AN : Here is the next part, hope you'll enjoy :) Another drama here… be prepared.

Disclaimer : I don't own « Reign », no plagiarism is intended and I don't make profit of this story.

A special dedication to Ruby, and Yogourtime : Thank you so much for your sweet feedback on my last chapter, I really appreciate it :) and I'm so glad you love this fanfic, I hope I'll not disappoint with this chapter hihi… here we go ;)

Chapter 35

Later that day,

The nurse had just finished to bathe the new princess that the duke and the duchess of the Alps knocked on the door.

Arnaud was clearly out of breath when the guard opened the door to allow him and Carolina in. A smiled planted itself on the man's face when he saw the King and Queen in each other's arms waiting to be given back their baby.

"Congratulations !" Said the duke and duchess still trying to catch their breath. They approached their rulers and spoke further. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner, I've been out in town since yesterday and I was only informed an hour ago that the Queen went into labour…" His speech was cut several times by him retaking his breath which prompted the King to laugh.

"Thank you. It's alright Arnaud – Henry laughed even more and got up from his wife's side to go and see his friend – you can take you breath now" Said the smiling King while putting his hands on his old friend's shoulders.

Arnaud smiled back "So where is that baby of yours ?" He added looking around the room and spotting the little baby that just came out of bath wrapped in a fluffy towel.

The nanny handed the little girl back to the Queen and they all gathered around the bed.

Henry laid on the other side of the mattress, beside his wife and the duke and duchess remained standing beside Catherine, intently looking at the baby in the Queen's arms.

"Meet her Royal highness, Princess Madeleine of the Royal house of Valois" Said the King with a beaming smile while stroking his girl's soft cheek.

The duke and duchess bowed slightly at the new little Royal.

"What a beautiful baby" Said the duchess while getting closer to look more closely at Madeleine's immaculate face.

"How did the delivery go ?" Asked Carolina to the Queen.

"Well, it was not my worse parting but it could so easily have been… If Henry hadn't been there, I don't know how I would have done…" Answered Catherine while lovingly taking Henry's hand in hers.

"What happened ?" Asked Arnaud curiously.

"During the most part of the labour, we were helped by a woman, a novice, who had never helped a woman to give birth and was afraid and, get this, she was disgusted by it and couldn't help anymore when the true midwife who had later arrived asked her to." Explained the King.

"Really ? And how did you do ?" Asked the duke, his stunned face matching his wife's.

"I helped her while the midwife put pressure on her belly to assist Catherine's push – smiled the King at his Queen before returning his attention to their friends – what the woman's body can do, really, it's amazing and something to see…" Henry was still amazed by what he had seen.

Carolina laughed at the King's words.

"No but, really, I imagined it several times, but to actually see it in real… that's a thing." He said honestly.

That's the exact moment Madeleine woke up from her little slumber.

"Oh, I think she's hungry…" announced the Queen.

"Of course – understood the duke and duchess – we will see you later, congratulations again, we will make sure you're not bothered by anyone today." Continued Arnaud before heading towards the doors with Carolina.

"Thank you" answered the rulers at the same time and watched as their two hosts closed the doors behind them.

Henry held his crying daughter while Catherine unfastened the top of her stained nightgown.

"I know my little darling I know you're hungry, you'll have to tell you mama to hurry up." He said softly to the baby in his arms. But when he finished his sentence, he received a playful slap against his arm.

He looked at his wife with false indignation. "Catherine ? You would dare to strike your King while letting your baby die of starvation ?"

The Queen laughed, really… she had really married someone unlike the others. The King joined her laugh and handed her their princess.

Catherine placed her red and crying girl at her breast and she immediately calmed and sucked her nipple.

"There you are princess." She spoke softly to her daughter.

Henry more than enjoyed the sight he was subjected to, his lovely wife, still in her stained clothes and oily hair, nurturing the fruit of the love they had made.

The King stayed silent, observing this tender spectacle and contemplating the chance he had…

/-/-/-/-/

In the evening

The King was laying in bed, he was already his nightwear and was waiting for his wife while holding the new little lady in his life.

His wife had gone into the adjoining room with a lady to take a well-deserved bath a little less than an hour ago.

