown almost black hair.

"She looks beautiful." I said.

"She looks like your mother, would you like to name her in honour of your mother?" Anne asked.

"What about your mother?" I asked.

"If we have another girl then we can name her after my mother." Anne replied.

"That's fine." I said.

Anne gave a stifled yawn.

"I shall leave you to sleep." I said.

"Will you lie beside me and stay until I am asleep?" Anne asked.

"For you, anything." I replied with a smile.

I went round to the side of the bed and climbed up beside her and put my arms around her. Anne snuggled up to me and closed her eyes; I felt her body relax as she drifted off to sleep.

After a while I got up and prepared to leave, I wanted to stay but I knew my father would want to see me. I walked over to the bed and bent down and kissed Anne on the forehead, Anne stirred in her sleep and mumbled in her sleep "Ich liebe dich (I love you)." I smiled. After another look at our children, I left.

Hope you like it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Please can you review as it gives me confidence to write more and I love getting reviews.