Disclaimer: I don't own Reign.

A/N: Argh, I'm so mad at myself that I couldn't get this chapter up before the season premiere of Reign. Oh well, I hope you will all still read it :). Thank you so so so much for all of your support! I have appreciated it so very much! I now present to you the final chapter!

Chapitre 10

"Francis, it has been over a week since you've been back and almost two weeks since your father passed," Catherine stated seriously, feeling her temper rising with every word she spoke.

Francis stood across from her in the Great Hall of the Chateau de Fontaine with his arms crossed. "I am aware."

"The plague appears to be passing, and now is the time for you to be every day that passes, the threat of someone else seizing your power as king grows. You must be coronated immediately," Catherine explained fervently, hoping and praying that Francis would finally understand. "Mary is already a queen. Her presence is not necessary."

"But I need her there."

Catherine sighed with frustration. After all she had done to see her son upon the throne…

"And I can't risk being gone if something should happen...Jeanne and Lucien have already died from the disease," Francis added. The death of Lucien had just occurred two days ago, leaving Francis even more distressed that the same fate awaited Mary.

Catherine started pacing about the room. "Have you discussed this with her? I think she would want you to be coronated as well."

"I don't want her to worry," Francis muttered.

"We would only be gone for three days at most," Catherine tried to reason with him but Francis just shook his head.

When Francis didn't say anything in response, Catherine huffed.

"By the end of this week, you will be coronated," Catherine commanded him. "Whether you like it or not," she added before stalking out of the room.

XxxxxxxX

"What did your mother have to say?" Mary, who was lying down, asked sleepily as Francis came up beside her sat on the bed.

Francis grabbed one of her hands and held it within both of his. "Nothing important," he whispered.

"Francis - tell me," Mary said, clearly not believing him.

Francis sighed as he moved his body to lay down next to her. He wrapped his arms around her.

"She said I have to be coronated soon and that others will attempt to seize my power if I do not."

Mary opened her mouth to speak, but Francis continued before she could do so.

"But you are more important than a crown."

"But Francis! I never even thought...But you must! You must go and be coronated at Reims!" Mary started exclaiming as her eyes widened.

"I can't leave you," Francis said as he shook his head.

"You must!"

Francis sighed and looked away from her, but Mary reached up her hand and placed it on his face to turn it back towards her. "I will hold on. I will still be here when you come back," she said softly, afraid to say aloud what both of them were fearing - her death. Tears formed in her eyes. "I promise."

"But Mary - "

"You must, Francis. Do it for France...and for me," she pleaded. "I would very much like to see a crown on your head," she added light heartedly.

Francis smiled at her sadly.

"You must go," she said seriously. "France needs its king. Go. Tomorrow!"

Francis began stroking her hair as he pondered her request.

He hated himself for it, but he found himself reluctantly nodding his head in agreement. For her...he would do it for her.

If this would be her final request, he had to grant it.

But if something happened to her while he was away, he would never forgive himself.

XxxxxxxX

Catherine could hardly contain her glee when she heard from Francis the following day that he finally agreed to be crowned king. She immediately made the necessary arrangements for the event to take place tomorrow, which also meant it was imperative that they departed today for Reims.

While the carriages were being prepared, Francis nervously went to see Mary to say goodbye. When he appeared in her room, Mary looked up from her bed at him. Francis strode forward immediately and took her face in his hands as he kissed her passionately.

Only pulling back his face an inch from hers, he rested his forehead against hers as he spoke. "I love you."

"I love you," Mary said in returned, her eyes glassy. She couldn't help but think there was a slight possibility this was their last moment together. Bringing his face closer to hers, she kissed him again.

"Don't you dare leave me. I can't afford to lose you," Francis told her quietly.

"You won't."

She really hoped she would be able to keep her promise.

XxxxxxxX

The further his carriage got from the castle, the more anxiety and regret overcame Francis. He couldn't stop thinking about Mary and constantly wondered if it was the right decision to leave her.

He couldn't bear the thought if that was his final moment with her. She needed to live...she deserved more time on deserved more time together.

If he lost her, he would certainly fall apart.

He couldn't wait to get this coronation over with so he could return to her.

XxxxxxxX

The following morning, Nostradamus came to Mary's room just like every other morning to check in on her and provide her with a pain relieving tonic. As he looked over the sores that were on her body, he was slightly startled when he noticed there were far less of them than there were yesterday. When he laid his hand against her forehead, he felt the temperature of her skin was no longer burning hot as it had been a few days ago.

"Your majesty, how are you feeling?" he asked.

"Well-rested. I finally managed to sleep without waking up multiple times throughout the night," Mary answered casually.

"Do you still feel weak?"

Mary hesitantly moved to sit up in her bed and found she was able to do so more easily than in the past week. She then turned her body to sit on the edge of the bed and proceeded to stand up. Once she stood up, she then strolled over to open the doors to the balcony. The cool wind breezed over her skin, and she took a deep breath. A smile threatened to spread across her face, but she was afraid that this was all merely a dream.

