"I-I can't," Mary whispers. "Francis, I can't. I can't marry you." She gets out of the bed, doing her buttons up as he tries to pull her back but she moves from his reach.
"Mary, why?" He asks softly, remaining on the bed to give her space as she turns her back towards him. "What are you scared of?"
She turns sharply. "You!" She cries out before she sees his eyes fall and then she sighs heavily, closing her eyes. "No. Not you."
"Mary-"
"What the hell, Francis?" She breathes out. "I... There is so much going on. I need to help Kenna and Bash settle in, I need to prepare Jean for his new school, I have to start planning what we're going to do for Christmas-"
"You need to start thinking about yourself," Francis cuts her off.
She meets his eyes, rubbing her neck nervously. "No," she whispers. "For the past eight years, it's been all about me. I just wanted one moment to think about someone else for a change. For nobody to worry about me-"
"It's marriage, not me looking after you!" Francis cries out before sighing and bowing his head. "I didn't mean to shout. It's just that... Can I come closer please?"
Mary nods slowly, waiting until he stands in front of her, his hand taking hers. "What?"
"I've known deep down that there was only one person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. No matter how many times I get married, or if we never saw each other, or if we hurt each other in the very worst ways possible... I'm sorry that you experienced what you did and I can't take away all that pain," he starts shakily. "As much as I want to and I can't help you forget because you'll have nasty reminders even though you try not to remember because of your amnesia. I just want you in my life because I love you and I never want to hurt you or make you uncomfortable so I'm sorry. I'm sorry that the meeting with your mother got me thinking hard about our future together and I just... I don't want to waste any time."
Mary bites her lip, sniffling. "She gave you the ring, didn't she? The one my dad gave her."
Francis leaves her side, going to grab the ring box from his trouser pocket. He walks back to her and opens the box up. "Beautiful," he mumbles. "Your father had good taste."
Mary nods shakily, her breath hitching in her throat. "All I've wanted was to do him proud. He would have loved you, I'll be honest. A bit excited like a puppy but you're amazing. You truly are and any woman would be lucky to be your wife-"
"There's a 'but' coming," Francis whispers sadly.
Mary shakes her head. "No 'buts'," she says. "I want to be that woman. The woman you love, the woman you need. I'm just afraid I won't live up to your expectations."
"That's easy, I've set the bar low," he jests softly, making her laugh softly. "No, you're the expectation. Just you and nothing else. As long as I have you, you don't need to worry about being right or wrong, I will love you."
Mary stretches her fingers out before reaching her left hand towards him. "Do it quick, I need a kiss."
Francis almost chokes as he struggles to pull the ring from the box and his hands are stopped by her smaller, gentle ones, her eyes amused as she takes over and hands him the ring.
"It's expensive," she reminds him teasingly. "Go on then."
Francis slides the ring onto her finger and she pulls him to her frame for a soft kiss. "Thank you," he almost sobs against her lips, making her smile widely. "You have no idea..."
"I think I'll have a pretty good one if you..." She trails off, pulling his shirt off of him. "Show me."
That night, Kenna stuffs earmuffs on, chuckling to herself.
...
"Your mother's ring," Kenna states as they watch daytime TV.
Mary blushes, showing it to her. "Can you believe it? We're both getting married."
"And are you happy with that decision?" Kenna asks her, a smile threatening to breakthrough.
Mary plays with the ring. "I am. I-I want to suggest me adopting Jean. I don't think Francis would appreciate that."
Kenna rolls her eyes, taking Mary's hands in hers. "You're the best thing that happened to that man and his son. I'm sure if you bring it up, he'll be so happy."
Before Mary can say something Jean enters the living room and she hears her name being called, "Mary, can you help me with something please?"
She heads upstairs, confusion on her face as she heads into her bedroom and finds candles lit up and the curtains are drawn. She laughs softly, shaking her head in disbelief as she steps towards Francis laying seductively across her bed.
"What exactly is this 'something' you need help with?" She asks coyly as the scent of spiced apple, cinnamon and vanilla reach her nostrils, her eyes darkening as she gazes over Francis's body.
"Nothing much," Francis admits. "I just wanted to spend time with my-hmm, what are you again?"
"Your fiancée," Mary says, feigning shyness.
"That's right," Francis says. "How could I forget? You're the most beautiful woman I've ever laid my eyes upon."
Mary snorts now, crawling onto her bed so she hovers over him. "I'm happy, Francis. Really happy."
He brushes her hair from her face, a smile widening on his lips. "I'm glad you are, Mary."
"Before we engage in uh, adult activities," she says, chuckling. "When are we telling Jean?"
