Disclaimer: Really? If I was I would be Goddess Supreme wouldn't I?

Nope own nothing except my own OCs, the four set of royal twins, Roxy, Annie, Diana and the others.

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed, favorited and put this fic on their alerts. I appreciate it and here is another chapter. And just a reminder I want to give big thanks to my beta reader who's previously betad most of my chapters and to Mimi for always being the backbone, encouraging me to continue in fanfiction. I really recommend their fics, The Power and the Passion, and, Faith For Duty, they have just updated. Thank you also to LadyEleanor for encouraging me and I recommed her fic Daughters of a Rose Withouth a Thorn.

Here is the new chapter, I suggest you hear it with the song from REM "Happy Shining People"

Chapter #44: Happy Shining People

"True cunning is concealing who you truly are even when the mask is stripped away"

~Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI in Borgias season 2 promo

Spain,

1560, February 3rd

Palace of Alcázar of Segovia

(Cámara Regia -Royal Bedchamber):

"You are my prisoner now" He said laughing, she shared his laughter but did not come to him as he wished.

Momentarily he was in thought of what she said before. She read his thoughts and said "You worry too much over what my mother proposed to my Aunt Elizabeth. Anyhow I am more concerned that you'd not be surprised when I told you"

"Ahh yes well you are my Queen, I am your prisoner and on occasions you are mine but never forget that this is my country and what I do is for your welfare"

"You mean just for yours" She said giving him a simple smile, but beneath her smile he could see her accusation.

"I only mean to protect everyone my family ... our family" He said lowering his voice he then added "I would never forgive myself if something were to happen to you. Even Diana, she is like a daughter to me"

She accepted his explanation but she would keep better track of her ladies and who handed her letters. Although she understood his reasons very well, she didn't like the idea of having spies in her midst.

He let go of the sheets and she sat up only enough so she could try to see in his eyes what was going around his mind that was keeping that concerned expression. Normally with Philip you never knew who you were dealing with but Annie had come to know him better than anyone else ever had in his life, including his nanny Doña Leonor.

"My mother is only a small woman. All she is, is talks and smiles"

Philip shook his head pondering on the riddle her Aunt Elizabeth had told her her mother said and gave out his own version
"Three great women stand in the way of each other, no one knows, no one cares until one of them decides to take the other then everyone turns against her. How different if this creature were to attack on both flanks." Philip sits up intrigued by what his wife is saying. Turning to him she catches her expression and their gazes are locked "Between them though there is a small obstacle ...an outside factor"

"What outside factor is this?"

"Killing to overthrow a King. Another player, another woman. That is what my mother does not want to accept"

"My uncle taking Bavaria would send your mother a message" He said interlocking his fingers with hers kissing each of them. There were still traces of her perfume. Her presence itself was intoxicating enough, it drew him to her.

"Power resides where people believe it resides, a small man can cast a large shadow. My nephew is just a small child"

"But that child will grow" Philip countered his sky blue eyes darkened and his gaze hardened as his voice with his next sentence "I am Philip, King of Spain, Naples, and Duke of Milan. I understand the way this game is played, my father did not get his gray heirs not trying to teach me"

Annie reclined, she loved the sound of his voice after lovemaking. She lied back against the soft mattress an pushed the covers over her big bosom. Philip looked down on it, comprehending. "Does it show?" She asked hoping his answer would be 'no'.

"A little" He said, smiling despite himself. He prayed to God that it would be a single child this time. Last time she had given birth she nearly fainted, he'd been there when she had woken up from her last labor. He did not want to see the shadow on the death ever again.

Joining in his smile she pulls the covers away from her body and launches herself on him, swinging her arms around her neck, riding him wildly.

"You are a child Annie you know that?"

"A child in spirit but a woman in body, a fit one for your bed and to your sword" she indicated down on his throbbing member.

"Stop it Madame or I will have to tame you again"

"I want you to tame me, your children want you to tame me, to fuck their mother" She said in fits of giggles.

