Hi! It's been far too long. I was working on Penance for, like, two months and it was driving me crazy so I came back to this story, which is slightly less troublesome, but then there were the holidays and life stuff and blah, blah, blah. Anyway, I'm happy to finally add a new chapter and I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you so much for all of your kind words and support. Knowing that there are people interested in this story gives me a real boost when I'm struggling to write it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Warning: Author's note at the end has a Reign spoiler.

Mary tried to avoid Bash for two days as she attempted to clear him and the feelings he evoked from her mind, but it was for naught, as he had been sent away on some errand for Henry. She tried not to worry. As the favored son, surely Henry wouldn't put him in harms way, right?

Mary forced herself to focus on developing a connection with her fiance. It was what she needed to do as queen and she couldn't afford to waste time fretting about the King's bastard. And Francis really wasn't so bad. He could be charming when he wanted to. When Mary bested him at archery, he congratulated her without looking too pained. He took her on a picnic that included some of her favorite foods and culminated in their first kiss. It was pleasant enough, but her whole body didn't feel stimulated like it had with Bash. In fact, it felt strangely impersonal. Maybe it's only your first kiss that's so powerful, like the way a new dress never feels quite as magical on its second wearing. But when Francis started to use his tongue, Mary felt awkward and ended the kiss shortly thereafter. It didn't feel more intimate, just messy.

Meanwhile, Mary gave instructions to each of her ladies to keep their ears and eyes open for any useful information. Greer would listen in on the gossip of servants, Aylee was to spy on Catherine, Kenna would get close to the king and Lola would try to charm bits of information out of the envoys. Every evening the ladies would meet to go over what they had learned in hopes of finding some sort of advantage, but, so far, the results were disappointing.

As days and weeks passed, Mary became more and more anxious for Bash's return. She couldn't find out where he had gone or if his task was dangerous. She asked a few times if Francis had heard from his brother, but there had been no word. In many ways she didn't want Bash to return for the distraction he brought, but the thought of injury made her ill. There was a small comfort when Stirling would come into her room at night and sleep at the foot of her bed. She felt like he missed Bash, too.

"Mary, I don't think this is a very good idea." Aylee was a tricky combination of caution and curiosity, but Mary was determined for her lady to have a memorable birthday.

"Stop worrying! We are going to have fun!" she insisted as she straightened her dress.

"I wish fun could be more fashionable," Kenna grumbled. She had been less than pleased when she saw the outfits Greer had borrowed from servants.

"What if someone recognizes you?"

"They won't," Mary promised. "Who would expect to see a queen in town dressed like this? And you've seen those portraits. Hardly a good likeness."

"But we must stick together," Lola cautioned.

"And leave early," Greer echoed.

"Yes, of course. Now, let's have a little fun, shall we?" Everyone was being much too serious, but Mary would not be deterred. It had been a two hour ride into town and it would not be for nothing.

Upon entering the tavern, the ladies were hit with a raucous atmosphere. Men laughing and talking loudly in the dimly lit room surrounded by less than appetizing food, liquor and prostitutes. Mary was pleased with the freeness of it all, the lack of formality. She glanced back at her friends to see they were much less enthused, but she was certain they'd warm up.

"Go find us a table and I'll grab a server," she directed her friends. A little ale should help matters. Mary scanned the room for a worker. There were so many people and so much noise to weed out.

"Mary?"

She spun around in alarm. "Bash!" Without thinking, she threw her arms around him in relief. Finally, he was back and her nerves could rest.

He returned her embrace somewhat awkwardly before pulling away and Mary gathered herself. "I'm much relieved to see you in good health," she said politely as she tried to remember proper decorum.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded, disregarding pleasantries.

"It's Aylee's birthday." Her response was subdued by her disappointment. Bash didn't seem at all happy to see her.

Bash glanced around the room before returning his gaze to Mary, his eyes softer now. "Come with me."

She should have asked him where or why, but instead she let him blindly lead her away, down a hallway filled with doors before stopping and then entering at the next to last one. It was a small room with just enough space for a bed and a bureau. It was clearly his as his cape and satchel were laid on the bed. "How long have you been staying here? Why aren't you at the castle? " Mary tried to avoid sounding as hurt as she felt. Had he been here the whole time?

"Since morning. More importantly, why are you here?"

"Aylee's birthday-"

"Mary, you're a queen," he sighed. "You can't be leaving the castle without guards."

She crossed her arms over her chest defiantly. "I'm perfectly fine, thank you. If you brought me back here for a scolding, I have other things to do."

"Don't you understand how dangerous this is?" he asked with bewilderment.

Mary looked at him curiously. "You've been gone two months without caring about my welfare, why start now?"

"You don't think I care?"

"It's quite obvious you don't," she said softly, hoping she didn't reveal how much it hurt. "You never sent a letter, not even to Francis."

