Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING OF REIGN *sadface*

AN: HERE'S ONE OF THE NEW STORIES I WAS TALKING ABOUT! Basically Catherine and Henry, how they become friends and what life was like for them as they learned to love in their younger years. COMPLETELY SEPARATE FROM ANY OF MY OTHER STORIES. I know a bunch of my other stories are connected somehow, but this was meant be a standalone piece. I hope I'm not confusing people too much with so many stories…As always, enjoy the read!

AN: Revisited and edited as of 12/9/2014—not much done, just a little section taken out and replaced.

He grunted in annoyance as he realized that the sun had already risen. Refusing to rise, the young prince turned over in bed only to hear a squeak. Eyes shooting open in alarm, he realized he had turned over onto his new wife. Henry quickly levered himself up and off of her, letting her breathe again. Catherine was frantically trying to cover herself up, lest the light of day shine upon her bare form as Henry rolled away. Sitting up on his side of the bed, he spotted his trousers and hopped up to retrieve them. Catherine's dress from the day before had apparently gone missing, so instead he turned to the bed to hand her his dressing gown. There, surrounded by pillows and bedclothes, was his little wife. Coppery blonde hair mussed from sleep, she drew her knees to her chest as he continued to gaze upon her. Her eyes wouldn't quite meet his, but he understood her feelings. Reigning in the surge he felt towards her, he took a breath and placed the dressing gown around her shoulders. Catherine relaxed beneath his touch, accepting the covering and pulling it closed around herself before getting out of bed.

It was still so odd waking up beside another person. Granted, it was only their third morning together, but it felt as though they would never become accustomed to it. Then again, their nights together were getting less awkward with each passing. Henry was gentle and Catherine was responsive…enough, still shy with one another, but beginning to let go of their insecurities as man and wife. It was so odd to be desired, but it wasn't an unpleasant feeling. It was actually becoming rather welcome. His robe was many sizes too big for her, the sleeves too long and the hem creating a train behind her, but it smelled of him and that was nice. Running a hand through her hair, she wondered where her shoes had gone. Honestly, it wasn't as if they had made love in the hall! Catherine immediately blushed at the thought. What a thing to think! She looked up at Henry who was giving her that charming half smile.

"Is something on your mind, Catherine?" He asked gently.

What could she say? "Oh, nothing." She cleared the embarrassment from her throat, or at least tried to. "I'll just be going now…" Slipping out of his bed, the newest princess of France tried not to let her steps falter as her husband watched her walk away.

Henry called her back from the door. "May I…may I walk you back to your chambers?"

She nodded, running her hand once more through her hair, trying to make it look a bit more presentable. Did he really want to go out with her when she looked like this? Perhaps he was just doing this out of duty, after all, she was his wife. Henry opened the door for them, looping her arm through his as they passed the guards outside. Catherine shrunk a bit into his side as they passed his men, embarrassed at her state of undress. He patted her hand in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. His Florentine wife was lovely. She gave him a faint smile in return as they walked through the halls. The castle was cold this morning, and he couldn't help but worry for Catherine's feet. Her dainty feet were barely seen from under the dressing gown, long as it was. Henry just hoped she wasn't too cold. Soon enough, they were in front of the doors to her chambers, her personal guard looking stoically forward. They untangled their arms and Henry boldly kissed her hand. Her smile matched the sun, and the stars were in her eyes.

"Will I see you later?" His voice was soft, low as if telling a secret.

Catherine nodded, her copper locks catching the sun. "If you wish, Prince Henry."

Henry rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I was actually wondering if you weren't busy today…"

"I assure you, I barely have anything to do on any given day." Catherine interrupted with a slight shrug.

He couldn't help but smile at that. "Would you like to picnic with me this afternoon?" It seemed a good a moment as any to ask her.

"I would, thank you." Henry just smiled.

Henry opened the door for her and with a hand on her back, guided her through saying goodbye.