He shook his head vigorously, he had to put his logic before desire (this time). He wrapped his arms around her and rolled over, inverting their positions since it didn't seem right for her to be on top while he, the King of Spain, was below. "You might find it difficult to rule over a King who has ruled over fire and blood"

"Why anyone can be subdued My Lord, even yourself" She said feeling as if thought she had won a great victory and, careless of the roughness of his beard and that if often tickled her, moved closer and kissed his mouth hungrily as if she had been deprived of it for a year. She had found herself comparing his kissed from those of Edward, the back of her mind she had forgotten everything about Alexei, he was nothing but a word against the raging winds of passion that Philip brought into her life.
Edward was more youthful than Philip, one year her senior, six years his junior but his fervency was always juxtaposed for his other secret passion, for his Lord Jesus Christ. Both were very religious men, but Edward let his religiosity consume him to the point that it became difficult for her to rekindle the flames of their passion when they were together. He was always scared he'd break her or that he would break or worse, that theirs was a sin before God because he was so influenced by Archbishop Cranmer that sex should only be for procreation and not for enjoyment. "If so Edward then it is a cruel God we have or maybe it is a cruel man you have giving you council" She'd said. Who was this Archbishop and all these (celibate) learned men to tell them what was right and wrong between couples? Had they ever loved so passionately as they? Had they ever given birth to a child or expected one and then lost it because God thought it fit to call it to His realm too early? Indeed, who were they? Edward never listened to her and preferred the Archbishop's council over sexual matters than her own. The Archbishop was only content to best her in something she had no power over him.

But then came Philip. He was so different, his kisses were more hungry, the beast in him threatened to consume and he did not deny it but embraced it with a passion she had not known before. When they made love it was an act of passion, an act of sheer will, it was not done only for procreation or enjoyment, but for love. Love ... Love and duty. That was what had been missing from her when she'd been married to Edward.

She'd easily convinced herself when Philip would see a cloud of doubt over her eyes when they discussed about her dead husband, he would take her in his arms and make love to her numerous times until that doubt was erased from her mind. She loved Philip, she longed to have him. But he was right. It was too risky while she was with child.

So they abstained from intercourse after having had their fair share -only for this night.

May 23rd

Diana giggled at her mother's court musicians. They all tried to be fair in their praises and eulogies when they dedicated their songs to her in her state, but oh her mother was too proud! She had to face the fact that she was getting very big and she was soon going to go into confinement.

Her father wanted to hear naught of it. Another proud parent -she thought. He wanted stubbornly to believe that everything the physicians and his wife's womanly instinct told him of were wrong, and that she was only expecting one child.

But even to the least observant, one could see she was too big for being only four months, nearly five now, pregnant.

"That is enough señores, I have heard enough of your praises and songs for one day, next time try to be more honest or pretend you truly mean what you are saying" She said waving her hand dismissively at them.

"Your Majesty" They all said and left.

"Oh how dreadful it is to be stuck here in this hot room!" She looked at her daughter who was covering her mouth "Diana Tudor what you are laughing about?"

Joke is over. She could never keep a secret from her mother for too long. She honestly thought she had to have some power or something to read minds, otherwise how could she know everything?

"Nothing mamá, it is just look at you. You can't expect everyone to look at you as if you are your old self again. You are going to have to accept the fact"

"And what fact is that my little huntress?"

"That you are going to be turning big as a house Madame" She said, finding it too hard to contain her laughter, it broke and several of her and her mother's ladies joined her.

Annie just rolled her eyes and said with sigh of frustration "Oh!" Why did she think Diana would not say anything? Her daughter was truly Edward's and Philip was no better encouraging this behavior! He would always laugh and flare in anger when a situation became too hard for him to control, he was never good at keeping his emotions. And Diana had inherited that bad trait from him. Of all the Seymours she heard, and on very few occasions from what she could remember in court. It was his uncle, Edward Seymour who was the more moderate of the bunch.

Sadly Edward and Diana were more Seymours than Tudors. Her temper did not do her any favors but she had learned how to tame it thanks to her Aunt Bess and her father.

Diana continued giggling. She and the rest stopped when the door opened and came Philip with his best friend and councilor, Ruy Gomez da Silva, also the Prince of Eboli.

"Father" Diana said running into his arms.

