I knew pregnancy was going to be tough, but the few final hours were the worst. Constant contractions and a 15-hour labor. Francis stayed with me the whole time. He made sure I was comfortable. I could tell he was tired.

"You need to rest as much as I do Francis" I insisted.

"I will be with you the whole way. I will be by your side through and through. And I will be here when the baby comes" He declared. Such like a king. I smiled at him and then the pain hit again.

"One more push your majesty! Hang in there!"

The pain was worse than anything I've ever experienced, well, besides the heartbreak of almost losing Francis. I gave one strong push. I felt a creature emerging. It was a wonderful feeling. A feeling of such love.

"Congratulations! It's a girl!" The midwife said. She cut her umbilical cord, cleaned her up, swaddled her and gave her to me. A girl, I thought. I always wanted my first to be a girl… secretly. Even though everyone wants an heir to the throne, I wanted a girl. I had never seen Francis so happy. He couldn't take his eyes off of her or me. I saw his eyes get watery, but not one single tear dropped.

"What would you like to name her Mary?" He asked in the softest voice.

"You know what I'm going to say. Her name is Anne." I still can't believe I had a daughter… with Francis.

Over the pregnancy some things had happened. Elizabeth fell greatly ill, at which time we decided to drive some of the English out of Scotland. Scotland was at the moment peaceful. Francis finally let Catherine out, but only to help with the delivery of Anne.

Bash also found out what happened with John and Lola. They were on their way to the castle, when pagans hijacked their carriage. We were confused. Pagans hadn't had an attack in months, then all of a sudden, they kill the King's son? Something didn't seem right. We hadn't found Lola and that worried me. I hope she's alright. I only had Greer now. Ailey had died, Kenna became pregnant and Lola… Lola was missing. This whole pregnancy Francis had loved me more than ever. He made sure I was feeling okay and even held my hair back when I was throwing up. Even though I ballooned up and ate like a pig, Francis told me I looked beautiful every night. He put on my shoes since I couldn't even see my feet. He bushed my hair when I was too tired to do so. He loved me so much.

The Duke of London also has a plan of exposing Elizabeth, but I still don't trust him. He lives in England and is a royal subject to Elizabeth. That one night we had dinner he looked at me with such hate. He looked at me as if he wanted me dead. For the moment, however I have to put faith in him. And maybe he could help us with England.

Charles was still living at the castle; however, he did not like it. He thought he should study abroad, but Francis thought that he is almost of age, so he should stay at the castle. Charles didn't like having duties and responsibilities. He spent most of his time outside or with Prudence, his very close friend and I assume lover. She was very pretty. She had raven black hair like mine and beautiful sea green eyes. As I watched them I missed going outside. Francis was very protective and would only allow me to go out in the garden for one hour a day.

"Do you want to hold her?" Francis asked. I took my head away from the window and held my precious little daughter. She had a full head of blonde hair and big fat cheeks. I hadn't stopped smiling since she was born. Francis and I both decided that Anne would stay with me for three months and afterwards she would go with her nannies. Catherine came to my side and she held Anne. She had been some help with Anne, but I wanted her in the tower for what she did. She betrayed me and my country.

"Mary? Would you like to go tell the court of Anne's birth?" I looked at him. Anne was still very little, but she looked like him.

"Can I bring Anne?" I asked. "I don't want to leave her."

"Well of course we'll bring her! Don't you think the nobles will want to see her?" I was relieved. "I don't want anyone to hold her though." I paused and then said "There's a strange feeling. Between me and Anne. I am so protective of her."

"That's called a bond between the mother and child." Catherine said. I didn't look at her, only at Anne. I came over and tried to hold my baby, but Catherine had a tight grip.

"Catherine, I would like to see my baby." I said in the plainest and non-emotional way.

"Oh, Mary c'mon! Can't I hold my granddaughter for one more second before I'm thrown in the tower again?!" I was stunned. How would she know we only let her out to aid in the pregnancy?

"Don't look surprised. I can connect the dots. You conveniently let me out when Mary is giving birth. I knew it was too good to be true." I turned to Francis who was equally as stunned.

"That's right mother. You are a traitor and you will be dealt with as a traitor. This will be the last time you see your granddaughter and you will rot in the tower. I think I am being generous putting you in a tower with sunlight instead of the dungeon." Francis reached over for Anne, but Catherine didn't let go.

"Guards! Take this woman away to the DUNGEON!" Francis ordered. The guards grabbed Catherine and Anne was safely in Francis's arms.

"You can't treat me like this Francis! I am your mother!" I could see Francis had had enough.

"Then start acting like it mother. Take her out of my sight." Catherine didn't go down without a fight and continued to fight the guards.

"You'll need me eventually! And I WILL NOT help you!" She was screaming at this point and Anne was crying from the noise.

"In that case, mother, you will find your head on a chopping block" Catherine's face turned red and the guards finally took hold of her and detained her. I tried to calm down Anne and Francis helped me.

"Can you believe it? Our baby. Our baby." I said looking at Francis. I hadn't stop smiling.

"I love you Mary… and I love our baby. Our little baby Anne" I kissed him and put Anne in her basinet. The doctor came in and said I needed to rest. He also gave me a towel to stop the bleeding. I was scared. I could still die from bleeding out. The physicians and servants were giving me water and other fluids. I also slept for nine hours. I hadn't got a good night's rest in days. When I woke up Francis was by Anne's basinet, rocking her. Anne was asleep, but you could hear her breathing.

"The sounds she makes are so precious." I said softly. Francis turned around.

"Ah, you're up, good. We need to address to the court of Anne's birth" I completely forgot about that. I rushed to get up, but Francis sat me gently on the bed.

"Take it slow Mary, you just gave birth two days ago." I slowly got up and put on a dress. It was a golden color with a red belt. The seamstress made it for me before I found out I was pregnant and this will be my first time wearing it.

I carried Anne down the stairs and into the throne room. As we entered I noticed something big covered by a gray sheet. I immediately was curious. Francis stood while I sat down on the throne.

"My royal subject, it is with great pleasure that I announce the birth of my daughter, Princess Anne! Go ahead uncover it!" A few men pulled down the gray sheet and reviled a beautiful portrait of me, Francis and… Anne. I didn't understand Anne is only a few days old, so there wouldn't be enough time to do a portrait. Nonetheless it was astonishing. It was at least eight feet tall!

"That is all. Thank you, you are dismissed." Francis ended the gathering. He always made court gatherings short.

"Francis, how did you… I don't understand where the portrait came from." He was eager to tell me that this artist took portraits of us from the past and merged them together and while I was asleep, the artist studied Anne and added her in.

"It's gorgeous Francis! I love it!" I half-hugged him with Anne in my arms. A knight soon approached and had a troubling look on his face. He bowed and gave us this news.

"Your Majesty, we have found a man who claims to know where Lady Lola is" My jaw dropped when I heard the news.