She looked back at Nostradamus, who smiled at her. "Your majesty, I believe you have made an inexplicable recovery from the plague."

Mary's face lit up at hearing this news. Tears of joy slipped from her eyes. She had been so fearful of death. She thought she would never feel this strong again, and she could hardly believe it.

"Your sores are healing, and you no longer have a fever," Nostradamus explained.

Mary shook her head in disbelief. Happiness completely took over her. She greatly wished she could share this news with her husband.

"Francis," she whispered into the morning air. She abruptly turned around to face Nostradamus once again.

"Am I well enough to ride?" she asked urgently.

Nostradamus sensed what she was hoping to do. "Your majesty, I do not recommend - "

"Am I well enough to ride?" she demanded to know.

"A carriage would be preferable."

"There is not enough time to go by carriage. Am I well enough to ride?"

Nostradamus sighed. "If you are cautious and have others ride with you."

Hearing his response, Mary grew ecstatic and anxious.

"I will find a guard to prepare your ride to Reims," Nostradamus added before bowing and leaving the room.

XxxxxxxX

Francis took a deep breath. He was standing right behind the doors that would open up to the main aisle of the Cathedral of Reims, where he would participate in a processional to the altar. He started pacing out of nervousness.

Here he was, about to officially become king, and he couldn't stop fretting. How could a man who had killed the previous king become the new king? Just thinking about it over and over, he couldn't see how he could go through with this alone. And how could he be celebrating this moment, as his wife lay dying in another city? He would not be able to make it through the ceremony…

Catherine, wearing a grand dress, walked up to Francis. Her face was beaming. "My son," she said as she used her hand to comb through Francis' hair. "Soon the crown will be upon your head, right where it belongs." She smiled triumphantly. Francis reluctantly smiled back, but still didn't feel right about what was about to take place.

"The music will be your cue, " Catherine said before heading inside the church.

Francis resumed his pacing and began praying that Mary was well and that she would continue to be well. Taking a deep breath, he finally stopped his movement and stood right behind the doors, awaiting the sounds of the processional music and the opening of the doors.

He had just been about to gesture to the guards to open the doors when he heard a faint voice. It sounded like it was calling out his name…

Turning around, Francis saw the main doors to the cathedral open and a figure rush towards him. A mixture of joy and confusion came over Francis when he saw who it was.

Once Mary reached Francis, Francis placed his hands on her face and looked extremely concerned. "Mary, what are you doing here? You shouldn't be here."

Mary took his face in her hands while she tried to catch her breath. "I'm no longer ill. I'm fine," she said as she let out a giddy and excited laugh.

"What?" Francis said in disbelief, while his emotions were overcome with complete joy.

"I will live," she explained. Francis pulled her close to him to give her a fervid kiss.

Francis pulled away. "Are you certain?" He simply could not believe it.

"Yes," Mary replied. Francis brought her closer again and showered her with kisses all over her hands, face, and neck.

Francis paused when he heard the sound of trumpets from inside the cathedral and Mary, startled, abruptly turned her face towards the doors.

"It's time," Francis whispered before wrapping Mary's left arm through his right, but Mary moved to step back.

"I can't walk with you," Mary said when Francis looked at her with a perplexed expression. "I'm not properly dressed for the occasion," she explained while looking down at the plain brown dress she was wearing.

"I don't care," Francis said, pulling her forward. "I can't go through with this without you beside me. Before you even arrived, I wasn't sure I would be able to do it. Mary, I need you."

Mary grinned and stepped forward, unable to resist her husband's pleadings and wanting nothing more than to make him happy. She looped her arm through his.

Francis beamed, feeling stronger and braver than ever with his wife there with him. He gestured to the guard that he was ready.

The doors opened, and Francis and Mary walked into the cathedral in a state of bliss, feeling ready and eager to rule France together as one.

FIN

A/N: There was no way I could kill of Mary, haha. Anyway, I did a bit of research about the plague and apparently there are new studies about how people actually did manage to survive it, so yeah Mary had to live! Frary must live on!

Guys, I actually completed a story! This is quite an accomplishment for me, and it's definitely because of all of you! You have all been so encouraging in your reviews! And seeing that this story was added to people's alert list and favorites every week made me feel so special! Thank you so much! Love and cookies to all of you!

I think I will probably be writing more Reign fics in the future, although I'll probably be sticking mostly to oneshots. There's actually a oneshot I really want to write that takes place after a season 1 episode...so hopefully I can get around to writing that! And hopefully this season of Reign will also inspire more fic ideas! (Hope you all have been enjoying the 2nd season so far! If you want to chat about it in your review, please feel free to do so! :)

Anyway, in case I haven't said it enough, thank you so so much for reading!