"My child, you have gotten so big, look at you" He said, his eyes shining with admiration. It was no white lie, Diana had grown several inches taller since her arrival. He would soon feel a dwarf next to her. He hoped her sister Clara would inherit their mother's stature. It was important in a woman to be tall, otherwise her body was too weak for childbearing and her brain too small for learning and he wanted his daughters to outshine the rest of Christendom.

"I have been eating mother's quail, she says it tastes funny"

He gave a bark of laughter and let go of her and turned to her mother. "My Lady I see you are getting prettier and prettier with each passing day"

"Oh stop that Philip, I know I am not that all alluring. Diana just said that I am getting big as a house"

Philip glanced at Diana "Did she now?" He gave a quick wink that made her giggle. He hoped Annie had not taken notice but she did and she rose from her chair.

"Oh look at that! I have two children with me" But while she scolded the two of them, she could not help but join them in their laughter.

"Two children and one adult more than a person can bargain for but one fair bargain" Ruy said, cleverly as always.

"Well spoken my Prince but remember I am King so if this place explodes I will fly higher than you"

Diana nearly chocked on her laughter. Annie looked to her Dueña, María Enríquez de Toledo y Guzmán, the Duchess of Alba and told her "Doña María please take her" The Duchess clasped the young Infanta's hand "Come along Your Highness" she said, obeying without question, Diana and her ladies followed her out of her mother's chambers.

"Well that is that, now my Prince of Eboli if you will leave me with my pretty wife"

Annie was ready to retort to his comment but Philip held a hand up once Ruy and her ladies cleared the room. He filled their goblets with a bit of wine "Before you speak I will say that I am in liberty to speak my mind especially when I speak in virtue of truth. You continue to be as beautiful as the day I married you even if you are a big as a whale."

"Philip" She barked banging her fist in the table between their chairs, knocking her goblet.

He chuckled "Your cheeks turn scarlet red when you flare up my dear. Have I told you red is my favorite color?"

"I thought it was black or gold" She said. One would think by how many black with strips of gold he wore.

"Black and Gold are the colors of any good virtuous Christian Prince, but I have never liked them. Too sad, too modest for my taste but I must humble myself before the people, it is what they want after all the money my father spent in his costly wars and his sea ventures to the new world"

"Then why not put away with your father's men and his taxation?"

"No my dear I am a prudent man but not a fool. Besides would I not be a King with a little bit of greed and vanity?" He said with a wicked smile and giving one of his many trademark winks that would become later in life his grandsons' zeal.

"You are impossible"

"Aye I know and I enjoy making you mad. Now what is this that you have began to upset your ladies?" She looked at him sideways avoiding his glance. His voice softened but there was some hardness by the way his eyes narrowed at her. "Sweetheart you can't keep making my courtiers' wives angry. They are after all my subjects, I know this pregnancy is hard on you but be patient, four more months and it will be over. You can go back to your old life, enjoy court, enjoy the merriment of my frequent visits"

That made her smile. He stood up and poked at her nose "See I have done it now"

"Not quite, you must promise me to come to my bed tonight"

"Annie ..."

"You promised you would come to my bed" She said indignant.

"I know, I know" He said in clear frustration, he had had a lot in his mind with the possible threat of France and war brewing in the Netherlands and the German duchies for there were those that were gathering to support the Duke of Bavaria's grandson, Lord Albert, sustaining his claim was greater over his cousin's William.

"Then visit my bed" She said bringing up some of that Spanish and Tudor temper he was sometimes so afraid of.

He had no choice, seeing no way out of it, but to relent and give in to her demands.

Annie gave a proud smile clasping his hand and bringing it to her large belly. "Feel it. They are your children kicking, they are it again"

He nodded his head. He could feel the children moving, now he was certain they were two and he was afraid.

Months later ...

The birth was longer than anyone had expected. Three days now and nothing to show for it but more blood and change of sheets. The doctors were tired, they had not slept in days and the midwives and her ladies were no better. They had not seen anything like this.

The children refused to come out. Philip was beginning to fear that she might not make it.