When Catherine came back, she was wearing a black silky nightgown. The garment had very thin straps, it was very simple but so very stunning on her… at least that was what Henry thought. She walked slowly towards the bed, her body still hurting from her painful delivery.

But it had been so worth it, if only to see what she saw right now : her bare chested husband smiling down at the little baby girl in his arms… how long had she waited to see that ?

Oh she was getting emotional again and that's the moment Henry chose to look back into her eyes.

"Darling ? What is it ?" He said to her while she sat beside him on the bed.

Her eyes glistened even more when she smiled "Oh… if only you could see what I see…"

He grinned "well, I'm perfectly satisfied with my view…"

Her smile widened and a joyful tear escaped her eyes. A tear that was immediately wiped away by her King's gentle fingers.

But when the Queen thought about what she had to say to him right now, her smile vanished as she worried. She had managed to delay this conversation during all day and had even prolonged her bath to gain a little more time but now, she had no more… she needed to tell him…

Seeing her concerned face, the King took her hand and said: "Catherine ? What is bothering you so much ?"

A little smile formed on her lips when she looked up into his gentle eyes.

"Henry, I…" She stilled herself on what could be her husband's reaction to what she was about to say. "I can't share your bed anymore… at least for a time." She finally uttered the words and saw her husband's facial expression change from attentive to utterly shocked and disturbed.

"Why ?" he asked and tried not to be offended by her words.

"I just can't Henry." She said while getting up and heading for the window, her back turned to him.

The King frowned at her words and actions before getting up silently, still with their new born baby in his arms. He then headed to the cradle and laid down Madeleine in it with the greatest care before focusing all his attention back on his wife.

From where he stood, he could see the moon shining onto her form and glowing on her dark dress. She looked so very beautiful with her golden waterfall of locks flowing down her back. Her hair was gently moving with the rhythm of the light summer breeze coming through the open window and the King was completely entranced by it.

On the other side, Catherine thought about what was happening, how desperately she wanted to sleep beside him, but she couldn't… and it tore her heart apart to have to send him away.

But before she realised what was going on, two strong arms wrapped themselves around her from behind, her husband's arms. She hadn't heard him approach because she had been too caught up in her thoughts. She stiffened in his arms, she couldn't allow herself to take comfort in them, if she did, she was afraid she would lose the will to do what she had to… he had such a way of soothing her but she couldn't… so she slowly removed herself from his tender arms and spoke as plainly as she could, still with her back turned to him. "Henry, I can't."

Now he was worried, what was happening to her… he turned her to him and spoke honestly : "Catherine ? what is happening to you ? I… – he lost his words for her moment afraid to see her slipping through his fingers for a reason he still didn't know, what could he possibly have done for her to react like this – I thought we were happy… I… I don't understand… what have I done wrong… I…"

Catherine's heart broke when she saw her beloved husband so disoriented and with such pain and incomprehension in his eyes. She timidly went closer to him and caressed his naked chest in a soothing manner before resting her hand over his heart to feel his strong heartbeat and finally letting her hand drop back beside her body. She couldn't do more and quickly took a step back before losing herself in the warm flesh of his chest.

Henry observed her actions silently, not understanding in the least this suite of gestures from her. It seemed as though, she was fighting something… a desire maybe ? maybe she truly wanted to be left alone and didn't know how to say that to him.

"You've… you've done nothing wrong Henry." How could she let him believe that after all he had done for her in the last months and especially today. No, he had been perfect, more than perfect… her husband… she loved him, wholly and truly but she had to send him away from their, until then, shared bed for his own good.

This unsettled Henry even more… if she didn't reproach anything to him then for what reason was she sending him away ?

"Then why ? Catherine what have I done to deserve this ?" He asked his voice full of sadness and pain.

Catherine knew she couldn't stand for long the emotions she saw dancing in his eyes without dissolving into a bunch of tears for inflicting him this pain and sorrow.

"Nothing, you've done nothing…" She had to find a solution and quickly, she couldn't keep herself composed for much longer.

"And if you won't then I'll sleep on the couch." Before Henry could react, she directed herself towards it, laid down and covered herself with a nearby silky coverlet.

The King took a second to follow her, completely shocked by what she had said and what she was doing. He certainly couldn't let her sleep there and he had to understand why she was acting so strangely.

