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Guest (1) [chapter 9]: I am now! I will now be staying away from seafood. haha. Thanks so much, enjoy this next chapter!

elder441 [chapter 9]: Thanks so much, here's more!

Guest (2) [chapter 9]: Thanks so much and I am feeling much better. Here it is in this chapter! More to come though.

Guest (3) [chapter 9]: Here's the next chapter, enjoy!

Guest (4) [chapter 9]: Thank you very much! Enjoy this next chapter.

Loud screams were heard and Kenna ran towards the source, one of her handmaidens following behind her. She struggled, the handmaiden being quicker than her as Kenna was now six months pregnant.

When they arrived, she gasped when she saw Anne and Rose fighting over once of Mary's dresses.

"It's mine!" Anne cried out.

"No, mine!" Rose replied, angrily.

Kenna walked over, snatching the poor dress easily from the grips of the two girls. She glared down at them once they realised her presence and looked up.

"Auntie Kenna! Rose was ruining Mama's dress. I tried to stop her, I did!" Anne cried out, crocodile tears leaving her cheeks. "She said she wanted to give Mama a surprise for when she and Papa come back."

Kenna raised her eyebrow, seriously thinking if the child thought she was stupid. "Is that right?" She asked, turning to a frightened Rose. "Rose?"

"She was trying to wear Mama's dress," Rose said. "I told her not to, she wouldn't-"

She gasped when she felt a pinch on her lower back and she kept quiet, her cheeks further reddening. Tears threatened to spill over and Anne seemed to be proud of herself.

Sighing heavily, Kenna knelt down to both of their heights. "Girls, you do know the importance of telling the truth? The Bible says we should not lie. Now tell me what happened, what really happened."

Anne looked down. "Mama's dress was just lying on the bed. I wanted to put it on, it is so pretty."

"Now, was that so hard?" Kenna asked softly, brushing tears from Rose's cheek away. "Not only that, but you and Rose are sisters. Rose is your only sister and there is only one of her. In the future, when you need your closest allies by your side, you would want your sister there wouldn't you?"

Anne turned to Rose, her eyes falling. "Yes. She is my best friend!"

"Why do you not treat her as such sometimes?" Kenna asked, handing Rose a handkerchief to blow her nose. "You can't bully your little sister, she's all you've got."

"I'm sorry, Rosie," Anne mumbled, giving her a tight hug.

Rose froze. "It's okay," she replied, not quite sure what to do.

"Lovely," Kenna said to them. "Who wants to make some strawberry tarts?"

"I do!" Both girls cried out, each taking one of her hands as she stood back up.

Kenna sighed in relief. If this was how it was like having many children, she was not sure if she wanted that. At least there were a good few years or over between Robin and this child, she feared they would be subject to meaningless squabbles every time.

Now, where were her pomegranates...?

...

"Mary?" Francis whispered, running his fingers through his wife's hair. The same hair on the head that laid across his chest lazily, a content smile on the lips of that head.

She looked up at him. "Yes?"

"What do you think the girls are doing?"

She snorted, giggles escaping her lips. "Annoying Bash or Kenna. I hope not Kenna, she can't handle them and expecting."

"Do you think they will notice our little sneak away?"

"Certainly," his wife replied, grinning mischievously. "I love them, I do and James, but time with you has been something I've wanted for years. If it's not France or Scotland, it is the children that need us and I am glad we're doing this."

He smiled, kissing the top of her head. "I am too."

She listened to his heartbeat, her other ear enjoying the sounds of wildlife around them. It took them a short while to get to the waterfall and she was glad that they hadn't spent ages riding. She was still tired from when her husband ungraciously awoke her from her slumber in the middle of the night.

"Your heart, it skips a beat," Mary stated, looking up at him with a wide smile. "Is that because of me?"

"Oh, my heart does more than skip a beat," Francis replied, blushing. "You do not know the effect you have on me. From when we were five..."

She laughed softly. "I think I have an idea of the effect I have on you. Otherwise, we would not have been blessed with three beautiful children."

"Shall we make it four?" Her husband asked cheekily.

Hitting his chest, she laid her back onto it. "Not yet!" She replied. "Perhaps a year, at least. I do not know how your mother did it."

"A whole lot of patience, my love," Francis replied. "Especially when it came to Claude."

Mary laughed loudly now. Of course, Claude would be giving her mother grief. Everyone knew Elisabeth was Catherine's favourite and not the rebellious princess.

"I can't believe she is a mother-to-be," Francis said softly. "It scares me."

"What does?" Mary asked in alarm.

"The speed at which we are growing up. Soon, we will be old and grey and mere relics on thrones," he said sadly. "I want to make the most of our youth, of our love and I want to spend more time with you and the children."

She smiled sadly. "It's a wonderful dream, but we can't. Not when France and Scotland both rely on us. At least we have moments like these."

"Yes," Francis replied. "The first of many."

"Francis, you do know how much I love you?" Mary asked him, grinning madly as if she was a happy canine.

"Oh, Mary, I do," he replied, returning her bright beam. "God, you're so beautiful. In fact, sit up."

Complying she sat up and continued to lay on her side a little, watching him as he got up and retrieved a few items. A pen and some paper attached to a book.

"W-What-"

"Don't move," Francis told her, looking at her before quickly marking the paper.

After a while, he lifted the paper and showed his wife his quick creation. He grinned when she gasped, taking the paper for herself to see clearer at her husband's talented hand.

"Francis!" Mary breathed out. "Oh, I look beautiful in this... You drew me."

"I was not as good as you," her husband replied modestly, turning to watch the waterfall. "You were better at me in everything."

"I was not!" Mary replied, brushing her fingers over the pencil marks of her portrait. "My mother used to bemoan that I was not as good as you playing the piano. I used you as a crutch when we were children so your mother did not yell at me for ruining the piece."

Francis turned to her, stunned. "Really? I always thought I was off."

"You never were," she admitted, grinning shyly. "Why do you think I always asked for us to play together and not alone?"

"You little devious creature," Francis said, chuckling. "At least we can both agree who is the better singer. Anne told me to stop singing her and Rose to sleep the other night. She feared the whole house would hear my horrible singing."

"Marie Anne," Mary scolded despite her daughter not being anywhere near them. "Her mouth running will get her in trouble one day."

Francis waved it off. "She is just a girl. When she is grown, she will understand. I did not mind though, it gave me a chance to listen to my beautiful queen's voice."

"I love you, Francis," Mary repeated.

Pressing a kiss to her lips, he repeated her words back before lifting her into his arms and running towards the shallow end of the lake. He wanted to kiss her like they were schoolchildren under the waterfall.

"Francis!" Mary squealed.

He looked into her eyes. God he loved her.