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BlerBlerBler [chapter 46]: She really isn't. Just a little too much at times, but she does love Rosie :)

elder441 [chapter 46]: They truly are and he is! I doubt many kings would even tend to a baby at all. And Merry Christmas to you and your family too :)

Merry Christmas everyone, to you and your loved ones! This is the Christmas special and I believe it's the first Christmas chapter of the story. So, I hope you all enjoy this.

"Anne!"

Anne giggled, running down the halls with her cousin and sister, narrowly missing bumping into the servants who worked to make Christmas special and the guards who chuckled at their insistence at castle antics.

"Where is she?!" The Dowager Queen asked, storming out her bedchambers, her forefinger and thumb holding the tail of a mouse.

The guard bit back his smile as he simply pointed down the hallway where the three children had rounded the corner. Catherine let out a screech and stormed behind them. A queen did not run. Most especially after delinquent children.

Anne gasped when she ran into someone, almost falling down on her bottom but was quickly caught. She opened her eyes meekly and saw her uncle's green eyes.

"Anne, Rose, Robert," he said warningly. "What did you do?"

"We... put Barty the Mouse underneath Grandmama's pillow. It is a Christmas surprise!" Anne explained happily.

Bash sighed heavily. "Children-"

"Anne?! Where are you?!"

"Can we hide behind you, Papa?" Robin asked, eyes wide.

Bash rolled his eyes and shuffled the children behind the hung carpet on the wall. "Catherine," he said, greeting her with a slight bow. "Why are you holding a mouse?"

"I assume it is your son's mouse?" Catherine snapped, almost throwing the white beast into Bash's hands.

Bash's lips almost quirked upwards in a smile but he kept his posture. "Barty? By God, it is. Where is my son though?"

"And Anne and Rose, that is the question," Catherine agreed, crossing her arms. "On Christmas morning no less! Can't that girl leave me in peace or do I have to travel to Italy again? My hair is still purple from last month in the middle. It is hard for the handmaidens to hide the colour of beetroot."

Bash almost snorted. "I do not know where they went. I was making sure that everyone was doing their part for Christmas. Perhaps they are in the nursery. There is a play for the children based on the Nativity."

Catherine narrowed her eyes suspiciously when she saw the carpet shift. "There's a terrible drought, isn't there?"

"Yes, there is. I ought to get the builders on that," Bash replied easily, placing Barty in his pocket and knocking the wall. "Very draughty. Kenna was worried about our youngest catching a cold. It is a risk, for the babies."

Catherine nodded. "I guess the plague required us knocking walls down and redoing chambers all over the castle. Can you believe that a thousand souls won't see today?"

"I cannot."

"But at least you secured our grains for the foreseeable future," Catherine said, almost proudly. "We will be able to pay off our debts early next year."

"Wonderful."

"Not very talkative, are you?" Catherine asked, slowly sidling up to his side by the carpet.

Bash turned to her. "Very busy, have things to do. If I do not complete them in time, my wife won't be happy."

"Who runs your household? You or Kenna?" Catherine asked, grinning as her hand blindly gripped the end of the carpet.

"That's easy - my wife, of course," Bash said modestly. "The children and I are very lucky to have-"

The carpet was yanked down and three pairs of eyes looked up at a pair of angry ones.

"Found you."

Anne grinned. "Did you like your present, Grandmama?"

Catherine cried out in anger. "You wretched child!"

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are!"

"Am not!"

"You are!"

"Ladies!" Bash called out. "Anne, Robert, Rose, apologise to Queen Catherine. Now, please."

The children groaned. "Sorry, Grandmama Catherine."

Catherine rubbed her face. "You are lucky it is Christmas," she told them before turning to Bash. "Keep your son's mouse out of my chambers!"

She stormed off, letting the four breathe a sigh of relief as she left. Bash turned to the children, taking Barty from his pocket and handing it over to Robin.

"The next time he isn't where he is supposed to be," Bash began, ruffling his son's hair. "I will feed him to your horse."

Robin scowled at him but grinned when he saw the smile on his father's face. "No, you won't."

