Chapter 9:

The moment George left, the change in the air between King Henry and the Lady Anne Boleyn, the Duchess of Pembroke immediately changed and soon felt electrifying. The awkwardness and tension in the air was quite thick that for a while, all King Henry and Anne Boleyn did was to stare at each other.

King Henry wanted to run to her and to wrap her in his arms, despite how things ended between them, it was clear to him now that his feelings for her never left him. However, the thought of Alice brought him to his senses and reminded him that while he might still have feelings for Anne, there was a possibility that she does not feel the same way as there is a possibility that she had been unfaithful to him sometime in their marriage and produced Alice. He did not like to think much of this scenario as he wanted so badly to believe that Anne had been loyal and faithful to him until the end and that Alice was his.

For the first time in a long while, Anne did not know how to act. How does one act towards one's ex-husband, the father of your children and King? She never thought she would ever get herself divorced from her own husband so she never thought of such a scenario but now, she wished she did for she had no clue what to do. Deciding that basic courtesy would probably be the safest and most acceptable, Anne spoke, "Would you like to sit down, your majesty?" she offered. For the conversation they were both about to have, they would surely need to sit down. They were going to be in there for quite a while.

As King Henry took Anne's offered seat, he decided that he should follow Anne's move and politely ask how she has been.

"How are you Anne?" he asked, he had been most eager to ask that question, he had not heard of her since she left as she made sure to keep to their contract. No doubt fearing that if she broke their contract, he might take it out on their daughter.

Anne looked at the King and stared at him as she pondered on his question. How had she been? Over the past year she'd been divorced, exiled and in a way, humiliated by her own husband, but she'd also been given a chance to be a mother to two wonderful, though handful children, she'd lived a very comfortable lifestyle, far more comfortable than that of a regular duchess, she'd also reconciled with her siblings. "I have been doing rather well, your majesty, thank you for asking." Anne replied as she realized that she had been doing rather well with her life. She had been able to turn her properties into very lucrative businesses, established many charitable institutions for the common people and now had a relationship with her family that she had always wanted through her siblings.

"May I ask how have you been?" Anne asked, she had heard from George little news of court but as far as she could remember, George rarely mentioned the King to her. She figured that George must have known that any news of the King on his life with Jane would hurt her very much no matter how much she tried to hide it.

King Henry merely looked at her for a long while before he spoke, "I don't know Anne. I feel like everything's a mess, like everything is slipping away from me and I do not know where or what to hold onto first…This year has been quite trying." he admitted.

In truth, Henry felt quite tired, he felt tired of court, of dealing with his scheming nobles and politicians, he was tired of not caring about what the rest of Europe were thinking about his reign as King, he was tired of not caring that he was being called a tyrant king. He just wanted to be Henry. He suddenly realized that the last time he felt truly like himself was when he was with Anne, during their courtship and the early days of their marriage. King Henry looked at Anne once more and really looked at her, he noticed the small lines forming around her eyes, he thought it was probably from smiling too much, he looked at her skin and thought she looked beautiful with her olive skin and had admired how he thought it looked as smooth as it felt, looking at Anne made him feel all the emotions he had kept hidden for so long, it was always only with Anne that he felt comfortable enough to show his emotions.

Anne didn't know what to say, she was quite surprised to find out that Henry still trusted her enough to show his true emotions in front of her as he had done so many times before. Feeling like they were on familiar territory, Anne stood from her seat and sat on the space next to King Henry's. "I'm sorry that you had a difficult year your majesty, I've always prayed to God that you gain everything you have always wanted." It was true, Anne thought, she had always prayed to God to give them another child, a son, and not only did he give her one, he gave her another daughter too, despite her divorce and heartbreak, God had been merciful and had given her a good life after her marriage ended. She had prayed that her former husband, finally found his happiness with his new life even if it was at the expense of her feelings and being.

Nothing more was spoken between the two, too afraid to break the somewhat unstable ground they found themselves in and instead found comfort in the fact that they had yet to shout and scream at each other as they had done so in the last months of their relationship as husband and wife.

"Why didn't you tell me about her?" King Henry suddenly spoke, Anne looked at him and he looked at her, "Is it because she isn't mine?"

Anne sighed and looked away from him, she knew it was time to come clean. He would probably punish her and she could only hope that he would not think to take her children from her once he finds out the truth. Anne returned her gaze to King Henry and said, "She is every bit yours as she is mine, your majesty. She is your daughter too." she admitted.

King Henry suddenly felt relieved, little Alice was his daughter, Anne had been faithful to him! "Then why did you keep her from me?" he asked, he tried his best not to let his feelings of anger and betrayal at having his own daughter hidden from him when all this time he had been craving for another child, even if it was not the son he craved and needed, he had needed another healthy child, even if it was a girl.

