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A/N: Thanks to ALL the marvelous reviews and those who have remained faithful to this story you girls and guys are awesome! I couldn't have done this without you.

This story is now my main baby and you will see more updates the more reviews I get!

~VXLP

"What hurts more about love? The deception or the fact that you knew all along and was not brave enough to face it?"

~"Love hurts" by Anonymous

1551, December 21st.

Nonsuch Palace:

It was the winter Solstice. Exactly three months since her second older brother had been executed, a month since her sister had been executed for high treason and been found guilty on all charges and at the last minute an extra charge of conspiracy to commit murder against the King of England was added to her count (on which she was also found guilty)in alliance with the late Thomas Seymour. Katherine Parr that wretched widow twice over had married her brother Thomas for love and he had married falling for her pretty face and the fact she was a rich widow, favored by the king and his favorite sister, Elizabeth Tudor. He thought he would get far with her, and Kate needed to forget her son whom she was convinced she would never see again. After finding out her husband's sentence she had gone to the King and dropped on her knees pleading for him, Jane knew because she was there. She had raised her poor sister in law -soon to be a widow- up and rubbed her back gently telling her it was going to be alright. But they knew better, Edward like his father was not one to back away from his promises, when his mind was made up there was no turning back.

She shuddered when she thought about the Seymour family, the only connection to her old and simple life. The three siblings she had come to love, the only friends she ever had, their heads now part of the sinister decorations meant to ward people off from their dark desires of plotting against their king, their English pope. Edward loved calling himself the true and first reformer King of England, his kind of puritanism had its roots in John Wycliff's failed reformation of the fourteenth century, when England became very close to splitting from the Roman Catholic Church after this one had been residing in France and favoring said country over England who had been supporting its high clerics abuses in the isle, during the 100 years war. Jane was not stupid every time she passed the Tower of London where she was forced to beg the remaining Catholics and moderate Protestants to give up their "pagan" beliefs and convert to the true "faith", her son's faith she thought bitterly, she was forced to remember how she got where she was. Her dreams of living a simple life as a powerful nobleman's wife, knitting, sowing for her many children and being called to court only when absolutely necessary, but overall she dreamed of a quiet life for herself and her children. People accused her of Anne Boleyn's murder, many people saw her now as a saint and she had Edward, her own son, to thank for that. Ironically he wanted the whole world to like, love and fear him, unlike his father who cared only about power and wanted the whole world to fear instead of respecting him and paid little attention to what was being said or thought of him. His favorite sister the Duchess of Sicily listened intently to all his sessions in Parliament and she was a greater influence over him than Dudley, whom he had began to distrust thanks to his longtime friends, Anthony and Annie. Annie had formed a stronger bond to Edward, but she did not love him, not like how he would expect her to after all the gifts and invitations she had given her and her family.

Jane told Edward to forget it. Annie would never listen to him. Katherine Parr had died three days ago and her son was coming over, and he had constantly exchanged letters with her. She was the second person he wrote more often other than his mother.

"No mother she will be mine. I am King he is nothing but a Duke with an empty title and empty promises, who knows if he will truly be Czar one day" Edward shot back. Jane shook her head, no matter what she said Edward was firm on his resolve. "Sweetheart" she said more forcefully this time, she swore her son had too much of her husband's stubborn nature and her brother's obsession for wanting what could not be his. "Annie has written love poems to Duke Alexei, he is going to come next week and I beg you" she would literally have dropped to her knees if necessary to convince her son, but she was a dowager queen now, part of royalty, she could not allow herself such humiliation, even in the face of her son the King. "be civil, he is not just Duke the Czar has recognized him as his official heir, he made it public Edward, didn't you hear?" She hissed in his ear, so they would not draw unwanted attention from the courtiers sitting in the tables below.

Edward turned to her shocked. He had not heard of this, how was it his mother had gotten hold of this information before him? Wasn't HE the King of this realm?