His jaw tightened in a manner that fascinated Mary. "An entire country depends upon you. You can't take these risks."

Anger threatened to overtake her now. Bash wasn't even going to defend his behavior, that's how little he cared. "I have heard your complaint and I will take it under advisement."

"I'm trying to help you," he insisted as he reached for her arm to deter the young queen from walking away.

"You're telling me what to do just like everyone else!" Mary cried as she shook off his hand. She'd been trying so hard to think like a ruler and gain leverage and it was all so tiring. She always had to be aware of her surroundings and conduct herself with the utmost care, every action leveled. "Let me have this night," she began once she'd taken a breath to calm down. "Let me be Mary, just another girl like all the other girls get to be. Bash, I feel like I'm suffocating."

He studied her for a moment before giving a slight nod of the head.

"Thank you." She didn't need his permission and they both knew it, but having Bash's support was soothing and Mary felt her body relax as the tension in the air quickly dissipated

"This is a different look for you," Bash noted.

Mary blushed. She had forgotten she was wearing peasant's clothing. "Yes, well, I didn't want to stand out."

"Your beauty cannot be subdued, Your Grace," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Mary tried to suppress her smile fruitlessly. "I see you are still a flirt."

"Everyone needs a crutch, do they not?"

There was a persistent fluttering in Mary's stomach in response to his teasing. How she had missed this. "Only the lame, I'm told."

He grinned widely. "Then lame I must be."

"Oh?"

"How else would I get the attention of a queen?"

She bit her lip slightly. He got her attention much too easily. Just his presence made her skin tingle and now he was staring at her with such reverence and warmth. "I'm sure you would manage." Mary was afraid to move, afraid her body would carry her closer to Bash unwittingly. His lack of a response only made her more anxious. "I must return to my friends before they start a search party," she announced, hoping her words would spur her body in the right direction.

Bash nodded and opened the door for her. As she exited, Mary felt disappointed in their parting. How she wished she was not so attached to him.

Throughout the night she felt Bash nearby, his eyes on her. Somehow he managed to make her feel more safe and cared for than if twenty guards were surrounding her. It was a bit odd given that he was only two or three years older than her and still a boy in many ways. He certainly didn't have the responsibilities or restrictions Mary had.

She laughed and drank freely throughout the night. A party where she didn't have to be polite or respectable at all times. She listened as disheveled men spun tales of their heroism and boasted of rebellion. In turn, Mary shared her own fabricated life story as a highborn girl used to the finer things, now a poor maid thanks to the disgrace of her father.

They flirted with her, or attempted to as they lacked any subtlety, and made her laugh with crude jokes that she didn't entirely understand.

Her ladies were much less entertained. Kenna bored quickly once the gentleman she had cornered revealed his debts. Greer and Lola mostly kept to themselves, participating only in light chitchat with the men. Aylee shyly watched one of the young workers, but made no attempts to converse. Mary knew they should leave, but she couldn't make herself. Who knew when she might get the chance to be out in the world again like a normal person?

Mary lost all sense of time as the night wore on. She didn't notice as people came and went. It was all a blur and she enjoyed disappearing into it.

"Mary?"

"Hmm?" She opened her eyes to see Bash's blue ones staring back at her.

"It's time to go," he urged.

Mary scrunched up her nose as she attempted to lift her head off of the table. "Go where?"

"To bed."

"You're being awfully forward," she giggled as he started to pull her to her feet.

"Mary-"

"Where is everyone?" she asked. Mary tried to look around but it only made her dizzy and forced her to shut her eyes.

"Your ladies needed to get back and I promised them I would escort you given that you're in no state to ride."

Mary grinned at him and lazily cupped his cheek. "You're so sweet." She ran her thumb over his stubble and remembered how it had felt as it rubbed against her face when they had kissed.

Quickly, Bash removed her hand from his face. "You need to get some sleep."

She let out a small moan in protest. "What if I don't want to sleep?" Her languid body slumped against his firm one, her chin on his chest as she stared up at his eyes. "Your eyes are so pretty. Are we moving?"

He seemed to be fighting off a laugh as he replied, "Just lie down for a little bit."

"In your bed?"

"Yes."

"But where will you sleep?" Mary asked. And where were her feet? Why couldn't she see her feet? And how was she standing? Everything was so confusing.

"Don't worry about me."

"But I do," she nearly whined. "I worried the whole time you were gone. I missed you." Mary wasn't entirely sure if she'd said that out loud or if she was conscious for that matter, but she next felt Bash's arms around her, carrying her away to ... somewhere. Everything kept moving. And then she was laying on something soft. I've missed you, she heard. Or she thought she did and it brought out a shy smile before darkness enveloped her.

A/N: I'm super excited to hear that Mary and Bash will be having scenes together again on Reign. Terrified, but excited. Thank you again for reading. Feedback is greatly appreciated.