Here's another chapter for you guys! :-D
I am going to try and update once a week, just like I do for my Densi story. LOF is updated every Sunday and I'll try to update a chapter of LIABAW every Saturday. I can't promise you guys it'll happen that way every time but since I've outlined a good amount of future chapters I will do my very best!
Without further ado I present to you chapter 7. Enjoy!


Mary walks around the castle halls absentmindedly, stopping at a halt at the farthest door on the left. She looks around before placing her hands against the wooden door, "I miss you" she whispers since their last conversation in the stables Sebastian had been keeping his distance and she missed talking to him. Mary knew that Sebastian probably missed talking to her just as much, but he respected his brother enough to leave her be.

And then there was Lola, sweet caring Lola who got sucked into all this madness very much like Mary had. Lola never asked for any of this. When she first came to court her heart had been already given to someone in Scotland and she wasn't planning on ever asking it back. But, then everything with Colin came to a colossal breaking point and from there everything just went downhill. Mary knew Lola often blamed herself for the situation she was in, but if she was completely honest Mary knew that if anyone was to blame for any of this it was mostly her. If she hadn't proposed marrying Sebastian to safe Francis' life, everything would have turned out so differently. She knew Sebastian respected her too much to ever do anything that wouldn't be in her own best interest. Sebastian only ever thought he stood a chance because she very distinctly gave him that impression, and for that she was sorry.

She never intended for so many people to get hurt. If only that stupid prophesy had never come to light, she would have just married Francis and had lived in matrimonial bliss for however long life granted them. But, it was too late to change all of that now. She had proposed marrying Sebastian and he had agreed, and during their engagement she had come to care for Sebastian so much more than she ever thought she could. The moment king Henry announced that she was to wed one of the brothers immediately; she knew she could never choose Sebastian. She had come to love him over the months but her mind told her that she had always loved Francis more and was duty bound to wed him.

The first couple months of her wedding were spend in a state of permanent bliss, with nothing and no one between them. But, the minute they came back to court she had this sickening pit in her stomach telling her that the honeymoon days were over and it was back to lies, backstabbing and murder. She hadn't been wrong.

When she first found out about Lola and Francis she had been furious. How could one of her best friends sleep with the man SHE was supposed to marry knowing how very deeply Mary still had feelings for him? And how could Francis justify not telling her after they had wed? He had so many chances to come clean and yet he didn't. But the biggest betrayal of them all was when Mary understood that the child Lola was carrying was her husband's. How was it possible for Lola to get pregnant after only one night when Mary had been trying for months to get pregnant with Francis' child herself?

Mary slides herself against the wooden door, and flattens her dress around her on the ground. She knows not many people come here during the day so she's not that worried she's going to be found. And, if she were to be found who's to say what she's doing is wrong? She's just sitting in front of Sebastian's door. She'll say that she has been waiting to tell him something important or that his presence was requested somewhere. She would make something up; she had become relatively good at lying this past year.

Thinking back to the first time she had seen Sebastian again after her honeymoon she instinctively puts a hand on her heart. She hadn't thought about him in months and yet the minute she saw him again her heart ached for him. He was still as handsome and lovely as she had remembered. If only he hadn't come into her room uninvited and tried to convince her that Francis was behind an attack on his life. She remembers telling him to leave it alone, leave HER alone because there was nothing worth staying for. Her heart had hurt when she said that, but she was married to Francis and she loved him. Deep down she knew she only wanted Sebastian gone because of the repercussions his staying could have, on her, on her heart, on her marriage. If only he had obliged and left like he had planned on doing, but no he had to come back to warn everyone about the danger they were in, the danger they called the darkness. In the end Sebastian had saved Francis' live and because of that Francis had lifted the exile he had put on Sebastian and he was welcomed back into the castle. By saving Francis he had managed to worm his way back into her heart, but if she was being completely honest with herself she knew he never really left in the first place.

"Mary, what are you doing here" she heard a voice lull her back from her thoughts. When she looked up and was met with those beautiful green eyes she had come to care so much about and that consumed her thoughts more than she would have liked, she couldn't help but smile.

"Sebastian" she said and held her hand up for him. Sebastian looked around and accepted her hand, carefully pulling her up.

"Is everything okay? Did something happen? Why are you here?" Sebastian rambled, afraid that something was wrong and Mary was here to warn him.

