A/N: Thank you all for the reviews! This is such a fun story to write. I have the hardest time tormenting Bash, he's sort of my favorite, but we all know that love triangles are hard on people. This chapter is still in college, and not much time has passed since the last chapter so it's a fairly short one. Hope you like it!

Disclaimer: I have no ownership over Reign; I'm simply borrowing the characters for my own storyline.

Chapter 3: Power Struggles

The flakes of snow that landed on the car window were so pretty to Mary, so delicate and unique. She was staring at them as her driver pulled up in front of the DeMedici house for their Christmas Eve celebration. She was actually looking forward to the gathering.

The driver carried her packages in for her and Francis met her at the door with an embrace. "Mary you look gorgeous!" He flashed the smile that she had missed greatly.

As they laughed their way into the great room his hand released hers so that he could wave someone over. When she looked in the direction of where he was motioning she saw a girl, pretty, with blond curls and blue eyes.

"Mary, I want you to meet a friend of mine from school. Olivia is in one of my study groups and she didn't have anywhere to spend Christmas so of course I invited her here. Mother always has so many acquaintances here that I was sure she wouldn't mind one more. Olivia, this is Mary." While he spoke Olivia had extended her hand to shake Mary's.

"Nice to meet you Mary! I really appreciate being included in the DeMedici holidays. I'm from France so it's hard to travel home for every holiday." Olivia was smiling as she talked but Mary was too busy gathering her thoughts about the idea that Francis had brought a very attractive blonde with a lovely French accent home for Christmas.

"Oh. Well it's nice to meet you as well Olivia. I've certainly been taken in by the DeMedici family myself so I share your gratitude." Mary was forcing a smile. She couldn't help but wonder why Francis hadn't mentioned this friend of his before now. "Are you staying here at the house?"

"Oh yes, Francis wouldn't have had it any other way" Olivia answered smiling sweetly at Mary's boyfriend and squeezing his arm.

"Oh that's so kind of him! Would you two excuse me, I need to use the ladies room." Mary gave a friendly wave as she walked away, but she couldn't escape quickly enough.

The bathroom in the hall was occupied and rather than hover there by the door she went upstairs to use Francis' bathroom. While she was washing her hands and trying to calm her nerves she noticed a toiletry bag on the counter that was pretty with a floral print. It was open and make up applicators were tumbling out. Mary backed slowly out of the room.

A glance around Francis' bedroom confirmed her fears. Olivia was sleeping there. There were signs of her everywhere. In fact she seemed to be quite the messy houseguest, with clothing tossed here and there. Mary's imagination ran wild with hypothetical scenarios that would cause someone to throw down their clothing over the expanse of a bedroom. She was not pleased with her thoughts at all.

"Ahem." A throat behind her cleared and she spun around to find Catherine in the door. "I know what you're thinking dear, but I assure you that I've kept the two of them under watchful eye since she arrived here. Make no mistake, I will not allow Francis to stray without a fight. I'm making my presence and stance well known."

Mary chuckled darkly. Catherine was not known for her loyalty, so for her to be petitioning for Francis to be faithful there must have been a reason. "To what do I owe the honor of that service?" Mary narrowed her eyes in skepticism.

"Oh come now, you know very well that I treasure his relationship with you. It behooves us all if Francis ends up with you, and with your money. Let's be frank, his political standing would benefit you as well." She crossed the room towards Mary. "I'm not about to let some little French whore ruin that for us. Although I must say that I'm shocked you haven't done more about it."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Mary was appalled.

"It means that if you had gone to college with him, as his girlfriend, your presence would have been known. Women would have kept their distance from him simply because you were there. Instead the girls see him as fresh meat, and let's face it... my son has always had a wondering eye. I blame you almost as much as I blame him. You were aware of the potential dangers of being apart and yet you insisted so that you could have a college experience."

Catherine's eyes danced with fire as she spoke.

"Take care my dear, that you close this deal swiftly before any more distractions break up our happy arrangement. I have spoken with your mother and I know that she also feels as I do. You'll benefit from this relationship, as will your family, and it would be foolish to endanger that."

Mary felt her face burning as she gathered herself before she spoke. "And what would you suggest that I do about it? If Francis doesn't want me then there's really nothing I can do about it."