Henry came beside her a few seconds after she had laid down. He sat on the floor next to her face and spoke "Catherine… do you honestly think I'll let you sleep here ?"

He said those words with such softness that she had to avert her eyes. She knew he would never let her sleep there.

"Catherine, darling, look at me please – she did so, slowly – Catherine… I don't understand, I need to know what is going on…"

"Nothing, I just can't Henry…" She managed to say without crumbling into tears. She couldn't tell him and risk to see disgust replace love in his eyes.

"Catherine it's not nothing, please, tell me… I need to hear what you suddenly blame me for, I need to know why Catherine." At this point he didn't know what else to do so he took her soft and dainty hand in his and pleaded her to tell him the truth.

"I… I do not blame you for anything Henry… please, let me go." She begged him not to ask further questions.

Her words felt like a stab to Henry's heart, and he cringed in pain. She was so desperate to see him leaving her alone… so desperate to see him go away and let her be… he didn't understood in the least what was happening for her to suddenly act like that. She said he hadn't done anything but… he must have, otherwise why would she be acting like that.

Catherine's heart bled upon seeing her husband's reaction to her words. It was excruciating for her to endure this sight. She knew he must believe he was to blame for it… but he definitely wasn't and she couldn't stand to see him torturing himself over something he had not even done…

*Let me go* she had begged him… if there was one thing the King knew, it was that he would never, ever, let her go.

"Catherine, I'll never let you go. Whatever it is, you can tell me… I thought you trusted me… I…" He sighed in pain once again, not able to finish his sentence, he flinched away.

Catherine nearly broke at that, to see him reconsider her trust that he had gained so difficultly hurt her to no end. "Henry, I… I trust you… I " but this time he cut her off, his voice not angry but resigned.

"No, you don't trust me… – he looked away from her before trying to take his hand away from hers"

Tears formed in the Queen's eyes when she heard her King's voice, never had she heard his voice, the voice she loved so much, carry such suffering and agony… and she had done that to him…

Not having the strength to keep him from leaving, she watched as he got up, turned his back on her and occupied the same spot she had a few minutes ago.

From where she was, Catherine could see the moon glow over the bare skin of her husband's upper body, he was always so handsome… but then she also noticed his distraught shaking and a self-hatred she couldn't control rose in her… how could she do that to him, to her poor husband who had been nothing but the picture of patience, love and tenderness in the last months…

"What I am going to do ?" she heard him whispering to himself desperately.

She had asked him to stop asking questions and to let her be, but now, she was afraid she was truly losing him… and over what ? No, it couldn't be happening…

The Queen got up, silent tears she couldn't control running down her face. She quietly approached him and wrapped her arms around him from behind like he had done earlier.

She then placed a tender kiss on the flesh of his back, he sighed, turned around and saw her face marred by tears.

Despite everything, he was still completely unable to see her crying so he wiped off her tears before asking : "Catherine, tell me, what is it that makes you so afraid to talk to me ? I'm sure it's not even worth what we're actually going through… I can't help but imagine the worst, Catherine… maybe you don't love me anymore, that's why you want me to let you go… if that's the case, I… I don't know how I'll ever be able to go on in life… I've given you everything Catherine… I cannot live without you… if you leave me right now, I'll die." He spoke the truth and looked deeply into her eyes.

When she heard that, she embraced him with all her might, her arms around his torso and her head against his heart. "I won't leave you, ever. I love you Henry, and I trust you… never doubt that." She cried.

He held her to him and ran his free hand in her hair "Then tell me, I'm not going anywhere, nothing you could tell me could send me away from you." He was begging her to tell him at this point.

She sighed and resigned herself to finally do what she now realised she should have done in the first place : tell him.

"Henry, it's for your own sake that we cannot share the same bed…" she started, her head still against his chest, listening the steady rhythm of his heart. He said nothing but waited for the next part of her explanation.

"It's that… I'll bleed Henry, for the next nights I'll bleed a lot and even possibly stain the bed. I… I didn't want to see disgust of me shining in your eyes… I couldn't bear it…" She, at last, told him the truth.