"I won't," Bash admitted. "But your mother might. You know how much she hates rodents."

"Barty is nice though!" Rose said, stroking its back as Robin held it in both hands.

Bash smiled. "Your aunt won't see it that way," he said. "Go to the nursery, I have work to do."

He waited until they entered the nursery before leaving, shaking his head in amusement.

"Naughty children."

...

"That turkey is slightly bigger than James!" Mary stated as she and her husband overlooked the table being filled with food. "It isn't enough."

"Not enough?" Francis asked, eyes wide. "Shall we have the goose and duck after all?"

Mary nodded. "Perhaps the chicken too. Charles eats like a horse."

Francis laughed, placing his hand on the small of her back. "Mary, don't worry. Everything will go well."

"It's the twins' first Christmas and James's first Christmas with you, with us as a family," Mary said softly. "I do not want anything to go wrong."

Francis kissed her cheek. "Nothing will go wrong-"

"Francis, for the love of all things holy," Catherine's voice said, entering the room. She stopped, seemingly impressed at the decorations before her eyes fell on the turkey. "That won't be enough!"

Mary sighed. "I will talk to the cooks," she said, leaving them.

"Your daughter," Catherine told her son. "Your daughter is a little bi-"

"Mother!"

"I guess she is a child after all," Catherine said. "In the spirit of Christmas, I will let her go but if she attempts this again..."

Francis nodded. "I will handle her."

"Now, let's sort out this meal, shall we? The banquet won't feed five, let alone twenty!"

...

Mary sipped her wine, sending her husband a desperate look from across the table. She sat at one end and he sat at the other. The dinner was fairly boring, Catherine carrying their conversations.

The children were at a separate table, having all the fun and giggles as opposed to the adults who wined and dined and said spirited things every now and then. Mary sighed, stuffing some chicken into her mouth.

"We have the carol service at Church later on," Francis said, gaining her attention. "Is anyone up for it?"

Bash nodded. "I will join you with Robin. I think Kenna should remain here with the little ones."

"Yes," Mary agreed. "I will come, we'll bring the girls. Maybe next year, James and Anastasia can come."

"Indeed," Kenna said, sipping her wine.

Mary sighed heavily. "This is boring, isn't it?"

Francis looked up at her. "It is. Do you know what will make this better?"

"What?" Catherine asked dubiously.

"If we had the children sit with us. We can add to the table, bring their Christmas spirit-"

"They will mess the dinner up-"

"They will be better conversationalists than we are," Francis cut his mother off.

"He isn't wrong," Claude said, picking at her dinner. "I do miss Lawrence in my arms."

Francis grinned. "Then it is done." He got up and entered the next dining hall, gaining the children's attention. "Would you like to eat with us?"

The girls looked to Robin for confirmation before nodding at their father and hurrying up from their seats. They followed him into the other room where a table was being added to the end of the larger one, perfect for three new heads and a few babies in their parents' or aunts' or uncles' arms.

This time, Francis invited Mary to sit beside him, her switching seats with Bash. Everyone more or less rearranged themselves and soon, the dining hall was full of laughter and joy, most especially on the children's parts.

"Merry Christmas, Francis," Mary told her husband, taking his hand and kissing the back of it.

"Merry Christmas, Mary," Francis replied, kissing her cheek. They could save the more heated kisses for later.

...

"Rose and I have decided to give our presents away for Christmas," Anne announced after the Church service, on their way home. "To the children at the orphanage."

Francis grinned. "Would you both like to follow me to the orphanage tomorrow then?"

"Yes, Papa," Rose replied happily. "Can we pray for them as well?"

"Yes, Rose," Mary said proudly. "That is a very thoughtful idea."

Regardless of Catholic or Protestant belief, a prayer was a prayer.

"Do you think Jesus will be happy with us?" Anne asked.

Francis nodded. "He will. You two are very thoughtful girls and we are all proud of you."

The girls blushed and the rest of the carriage journey home was full of carols and singing.

"...Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel..."

Mary wondered how the Scots were celebrating Christmas. Would it be a happy one or a sad one? Their independence was shortlived, and they had a wonderful but sad Christmas last year.

