What is Needed But Unexpected

a familiar face

Anna couldn't stop the warning bells that were going off in her head every time she glanced over at Katherine, who had acted so lively the previous week. What had changed? Why hadn't she talked to her about it?

Her mind raced with thoughts and what if's. Sure, in the heat of the moments cross words had passed between them but on numerous occasions it had been followed by Kat apologizing straight away or Anna doing so once the anger had left. So surely, that could not have been it?

"You're quiet today." She commented, calling the other girl's attention from whatever thought she was lost in.

"Huh? Oh sorry, guess I was in another world there. What were you saying?" 

Anna inwardly sighed as she draped an arm around the teen's shoulders.

"You know you can tell me if something is up, yeah?" 

It didn't surprise her when she felt Kat leaned against her but the way the girl's eyes seemed to glaze over at the simple statement did.

"I know Anna...But sometimes ...It's just so hard to talk about, especially with some of the thoughts running through my head at every hour of the day." 

The confession both caught the German off guard and answered some of the worries she  had for the girl. 

"Just know that I'm here. No matter what." 

Anna was relieved to see Katherine's expression lighten slightly, a shy, ghost of a smile slowly making its way across her face.

"You always were Anna. I always looked forward to your visits because you were the one person who didn't seem to look down on me. Remember our first night in this world? You kept me from completely freaking out...and I never thanked you for it." Katherine began but Anna only nudged her.

"Hey, none of that.friends help each other. I may have been powerless in the past but now I'll be damned if I let anyone hurt you."

                 .                                          ________★________

Anne didn't care that it was raining, she didn't care if she got sick or not, she just had to get out of that house before she either hit someone or suffocate–whichever came first. Pausing outside of a small park, she tried to catch her breath and calm down.

Yet she couldn't get the images of Kat out of her head and couldn't stop imagining her Elizabeth in the same position. How could Parr had let such a thing happen? It didn't matter if Elizabeth had continued to write letters to her, it didn't matter if those letters had been affectionate. Parr should have done more, Parr should have paid more attention.

Anne could feel herself trembling the more she thought about it.

She knew that things were different in those days, she knew that they all had done things they now regretted in hindsight but the idea of a thirteen or fourteen years old feeling unsafe in her own home because of the advances of her stepfather made her feel a whole new level of twisted anger.

Both at Thomas Seymour and Catherine Parr.

Anne didn't know how long she had stood there, letting the rain wash away her tears as they fell, her mind racing to what had possibly happened to her daughter after her execution. Had anyone else ever tried to hurt her? Had she had a happy childhood?

However just as the thoughts were beginning to get too much, the sound of loud bickering began to make its way toward her.

"Well the so called map has gotten us lost for the past hour! Are you sure you even know how to read that thing?" 

The voice caused Anne to freeze, Anne knew that voice. 

"Oh, I can read it just fine if you two imbeciles would shut up for five seconds to let me actually focus!"

Scratch that she knew both of the voices. Turning toward the noise, she locked eyes with one of the few people from her previous life that she had missed more than anything.

Anne couldn't explain it. Even with different bodies and voices, she knew these people—or at least this one in particular.

"Margaret?"

Time felt as though it had stood still as Anne watched the woman's eyes widen then glisten unnaturally as she took a step closer.

"Anne? Anne Bolyen?"