"Doctor!" He called to his chief medical Doctor demanding in a broken voice what was to become of his wife? The doctor was in shock, he had never seen the King of Spain this way, one more minute of silence and he knew the King would be on his knees begging. He felt it was his royal duty to avoid His Majesty the humiliation.

"The Queen has lost considerable amounts of blood and the child ...the children" he corrected "seem to be completely attached, I can't explain it but they seem to refuse to come out"

"Then make them!" Philip barked "Or I will go in there and make them come out myself, I will yell at them, threaten them if necessary!"

"Your Majesty you should understand there is only one thing that I can do right now and that is why I have come here!"

"Get them, how? I don't care but you must, you are the doctor, I trusted you with my wife's life now you are telling me there is nothing you can do"

"Your Majesty"

"Do something! Because I will not ..." he said, his voice drifting into the cold winds of winter of his open window. He had not bathe or ate or slept, or done anything in his concern for his wife, but pray for her welfare and their children's. Now the doctor was telling him he could loose her because of the children ... No, he did not want to make a decision but he must. He must for the sake of his wife!

He turned to the doctor one last time and ordered him with a booming voice that made the courtiers waiting outside his chambers tremble in fear."Get those two out of there. If not" he paused drawing a long intake of breath. Then he said in a clear voice: "Then save my wife!"

It was one of those few moments that he lost his patience.

"No, no, no please ... not me, save the child, the children ... save the children" I must have these children, so help me God, she thought desperately trying to fight the hold of her ladies and averting her gaze from the physicians and the scalpel. She would not have them cut her. The children needed their mother, they would not survive a day without her! She could not live Diana alone again! Her children, Ligo, Philip ... they all needed her!

"Save my children" She said in a more weakened voice. As if God had heard her, she felt one of the children within her move and a strong contraction that came with it, released the child from her womb. It didn't take long for the other to come.

Philip, when he heard the small cries, thought the worst and rushed past the courtiers and came unannounced to his wife's chambers.

"Where is she?" He asked "Where is she?"

The midwives, doctors, and the ladies that remained with her were surprised that he had first asked for his wife instead of his children. Any man would be proud now to have three sons and two -well three with his adopted one- daughters.

But he was unlike any man.

He rushed to his wife's bed. She'd already been cleaned and the sheets turned. He was startled to find her pale, sleeping form, breathing steadily. He turned to the doctors. "How is she?"

"Well Your Majesty"

"Just well?" He asked not satisfied with their meager answer.

"Yes Your Majesty. She appears to be in perfect state, in fact as soon as we were ready to follow your orders by some miracle the children came into this world. She fainted but quickly opened her eyes demanding if the children were fine."

"And well are they?"

"Yes Your Majesty. Would you like to see them" Pipa answered for the doctor this time.

Philip nodded going to the two small cribs next to his wife's bed.

Pippa picked the first twin up and brought him to his arms. It was a boy, a proud boy, though -Philip observed- tiny and very pale. "How long has he been sleeping?"

"Just right now Your Majesty"

"Give him to me" He commanded with high enthusiasm. She had done it, she had given him more heirs than Spain had prayed for. One of them though, since the wars between his grandmother and great grandfather, Juana of Castile and Ferdinando of Aragon were still fresh on everyone's mind, would have to go to the clergy to avoid factions among the country.

That is why his father had sent his uncle, Ferdinand, to the Netherlands in the first place when he became aware of his nobles favoring him over their true King.

Even when the mask of his stoic self had been stripped away he concealed his shock by giving a regal smile to his newborn son. "Juan" He said "His name shall be Juan"

He gave him to the midwife and moved on to his newborn daughter. "Your Majesty" The midwife curtsied, in her arms, unlike her twin brother, was his newborn daughter, her eyes wide and alert.

Blue. Thank God. It left no question that these children were all of the Hapsburg and Tudor blood, yet they had not inherited the Chapuys facial traits, nor their mother's eyes for that would have reopenned the doors to the nasty rumors his wife had been victim of, prior to giving England a King.

"Juana" He said for she reminded him of the paintings he'd seen of his grandmother, when she'd been beautiful and still sane. "Juana" he repeated, lower tone now. "Juana Leonor" He ended adding a new name as tribute for her beauty and for his nanny -who'd been in all but name like a mother to him.

