*Author's Note: A little bit of a time jump between the last chapter and this one as we get closer to the end of the story. Also, I have finished my Mash one-shot. It is called "Revelations" and should be uploaded in the next couple of days, I just have to finish editing.

Chapter 25

Bash watched as Mary seated herself carefully in a chair by the fire, her heavy belly making it a delicate task.

"I feel like an overgrown sea creature," she grumbled, rubbing her very large stomach.

"You're trying to do too much. You have barely a month until the child is due. No one expects you to attend every audience and function."

"But I want us to show a united front. We rule as a team, and I want everyone to know that."

Bash knelt down in front of Mary's chair.

"The nobles know this, all of France knows, Scotland as well. You don't have to make yourself suffer to prove it."

Mary sighed, "I just don't like feeling useless."

"You could never be useless, Mary. I rely on your opinion more than anyone else's."

He rose to kiss Mary's forehead.

"Promise me you will get some rest. You'll need your strength when the baby's time comes."

"I promise, Bash, but you can still ask my opinion. I like to be included in decisions."

"That I know very well." Bash chuckled as he remembered Mary when she first came to French Court. Many had thought she would be easy to manipulate and control since she had been sheltered at the convent for so many years. They had underestimated the fire within her and they had been burned because of it. She was a force to be reckoned with, and he was thankful she was on his side.

Mary tried to find a comfortable position to sleep in, but the sheer size and weight of her belly made that impossible. She sighed as she pushed herself to lean against the pillows instead of lying flat on the bed. Her back had begun throbbing and she rubbed it as best she could to alleviate the pain. A sudden crushing tightness around her stomach took Mary by surprise and caused her to cry out.

"Mary!" Bash jolted awake as he yelled her name, jumping from the bed to defend her.

The pain eased as Bash climbed back on the bed toward Mary.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Mary said as she stroked her stomach.

She felt a rush of wetness between her legs and frantically began removing the covers, fearing she was bleeding. To her relief there was no blood staining the sheets, and she suddenly realized what was happening. She grabbed Bash's arm as her muscles tightened around her belly once again.

"Fetch Nostradamus and send a guard to the village for the midwife. Our child is coming."

"Now?" Bash questioned, worry filling his voice. "It's too early."

"The child doesn't seem to think so," Mary said, gritting her teeth through the pain. "Please, Bash. Go, and hurry back."

Bash tore down the hallway toward the infirmary, shouting to a guard to send for the guard scurried toward the stables as Bash turned the corner. When he reached the infirmary door, Bash crashed through it, not caring whether Nostradamus was awake or asleep. The seer quickly stood from his work table, a look of annoyance fading from his face when he recognized the intruder.

"Your Grace?"

Bash interrupted him before he could say more. "The baby is coming."

Nostradamus simply nodded. "Go to her. I will bring an elixir to help with the pain, and I'll send for the midwife."

"Already done," Bash said as he turned to leave the room.

Bash returned to their chambers to discover that Mary's ladies had already been summoned. They buzzed about the room as they made ready for the midwife.

"Bash!" Lola exclaimed. "You really shouldn't be in here."

Bash smiled at Lola's informality. He had begged Mary's ladies to keep calling him by his given name after he had been crowned. They had gawked at the idea at first, but they did as he asked. It made him feel a little more like himself.

"He stays!" Mary demanded from the bed as she squeezed Greer's hand tightly.

"The midwife will just make him leave," Greer argued.

"I am Queen," Mary gasped, leaning back against the pillows. "She will do as I command."

Bash took Mary's other hand. "I will remain with my wife unless she asks me to leave."

Lola gave him a small smile as she handed him a wet cloth for Mary. "Did you find Nostradamus? Is the midwife on her way?"

Bash wiped the sweat from Mary's brow as he answered. "Nostradamus is bringing Mary something to help ease her pain. I sent a guard to fetch the midwife. She has been staying in the village to be close if we needed her."

A knock sounded at the door, and Kenna went to answer it. Kenna had been very quiet since Francis's imprisonment. She had requested to return to Scotland when Mary and Bash left for their coronation, and Mary had agreed. She only wanted Kenna to be happy again, after all.

Nostradamus entered with a vial of elixir. He handed it to Lola. "Put two drops of this into her water. Only give her two drops every hour."

Lola immediately began to follow Nostradamus's instructions.

"I will go to the stables to wait for the midwife. If I am needed, send a guard to fetch me there."

Mary sipped her water greedily. She gave the cup back to Lola, just as another pain jolted through her body. Bash cringed as his wife's hand gripped his own with more strength that he could have imagined her capable of.

"I hope that elixir begins working quickly," Mary muttered.

Her pains continued as the group impatiently waited for the midwife to arrive. Mary felt as if she had been waiting for hours when the midwife came through the door, though Lola claimed it had been only one. Lola was just giving Mary another dose of elixir when the midwife was ushered into the room.

"Your Grace," she said as she bobbed a quick curtsy to Bash. "You should not be in here."

"He stays," Mary commanded from her bed.

The midwife sighed, "Yes, that's what Nostradamus said you would say."

She turned to Bash. "Are you sure you want to be here? This will be bloody and painful."

"If Mary wants me here, I will not deny her that. I can handle blood; I've been in battle."

"Childbirth is quite a different battle."

Mary cried out in pain once again, and the midwife began to examine her.

"You seem to be moving along normally."

"I don't think Nostradamus's elixir is working anymore," Mary stated through gritted teeth.

"It's working," the midwife said. "Your pains are getting stronger, though."

The midwife warned that the next stage would be a lot of waiting, and Mary's pain would continue to grow as the birth progressed. Bash held her hand and bathed her forehead with cool rags as the pains became more and more frequent. The midwife checked Mary again and announced that she was ready to push.

"Are you staying, Your Grace?" The midwife raised her eyebrow at Bash.

"I'm staying." He looked at Mary, who nodded her affirmation.

"Fine. If you're staying you have to be helpful. Get behind the queen; you're going to help her push."

Bash quickly moved onto the bed and settled himself behind Mary so that she could recline against his chest.

"Okay, Your Grace, let's try pushing."

Bash took Mary's hands in his own and she gripped him tightly as she pushed with everything she had. Bash marveled at his wife's strength. She pushed again and again as the midwife ordered, working to bring their child into the world.

"Almost there. I need you to push one more time."

Mary met Bash's eyes and he could see she was exhausted. "Once more, my love. You can do this."

He felt her body tense as she prepared to push. Mary's hands tightened around his and her back arched off of his chest. She gave an agonizing cry that was quickly eclipsed by a loud, gurgling squeal. Bash looked up to see the midwife lift a fat, squealing baby into her hands.

"Congratulations, you have a son!"

The room erupted into cheers from Mary's ladies.

Bash leaned into Mary. "I love you." He whispered to her as the midwife brought the baby to them.

Mary raised her arms to take the child and snuggled him tightly to her breast.

"He's perfect," she cooed.

"Just like his mother," Bash whispered.

Mary looked into his face with tear filled eyes. "We have an heir. We have a son."

"What shall we name him?"

Mary smiled at the baby boy in her arms. "We will name him after kings: James Henry."