Disclaimer: NOPE DONT MAKE ANY MONEY OFF THIS, DONT OWN THEM AND IF U SUE ME WELL YOU WONT GET ANYTHING CAUGHT AS MY AUNT SAYS I AIN'T GOT NOTHING! LOL

Catherine stretched out her cramped muscles as she awoke slowly, a fog still clouding her mind as she watched the slight dust in the air dancing in and out of the sunlight that streamed through the window. It must have been past noon from what Catherine could tell. She must have only been asleep for no more than an hour.

Lying on her back, she let her mind wander aimlessly over the events of the last few days. Why did life always have to turn from blissfully happy to tragically awful so fast? Why couldn't the mountains and valleys at least be marked so that you could know what to do when trials presented themselves? Now in these quiet moments alone, Catherine regretted how she had raged at Henry. She wasn't regretful of what she had said, only of how she had let her temper rule her. They were supposed to be learning from their mistakes, not tearing each other apart with their words. Couldn't she at least have reigned in her fiery cascade of words for more calming sentiments? She wasn't a child unable to control herself, but sometimes when it came to Henry she just couldn't control her emotions, and now that she was pregnant she knew her temper would be all the worse. Henry was leaving, possibly already gone, and they were back on the ledge, hanging onto the precipice of disaster and she might never see him again.

What if he was struck by some peasant in the chaos that was ensuing on their border lands? What if, God forbid, the plague took him from her and she never held him in her arms again? What if she never heard him speak her name in his calm gentle way? What if she never felt his lips against hers again? What if she had to raise the child that now grew inside her, without him? What of their other children who were just getting to know the kindness of a father? How could she ever sleep again without knowing he was safely settled beside her? Catherine rolled onto her stomach and grabbed his pillow. Inhaling deeply as she let the soft material touch her face, she could still smell his scent from that morning. She wished he would come to her right now.

As if her mind had summoned him to her, Catherine heard a knock on the door before she heard him enter. Before she could roll over, Henry had already glided to the foot of the bed and crawled up to lay beside her.

"Stealing my pillow again, Catherine?" Henry said, trying to remain light.

He had taken time after he had changed his clothes and crossed swords with Bash to think about why Catherine had actually been angry. Catherine showed her extreme anger when she was really frightened and if Henry hadn't let his ego rise at her questioning of his actions, he would have realized she was doing everything she always did when she knew action had to be taken immediately to save one of their child's lives. Her passion towards their children's welfare was one of the things Henry admired most about his wife, and he hated he had to leave her in a few hours. He prayed that God would let the unrest be settled in a short time so that he could be by her side as fast as possible. He especially felt uneasy leaving her while she was carrying their child. He knew she could and would take care of matters of state while he was away, but he desperately wanted to take care of her since she had expressed to him the night before her fears of losing another child.

He wanted to hold her every night as the love they had made grew within her. He wanted to kiss her tummy good morning as the sun fell upon them in their bed. He wanted to watch her as she changed with the swelling of new life inside her. He didn't want to miss one damn day, and he silently cursed the swine and the duty that would take him away from his heartfelt longings. Times like these made him want to give up the crown all together and take his wife and their children and live as the peasants did. Alas, he couldn't, but it didn't stop him from dreaming of a simpler way.

Henry softly touched Catherine's cheek, running his finger over the lines and silky softness as he memorized every freckle and every crease. He wanted to remember every detail so that when he was alone at night, he could only see her face behind his closed eyelids. He knew he wouldn't sleep, so he would think of her every moment whilst he was away; That cute little dimple when she gave him her real smile that was reserved only for himself, the way she pursed her lips at him when she was thinking, the sparkle in her eyes when he would make her giggle, that cute little birthmark on her chest that was reserved only for his viewing. He would even think of her in her anger. He didn't despise when she gave him a good tongue lashing. In fact, he quite appreciated the look of her as the redness rose to her cheeks and she told him exactly what she thought. She was so beautiful in those moments, like an angry Athena when she destroyed some city in those Greek history lessons he had been made to learn.

Catherine sighed as Henry removed the pins from her hair and laid the crown on the bedside table. Henry ran his fingers through her beautiful tresses before he massaged his fingers lightly against the nape of her neck while he made gentle kisses along her jawline and then made his way up to kiss her chastely on the lips. Her lips were so soft and inviting that Henry would have carried things further if he didn't have to leave so soon. Unfortunately, their time was very limited and the call of love couldn't be answered. Ending the kiss, Henry rested his forehead against Catherine's as he closed his eyes and inhaled her scent, strawberries and honey, cataloging it into the corners of his mind.

