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

Ch 19 - A Healing Balm

Wanting to hold her to himself and never let go, he resisted the urge until they could get this worked through a bit more.

"I can see that you are worried about this, and that added onto the strain a pregnancy puts on your body, you must be exhausted. But we will take it a day at a time Catherine, and what will come will come."

His voice became softer, hoping she would listen more attentively. "And if you will let us we will all help out in easing your normal responsibilities, to make this a little a strain as we can."

He was fairly sure she was being honest, and that what was worrying her had finally come out.

"I love you Catherine, not for the children that you give me, and not for your ability to carry on as if nothing is ever amiss. I love you for you."

Wiping a stray tear from her cheek he continued.

"From the first time I met you, your charm and your whit, the spark I could see in your eye is what attracted me to you. We have both changed over the years and I know you have felt that even more than me because you have carried each of our children inside of you, but to me that changes nothing,"

Still somewhat lost in her own fears she answered, "But Henry, the threat of me dying in childbirth, the possibility is so much greater now I just don't think I can…"

At this she choked, nearly falling back into her state of despair.

Henry rose and scooped her up in his arms. Turning around and sitting down where she had been just a moment ago he sat there with her while she cried, not knowing what else he could do.

As his words seemed to be failing, he held her in silence.

He knew that even the strong broke sometimes, he just hoped that she would mend enough to survive, to find the strength to fight if that were necessary.

He hoped he would have enough in him to fight as well.

-/-/-/-

Bash saw Catherine walking through town as he was walking back from the farm he had been laboring at that day.

Since he was unable to find an apprenticeship he would walk from farm to farm looking for work, this one had been on the opposite end of the village through which he was now returning.

She looked distressed, arms cradling herself slightly, and her shoulders hunched more than he was used to. A part of him wanted to go and ask her what was wrong, but he also did not want to pry.

By the looks of it she was also on her way to Henry's shop and so Bash could only assume that she would be comforted shortly.

Deciding that the best way he could help instead was to head to their house and help with the others. He had been spending more time there anyway between the lessons and the Valois having not returned to play with the others since those men showed up, he had been spending most of his free time there lately.

To be honest it was hunting and tracking that best 'sparked his interest' as his mother would say.

He didn't mind the labor of farm work, but it wasn't very stimulating.

Minding children on the other hand was a whole other story, and one with as many pages as there were hours in a day.

His decision made Bash turned to begin heading to the other side of the village and then onward to the not so small cottage that was like a second home to him.

In the back of his mind he was also wondering if Claude and Elisabeth had pulled off the prank on Francis they had threatened to. Mary pleaded the fifth whenever it was brought up, but it wouldn't surprise him if she was in on it too.

-/-/-/-

Henry watched as the light began to fade outside.

With no recent sightings of the strangers and Francis and Mary both back at the house he was not concerned for the children, but he was concerned about walking back in the dark with Catherine in such a state.

She would balk if he ever said so, but he would not apologize for wanting to keep her safe.

They had been sitting there quietly for a while. He would interspersedly run the fingers of one hand lightly over her skin. His other was lightly clasped with one of hers over her belly. He was thankful that she at least was now acknowledging it without the terror of before.

Now in preparing to get up his breathing began to depend. Catherine had fallen nearly into a doze but looked up when she sensed that his momentum had changed and to try and determine what he was thinking.

He opened and closed his mouth a few times, not quite knowing how to begin.

She looked out toward the nearest window and observed how dark it had gotten. Realizing how late it truly was she spoke the words first.

"We should head back, Henry."

"Catherine we don't, I mean I didn't mean to…" Henry cautioned, not wanting for her to be disturbed too much too fast.

"No Henry it's fine," she said, struggling to sit up as he was well and truly cradling her body.

""I am feeling better," she insisted, knowing from the look he was giving her that he wasn't convinced.

"Truly Henry, we shouldn't tarry."

Sighing both because she was right and because he was perfectly comfortable there, holding her so close…and her letting him.

"I know, " he answered, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

Taking the decision out of his hands, Catherine scrambled to get out of his lap.

For all her grace, this was quite literally impossible to do gracefully. He laughed as more than a few limbs flayed out, and received a glare for his efforts.

"See what kind of lunch I will send tomorrow with that demeanor husband, I wouldn't…"

So thoroughly pleased that her spirits seemed to have raised Henry rose and approached her swiftly. Grasping her face in his hands Henry kissed her until her arms came around him. Then taking advantage of the distraction he bent to pick her up under the knees and slid the other under her shoulders.

Catherine threw her arms around his neck for balance, but when he closed one final drawer with his hip and began to walk out of the shop she realized how far he planned to go and tried to scold him.

"Henry this is really unnecessary, and the house is much too far for you to carry me there."

"And yet I managed to get you in my arms my love which is a rare occasion unto itself. As such, though I promise not to tax myself beyond my capacity, I do plan to walk as far as I wish with my beautiful wife in my arms. You or anyone else may scold me but I intend to persist, and scolding will only increase my desire and endurance to do so."

Smiling she gave up for now, instead choosing to snuggle into his chest and rest in her husband's arms.

He made it all the way out to the road that led out of the village, though their other occupation had stopped soon after leaving the shop. Instead Catherine had rested her head on his chest, choosing not to further protest him carrying her toward their home.

Eventually placing her down gently he guided her nearest hand into the crook of his elbow as they continued their journey home, Content to just be near her and fairly confident that she would be alright, that they all would.