Henry stirred from of his slumber. Blinking lazily, he tried to focus on the distant voice calling to him. "Henry…Henry…It's quite late...you better wake up now…Henry?" a small hand shook his shoulder trying to rouse him. He breathed in the smell of Lily-of-the-valley that surrounded him; her scent was heavenly. "Henry, darling, wake up." He sighed – there could be nothing sweeter in this world than the saccharine lilt in her voice, he thought. For the first time in many years, Henry awoke with a smile, Catherine's face beaming before him.

(Henry) "How long have you been awake?" he asked sitting up, noting that she was dressed and her hair done up.

(Catherine) "Long enough to know we have problems," she said, sitting before her dressing mirror to put on her jewels.

Henry groaned. "Problems already? But I just woke up."

(Catherine) "You are king, Henry. There will always be problems for you to deal with. Besides, it's almost noon. You are lucky to have missed at least half a day's problems," she said playfully.

(Henry) "Have you ventured out yet?" his voice sounding cautious and nervous. Why couldn't they just stay in here forever…lost in their own world?

Catherine took a deep breath, and shook her head in denial. She had not dared to leave her chambers. In fact, she had not seen anyone but the lady she had summoned for her morning refreshments and news of the court. She didn't want to be jolted from her dream – a happy life with Henry as man and wife, not just King and Queen.

When Catherine awoke this morning, she had basked in a romantic glow watching Henry sleeping so innocently on her chaise. But it hadn't been long before her mind had immediately leapt to the thoughts of those around them. The world outside her chambers could ruin them. It certainly hadn't been kind so far. It had successfully ripped them apart before; and it could very well do so again. And she wasn't ready to face it all. What would the court say? What would their children say? No doubt, the castle would be abuzz with rumors by now – about King Henry and Queen Catherine's fight, about them staying up so late, about them sharing her chambers last night, and about the renovations being made to his chambers. Speculations would be rife about what all this meant – for Henry, for Catherine, and for everyone else. They had been too naïve not thinking about all this earlier. How could they believe that they could wake up one morning and tell everyone that their lives, their marriage was back to normal? How could they expect everyone to just accept that? There were so many lives tied to their own; why had they only thought of themselves?

Catherine had been so lost in thought that she had not noticed Henry approach her.

(Henry) "Catherine…" He had startled her. "We are happy. Why are you so worried?"

(Catherine) "We are happy, but have you given a thought to how we are going to handle our situation? How everyone else is going to handle it?"

With a reassuring smile he asked, "Do you think I am a fool?"

(Catherine) "Only a little more than I am," she teased with a sheepish smile.

The turn in their relationship had done nothing to tame her spirit. Henry let out a hearty laugh; he loved their banter so.

(Henry) "Do you love me?"

Catherine's smile widened. "Only a little more than you do."

(Henry) "So what's there to worry about? When you are with me, we can win over the world. Besides, we are King and Queen of France – and rather intimidating ones if I may say so myself – no one would dare say anything, especially if you give them one of your dangerous glares."

(Catherine) "You might have broken my glare." Ah! Her pout, he thought…he would sacrifice all the riches in the world for that little pout.

(Henry) "Maybe I can kiss it better." He lay a soft, tender kiss on her lips…lingering for moment…long enough for their hearts to beat as one, before breaking away. "Give me a moment to dress, and then we can take on the world together."

(Catherine) "Once you dress and eat," she said nodding to the food on the table. "then, we can take on the world together."

As he walked to the chest of clothes that he had ordered moved to Catherine's chambers the night before, Henry was contemplative, unsure about what he should wear, unsure about what Catherine would like him to wear. He felt like a young boy trying to impress his first love again. He was renewed, refreshed, reborn. Why had it taken so long? Why had he wasted so much time? Now, no more would be lost. No one would come between them; he would not allow them.

(Henry) "So, what is the big problem today?" he asked, munching on a scone.

(Catherine) "A dowry dispute. Lord David, Duke of Anjou refuses to marry his betrothed Lady Nicole, daughter of Vicomte Olivier de Turenne. Seeing the Vicomte's vast fortune, he expected many gifts not negotiated as part of the dowry. The wedding is in a few days, and Lord David is raising an issue now, threatening to break the engagement."

(Henry) "Why is this ridiculous problem being brought to us? We are rulers, not matchmakers."

(Catherine) "If the engagement is broken last minute, Lady Nicole and her family will be disgraced. Vicomte Olivier will use any means necessary to avenge this dishonor. As you know, Lord David's family is extremely powerful and well-connected, and the Vicomte's wealth and influence can buy him any army. We could have civil war on our hands, Henry."

(Henry) "All over a dowry?! Don't those imbeciles know we have more important things to worry about?! The English queen is dying; Mary needs to be groomed to stake her claim on the English throne; we are under constant threat from all sides. And they want us to sit here and negotiate a marriage agreement?! Perhaps I should just have one of my councilors sort it out."

(Catherine) "Half your privy council has grown up with Lord David, and the other half hates him. Half of them are indebted to Vicomte Olivier, and the other half does business with him. You are not going to get a good solution from any of your councilors. It's now up to you to find a suitable remedy."