A light breeze ruffled her hair and her skirts as she sat beside Prince Henry on a blanket beside the lake. They had eaten already and were just sitting enjoying the sun. It was a bit uncomfortable having nothing to say to your husband, but what should she say? Yes, she had spent her time at the convents reading and learning, but never was there a book for her to read about how to converse with one's husband. If only there were. He was just sitting there, legs out and hands behind him to support him as he turned his face to the sun. Prince Henry was just so blessedly handsome, it made her ill at ease when she thought of her own appearance. She was short and curvy, not like the tall and lithe ladies of the Court. Did he even fancy girls with red hair? She wasn't sure she'd even seen another girl with the likes of her hair at Court at all. She pulled on a coppery lock before throwing it over her shoulder. True, her husband was attentive to her in the bedchamber, but that could just be lust. Desire didn't necessarily have to stem from preference.

"Why are you pouting, Catherine?" His voice brought her out of her sulky thoughts.

She painted a smile on her face. "I wasn't pouting, my lord. I was just thinking."

"Hmm, well I suppose I'll have to be the first to tell you that you pout when you think." He teased.

"I believe I will have to disagree with you, I do think I know my own face." Catherine tossed her head, not completely sure if he was having a game with her.

"Not from where I'm standing." He looked down at himself. "Or sitting, rather." Catherine covered up a little giggle with a hand. "What were you thinking about?"

She blushed and said as innocently as possible, "Nothing…"

Henry gasped dramatically. "Thinking of nothing twice in one day? You can manage feats, Catherine!"

"Only a few miracles." She chuckled at his display.

He nudged her foot with his. "Come now, surely you can tell your husband what you're thinking in that pretty little head of yours?"

"Can I?" Her eyelashes fluttered as she looked away embarrassedly.

"Of course you can, we're bound together for life." He asked in what he hoped was a light and friendly tone.

Catherine nodded her agreement. "That seems a rather good way to think of it."

"Please, will you not tell me what you were thinking?" Henry reached out and gingerly covered her hand with his.

She shook her head trying not to panic at his hand on hers. Why were there no books on this? "You'll think me foolish…"

"I think I'll be the judge of that."

Thinking quickly, Catherine said instead, "I was just thinking that I don't know how to talk to you. Now, I'm thinking I barely know anything about you. Really, we're strangers to each other."

"Not in all ways." Henry said before thinking.

He thought her blush very pretty, but he hoped he didn't embarrass her too much. "True, but…I don't even know what your favorite color is, or your favorite food, truth to tell, I don't even know your birthday." She finished sheepishly.

"Blue, venison, and March thirty-first." He smiled at her and lightly squeezed her hand. "You can talk to me about anything, Catherine. I want us to be friends."

She gave his hand a squeeze back. "I think I would like to be your friend."

"Good, because I'd like to be yours." Quickly kissing her cheek, he drew back to watch her reaction. "Was that alright?"

Her hand had gone up to cover where he'd kissed her. "Well, you've certainly done more than that…"

"You don't mind when I…kiss you though, do you?" Henry craned his neck down to try and catch her gaze that was trained on their hands.

She shook her head daintily and her red locks swayed from side to side. "I don't mind, Prince Henry. I'm your wife, husbands kiss their wives."

"Would you…" Should he ask this? "Would you like to kiss me?"

I'd like to try. "It's…not my place."

"Well…if you'd like to, you may." Would she ever take him up on his offer?

Was there a proper response to that? "…Thank you." Catherine hated how she sounded. Hopefully, Henry didn't find her too boring.

He reached out and played with her earring between his fingers. "You're wearing the earrings I gave you. Is it safe to assume that you like them?" The young prince could tell that he'd made his lady uncomfortable and was attempting to put her mind at ease.

She nodded and looked away. "Very much so, thank you." Was she supposed to have this fluttery feeling when he looked at her?

"Think none of it." He shrugged. "Their sparkle is dim beside your beauty."

Catherine tried not to stutter. "You…think I'm beautiful?"

"How could I not?" The sincerity in his voice made her blush all the more.

"Thank you. You're…very handsome yourself." The corner of his mouth lifted up in a grin.

"Catherine de Medici, you are some sort of woman."

"I suppose you'll just have to find out for yourself what kind I am." She replied with a matching grin.

He nodded as he lay a kiss upon her brow. "I suppose I will."

AN: There's that. I hope you liked it.