Eight

Annalisa held Edward's hand as the walked along the small lake in the local park. They didn't talk to each other but enjoyed simply holding hands and being with each other. It didn't matter, however, because all they needed was to be near each other.

All the cares she had in the world seemed to disappear when she was with him. All the nightmares she had of Peter and the constant fear of being found sank below the waves of love that flooded her shore.

"Edward," She said when she stopped abruptly.

"Annalisa?"

"When we get back, will you spend time on your duties or me? I fear you would tend more to your duties than to me. I understand that you have work to do, but I'd rather not have to be alone constantly." She asked, nervously.

"Love, my duties are to you." He answered placing a kiss on her small hand, "Haven't I always been there for you?"

Annalisa smiled gently, "When we first married, I was afraid of you. There was something about you that made me afraid of you."

Edward raised an eyebrow, "Were you? How was I scary to you?"

She shrugged, "How could you not be? I was marrying an unknown man from a foreign country. My English is not as good. I did not know the customs. I barely knew you."

"But I do not scare you know, do I?" He asked, planting a kiss on her hand.

"Of course not." She replied, grinning.

~~~~~~~~

Edward walked into the dining room and looked around at the rich sight.

The generous King had offered to allow them to join his dinner, hoping to introduce his family. Annalisa had begged him saying, "He is your family now, nein? We shall go to him and meet my family, just as I have met yours."

He couldn't refuse her sweet face so now he waited for her to arrive so that he could tuck her to him and be introduced.

"Edward, come let me introduce you. There is no use in waiting for Annalisa." He heard Hans say from behind.

Apparently, the great king would not wait for his sister. He followed and let him introduce him to the long line of stuck up rich relatives. His English clashes with their native tongues, creating a barrier between them.

Edward felt that he should be angry with these men and woman. He felt like they had left Annalisa in the cold, letting her fight her nightmares by herself. He didn't think it was fair to ignore her, especially since she was so young.

He engaged himself in a friendly conversation of the Duke of Würzburg, comparing their duties as dukes.

"My sister tells me that your wife loves you dearly. Is that true? I find that such abrupt marriages often bring harsh challenges to the table. That is how my wife and I married. A sorry day that was." He scoffed.

Edward's brow creased, "Of course, she is my wife."

Edward avoided conversation after that with the duke because he felt like he had hit a soft spot on the duke's tough armor. He didn't care to discuss his unfortunate marriage.

It didn't matter though, because his world suddenly stopped.

The angel in pale blue stepped downstairs gracefully, smiling brightly at him as their eyes met. He stepped forward and took her arm, leading her over to the table.

Everyone in the room watched the elegant couple as he pulled out her chair for her to sit in and pushed her in.

"You look beautiful, Annalisa." He said, planting a kiss on her soft hand.

She blushed a beautiful soft pink.

Conversations started up again around them, forgetting the couple.

Hans introduced them later to his wife, Ilsa and his daughter Natalia, who commented on his uniform he wore.

She didn't seem to understand the color scheme of England, though he tried to explain it to her.

Later, after the meal had been served and the guest had wandered back to their rooms, Annalisa had led him to the outside corridor.

The walked through a small rose garden, talking and laughing together. She showed him the different colors and flowers in the garden.

She stopped by a cleared section and motioned him to look, "We buried my parents here. My mother, she loved roses and she always said that when she had another baby, she would name it Rose."

"Even if it was a boy?" He asked.

She nodded and laughed, "Rose was the ideal name to her. I want to show you this because this is how I want our lives to end- together to the absolute end."

Edward pulled her to him and kissed her soft lips, "Together to the end and forever more, my love."

~~~~~~

Annalisa sat up in bed as the door to the guest room flew open, revealing the heavily breathing butler. Edward sat up, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"What the devil do you want?" Edward growled, pushing Annalisa back down behind him.

"Sir, I know you said not to bother you but there has been a problem." The butler huffed, leaning against the door.

Edward sat up and jumped out of bed, "Inform me, quickly."

She watched her husband quickly dress as the butler stood still, "Well, inform me! What the devil are you waiting for?"

"Sir, I would rather not inform in front of the Lady Annalisa."

Edward's eyes flashed with fear and he glanced at her, "Love, I'll come back after I'm informed, okay?" He leaned forward to place a kiss on her forehead.

Annalisa grabbed his hand and looked into his eyes, "Be careful, alright? Come "

He walked out of the room the butler trailing slowly behind him, leaving her to stare at the door.

She fell back into the soft sheets and curled around his side of the bed, taking in the smell of him that linger on the sheets.

She wanted him to be back quickly, so she could sleep without her nightmares that lured in every corner of her sleep. He always had a way of calming her in the best of times.

She needed her brave man to fight off the bad thoughts.

Her biggest fear, though, was not of her parents' death but more of Edward not paying any attention to her when their honeymoon was over.

She hoped it would never end.

~~~~~~~

The door slammed open as soon as Annalisa had talked herself into telling him the truth.

Edward walked over to the bed, as Annalisa started to open her mouth, "Edward there is something I need to tell you."

Her heart beat wildly, with fear and courage mixed together in a deadly form.

"There is something I need to tell you also." He said flatly. His tone was dangerous.

Annalisa's brow creased as he started to put things away around the room, "Edward?"

"Annalisa." He replied.

She crawled out of bed and walked over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." He snapped as he pulled his shoulder out of her reach.

She stepped back in fear as he slammed a case full of papers shut.

What happened to her sweet Edward? The Edward she loved?

"Edward, you are scaring me. Please tell me what is wrong."

"Annalisa," He sighed rubbing his forehead, and gathering her in his arms, nuzzling her neck with his nose, "The king of England has died. I am afraid we will have to cut our paradise short."

"Why?" She asked, confusing loomed in her voice.

He didn't answer for a while. He just stood there with his face buried in her neck, breathing heavily.

He took a deep breath and said, " Annalisa, there is something I should've told you before I married you. I was a coward to tell you. Annalisa, I was just named sole heir of the throne of England. I am to be King.