I do not want to keep them separated for too long so bear with me! Every couple needs their ups and downs and Francis and Mary will be stronger for it. Chapters 22 and 23 have been posted together.
"I really thought he was a good lad for you," Jim tells his sister as they walk their uncle and aunt's new golden retriever, Bowie. "He's kind, family-oriented, business-savvy-"
"You should date him then," Mary teases her brother.
Jim scoffs and leads Bowie away from the dog they pass. "So this Louis broke your relationship up and then got you?"
"He never really had me," Mary says. "I think I've just had my first rebound."
"Did you sleep with him?"
Mary shakes her head, blushing. Is this really something to talk to her brother about? "No. I wasn't comfortable with that. He tried initiating third base but I never wanted it. I'd tell him I was on my period or I couldn't stay for long or I had to pick up one of the little ones for Catherine... I always had excuses for all types of sexual activity. I just didn't feel comfortable doing that so early on into a relationship. I made Francis wait a whole year for that and what he would have thought if I'd given myself to Louis straight off the bat. I have morals."
"Good," Jim says, sighing in relief. "And you're on the pill?"
"Yep."
"And when you were... you know, you'd use protection?"
She blushes even more. "James Stuart!"
"I can't afford a niece or a nephew, Mary!" Jim replies, laughing. "Nor can Christian and Natasha afford a great-nibling too."
"Hilarious," Mary breathes out. "I don't intend to get pregnant, don't worry. I'm barely done with my second year."
Jim squeezes her arm for comfort for her behalf. "Are you thinking of a Masters degree?"
"How will I afford that?"
Jim gives her a little grin. "So, I moonlight as a technician at your university starting from May."
"Jim!" Mary squeals happily, hugging him tightly. "God, which department?"
"Yours, Humanities - Psychology," he replies. "I went on the tour yesterday and made it a done deal." He cups her cheek. "Perks is, since I work there part-time, I could get my relative discounts on their chosen Bachelor's degree or Master's degree."
Mary's eyes water. "Oh, Jim. You've already done so much for me... I will have to find a way to pay for it-"
"I'll pay for it. Put your loan on me-"
"Jim-"
"It's what your mother would have wanted," Jim says softly. "Mary, the heads of the house have to sacrifice to make sure at least one of us makes it. You're worth it and think about all the money you'll get when you get your first job somewhere swanky and private and cool. I love you."
"I love you too," Mary says, sniffling as she digs her face into his chest. "I'll live with you guys for that year then."
Jim runs his fingers through her hair. "I think you ought to have hope when it comes to you and Francis. You'll probably have your own place together and all of this will be a distant memory."
Mary doesn't say anything because she's cut off by Jim groaning that Bowie's done a huge shit in the middle of the pedestrian walk.
"You clean it!" She cries out, hurrying down the pavement as he mutters a curse under his breath.
...
Before she knows it, the holidays are almost over and it's a month until exams start again. She spends the rest of their four-week break revising and working and on the last week of their break, she nervously heads up the stairs to find where Francis is.
"I need your help," she says when he opens his door.
He's surprised to see her but lets her inside. Deep down, he hopes she'll say something along the lines of them getting back together but she looks determined and far from anything romantical as she gets right to business.
"It's Kenna's birthday on Saturday - 1st of May," she starts.
"I remember. Bash is coming home to celebrate with us," Francis says. Kenna has invited them over to the back for a low-key but high-key party with a special announcement. He's surprised about the invite but they are sort of friends and she is with his brother.
Mary smiles a little. "So like, I want to surprise her with a photo collage of her favourite things," she tells him. "I was hoping you'd take photos for me to blow up onto a canvas for her bedroom."
"Are you sure?" Francis asks curiously, going to his desk to retrieve all of his cameras and check them.
"We're friends, aren't we," she states simply. "And well, I want to make it special. She's been through a lot."
Francis gives her a look over his shoulder. "I know," he mumbles. "So, where should we start?"
"The cheesiest of them all - the Eiffel Tower," Mary grins.
Putting his prized possesions into his bag carefully, he makes sure the bag is secure before putting it on. "I guess we'll take the train."
...
Mary watches as Francis focuses his camera on the Eiffel Tower. He's on one knee, trying to get a good scope of the landmark. She's always intrigued whenever he's in the zone and she wonders if he still has photos of her stored somewhere.
"...done," he mumbles, getting back up to show her. "The best one?"
"Yep," she says, giving him a warm smile. "Okay, next up is a busker by the Seine. Or it could be a performer."
"Let's go then," Francis says, his hand almost twitching to take hers. "How's Louis?"
Mary sighs. "We broke up."
"Sorry to hear that."
"I'm not," she says honestly.
They go back into silence again before finding a performer. It's a dog and its owner, the dog performing tricks and Mary dumps a few notes into the hat by the dog as it jumps through hoops of different sizes expertly. Grinning, Francis manages to catch the dog in the air on his camera, a black furry thing with its pink tongue sticking out in the side and it's clear as day despite the speed at which the dog was going at.
"Got it?"
"Yeah," he says, showing Mary happily as the dog decides to circle them. He chuckles, telling the owner that it is okay.
The next stop is the Louvre Museum which Francis takes multiple photographs of the pyramid structure. As he's looking through the photos he's taken, to see which ones to delete, Mary looks over his shoulder.
"We went touring around Paris once," Mary informs him. "I took a picture of her under the Arc of Triomphe and the Château de Chambord."
"We could put those on the picture collage."
"Yeah," Mary replies.