Before he could speak, his mother answered with another more powerful hiss "I have my own contacts too" She had learned a thing or two about her eldest and more ambitious brother, Edward Seymour, her son's namesake. All he ever had been guilty of was caring too much for himself and his family. If Edward had given his uncle more time he would have seen that he was not a bad man, and that it was Thomas and John Dudley's fault who had poisoned Edward's mind against her brother. She knew that he could not be blamed for England's disastrous economy or his taking over the government. Her brother never liked taking orders from anyone, including his superiors, he was a competent man and naturally Parliament at the time had been weaker, Edward's regency council could not be trusted, her brother had to take over. It was his duty, to his nephew, to his country. But Edward VI was keeper of the realm and his authority reigned supreme, nobody could challenge him, he believed wholeheartedly in what Luther said -that a King's power was as supreme as the air they breathed, and only God could judge a king based on his or his lack thereof love and demonstration of this love to him, not on his good works like her faith preached. And her brother had certainly not been God, albeit he wished to so he would teach his nephew a thing or two in what it meant to be king.

"Really mother who are they?" He said putting a smiling face as his special guests entered. Jane rolled her eyes when she saw whom he was smiling the most at.

"You will never know just as you never let me in anything you do"

"I let you in on everything, only you never want to hear it."

"And have you asked yourself why?" She asked suddenly before he could go any further "Edward I applaud your cautious behavior toward Parliament and the Archbishop and the fact that you have grown wary of John Dudley since you decided not to make him a Duke and instead gave him the earldom of Northumbeland, which I might add belonged to the Percy family -"

"Mother we are not going to go over that again, the Percys are old story, they plotted against my father after the disgraceful Pilgrimage of Grace. I could not leave those lands empty forever, if I kept them people were going to say I was becoming too greedy and you know how that worked very well for my father" he said with sarcasm "I needed someone I could trust, Lord Lisle happened to be that man, granted I am not sure I can trust him that much now, but at the moment it seemed like a wise decision" Jane looked away, pretending to be interested on the food that was brought in. "Annie is in no way a distraction and I will be civil to the Duke if that is you want"

"It is not what I want Edward is how you should behave. You don't want England more isolated than what your ministers have made it?" She said letting a chuckle out as courtiers glanced at them, mesmerized by the maternal affection the queen dowager showed. Years of practice, she thought, she had come to hide her emotions very well and even in the midst of all their anger and discussion, Jane could look the other way hiding them under the guise of love and understanding for her son. A joke, they all thought, she was saying a joke and Edward completely hiding from his anger made them believe it so too. He was the biggest liar of the two.

Tired of the discussion he rose and began to walk away "Where are you going?"

He did not answer and kept on walking, he knew he was asking for trouble when his eyes landed on his seventeen year old niece. He had already rejected four marriage proposals from the most important Protestant countries in Germany and the Netherlands but he did not care. He only had one girl in mind, he told Cromwell whose seat would become vacant very soon. He was sick, old, weary and tired, he barely had strength to movie, his son was begging him constantly to leave his post but Thomas Cromwell felt it was his duty to continue to serve this King, better than he had served his father.

Edward cleared his throat and Annie swirled to look up at him. He was no longer the frail, skinny dwarf she used to make fun of when he was a child. They were a year apart but the short time taking control of government since he'd reach the age of majority two months ago had made him look older, and she could see that the years of practicing sports his father was very good at in his youth, had finally paid off. His muscles had grown and his shoulders had become broad as Anthony's, he was different, very different and it surprised her how he towered over her. She felt like the midget now.

"Your Majesty" She said bowing her head low to him, feeling her cheeks reddened.

Edward waved a hand at her and looked to Anthony who nodded in silent agreement and went away. "There is no need to call me by my title here Annie. My you have grown, I am glad you came we have missed you"

"We?" She asked raising an eyebrow with a small grin.