(Henry) "No, it's up to us. You are my equal…maybe even my superior in some ways," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, recalling their recent exploits dealing with Duchess Cecelia's death."

(Catherine) "I am sure many in France would disagree with you."

(Henry) "I am sure you can convince any dissenters…you can be very persuasive."

By the time the King and Queen of France arrived in the Throne Room the entire court had gathered there – every servant, every courtier, every visitor – everyone who could be there, was there…waiting, watching, wondering if the rumors were true... If they were, neither the King nor the Queen revealed anything with their stoic expressions.

(Henry) "Lord David, Vicomte Olivier, is this dispute really worthy of a King's time?"

(David) "Your Majesty," he said in a syrupy voice as he performed a sycophantic bow. "I truly believe I have been wronged. A titled noble like myself must be honored according to my stature. Vicomte Olivier's measly favors are simply not sufficient. And only a great and just King like you can find a fair solution."

(Olivier) "Not sufficient? Or not satisfactory? Your Majesty, I am a businessman. I know how to evaluate a man's value. I have given the Duke exactly what he is worth."

(Henry) "Hmm…what say you, Catherine? What is your verdict?"

A murmur ran through the room. Had the King just asked the Queen to openly rule on this matter? The Queen had previously offered advice to the King, but he had always made the final decision. She had previously maneuvered behind the scenes, but he had never allowed her to take center stage. Had the sun risen from the west today, they wondered.

Francis and Mary glanced at each other, acknowledging the sudden shift they were witnessing before them. The rumors had been right after all – Henry and Catherine's suddenly seemed so… different. Francis's body tensed. Was his father toying with his mother? Was he simply using her to satiate his latest whim? If so, Francis would protect her at all costs.

Catherine herself had been caught off guard by Henry. They had not discussed her deciding such a precarious issue, especially because the nobles were not fond of her. Henry had never given her power over them before, and she had not expected him to do so now. Regardless, she pressed forward – hesitation would be seen as a sign of weakness, and she could not allow that.

(Catherine) "Lord David, how much are you worth?"

(David) "I… beg your pardon, Your Majesty."

(Catherine) "How much wealth do you have?"

(David) "I have several hundred acres of land, five castles, and countless gold ducats in my treasury. I own several ships, horses, priceless pieces of art, and a title and position at court."

(Catherine) "Who doesn't, Lord David? Vicomte Olivier has double that wealth. Could you tell us what extraordinary feat you have accomplished that allows you to make such extravagant demands for your wedding and dowry?"

(David) "I am a titled man!"

(Catherine) "Oh really?! Congratulations! So?" she patronized.

(David) "So…so it is customary to do all this, especially for a man with an important title. Forgive me, Your Majesty, but if I recall correctly, this was the same arrangement for your marriage as well as the Dauphin's recent nuptials. Your relationship was contingent on a dowry, as is mine," he responded, irritated by the humiliation.

(Catherine) "Firstly, we are rulers. Our marriage contracts affect the fate of nations, and are not reliant on a petty, arrogant man's whims and fancies. Secondly, Francis and Mary love each other very much. Their marriage is not merely a business transaction. As for my marriage, it would be wise for you not to comment on your monarchs, Lord David. You wouldn't want to say the wrong thing and cross us." Besides, her dowry had not salvaged her marriage, she thought to herself. In fact, she had almost been sent back to Italy when Pope Paul III refused to pay her dowry. The agreement that had brought Henry into her life had only poisoned her marriage with an unstable foundation. It was time to put all that behind them now. But could they? It was clear from the tone in Lord David's voice that the people around them would not allow Henry and Catherine to forgive and forge ahead in their relationship so easily.

(Catherine) "Take a good look at Lady Nicole. She is beautiful, talented, intelligent, graceful, well-read, well-educated, and much more. And you… you are a toad…a boorish toad at that." Henry struggled to suppress his chuckle; his wife was a master with insults – a real firecracker when she wanted to put someone in their rightful place, and Henry himself had been burned many times before. Catherine continued. "You can barely hold an interesting and intelligible conversation. If it weren't for your inherited title and wealth, you would not be worth anything. If this marriage had not been arranged, do you really believe that a man like you would have wooed a woman like Lady Nicole?"

(David) "Your Majesty! This has gone too far!" he said, exasperated and indignant.

(Catherine) "No, there is more," she said with a smile. Lord David closed his mouth and averted his eyes as Catherine spoke. "Do you have any idea how much effort Vicomte Olivier and his family have put in to prepare for this wedding? He has imported fabrics and jewels from distant lands, called in performers and chefs from around the world, and has meticulously sought out the best of everything for you and his daughter. And you decide to throw a tantrum over a few "gifts"? Have you no self-respect, shamelessly begging for a larger dowry? Are you incapable of providing for yourself and your future wife without a few extra scraps from your future father-in-law? Are you really that worthless as a husband and as a seemingly powerful, titled man?"

