Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.

Slight tweaks have been made to Filiberta of Savoy (1498–1524)and Giuliano de' Medici (1479–1516). I moved their birth years up slightly and moved their marriage forward. Filiberta is now born in 1488 and she married Giuliano in 1504 instead of 1515.

Prologue:

21st of June 1505 - Venice, Italy

Filiberta of Savoy screamed in agony clutching at her ladies hands, she had been labouring for so long and she wished that this would just be over already; the labour was lasting longer than Filiberta had ever hoped it would. She'd laboured nearly a day so far with little happening, the heat of Venice doing little to help the situation that she was in right now.

The small house that she now lived in with her husband was a far cry from the home that she had grown up in as the daughter of a Duke; she knew her father was hopeful that her husband would regain what the Medici had lost. Being forced out of their home in Florence had not been easy, the loss of Piero had done nothing to help with the situation and it didn't seem to be getting any better.

"We can see the head now, my lady," the midwife encouraged glad that the babe was making progress, things had stalled for awhile and she had feared that things might take a turn for the worst. Filiberta gritted her teeth, focusing on pushing her babe into the world; she was sure once she was done that her hard work would be rewarded in holding her son for the first time.

The final pushes seemed to zap Filiberta of all her strength just wishing that this was over; she collapsed backwards just as the sound of her newborn filled the air and her lady wiped the sweat from her face. Cutting the cord, the midwife looked down at the newborn and carefully moved the newborn away from their mother and started to clean them off and check them over.

While the midwife did so, Filiberta's ladies helped clean their mistress and take away the soiled bedding; once everything was clear of the signs of birth, they allowed their mistress to rest in her best. Filiberta's eyes never left her baby as the midwife worked, her husband needed a son and yet she couldn't find the words to ask just what they had been blessed with; she could see a dark head of hair already. Despite the fact that he was the third son of Lorenzo de' Medici, he had found himself in an interesting position especially since he had recently lost an older brother while another had ambitions of being Pope.

"You have given birth to a very healthy baby girl, my lady," the midwife informed Filiberta as she wrapped the baby up before handing the baby girl over to her mother for the very first time. Feeling her stomach drop, Filiberta couldn't help but feel disappointed that she had birthed a daughter; her older sister had produced a son on the first try and he was already expected to be King of France one day. She had hoped for great things for her own son one day, Medici men seemed to be destined for great things and yet here she was with a daughter; she wasn't sure what sort of future she might have.

"I hear we have a daughter," Giuliano de' Medici said stepping into the chambers, he walked over to his wife relieved to see her well; any healthy child was welcome as far as he was concerned. Filiberta nodded her head before allowing her husband to take the baby from her, she watched him not sure what he might back of their daughter; however, the smile on his face when he saw her for the first time warmed her heart.

"She will been named for my mother. Clarice," Giuliano de' Medici said looking down at his daughter, he adored his mother and he missed her. He was certain that the Medici name would live on through her, no matter what might happen to him.

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