"He knows," Francis says, blushing. "I couldn't exactly tell Bash who was rearing to go and drive back to Paris, could I? I'm surprised Jean's not using his therapy sessions to talk about how much I use him as a therapist. Next, he'll be mixing my dry martinis, asking about the woes women bring."
"Don't make Jean a bartender before his time," Mary says, giggling.
Francis chuckles. "He's glad. You've made a big impression on him and... We're a family, Mary."
Mary beams. "We are."
...
"Are we there yet?"
Mary shares a look with Kenna, Bash and Francis before they say, "Four more hours," making Jean laugh before he returns to his iPad.
It's Christmas and Mary excitedly tells Francis and Bash all about their sights as Kenna pipes in every now and then, in and out of sleep from her pregnancy. They decided to all go by one car, following Mary's flight anxiety and Kenna's morning sickness sticking around.
Mary spots Jean eye Kenna's twenty-five-week bump and she smirks to herself, seeing the cogs run in his mind as he taps away at his iPad, documenting every bit of information he can about their holiday to Scotland.
"Does it hurt?" He asks when Kenna's awake for the fifteenth time.
"What?"
"Being pregnant," Jean replies, studying her bump.
Kenna rubs her bump lovingly, a smile on her lips. "Not really. Only when the baby grows a lot but that's at different points in the pregnancy. It's tedious, my back kills and my feet hurt but it's not hurtful. I'm just happy and I'll bear all the pain that comes my way."
Jean nods, satisfied with her answer. "So, it will be my cousin?"
"Yeah," Francis says, eyeing his son through the rearview mirror.
"Can I hold it first?"
Bash snorts, turning around in his seat. "Maybe after me," he says.
Jean chuckles and looks back down. "Are we there yet?"
"No," the adults say.
"Merde," Jean mutters, getting a look from Mary. "I mean, okay."
...
The first stop they make is at Kenna's house as it was closer to the motorway they came off at. For some reason, Mary's nervous and as the car pulls to a stop at seven past eleven at night, her eyes remain focused on the old mansion.
The lights are on, not surprising for Kenna's family as they are night owls, partying at all hours of the day on the shared rare time off from work. Mary just knows they'll be bombarded by Kenna's parents and siblings, her beloved godfamily.
It will be practice, she thinks. For the real thing. If Francis can handle her father figure's steely gazes and her godbrothers' relentless teasing then he can handle her mother once again and Jim.
The front door is pulled wide open, a youthful-looking woman walking towards the car with a shawl wrapped around her body as she beams happily, willing for them to hurry up and greet her.
Kenna's mother.
Mary's nerves increase as she steps out first, rounding the car as the guys say quick 'hello's before getting their travel bags since they're staying for the night before heading to her family's home in the morning.
The woman opens her arms out wide, one would think Mary was being welcomed home.
"A-Aunt Joanna," Mary breathes out, hurrying to hug her tightly and all of her nerves disappear as her eyes close. "I've missed you."
"You don't call enough," Kenna's mother gently chastises. "You'd miss me less."
Mary laughs wryly, stepping back to allow the woman to hug her daughter tightly. "I'll call more often. Even my mother berates me for that."
"As one should," Joanna replies. "Family is important. Even godfamilies."
Kenna pulls a face at Mary before stepping back so her mother can touch her bump. "Be careful, this one is a feisty one."
"Uh-oh," her mother says, eyeing Bash. "We'll have another you, it seems and one of you is more than certainly enough for us. Come on in everyone, it's snowing and freezing cold, we'd be mad to remain here for long."
Mary leads them inside, steering a shy Jean in as they find a tall man with a cane standing by the conservatory door. Mary smiles shyly, playfully rolling her eyes when the man clutches at his chest dramatically.
"So, she lives!" He says. "Little Mary Stuart, a little bird told me you are engaged."
"The bird is right. Does she have a name, say? My mother, by any chance?" Mary retorts.
Kenna's father chuckles. "We celebrated your happy news," he says. "We're all rooting for you, you know that, don't you?"
"I know," Mary says softly.
"And your father... He'd be so proud."
Mary smiles, her eyes stinging with tears as she curses under her breath. "I know," she croaks out.
"Come on then," Robert finally says. "Give me a hug."
Mary hugs him tightly, blinking back her tears. It truly is like the start of coming home. She closes her eyes, tightening her hold.
"Thank you for everything, Uncle Rob," she whispers into his ear. "I know it wasn't easy. Supporting my family after I did that. You've done my father proud too."
He tightens his hold on her.
...
"Linlithgow Palace," Mary breathes out, gesturing to the vast abode. "My h-home."