Now Henry understood, but was shocked she could believe he would ever be disgusted by her. He slowly untangled their bodies to be able to look into her eyes. Such uncertainty and love he saw shining in them… but also naked fear, she was afraid that he would leave her repulsed because of that blood…

"Catherine, I won't be disgusted, darling. You'll bleed, well alright. It's normal Catherine, you just gave birth to the most perfect little girl I've ever seen. And Catherine… I won't ever leave you… and certainly not for this… I wish you had told me sooner. It would have saved us both quite a lot of pain." There was no hint of reproach in his voice, only the soft tone she adored.

She gave a small smile but hated herself for inflicting that on her gentle husband. She rushed back into his arms "I'm so sorry Henry… I… I never wanted to hurt you." She sobbed at this point.

"Shhh, my love… – he once again held her and caressed her soft hair – I know, it's alright." He reassured her.

"I'm a monster…I" She continued but he cut her off once again, this time not for the same reason.

"Catherine, you are not a monster… you were afraid. – he tried to convince her to no avail, so he tried another way – I see no monster here, just my darling wife worrying over nothing." He said tenderly before asking to the woman in his arms : "Will you let me sleep beside you tonight, Catherine ?"

She untangled herself just enough to be able to look into his eyes before answering : "Yes… if that's what you want."

"It's not a matter of what I want, but of what you want… for my sake you know there's no place where I'd rather be but if you don't want me to sleep be…" He said lovingly and caused a smile to form onto her lips. But she cut him off before the end of his speech…

"I want you Henry, now more than ever…" She reassured him and the smile she adored so much finally appeared on his face.

"Would my Queen accept that I carry her to bed ?" he asked and caused her to laugh… how he had missed it.

"Yes" she simply answered and her husband carried her bridal style to their bed to place her softly on the mattress. The King then went to the other side and laid down under the covers as well.

Catherine looked at him unsure… he had agreed to share her bed but she didn't know if she should come closer.

"Catherine, please stop worrying… I love you. I. Love. You. not only because of your physical appearance – God knows that you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met – but because of who you are. Catherine, you're beautiful by your way of thinking. You're beautiful by the sparkles in your eyes when you speak of something you love. You're beautiful by the ability you have to make people around you smile, even though you are sad. No, you aren't only beautiful for something as fleeting as appearance. You are beautiful, deep in your soul. Nothing will ever change that and certainly not a few drops of blood. In my eyes and in my heart, you'll always be the number one, Caterina, no other can even begin to compare with you. When I fell in love with you, I fell in love with all of you, not just the great but also with the "bad" you see in yourself. But the bad you see, is the great that I see because I love every part of you, every bit and I always will. Thank you for being mine and making me a better man." He said to her and opened his arms. She immediately smiled brighter than all the stars in the skies, her eyes filled with happy tears and she went closer to rest under his warm and protective arms where she always felt safe. He knew it was because she loved him that she worried like that but he hoped he had finally succeeded to dispel her uncertainties.

"I love you too Henry. You make me feel beautiful, loved, protected and taken care of." She stroked his chest, loving the feeling of him beneath her hands "I don't ever want to live my life without you by my side. You are every reason, every hope and every dream I've ever had… and I will always be yours." She kissed his collar bone tenderly "I fell in love with you because you loved me even when I couldn't love myself…" She looked into his eyes and finished "Thank you for always trying to be a better man even when I fail to be a better woman. You are so much more than a simple person, you are a part of me, a piece of my soul… a piece of my heart. And if one day, I lose everything, I will not have lost anything if you are there… It has been you yesterday, it's you today and it will be you tomorrow. I just hope I won't stain you…" This time fear and worry were absent from her voice and Henry was pleased by it. How affected by her declaration he was, she didn't know what it meant to him, did she ? He thought he couldn't love her more than he already did, but once again, he was proved wrong by the wonder of a woman her had married.

"Catherine do you know what will happen if you stain me ?" He asked softly as she looked into his eyes, awaiting his answer.

"If you stain me, well, I'll change so you can do it again." he smiled before she kissed him. How she loved that man, she couldn't understand why she had ever doubted him tonight.

She then replaced her head on his chest and both began to doze off, but before they could completely fall asleep, the Queen whispered : "Thank you Henry, for being patient with me…"

He tenderly stroked her waist and said before drifting off to sleep "You are the best thing I've ever waited for, Caterina."

AN : Phew… that was quite emotional haha

I hope you liked it :)

Tell me what you think ;)

And HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all :)

Laura D.