Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.

Ch 18 - Where there is a Mountain, there is a Valley

Blinking Catherine paused at the question.

Thinking back it had been several months…four perhaps?

Simultaneously she felt a sense of joy and of terror. Her pregnancy with Hercule went well enough but had not been the easiest.

Already having carried eight children in her body, she knew the symptoms well and should have thought of this sooner. Though the first few had been fairly easy, the last two had become increasingly harder on her.

She thought that there would be no more children until she became a grandmother.

Apparently she was wrong.

"Catherine it would appear that you had not been expecting this, and I don't need to remind you of how your last pregnancy went. You are also nearing an age when pregnancy can on its own take quite a toll on the body."

Sighing Catherine replied, "No I certainly do not need to be reminded of that, my memory of that day has not lapsed."

It had been just about a year since she had labored with Hercule and it took significantly longer than the others to recover. At least this answered the question of what had been wrong with her…nothing and everything.

Getting down from the examining table, a little more slowly now but mostly from the mental burden rather than a physical issue, Catherine's mind was whirring.

"I know that this will not be natural for you Catherine, but you should do your best to rest as much as you can. Neither physical labor nor increased anxiety will aid you or the child."

Nostradamus knew that what he was asking her would not be easy for her, but that if even if she was careful she might require full bed rest before this came to an.

Slowly collecting herself and considering the ramifications of this news Catherine eventually made her way towards the door.

"Thank you Nostradamus for your help, I will be heading back to my husband now to give him the news."

"Catherine if there is anything that concerns you, anything different about this pregnancy that gives you heed please do not hesitate to have someone come find me, day or night."

Turning back and smiling at him Catherine replied. "Thank you old friend, as always I am in your debt. In addition to making use of Henry's services in payment, you are of course welcome to join us for dinner if you are not otherwise occupied."

Returning her affection he responded, "Thank you, I might just take you up on that offer soon." He answered. "Safe return."

Ducking out of the shop she made her way back to see her husband.

He would be thrilled, he always was, but he also worried more than anyone she knew whenever she or their children were not well or at risk of danger.

It would be an interesting next few months.

-/-/-/-

Meanwhile Mary and Francis were having an somewhat chaotic time corralling the children. Catherine had noticeably been on edge lately and it was affecting them all.

Finally settling the younger ones down for a nap they nearly collapsed together on a bench outside.

Elisabeth and Claude were playing a quiet game at the table while Charles and Little Henry were sitting remarkably quietly with a puzzle.

The terms that silence was golden took on a decidedly truthful ring after days like today.

Lost in their own thoughts for a while Mary eventually asked, "Not that I minded, but why was it that you stayed back last week? There seemed to be no specific reason and yet mother and father were adamant about it."

"Oh it was because of the strangers that have been seen around," Francis replied, thinking nothing of it.

"Strangers?" Mary asked, this being the first she had heard about it.

"Yes, Bash noticed them following us back from our afternoon a little over a week ago and mother and father just decided it would be better to be careful for a little while."

Frowning Mary considered this out loud. "I wonder why they didn't tell me?"

Now confused himself Francis asked, "They didn't tell you?"

"No," she finished, her voice wandering off.

They sat thee for a while enjoying the fresh air. Eventually they saw Bash coming from across the meadow and Mary started connecting the dots.

"So the reason we have been entertaining ourselves here of late is…"

"By request of mother and father, yes," Francis answered.

"Hmmmmm."

The three of them chatted outside until Catherine and Henry returned, Bash recounting his observations to her.

Most days they felt safe at home, though they all knew that was an illusion that could be popped at a moment's notice.

Today that illusion was shattered ever so slightly more.

A commotion was heard from inside and all three of them got up, the distraction a welcome one.

With so many children there was certainly never a dull moment in the Valois household.

Little did they know that would soon be even more true, very shortly.

-/-/-/-

Approaching Henry's shop Catherine was preparing herself for his reaction.

She knew he would be excited, and she was trying to get herself to a point where she could be excited too.

Pausing on the stoop, she took a deep breath before reaching to open the door.

Henry was busy with a customer so she stayed off toward the side until he was finished.

He had clearly seen her when he came in as she saw him smile in her direction.