"For pity's sake child, do I need to spell it out for you? You need to meet his needs if you want him to be happy. Your being away at another college hours away is doing nothing to keep Francis happy. Sex is a powerful tool when wielded correctly and you need to start deciding when it is time for you to end this silly charade of you getting a college education." Catherine sounded exasperated.

Mary glared at the older woman. "I do not have any need to sacrifice what I am entitled to simply because you might have some political influence in this state. Believe it or not, Francis is not the only son of a politician that I might have the opportunity to wed. If he will cast me aside before we are even married then our marriage would certainly be doomed from the start. I have no need for your family's influence and I will make my own decision."

She walked to the door to make her exit.

"You may care nothing for this family's connections but I would wager that you care for Sebastian's future." The words were bitter and they stung the minute they hit Mary's ears. She turned slowly.

"I'm sure I don't know what you're implying." Her words were firm but her breath was caught in her chest.

"Oh I'm only implying that while your future may not depend upon the influence of our political ties, Sebastian's most certainly does. It would be a pity if he were cast out of the Senator's good graces." Catherine toyed with her hair coyly as she spoke and Mary hated the fact that she would treat Bash as trivial as a piece of business to be negotiated. "I have gathered that there is a fondness between the two of you. Please know that nothing comes about in Bash's career or life that isn't within range of my influence that you so readily insist you do not need in your favor."

"The Senator would never allow you…" Mary was interrupted.

"The Senator wouldn't even be aware my dear. When will people learn that I'm the person pulling the strings around here?" Catherine groaned as she headed towards the door. "Choose wisely my dear."

When she was gone Mary felt the room close in around her. It appeared she was stuck in this relationship, regardless of where it led. The least she could do was put end to Olivia now. She was descending the stairs when she heard Francis' laugh echoing from the great room. She took a deep breath and approached calmly.

X

They walked on the patio in silence for a moment, the cold chilling her to the bone. "I don't like the idea that Olivia is staying here, in your room."

Francis' head swiveled. "Olivia has been a very good friend to me Mary. She has been there to talk with during some rough patches this semester. I expected you to be appreciative of that." He paused and she could see the half smirk on his face that came just as often when angered as when joyous. "You certainly weren't there to help me deal with stresses."

There it was. Of course it would be her fault.

"Why is it that me wanting a future for myself isn't as important as you having a regular sex partner? You know what, if you want Olivia then have at her! You can make your own choices Francis, choose her!" Mary knew that she was raising her voice, which would be frowned upon if guests heard but she couldn't contain the rage that was bubbling inside. "I will not be treated as if I need to cave to you bringing home other girls to have sex with simply because I'm getting a college education at the school of my own choice. The school that I earned admittance to by the way, unlike some whose mothers pressure the Dean into putting them through." She was ready to storm off with that last barb.

"Mary I am not having sex with Olivia. She is simply a friend. But I will ask her to leave tomorrow, and I will sleep on Bash's couch tonight. Don't leave like this. It's Christmas Eve." There was remorse in his voice but Mary couldn't tell if it was because of her hurt feelings or because of the scene she was causing. Regardless, his mention of Bash's name stopped her in her tracks.

She turned and let him take her hand.

"Please. Stay.. I love you and you must know that. There should be nothing that would sway your confidence in me." His eyes were pleading with her, and he snaked a hand through her hair as he pulled her to him. His lips brushed hers and while she felt their heat she didn't return the kiss.

"I'll stay. I want you to know that we are not done with this discussion though." She knew she had given in but not for the reasons he had assumed.

Later, as the evening wore on and he became drunker the conversations slipped his mind. Bash asked her to play a game of chess and as she sat across from him in the parlor, surrounded by people mingling here and there she began to wish that the whole world could just melt away.

"Mary? Are you well?" Bash knew the answer but he couldn't have guessed the cause.

She sighed and leaned in to whisper "I have received warnings from Catherine, and then an argument with Francis, so no I guess I'm not well. Both seem to have been quite poisonous to my Christmas spirit."

She made her move, taking one of his pawns.

"It's not too much to ask for me to stay at my own choice of college is it?" She looked to him for counsel but she saw anger on his face.

