Disclaimer: I don't own the Tudors or any of its characters. Nor do I make any profit from this.

Title: The Empress

Pairing: Anne/Henry, Katherine of Aragon/Mendoza/OC

Summary: Here is my response to Genie05 the second challenge, Anne the Holy Roman Empress. What if Katherine had introduced Charles to Anne and they did hit it right off how would that affect history with Anne leaving England to marry Charles.

Spain, 1558

Taking a deep breath, Anne stood outside her husband's chambers. The doctors had just got telling her that they didn't think the Charles would make it through the day. Putting a hand over her stomach, she forced back the tears that were threatening to spill.

She needed to be strong for her husband; she didn't want Charles last day on earth filled with grief and sorrow. Instead she wanted him to leave this earth happy and knowing that he was loved.

Putting her hand on the door knob she slowly turned it, stepping into her husband's chambers her heart broke at the sight of him. The doctors had not been lying, a part of her wanted to believe that the doctors had been wrong. But she had an inkling that her husband time on earth was going to be short when he had abdicated the throne to their son, though this didn't stop him from handing out advice to their son, much to her amusement and sometimes to the heir of their son.

Looking at him, she had never seen her husband so weak. He was also very pale, he was covered in sweat, he was more skinny than usual, and his breathing was labor. Much to her alarm he had not eaten much this past week, he had taken a couple of bites just to sooth her fears.

Not wanting to disturb him she walked over him quietly. Sitting down on the edge of the bed, she reached out and gently touched his cheek, her fingers running down to his jutting chin, the one that he got from his Hapsburg side of the family. Opening his eyes, looking at her he smiled. "My sweet," he rasped.

Though she had vowed that she would not let herself cry she dissolved into tears.

"Shh Shh... mi Amour, all is well...I should be up in no time" he told her, he then reached and wiped her tears away. Not being able to help herself, Anne through herself in his arms, burying her head in his chest.

He held onto her tightly, knowing that this was probably be the last time that they would ever hold each other.

"We will go horseback riding, once I'm up," he continued. Anne couldn't help but chuckle, "I'll even let you beat me," she said. They always made it a habit of going horseback riding, the relatively peaceful ride would always end in a horseback race home. Charles always claimed that he let Anne beat him. Narrowing his eyes," you're going to regret those words my sweet," he teased.

More tears came to her eyes; she was going to miss this banter between. She didn't know how she was going to go on without him by her side.

"I've been thinking a lot of the past, mi amour," Charles said running his hand through her hair. "I remember those days like they were only yesterday. I remember the first time I saw you, I was in awe, I've never met a more beautiful woman in my life. I didn't think I stood a chance in winning your affections, and the thought of Henry having you made me see red."

Anne thought of those days, she sometimes thought about her life if she had chosen Henry? She shuddered, would she ended up like poor Jane Seymour, who had lost her head on the block simply because she had not given Henry a son?

She was just glad that she escaped the monster when she did.

Looking at her husband, she let herself drift slowly to the past.

To be continued.