As they had grown as a couple, the way that he addressed her changed over the years.

When they were young he had a goofy grin on his face much of the time that only grew when she came into his line of sight.

By the time the so called honeymoon period passed he had taken to sneaking up on her as often as possible. Generally would he make his way behind her and hug her from behind, causing her to jump on more than one occasion.

Once they began having children he would often find the eyes of their children first, and initially she was so enamored as a new mother that she thought it was endearing. After a while though it began to bother her. One day the hurt in her eyes was evident and he asked her plainly. She tried to cover it up, but he eventually got it out of her. She felt both hurt, and silly at feeling so which made it all the harder to get her to speak of it. Henry's explanation however melted her heart.

"When I see the children we have together made and raised, I see you in a way that I see no other woman…as the mother of my children, and our love displayed plainly in flesh and bone."

She had nearly begun crying at that, especially as she had recently birthed Claude and her body was not yet settled from the emotional turmoil that followed the birthing of a child.

Since the children had continued to increase and grow their looks between each other varied, sometimes of affection, sometimes of longing, most often though of humor or exasperation.

As Henry finished with his customer, he was still puttering around a bit and so Catherine approached him, hoping that she would gain courage by not allowing herself to hesitate.

Henry turned to face her when she was just entering his space, a questioning look in his eyes, but not a word escaped his lips.

Her words failed her so instead she took his hands in hers, placed them flat on her stomach, and drew closer so that they were a mere breath's width apart, though with his height it was no uncomfortable.

All at once the past few weeks began to fall into place.

"You're pregnant?" he asked a mix of astonishment and joy in his voice.

"Yes," she answered, still uncertain of her ability to maintain calm about this.

As expected his smile grew exponentially before he took in more of his wife than just her soon to be growing belly.

"What's wrong Catherine?"

And as was often the case with her husband, her hesitation was seen clearly.

"I…" she began.

"I'm afraid that I…"

And that was all she could bear.

Covering her eyes with her hands and nearly collapsing into herself she cried, tears of fear for what might yet be.

Wrapping his arms around her in a gesture of comfort, Henry spoke to her in soft tones uncertain of what had caused this.

He knew that a woman's emotional state could become somewhat unstable during this time, but it seemed to be something else, to have a specific trigger that he just wasn't seeing.

When she continued he decided that what he could offer in this moment was not enough.

Guiding her over to a chair he kept in the corner for visits just like this, Henry nudged her to sit down while he closed the shop for the day. Moving quickly but trying to keep calm himself he returned to her and knelt before her.

He grabbed a leftover cloth still clean from his lunch and brought it over, placing it in her lap as he laid a warm hand over her knee.

She took the cloth and tried to wipe away the evidence of her concern.

She did not like falling apart like this.

When she had calmed herself except for the occasional sniffle she began playing with the cloth, refusing to look at Henry.

"Catherine…" he edged. Hoping he would be able to get it out of her before returning home.

Biting her lip and turning to look away he noticed that her eyes were still watery.

In a quiet voice, reminiscent of their early days she finally spoke her distress out loud.

"I'm scared Henry."

Reaching up to turn her face towards him he inquired simply, "Why?"

Sighing she began to slowly wring the cloth in her hands. "You remember how the end of my last pregnancy went?"

"Yes, my love. It was hard, but you endured beautifully," when she did not react he continued, "and once again gave me another perfectly healthy child to add to our increasingly growing family. This time will be no different."

"No Henry, I can feel it. There is something different this time. I have never felt this ill this early. Morning sickness yes, but I have hardly been exerting more than usual and yet I am totally exhausted and don't feel like myself. I can't even…" Beginning to wring the cloth in earnest.

He felt the need to scold her for not telling him sooner how much this was affecting her, but knew it wasn't the time.

"With Hercule I asked Nostradamus not to worry you, but the end of my labor was not easy, and there was concern for the wellness of both myself and for Hercule. I cannot guarantee…we do not know what another pregnancy will mean for either myself or the babe. I can't even…"

Laying his one hand over hers he reached up to draw her chin in his direction and looked deeply into her eyes.

Her response broke his heart all over again.

"I'm just so tired Henry."