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[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

WHO: Queen Elizabeth & Henry VIII
WHEN: Monday mid-morning
WHERE: Henry's place.
WHAT: Elizabeth finally comes to see the scary daddy man

Elizabeth had used less than legal ways of tracking down her father's New York address. As a lawyer that should have been a no-no, but Elizabeth had been the queen of the most powerful empire on earth; she didn't always listen to what she was supposed to do even now. Besides, he was still calling himself Henry Tudor. That had cut down the search somewhat.

Now she sat in a coffeeshop a block from his home, drinking her heavily sugared pot of English Breakfast and working up the courage to make the last leg of the journey. It had taken her a long time to work up to coming here at all. Elizabeth hated to admit it - even to herself - but Henry frightened her. But it was more than that. If her feelings were simply fear that would have made it easy, but mingled in with that there were other things to confuse it. There was the part of Elizabeth that wanted him to be proud of her and all she'd done, that longed for recognition as his daughter, that loved him because he was that bright man who'd lift her up when she was brought to court, that hated him for taking away every mother he brought into her life, that had no idea how to even put all those parts together into one neat and logical ball.

Elizabeth felt like she was about to have a panic attack. In the restroom of the cafe she washed her face with cold water and reminded herself to breathe steadily. Then she paid her bill and walked to the address she had.

Another few slow breaths at the door and then Elizabeth pressed the buzzer and waited.

Comments

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

Henry nodded firmly. "Good girl," he said, patting her shoulder again. "Come sit. Would you like some tea?"

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

Henry called her 'good girl' and part of Elizabeth glowed with the praise, as little as it was. She had always longed to impress him.

"I would," Elizabeth said with a nod, ready to follow where ever he wanted to lead her. She didn't know how to make this meeting less uncomfortable.

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

Henry led her into his dining room and then flicking the kettle on. "You know...of all my children you were the one who truly lived up to our name."

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

"I know," Elizabeth said, and the pride was evident in her voice. She knew how good she had been. She knew that she had been the very best. "I was the finest ruler our country ever saw."

Let Henry make his reply to that.

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

"The finest queen, yes," he agreed as if that had been what she meant all along. "I still grieve for your brother's short life. I do believe he would have been spectacular had be lived." He avoided mentioning Mary at all.

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

Elizabeth let the queen comment go. It was, after all, true, even though Elizabeth knew what Henry was doing.

"He was a sweet boy," Elizabeth agreed. Although in childhood she'd gotten along with Edward, the little brat had almost ruined her chance at the throne. "He would have made a bad king, as bad as Mary. Anyone but me would have been a weak ruler." Her tone turned darker. "And you didn't even want me to rule."

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

"No, I didn't," Henry admitted. "I feared you would have too much of your mother in you. I do wish you had married. Too have the throne pass to Scotland..."

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

"I wouldn't know how much of my mother I have within me," Elizabeth said sharply, her gaze dangerous. "I never was given a chance to know her. And to marry? You think I would allow any man to have the power of me that you had over your own queens? Never."

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

Henry narrowed his eyes as well. "The power I had over my queens was because I was a king. No man would have had that power over you as your consort. And your mother," he said, leaning forward, "was a cheating witch. I see nothing of her in you except a love for speaking out of turn."

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

"I will speak whenever and however I please!" Despite the force of her words, Elizabeth had leaned back as he'd leaned forward. Henry's mere presence was overwhelming and threatening to her.

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

"She said the same thing and you see what it got her," Henry growled back at her.

In the background, the kettle clicked off. The water was boiled.

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

"Don't you dare threaten me," Elizabeth warned him, forcing herself not to shrink under his anger. "You're not king any more and I have the power to make your life miserable if you test me."

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

"Don't you dare threaten me," Elizabeth warned him, forcing herself not to shrink under his anger. "You're not king any more and I have the power to make your life miserable if you test me."

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

Henry slowly raised one eyebrow and then he stood from his seat so he was towering over her. His voice was quiet, but clearly filled with rage. "Elizabeth, you are mu daughter and I will not be threatened by you."

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

Elizabeth set her jaw hard and then took a long, slow breath. "And I am not a little girl anymore," Elizabeth said as calmly as she could as she watched him. "I'll no longer be scared of you."

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

Henry watched her and instead of exploding in her face, he nodded at her. "Good girl," he said again. She hadn't threatened him, she had only stood up to him.

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

Beneath the table Elizabeth's hands were shaking and she was glad that he couldn't see it. "No milk," was what she said. "Four sugars."

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

He moved to get her tea exactly how she asked for it and then returned, handing it to her. "This much sugar will rot your teeth," he said, sounding fatherly.

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

"It did," Elizabeth said with a little smile. "But these days they have proper dentists and toothpaste. I can't shake the sweet tooth though."

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

"Understandable," he said, settling back down with his own tea. "So tell me, do you have someone special now?"

[gloriana-.insanejournal.com]

This was a slightly sore subject, Elizabeth had to admit. She and Arthur had finally called it quits on their relationship - it had become more arguments than anything else.

"No," Elizabeth said after a pause, focusing on her tea. "I'm not seeing anyone." Then, with worry, she realised that it was a little more important to know what Henry was doing with his love life.

"You?" she asked him, trying to sound casual.

[lucky-number-7.insanejournal.com]

Henry smiled widely at that and he said, "Jane. Jane found me again and she and I have been dating. I am so glad to have my true wife back."