Getting from the drawing room to her chambers in a torn dress was quite a difficult adventure for Anne. Their staff would certainly question why her nice gowns were ripped and she would have no excuse. Luckily, Anne bumped into no one on her way and was able to change into a different gown before dinner.

When Anne entered the private dining chamber that was attached to Edward's room, her mouth dropped open in disgust. "What on earth are you doing here?"

"I've come to visit my brother and favourite in law, is that so wrong?" Thomas asked as he turned around in his chair to look his sister in law in the eyes.

Anne furrowed her brow and did not budge from the doorway. "You can't just come here uninvited and find yourself welcome anymore! Get out!"

Thomas laughed and shook his head. "I'm not leaving. I've come to see my brother and see my nephew actually. Is that a crime?"

Anne crossed her arms and came closer to the table. "Yes, in my eyes, it is. After what you said to me, I cannot believe you'd even dare to show your face at your brother's home." Or do you wish it could be your home? "I'd advise you to leave before he comes. You can see your nephew another time."

Thomas bit the inside of his lip; angry with himself for having ever saying his thoughts aloud, especially to the one they were about. Now Anne had a hunch of how he felt for her, and she could easily tell Edward at any time and then it would be over. Edward would destroy him. He could see it now. He may not have been able to destroy their father when he had slept with his first wife, but he could easily rip each of Thomas's limbs off one by one and feed them to one of his dogs if he found out that he was infatuated with his wife. "I just want to speak to Edward, Anne. That's all. What I said at Christmas it's not…" but he could not bring himself to say it was not true, because it was. Even as he looked at Anne now, even when she was beyond furious with him, he still desired her for some twisted reason. Why must I want what I cannot have? I always want what is Edward's! I need something of my own.

"Why do you want to speak to him?" Anne demanded, ignoring Tom's comment about Christmas. She didn't want to be reminded of his words, as they had made her so angry. "What is so important you just can't wait to tell your brother? Hmm?"

"Nothing, I guess, we just… well up until just recently we hadn't been on good terms. It was only when little Edward was born that he spoke to me again and even then he was cold and heartless. He only told me because he had to." Thomas explained, shrugging. "I just want to clear things up between us."

"Things have never been clear between us, Thomas." Edward said as he entered the room very quietly. Not even Anne, who's ears were always on high alert for lurkers, heard him enter the room.

Anne looked up at Edward with wide eyes, but said nothing. Thomas turned towards his brother and stood up. "Edward, I just want to apologize for everything that happened over Christmas."

"I don't want your apologies Thomas." Edward spit back coldly. "You hurt my wife with your words and that's the end of it, isn't it? Unless there's something more to the situation I don't know about?" Though Edward would go to the end of the earth for his beloved wife, he also had to be fair when things got riled up between Thomas and Anne. Thomas was his brother after all, and if something else had happened that night, if something else had been said, then he had at least would hear him say it.

Thomas looked back to Anne for a mom in a hesitant manner, and Edward was very observant during the few moments of silence. He watched Thomas and Anne exchange a look, though their looks were very different. Thomas looked worried, while Anne looked as she always did; without a worry in the world. "Nothing else happened, Ed. That was it." Thomas lied, looking down at the ground in shame. "I just feel awful. I had a lot to drink that night and things were said that I didn't truly mean and you remember Anne during her pregnancy, she was irritable!"

"Of course I remember how my own wife was during her pregnancy that has only just past! Don't tell me things like that on my own wife! She is my wife!" Edward roared as he took a few steps closer to his brother, pointing a finger at him. Unfortunately, from Anne's perspective, this didn't look very effective. One thing Thomas had that Edward did not was height. Though Edward was tall, he was not quite as tall as his younger brother, who seemed to tower over him. "I cannot see why I should give you a chance to redeem yourself Thomas, when you are quoting my wife's actions to me, her husband!"

Thomas continued to hang his head low. He could barely face his brother for longer than a few seconds at a time. When Edward was angry his eyes became so beady and watery. His gaze felt like a dagger to the heart. "I am sorry, truly."

Edward laughed and shook his head. He then took a seat at the table and looked off in a daze for a moment. Thomas stayed completely still where he was standing and did not dare to move, or speak. He felt so pathetic standing there, in front of Anne who probably thought he was more deplorable than when she had originally met him, and in front of his brother who felt he was not worthy of forgiveness for such a small ordeal. It's a small ordeal, as he knows it, at least. If Anne ever tells him… I don't know what will happen.

"Stop it." Anne said suddenly, breaking the silence at last. Edward had almost forgotten his wife was there, as it was such a rare occasion to not hear her voice for so long. "Both of you just need to stop. You bicker at each other like schoolboys and I've had enough! Thomas, what you said to me was rude, but I will look past it if it will stop you two from squabbling with each other!"

Edward raised his eyebrows at Anne. "Are you sure?"

Anne nodded her head slowly. "Yes, I am. Having a rift in the family is not good at this time. We need to be together and work together. Your sister is the Queen of England! You two need to remain friends to some extent because the King will be very gracious to you both, and the more the merrier."

"She is right." Edward said, acknowledging Anne's good point. If Thomas and Edward were to completely cut each other off from one another, one of them would probably lose favour in the King's eye because the King would find out and take sides in the situation, because that was how Henry was. He loved to show favoritism and what better a situation to exercise this than between two brothers.

Thomas looked up and nodded his head. "Yes." He replied, still afraid to speak or say too much.

The awkwardness that lingered after a fight made Edward feel disgusted. He stood up from the seat he had taken and walked past Thomas to Anne. "We will have to dine together tomorrow, if that's alright. I am feeling quite tired, and I think it best to retire early tonight."

Anne's face sunk as she heard his words. Not only would they be missing out on their second favourite thing to do together, plotting, but they would also not be able to fool around later on that night because Edward was retiring so early. In her head, Anne knew who was to blame for her sexual sorrows. "We can dine tomorrow, that's fine." She stood up on her tippy toes and kissed Edward on the nose. She felt uncomfortable kissing him on the lips in front of Thomas. He's probably looking, and imagining himself in Edward's place! What a sick man! "I'll see you tomorrow."

Edward kissed Anne back on the cheek and squeezed one of her hands comfortingly. He knew she was not exactly happy to lose their time together, but he would make up for it tomorrow. He then walked over to Thomas and slap his hand across his back, trying to be brotherly like they once had been, so long ago. "I'll be seeing you." Edward said. Thomas did not know whether he had meant it in a good way or a bad way, but he decided not to ask any questions.

Once Edward left the room, Anne quickly turned and ran for the door, but Thomas caught up with her. He stood right behind her, but his hand reached forward and held the door closed. "You won't tell him, will you?" he asked.

Anne could hear the worry in his voice. She turned around and looked up at him. If he was not so stupid and useless he could be charming, but still nothing like his brother. "I won't unless you force me to do so."

"And how would I do that?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Just, stop acting like such an idiot and smarten up! Make good decisions and please your brother, and be kind to me, and your nephew, and I won't say a word." And you know, get over me. I will never be yours, not even in your dreams.

Thomas nodded his head. "Okay, I will do all of that." He said, looking into Anne's eyes. The one thing that will be difficult is finding a woman whom I desire as much as you… Thomas looked away once he realized he was staring at Anne with a look only her husband should give her. He took a few steps back and let his hand fall from the door as he did. "Go."

Anne took one last look at him and then turned to the door and left the room. I am glad that I have no idea what so ever what is going on in that head of his.