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Guest (1) [chapter 31]: Here's the next chapter! :)

Guest (2) [chapter 31]: Haha, no worries! Thank you and love you too! I won't spoil anything ;) This is part two out of three.

elder441 [chapter 31]: Thanks! :)

Guest (3) [chapter 31]: The first bit is just for you ;) We'll have more of them coming up.

'08th August. The children have been missing for over two weeks now. Today it is Robin's sixth birthday, and Kenna and Bash are taking it hard. It pains us all, but hopefully, my pleas on Elizabeth's ear would be fruitful in bringing Marie Anne and Robert Francis home. I miss them terribly and...'

Tears spotted the ink on Mary's diary, her hands shakily wiping them away from her cheeks. She couldn't believe how long they hadn't seen the children, Bash leaving for hours on end but coming up unsuccessful.

They could be anywhere by now. France, England, Ireland... God knew where the two little children were.

"Your Majesty?" A guard called out to her. "We've arrived."

Mary put her pen and diary away, turning to give her cousin a look of uncertainty. She felt the Marquess's hand on her shoulder, his squeeze and faint kiss on her cheek.

"Everything will be fine. Elizabeth can't hurt you, I swear it. We will find Anne and my nephew and we'll bring them home," the Marquess told her, getting out of the carriage first.

Mary took her time, fixing her face with a little rouge and accepting the Marquess's hand to get down the steps. Every male had wanted to go with her, but Robert had fallen ill with worry, Bash was always out searching, Francis couldn't keep his temper at bay from his premature grief so Mary had chosen Kenna's brother.

The Marquess Robert of Barton was a kind, quiet and reserved man. He too was a father, a husband and he would do anything for his sister and his cousin, the Queen of Scots and France. His patience and confidence were exactly what Mary needed if she were to handle negotiations with Elizabeth.

They were searched. Robert's swords and daggers were taken away from him as Mary's jewellery was taken off until they left. Elizabeth wasn't taking any chances with the grieving mother.

"Elizabeth," Mary greeted her the second they stood before the woman who sat on her throne.

Elizabeth's eyes shone with something Mary couldn't muster as she said, "Mary, dear, you look ill."

Mary bit back a scowl. "Elizabeth, I am here to personally renounce England. I never wanted it."

"Oh, I know. You were a pawn on the board. A puppet controlled," Elizabeth told her, feigning sympathy. "I heard about your daughter's and nephew's disappearance."

"Please, return them home safely," Mary said softly. "They are mere children, innocent children, they have done no wrong."

"Mary, I only found out when you wrote of your visit," Elizabeth said honestly. "I pray that you find them because I know how it feels for a child to be torn apart from their mother... I too was taken from my own, I do hope that you find them alive."

Mary got to her knees. "Take me instead-"

"Your Majesty-" The Marquess tried.

"Take me as your prisoner and bring the children back to Castle Barton," Mary said.

Elizabeth stood up and walked down the stairs. She reached Mary, the younger woman looking up without any fear in her eyes. Elizabeth searched them before she offered Mary a hand.

"Stand," she ordered.

Mary stood.

Elizabeth placed her hands on Mary's shoulders and dusted them off. "A queen does not beg," she said softly, her eyes falling. "I know of Catherine de Medici's role in obtaining England from me, but we will never put children in the middle of that."

"How do I know that it isn't you?"

"Your husband has enemies, his brother has enemies," Elizabeth said as if it was a known fact. "The enemy of my enemy-"

"Is your friend," Mary whispered. "Do you know-"

"That friend is no longer a friend. He went against my wishes. We play dirty, but we never bring children into it," Elizabeth cut her off. "Look closer to home is all I can offer. I do not give up people, it isn't who I am." Elizabeth turned to her guards. "Make sure they reach Scotland safely. If anyone tries anything, I'll have their heads."

Mary took Elizabeth's hands. "Thank you. I wish we can rule together in peaceful harmony. I do not want to start a war, you are my family."

Elizabeth cupped Mary's cheek tenderly. "Find them and never let them go. Children, they're are a blessing in one's life and maybe one day, we'll know each other better."

Mary nodded. "Goodbye, Elizabeth. Thank you."

...

Kenna shakily placed a stuffed teddy onto Robin's pillow, her eyes watering with unshed tears. "Your father will find you, I swear it. You'll be in our arms soon enough and-"

"Kenna?"

Kenna sniffled, turning to face Francis. "Has Bash returned?"

"No," he whispered sadly. "I know what today is."

"Six years," Kenna shakily said. "He was early when he was born since then, he's never been late. My little boy is punctual, even when it comes to his bedtime."

Francis folded his hands behind his back. "When they come home, he'll have the biggest party in the world. He will be cherished. Our children, they are strong and they will find their way home."

"I didn't mean to blame you or Bash," Kenna said gently. "I was upset and I should never have taken it out on you. It's just... we've all lost a child already, do we need to lose more?"

Francis sighed. He knew what she was talking about - their miscarriages. "And you almost died having him. Bash, he never wanted children until you. A forced marriage, late consummation, love. He loves you every day and one of the reasons is because you made him a father. A better father than Henry could ever be to us. I have faith in Robin, he's learnt from the best."

"What if they find out about his visions?" Kenna asked fearfully.

"He's a smart child. He knows what survival is and Kenna, do not lose hope. I have a feeling," Francis told her. "Just hang in there."

