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Guest (1) [chapter 12]: No worries, enjoy the next!

Guest (2) [chapter 12]: Here are some more girls/Frary moments! We even have a little bit more sibling rivalry.

Guest (3) [chapter 12]: They're so adorable! Anne is so independent and smart and so is Rose. They will be amazing people. Here's the next chapter!

"Mama," Anne called her mother as they sat in the carriage on their way home. "What does it mean to be a queen?"

Mary turned to her daughter. "You have to make a lot of hard decisions and be just in how you rule."

"Papa says he's only the consort for Scotland. I thought France and Scotland were his," Anne said.

"No, Anne," Francis cut into their conversation. "Mama is the Queen of Scotland. I was the Dauphin of France when we were married. After your grandfather died, I became the King of France and King Consort of Scotland. You are half-Scottish and half-French."

"So, Mama is more powerful than you are?" Rose asked, eyes wide with pride and excitement.

Francis chuckled, sharing a look with his wife. "In more ways than you think-"

"Francis..." Mary trailed off warningly. "Papa and I are equals. Monarchs in our own rights."

"Why isn't Uncle Bash a prince? Isn't he Papa's older brother?" Anne asked.

Francis sighed. "You see, children can only be royals if they are legitimate. That means if your parents are married. Your grandfather had your uncle outside his marriage so he is illegitimate and cannot be classified as a prince. He's the next best thing - a duke."

"Is Robin illegitimate if his papa is?" Rose asked curiously.

Mary shook her head. "No. Robin is legitimate because his parents are married to each other. His father's status has no ruling on his and Robin is an earl."

"Will I marry an earl?" Anne asked her parents.

"You do not need to worry about that right now," her father told her. "It's a shame Robin couldn't come along. I am sure he would have loved to play with you both."

"At least we were right. Auntie Kenna had a girl!" Rose said happily. "When she visits us, I will show her all of my toys and she can play on my rocking horse!"

Mary bit her lip. It would be a while until they saw any of the de Poitiers family. They'd left Kenna confined to her bedchambers with her husband sleeping in a separate one. Even Robin had noticed the tense air in his home and was anxious to be around his little sister.

The whole family was on edge and Mary couldn't help but count her blessings.

"Kenna is strong, she will get through this," Francis whispered into her ear as he picked her hand up and squeezed it. "Stop worrying - Bash promised to write the minute we arrive at the castle."

"Look at our daughters, Francis," Mary replied, just as quietly. "They came on time and Kenna... She loses herself every time she goes through childbirth. One day, she might not come back."

Francis nodded sadly. "Well, let's just pray. All of us can get through anything when we have each other."

He kissed her hand and laughed when his daughters began voicing out their disgust over their parents' little moment.

"When you both get married, you will see exactly how I act when someone touches my girls," Francis warned lightly much to Mary's amusement.

...

As soon as they arrived at the castle, the couple were whisked away on business. They immediately cursed themselves for cutting their trip away so short because they had intended on spending time with the girls.

By the time they were done with whatever France or Scotland needed, it was night time and that meant bedtime for the children.

With James in Francis's arms, he and Mary entered their eldest daughter's bedchamber and found Rose sneaking underneath the covers inconspicuously.

"Come out, Rosie," Anne said to her sister. "It's just Mama and Papa."

Rose peeped her head out shyly and once she confirmed her sister's words, she threw the covers off her head and smiled widely at their parents.

"Grandmama said I was not allowed in Anne's bed. Uncle Bash and Auntie Kenna allowed us to sleep together in Avon!" Rose explained, getting out of the bed to pull Mary towards it.

"Papa, come too!" Anne said, patting a spot on the huge bed. "Read us a story, the French one with the voices."

Rose nodded. "Uncle Bash doesn't do the voices properly. He is very horrible and I feel for Robin."

"You both are too smart for our liking," Francis said lightly as he sat down. "Would you both like to kiss James?"

The girls scowled, shaking their heads.

"It's always about James. What about us?" Anne said angrily. "He's annoying and he's a boy! We do not play with boys."

"You play with Robin," Mary stated, amused.

The girls faltered.

"He's not annoying like James!" Rosie said. "James cries all the time. Robin never cries because he's brave."

"You do know that James is a baby, don't you?" Francis asked his daughters. "Until he is older, he will be crying a lot to tell us what he needs. He isn't grown like you are."

"Will James be our king, Papa?" Anne asked.

Francis nodded. "When I am gone, James will rule France and Scotland."

"So he is very important?" Rose asked, sadly.

Mary lifted her chin. "Yes, but so are you both. You will both be very important to other people as well."

"We are?"

"You are," Mary affirmed. "Now, let's hear Papa read your favourite book with better voices."

When he was finished, Rose let out a sneeze.

"God bless you," Mary said with Francis mimicking her words.

Rose groaned, rubbing her nose. "I don't feel well," she said. "I feel icky."

"'Icky'?" Francis asked in alarm as Mary placed the back of her hand against Rose's head.

She turned to her husband. "She is running a fever. Has Nostradamus returned from Avon?"

He shook his head. "I'll fetch the nurse."

"Hurry," his wife replied, bringing James into her arms as Anne tucked Rose into her bed. "How long have you been feeling unwell, Rose?"

Rose shook her head, shielding her eyes from the light. "I told Uncle Bash and Auntie Kenna. I felt better though when he read me a story..."

"A couple of days," Mary said to herself.

It must have been from the time she swam in the lake. Both girls had suffered from chills after resulting in warmer fires being made.

"Don't worry, sweetling. Mama and Papa will make you feel all better."

Mary brushed Rose's hair back, planting a kiss onto her forehead. She had to be careful though.

Poor James was still very fragile.

Sending a quick apology to the governess she had dismissed early for family time, she handed the baby to her.

"If you could sit with him during the night, that would be much appreciated. Also, call the other governess to look after Anne," Mary said. "The King and I will remain by Rose's side."

That night, Anne slept in Rose's bedchamber as Rose remained in hers, too weak to move.

The little girl was happy to have both of her parents sleeping beside her, whispering encouraging and loving things into her ear as Francis read more stories.

When she finally fell asleep, Mary soon followed with Francis planting kisses onto both Rose and Mary's foreheads before he slipped out of the bed and sat by Anne's side.

He couldn't ignore his other important girl in his life.