"I mean I, I mean ..." he sighed he could not believe he was acting this stupid. "You are beautiful" he finally blurted out and when she thought her cheeks could not be more red, they became the color of scarlet and she looked down.

He raised her chin and gently said "It is alright." He momentarily forgot where he was or that he was surrounded by courtiers who were looking at the couple in shock and disapproval. "Would you mind?" He asked extending his hand out to her.

She glanced back at her father, he was not liking what he saw, and she would likely get scolded by him and her Aunt later on, but how could she disobey her uncle? He was their King and no subject could go against his commands. Besides it was just a dance and Alexei was coming home to his mother's funeral before the new year (something that made her very happy since she longed to hear of his adventures, they never stop corresponding with each other and missed each other terribly), this was simply a formality between old friends, what harm could come of it?

"Of course not, as you wish, lead the way" she said with false excitement as she let Edward take her hand and lead her to dance floor.

Jane did not stay long to see or hear the entire conversation, she could already tell what her son would say to his intended bride. It would be no use, Annie had her heart set out elsewhere for this so called Duke Alexei of the Romanov House. He was the one she was interested in, she was the one who promised him her hand in marriage and no doubt Eustace Chapuys now a prominent courtier thanks to his wife's friendship with the King; would give his blessing. He would do everything to see his "niece" happy. But she stopped on her tracks, dead cold when one of her ladies told her "Look" Jane turned and saw her son dancing with Annie. Her eyes widened as she fixated her eyes on the young couple, the look on her son's eyes was one she recognized everywhere, it was the same look his father had when he first noticed Jane.

Dear God ...

Jane was brought back to the present as she heard the door open and close. "Majesty" It was one of her youngest ladies, Lady Jane Grey who for some reason or another had been betrothed to the youngest of John Dudley's son and soon after her father broke the engament.

"What is it?" She asked plainly, she wanted the whole scoop. She was not in the mood to be entertained with long speeches and sermons.

Jane Grey cut straight to the chase and told her about the Duke Nicholas recent arrival, how the King had showed up very late and when he finally agreed to the Duke's request for an audience, he had shown himself very cold. Jane added that it had not been for John Dudley and his new secretary (who'd replaced the late Cromwell whose chair was not yet cold before Edward announced who would become his new Master Secretary) Anthony Andrew Chapuys who had been elevated to Viscount, the King would have likely exploded when the Duke mentioned his niece's name, not able to hide the excitement from his voice.

The Queen Dowager gripped the handles of her chair. Edward was becoming too obsessed with that young girl, Jane could not help but wish for this to be over. She liked Annie, she really did. She regarded her as her mother and her surrogate mother, as the daughter she never could have, but she knew what mess Edward would be in if he stayed infatuated with her for too long. She wished that the Duke would stay true in his promise and propose to Annie, God knew that would put an end to all this trouble.

"You may leave" The Queen Dowager said to the Grey girl. Lady Jane bowed and left her mistress to her own thoughts.

1552, January 1st.

Hertfordshire, Hatfield: Chapuys Residence.

Eustace could not help but give thanks to the good Lord to have all his family reunited to receive the new year, and to add to give more thanks to God, he was glad to have Alexei with them as well. He was surprised to see how much the young man had grown, there was no doubt he resembled his father in his tall and muscular form, but there was a lot of his mother in him as well.

