Disclaimer: Really? If I was owner I would be Goddess Supreme and a Multi-Billionaire producer.

A/N: There is a time jump right here I warned you about those.

ENJOY!

~VXLP

"There has always been a convergence where love, hatred, and violence is concerned. The stereotype of love is that is uncaring and uncanny, that each love is unique and that is does not respect morals and has no boundaries. True love does not respect the body or the soul for true love is a greater force than God and all his angels combined, it is something that is endless, has no beginning, has no ends. Love can be used to bring affection to others, to bring out the good in others. As beautiful as description sounds is it all fake. Love is not something that is without boundaries, it has boundaries, mental boundaries and as long as we use it without restrictions, we will harm our "loved" ones, ensnare them in our web of lies, making them believe they are our soulmates, our lovers when in fact they are naive, mindless fools who have become slaves to this disease"

~"Contagious" by VXLP

1554, July 23

Beaulieu Palace:

"Dada" Diana was already on her two feet, her heels felt very heavy and many times she tripped. The poor dear, they were all so afraid for her health knowing the maladies that had afflicted her grandmother. The child thankfully was born without any illness. Edward visited her constantly, it was his health that worried her. Anne did not want him to be concerned over Diana, she was being taken care of and her she received excellent marks by all the staff in her new home in Bealieu. Edward was simply being paranoid.
He and his father were never close and the only paternal figure he had in his life had been his namesake and uncle who happened to betray him later in life. Edward believed his days were numbered and he wanted to live life the fullest next to the people he loved.

"Pa ... papa" Edward picked Diana, for a second Annie was scared he would catch a cold or something. The weather in this time of year was not very good. It was summer and many people fell pray to the sweating or quantrum fever. She did not want to lose Edward or wail over his recovery. It was painful, each time he rode into the sunset, when he went out hunting with Barnaby, her brother and other members of the privy council. For powerful men it was easy not to distress, they were used to that agitation, for women it was not something like a switch you could turn off every time. A woman's heart could not be tamed and it was one of the few things she and Edward still had trouble with.

Annie sighed relieved when Edward put her down. Thank God, she thought looking up at the ceiling where the letters E and A were engraved. Hers and Edward's initials he had ordered it for their daughter last summer. He wanted to make it known to all of England that there was no more merrier couple. They were blessed, he assured his people, and through Annie his dynasty would rule for a thousand years surpassing every ancient house in Europe. But with Annie being pregnat only once and showing no signs of life from within this was highly unlikely. She tried to warn Edward but he never listened, he lived each day like it was the last but in regards to heirs he simply didn't care. Or, it wasn't his first priority. She was afraid at times that he would try to do what other monarchs in Europe did, impose a Salic law and pass the crown unto a male whether by blood or through marriage. Annie would never allow that, no matter what gender her child was, if he or she were the oldest by right of heritage they deserved to be inherit their father's throne.

Edward bent down at his daughter's level and took a flower, a red rose. Diana's favorite and the symbol of the Tudor house. "For you my little rose" He said putting it in her hands. Annie was too frantic when Diana sneezed from the dust emerging from it.

"Edward you should be more careful" she said in a soft tone yet with a bit of scolding in it. How could Edward be so aloof to the dangers that lurked at every corner, in every plant. Beauty did not equal safety. And nature was home to many bugs that spread deathly diseases.

"Annie is just a harmless plant, look Diana is smiling again aren't you sweetheart?" He rose and extended his arm raising her daughter's chin with his two middle fingers. As if she could understand him she nodded and giggled looking more excited when her father neared.

"See sweetheart Diana is a big girl she can take it, can't you my little rose?" Nodding her head again Annie rolled her eyes. Instead of one she was dealing with two children.
"Relax Anne, she is a Tudor, the women in our family are strong just look at her mother" His gaze was penetrating, she blushed. Edward knew hot to get on her good side, but when their daughter started to giggle she forgot his enchanting words as she looked down on Diana's pleading gaze and her extending arms reaching toward her father. She was daddy's little girl. She didn't want to let go, but she was her father's daughter as much as Annie was Eustace's.

She gave her back to Edward to hold. However her brother Anthony came and whispered something in his ear, it must have been grave for his face turned grim. "Lady Misseldon" He called to Lord Salazar's Misseldon. His father's mistress younger sibling and only brother's wife. Out of many applicants Edward had chosen Lord Salazar Misseldon's wife, he was a loyal friend and supporter of Edward's. He was faithful to the cause but without being a fanatic like Cromwell and so many others, among them the Greys and the Dudleys headed by the Earl of Northumbeland John Dudley. They were not only considered by her Aunt her enemies, but also Edward's as the Earl was slowly loosing favor.

"Take my daughter" Diana began to wail when he handed her over to Lady Misseldon, the poor woman was having a hard time calming their child. Annie decided to go and help, it seemed ridiculous that they trusted her daughter to a stranger, she always disagreed this but Annie knew better than to question the rules. Her Aunt had taught her about the prices royals had to pay for their priviledges. What God gives you -you don't question, her father always said.

