The Shadows of the Past

A.N.: I sadly own any of the characters, netheir do I make proffit out of this.

Chapter 11

"I've noticed that you and the King seem to have become much closer than before."

"Mary, I must admite that your capacity of deduction surprises me."

"That's not what I meant, Catherine."

"Oh, then please do enlighten me about what you meant."

It was afternoon and the sun shone brightly outside. The King had decided that his Queen needed some time to rest, and so offered himself to take care of their children for the day.

Catherine apreaciated his feelings of wanting to get closer to their kids, but how would they react when they eventually fell off? Would Henry still be there for them or would he leave them? Would they grow to hate their father like Claude?

But anyway, it was good to have some time to relax. The search for Hortencia had been fruitless until now, her lover had been quite, no words from her family had arrived, Penelope stood mostly out of the way (probably traumatized or something), Diane had not been seen doing anything suspicious (that itself was suspicious), Henry was tender and patiente, Nostradamus still didn't know where the danm poison had come from, Kenna was almost scared of her, she hadn't seen Bash yet, and all was well.

It had been a week or so since the first time they had slept in the same bed, and knews had travelled fast it seemed. It had been chaotic waking up surronded by so many people. Catherine couldn't help but smille has she remembered the surprised and scared look the servant had given them. And breackfast for once had been extremely pleasant.

Flashback...

Something pocked her side. Or had she dreamed it? Her eyes were still closed so it migh have be- Never mind, there it was again. And what exacly was that thing on her belly? At least it was keeping her , what sound was that? The pocking thing again.

Slowly, Catherine openned her eyes. On top of her was a babling Hercule , pressing his litle hands to her belly and looking curiously at her. Litle Henry was the one pocking her, and the sound seemed to come from her snoring husband.

"Mama?"

"Yes, my little boy?" placing her hands under Hercule's arms, Catherine placed him back under the covers.

"Mama, can we get out of bed?"

"Not yet Henry. Why don't you try to sleep a little more?"

"But I don't want to! I want to go play in the gardens!"

"Shhhhhhhhh! If you speak that loud you'll wake the your siblings up."

"Mama? Who are you talking to?" a sleepy Charles asked confused, rubbing his eyes.

"See what you did Henry?" the blond boy hide his face in Catherine's arm, ashamed. "It's alright Charles. Go back to sleep darly."

"No thank you Mama." he looked at his sleeping sister and shook her slightly. "Margot! Wake up!"

"Mama... I'm hungry. Can we go have breackfast now?"

"Oh dear..."

Catherine looked around. Four of her children were awake and well awake. Her husband was sleeping on the other side of HER bed, and her ladies wouldn't be here for sometime. Besides, having slept in her day clothes, she wasn't feeling very confortable.

"Not yet, dear. Let's wait some more minuts. Everyone's still assleep."

"But I'm sooooo hungry! And we're not assleep!"

"Shhhhhhhhhhhh Margot! You'll wake your father! Look, as soon as my Ladies arrive we can start to get ready, alright?"

"No!" litle Henry sat up, his back resting against Charles belly. "I wanna go now!"

"You will go when I say so! Why don't we play a game meanwhile?" Catherine really hoped that would help getting their attention off of the food.

"What game?" Margot allways loved games.

"I don't know. Why don't you pick one?"

"No."

"No, Henry?"

"No."

"Then what do you want to do?" all his siblings looked at their brother. Even Hercule, who was currently chewing on Catherine's sleeve.

"Why is father here?"

"Well, your father... uhm... he..." Catherine looked at her sleeping husband. All her kids were looking at her espectantly. Why are you here Henry? "You see, darly, married couples normally sleep in the same bed."
"But I've never seen father here before, Mama."

"Well Charles, your father is the King. And as a King, he has a lot of work to do, so he can't be allways here."

"But why doesn't he play with us like you do?" the litle girl's eyes were shinning.

"Margaret, he... your father is, uhm... I'm sure he would love to play with you. But maybe he is embaressed..."

"Of what?" Danm Charles and his questions.

"Of not knowing how to play well. You see, when a person grows older they forget how to have fun and play."
"But father plays with Bash." Charles was the eldest, and he probably had some memories of that.

"No he doesn't."

"Yes he does."

"Doesn't."
"Do."

"Doesn't."
"Do."

"Doesn't."

"Why don't you like Bash, Mama?" Who does Henry get all this curiosity from?!

"Ah... well... I-"
"I don't like him either!" Margaret huffed crossing her tinny arms.

"Why not!? He's cool!"

"No he's not! I hate him! And I hate the witch too!"

"I don't like her either Margaret, but Bash isn't like his mother." Charles patted his sister on the head. Catherine was surprised and sad with all the interecation. It pained to see her children hurting because of their father Mistress.

"He is mean! It's because of him Mama was away!"

"Where did you hear that Margaret?!" now Catherine was worried. Had something hapenned to her babies that she didn't know of?

"I heard Maria saying that he had you locked up as if you were a criminal..." all her kids were looking at her. Her abrupt reaction had clearly startled them. "Are you mad Mama?"

"No sweatheart, of course not. Come here." She made room for all of them to get closer and hug all four of them tightly. "I love you very much, you hear? And I'm sure your father does too, he only doesn't know how to show it." she kissed each one of them in their tinny little heads. "Now, why don't you wake him up? After that we can start getting ready. Gently Charles, we don't want to hurt him, do we?"

End of Flashback...

"I'm just saying that it has been a while since you and Henry fought."