She had helped him cope with the pain of losing his mother too young and have to arrange for her own burial when his father refused to, for being consumed in grief.

Never again. He thought. Never again the King of Spain would cry -and since then he hadn't. A small tear appeared in his eye but never fell as the girl watched him with great curiosity, she looked around then seeming to be looking for something ... or someone.

"My Spanish Rose" He brought his daughter to where his wife lay and showed her to her.

"This is your mother my rose" He said gently scanning Annie's face for any trace of awareness. She is sleep. His mind said, it was not the only that reminded him.

He rose and turned to see his old nanny Leonor.

"My Doña" He said walking in her direction and handing her his newborn babe and greeting her with a kiss on each cheek. To this day, she was the only person he would humble himself to.

"I understand you had newborns. My Lady, Her Majesty, called me, I am sorry that I could not arrive in time but trafic Your Majesty ..." She gave a tired sigh.

Philip nodded comprehending. Many had come to pilgrimage to Segovia (a former Moorish city belonging to the old Taifa Kindoms) to the churches (sprung from the Reconquest since the times of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, known to Christians, Jews, and Infidels alike as 'Cid'), to the Inns, they had gathered outside the palace doing penance, the priests with them in deep prayer. God had answered his prayers, now they would be sure when Philip tells them that not only she had survived (although this would possibly be the last pregnancy she ever had -he would never be careless to risk her life again) but given them another Prince and a Princess. They would rejoice -he was sure.

Leonor sang Philip's new Princess an old Portuguese lullaby that her mother had sang to her and she in turn had sang to Philip when he lay against her breast.

The baby made strange noises and gurgles and looked up at Leonor. She decides she liked this woman and gave her a toothless smile.

"She is very big"

"Aye" He said although he wanted to say I only wish her brother was so. His new Prince seemed to be made of glass, he was so pale as Annie was now, he reminded himself walking to her bed once more.

Leonor saw his concern and said when he turned his back to her "Philip let the darling rest, you won't achieve nothing standing there like a hawk"

"I will be here everyday Leonor" I can't loose her.

"I know dear" Leonor said, it was all she could say. Phililp was not one to speak his mind aloud, he was careful and thought things through unlike other Kings of Europe -several of which that came to mind to Leonor, were this babe's grandfather and great grandfather at the same time through her mother -Henry VIII.

When he was young he would be outspoken, he would talk and talk without thinking things through except when made public appearances, after the Empress died he suffered a dramatic change. He understood the purpose of it all, his birth, the position he'd inherit and most importantly his role on being God's chosen one.

Giving the baby back to the midwife she walked to the cradle where her Philip's newborn son lay. "What is his name?"

"Juan" He said, his white knuckles passing through Annie's pale cheeks. He longed to see some color back in them.

"Ah" Leonor simply said. He looks so tiny -she could already guess the thoughts of the ladies around them by the grim looks on their faces and the way their eyes darkened or saddened when they looked at the new Prince. 'Tis not has to be so -she said back through her hardened eyes when she gazed at them. Their thought immediately cleared and went back to their duties.

Leonor despised insubordination in a royal household, once the Queen would be up she could chide them all she wished, in the meanwhile it was up to her to bring some order to this chaos.

They forgot who she was. She had nursed Philip to health, she'd been there for the most part of his life, more than could be said about his own mother or his father who was always away in some war or enjoying the luxuries of his Imperial courts in Austria, the Netherlands or the rest of the territories he controlled.

He had been very little, very pale, and they were always afraid this day would be his last and yet he'd survived. His brothers who appeared stronger did not. Anything could happened, God knew there was something especial in her Philip and let him live. So then the same could be said about this little one -she thought passing her soft, wrinkled fingers through his pale, almost white, skin.

He opened his eyes and gave a brief smile before going back to sleep.

Annie awakened at the tenth of September, a week after she'd given birth to the new set of royal twins. She demanded to see them. "Your Majesty" They were immediately brought in, her ladies gave a deep curtsy.

