Disclaimer: …BHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH nice try homie. If I were in charge, THAT NONSENSE wouldn't have happened last episode.
AN: SHOUTOUT TO MY GIRL, CALLMECORDELIA1 AKA STACEY FOR LISTENING AND HELPING ME OUT WITH THE DIRECTION OF THIS CHAPTER. Get a snack. Captain's orders. Enjoy the read and your snack, my dearie loves.
Goodnight, my Catherine. I love you.
"Mama?"
My Catherine.
"Mama, wake up now…"
I love you.
"Mama, Mama - "
Goodnight.
"Mama - "
I love you, Catherine.
"I'm awake now, sweetheart. What is it?" A groaning queen sat up in her bed, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"Care for some breakfast, Catherine? You didn't eat much last night." A few blinks and her husband bearing a tray laden with foodstuffs came into focus.
"Yes, thank you. Margaret, sit properly so can eat - Henry, she'd like a berry roll." Margot laid across her mother's lap shook her sweet head.
"I already fed her, Catherine. Do you think I'd let a child of mine starve?"
Don't look at me like that, please… "And what do we say, Margot?" She was a master of hiding behind her children to cover up her own emotions.
"Oh! I'm so sorry, I forgot. Thank you, Papa." Rolling to sit up herself, Margot beamed, all nightmares forgotten.
"Of course, little darling. It's what papas are for." The princess smiled as her father kissed her curly head.
"It's very nice having you as a papa, Papa."
"And it's very nice having you as a Margot, Margot." The littlest dauphine of France squealed as her father caught her around the middle and gently tossed her in the air.
"Henry! Careful!" Catherine cried as she watched her baby girl in open air above her husband's head.
"She's fine, darling. Aren't you, Princess?" Henry asked their daughter who was still giggling.
Margot nodded, her curls bouncing around her head before turning to her mother. "Mama, did you hear?"
"What's that?" At ease that Margaret was alright, the Queen sat back with a small smile.
"You're Papa's 'darling' and I'm his 'little darling'." She proclaimed excitedly, glad to be like Mama.
"And I wouldn't have it any other way."
Stop looking at me like that.
She wasn't quite comfortable with the softness in his eyes, especially after those waking thoughts she'd had earlier. "Margot love, do you need help getting to the nursery, or would you like me to walk you?"
"I think I can find my way if Guard Lucas comes with me?" Big brown eyes looked at her and Catherine sighed thinking how she had her father's eyes.
"Lucas?" The Queen called out. The guard appeared in a moment, bowing to the royal family.
"Your Grace?" Margot waved at her most favorite guard and he gave a little wave back.
"Your Princess requires an escort to the nursery. Be her guide, would you?" Nodding, he stood to the side waiting for the young girl to ready herself.
Wrapping her little arms around her mother, the princess whispered into her mother's ear, "Please come read us a story tonight?"
"Of course, Margot." Helping her slip down off of the mattress, Catherine and Henry waved off their baby.
"Have a nice morning time, Mama - and you too, Papa." They bid her the same, Henry giving an extra 'I love you' to their happy girl.
"Is she not shy of your guard?" The King asked as he spread some marmalade over his wife's toast.
"She's been around him all her life." The Queen explained simply accepting the toast. He remembered I like marmalade? "There isn't a need for her to be shy. Lucas even gave her that little wooden unicorn you might have seen on her bedside table for her last birthday."
He'd gotten her an actual horse, hadn't he?
"…Henry?"
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" He'd have to go down to the stables to make sure he'd actually bought that horse. If he hadn't, he'd get her three… and maybe attach horns to them. His princess could have a real unicorn.
Damn guard giving my girl a gift…
"I only asked if you'd like some as well, you brought enough to feed me and the rest of your children." She gestured to the feast he'd laid before her.
Henry shook his head although he had a bite of her toast. "I'm fine, I ate with Margot."
"So you'll be watching me eat?" She asked, slightly amused he'd taken a bite for himself.
"No, but, Catherine, we need to talk."
And things were going so well…
"Henry, not now." She sighed, praying he'd leave it.
But of course he plowed on. "After everything that's happened, I think - "
"For goodness' sake, Henry, I haven't even had my toast yet." She cut him off in exasperation, only to have him shout back at her.
"Then have some damn toast so I can talk to you!"
"Yes, because yelling at me about toast is really how you want to start this conversation." It was easy for her to slip on her mask when he yelled. She'd done it often enough before.
