Frary deal with the complications from the last chapter.
Replies to reviews:
Guest (1) [chapter 48]: Yay, haha. Thank you and Happy New Year to you too!
elder441 [chapter 49]: I'm glad it does!
Guest (2) [chapter 49]: You're welcome! Yes, Francis and Mary were strained but now they're all good.
Guest (3) [chapter 49]: It really was, haha :)
Sav.129 [chapter 50]: Thank you! :)
Guest (4) [chapter 50]: I'm so glad you were happy! After fifty chapters, things do get difficult to conjure up but all of you gave me valuable advice to make it keep going! Glad you loved the time skip, it was needed. I needed some Frary time with kids, even their niece and nephews! Anne was cute and she is now grown-up since she will be a teenager soon. I know it was something harsh to do for the fiftieth chapter, with them having a miscarriage but it also shows them being good parents to the children they do have running about. It isn't to say that it won't happen further down the line as they are in their early thirties now around 30-31 years old. Francis as the French patriarch and king feels like showing his wife his true feelings is a weakness. They will deal with that in this chapter and other. The children are cute, now at that annoying 'why' stage which their older siblings thankfully skipped or got over quickly, haha. You're very welcome and enjoy this chapter.
Guest (5) [chapter 50]: I know right? Haha! Thank you so much and you're very welcome too! Thanks for supporting my other stories as well. Things will get better. It starts in this chapter.
elder 441 [chapter 50]: Yeah, as every time they've got pregnant since then, it resulted in healthy babies. So going through this miscarriage, it is her second miscarriage and it links back to the first one which almost destroyed the marriage because they found out and lost it during John's christening celebrations. John will return and it will have an effect on Mary and her decisions regarding her stepson. And yes, Francis did have that reason to breakdown because he doesn't want to hurt Mary but at the same time, he regrets a lot. Even when Anne asked about John as a little girl. For now, I believe the Terrible Three (Anne, Rose and Robin) will be old enough to know about John's situation. John is a year older than Anne and Robin at 13, so now they are not children but teenagers or almost there, they will sense some conflict and relationships between siblings and cousins will be strained.
Guest (6) [chapter 50]: Enjoy this next chapter! And same here ;(
"You should be resting," Francis told his wife, helping her get down from the wooden stool from which she stood on to put the bunting up. "Bash and Kenna won't mind."
Mary sighed. "It was a good thing we kept the news to ourselves, wasn't it?" Mary replied, hugging him tightly. "But I'm fine, Francis. We have to move on."
"You're not fine," Francis said gently. "I'm not-it doesn't matter. Anyway, I'm going to the chapel and was going to ask the children to join me."
Mary pulled back to look him in the eyes. "I will come along. Governess Susanne has returned from her holiday so will help us along with the older children."
"No, Mary," Francis told her, shaking his head. "Just stay at the house."
"I'm not an invalid!" Mary cried out, tears springing to her eyes. "It was barely even a baby."
Francis rubbed his face. "Don't say that. We loved that baby already."
"We did," she said. "And now you're restricting me from praying to God about it?"
Francis felt stung and he realised that was what he was doing. "I'm sorry, I didn't think. You were in so much pain last night, I do not want to risk anything regarding your health. I need you, our daughters and sons need you."
"Let me come with you all."
"Alright. But if you are in any discomfort-"
"I will tell you," Mary promised him.
He sighed, brushing a thumb over her lips. "I'm sorry, Mary. I just... I'm concerned about you."
"And I love you for that, but I am not glass, Francis," Mary said. "It is not the first time we have gone through this. This is normal and... We shouldn't be ungrateful for the things we have already."
"No, of course."
"Good," she said. "Now that we are in agreement, I should probably get dressed in more suitable clothing for our visit."
Francis stepped back and let her leave the room. The minute she was gone, he sighed heavily and shook his head.
...
"I have to be strong for her," Francis muttered to his brother as they filled their cups with more wine. "Lately, we've had so much happiness, something was bound to bring us back down to Earth. I mean, look at Anne. Anne has started her monthlies and she's all grown up... Remember when she was born?"
Bash smiled. "I do. I also remember a very demanding niece when it came to bedtime stories and the voices of those blasted characters. Even Robin has his eye on girls now. I seriously hope he doesn't take after us."