"Let me" She snatched her from Lady Misseldon's arms and wrapped her with a warm blanket that was provided by her daughter's ladies. They all look so young. And inexperienced -her mind added. She would have a talk with Edward later about prolong if not theirs, her stay. She ddi not trust any of these young girls with her daughter's safety.

Too young, careless. Anything could happen under their care.

Isabella paced back and forward, this was her third time this month. Alex was going to be so happy when he found out she'd give birth to twin boys, but when one of them had died and he had taken the news very badly. She begged him to stay to bring her comfort and attend the funeral services for theri lost son. Since he wasn't baptized there would be no funeral he and her family told the queen, Isabella insisted to have a funeral.

"Let me go Bella!" He bellowed. She didn't, she clutched his legs tightly and crawled as he neared the door. Her sobs forced him to turn. 'Now' she thought desperately, 'now, he can't deny me, now he will love me, God is testing me the loss of our son was not for nothing. God did this to bring us closer.

Alexei bent over, taking her arms he released himself from her grip. "Stand" he ordered.

"Alexei my love ..." he interrupted her. Isabella was taken by surprise by the intensity of their kiss, he had never been this romantic with her. She pushed her tongue inside his. A battle of the tongues ensued, however her happiness was shortlived. Alexei broke the kiss as soon as he heard her moans.

"Sweet England" she said with a deep sigh. It was by far the best experience she had. Alexei did not see it that way. She took a step forward but he pushed her away. "Husband ..." He held his hand up silencing her.

"That is all you will ever have ... wife"

He turned on his heel and headed to the door. 'No, not this time' She did not let him, she ran and put herself in between.

"Move" He said in a low but deathly whisper.

"I will not, until you prove me you are a man not a coward but a man I will not move. Do your duty, be a husband or continue whoring around with whatever cheap immitations of your beloved you can find, you are nothing but the son of commoners, cheap and whorish as they!"

"Shut up!"

"A pittiful prince, a cheap immitation, the Czar would rather have the whore of Babylon being his heir than you, though" she said turning her voice to an equally quiet and deathly whisper "judging from your poor taste, I can see why he would mistaken you for the whore of Babylon, you are the son of a heretic, I might as well be married to a bastard-" When the interruption came she did not cry, she did not yell, she did not fall on her knees and beg for forgiveness. It was was exactly what she experected, what she wanted. She preferred this reaction over no reaction at all. When he was angry he was impotent, he was at its worst, she knew by personal experience. He would not be able to perform.

She smirked clutching her bruised cheek.

Alexei cocked his head. What a strange woman his wife was. She was as mad as her mother. He decided not to dwell on his guilt anymore, if she wanted to play the role of the fierce woman she better learn to deal with the consequences.

Alexei told his groom to lock the doors and make sure that none of their servants came, no matter what he heard, wails or insults she was not to come out not even to tend to their only living son and hair, named after him.

Three weeks since he hit her and her bruise had not healed. Alexei said it was her fault for not applying the oils the physician gave her. Under no circumstances she was going to let herself be bullied by Alexei any longer. If he wanted a passive wife he had his whores, but when he married Isabella he had agreed to support her in sickness and in health. So far he had not fulfilled any of his promises. But Bella was here to bring him back into the light, once he learned to love her he would forget about Annie and return to her bed. They would make more children, he would fall in love with her, he would live only for his family and his new country. She would be Empress and like Anne she would be loved by all the people.

She grabbed a brush from her vanity and put it back in one of the drawers. She pushed a simple diadem on top of her hair but then decided against it and replaced it with a hat. A hat as long as this with feathers to give her shadows to cover the side of he face that was bruise was more perfect, and it made her quarrel with Alexei remain invisible. They were both good actors, to the public they were the perfect couple as the King and Queen. She had given the future Czar two sons, and although one had died, one had survived and had no signs of weakness. Clearly the people knew as Alexei's ambassadors she was fertile and she was expected to give the Duke more heirs, something she was more than willing. If only Alexei was as well.

Isabella waited for the servant girl to come. An hour later when she came she delivered a letter from Her Majesty. It was a command of Anne that her presence was requested at New Hall at once, the Princess' household was in need of more members and Isabella was the only logical choice given she was one of the Queen's ladies and her sister. She rode confidently through the halls of Hampton Court until she stopped having accidently bumped into someone.

"Pardon me" She said not bothering to look who'd she bumped into.

"Lady Isabella" She stopped, "wait"

Bella did not need to turn to see who the voices belonged to, he recognized them everywhere.

"Uncle ... Anthony what a pleasant surprise. How do you do?" She said spunning around facing them with her head down showing them a brief curtsy. Her voice was pleasant, there was a smile on her lips, nothing to reveal the distress she was feeling.

Eustace did not buy into it. Her uncle with years of experience knew she was faking it and walked forward gripping her chin with his index finger and her thumb, he lifted her and heard Anthony gasp his eyes going wide as he and his father stared directly into Bella's bruise.