"Come closer" She said in imperious tone.

They did so and she saw them for the first time. When she'd given birth she had been in so much pain, that even if she did see them she would not remember. But she knew when she opened her eyes that they were alive for she remembered their cries, loud, a signal of their health.

Like Philip she was disappointed when she realized her son was the palest and while her daughter, whom they informed had been christened Juana Leonor -and her boy Juan- when she'd been asleep; she was not all that healthy either. Her cheeks were not rosy and her complexion although healthy looking, was whiter than any babe's she'd given birth to.

"My sweet little girl, I am so sorry your mama had to be a cripple" I should have done better. You should -her brain said.

"Mama"

She looked up, Diana had entered the room with her Dueña and her stepfather.

"Your Majesty" Annie said, she was so entranced by her little babies' delicacy that she forgot this was not a public ceremony and there was no need for any formalities.

Between them was Ruy and his young wife, the Prince and Princess of Eboli, Ana Mendoza de la Cerda.

Despite the eye patch she could read her emotions through her chocolate brown eye. It was said she was a squint, other that she was a witch given the history of violence amongst her family, whatever it was Diana loved her and spend a great deal amounts of time with her.

Her hand was in Ana's. The Princess of Eboli as the rest followed the King's curtsey.

"I will ask but I think I don't have to, you are the godfather and godmother am I wrong or not?" Annie asked, her former humor from which she was known for, returning.

Ana smirked, she would have liked less if she was not so humorous. Philip was luckier than he'd thought to have wed someone so powerful and strong in character and with more will power than any trueborn royal wife or Princess.

"Right again Your Majesty, shouldn't you be resting? You will be happy to know the children are being well taken care for, our Majesty here says that your little one, Don Juan has his grandafther, the great Charles' likeness."

"Certainly, I could not have expected less from a Hapsburg and a Tudor. And my rose, just because she is a girl it does not mean that she is not without power"

Philip smirked, he should have known ahead of time that Annie would have aid something like that. Ana and Annie were the only ones that were so sharp tongued and not afraid to speak their minds, although Annie was more concsious and thought quicker before she spoke. Ana ... noble and part of the most prominent of the Grandees families all her life, had not.

"Well My Lord" Annie said with a twinkle in her eyes followed by a mischief smile and a mischievious smile "Are you going to kiss the mother of your children, my hand, or not?"

Philip nearly choke on his laughter. This woman was threatening to unman him yet he liked the way she did it -when they were alone or with agreeable company.

The wet nurses took the babies from her arms and she extended her hand to Philip to kiss. He did so and was followed by his friend and his wife and of course Diana.

"Mama you will find very pleasing to know that I can read, write and speak Portuguese thanks to Ruy and Ana better than I ever did"

She looked at her daughter's Dueña for confirmation.

"It is true Madame, she can."

"She is an exceptional student" Ana cut in "The best I have ever seen yet, our daughters I am afraid are no match for her are they husband?"

Ruy nodded happy to hear some humor. They'd been very scared the Queen would suffer another relapse and she'd been so close to death once ... neither wanted to mourn the Queen who'd won the people's hearts so they prayed to God endlessly -even Ana- and eventually their prayers were answered. And they were even happier to know the Royal Prince and Princess were thriving.

Annie gave a small laugh "Don't trick me Your Highness, I knwo your daughters are of the most learned women and I hear your son is growing to be such a charmer as his parents."

"Your Majesty is very kind" Ana and Ruy took turns to say, parroting what they had learned to say before their betters on pain of death.

"Not kindness but truth. Now Diana someday you will have to prove to the world you are better because you are a Princess"

"Why should I care what the commons say about me? You are the Queen, I am a Princess"

"Diana!"

"What? Is the truth?"

"Diana" Philip now said in a chidding tone, it was soft but nonetheless was hard "Listen to your mother my girl. He who builds on arrogance might as well build on mud. Your future husband will not like that attitude from you"

"Then I will never marry" She said in a bawdy manner looking defiantly to her mother and father.

"Diana!" Both said now and she knew she had to put an end to this, so she nodded her head, and lowered her eyes to the ground into submission.