They make their way to the Musée de l'Orangerie and strangely enough to Mary, they decide to go inside and enjoy the art gallery. It feels like a date if not for them being ex-partners but Mary's always done more with Francis than she's ever done with any guy.
When they're done, he takes a photo of the building and soon they're off to the train station to head home. But Mary spots a café.
"I'm starving. You?" She asks him.
"Uh-"
"I'll pay," she mumbles before already heading to the café.
He follows after her, and she orders for them both, blushing when she remembers his go-to order. Of course, she does, she'll never forget it. She hands over the cash and collects her change and their orders before bringing the tray over to the table he's picked for them. A two-seater.
Sitting across from him, she gives him his BLT sandwich and coffee, milk and one sugar before digging into her own meal hungrily. She's skipped breakfast this morning, trying to figure out what to get Kenna so food is a welcome sight as she quickly devours her chicken sandwich.
"Slow down, you'll choke," Francis mutters, getting up to get them two tap glasses of water. He returns to their table and slides her glass over to her, watching as she takes a few sips to de-clog her throat.
"I'm sure you heard my tummy rumbling," she says lightly, laughing self-deprecatingly. "I had a nice day today."
Francis picks at his sandwich. "Same. But it's not the same, is it?"
"No," she admits quietly. "How's your new girlfriend doing?"
"It's early days," Francis mumbles, avoiding her gaze.
Mary nods. She knows he won't give her more than that so she merely sips her tea and sighs heavily. "I hope the picture collage is great. Can't afford to get her something because nothing's on sale."
"Whatever she gets from you, she'll love it. That's what best friends are for," Francis tells her. "And I will do my best to make sure it turns out great. Only if you say it's from me too though."
Mary notes the teasing in his tone and she smiles at the awkwardness between them thawing. "If I must! You've seen her in her underwear anyway so I guess you just have to be on the signing card," she replies, playfully rolling her eyes.
He laughs. "Please, don't tell Bash that part."
"You'll have to pay me."
"Name your price."
Mary bites her lip thoughtfully, looking around. "Two lollipops, three bonbons and a Coke."
"Ooh, hard bargain. How about a lollipop and two bonbons?" He asks upon spying the price of the treats.
Mary snorts, rolls her eyes and grins. "A lollipop - the big one, two bonbons and a Coke."
"Urgh, deal," Francis says, shaking her hand before getting up to get her bribes. He returns as soon as he's got them and gives them all to her, Mary handing a bonbon packet to him as consolidation. "Oh, thanks for the thing I paid for."
"You're welcome!" She sighs wistfully and bows her head. "I'm sorry we couldn't make things work."
Francis's smile leaves his face but he brushes his thumb over the back of her hand. "I believe in fate."
Her eyes meet his. "So do I."
...
"Mary, it's beautiful!" Kenna gasps, staring down at the canvas in disbelief.
"It's all Francis," Mary tells her. "He took the photos and I put two of the ones we explored there too."
Kenna's eyes water and she squeezes Mary's hand. "It's the best gift I've ever got. Thank you."
Bash raises his brows, lightly glaring at his brother. "Do you mind?"
"It's not my fault I'm the more sensitive one," Francis replies, shrugging as he gives Kenna a quick hug. She even kisses his cheek for good measure and he raises a hand to defend himself from Bash's incoming light hit.
After everyone's given her all of her presents, she takes the time to properly thank them from the bottom of her heart.
"So, my special announcement..." Kenna starts, quickly grabbing a flute of champagne.
"Are you pregnant already?" Claude teases her, raising her brow at Bash.
"Claude!" Catherine chides her daughter.
Kenna laughs it off much to everyone's surprise and she flicks her hair over her shoulder. "Ruin this figure? No way in hell. Anyhoo, I spoke to my parents and we talked things through and ultimately, I made the decision to sell the apartment my brother left me as well as accept his money so from his will..." She turns to Catherine. "I'd like to invest in your restaurant in England. Make your late husband's dream come true."
Everyone gasps and Catherine looks like she's about to faint if not for Francis quickly helping her down to a seat. Her eyes sting with tears and she shakes her head in disbelief.
"B-But-"
"And I'd like to fully pay off your mortgage and I went on a little shopping spree and got everyone presents... Don't worry, there's still a lot more where it comes from and I have invested into baskets everywhere. I don't want anyone to worry and you've all been amazing and supportive and I know no one better than you all to call my family," Kenna says before cringing a little when she eyes Bash. "Well, my in-laws. But without the marriage and as for you girls," she turns to Mary, Lola and Greer. "My sisters."
Catherine wipes her tears with a tissue and sighs heavily. "I've truly been blessed the day I told my son to let you girls live in our guest house."
Mary grins. "So, about these presents..."
"Oh, Mary..." Kenna tuts.
Ooh, this actually might be nearing the end of the story. But I have a sequel planned in the sense of their life after university (including Masters degrees and all that jazz). So Frary's last year at university in their Bachelor's degree will be ending on chapter 25 after starting on chapter 24 and we'll pick up in the sequel after university so a good few years (maybe ten) down the line. I've enjoyed writing this story and I haven't forgotten about The Reality Stunt, I have all the notes for the chapters but I keep getting excited about this story so left that for this. And I'm also enjoying writing scandalous chapters for Marie, Queen of Sweden, an ATEOTB spin-off. I have so many stories that I get sidetracked on, I'm working on all of them and maintaining a tutoring job online so my life's hectic, haha! Anyway, the next chapter is for all of you xx