Eustace understood immediately. He shook his head in dismay, he had taught that boy better and he thought the Russians taught him better too. He knew that in spite of appearances that his and his nieces' marriage was not a happy one. He never imagined things were so bad Alexei would resort to physical abuse.

"Who?" The back of his mind he didn't want to admit that Alexei could be capable of such things, but he wanted to confirm it. He wanted Bella to be the one to break his heart.

"You know the answer Your Grace" Bella said diverting her gaze from her uncle and cousin.

Anthony went to Bella and pulled her into a big embrace. "I am sorry I did not know"

"Nobody knows, and it should stay that way" she said decisively.

"Why?" Eustace cocked his head. "Isabella you have every right to reclaim your rights if you go to our sister-"

She interrupted with a fierce "No!" She would not go to the source of all her problems.

"Izzy she can help you-"

"No! I said no and I mean it, now please leave me and tell this of no one, I will not have you pity me anymore than I pity myself" She complained wiggling herself free from his grip. It didn't get her far, her uncle grabbed her wrist.

"This is not getting you anywhere." He said. He put himself in between her and Tony. "I want you to talk to Annie, and then to Alexei. You can resolve this together but you need my daughter's help. She is not the enemy you know"

"What you going to tell me there is really a good person underneath that bubbly face and festive tune she has everyone dancing on?" She asked groggily feeling her confidence being sucked out when his gaze turned meaner. He was a parent who was out to defend his cub, she envied her. Oh her sister's luck. She had everything from good looks, a husband that loved her and a healthy child who was loved despite her sex while Isabella was all looks and no brains.

A complete dullard, a slow cooker who could not fend or look after herself. She was a failure. Her brothers were the smart ones, the cunning ones she was nothing but a plain Jane she considered herself.

Eustace let her go but not before whispering in her ear so only she could hear, " Isabella you have every right to happiness, but you are stubborn and arrogant, you do not realize but you have more in common with my daughter. She needs as much friends as she can have, the court is becoming more ruthless, I fear the peace will not last long in this kingdom, there are many things cooking in other countries and I fear also an invasion"

Isabella stared. "Why are you telling me all of this?" Wasn't she supposed to be the enemy?

He read her thoughts through her confusion and responded with a simple nod, and said in a neutral tone "Aye, you are the enemy's daughter but blood does not make you an enemy, you share their blood but there is no blood of innocents on your hands. Go to my daughter Lady Isabella, tell Annie of your plight and think about what I said. Come Anthony your mother and brother are waiting for us"

Anthony followed his father to their chambers, Isabella watched them leave and did not move until they were completely out of sight. She turned on her heel and went to the courtyard where her carriage awaited.

You share their blood but there is no blood of innocent on your hands … tell Annie of your plight.

Isabella felt a terrible headache the more she thought about her uncle's words. Closing her eyes she fell into a dreamless sleep.

She tried to do what was best to block every sound, every syllable that came from his mouth. The future Czar of Russia, she envisioned him, was asking for her permission to let their firstborn be baptized by her sister. The Gilded Queen. They called her. In public she was their beloved queen, the people's queen, behind their backs the King and Queen became the gilded monarchs, hated by the entire court of conservatives favored only by a few who happened to be the more wealthy landowners. As long as they held the favor of the people and these wealthy landowners they were invincible and the more dangerous.

"It is the best way to keep England's friendship!"

"What about my friendship, do I matter so little to you, is this all I am to you the mother of your child, we just buried a son Alexei I will not let that woman's sin blacken our little boy's heart" She bellowed leaping forward and wringing her hands in the air like a raving lunatic.

Alexei looked at her as if she'd gone completely crazy, perhaps she is crazy, but she will never be to the point of letting her son be touched by THAT woman.

He waved his hand in the air, his eyes diverted. He was not listening to her, he turned to the window where a smile came across his face the moment he landed his eyes on Anne and her daughter. Her daughter, she thought, he must imagine himself next to her instead of King Edward. Good King Edward, he was called by the protestants abroad, his people saw him as a cold and unyielding but with a queen who spent most of her money helping the poor and for new gowns, bought him favor of his gay court who all they cared about was luxury. Queen Anne was a show girl and the world was her show.

Isabella saw his smile disappear when he became aware she was standing next to him, with a hand on his shoulder.

"Prepare the boy, and soon as you are well you will go talk to Her Majesty, address her as such and don't forget this is not about me or you, even our son, this is about the future empire I will inherit. If you care about our son you will do as I say."

Isabella woke with a jolt, her forehead drenched in cold sweat. God, when would these nightmares end? It was not enough to have that woman touch her son, but now she had to relive the memory night after night when she went to sleep in an empty bed with a husband that was frolicking elsewhere who knows who.

Who would ever want to be her? Anne was an egocentric, arrogant, strutting maniac who believed all that mattered was her family. She did not know the pain of being unloved, yelled at and pitied. She had a father who loved her, an aunt who worshipped the ground she walked on and a daughter who was the product of love not of duty like her little son Alexei.

What will I do?