Annie's hardened gaze turned on her Dueña, much as she liked Ana -her bawdy manners and outspokedness were bad influences on her daughter. This had to stop, Philip now realized this too and he told strictly to the Duchess of Alba to take the Princess back to her room.

Diana and the Duchess left, the former muttering and stomping her feet on the ground as a form of rebellion. Philip used to be partly amused, but now he shared Annie's way of thinking that such behavior was unbefitting a Princess however he would continue to be less strict for he was a man of reason and he knew children learned better through softness than strictness.

"She is becoming more like you Philip" Ruy said, he had kept his mouth shut to hear his beauty's opinions, but now he could not stop himself. He was laughing as he saw Philip's angry eyes.

"Come my King" Ruy said patting on his friend's shoulder "You were not the model King after all, I should know, I had to explain everything to you ... more than twice"

"It was only twice" Philip muttered darkly, everyone laughed.

Philip went to his children "You don't laugh at your father do you?" The children looked at him dumbly, their eyes were not wide or alert as his previous children with Annie and his grandson -Ligo. But Juana's were but they were only momentarily for she now seemed more interested in touching his blond beard.

"Beware of the rose, beauty can be a powerful weapon" Ana whispered as she went to Annie. Annie paid no heed to her, but she felt she had to respond as she was not a woman to cross her arms, she had to have the last word in everything. Everything.

"If used correctly, what good is beauty when it is in the hands of a woman without material goods and wits." Annie said cleverly eyeing her husband and Juana, she looked down on Juan and thought you are going to make your father and ME proud too. And gave a proud but smug smile.

October,

Valladolid

While Annie was living high on the hog's life. Catalina was with her own royal twins. More like noble, for there were no chants, no praises, no group gathered around their state in Valladolid to pray for the welfare of their children.

Carlos was back to his old ways, grumbling, screaming, harming her new maids. "Give thanks that they are not Grandees daughters or have blood of the caballeros, even an Hidalgo would get you punished and our children taken to her"

"Do I make myself clear?" She said after he failed to give her a response.

"We will soon take what is ours. Anyone can be killed. And I understand perfectly the way this game is played.

"In the game of thrones Carlos just remember" she said sitting down and turning her back to him, taking the smaller of her twins to her bosom. She refused to have nursemaids or wet-nurses and what not. She wanted to nurse her children. They were her children, her Princes, her Dons, nobody else had the right to them except her. Annie thinks she can have it all. So can I. Fernando -she thought looking down at her light brown haired son. She was forever grateful that so far none of the children looked liker her oaf husband.
The baby smiled up at her with his big emerald eyes. A true German Prince. She thought proudly. If only her father was here, he would be so proud of her ... her brother would smile and admire her for exceeding their family's expectations.
"You live or you die, there is no middle ground"

Carlos groaned and it was followed by a growl. He hated to be reminded by his wife what aught and should not do. He was not stupid, he was smart! Real smart!

As the thoughts in his head threatened to consume him and give him another headache he exited the room giving the door a loud bang.

The older of the twins, Carlos' identical brother, Fernando Enrique, woke up and started crying. Finishing nursing Carlos she rocked him to sleep. He was undisturbed by his brother's cries, he had the virtue of patience, that strange and rare virtue that her family did not often have. She picked Fernando Enrique and started singing to him. In a matter of seconds he was asleep. He was not hard to handle like his older brother Felipe Diego. That boy was a true challenge, she wondered if he was really their son?

He looked more like his grandfather than they, the boy even shared his eyes except his ears, they were as big as Carlos but with no deformities.

England

November 1st

Elizabeth was happy to see her son and her baby daughter play. Eustace was, as usual, the paranoid father. He took every precaution when he came to what he called his "little savoyard rose".

Her name was Roxanna, after the rose symbolizing both the houses of York and Lancaster from which she came, and her mother. There was already one Annie so she fusion both names, Rose and Anne into a more Latin version. Eustace was happy with it.

"A very small girl but very bouncy. You are not like our big, big brother, he was this big, and his cheeks this big, fatty boy" Anthony teased blowing air into his cheeks, expanding them so, that Roxanna burst into giggles.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. It seemed Anthony would never stop poking fun of his brother. Poor George. She was glad he was not here to suffer at his brother's taunts.

