Always For You

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. They belong to Showtime and history. Initial dialogue taken from the series.

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'My sweet lady. My poor sweet lady.'

Eustace Chapuys held (to his mind, at least) the rightful princess and heir to the throne of England as she cried against him, all her deepest fears and worries coming out as tears down her cheeks. Unconsciously he placed his other arm around her and drew her into a hug. Mary still sobbed against his chest, now quite beside herself in grief and despair.

Eventually he grew worried, and extricated himself from Mary and went to the door to summon a physician. He returned to Mary and sat back down just in time to hear her say in between gasping sobs, 'I think he did this to me. The king used his wives to break my heart.' Then she slid off the seat and collapsed in a heap on the floor.

Chapuys, despite his gout, was about to immediately leap off the seat next to her side when a noise at the door made him look up. The physician and, white as a sheet and shaking, His Majesty the King stood there. Chapuys realised that Henry had heard every word Mary said.

Without a sound, Henry moved as fast as his ulcer would allow to his daughter's side. He knelt down and cradled his daughter's head in his arms. Mary was as pale as Henry, but Chapuys noticed with a sickening feeling that she had never looked more like her mother.

Henry ripped off her hairpiece and the physician shook the pins loose. Mary moaned and the king looked stricken. Two of her trusted ladies entered and they helped the physician escort Mary onto her bed.

'It will be alright, Your Majesty,' the physician said reassuringly. 'It is likely just an imbalance of the humours. Now I must tend to the lady.'

He left and Henry turned and slumped back against the wall. He covered his eyes with his hand as Chapuys silently watched.

'Am I such a bad father?' Henry asked suddenly. Chapuys said nothing. Honesty was bad for his freedom.

Henry continued. 'I give Mary everything. I even allow her heresy. So why?'

Chapuys still said nothing. He knew Henry. These questions were rhetorical. Henry knew the answers. He was just afraid of admitting them out loud.

Henry stood up. 'I should not be here when she wakes. Stay with her. She trusts you, evidently.'

'Your Majesty, maybe you should stay with your daughter...' Chapuys started, then stopped. He knew Henry did not like sick people.

'No!' Henry said. 'You shall bring word when she awakens.' And with that, he strode out of the room.

Chapuys rolled his eyes at the king's predictable behaviour. He stood up stiffly and went to Mary's room.

At his entrance the physician looked up. Chapuys held up his hand.

'I am not here to disturb your work,' he said in his soft voice. 'The king has ordered me to stay with the princess and report when she awakes.'

The physician nodded assent and servants found a chair so Chapuys could sit near the bed.

He contemplated her as she slept. She looked young, but so very like her mother in her later years. Old and young mixed up together. Mary had lived many lifetimes in her short life. And she was right. Henry had destroyed each of them. He'd destroyed her "pearl" years when the security of her childhood came crashing down around her with the arrival of Anne Boleyn. He'd destroyed her safety when he executed Anne Boleyn and she signed the oath, terrified. He'd destroyed her marriage hopes over and over again. He'd destroyed her mothering dreams watching Queen Jane labour and die. He'd attempted to destroy her friendship with Anne of Cleves when they'd divorced and now his current wife had used her power over Henry to destroy the small circle of trust and friendship she had with her ladies.

Mary was right. Henry had broken her heart.

C&M&C&M&C&M

He didn't know how long he had been sitting there with her. The physician and ladies were sitting by the fire at the other end of the room. He had Mary's hand in his and his head was resting against his free hand. His eyelids were contemplating closing when he felt a pressure on his hand. He looked to see Mary staring straight at him.

'Mary! Princess, you are awake. How are you feeling?' Chapuys asked, waving the physician over with his free hand.

'Tired,' Mary murmured as the physician reached her side. He examined her, then said to them both, 'Her Grace needs rest, and then she will be much better.'

'I must report to the king that you are awake and recovering, princess. I will return,' Chapuys said and, greatly daring, bent to kiss her forehead. He knew he did not dream her subtle intake of breath and jagged exhale. As he made his way to the king he pondered it. Maybe it was because she had never been kissed by a man other than her father. No, that couldn't be right. Philip of Bavaria had kissed her.

She was simply disoriented. That would be it.

He entered the Great Hall and proceeded to the king's rooms. To his disgust, Henry was there with his silly little queen who was playing with a kitten.

'Your Majesties,' Chapuys announced. 'I am pleased to inform you Lady Mary has awoken and is recovering. She simply needs rests.'

'Splendid,' Henry beamed. 'We must give thanks to Our Lord it is nothing serious. Catherine, will you accompany me to the chapel?'

As Catherine looked sour at the news of Mary's recovery, she hid it remarkably quickly as she turned to her husband. 'Of course, your Majesty,' she smiled sweetly at him.

You fool, thought Chapuys as he watched them exit the room. Visiting Mary now would show how much you do love her, and you can't even do that. And your Howard whore won't even try to look pleased. No wonder Mary was upset.

He made his way back to Mary's rooms slowly, his gout and several enquiries about Mary's health delaying him. Apparently, Mary was not entirely friendless in the kingdom, if all the enquiries were sincere, and he had been at this court long enough to judge the English character.

He entered her rooms and found the physician there with Mary who was still awake, though barely.

'Princess, your father has been informed of the state of your health, and many of the court send their regards,' he said. 'I will call on you tomorrow, as the physician said you needed rest.'

'Thank you Chapuys,' Mary murmured tiredly and her eyes closed even before Chapuys had bowed and left the room.

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