Lord David's was flabbergasted as he opened and shut his mouth several times trying to counter. The Queen had never been so brazen. Although she had always made her opinions of people known, it had been disguised and never in open court. What was King Henry thinking allowing his Italian wife to rule on French matters?

(David) "Your Majesty," he said, trying to address the king, "The Queen is stepping out of line. She cannot treat a nobleman li–"

(Catherine) "Now, Lord David, you have two options: you can hold on to the shred of respect you have left and marry for the agreed upon dowry; or you can lose a wonderful woman like Lady Nicole over a few extra ducats…Well?"

(David) "Uh…"

(Catherine) "Go on. Out with it!"

(David) "Uh…yes…"

(Catherine) "Yes, you want to break your engagement?"

(David) "No…no, I mean I want to marry her."

(Catherine) "So, it's settled then? No more tantrums?"

Lord David nodded his head in assent, still dazed and confused about the whirlwind Catherine had unleashed.

(Henry) "Good! Now that that is settled, Vicomte Olivier, would you still like to marry your daughter off to Lord David? Before you answer, take a moment to consider if this is his behavior before the wedding, do you really trust him to care for your daughter once they are married? Do you believe they will have a happy union?"

The faces of everyone present registered shock…taken aback by the sudden and sincere compassion in King Henry. The temperamental King and Queen had never bothered to care about the lives of others before. But the King Henry and Queen Catherine that was before the court today were not as they used to be. When they opposed each other, they had brought out the worst in each other. But now…now they were allowing their strengths to flourish.

(Olivier) "I beg your pardon, Your Majesty, breaking a betrothal would be devastating. Besides, what does happiness have to do with it?"

Henry glanced over at his wife with a pained grin, tinged with regret and remorse. "Surprisingly, a lot more than we care to admit. You are right - a broken betrothal can sting, but that pain will only be temporary till your daughter is married. However, a broken relationship…a broken marriage can tear her soul apart. I know you have raised your daughter with love and care. I only ask that you take a moment to consider what is truly best for her instead of what others will think and say. Is Lord David really the right man for her? If he is, then I look forward to attending the magnificent wedding feast you have arranged. If not, then I am certain you will find a man worthy of your daughter's hand. You needn't decide now, but certainly consider it."

Henry and Catherine remained in perfect harmony for the rest of the audience. Unlike before, they were not jostling for power; there was no game of one-upmanship; there were no veiled insults. They ruled together – in sync – working with each other instead of against each other. And the King treated Catherine like a Queen, his Queen. There had been a shift, a quiet, but drastic one. The court knew now that the King's affections for his wife had returned. He had made it obvious for all to see. They were one; she was his equal.

Mary leaned toward Francis and whispered, "How odd! Their behavior is so strange, so unlike them! What in the world is going one?" Francis did not respond. He did not understand what he had witnessed before him. He did, however, understand his father. It was only a matter of time before his father tired of this, so Francis was going to stop it before his mother was callously tossed aside again…before she was hurt again.

AN: I know this chapter is not as charged as some of the previous ones. I wanted to set it up so that the French court clearly understood that Henry and Catherine's relationship had changed, but I didn't think these two would shed their regal airs and go around publicly engaging in affectionate displays. Instead, I thought it would be more natural if it comes from him subtlely acknowledging her strengths in public and sharing his power with her, particularly because the French (especially the nobility) taunted Catherine for being Italian and therefore beneath them. There are definitely more charged happy days coming though as Henry tries to win her back. I also plan on bringing in other characters, like Francis and Diane, for some conflict. So, bear with me if this chapter wasn't up to your speed. Let me know what you guys think of where I am taking this story!

LinaOso, I am thrilled you liked Chapter 8! I had the biggest smile writing it too! I hope I captured some of Henry's swagger there. Catherine losing her baby was heartbreaking to write, but I wanted to show Henry's lingering love for her even as they grew apart. Hopefully you like where this story goes from now on!

demedicigirl, You just gave me a new book for my summer reading list! I am sure my writing is nowhere near that of a published author, but I am honored you liked the way I wrote that sequence. Catherine does not leave Henry (I hope you didn't miss Chapter 8!) for now, but I can't say one of them won't leave the other in the future.

unnamed visitor, Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad you like this story so far! There will definitely be more present day sequences now that they are trying to build their relationship, but there will still be some flashbacks so that they can relive the love and contrast the pain. Also, you took the words right out of my mouth. The plague is coming! But it won't be for a while. We'll just have to see how they deal with it =)

Beawild, I adore these two! If I had been in charge of Reign, it would be The Catherine-Henry Awesomeness Hour all day every day – filled with intrigue, dead bodies, and passionate love/hate chemistry. But alas, I have to settle for fanfic instead. I almost climbed into my screen and punched him when he broke her heart on his deathbed, so I'm not going to have him hurt her – not intentionally at least. I hope you enjoy his attempts to win her back!

Guest, Thank you for liking my writing! I have a bunch of chapters in mind. So, I'm going to be updating as soon as I can write each of them down. I hope you keep enjoying them!