"You mean yourself," Francis replied, grinning. "If your son becomes a lothario, that is on you." His smile then disappeared. "We're getting old."
"Speak for yourself," Bash mumbled, taking a long sip from his cup. "Francis, these sort of things happen. No explanation, no regards to what we're feeling or going through. The only thing you can do is be there for Mary but also give her the space to breathe. You can't fuss over her, she will not appreciate that."
Francis nodded. "I don't want to treat her like glass. She's strong. Last night she was just holding a normal conversation as it happened. Different to the first time. But... It hit me harder this time."
"Oh."
"Yes," Francis whispered. "Is that strange? We have five children and they are all giving us grief but happiness regardless. I honestly saw us with six children, I was already having dreams about the baby in our arms... It was another girl and the older kids were so happy when they met her... I'm being stupid."
"You're not," Bash said gently. "You need to speak to Mary about this."
"No," Francis said. "I want to only focus on the good things with her. I don't want her worrying about my feelings. I have to be strong. I rule three countries for God's sake, I can't cry over the loss of something that was barely a thing."
Bash shook his head, a wry smile on his face. "Even the strongest need shoulders to cry on," he told his brother. "And that loss was something. It happens to a lot of people, children are a blessing and the more we're blessed with, we're grateful. And the more we lose..., we're heartbroken. Do not dismiss your feelings just to favour Mary's only. Be there for each other."
"You sound like you speak from experience," Francis said lightly. Obviously, Bash did have experience.
"Well, I would change a lot of things in my marriage," Bash admitted. "Miscarriages are never easy. But talking them through and being honest with each other will certainly make things easier. Trust me. Once you start talking, everything becomes clearer and less painful."
"You're right," Francis finally agreed. "I will tell her."
Bash smiled. "Good. Right, we should turn in for the night and-"
"When did it happen?"
Bash finished his drink and sighed heavily. "Last Christmas - stillbirth. She was six months gone."
"I'm so sorry," Francis said, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder. "We didn't know."
"We didn't tell anyone. We wanted to keep the news to ourselves and it became too late. We knew something was wrong, but we didn't want to believe it. That's why we opted for a quiet Christmas with Robin, Ana and Xander," Bash replied. "It gets easier, Francis. We both know that otherwise we wouldn't have other children nor your mother wouldn't have coped losing the twins because of that governess's stupid mistake."
"You're right," Francis said again with a yawn this time. "Goodnight, Bash."
Bash watched him stand and gave him a smile. "Goodnight, Francis. Sleep well."
"I'll try but I make no promises," Francis replied, patting Bash's shoulder before leaving.
...
Mary pulled her nightdress over her head and brushed her hair back. She sighed, sitting at her vanity table and pressed her hands over her face to will herself from crying.
She jumped when she heard the door open and she turned, giving Francis a bright smile. "Hello."
"Hello, Mary," Francis replied, a smile on his face. "You look so beautiful."
Mary beckoned him over. "Can you plait my hair for me, please?"
"Of course," he said as she turned to face the mirror.
His hands began to work and she closed her eyes when he started to massage her scalp. She felt relaxed, at peace and her visit to the chapel had really been a huge help.
"That feels good," she mumbled sleepily.
Francis smirked. "Does it?"
"It does. Thank you for looking after me, Francis."
"Of course, Mary," he said. "I'll be honest... I took this hard and I kept it from you."
Mary opened her eyes. "Francis, whatever is on your mind you should always tell me."
"I mourned what we lost without you."
"That is fine but please, just talk to me," Mary told him, eyeing him through the mirror. "I am here for you just as much as you are there for me. No matter what, we are still blessed and healthy and we can always try again. It just wasn't the time for a baby and I feel that we should focus more on the ones we do have."
Francis nodded. "What would we do when they're in school? God, I can't believe they are all in school now..."
Mary grinned. "Spend some quality time with each other but for now, we should stick to cuddling. I'm too sore."
"That is fine," Francis replied, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and planting a kiss on her cheek. "I am just grateful to have you."
"Same here," she whispered, reaching back to grab onto his forearm. "I love you."
"I love you too, Mary. Forever and always."