Taking a deep breath, Anne spoke once more, "Your majesty, I found out I was with child when I had already arrived here in Pembroke, after I had signed our divorce papers which clearly stated that I am not to contact you directly or indirectly. At the time, I was fearful not only for my life but also that I might not even be able to carry the pregnancy to term and so I decided that it would be best to not inform you of my pregnancy as I had heard that you were once again happily married and I did not wish to ruin such a happy time for you." Anne said, she knew that she needed to play with her words and explanations as while Henry seemed quite calm, she knew him better than that, she knew that his emotions were cooking up inside and she knew that one wrong word and he would explode.

Anne continued to speak once more, "I also decided that for the good of the child inside me at the time, that I would need a quiet and calm environment while the child grew inside of me, and I knew that once I informed you, there would be another set of chaos and scandal at court and I did not wish to further stress you with it." Anne paused to look at the King's expression, "I apologize if I caused you any distress by not informing you of my pregnancy, but at the time I was thinking of what was best for the child inside of me, and that was to grow in an environment where I was not distressed so easily by those around me." Anne said, referring to her scheming father and uncle.

"When she was born, why didn't you tell me after?" King Henry asked. He understood why Anne had kept her pregnancy a secret from him, but it still did not hurt any less. He had missed a year of his daughter's life and that was something he could not ever get back.

Taking another deep breath, Anne steeled her emotions once more and spoke, "I had wanted to inform you, your majesty, but I was not prepared to face the consequences of doing so as it would have broken our agreement. Also, Alice had taken after me in her features and so her paternity could have been easily questioned. I did not want to risk people naming her a bastard should you not acknowledge that she was conceived whilst we were still married. We had a hard enough time convincing people of Elizabeth's legitimacy and I could not bear it if people thought of Alice as a bastard." Anne said, it was true, people would have questioned Alice's paternity as she took after her in many ways both physically and mentally. Of course, she could not mention that Alice has an older twin brother who took after his father just as Alice took after her. She couldn't tell him that just yet. She needed to make him understand why she kept her children from him.

King Henry listened to Anne's explanation and had to concede that she does have a point, would he have listened to her and accepted the child as his? He would have been further humiliated if everyone found out that he had divorced his pregnant wife and married another who had yet to even prove she could conceive and give him a child, he would surely have been the laughing stock of Europe once more. She was right that Alice indeed looked like her, it was how he found out whose child Alice was. Surely people would have rathered believe that Anne had cuckolded him since the child looked so much like her, aside from Alice's pale skin and the tinge of redness in her dark hair, one would have wondered if she were King Henry's child indeed.

And yet, Henry could not find it in himself to not feel hurt that Anne had feared him so much that she had resorted to keeping their child from him. Had he changed that much? He had always believed he had done all eh can so that Anne would never fear him when they were still courting, but now, it seemed as if a cloud of mist were clearing up from Henry's vision and he was seeing for the first time how much damage he had caused between him and Anne.

King Henry released a deep breath and said, "I've made a mess of us, didn't I? I know we both loved each other truly and at some point, I changed. I hurt you every time you miscarried and abandoned you when you needed me the most." King Henry spoke, his words were directed to Anne but he couldn't face her, he couldn't look at the face of the woman he loved most and see the pain of betrayal he knew he would see from him bringing up their past.

Anne was dumbfounded, in all the years she had known Henry, she had never heard him say such words, words that seemed to be filled with regret. In all the conversations Anne has had in her life, this was the absolute first time she had no clue what to say.

Anne moved from her seat and sat beside King Henry, she took one of his hand in hers and placed both their hands in her lap, "Your majesty, please do not dwell on the past. It does both of us no good, only heartache." Anne said careful not to lift her head and look into his eyes. "I would never wish for you nor anyone else to be reminded of their painful past." Anne said as she turned her head away from King Henry but still not looking , it was true, she had felt her heart broken several times by Henry, first when he begun to stray soon after she had given birth to Elizabeth and then every time after that and then she felt her heart break once more when Henry abandoned her when she miscarried their first son, but Henry had not only broken her heart, but also her whole being when he once and for all abandoned and humiliated her by divorcing her and marrying Jane Seymour.

In that moment, King Henry used his other hand to lift Anne's chin up so that he could look at her face-her eyes- and the moment he did so, it was as if his heart had taken over his whole being and soon, he placed his lips onto hers.

As soon as Henry's heart soared at once again feeling Anne's lips upon his, it was over as quickly as it had started for the next thing he knew, Anne had let go of his other hand and had moved away from him, standing near the window.

Henry's heart sped, she had allowed him to kiss her, surely there was still some feelings on her part? However seeing the defeated look on Anne's face, Henry felt guilty, had he caused her more pain? should she not be happy that he still felt some romantic feelings for her as she did him? "Anne.." King Henry began to say, however Anne had cut him off.