"If you really want to know, we fought last night?" Catherine took a sip of her tea. The Lady room was quite empty, since it was sunny day. It was perfect for her to rest.

"What about?" Mary had been very curious about her relationship with Henry, and Catherine couldn't stop wondering why?

"We couldn't agree with what to do about the problem with Hortencia."

"Awwwwwwwww..." Catherine raised an eyebrow hearing the sound Mary did. The Scotish Queen blushed and cleared her throat. "I mean, that's not a real fight, is it? I mean every couple has disagreaments an- Never mind. Have you discovered something new?"

"It seems people are very religious these days. Principly Horningold. I had no idea crosses were so important for him." Catherine hoped Mary understood what she actually meant with that.

"I agree... It's an odd name for an italian, isn't it? I had never heard of it before..."

"Indeed never had I. Principly for a first name. Afterall, he is part of the Strozzi familly..."

"Now that you mention it, I had never thought about that... Maybe I should ask Lola about him. She has familly in Italy, I think."

"Oh, but she must be careful. If her familly happens to be in bad terms with the Strozzis, she might get in trouble."

"Well, I'm sure that the de'Medici familly will help her."

"Only if we can. And if it's worth it."

Mary frowned hearing that. If she was going to help Catherine by asking her Ladies, the France Queen might as well give them some protection.

Catherine saw how Mary didn't like the fact that she wouldn't be protecting her Ladies very much. She was the one who ofered help, and I couldn't care less what hapenned to Kenna. And if Mary was to get a litle scared it might do her some good. She has been too ambitious and arrogant for me...

Meanwhile, somewhere in the gardens, the King was enjoying a not so peacefull afternoon. Children running around, screaming and laugthing, and he couldn't be happier.

"Dad, I bet I can get to that tree faster than you!" Charles tugged at his trousers while he tickled Margot.

"Oh, I don't think so young boy!"

The dark haired boy started running as fast as he could, wich wasn't nearly as fast as his father.

Actually, his father had the feeling that he was forgeting something. Something kind of important... He had told Catherine he would take care of the kids for the afternoon, postponning his meetings... It had been worth it, just the smile that graced her face was enough, but now he was thinking that maybe he should've planned it a litle better.

Not that he was regreating spending time with his kids. It was more duo to the rumors that were spreading around the Castle.

The King knew his Queen wasn't enjoying this new attention. She felt trapped, watched, even if it was just by some worthless noblemen. Well, her cousin did die. And she is not in the best terms with her family either. And there's also the expirience of reviving her past after that thig with Horningold... What is he doing here anyway? God, I should ty to confort her. Yes, I'm gonna do that...

The hours passed and soon it was time for dinner. Henry helped his kids wash before walking with them to the table. There were some nobles from other countries, so he wanted all of them to be in their best behaviour. It would help greatly if the Queen showed up on time.

It wasn't much, but it had been nearly fifteen minuts past the time they were supposed to enter the Salon. And Catherine was never late. NEVER! Not even when she tried to hurt his reputation or take reveange!

Wich made him think that something was severely wrong... Maybe he should go look for her. Probably. But then again, if it was nothing, she might feel like he was pressuring her... But she could be in danger too! They still didn't know who had poisoned her...

He turned around as he felt the air in the corridor change. Walking up to him was his wife, the Queen France, looking more powerfull than ever. Wich wasn't exacy a good thing, since she only had that look after getting revenge... or murdering...

Without thinking, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her in for a kiss. Catherine wasn't against it, and hapilly hummed in response as their lips moved against eachother. However, she quite curious about where all that public attention had come from.

"Henry, not that I don't like your kisses-" the King smirked like a teenage boy "-but it's not like you to show public afection. I mean, it is, but just not like this."

"You're late." Catherine looked at showing that that statement meant nothing to her. "You're never late. So I thought that maybe something had hapenned... I was worried."

"Oh, Henry... I'm fine, see." the Queen smiled as she reached on her tip toes to give her husband a peck on the lips. "But it's really cute of you to worry."

The King blushed, knowing perfectly well that that was Catherine intended when she called him 'cute'.

"I guess we should go in. And we really need to talk about Horningold."

"Of course. Don't worry for now, let's just take care of this hungarians."

"I'm just glad that nothing hapenned to you." he sneaked an arm around her waste and kissed her fore head.

"What do you mean? I never said that nothing hapenned."

"So you were in danger!"

"I wouldn't call it danger. It was more of a misfortune."

The King stared at his wife, waiting for an explanation. When none came, he got impatiante.

"So? What hapenned? You're clearly not phisicly hurt."

"Now Henry, we have to atend dinner. I'll tell you all about it later. In bed."

"What?! Oh c'mon! Are you really gonna leave me hanging like this?!"

"Sorry Henry, but I'm the Queen of France. I have responsabilities."

Henry could only huff in mock anger as his wife smirked. He sure was a lucky man. Of course that the promess of a 'later in bed' also helped. After all, he hadn't been able not to stare at his wife body for days!

To be continued...

A.N.:Hey guys! I know this chapter is quite short, and that I haven't posted in a long time. And for that, I really apologiesed. But please, tell me what you think and any sugestions you might have.

Also, I'm sure all of you recived a message informing that now I have an Instagram account. It will have fannarts from diferent fandoms, theories about series and more, fashion posts, random drawings, and a Mean Girls fanfiction (ReginaxCady). The name of the account is Nikas_13 with a pink icon. But you will probably see it just by writing nikas.

I hope next chapter doesn't take too long, and that until then you can wait to see what hapenned to Catherine.

Adeus.