AN: For some of this story I will be using the actual dialogue from S3 E8. I haven't actually seen episode 8 of season 3 so sorry if this isn't exactly accurate (I got the dialogue of the internet :D)

"Princess Mary is here"

Her stepmother's lady-in waiting announced as Mary Tudor walked into the room, nervously straitening her hat, what could the Queen possibly want to talk to her about?

Mary curtsied to her stepmother, hoping that whatever the Queen had to say that it was good news.

"Princess Mary, if you please?"

Gratefully Mary sank down into a chair, opposite Anne of Cleves. But before Mary could inquire as to what she was doing here, the Queen spoke first.

"I have received a letter, from a cousin of mine, he is Duke Phillip of Bavaria. Phillip would like to come to England and pay court to you."

Mary was shocked to say the least, why on earth would a man be interested in someone he had never met? The first question that came out of her mouth was….

"Why?" "He has heard many things about you Princess Mary"

Anne of Cleves gushed.

"Many good things"

She hastened to add, noticing the look on Mary's face.

Mary knew, being a cousin of the Queen that he was most likely to be a Lutheran.

"I suppose he is a Lutheran then, like you?"

Mary questioned, already knowing the answer.

The Queen smiled, knowingly.

"He is charming and very good looking, I think you might like him a little."

Mary stared at her, now she was positively beaming.

"What should I tell him?"

Anne continued.

Mary paused, she had no idea what to say to her, she had never met the man and he was a Lutheran, but on the other hand it couldn't hurt to give him a chance, if he wanted to meet her so badly then why not let him come to England?

"Tell him… tell him he may come if he pleases and if the King wishes, but not to expect anything."

Mary hoped she wasn't making a huge mistake.

They stood up and Mary curtsied once again and left the room.

She had a lot to think about.

That night as Mary made her way into the throne room for a night of feasts and dancing, a man with dark hair and a charming smile blocked her path, she wondered whom on earth he was until he spoke.

"Sir?" she questioned him, wondering what he wanted.

"Princess Mary" He began.

"I hope you can forgive my impetuosity, I know we should have been formally introduced but I couldn't wait"

With each word the man spoke, Mary grew more and more nervous this couldn't be Duke Phillip could it?

"You are Duke Phillip"

She said nervously.

"May I kiss you hand?"

He asked with that charming smile of his, which Mary assumed meant that he was Duke Phillip. Reluctantly she held out her hand. His lips lingered just a little bit too long for her liking.

"I hope I might see you again my lady"

Duke Phillip said as he finally released her hand.

Mary frowned, until he hastily added.

"With my cousin the Queen present of course"

Mary had plans to leave court for the country tomorrow, but when she announced this to Duke Phillip, for some strange reason she couldn't bear to disappoint him.

"I… may delay my leaving, if it pleases you, for a day or so"

She said with a ghost of a smile. Mary didn't know what it was, but there was something about this man that intrigued her.

As she curtsied and walked away, Mary Tudor did something she hadn't done in a long time.

She truly smiled.

" Did you talk to him, to Phillip?"

Anne of Cleves questioned her later.

"A little, yes" she answered coyly.

"I believe he is a very intelligent young man," Anne of Cleves continued, earnestly.

"I couldn't tell" Mary said, not giving anything away.

"And, extremely good looking" the Queen said, trying to get her to open up.

"He likes you a great deal"

Mary was astonished to say the least.

"But…. He doesn't even know me, we have nothing in common"

Mary cried, Anne smiled again and started to say something when a lady-in waiting interrupted.

"Your Majesty, Duke Phillip asks for an audience"

Mary looked at her stepmother with sheer panic on her face.

"I don't want to see him"

She said quickly, her heart pounding like a drum.

Anne looked around for a moment before resting her eyes on the curtains.

"Then go in there, quickly!"

In a manner that was not befitting her station and was very unlady like, Mary dashed towards the curtains, and found a spot where she could see everything that was going on, but she could not be seen.

Anne smiled to herself secretly just before her cousin came in.

"Phillip, my dear cousin!"

She walked over to him, embracing him in a friendly hug.

"Majesty" he replied.

"How do you find this country?" Anne began. "I like it very much, I could most happily live here," He said as they both sat down.

As soon as Phillip had entered the room, Mary's breathing had gotten louder and she was sure they could hear her heart beating from across the room.

"So…."

Anne continued, "You met Princess Mary?"

Mary's ears perked up as she wondered what Phillip would say about her.

"It was only for a moment, but I relive that moment over and over again in my mind" he said sincerely. Mary was grateful that they couldn't see her, she was blushing furiously and looked down at the floor in embarrassment, she had no idea that Phillip felt that strongly about her.

Anne half glanced towards the curtains and smiled yet again.

"I was told before that she was charming, intelligent, well read, gracious, a true heir of Katherine of Aragon, a true Princess" Phillip continued, smiling.

Mary was hard pressed not to gasp, she had no idea that he felt that way, the things that he had said about her replayed through her mind, true heir of Katherine of Aragon, charming, a true Princess. Mary's opinion of him had changed drastically with those words.

But she wasn't prepared for what he said next, "But nothing prepared me for her beauty" Mary if it was possible, smiled even more, but soon felt her heart deflate with his next words, "The beauty that comes from inside".

"To me she's the most beautiful creature on God's earth" Mary felt her heart lift once more; he did think she was beautiful!

Mary seized her chance later that night when Duke Phillip asked her to dance, everything was going well, at that moment in time she didn't even worry about her father and whether he was watching, all she knew was that at that moment, she was content.

Of course at that particular moment Phillip happened to cry out in pain.

"What is it?" Mary said, startled out of her happy, trance like state.

"You stepped on my foot" Phillip said, wincing.

As Phillip limped his way out of the throne room where everybody was still dancing. Mary tried to apologize.

"Phillip, I am so very sorry"

Mary cried, feeling like an idiot.

"I do apologize, I am so sorry!"

Mary hoped to God that she hadn't offended him.

"Phillip I am so sorry!"

As soon as they were away from prying eyes, Phillip stood up straight again.

Mary's eyes widened, "But I thought…"

She trailed off.

"You didn't step on my foot" he grinned, looking at her shocked face.

"How could you? Your feet don't even touch the ground, I wanted a moment alone with you" he moved a bit closer to her.

That was the first time they kissed.

"Why are you crying?" Phillip asked, concerned.

Mary smiled at him, "Only because I'm so happy"

And for the first time in a long time she really was.