"Why are you here, Henry? Are you not satisfied that I am alone and have kept to our deal? Why do you torment me with your words when I know that we can never be together again?" Anne asked. She could not take it anymore, yes, she still loved Henry as any wife would even if she was no longer considered as Henry's wife. "I had heard from George that Master Cranmer found an error in our divorce papers and I had assumed that you had come here to personally deliver it and witness me sign it."

It was true, on their way to the library where the King was, George had filled Anne in on the issue with their divorce contract and that apparently they were still lawfully married, Anne had assumed that King Henry wanted to personally deliver the new contract to ensure that she had signed it correctly but now, his actions toward her had confused her, "Why did you kiss me? Why would you say such words when I know you can't possibly mean them now." Anne asked.

King Henry didn't know what to say, he had come here to see Elizabeth and Anne, it was true that he had brought the new divorce papers with him but he never had the intention of having to be a witness to her sign it, effectively and officially ending their relationship as husband and wife.

Sighing, King Henry realized just how much damage he had caused in his relationship with Anne that he would be lucky if Anne ever even believes a word he says. "Anne.." King Henry says, but soon he realized, he didn't have a clue what to say to Anne, 'what do I say to someone I hurt so badly but realized that there is no one else I would be with? That I want her back and that I want us and our children to be a family again?' King Henry thought, of course, he realized that he could say just about that but he was pretty sure Anne would only react negatively to this as she had reacted to their kiss.

Anne waited for King Henry had to say, but when he said nothing more than her name, Anne shook her head and sighed, "You have no idea, your majesty, no idea at all of how much pain you've put me through the years. I've done nothing but love you with all my heart, even when you began hating me for bringing Elizabeth into this world instead of a son, even when I wept endless amounts of tears whenever I saw you with your latest mistress. I've loved you even though you desired Jane Seymour and then left me for her. But I know I cannot go on living this way, and living here in Pembroke, it has allowed to at least have a semblance of peace, a way to at least numb the pain in my heart. Why are you here, Henry?" Anne asked one more time. The truth was, she was tired, tired of loving Henry and hurting because of him at the same time, she was tired of having to remind herself that he wasn't coming back and that everything they had was now in the past.

"I want you back." King Henry blurted out.

Anne stared at Henry. How dare he say all of those things! Words that she had longed to hear over a year ago but now felt meaningless. She was disgraced in the eyes of the people, her children, her poor children would forever be tainted with the word bastard for they were born when she and Henry had been divorced, people might never believe her when she says that they were conceived while she and Henry were legally husband and wife. "Your majesty, I refused to be your mistress all those year ago because I said I would give my maidenhood only to my husband, and while I have given that to you, I still will not allow myself to be called someone's mistress, not even for you, your majesty." Anne said, it was true, she was never bothered that people accused her of being Henry's mistress or whore all those years ago, even when she had become his lawfully wedded wife because she knew for herself that she had never laid with him until they had conceived Elizabeth and married soon after, but if she allowed herself to become Henry's mistress now, then she would have proved to everyone else that they were right about her, and they were not. Anne Boleyn is no whore and never will be one no matter that they call her so in their privacy.

Confused at what Anne meant, Henry soon realized that Anne thought he was going to offer her a chance to be his mistress! "Anne, I don't want you as a mistress, I want you back as my wife. We can be a family again, you and I, Elizabeth and Alice." Henry says as he tries to approach her.

Anne steps away from her place by the window as she sees Henry move, "I was your wife once your majesty, and I have to say, while I have loved being your wife for the reason that I love you, it did not end so well for me. In fact, I do believe it nearly would have cost me my life." Anne said, angry at the thought that Henry would actually think she would want to return to a court where she was hated and slurred with such derogatory titles like whore and usurper, she was safe when Henry had protected her from court, but he had abandoned her more than once and now that she has experienced living away from court, running her own lands and people who actually cared and respected her, she realized that there is more to life than just power and ambition.

To the amazement of Anne, and even King Henry himself, he had still not lost his patience, sighing, King Henry remained where he stood and spoke, "I know Anne, I know I have many things to apologise and make up for but as George has informed you, we are still legally married, I would rather not sign the divorce papers because I know now that my heart will always belong to you."

"Enough Henry, you say that now as you said it to me before! Until when will I hold your heart this time? Until another pretty little thing comes and distracts you again? You placed other women on your bed and allowed them to ruin our marriage. I told you once that three people cannot be in a marriage, Do you remember that? Do you not understand what that meant? You may have the right to take as many mistresses as you please, your majesty but in doing so you crushed my heart and tore me apart! You left me, Henry! But I love you and only wanted for you to be happy, all the pain I had gone through during our marriage and thereafter, I suffered through it because I knew that getting rid of me was what made you happy. I do not wish to suffer through that again." Anne said, looking back at the window. "Because of your actions, my children will be tainted with questions on their legitimacy, because of you, my children's right to the throne will always be questioned and challenged." Anne said, turning around once more when she heard Henry approach her.