She'd received gifts for her, Francis and the children this year from her cousins and uncle in Scotland. Along with some letters on the Scottish government and how there were fears of a Frenchman joining it. But those problems will be solved for another day, this day was for her family.

"Should we treat ourselves to some pies before bed when we get back?" She asked her husband as the girls continued to sing. "Just you and me?"

"Yes," Francis said, nudging her shoulder gently. "We should."

...

Mary undid her laces, pulling her corset and skirts down before taking off her shirt. Underneath she had red lingerie on and she smiled when she felt arms wrap around her waist the second she dropped her shirt onto the floor.

"My wife is so untidy."

"My husband is so clingy," she replied, turning in his arms to wrap her arms around his neck. "I thought I'd get into the festive mood."

Francis pulled her closer to his frame. "Well, your plan is working wonders."

"On who?"

"Me."

Mary chuckled, kissing his neck softly. "Is that so?"

Francis nodded, feeling her trail her kisses upwards. "It is."

"Shall we... move this to the bed?"

"We shall," Francis replied breathily as she started to strip him as she walked with her back towards the bed.

She knew their bedchambers like the back of her hand, the satisfaction of reaching the edge and falling onto the bed before her husband could sneak a kiss in. She laughed when he let out a dissatisfied groan, quickly leaping on her and presses butterfly kisses on her skin.

"I apologise for not getting you a gift this year," she whispered.

"Our children are enough," Francis told her. "And there is always next year."

Mary giggled. "So, what did you get me?"

"You will have to wait until next year."

"Why?" She asked, pushing him away from kissing her.

Francis smirked. "Because I didn't get anything from you this year."

Mary gasped. "The cheek!"

"Says you!"

She rolled on the bed, out of his reach and leapt from it, scouring the chambers for her gift. "What did you get me, Your Majesty?"

"Would Her Majesty like to return to our bed?" Francis cheekily replied, laying back on his pillow and watching her open trunks and look through the chaise pillows.

"No, she would not," Mary said. "Not until her gift is in her palms."

Francis playfully rolled his eyes. "Am I not enough? My handsome body, luscious curls and steadfast loyalty to you?"

Mary scoffed, almost giggling. "No."

"How rude!" Her husband gasped. "Well, then. Sex is off the table, Queen Mary."

Mary narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. She then collected her robe and put it on, sliding her velvet slippers on. "I have in-laws for a reason. Bash will know-"

"Mary!" Francis cried out, getting off the bed and catching her in his arms just before she got to the doors.

He lifted her over his shoulder and brought her back to bed, pinning her on it.

"Francis Valois!" Mary cried out in surprise.

"Mary Stuart!" He mocked her. "How dare you use my brother against me? Of course, he would know where it is hidden just as I know what he got Kenna and where it is."

Mary chuckled. "Of course. It is smart, I guess." She looked to the side. "So... What did he get her?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because you won't give me mine!"

"He got her a ring. A new one. His familial heirloom is getting old and worn, so I helped him source an amethyst ring. Oh, and he couldn't resist when the jeweller came with options and he also got her an ivory necklace and gold mirror."

Mary gasped. "Where's my ivory necklace and gold mirror?"

Francis rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said, getting off her and getting on his knees. He reached under the bed and retrieved a large wooden jewellery box with gold detailing. He then placed it on the space beside her and she grinned happily.

She opened it up.

"Francis!" She breathed out, lifting the necklace up. "Is this onyx?"

Francis nodded. "Elizabeth had her finest jewellers make it for you. I paid for the necklace but she believed a woman should always have matching earrings, brooches and bracelets for such a masterpiece."

Mary eyes watered. "I love onyx."

"I know you do."

"I have the perfect dress for it. I will wear it for the New Year's Mass service." She looked at him. "I am really sorry I forgot to get you something."

Francis shook his head. "It doesn't matter."

"It does," Mary said, placing the necklace back. "Remember that waterfall in Avon?"

"Of course, I do."

"I think it's time that we should have a little visit," Mary said, smiling widely.