"As Catherine and Bash emerged from her room, Mary was coming down the hall."

"My god, what happened?" Mary asked. Catherine didn't know how to explain everything, so she just opened her door to show Mary Narcisse lying dead on her floor. Bash said nothing. He was too busy boring his eyes into Catherine. He just kept staring at her, hoping she'd give away some clue as to what she was feeling about what had just happened between them.

"We found out he had helped plan a coup. He's the reason Francis is so sick. He had him drugged. When he figured out we were coming to tell you, he...he tried to..." Catherine started but got a bit emotional. Bash put a hand on her shoulder. She reacted slightly to his touch, but seemed to be avoiding his gaze.

"No. Tell me he didn't." Mary asked.

"He tried. Bash stopped him." She said. Mary hugged her. "It's okay. I'm alright." Catherine assured, knowing Mary was probably worried about her state of mind. And she really was. "You were right. Both of you. I was such a fool to believe him. Even for a moment." Bash didn't hear the next bit of conversation. He was too busy in his own thoughts. He snapped out of it when he heard his name.

"Bash send all of your men. Every last one if you must. I will not let them get to Francis." She said. Bash nodded. He glanced at Catherine a moment before leaving, trying to assure her it would be alright. She glanced back, looking almost as if she didn't want him to leave her side.

"Bash went to round up the men while Catherine and Mary put extra guards on Francis's chambers. They all met back up at the front gate.

"Are you sure there enough men here?" Mary asked as he mounted his horse.

"Not entirely, but we have more men coming. We should also have the element of surprise on our side. I think we can win." Bash said. Catherine was suddenly afraid for his safety. She was still trying to avoid his gaze, not wanting to give away anything to Mary. She didn't want her to figure out what had happened between them. She wasn't even sure what it was yet. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult with the way he was looking at her.

"Good luck to you." Catherine said. Bash nodded. He thought to himself that if Mary wasn't standing there, he would have gotten down off that horse and kissed her goodbye. He didn't know if she was feeling the same way, and he had no idea why he was feeling this way, but he would hold onto that thought until he got back. He then went to the front and led the men out. Catherine and Mary stood and watched them until they were out of sight.

"When they got over the ridge, they could see the large encampment of men waiting to attack the castle.

"What are our orders my lord?" asked the soldier who flanked Bash on his left.

"We go around and come up behind them, the rest of the men will continue on from the front. We'll crush them between us." Bash ordered. The soldier signaled the others and they all turned right and went through the woods.

"When the battle began, Bash charged off toward the tents looking for Conde. He planned on ending it by cutting off the head of the snake. He got to the tents and searched them all, but no Conde. He went out and got back on his horse, keeping an attentive eye out for him. His eyes scanned the battle as he rode through, knocking a few men off their horses every so often. Still no Conde.

"It was then he realized Conde wasn't in the camp at all. 'But if he's not here then...oh no, Francis.' He thought.

"He was distracted in thought just long enough to be knocked off his horse. He laid on the ground a moment, a little dizzy, as a man came at him with a sword. He blocked it just inches from his throat. The man pushed down and Bash struggled to hold it back because he was still out of sorts. The blade came closer and closer. His head was spinning. He thought he was a goner for sure. Then he remembered the kiss he shared with Catherine. The way she looked in his eyes. How her lips felt on his. No. He couldn't die. Not now. Not before he knew what it had meant to her. Not before he told her what it meant to him. He would not draw his last breath without seeing her again. He pushed back with all the strength he could muster. He got up and staggered forward. They started swinging their swords. They fought for a minute, then Bash stuck him through his stomach. He climbed back on his horse and found his second. He told him he was now in charge of the battle and quickly rode back to the castle to make sure Francis was alright and that Conde hadn't gotten to him.

"When he got to the castle he ran straight to Francis's chambers. He saw the guards laying unconscious outside the door. He rushed inside.

"Francis!" He yelled as he whipped open the door. Francis was standing, Mary and Catherine at his side, Conde dead on the floor. "Oh thank god you're all alright. When I got to the camp and he wasn't there...I rode back as fast as I could." He unconsciously found himself looking at Catherine.

"We're fine brother. Mary stopped him." Francis said. Bash looked at Mary.

"You?" He asked.

"He was going to kill Catherine. I couldn't...he would've killed Francis too. No matter what he said." Mary answered. He looked at Catherine again. Differently now, with his new found knowledge that she was nearly killed. She was staring back at him.

"That mustn't have been easy, but you did the right thing." Bash assured her. Mary nodded and hugged Francis.

"Perhaps, you two should have some time alone." Catherine said and then gave a side glance to Bash. The two of them left the room. When they got into the hallway, they just stared at each other for a moment. Catherine gestured down the hall with her eyes. Bash understood and followed her back to her room.

"She opened her door and let him in, closing the door behind them. They stared at each other another moment. Both were scarred to death about how they were feeling. Bash was about to say something when Catherine hugged him.

"The second I realized we were safe, all i could think about was you...out there." she said. Hugged her back. "I'm so glad you're alright."

"I nearly wasn't. When I realized Conde wasn't there I panicked for a moment thinking about him coming for Francis. A soldier nearly got the best of me...but then I thought of you. That kiss. I knew I couldn't die without kissing you again." he said looking into her eyes. She swallowed hard. Did he just say what she thought he'd said?

"You thought of kissing me again?" She asked shakily.

"And again and again." he said. "If that's alright with you."

"Lord knows it shouldn't be, but I have had my fair share of almost dying today, I think it's time I lived some." she said as she touched his face. He leaned in and their lips met once again. When they needed to breath, their lips parted and they looked into each others eyes, still holding onto one anther. "Who would have ever thought...the two of us..." Catherine breathed out.

"It doesn't seem to make any sense, does it? But at the same time, it makes all the sense in the world." he said. She smiled and they kissed again. "I want us to be more."

"So do I." she said.

"We've both had a long day. I could come back tomorrow. Once we've had time to rest and heal from our wounds." he said. She nodded. He kissed her one more time quickly on the lips. "Tomorrow then." he said as he left. They smiled at each other and he closed the door.

"They both slept well that night, knowing everyone was safe and that they would be beginning this unexpected journey together. It was the last thing either of them ever saw coming, but they felt like they'd been waiting their whole lives for each other. Who knows how love finds us in such strange places.

~FIN~