Giggles broke her concentration and deciding it was enough, she took Roxy from Tony's arms and brought her to her former governess, Kat's arms, her daughter's newly appointed governess.

Roxy clapped her chubby hands and tried to imitate her older brother blowing air into her cheeks but she knew she couldn't, and she started crying.

"No, no, no ..." Eustace gripped both his canes and looked back at Tony giving him a 'thanks Tony look what you did' and walked to his daughter. "You have no reason to be sad, you did very good" He said wiping his daughter's tears while Fleming and Montoya held him. "See how papa is smiling?" He gave her a broad smile, her eyes cleared, she realized what his smile meant, she looked to the room to her mother who gave her an open smile and then to Tony who was laughing so hard you'd think he would choke.

She began giggling.

Eustace and Elizabeth sighed in relief and when they were alone again with Tony.

"She will be a feisty one of these days, I can already see all the pretty boys chasing after her"

"I won't let that" Eustace said cutting quickly.

Bess chuckled giving a kiss. He was glad Roxy had his wife's auburn curls and his blue-grey eyes.

"You will have to, you don't want her to end up an old maid do you Eustace?" She teased laughing at his horrified expression. Just the thought of someone laying his hands on his pretty rose ... It was unthinkable!

"Don't worry father I will be there to stop any lecherous rake to lay hands on her" Tony said becoming very serious. He was so afraid for his mother when she'd been pregnant, she was past her prime and like Annie she was not what she used to be. Although Annie was young and despite her bad leg and the use of a cane, she possessed strong vitality. She knew she could make it, he wasn't wrong. But his mother, she was no longer young. She had went through a lot of pains bringing George into this world.

The pregnancy was not easy on her, but she managed to give birth without little effort. When his nephew, the King had been elected godfather despite his young age and Tony the second godfather, and for convenience Mary as the godmother in a momentary alliance between the two sisters, he'd teased to his parents, that it was because Roxy was a strong baby like their mother and not big and chubby like his younger brother.

His parents had scold him but it was the true. Even his father had admitted Georgie boy was an abnormally large baby.

He chuckled remembering Georgie boy as a baby.

Elizabeth gave her son a look, she knew well what he was thinking. "Could you be nice to your brother? I swear you two are going to be the death of me someday"

"Don't be so dramatic mother, it is not my fault Georgie boy has grown from big to ... small, look at the bright side as I always do, at least he is big through his wife now" Tony said almost chocking in his laughter.

She rolled her eyes. She looked at Eustace, her eyes telling him 'do something'.

"Anthony that is enough son, your brother is King, it would be very disrespectful if you treat him like you always do when he comes back"

"Not yet" Answered Tony "He is just First Duke and Lord of Scotland. I told Georgie boy ...George" he rephrased on Bess' glare "not to push his wife. Told her she was a woman whose bark would hurt more than her bite"

"And you speak from experience?" Elizabeth shot back.

"Ouch mother that was very low. You know I am not a man to settle down, George perhaps but nay not me" He said seriously taking a grape from the fruit platter on the table separating both couches. "I shall remain a happy bachelor"

"No you won't, by God Tony and pardon my French but if there is someone that can put an end to all the women that you take to bed is a wife"

"A wife would only be hurt by my women mother"

"Or she could hurt you taking them away"

"I don't want to be unhappily married and have you heard those words the priests say?" He said in mock agony touching his heart "Mea culpa, mea culpa, those poor husbands should say. I swear to be with you until death do us part. You are being condemned into a life sentences honestly and then the children, you are responsible for this child you have no control for and to know whether or not that child will follow in your footsteps, my footsteps, God no! And when you finally grow to love them you realize they are to leave you and they no longer want to be with you ... but I am sure you two enjoyed it" He said with big laughter.

Eustace and Elizabeth looked at each other. They had to find someone and fast for Anthony.

A/N: I know I said last chapter that there will be a time jump however I thought it impossible not to include this birth and the events that will be very important later surrounding it.

R/R