Mary squeezed his hand trying to get him to relax "Nothing's wrong, I just missed you that's all"

Sebastian tore his hand away and took a couple steps back "Mary" he warned, the threat of Francis still lingering in the back of his mind "You shouldn't be here"

Mary cringed "So you've said last time, and the time before that. You're avoiding me Sebastian. Why?"

Sebastian opened the door to his chambers, looked around carefully before quickly pulling her inside "You really have to ask?" he hissed, eyes fixated on hers.

Mary knew why he had been avoiding her and she had anticipated a little apprehensiveness but she hadn't expected such hostility,"Bash, please" she said, eyes pleading.

Sebastian visibly relaxed upon hearing his nickname. He took a couple breaths and guided her towards the bench in front of his fireplace. "I'm sorry. I've been a little on edge lately" he explains. Ever since Francis had verbalized his threat on Sebastian's life he had been carefully tiptoeing around the castle trying to stay out of everyone's business. For the past couple weeks he had been successful in spending more time with Lola than ever and staying out of Mary and Francis' way. But, now here she was, in all her beautiful glory, in front of him, pleading him to talk to her.

Mary knew that it couldn't have been easy for Sebastian to honor Francis' threat but yet he had done it with such grace and dignity. She never truly understood how much Sebastian's company meant to her until she didn't have it anymore "I miss you Bash" she says truthfully.

Upon hearing those words Sebastian jumps up "You can't" his eyes are hard and his words determined. He knows that he can't give into her, not even a little, if he does, they'll both be doomed.

Mary understands that Sebastian is distancing himself from her even more than he already has and she understands "I just really miss talking to you, being around you, your company" she says anyway. She might understand why he's doing what he's doing but that doesn't mean she has to like it.

"Mary" Sebastian says again, tone warning "please don't do this" he pleads, his eyes focused on the fire burning before them.

Mary places a hand on his cheek "Look at me Bash" she says, rubbing her thumb over his cheek affectionately.

Sebastian takes Mary's hand and places it back on her lap "No" he says, standing up. He walks towards the door, opens it and carefully looks around "It's safe, you can go now"

The words linger in the air for a little while before Mary stands up and walks towards where Sebastian is standing. She makes an attempt to walk away but before Sebastian has a chance to turn around she pulls him back inside and closes the door behind them. She puts her body against the door and sighs "I'm not going anywhere until we've talked"

Knowing how unbelievably stubborn they both can be Sebastian relents "Fine, let's talk" he says, guiding Mary towards the bench. But, instead of sitting on the bench next to her he takes a chair out of the corner of his room and sits himself down opposite her. He tells her it's to create space between them when she asks him why he's not sitting next to her. He can tell she doesn't like him being this distant but he tells himself it's in both of their interests. "Where do you want to talk about?" he asks after a couple minutes of awkward silence.

Mary just stares at Sebastian for the longest time "Everything" she eventually says, finally finding her voice. Sebastian smiles an uneasy smile and clears his throat "Okay"

Mary nervously fidgets with the ends of her dress "Why are you ignoring me?" she asks shyly. Obviously she knows why, she tells herself, but she wants to hear it from him.

Sebastian stood and started pacing the floor. He knew that however the outcome of this conversation was going to go, he would be screwed. He loved Lola, a lot, but he was undoubtedly and wholeheartedly IN love with Mary. Whenever he tried to distance himself from her, she was the one who came back to him every single time. He knew their relationship has always been heavy on an emotional level of complete acceptance and understanding of one another but it has never felt so wrong to simply talk to her. He knew it was because the longer he was in her presence the harder it would be to not touch her or show her just how much he loved her "You know the answer to that Mary. I am not going to risk everything I've built for myself, Lola and the baby just so that you and I can spend some time together"

She can feel the tears threatening to spill even before they roll silently down her cheeks. She angrily wipes them away "You told me you loved me" she whimpers, swallowing hard to keep the rest of her tears at bay. She doesn't want to appear weak or needy but she doesn't understand why Sebastian will just give up like that "You are simply going to let Francis win?"

Oh my dearest Mary, Sebastian thinks. How am I ever going to make you understand? "I can't be what you want me to be, Mary" he says, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. She sighs, lays her head against his hand and silently hums.

