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

Ch 22 - The Doting, The Daring

As the weeks continued to pass Catherine's belly noticeably grew and the children were enthralled, amazed, and confused each according to their own understanding of what was happening.

Henry was absolutely head over heels, devoting every minute he was not needed elsewhere to pampering his wife or offering to help her in this way and that. It was almost embarrassing, and he did not always escape the encounter unscathed as Catherine's rarely seen temper became less and less controlled.

Henry secretly loved this too, watching his normally calm wife become slightly unhinged, but he knew better than to tell her that,

He had decided however to make a game of how fast he could convince her to sit down and remain seated for the evening once dinner was complete. She did appreciate the gesture, and how jovial he became at attempting to be creative in convincing her.

Most evenings she was too tired to properly argue and so she allowed him to think that he had convinced her.

With the days getting noticeably warmer this only got worse, both her exhaustion and her temper. Henry had taken to setting a small bowl and cloth on the small table near their bed at night so that sit would be available to her if she was too warm.

He did this especially for those nights when she woke up in the middle of the night overheated as she loathed to wake him up. He on the other hand did not want her walking around in her increasingly growing condition in the dark.

Unfortunately one other symptoms of pregnancy for her was an increase in nightmares, ones based in reality and totally imagined.

Over the years Henry had only gotten a few of them out of her but she so disliked sharing that he did his best not to pry. At first he felt hurt about her not telling him, but Brigitte had set him straight fairly quickly,

Everyone had their secrets, and allowing yourself to be vulnerable was one of the hardest things for anyone to do willingly. He had an inkling that they were in part a redux of hr past that she desperately wanted to forget, but in almost every other way she willing shared with him much of herself and so he did his best to let go of this one thing.

Overall though, hers and Nostradamus's fears seem to be unfounded. Though she was growing faster than Henry remembered being normal for her, she did not seem to have any additional symptoms that warranted concern. Catherine even agreed to see Nostradamus more than was usual for this condition to ease all minds involved.

Catherine really did not need much convincing, until she was supposed to actually leave and always seem to have one more thing to accomplish.

Henry did his best to be available for such times so that he could escort her there himself and quell any hesitation or excuses that his wife camp up with about leaving to do so.

"If you don't come willingly Catherine, I will carry you there myself. "

Henry had threatened her with this on several occasions, one of the reasons for her temper being aimed at him.

Overall though and despite all of the hurdles, Catherine's being pregnant was a time when she and Henry always grew closer particularly as it was a time indisputably focused on her.

Though Catherine did not appreciate the idea of so much attention, she did relish it in the moment.

-/-/-/-

One day shortly after lunch Catherine was working in the kitchen when Mary approached her having just put the little ones down for their afternoon nap.

"Mother I would like to speak with you."

It was odd for Mary to sound so formal and so it worried Catherine somewhat, but what could possibly be bothering her twelve, almost thirteen year old taught she could not guess.

Mary had been a bit overly attentive with her 'condition' but otherwise had not seemed burdened to the point of concern, either in taking on additional responsibilities or of the natural concern most children had over adding one more to a family.

After they both sat down, Catherine more and more slowly as each day passed and her center of gravity shifted, she could see that her daughter now looked….worried?

"Mother I went to visit Greer today at Ms. De Poitiers and discovered that she had asked a midwife to come and stay with them to help assist some of the ladies living in her house."

Catherine had heard about that. She feared that the questionable reputation of Diane's establishment was about to become far more scrutinized in light of these happenings. And Greer had recently been offered to Diane as if she was an 'ornament', since her parent's were becoming concerned they could not find a suitable match for her themselves.

It really was her father who was the cause of this change.

"She is too old and plain," were his exact words if Mary had relayed them correctly.

It was unimaginable.

And yes now, two of the ladies proved to be with child.

Catherine considered Mary's request. She was not opposed to Mary learning a skill, and it would be considered a reputable one.

"I see no reason for you not to Mary, but I hope you don't feel like you need to. This is not a responsibility I want you to feel obligated to take on."

Reaching out for Mary's hand, Catherine tried to instill in her this truth, worries that as she often did Mary sought to take on more in her young life than Catherine ever wanted her to. To please her and Henry even as they absolutely adored her just as she was.

Smiling Mary answered, "I know mother, but I would like to know more about this. In addition, at my age all of the boys are being expected to learn a skill and I don't see why I might not as well."

Appreciating the logic, and Mary's' spunk, Catherine returned her smile and squeezed her hand before letting go.

"Of course Mary, you are welcome to seek out training as a midwife, and should you still wish to, you may also help with the delivery of your newest brother or sister."

"Thank you mother," Mary answered, bouncing up and running into her room.

Poking her head outside the doorframe a moment later she continued, "May I go into town and inquire of the midwife?"

Fondly amused at her energetic daughter, Catherine nodded her approval and watched the girl disappear for a moment and then back out again faster than Catherine could have even gotten up out of her seat.

Catherine could only hope that as the months went on that everything would stay as calm as they seemed. She did not relish the idea of those visitors returning, especially as her pregnancy continued, and now Mary sought training outside of their house.

The strain of pregnancy did nothing to calm her worries for her family in any way. If anything she felt the weight of her role as their parent all the more.

Trying to calms her thoughts as they started to spin, she tried to focus on all that was good in her life, to keep the demons at bay.

Turning to bring her awareness to Claude and Elisabeth she smiled at her next oldest daughters playing a friendly game of cards at the table.

Her family was her pride and joy, and would light the way when life became too much to bear.