A/N: Sorry for the late post! Thanksgiving kicked my butt this year.

It has been so utterly wonderful and touching to see the reviews I have received. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own reign

"I do not know how I will function without your counsel and support while in France." Mary stood in the apothecary's third, private, room where just days earlier she had interviewed Bash's witness and learned all of the plot against her in Scotland. In the time since she had so very much business to attend it seemed she spent no time in her apothecary's company and so she wished, before setting off for France once again, to thank him.

"Your majesty." Aonghas bowed his head to his queen. "You are young and brave. You do not need an old man to know how to rule or how to love."

The seer always knew exactly what was on her mind but she was unsure if she could stand to speak on the latter at the moment for how very upsetting her entire situation with Bash proved ever since she told him the news she had kept on her mother's instruction. She had revealed it bluntly, in a state of her own sorrow, sparing all effort to show her shared sorrow or compassion on the issue. She hadn't even done him the service of preamble before announcing the information so plainly and the guilt she felt was tremendous.

Thus it was a topic of conversation she was keen to avoid. Thankfully, she had much more to occupy her thoughts on returning to France. "Have you any words of warning for me?" She heard her servant calling for her and so by silent agreement the two began their journey to the hall and out of the castle. "I will be without your insight in France and I do not trust Nostradamus."

Aonghas laughed heartily. "As well you should not. Friends we are, but our loyalties lay in our queens."

Mary smirked at that, the wink launched in her direction. She, and most of French court, had their own idea of whatever it was that bonded Nostradamus and Catherine. But comment on it she would not. "That is something I can assure you for which I am truly thankful."

The seer's lips pulled into a small smile as they entered the main hall, nearing the entrance of the castle. "On the matter of a warning, this is for you, your majesty." He handed to her a neatly folded piece of parchment. "Read it when you feel in your heart the time is right. You must trust yourself to know when it should be done."

Mary nodded but said nothing in response, awaiting more to be said.

"As for your lad." He took her hand and kissed it when at the open doors. "Things shall improve."

Mary was not entirely sure she believed that, despite her utter trust in Aonghas and his visions. "He still barely speaks with me." She sighed, glancing at Bash who stood dutifully waiting her exit of the castle. "I do not blame him either."

Truly, she did not hold any ill feeling on his chilled responses to her the last few days after their candid argument. It hurt, it was painful to go from their kisses in the rain, their stolen moments of tenderness the next morning and then this, nothingness. It was all her own fault, however. She could not claim either surprise or innocence in any of this. She had kept something of great importance from him for days, until her mother gave her permission to share the news. By keeping this knowledge to herself Bash felt the one thing she wished she could have kept him from ever feeling, something she herself had felt by others at the time. Betrayed.

It was she that had kept all from him, she that had been heartless and she that had accidentally insulted him just prior to it all. It was no wonder he cared little for her company. That she was even more the sorry, for she knew it meant he would not allow her to comfort and soothe the utter sadness produced by the news itself. For this, she grieved heavily.

"You did what was necessary for your path." The seer placed a gentle hand on the queen's shoulder knowing the guilt the young queen felt in all that had occurred. "Now I must part with one last token of advice on the matter."

Mary looked up from her preoccupation of the floor, aware that all eyes were on her in their wait to see her off the castle grounds. Her nerves were all alert, however, on whatever it may be her seer had to say. "Please."

The apothecary took one step closer to limit the potential for anyone to overhear. "Your mother had made a suggestion on the type of relationship you might acquire with the man." He knew his queen would understand this to be the regent's suggestion that Mary take Sebastian as a lover much as she had taken Roxburgh. "I will not comment on whether this is to come or should come to pass or not. I say only this. Be open to the possibility."

Mary accepted his quick bow while she thought on that briefly. She wished anything other than placing Bash in the position of Roxburgh, in the position that James had found himself. Thoughts on those men were not something she was keen to focus upon on the moment and so turned her attention to saying farewell to all those there and taking to her carriage, Bash taking his seat across from her.