"I just want you to spend time with me Sebastian" she says. When she sees the questioning look in his eyes she elaborates "We can go riding, we can walk around the castle, or we can simply talk"
Sebastian's inner turmoil is evident on his face and she knows he's doing everything in his power to keep his emotions in check "I just want you near me, that's all" she finishes, smiling up at him.

"What about Francis?" Sebastian still hears the lingering death threat in the back of his mind ever so clearly.

"I talked to Francis. He is going to have to deal with us spending time together. It's not like he isn't spending time with Olivia or his other mistresses behind my back" Mary focuses on the fire in front of her. She can't look him in the eye, not now. She knows that he probably knew about Francis' affairs long before she did and she can't and won't blame him for not telling her. There had been rumors going around ever since the news of her inability to get pregnant got out. A lot of people supposedly didn't blame Francis for seeking comfort elsewhere when his own wife wasn't able to give him an heir.

"Oh Mary, how do you stay so strong" Sebastian asks bewildered, when he hears her words. So, it was true. He had heard the rumors of course but he chose to see the best in Francis. In truth Sebastian just couldn't understand why Francis would stray. He believed that with a wife like Mary by his side, there would never be any need to stray at all. Apparently Francis thought otherwise.

"You see Bash; it's not a case of Francis permitting me to spend time with you anymore. I will do whatever I want and if he tries to stop me I will make sure everyone knows that Lola's baby is his and that his reputation is ruined" Sebastian is shocked by the amount of venom in her voice and simply stares at her.

"We can't let that happen. It will destroy Lola" he says, carefully placing a hand on her shoulder.

Mary smiles "I've already talked to Lola. She's on our side this time" she says.

Sebastian is in awe at how determined the woman in front of him is in spending time with him and he can't say he doesn't want to"You thought about everything didn't you?"

"We simply can't let him win" she says, carefully looking up and seeking comfort in his eyes.

Sebastian locks his eyes with hers and places a hand on either side of her face; before he can regret his decision he says "It was never a case of winning, my love" and places a delicate kiss on her forehead.

Mary feels something stir inside her and before she can think twice she pulls his lips towards hers and kisses him ever so lightly. When she pulls away seconds later looking for any signs of regret, she sees none. Instead she sees nothing but love and devotion and before she has a chance to think about what that might mean she feels his lips on hers.

Sebastian feels the passion bubble up inside him and he kisses her back with vigor. Mary smiles through the kiss and curls her fingers through his hair, trying to pull him even closer. He feels her tongue scratch the outlines of his teeth, and without thinking he grants her access and deepens the kiss. For the longest time they stand there, kissing like their lives depend on it. Eventually Sebastian is the first to pull away. When he looks at her flustered face and her twinkling eyes, he pushes her away from him ever so lightly and turns around "We can't" he says again, reaffirming his earlier thoughts.

Mary licks her lips and just looks at Sebastian with all the love she can muster, but she can see him pulling away from her physically and emotionally "I don't want a life without you in it Sebastian" she simply states before walking away.

Sebastian just looks towards the door until it closes and silently places two fingers against his lips "Whatever have I gotten myself into" he silently mutters.


A/N Just a quick reminder that this fic is set somewhere in season one. I haven't watched any episodes since halfway through the first season and I'm not planning on catching up. So there are going to be some things that you saw on the show embedded but not that much.

So, what are they going to do now?
Love is
never easy, we all know that, we've all been there. But loving two people at the same time, my o my how I feel for Mary.

There's just one thing I need to make abundantly clear, I don't want you to doubt Mary's love for Francis in this story AT ALL. There's no doubt she loves him, nor should there be. She DOES love him, a lot. She married him because she believed it to be the right choice. She believed at the time that she would be happiest and best of with Francis. So yes, she loves him she truly does, BUT the choices he makes aren't always in HER best interest and at heart Mary is still a girl, wanting selfish love, wanting to be put first. Francis will NEVER be able to do that. THAT mostly is what drew her to Sebastian. His willingness to love HER just the way she is. He loves her completely, utterly and selfishly.
In a way you can say that Mary loves Francis as a queen and she loves Sebastian just as a girl. But, she IS a queen and she can't afford to just love like a girl. See the dilemma she's in?
Two men, two totally different loves, how ever is she going to choose, maybe there won't be any choice to make, or maybe the choice will be made FOR her.. Stay tuned to find out!

Let me know what you think?