"Is an understatement," Francis says, eyes wide as he, Jean and Bash look upwards. "I feel like an ant."
"Yeah, it has that effect on people," Mary says, helping Jean wheel his suitcase inside. "Can someone wake Kenna up?"
Bash looks down and turns in the direction of the car, where Kenna's fast asleep on her seat. "When did she fall asleep?!"
Mary chuckles, stepping into her family home and looking side to side. "Mother? Brother dearest?"
"Farmer's market," a woman's voice says from the top of the stairs. "Mary."
Mary looks up and smiles as her half-sister-in-law comes downstairs, a baby in her arms. "Renée, it's lovely to see you and... is this...?"
Renée makes it to the bottom step, coming over to show Mary her new niece. "Meet Bethany. We argued over her name for ages but we both liked Bethany."
Mary gasps and holds her arms out to hold her new niece. "She's so beautiful..."
"Thank you," Renée says breathlessly, blushing as she slips some hair behind her ear as she looks up to see a yawning Kenna come inside, complaining about heartburn. "Kenna, it's nice to see you again and I'm guessing these two bonny lads are your beaus?"
"Huh-uh," Mary hums, staring into her niece's deep blue eyes. "Oh my God, she has my father's eyes. You're a pretty, little girl..."
"Your brother said," Renée replies softly. "He can't wait to see you. And give your fiancé the third degree but, he's just as excited as a puppy."
Mary laughs, turning to Francis. She watches as he and Bash sort out the luggage, deciding that they'll take it up for the women as well and she can't help but think that she wants this. Marriage, kids and the works.
She smiles to herself, deciding she'll ask later as she rocks Bethany in her arms.
...
"Your brother is... interesting."
"Yours is too," Mary quips, jumping into her old bed. They had her bedroom remodelled and she basks in the new sheets, closing her eyes happily. "I want to get married!"
"We're already getting married," Francis says with a chuckle before he puts his pyjama shirt on and joins her in bed.
Mary rolls over to her side and pouts. "No, I know but I want to get married now."
"What?" Francis asks, eyes wide.
She nods, bringing his hands towards her. "Holding my niece made me think how much I want you, Jean and me to be a proper family. As you said, we don't want to waste any time so with my family present, will you marry me here in Scotland on New Year's Day?"
Francis starts laughing before he stops and his brows furrow. And then starts laughing again in disbelief. "Mary, we can't plan a wedding in ten days!"
"Yes, we can," Mary says, shrugging. "Kenna's eldest brother is an officiant as well as a doctor. And we can get married in the chapel on our lands-"
"You have a Church?"
"Oui," Mary sings as if it's completely normal. "The local priest holds sermons there every Sunday and important dates. I wouldn't like to disturb him because he and the wife finally booked a cruise away, my mother says. And... my mother still has her wedding dress and I remember being a little girl - I remember this by the way - and I would stare at that dress all day long. She's saving it for me."
Francis blinks in surprise, looking down at his clothes. "I don't have anything appropriate for a wedding! Babe, I only bought smart-casual outfits."
"Hmm," Mary hums, sitting up and eyeing his stature. "Kenna's other older brother is roughly about your size. He has a bunch of expensive suits he buys and doesn't wear. We'll find something nice. Perhaps a navy blue."
"B-But my family-"
"Have a private jet. They can swing by!" Mary says. "What do you say?"
"Cake-"
"Bash is a great baker," Mary cuts him off.
"Flowers-"
"We have seasonal gardens where Renée sells bouquets at the local farmers' market," Mary says happily, taking his hands in hers again.
Francis chuckles softly, bowing his head and shaking it. "You thought this through, haven't you?"
Mary nods. "Please," she whispers. "Tomorrow we'll start introducing Jean to his mother and this holiday is all about new beginnings and building a future. I want you to be my husband as soon as humanly possible." She cups his cheeks. "Be my husband in ten days or I'll break up with you."
He starts laughing, pressing a kiss on her nose. "I'll be your husband in ten days only if you'll be my wife?"
"I thought that was a given," Mary replies, kissing his lips softly. "We should probably start practising for our wedding night."
He snorts, trailing kisses on her neck. "What my future wife wants, my future wife gets."
Sorry if it's fast-paced this chapter. I had a lot I wanted to do as my plans for the last chapters are written and the chapters in work. I actually have the final chapter, chapter 20 written up before 19 and it's already grabbing at my heartstrings because I was so inspired for it. So, Francis and Mary are getting married in ten days, she reconciles with family and friends, bringing her back home. Next chapter, Mary faces her demons for the final time.