Hey!

So this was originally going to just be a Oneshot but I decided to extend it a bit so it will probably end up as a few chapters.

thanks for the response on the last chapter really appreciate it :-D

please R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Tudors.

The clock chimed throughout Whitehall, as it had before. The King of England opened his eyes slowly, dragging himself from the dream that had both tempted and haunted him. The memory of long ago and the future that could never be.

Henry groaned slightly as he rose from the bed, his leg sore as always, a physical reminder of the pain in his heart. A reminder of her.

It had been four years, four years and for a second she had never left his mind. Never speaking, for he had cut he neck, but she was just smiling slightly in his mind, sometimes taunting, sometimes accusing, sometimes in love. Always in love, yes, she had always loved him.

And in return, he had destroyed her.

"Your Majesty I beseech you!"

Henry shuddered at the memory, a broken mother cradling her child.

Elizabeth.

His beautiful daughter, his own heart. She was everything he could wish for in a daughter, she was beautiful, charming, and intelligent. A perfect ruler and heir, except she was not a boy, not like his Edward. But she was strong. She was like a fire. She was like her mother.

Henry's mind cast back, back to the events of the day. Today he had introduced his new wife to his children, Katherine Howard. A beauty indeed, young of course, she was what was required in a wife. But was she a queen? Henry was unsure; she was not as elegant nor as regal as her predecessors. She did not have the kind heart of Catherine of Aragon, whom although was a great a wife any man could ask for, could never have been his. Nor did she have the maturity or graces of Jane, Jane who had given him so much and lost everything in return. Nor did she have the humour nor had the characteristics of Anne of Cleves, who despite their short and disastrous marriage, had kept in his graces, been amicable and willing in the divorce, thus becoming his beloved sister.

Nor did she have the beauty, the mystery nor the passion of her.

Anne Boleyn.

Despite them being related Henry could see no link between the two, Anne had been beautiful, elegant, passionate and fiery, she had a temper but a well-spoken tongue, she had been loving always to him even when he had been cold. No, Katherine Howard could never be those things, she was a child, and Anne had been a woman.

But there was someone who shadowed the fallen Queen.

Elizabeth.

His daughter, their daughter. Henry remembered to only mere hours ago, he watched her in his mind. She walked in slowly, elegantly.

"Welcome Elizabeth." He had said, taking her pale hand. He introduced her to the new Queen stood before them. They exchanged greetings and the Lady was presented with a gift. Then Elizabeth was set to leave, that was when she had bowed.

Slowly, head lowered a smile on her lips. She had bowed and in Henry's eyes she disappeared for a moment, her red hair replaced by dark, her pale skin became more olive, her eyes however didn't change. They were still hooks for the soul.

In that instant Henry realised he was no longer seeing his daughter, he was seeing Anne.

Elizabeth turned away, leaving the room.

With no idea of the effect she had had on her father.

Who stared after her, lost and haunted.

Henry put his head in his hands unable to shake the memory from his mind. All he could see now when he looked at his daughter was her. He hated it and loved it, for it was a reminder of what he had done and what he had lost, but it also showed him that she was still alive in her own heart. Her sweet girl.

Henry could not shake from her from his mind, he could not even spend the night with his wife, and it felt wrong so he had retired alone physically but not mentally. She was with him;

He could not get rid of her. He knew why.

He still loved her.

Until the next time!

Rach