An hour's silent ride followed by a transfer to their ship found them several hours later in continued silence, save for a polite 'your grace' issued by Bash upon entering the ship's galley. It was becoming unbearable for Mary. She was thankful that at least Thomas had taken the journey to meet her aboard the ship to inform her on what she had missed on French politics while in Scotland or she would have felt terribly lonely in addition to agitated.

Other than some exchanges between Thomas and Bash when asked a direct question or to ascertain certain details of his country and family, and Mary and Thomas on some items of news, discourse was at a general stall for the three who usually enjoyed animated conversations.

Mary was growing increasingly frustrated over this. Here she sat during their evening meal in company with a man who before would have conversed with her until his tongue swelled, kissed her just the same, held her for all of his worth. Now, there was nothing.

"I will miss Scotland." She ventured, unable to look at him lest she continue to see all the pain residing within the man she loved. Thomas was a far safer target for her attempts. "I spent more of my life in France than my own country but this is where I shall always call home."

"I am personally grateful to soon be far from here." Bash returned, refusing to meet her eyes. After hearing news of France and with everything Scotland had held he would never be the same man. He changed into someone for whom duty became a vital element and was therefore unsure as to where he stood in his world anymore, particularly in hers. He was once her confidant. Now, he was someone from whom she kept vital information and he knew not how to cope, particularly since she seemed so unaffected.

It did not go unnoticed by Thomas that the young man was avoiding the queen's conversation. Thankfully, he received an enlightening letter from an apothecary the queen had taken into her confidence which shed light onto all of the details of their relationship in his absence. It eased his mind some in knowing this was likely a lover's spat. He was however weary of whatever be the cause of so much unsettled tension between his future queen and the counsel. They used to reek of romantically charged frustration. Now they reeked of arguments, arguments similar to those he and his wife had at the beginning of their happy marriage. He decided he might avail himself to Sebastian upon coming to that conclusion. He may be of some assistance.

For now though, he had tensions to diffuse and turned to his queen. "It is surprising you would wish to remain in such a place where you have been betrayed so acutely."

She winced, remembering every detail of what had occurred here. Bash might have a point. What a dreadful time, other than those moments of bliss shared with the man across from her. Still, the love of her country held strong in her heart. "I will not allow the view of my entire country to be determined and sullied by the inconceivably self-serving actions of my brother."

Thomas was surprised at that to be sure. "Your brother, your grace?" He was sure there was an interesting story to be told and if she were to allow him the privilege of its knowledge he would be truly honored.

Despite the distance between them Mary looked to Bash seeing he was exchanging quite the same look. Both took it as perhaps not all was lost between them. She still desired his counsel and he still desired to not see ill come to her or her reign.

Upon seeing that need for his opinion, Bash decided to place his feelings aside for the moment and speak on the politics of all that occurred. "Mary's half-brother James was found to be her traitor."

Thomas nearly gasped, his eyes wide when he looked between the two at this news. The story all knew was that Dùghlas was found to be part of the plot and convicted but they were unable to extract who the other conspirator might be. Hearing that they knew it to be, and he be family, was surely surprising and so he wondered if she were protecting the man despite all that had gone on. "Why was he not put on trial as well?"

Here Mary sighed, knowing that while she certainly trusts Thomas, she was sure this would be a surprise. She was glad Bash spoke up, for she did truly want the Englishman to be privy to this business as it would enable his better functioning of his position and she found that whenever she was unsure of her own instinct to trust, if it was one shared with Bash, then it always on target. "I found an alternative, a manner in which I might prevent further uprisings of the Protestants."

Bash interjected, some pride emanating as he thought on Mary's quick thinking before the trial. "It was ingenious, really. We found James to have actually been the leader of the uprising, contrary to the assurances of Dùghlas that he was fundamentally against it despite being the leading Protestant at court."

Mary felt a pang of regret wash through her at having believed Dùghlas. "And so, I thought I could use him. I retained evidence, the product of Clesson, a messenger loyal to me having delivered letters proving guilt. I made no mention of him, however. Since I wish he to remain available as a witness I allowed him to return to his family in the highlands until such time I might need his services again."