Catherine's heart was breaking. She knew that this was him saying goodbye to her for however long they were parted. She couldn't take it anymore. With Henry's eyes still closed, Catherine kissed him. This wasn't a kiss of passion, this was a desperate plea that he stay with her. Catherine de Medici never begged anyone, but as she forcefully kissed Henry she implored him with her lips to stay. Henry laid back on the bed, taking Catherine with him so as not to break the kiss, settling her atop him. Catherine kissed Henry with all the desperation in her soul as her tears ran down her cheeks and mixed with their now fast kisses as Henry ran his hands over her body, caressing her curves in an attempt to remember every part of her. Catherine clung to him as a flower in a storm bends to the will of the wind, accepting everything he gave her. Needing to stop as he felt the tug from the string that attached his heart to her heart, Henry regretfully stilled his hands on her hips and slowed their kisses. Catherine, unwilling to let him go, ran one hand between their bodies to touch his growing manhood through his leather pants.

"Catherine, we can't." Henry groaned, breaking the kiss as she tried to fumble with his belt.

"Yes, we can, Henry. The proof is inside me." Catherine whispered roughly, her voice thick with her emotions as she tried to dispute him, silently begging him with her eyes not to go.

"Mon Amour, just let me hold you before I have to go." Henry said soothingly. Drawing back from him, Catherine tried to remove herself from his grasp unsuccessfully.

"I can't, Henry." Catherine said, fire entering her voice as he pulled her back to him. "I can't say goodbye to you. I can't let you go. I know I put on a good act to be strong and stern, but I just got you back. Please…"

"Shh," Henry said as he placed a finger to her lips, knowing if she asked him to stay he couldn't deny her and he wouldn't allow her to beg, knowing she would regret it later. "I know you can't let me go and you won't have to. I will return to you. That fact is as sure," placing her hand over his beating heart, "as the fact that my heart beats only for you, Catherine." Henry said, whispering her name like a prayer.

"Henry," Catherine said sadly as she placed her ear over his chest to hear his strong heartbeat, "I am sorry about earlier today. You are a good father, but I was just being a good mother. For so long, my children's love was the only I received and they have been the only surety of safety I've had for years. I was wrong to just start yelling and I'm afraid anything you had said wouldn't have reached my mind. I am quite protective to the point of madness with the ones I love." Catherine said, her voice cracking as she buried her head in the crook of his neck as he ran his hands up and down her back soothingly.

"Then I am blessed that you still love me, wife." Henry replied, "Catherine, I love your fire, I love your madness, I love your passion. It's what keeps me in line and makes me thankful every day for that little Italian girl that bewitched me. We both have to start talking to each other instead of yelling at each other. I am sorry as well. I shouldn't have threatened to lock you up, especially when you were right."

"Ahh, Husband, flattery to end all flatteries. Do you use that line often?" Catherine said trying to tease him through her sadness.

"Only on beautiful women who happen to be my wife." Henry said as he rolled her carefully to lay beside him. They laid there silently beside each other for a few moments more.

"Catherine, I," Henry started saying trying to tell her he had to go.

"I know," Catherine said, knowing what he meant to say.

"Will you walk with me?" Henry asked sincerely, tilting her chin up to have her meet his eyes.

"Yes, darling." Catherine whispered.

Henry helped her up and, with her curls flowing wildly down her back and holding Henry's hand the whole way, Catherine walked with him to where everyone was gathered to say goodbye to their King and his troops. Henry gave Catherine a slight kiss after she wished him a safe journey, and then Henry walked toward his horse. Catherine's heart called to him and the short few paces seemed like miles. Catherine watched Henry walk away and remained as composed as she ever was on the outside. On the inside, her heart was breaking into a million pieces. Reaching his mount, Henry took the reins in hand. Henry tried to resist the urge to look at Catherine one last time, knowing it wouldn't help his tortured soul, but look back he did. Seeing the look in her eyes and reading through her thick expression, Henry threw the reins at the stable hand and ran back to Catherine, uncaring about appearances. Reaching her, he picked her up and held her against him as his hungry lips touched her trembling lips, passionately kissing her one last time promising her silently he would return. Catherine wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as her heart soared at his touch, as she loved him with her lips one last time before their parting.

"I love you, Catherine." Henry proclaimed as they ended the kiss.

With all the love in her soul, Catherine professed her feelings for him once more. "I love you, Henry. Come back to me, husband." With a nod of assurance as he looked deep into her eyes, he placed her back on the ground.

Henry strolled to his horse and mounted it this time, gave the call to move out and with a shout for King and country lead the soldiers away.

SO HENRY IS OFF TO PUT DOWN THE REBELS. WILL HE RETURN? WHAT WILL HAPOEN WHILE HE'S THERE? WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH FRANCIS AND MARY? HOW WILL CATHERINE REACT WHEN LOLA RETURNS WITH THE BABY? ALL OF THESE WILL BE ANSWERED EVENTUALLY. SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG TO UPDATE. I'VE HAD RL CRAP AND I'M BACK TO MAKING MY YT VIDS. A NEW ONE WAS POSTED YESTERDAY FOR #CATHRY AND I HAVE 4 MORE IN THE WORKS.