"I'm sorry." Sitting on the edge of her bed, Henry placed his head in his hands and let out a groan. "I'm sorry, Catherine. I just - "
"Need to calm down and take a breath."
He couldn't help the small smile from breaking on his face.
You always know what to say, darling.
"Catherine, yesterday was a disaster. I tried to make things better, but then they just got worse. I'd like to have dinner with you tonight." He's looking at me like that again… "I'll have the gold dusted chocolates made for you. Or maybe you'd like to take a boat out on the lake this morning? I can go grab some blankets and prepare a boat for us while you change. What do you think?"
He reached for her hand and as he was about to lay it against his cheek, she pulled back, looking away.
"I think this is too much too soon and I think you need to take more than a moment to decide whether or not you still want to pursue this - no, don't say anything." She lifted a hand to stop him. "Listen to me. I love that you've taken an interest in the children, and I hope that whatever happens between us that you'll continue to at least visit them. You and I were married at fourteen, but even with my limited experience, I don't think that we should have to try this hard. All these things going wrong might be a sign that we should just give up. If - "
"Do you want to give up?" His question brought her to a full stop.
"Excuse me?"
His voice was low and melancholy. "Do you want to give up on us?"
"Henry, I - "
"Answer the question, Catherine." She couldn't escape from those eyes.
"It isn't about - "
"Catherine. Don't run this time. Please, I know you don't want to trust me - I don't trust myself to not say something hurtful - but I won't bed another. I won't hurt you in that way ever - "
She couldn't listen to his promises. "But you will, Henry. It's in your nature to stray, to - "
"To fall completely." He nodded, frustrated that his past had so much evidence against him. "To turn at the scent of a woman. To chase and get bored when I'm done playing with her. I know these things. Doesn't it mean something that I keep coming back to you - "
"And Diane. This marriage was supposed to only be you and I, but she - "
No, Catherine, no.
"You'll never have to share me with her again. I'm yours. I married you, I made you my queen, you're the one I love. Caterina, please - "
"Stop."
"No."
"Henry - "
"Catherine - "
"Why - "
Henry clapped a hand over her mouth to keep her from speaking. She could hate him for it later. He just needed her to listen.
"I won't give up even if you have. I'll make you see that I'm what's right for you, that we're good for each other. I'll be the father I'm supposed to be, the husband I used to be. You don't have to do a thing, just love me as you always have and I'll show you how I love you."
He took away his hand and replaced it with his lips on hers. He'd captured her words in his mouth, but he was desperate for her to understand. She needed to know that he'd made his choice. That she was the one he wanted for the rest of time. That he wasn't going anywhere. He'd knocked over the tray on her lap when he made to kiss her deeper. He didn't care. His arms wrapping around her as he pressed her into the mattress, he took heart when she began kissing him back. Her hands were fisting in his shirt and he loved the way her nails felt through the cotton. But wait, was she trying to throw him off? He didn't want to force her into anything she didn't want to do. Easing up a bit, he thanked his lucky stars when she pulled him back down. Finally parting from those delicious lips of hers, he leant his forehead against her.
"You've made a mess of my sheets."
Henry laughed. Of course you're worried about the sheets.
"I'm not even sorry."
AN: Did NOT think that's where this chapter was headed, but hey - I can't stop them. They'd throw me in the dungeon. Let me know what you thought xo
To Shadowhunter: Love you back sweetie xo *passes over some waffles because waffles are awesome* Hello, Dolly! Is amazing and I hope you'll think so too. It's SO camp sometimes, but I love those aspects of it because I'm a little camp myself lol
To Jayleigh81: I hope this was a mash up between those two feels? Xo let me know Binny
To CallmeCordelia1: Ugh, she's SO guarded and it's like…bae. Boo just trying to be your man like he's never been before. Don't sweat it. But then she's all, QUIET, PEASANT and then I have to run for my life.
To Guest Reviewer Katie: Ah, I feel so justified. How'd you like the chapter? Hit me back sweetie xo
To Guest Reviewer nat: Here you go, love! Thank you for reading! *and some cookies for you too*
To PopRockShawty: Lol, my character analysis on point. I love creating Margot and thanks to RP, I always think of baby Henry as chers yeux ^_^
To demedicigirl: Little Henry was actually me last chapter. I was so hungry hahhahaha I'll try to do some more Catherine first person POV. Glad you liked the chapter xo
Dear readers,
Would you like to see them be cute and happy after this or would you like them [Catherine] being all, WHAT HAVE I DONE?! Let me know!
Xo,
Lina