Thomas smiled broadly understanding the political mastery here. "By keeping this over James you allowed someone of your control to remain in the position of power of your opposition." He chuckled. "I assume you will give him instruction on some minor ways he might defy you to retain that position too."

Bash joined in the smile for he knew Mary had done just that same. "I believe Mary's precise words were that she would allow him to keep his position and his head but that if he defied her without her consent she would lower the ax upon his neck herself."

The queen blushed at the pride of the two of three men she trusted so violently with her secrets. "It was not comfortable to think of such things given that he is family, particularly considering his children. However, I have no attachment to the man now, with all he had done."

Bash knew there was more to it than that, she cried for hours that night before, when so overcome with her sorrow, she shared news equally sorrowful of his own with little care. He tried to not remember that, or he might not make it through the conversation at hand but feeling the pride and love for her surging in equal measure to all else this brought up was becoming too much to think on at the moment.

Thoughts on his family, his news, her, all seemed to creep back inside of him and there was nothing he could do to starve the pain away. "Pardon me, your grace. I feel unwell." He stood suddenly and excused himself, aware that Thomas was watching the exchange but he could not think of that at the moment.

Mary watched the man she loved leave, and seeing all that same pain as before return made her cringe and wish they were in a better place, a place where she could run after him and see to him. But he would not want to show her that weakness and she would not be welcomed, she feared, for what she had not said to him.

"Your grace." Thomas adjusted in his seat, aware that it was up to him to keep his future queen on an even keel. "You need not continue. I understand how difficult it was for you to execute Dùghlas for his involvement in all of this."

"Not as difficult as one might think." She turned to him, glad to return to discussion. "Truly, his actions only made it easier to deal out his conviction but harder to cope with all that happened with Robert. Had it not been for that man figuring out what my newest advisor was up to, I would be dead."

Mary thought on how Bash's witness had been quite well informed in all that had occurred the day she entered Scotland. He was a messenger of her brother's who had been sent to intercept the army she had dispatched to Linlithgow after another messenger had brought word from Dùghlas. He had learned of everything afoot when waiting for the commanders to make a decision on what message to send back with him.

He, Clesson, had not liked what he overheard. The word slaughter made him put aside all loyalties for her brother he had and open the second letter he was to carry towards the outpost. It was asking for an update on whether or not the rogue army had been successful in capturing and killing his queen. He rode off to Edinburgh to try and make warning but news had already spread of Mary's death and so he road to the boarder to try and beat the army about to slay Linlithgow where he hoped to find English troops willing to suppress James. He could not pledge loyalty to a king made so by such terrible actions.

When he had arrived at the castle, greeted only by Bash per her orders on wishing to meet him before the trial, the three met in Aonghas's quarters and she learnt of all the details there, including several she and Bash both had never expected. "I had thought I would feel relief when Bash had told me that James was not the man that put a price on my head. He knew not whom, however and I suppose I am not so selfish as he, in caring more of all those innocent lives lost over my own."

Thomas, once again, found himself amazed at the knowledge coming to pass. "I thought you said he was your traitor?"

"He was." Mary took a sip of her wine before continuing. "He made the orders on Linlithgow in an attempt at framing Roxburgh and therefore removing his largest competitor for my crown as well as the husband of his lover in one fell swoop." She paused to nod at the unasked question in Thomas's eyes. "Viola's two children are his, my niece and nephew." She took yet another sip of her wine. "It was not James that made the order to have my head hunted. Bash knew this but not who until Clesson informed us. It was Viola. James wanted only to be able to overthrow me, have me running to England or France once more. Viola wanted no manner in which I might retake the crown or discover the plot to frame her husband."

"And yet you did not convict her of treason either?"

Here Mary's smile grew almost devilish. "As selfish as my brother might be, the one person he truly does care for more in this world than himself is Viola, as well as his children. The idea of my being able to put her to death at any moment is truly what I believe is allowing for my ability to control him."

