A/N: I was really interested in playing around with these characters and this story came into mind and I had to write it. This will be long fic, so this in my start. Let me know what you all think, I'm always accepting of advice and if I like your ideas I'm always willing to change things around. Review and tell me anything! Thanks

xx franceandscotland


Mary sat anxiously in her carriage, tapping her foot impatiently as she thought of the French court and of her friends who remained there. It had been a year now since she left for Scotland to stay by her sick mother's side. And it only took a week for King Henry to summon her back to court after she died. Mary knew this was the last time she would call Scotland home. Her place would now permanently be at the French court, beside Francis, and under the king and queens watchful eyes.

The thought of seeing Francis again was the only thing holding her together at that point. She missed his friendship and guidance the entire year they were separated. The only real communication she had with him was a few brief letters, almost all being diplomatic and related to their nations. Though, when it came down to it, that's was what most of their life was about: their nations.

The last time she had seen him they had argued, however, so how well Francis would receive her was unknown to Mary. Life for them was complicated. Their relationship was complicated. They grew up in one another's company, and by the age of six they were engaged, a date to be determined at an older age.

Francis and Mary had been inseparable as children. He brought out the adventurous side of her. She was a young queen who loved to wrestle and play sports. They explored the castle day after day until the age of ten, when they memorized it by heart. It became their goal to get into trouble with the king and queen, to test their limits and powers. And they were adored by them. By the age of twelve, Mary was the Queen of Scotland and began to take lessons in how to true ruler beside Francis. They were soon discussing foreign policy and the complications that came with their nations. Francis taught Mary as Mary brought out the kind and gentle ruling of Francis which he would be greatly known and loved for.

They were close friends, and true allies, but still not married by the age of sixteen when Mary was sent home to Scotland to be by her mother's side. She wanted to stay at French court and begged the King to grant her permission, but Francis insisted she go. For reasons Mary was unsure of. Right before she left, Mary accused Francis of casting her away so he could be with a mistress. The rumors of lovers he had clouding her judgment, and she told him that she would never accept him as a husband if he was bedding other women while they were married. "We're not married yet" he replied, and that was all the confirmation she needed to know that it was all true. She left without speaking another word to him.

They both spent a good portion of the year apart despising the other. Francis hated Mary for making him feel guilty for sleeping with other women, and he missed her when he wasn't blinded by his annoyance. Mary hated him for making her want to leave him, for having to be patronizing, because they were always friends first, and she hated ruining his fun. Because that's all it was, right? Some reckless fun of an arrogant Prince. And truth be told, she had wished she was that girl, because for all she knew, he could actually love her.

Mary sat wondering what exactly she was to say to Francis, and what she would return to when returning to the French court. Would he greet her with joy? Would he ignore her? Had he found someone else better? As these questions daunted her for the remainder of her journey, she hadn't predicted that as Francis prepared for her arrival back in France he was distracted by the same worries concerning his future wife and queen.