A/N: I made a playlist since each chapter has a song in its title (you can find the link of my profile page). The songs will be out the same day I post the chapter, except earlier, so you can know when to expect it. BTW, totally forgot they ever showed Henry before 1x12 so that's why he's not in this story. And Elizabeth is older because, let's be honest, she didn't look like the little sister in the pilot.

I'll let you read now. Enjoy!

I do not own Reign or the characters. All mistakes (grammar wise) are mine.

Women seem wicked

When you're unwanted

People are Strange- the Doors

It took me a moment to collect myself. Catherine Valois, formerly known as Catherine Medici, was right in front of me. All I knew about her was that she and Mr. Valois had met at 20 while studying abroad in France, where they were wed 4 years later. She originally came from an Italian aristocratic family. Their daughter Elizabeth was born two years later, and then came Francis and Charlie.

"Do you know where I might find him?"

"Where you might find who?"

It took me a moment to realize my mistake as Mrs. Valois rolled her eyes. "Just tell my husband I'm waiting for him in his office."

I have never been so intimidated by someone before, not even her husband. There was something in Mrs. Valois's voice that indicated she wasn't one to cross. I didn't see her when I got out of the bathroom. Instead, I had somebody run past me and go into the room I'd been working in, closing the door after themselves.

I waited for a moment before knocking. "Excuse me."

"Who is it?" it was a man's voice.

"My name is Mary. I was working in there. I hate to be a nuisance, but I really need to be done by Monday and if you look at the filing cabinet, there are a lot of them to be done so if you could just let me in, I would really appreciate it."

The door opened slightly, just enough space to let me in.

"Thank you," I said to the stranger.

The stranger who had been behind me in line at the bakery on Monday. His eyes were most definitely a shade of blue.

"Hi!" I greeted him.

He gave me an odd look in return. "Hi. Do you mind closing the door? I don't want Catherine to see me."

"Mrs. Valois? Why would you not want to see her?" I could understand his reasons if they involved being frightened by her.

"She isn't too fond of me. Last time we saw each other, I had to endure her rants about me not being good enough to be around her family's neighborhood. I think she even banned me from being 100 feet within their front yard."

That struck me as odd. Mrs. Valois seemed stern and intimidating, but not cruel. I had only met her for a few seconds but that was the impression I had gotten.

"Hold that thought," I heard Francis and his father coming down the hall, so I poked my head out of the door. "Mr. Valois, your wife is waiting for you in your office."

Mr. Valois simply nodded, but I noticed he went from striding down the hall to trudging his feet, as if he never wanted to go into his office to see his wife.

I guess their marriage is strained after all.

I closed the door again.

"Did Mrs. Valois really say those things to you?"

He shrugged. "I'm surprised she didn't threaten to buy hounds just to set them on me. I've heard worse from her, I just prefer it when it's not on a daily basis. By the way, I'm Bash."

"I'm Mary Stuart," we shook hands. "So tell me more. What else has Mrs. Valois said to you?"

"You can call her Catherine. That's what I do."

"I could, but I've always learned to call adults by their last names with a Mr. or Ms. in front. Except for Simon, but that's because I'm working with him, not for him."

"Do you mean Simon Westbrook? Good god, you're not another one of his nightly conquests, are you?"

So even strangers knew about Simon's reputation. Lovely.

"I respect myself much more than being some man's 'nightly conquest', thank you very much. Especially Simon's, that man needs to get knocked in the head."

Bash started to laugh. "He has his moments of good graces, trust me. He just doesn't show it often. Count your blessings you haven't gone to a bar with him."

"You're switching the subject. Tell me more about Catherine, like why she dislikes you so much."

He hesitated. "I don't want to spit on her name but she's quite the handful. I know her reasons for hating me and I don't blame her, I would hate me too. But to answer your question, she's quite elegant to the public eye. Her parents were well-respected people from their original homeland. I can give you a lot of dirt on her, but I won't do that yet."

"What brings you here then?" he certainly wasn't dressed in office clothes. Quite the opposite, though not as dirty as when I first saw him. He still had a scruff which, I admit, suited him very well.

"I'm here to talk to Henry," he answered. "I think it's best to wait until Catherine leaves though."

That's when we heard voices outside of the door, two people arguing which I recognized as Mr. and Mrs. Valois, and they were not happy. Bash kept his ear to the door, and unable to resist, I did the same.

"I don't want him coming over to our house, he has his own place."

"Have you seen that place he calls home? He's my flesh and blood, and I want him to come over for his birthday."

"To do what? Have a birthday party? He doesn't even know anyone outside his little community, let alone enough people to come by to see him turn 25. Let him celebrate with his mother in his own home. He's not a child, he doesn't need coddling."

"I made these plans with him two weeks ago, Catherine. I can't just cancel them."

"So you'd rather everyone we know find out about your bastard son and your mistress? Or just your son?"

"10 people, as well as our family. That's all I'm asking."

"I am not having him near Charlie!" She screamed out that last bit and it fell silent after, which I took as a sign that she'd left. Bash kept his ear to the door, a look crossing his face that I couldn't quite make of. It was almost a mix of disappointment and amusement.

"Well that was quite the discussion," he finally said, after we stood there in awkward silence for what felt like hours.

"Do you know who they were talking about?"

He shook his head.

"Sounds like any plans Henry had with him are off though. I should probably leave before they see me."

"I thought you were here to see Henry?"

He gave me a tight smile. "It can wait."

"Wait!" his hand had been on the doorknob before I stopped him. "Do you want me to take a message? I can tell him you were here and then perhaps he can re-schedule."

He hesitated. "Is there any way you can do that without mentioning my name?"

That took me by surprise, as I had no idea if Mr. Valois would accept a meeting with a nameless man.

"I don't think I can but if you come back on Tuesday, I'm sure I'll have managed to fit you into his schedule. We have to meet with somebody on Monday so Mr. Valois won't have much time left, but he should the next day. I'll ask him for you. Is there a last name I can give him as well?"

"Poitiers. Sebastian Poitiers."

"Sebastian Poitiers," I repeated. "I'll talk to him and let him know you're dropping by on Tuesday. That way, he has no say."

Bash laughed. "Don't command him, that's a way to get yourself into trouble."

"Then I'll pass the message to Mr. Matheson."

"Tell Aylee."

"Aylee?"

"She's his daughter, very sweet girl. She comes by often to bring him snacks since he's a hypoglycemic and needs certain foods to keep his blood sugar level stable. He'll argue with her, but he knows it's necessary and she's his only child, automatically making her daddy's girl."

"How will I recognize her?"

"Long blonde hair, small, 17. She's probably the only person who actually smiles around this place."

Bash opened the door, turning back before he was out of eyesight. "I hope to see you again, Mary Stuart. Just words of advice- don't get yourself down even when you work with people like Simon, and you don't need to be afraid of Henry. His son-in-law nearly wet his pants the first time he met him, but he's a good man underneath the tough skin."

"Thank you Sebastian," he gave me a quick smile before he left and I suddenly had a feeling I would be seeing him a lot more often.

Hope this chapter wasn't disappointing. The next one (Bash POV! With flashbacks from his younger years) should be out soon and it's already 2,000 words. Quick question- do you want faster updates or just on Fridays or Saturdays? This one is out today because we have no new episode and 1x13 onwards is going to freaking hurt so this is my remedy.

Let me know what you think!