Thomas felt his smile grow even wider. "I had heard much of how impressive of a queen you have proved. Now I see what an underestimation all the praise has become." He lifted his goblet to hers in congratulations before he continued. "There is one thing however. James's punishment of always being at your, Catholic, bidding is quite fitting. But this situation leaves Viola entirely unpunished."

Here Mary shook her head delicately. "On the contrary. I forced her, for even though she be a protestant her legal husband be a Catholic, into taking her vows on becoming a nun. She is freed from her marriage vows of course in the exchange and allowed to see her children and James on the occasion. However she must spend the rest of her days in service of a faith to which she does not prescribe. Otherwise, she knows James will die."

The advisor leaned forward in utterly impressed interest. "And the children? Roxburgh?"

"The children will be taken by governess under the authority of their legal father, Roxburgh. Eventually I will take them into my own household. Roxburgh did take the French convoy and under the assurances of Bash in representing the French in their lack of anger over the incident, I was able to punish him only with the removal of his men and confinement to his castle in Kelso for three years."

"Kelso, where your mother often visits?" He had heard much on the rumors of the regent and lord Roxburgh but the queen's nod confirmed it all. "So the man is now free from his bounds of matrimony."

"And soon shall my mother be free to take whatever husband, rich he might be from his previously dissolved marriage, that she might wish once I take the throne for good next year. Of course, this is how I will be able to take authority of the children later. They will become my step siblings, after all."

"Sebastian is correct. This truly was ingenious."

She allowed a small lift to her smile but took the cue of the return of servants coming to clear their plates as her reminder that they best move towards sleep. She had much to contemplate on all that had happened in Scotland and she felt she needed the time of the full day approaching to figure out how she was going to pretend to love Francis or at least be devoted to their engagement while so thoroughly in love with Bash.

She sighed as the thought struck her upon entering the privacy of her berth. The remaining distance between she and Bash, due to her own actions, was likely to make that an easier prospect than she feared.

Outside her berth's door, Thomas heard that sigh and knew precisely what was going through his queen's head at the moment. As encouraging as it had been that the two had spoken on the matter of James, he knew not all would be well until he got them to speak to one another once more, as they used to, sharing all their secrets.

An idea struck him and so, without knock or preamble he entered the bastard's berth. "Your apothecary told me of his vision, told me that he had indeed seen it come to light when you returned to the castle both thoroughly soaked and obviously in love."

Bash had turned over half way through the man's sentence. He could not be even the slightest upset that Thomas stood there as he did. He knew that of anyone, Aonghas would have spoken to Thomas on this. The seer had been there at the entrance of the castle when he and Mary had returned from their kissing and playing in the mud with a potion and excuse at the ready for them both. He needed nothing else to know that both men had the best interest of the relationship he shared with Mary, whatever it might be.

"Perhaps, for me this is true." He stood, glad he had wiped the tears that had been stinging his eyes away before he rolled over. "She has no permission to open her heart. I do not expect it, even if I wish it."

Thomas sighed and leaned against the wall slightly. "And yet, she has allowed herself, despite everything, to love you. She might not say the words but this is true. With this comes a responsibility on your part. I understand why you are mad that she kept what she did from you." He did not want to mention it in words for fear of rubbing sand into an open wound. "But you are upset over it, understandably, and need her to get through this trying time. And believe it or not, part of love is this. She needs you to allow her to do this."

The Frenchman sighed as he thought that over, allowing the Englishman to retreat. He followed him out of his birth and was aware that Thomas was distracting the guard posted outside Mary's quarters.

For what seemed like an hour but was in actuality less than a minute he stood in silent contemplation. There was only one person on this earth that offered any great relief to him in any fashion and she be the woman that had hurt him so. But he knew it was unfair to keep blame on her. He was angry, yes, that she did not reveal something so important for days simply because she needed him to focus, so he could do her bidding. But that thought was not fair.

He knew he would still have tried to find her traitor. He knew he would have insisted on staying in Scotland until that business was settled because he trusted no one else. And he knew that he would likely have only suffered or worse, possibly failed, all because his mind would be distracted with thoughts on France.