He and Elizabeth were only sad that the reason of his visit had been mainly because of his mother's death. She had left no children except for a daughter who died shortly after she'd given birth. The death of her husband and her girl destroyed her, and knowing she would never see her son again had sped up her death. He and the whole family had gone with Alexei to where his mother had been peacefully resting, in Saint Petersborough Cathedral, ironically the same place that Mary's mother, Katherine of Aragon, was buried in. It was a nice gesture from the Dowager Queen to convince her son to give her a burial that someone as kind, devoted, and religious as Katherine Parr deserved. She may never have been royal, but she had a heart as big as the crown Edward VI wore. She had written a lot of inspirational books that helped Edward in his quest for the purification of England, something Eustace could still not see eye to eye and neither his oldest son Tony, his youngest son however was easily swayed by all this puritan madness which in his opinion was no different than what fanatics preached in his religion. Katherine Parr had been a woman who fought for equality on all levels, except when it came to Catholics for in that she saw eye to eye with Edward that they needed to be purified or combated at all costs. Her books were taught now in every school, her latest "Lamentations of a sinner" had become an instant best seller next to the English bible that Cranmer had helped to rewrite after Tyndale and Coverdale's had become too old in Edward's opinion for the newly reformed Church. It was the best tribute for a woman Eustace had grown to admire despite often disagreeing with her over the matter of his children's education. His children loved her, including George who being very young barely got to know her.

A week had passed since that visit to Kate's tomb. Alexei had not cried since he left his mother, this was the second time in his life that he did. She promised him that they would see each other again, he never imagined it would have to be this way.

His chain of thought was broken when Anthony came over and asked him if he was enjoying the little party."I am thank you and your family for everything, I will always remember your hospitality -"

"Oh come on Alexei or should I say now Your Grace" Anthony said half drunk, with a mock bow that made Alexei or "Alex" as his English friends called him, and Annie laugh "you are in the country of Parliament, democracy, yadda, yadda, you do not need to be so formal to your lower peers"

"Stop that Tony, Alex is refined now he has no time for your crude jokes and insults" She said hitting his shoulder playfully. Alex chuckled, Annie gave him a wink, the kind that reminded everybody of her father, her real father.

"Crude? Insults? Who said anything about joking, I am just stating the facts, if you cant' handle that type of heat get out of the kitchen I say"

Alex patted his friend's back "Tony you are too drunk my friend, I think you should give it a rest, tomorrow I promise I will have more time for your outrageous humor"

Tony was about to discuss but he felt something in the pit of his stomach, he put his goblet down and said "I am sorry" He ran outside and covering his mouth, hoping he could hold it in.

Annie laughed out loud and Alex soon joined her. George was at the far end of the living room not understanding what was happening, with his parents. "God I missed you" She said taking Alex's hand. It was bold and un-lady like but she was no longer at court where she was demanded to act with good behavior.

He touched her cheek gently, knowing Eustace would not mind. "I know I missed you too. You have no idea how tortured I was every day when you were not there to play with me, to share my lessons."

"To have a kiss?" She asked, her grip becoming tighter.

He sighed nodding. They locked gazes. What would he do to stay here forever, to make her HIS, to have her as his wife, to be his completely. Alas, it could not be. Since he had been named the Czar's heir, his wish of having Annie as his wife, the future mother of his children, had been destroyed but right now he was too in love with her hopeful eyes to tell her the truth.

"Yes but not here"

"Then when? I am still longing for my first kiss"

"I can't believe you have not yet been kissed MyLady, a Lady as beautiful as you"

(Eustace POV)

I sighed. I knew that Alexei's priorities had changed, that he was no longer the disinherited son of the Russian Duke his mother had wedded, and the son of Katherine Parr, widow and a simple governess of my children. He had greater prospects now, and the daughter of a simple duke or in this MY daughter, even if I was the Duke of Sicily would not do, because by the end of the day my relationship with Mary Tudor had scarred my daughter for life. She was a bastard, and the Russian ambassadors that Alexei brought with him knew this and would not allow such scandal in the Imperial Court.

But my daughter was so in love with this boy that she could not see reason, even if she suspected, and it scared me because there was nothing worse than having your heart broken.

Elizabeth knew what I was thinking and whispered to me: "Let them be for now Eustace, let them enjoy what time they have now before she is told the truth"

I shake my head "I can't let her be hurt, she deserves better"

"Life is unfair Eustace, she is young, she will find another man who loves her and whom she will love in return"

My heart pounded wildly. "Yes I know" I answered. "That is why I am afraid of"