He left, leaving Kenna to curl up on her son's bed, inhaling his scent of pinewood and lavender from the baths he took by her hand. Her precious son was coming home, she could feel it.

...

Robin breathed heavily, eyeing Rose's sleeping figure beside him. He looked around, hoping that they wouldn't find them.

"Find them!"

He'd managed to get them to run during the night, promising Rose that their fathers were looking for them. She had started to cry, refusing to believe him but he'd given her a rose flower, kissed her head and continued to pull her on as they ran.

The rose flower was now put onto her ear as she slept.

"Rose?" He whispered, shaking her gently. "They're here, but we need to be quiet!"

Rose woke up and nodded, curling into his side as they hid behind the tree, into the alcove. Robin was sure that it was a den of some sort, perhaps from foxes to his knowledge, he learnt from his father. He was happy that Bash taught him a lot even though his mother was reluctant.

Sensing them coming closer, Rose whimpered, hiding her face deeper into his side. He squeezed her, closing his eyes as he wished for them to pass them by.

But luck wasn't in their favour.

"Found you," the man spat, pulling him by his collar as Rose screamed for him.

Robin kicked the man's knee, falling to the ground and grabbing Rose's hand, the pair of them running again. Their noble clothes had been torn and dirtied and Robin couldn't remember the last time his parents kissed him 'goodnight'.

Robin pressed a hand against the knife in his pocket, glad he was smart enough to grab it as the men slept. He'd used it to cut their binds off, all his training from Bash proving reliable.

"I want my papa and mama," Rose whimpered as she huffed. "I'm tired!"

"So do I," Robin said. "But we can't give up."

"I won't give up," Rose promised him.

Robin gave her a quick comforting but when he turned around he felt something hit him and he fell to the ground, his eyes wide with shock as he screamed, his screams mixing with Rose's.

...

"We're nearing the English border!" Kenna's other older brother announced. "If we pass, we'll be killed on sight."

Bash frowned, pulling his horse to a stop. "I hate to be so careless, but I don't care for borders. Not whilst my son and my niece have been missing for the sixteenth day!"

Lord Douglas looked down from his horse, pointing at something on the ground. "What is that?"

Bash got down from his horse and picked the item up. "It's Rose's," he breathed out. "It's her headpiece that Kenna gifted her."

"They're near," Douglas said. "Are you sure we should keep going?"

Bash nodded firmly. "I've never been surer of anything. They're close. I can feel them, we're getting close. Riders, march on!"

He got back onto his horse and quickly rode towards the border. If they lost men, he didn't care for then, his son and niece were all that was important and all he could think about. Anyone else could mind themselves.

"Carriage!" A soldier called out, all of the horses coming to a stop.

Bash almost fell from his as his horse started to calm down, slowing as he neared the carriage about to enter Scottish lands. He recognised the carriage was surprised to see it.

"Mary?"

Mary got out with the Marquess's help. "Elizabeth said that the person who took them is an enemy of France, of you or Francis."

Bash swallowed deeply. "Is that right?"

"I believe her," Mary said forlornly. "Why are you riding through the border?"

Bash threw Rose's headpiece at Robert who caught it. The Marquess inspected it and showed Mary the jewellery piece.

"It's Rose's," Mary breathed out in shock. "Bash-"

"They're nearby. Go back to Scotland, to Castle Barton. By the end of the week, they will be found. I will not rest, stop or do anything but look for them," Bash told her. "Tell Kenna, I'm bringing our son home."

...

A few days later, Bash had to accept that he needed rest. Robin's birthday had come and went and he felt sick. He'd hoped that the children would be found by then, his son's sixth birthday being uncelebrated but mourned.

"Bash?" Francis called him gently, offering his brother some rabbit meat as they sat by the campfire.

"I'm not hungry."

"Neither am I, but I'd rather not collapse when I have my daughter in my arms," Francis said lightly, offering the meat with a nudge.

Bash took it and bit into the meat, his tastebuds lacklustre. "He probably thinks we do not care about him. My son turned six and we weren't there with him."

"Robin doesn't think that," Francis said. "Didn't you say he wounded that man? Your son is you in strength and survival instincts. He's a strong boy, I have no doubt he will keep my Rose alive and safe."

"Have I ever cried in front of you?" Bash asked curiously. "You cried on me many times, but I... I've never shown you that side of me, my vulnerability."

"Bash-"

"That changes today because I'm scared," Bash whispered, bowing his head as tears fell down his cheeks. "I'm scared that losing Robin would mean losing Kenna and our family would be destroyed forever. She was right, I can't keep fighting all of these battles and now, my son is paying the price."

Francis tutted. "Or my price," he said. "We shouldn't blame our-"

"Kenna told you that our enemies did this. Mary told me that our enemies did this. Francis, do you see what is happening? Our past debts are coming to pay," Bash cut him off once again.

"I relieve you from your duties," Francis said softly.

"I don't want that," Bash told him. "I am one man. I have some power to make people do things for me, just as you do as a king. From now on, if I am not in Avon, I am securely in the castle. I will never leave for a mission outside any gates."

Francis gave his brother a tight hug. "You are getting old."

"Francis!"

"I'm sorry," Francis said, chuckling softly. "I needed the laugh. The hope."

"Same here," Bash mumbled, closing his eyes.