"I will make sure everyone will recognize Alice the same way I ensured Elizabeth's place in the line of succession. I won't have them question my daughter's legitimacy and your honor. I won't make the same mistakes again Anne, please, just give me another chance." Henry said as he held Anne's hands in his, willing her to give him the chance he so desires. He would stop taking in mistresses, he would be faithful only to Anne, if she would just give him another chance.

Anne looked at him, he looked so sincere, as sincere as he had always looked back when they were younger, when they were still so full of love and dreams of becoming man and wife and having children of their own to rule England some day. But they weren't young any more and so much has happened between them.

"Henry, For the first time in my life, I have lived my life here in Pembroke without the influence of my family. Too much has happened between us and I do not know if I can bear to be back at court again. I am not ready to subject my infant children to the harshness of court, I will never allow that to happen. It is far safer for them to remain here in Pembroke, where they are loved and cared for, where no one has ever questioned their paternity nor their legitimacy, even if they might never have the chance to rule England, at least they will have a chance to live a happy life." Anne said, unaware of her slip, it wasn't until she had finished speaking did she realize her slip.

For a while, Anne thought that King Henry had noticed her slip, however she was mistaken when Henry ignored her slip and spoke once more.

"Anne, I swear to you, I will never let anyone harm or use you. I promise to always be by your side, to never trust any words spoken against you and to honor our marriage as I should have when we first said our vows." Henry said, once again Anne found herself caught in his gaze, a gaze she knew so well as she had seen it in his eyes often enough when they were trying to get him his annulment from Katherine, the desperation to marry her that was always in his gaze. She could see it once more. If Anne had not experienced what she had over the past years, she may have given in to Henry right now.

But alas, she had changed, and while her heart remained just as in love with Henry, it was also just as broken as it had been when she left Whitehall for Pembroke.

Sensing that Anne was about to decline his request and possibly lose her forever, Henry stepped closer to her, looking into her eyes, he did what he had not done in a long time, he knelt down in front of her. "Anne, please. Give me a chance, I made the mistake of not giving you one a long time ago, please I beg you, I've lost you because of my actions, help me prove to you that I regret everything. Please, give me one more chance. One more.. please…" Henry said, Anne did not need to see the tears that were falling from Henry's eyes as she could feel them drop onto her hands that were still tightly clasped between Henry's own as he placed kisses on them, willing her to not reject him as he did her in the past.

"Your majesty, please stand up. It is unbecoming of you, please. Your majesty." Anne said, as she tried in vain once more to lift Henry up to a standing position, she was shocked to find that Henry had knelt before her, he had not done so to her before, the last people Henry had knelt down on was his father and mother and then when he was crowned King of England, but never to someone below his station. As Anne listened to the King's speech, she stilled as soon as she heard him utter 'One more chance', the words reminded her of what she was denied by the very man begging her for the same thing over a year later.

Suddenly, it was as if a dam had broken inside her and Anne could no longer contain her emotions, Anne's tears fell from her face as fast as she found herself kneeling too, in front of King Henry.

AN:

THE BOMB HAS DROPPED!

Here is Anne and Henry's scene! I wanted it to focus on them and not really on anything else, after everything that happened between them I felt like they should hash things over before talking about having another future with each other or if that is even a possibility for them now.

I also wanted to show a more intimate and vulnerable side of the two of them cause as from what we see in history, these are two strong willed and intelligent people and from what I saw in the show, they rarely showed their vulnerable side to each other nor talked about their feelings openly, they were either so passionately in love or fiercely trying to one up the other. I also wanted to try to show how much love and passion they felt for each other that they could show their vulnerability and emotions even though they hurt each other in the past.

I wanted to show Anne be conflicted with her feelings of wanting to be with Henry once more but terrified of the past repeating itself and Henry fearing that he would once and for all lose the love of his life after neglecting her so much.

Anyway, now that I've got this all done, I can't wait to move forward and finish this story! Sorry for the late post too, I was supposed to have it out sooner but I couldn't decide if I should add more to the ending but I realized it was perfect as it is. Well, at least for me it is!

It's quite a long chapter (over 4.5K in words, which is pretty long for me for a chapter, TBH) so I hope you guys enjoy it. :)

Please let me know if you enjoyed this chapter or any thing you want to say by posting a review! I really appreciate every little review I get even if I don't always respond! Know that I always read every one of them and sometimes I do want to reply but I feel like I'll give the whole story away if I do!

Cheers!

unamedhpauthor

PS. The Tudors are not mine. They are history.