Disclaimer: Don't own Reign or Outlander this is just a fun story :D
Catherine and Dougal spent the night at the river with Claire and Jamie. The day before they spent the whole day setting up for a party. There would be a meal and a dance. Catherine watched as Dougal slept she wondered things about him. Especially, what it might be like to be with him. She yelled at herself in her head. "How can you think that! You don't like him! You don't like him at all! Can I? No! No! No! No! I can't like him!" She turned the other way. Claire was watching her seeing how she had been looking at Dougal she knew the look all to well. Claire knew that if Catherine was feeling something for Dougal she would probably hold those feelings to herself. Catherine might try to run away. Just then Catherine looked up towards the sky looking at the stars. She wondered if perhaps Mary was searching for her if anyone had missed her at all. For some people this disappearance might be best for them to gain power. These thoughts made her worry about her children's safety. She began to think that maybe she should try to escape and find a way back. Claire had continued to watch her. It was like Claire could read Catherine's thoughts. Claire knew that if Catherine tried to run she could be in so much more danger than she had ever been in before.
Catherine finally had fallen asleep, but she was very restless. Dougal heard Catherine crying in her sleep. His heart started to hurt for her. He wanted to go to her to hold her, to kiss, to love her. It was at that moment he started yelling at himself, "She won't want you! She is to good for you! She will run from me!" Claire noticed Dougal now she knew those looks on his face. And yet he seemed different what if Dougal was really falling for Catherine. Claire thought, "Could it be that Dougal and Catherine are meant to be just as Jamie and I are?" Perhaps, just perhaps, this was a good thing. But would Dougal and Catherine ever really admit it to the world or each other? Time would tell.
The next day both Catherine and Dougal both helped Claire and Jamie finish certain things before the party. Catherine goes to the river and looks at the calm water seeing herself as in a mirror. She heard a familiar voice and sees a face in the water. It is Mary she hears and sees Mary. Catherine reaches for Mary and falls into the river screaming. Dougal, Claire, and Jamie heard. Dougal ran to Catherine and helped her out of the river. She is shivering thinking she was seeing and hearing things. The truth was Mary was there in that exact place just in the past. And as Catherine was hearing and seeing Mary she heard and saw Catherine too. Catherine was shivering as Dougal held her but not just because she fell in the river he wanted to hold her, "Are ye alright?" He asked her she looks into his eyes she slowly touched his hand. "Yes... I think so..." She couldn't believe how caring and kind he was with her. He looks into her eyes he wanted to kiss her so bad. But he held back wondering if she would get upset and slap him. He was kind of scared of that. A few hours go by and they both can't stop thinking of what happened Catherine had warmed up and Claire gave her some clothes to change into. The party had begun and this night would change everything in so many ways. Catherine watches everyone dance Dougal goes to her and asks her if she wants to dance. "Well yes I would like that very much." They dance slowly they were lost in each other's eyes just staring into each other's eyes for awhile. They were about to kiss when she heard something. "Catherine... Catherine! There you are!" Mary ran into the party with her guards. Everyone at the party somehow knew who she was and they were in shock. "Mary... " Catherine had pulled away from Dougal who was shocked himself.
It was just then that Catherine woke up from sleeping she had dreamed everything just then after she had been watching Dougal. The almost kiss was on her mind. She looks over at Dougal blushing he opened up his eyes and grins and winks at her. Her heart pounds so hard this wasn't like her at all. She closed her eyes and pretends to sleep. She makes a decision that moment to just run during that party that night!
Catherine was scared that any love she might have would turn sour as it had so many times before. She wondered why she cared so much. What she didn't realize was that not only did she have strong feelings for Dougal. He also felt the same and if she ran he would follow her and save her.