With a sigh, he finally approached her door and placed a gentle knock, relieved when Mary opened the door and allowed his entrance before the guard lost his interest in Thomas.

Mary stared at him for some time before she realized he seemed apprehensive, scared on how she might react to this. Most of what lay between them was her fault, so she broke the ice. "I am surprised to see you. It has been some time since you have sought out my company."

Bash stood awkwardly in the small space, positioned between the bed and Mary who leaned against the wood door she had shut after letting him in. "I apologize." He felt nervous, more so than he ever truly had in her presence. He did not know where to go from here. Never had he and Mary been at odds or so distant. Even after their first kiss, when she called it a mistake, he had been so captivated by her that he hadn't allowed himself the opportunity to be truly injured. Now, however, he realized the difference. "When I had said that I would never be able to trust you again, I was taken aback by what you had told me. I did not, I do not, mean it. And I hope that you can forgive me for having fought with you and left when you too were experiencing great pain."

Mary sat with relief upon the bed, patting the spot next to her for him to join. "Nothing has seemed right for so long, since I found out what James did in Linlithgow. I think the moment I thought my brother responsible for my death I lost the ability to be kind to those I care for. So, I believe this is why I was so careless in how I told you the news and so heartless in my responses." And yet, even though she was so cold-blooded he stood here only days later in apology for something that was not his fault.

Bash knew, now that he had thought on it, that what she was saying was true and felt sorry for her. "There was never going to be a way I would learn of it without heartbreak, Mary. That is not on you." Besides, he played his own role in creating the situation where she had been so utterly upset. "And, I really never did mean to let you think he was the person at fault in that, though I knew, just as you said, that it would be heartbreaking to know your brother capable of such a thing as Linlithgow." He chose to not think on how she had responded.

Mary, however, could not escape the memory of her response when he told her he was sorry it was her brother. It was the remark she had next made that felt as though it was the beginning of all that stood between them. "I did not mean what I said." She struggled to find her wording, willing Bash's attention to meet her gaze. "I did not mean to create parallels between my brother and yourself in what I had said. I apologize for it. I sounded very much like Catherine."

Bash swallowed and returned his view to the door. It had hurt dearly when she told him to not call James her brother. While he understood why she said she claimed no kinship to a man who cared so little for his countrymen it had hurt when she said that James was not her brother but her father's son. He had heard this all his life and he knew then how delusional all he felt for Mary had been. "There is no need to apologize. I am well aware that I am a bastard Mary." He licked his lips and willed himself to regain her eye contact so as to convince her he was unbothered. "I have never allowed of myself the delusion that I could ever attain that which I really desire."

Mary watched him closely, aware of just how painful this was for them both. "I would not have it any other way, you know." She quickly moved to correct her words as Bash looked away in shame. "What I mean to say is that I wish you had the ability to have what it is you desire. I desire that which I might not attain either." She hoped he understood her meaning. "But I would not wish for you to have lost that freedom that had made you the man I call my friend."

Bash sat in a moment of examination, willing himself the permission to forgive what to him was the smallest burden facing them. "Just as I admire you, for the queen you have become."

"I am glad but this queen must issue an apology." Being a queen was what always seemed to be the overruling aspect of her identity, the part which created situations such as this. "I am sorry, Bash. I truly never wanted to keep anything from you. There are some things, however, due to my position," she almost decided to tell him about the prophesy but decided against it. "I cannot share with you until the timing is appropriate."

She took his hand, hoping he realized that meant more than just secrets on news, it meant words she cannot yet say, words she might never get to issue. "You need not apologize for anything for you did no wrong. What I wish now is only to tell you the words you have said to me. You are not alone here."

Bash let out a sad chuckle before taking her in his arms, burying his face into her hair. Her scent was one of the few things that brought equilibrium, that prevented the fall of tears. "Thank you." He sighed, breathing her in further. "You should know that my moods and detachment is not all you Mary. I find it impossible to know how to respond to anything."

