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

Ch 27 - Hand in Hand, Heart in Heart

Bash returned not long after and relayed his mother's agreement to their request.

Mary and Francis were still feeling a bit awkward and seemed to be avoiding each other ever so slightly whenever they were in the same room, which did not go unnoticed by their friend.

Mary and Catherine were both once again busy in the kitchen while Francis was helping his father set up a makeshift eating area outside for the additional guests, sixteen people simply would not fit in the common area of their house.

"Francis what is going on?" Bash inquired

Continuing on with his task Francis answered, "Unless things go differently than we think they will Mary and I will be married, very likely tonight."

"WHAT!" Bash nearly shouted. "What are you talking about, you are far too young for such things…"

Sighing Francis answered his friend though he was certain there was nothing that could explain this situation in a satisfactory manner.

"Those men that have been lurking about were here looking for Mary, a 'long lost relative' and seem to think they have the right to take her back with them. Should this continue to be their intent Mary and I are to marry to prevent them from taking her, tonight if necessary."

Bash froze for a moment and tried to process what he had just heard.

"I just can't believe that you two are to be married, haven't we been training with your father for just this reason? We can fight!"

"And then what Bash? For one, mother said they looked like trained soldiers, and for two, what if they come back later and take her anyway."

"They can take her once you two are married, and might just kill you to be sure there was no claim of wrongdoing by separating husband and wife."

"I believe that is where the request to your mother comes in, to hide them there until the men have left."

"Francis this is crazy you can't…"

"Yes Bash," Francis replied, frustration evident in his voice. "This crazy, but I care for Mary and have no intention of letting her be taken away if there is anything I can do to stop it."

"Then what about me, I could just as easily marry her, and I am at least old enough to be considered of marrying age."

Jealously reared up in Francis at his suggestion. Now that he had begun seriously considering this he was far less shocked by the possibility and beginning to become comfortable with the idea of Mary becoming his wife.

"That you will have to ask her. It is now and always will be her choice Bash."

-/-/-/-

Bash went back into the house wanting to speak to Mary as soon a possible but with all that she and Catherine were doing in the kitchen he couldn't bring himself to get in their way.

Not long after though Henry called the family all inside to discuss what would probably be happening that night. The younger ones did not really need to know the details, but Claude and Elisabeth certainly should and it wouldn't hurt for Charles and Little Henry to have some idea of what to expect.

"But father," Charles asked still not understanding, "Why would these men want to take Mary away from us? We all love her even if she was born somewhere else."

Smiling at his son's simplistic but truthful reasoning."Yes Charles, we know that and tonight will hopefully convince them that she belongs here. But unfortunately convincing them of that may not be enough." He sighed as he tried to think of how to inform his young son of how cruel life could be without scaring him entirely.

"Although we have always desired the best for Mary, and tried to be good neighbors to the others in the village, not everyone was raised or chooses to live that way.

"Then are we in danger father?" Quiet Elisabeth finally spoke, her voice so clearly heard that the strength it carried was pleasantly surprising.

"There is always that possibility Lizzy," he answered honestly. "But hopefully we have planned well enough that any danger can be averted and these men can be sent on their way without any further trouble,"

"As for any questions the men might pose tonight, remember that having Mary and Francis wed has been planned for a long time and since she came to us Mary has been our maid, although you can honestly say that she has been raised as if she was another of our daughters."

"Mother I am scared," said Little Henry, just old enough to begin to understand that there was trouble coming, but not really able to grasp all of what was going on with everything else."

Motioning for Mary to take over for her kneading the bread Catherine wiped her hands on her apron and reached down to pick him up. "Chers Yeux, there is nothing to be worried about, we will simply be playing a little bit of pretend tonight to make sure that you sister can stay with us for as long as she likes.

Claude had said nothing, but as she came over to take Little Charles so her mother could finish dinner, Catherine could see a lingering hesitation in her eyes.

Allowing her daughter to take Little Henry from her arms Catherine stopped her, placing both hands on her cheeks to be sure her most obedient daughter was looking at her and said with finality, "It will be alright. Your father and I will see to it that nothing happens to any of you."

Claude nodded with the barest glimmer of acceptance in her eye. Catherine smiled and kissed her forehead before sending her on her way and returning to the cooking area with Mary.

Despite promises there was a tension that remained in the air.

Having nothing else to do, Henry decided to try and get everyone as distracted as possible.

"Come, boys I want you two to spar for a bit, perhaps giving our guests reason to reconsider their aims once they see that we are not entirely undefended. Claude and Elisabeth, if you are not needed in her, why don't you take the little ones out to play as well."

Smiling at her husband's wisdom Catherine was pleasantly surprised when Henry did not immediately follow the small band outside, instead coming over to where she and Mary were working and giving them each a kiss on the forehead, following by a kiss on his wife's lips as she turned her face up in a slight pout.

"We will need that spark of yours tonight my love. I hope you have not overworked yourself today as I will need you to help see this through."

"Do not worry yourself husband, I am perfectly fine and will beat them out of our lives with my broom if need be."

Henry chucked before he curled one hand protectively over the growing evidence of their love for one another and breathed in deeply. Though they had created their own corner of paradise it seemed like something always had to come in and try to spoil it for them.

Hating to break up their moment, but unable to accomplish what she needed herself Mary interrupted "Father the potatoes are done, would you help me lift them off of the fire?"

Brushing his wife's belly tenderly he moved past her to answer Mary's request.

Later when the hooves of horses were heard Mary found Catherine's eyes, as outside Bash and Francis found Henry's.

Whatever happened, they would stand together and defend their own.