A/N: Apologies for the delayed update, but now that my community has officially entered lockdown, looks like I'll be stuck at home with nothing to do but write. Yay! Thank you to Vwchick, Crockett Rocket, CrystalKaouri, Guest, Frog1, QueenAnneTudor, tricorvus, Robin4, emilia. lozano. el, Exh, Dictator Mags, IWantColouredRain, Guest, LadyHallows, DiamondGirl 11304, Sakura, Letcia, and Cattyfan for all of the fantastic reviews on the previous chapter. Enjoy this update, everyone.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors, or any of the characters, Showtime does.

...

January 12th, 1544

"Your Majesty, I am with child once again," Jane stated softly, her eyes shimmering with delight.

Henry set down his cutlery and looked taken aback.

"Truly?" he asked, his brows furrowing together.

Jane nodded, admittedly a bit displeased, for she was certain that the possibility of another child, another son would have elicited a more joyful reaction from the king.

"Your Majesty, is something the matter?" she questioned a bit timidly.

Henry's expression flickered before he composed his face into a soft smile.

"Of course not," he answered softly. "This truly is wonderful news, sweetheart."

But his words did little to compound Jane's apprehension.

...

William Stafford ran a hand through his daughter's ebony curls as she wailed into his doublet.

It wasn't unheard of for a child to pass before reaching adulthood, but that still providing no consolation when your own child lost their fight for life.

"Why did Edward have to die?" Annie looked up at her father, eyes still swimming with tears.

"I'm afraid it happens sometimes," William answered sadly.

Annie closed her eyes tightly as she buried her face in her father's chest once more.

Elizabeth stood off to the side, her gaze upon the floor.

While she was sad at the loss of her younger cousin, she knew he had been much closer to her brothers, who were bound to feel his absence.

She wished she could say something to comfort Annie, but instead decided to excuse herself from the room and let Annie and her father grieve in private.

...

April 14th, 1544

At last the time had come for Mary to leave England.

Now that she and Phillip were man and wife, she would depart first thing tomorrow with him to her new home in Bavaria.

While her belongings were packed away in trunks, Mary had said her goodbyes to her siblings. Little Edward, Margery, and even Harry had all cried during their last moments with her, but Geoffrey and Elizabeth had been more composed.

However, what had truly stood out to the one-time princess was what Geoffrey had told her.

"I know we were not easy to love in the beginning," he had said with far more gravity than should have come from a child of eight years, even if the child was a prince of England. "Harry and I especially. Nevertheless, you have been so kind and loving to us, Sister. In my opinion, you have been like a mother to us. Us, Elizabeth, Edward, and Margery. Even if Papa no longer calls you a princess, you haven't let it color your feelings of us, and I'm grateful for that. And I know Harry and Elizabeth are too."

After that, the younger twin had kissed his stunned sister's cheek and wrapped his arms about her waist.

As the full weight of his words sank in, Mary had knelt down and wrapped her own arms around his shoulders, pulling her brother close to her.

"My sweet little brother," she had murmured, kissing his head. "You will never know just how much it means to me to hear you say this."

It was true. Mary had nearly allowed her longing for the past that would never return, resentment for a title she would never have again, hatred for woman long since dead, and the words of Chapuys to blind her to what she now had and could very easily have lost.

She was now the wife of Duke Phillip, the adored elder sister of the young princes and princesses of England, and soon God willing she would be a mother. But it would never have come about had she remained bitter and resented things that would never change.

But to hear one of the boys whom she had tried to be kind to despite her misgivings now say that he loved her not only as a sister, but as a maternal presence in his life meant more than she could say.

A part of her couldn't help but feel a bittersweet amusement at the unwitting comparison to Anne, something that a decade before would have angered her to no end.

"I shall write to you as often as I can," Geoffrey had said, hugging her one last time. "I love you, Mary."

"And I love you, Geoffrey," she said, before sending the boy away.

...

Ursula screamed and her back arched as she tried with all her might to combat the pain coursing through her body.

"I see the head, my lady!" the midwife cried as Ursula pushed once more, sending another wave of agony over her. "Keep pushing Lady Bryan, keep pushing!"

Ursula gave one last vigorous push before collapsing against the cushions behind her as an infant's wails filled the air.

"You have a fine new daughter, Lady Bryan," the midwife reported as the babe was taken to be cleaned and swaddled.

A daughter...

"Anne..." Ursula muttered before closing her eyes.

...

...

There you go, everyone and the next chapter will be out on Monday, May 4th.