His words quieted as he stared off. "Of course I always knew it would happen but never did I think it would so soon that my father would be so ill, I never thought I would be away from home so long when he is about to-"

Mary shushed him and wrapped her arms fully around him frame. So often he had held her this way, protectively and caringly. She was determined to be the support he needed as well. "He has some time left. The doctors said weeks when they sent the message to Scotland. There will still be many, many days for you, for us, to say goodbye and enjoy what time we have left with him."

He stilled for many moments thinking over what she just said. "You are going to miss him too, are you not?"

"I am." She withdrew slightly so as to look into his eyes. "I never had time with my own father and spent most of my time in France. I suppose, besides the nuns, he is the person closest to what I might call a parent, even if we have had our many disagreements on issues with the alliance."

Bash nodded and pulled back soothing the hair pulled awry in their embrace. "Francis will make a great king for France. I suppose I feel better in knowing that."

The queen swallowed delicately, the reminder of her continued engagement to Francis all the more prevalent. His father dying made matters somewhat more complicated as the king, and Francis, were both likely to be all the more eager in securing the marriage before his death. She would not be surprised if there were some attempt at having the wedding date set within the next few weeks. All her hopes on stalling the event in the attempt to keep from being forced to potentially create hostilities with France in refusing the engagement were now resting mostly upon the shoulders of Catherine's fears and distaste of Mary's wedding her son.

Hoping for Catherine's success in the matter was far too foreign a concept as of yet to fully entertain so she turned all her focus to Bash, once more. How she wished she could tell him that she did not intend on going through with marrying Francis after all.

"That he will." She sighed, allowing herself to feel the warmth of his hand upon hers. "Though I must admit that for everything I have seen since we have left France I am convinced you are both the better man and the more capable for rule."

For the first time in days Bash felt pink rise upon his cheeks. He didn't think he ever received such a wonderful compliment. It was always to others that he was not fit for rule even if he were not a bastard. Knowing that Mary thinks otherwise made him feel less the bastard and more the simply unlucky man. Of course, he had Mary's affections so how unlucky could he really claim to be? "It would be difficult for any man to not rise to the challenges and example you present Mary."

She took her own turn to blush and swiped the messy hair in his eyes away from his face. "And yet you are the only man to do so."

He looked upon her eyes searching in his own and took in the state of their embrace, needing nothing more than the affection of her words, of being told he was special in her eyes, to encourage him to once again claim her lips.

She smiled even as she kissed him, so delighted that they returned to this state. Mary was so terribly in love with Bash that the days apart made her ache all over. Now, it seemed that their intimate exchange soothed all that had come before, save one thing.

She pulled away when they needed air and rested her head against him. "Bash. I truly am sorry about your father."

He nodded and took her closer into his arms and lay back on the bed intending to settle in. He was grateful that she made no protest for he knew not how he could bear to part with her. "Thank you, Mary." He kissed her forehead and then planted a chase peck to her lips. "My queen."

They smiled to one another gently and cuddled for some time watching the other until she realized that he had fallen asleep beside her. Hearing Thomas give instruction to the guard outside that he should not disturb either the queen or Sebastian, a manner in which he could allow the guard to believe the two were in separate quarters, she smirked. She could allow Bash to stay just like this in her bed, holding her as the rough sea gently rocked their ship.

As she pulled the blankets over them and settled deeper into his arms she wondered if she could continue to do this in France. How dearly she hoped that she could find times alone with him, be able to kiss and confide in him. How she hoped that she would be able to do what she must in order to fulfill the prophesy, which she prayed somehow miraculously included Bash as the other parent to those lovely children, by pretending to still be loyal to Francis. How dearly she hoped that now that she and Bash were happily speaking once more, she could do all that needed to be done without breaking his heart.

She opened her eyes, fighting the sleep pulling them closed as she looked upon his face in the final moments of her waking state. "I will do my best Bash." Her whisper grew all the more quiet as her lashed finally fluttered shut. "I will try to have you. My king."