"Is that what they want? For you to leave school? How could Francis be so selfish?" He shook his head and Mary wondered if she should have kept quiet but he seemed to settle down.

"They seem to think that I have no right to question him about Olivia's presence if I'm choosing not to be at his side every day myself." She was disgusted with her words and spat them out with distaste.

Bash reached out and squeezed her hand briefly before pulling back. "Mary you have every right to question her presence. I can promise you that if you brought home the first man you had ever been with Francis would rip him apart rather than ask him to leave." He scoffed at the mere thought, but Mary was still caught up on his words.

"But... the first man that I had been with, how does that compare to this? Francis just met Olivia at school!" She was confused and a sick feeling was creeping into her stomach.

Bash was trying to recoil. "It's not my business Mary, I shouldn't really speak on it."

"You know very well it's MY business so you will tell." She felt her face burning.

He leaned in slightly. "Francis met Olivia in France when he was 14. We travelled there for the summer and she was indeed his first. They have kept in touch since. I'm guessing that's how they ended up at the same university. That doesn't mean that they are intimate now though Mary, I have no reason to suspect it."

She was boiling over. "Then why would he have lied about it? He never once mentioned knowing her, and introduced her as a college friend." Her hands were shaking with anger and there was no use pretending to play the game.

"I need to go Bash." She stood and so did he, in an attempt to stop her. He was distracted by her rushing at him, giving him a brief embrace and a kiss on the cheek that landed closer to the mouth than it appeared to onlookers. "I'm sorry." She whispered before walking away.

She found Francis stretched out on a sofa in front of the fireplace, laughing at something Olivia had said.

"She was your first? You couldn't have just been honest and tell me that you really did bring a whore home for Christmas?" Her voice was raised and she noticed some guests being herded out of the room by Catherine but she didn't care. She saw the shock register on Francis' face. "How dare you? And then to think that I let you beg me to stay? To make it seem like I was being unreasonable? When you were completely lying to me about the two of you?"

Francis was standing by then but she backed away from him.

"Mary I would have told you, it just didn't seem like a good time." He was backpedaling. "Trust me, this was not meant to deceive you."

"That's ironic because you did such a great job at it." Mary felt bile gurgling in her stomach from the anxiety of the argument. "You say such sweet words when you want something from me."

Francis narrowed his eyes suddenly. "How do you even know about our history?" His gaze drifted to the doorway where Bash stood. "So brother, you had to play the good Samaritan eh? Well how convenient for you. I'm sure Mary thanked you well for your chivalry."

Bash approached him steadily. "Catch your tongue Francis, as you're saying things that betray your drunkenness." The warning was firm. "Mary asked and I was truthful. It is no fault of mind that she couldn't trust you to do the same. She deserves someone who will."

Francis laughed roughly. "Oh I'm sure you feel she does. Is that what this is about?" He turned to Mary. "Don't think that I haven't noticed the friendship that you two try so hard at keeping platonic. What say you Mary, is it time to try your hand with another brother?"

She looked at him silently with disgust. She deserved to be treated better and she knew it.

"Francis, we are through, but not due to anyone's influence but your own. I'll call my driver." She spoke quietly with sadness as she turned towards the door. "I really am sorry to have involved you in this horrible display of drama." She looked at Sebastian through wet lashes as she walked.

Catherine was in the doorway when she reached it and before she let her pass she gave her what would appear to be a gentle hug. The words she whispered where laced with poison though, advising Mary to take some time to reconsider her warning. Mary kept walking.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There was a stack of wrapped gifts on Mary's dressing table in her room. She had grabbed them on her way out the door. It seemed silly now. What would she do with all the gifts?

Her phone rang and she recognized Bash's tone. "Hello." Her tone was melancholy.

"Mary.. I'm so sorry." He trailed off.

"This is not your fault. This whole thing has been a mess of politics and unfaithfulness. I should have expected this." She sighed. "I'm just so sorry that you and Francis fought."

Bash chuckled. "Believe it or not, this isn't the first time I've fought with my brother over a girl." He paused. "None were as deserving as you though. You are a sweet, lovely lady and he shouldn't have spoken to you like that. If he hadn't been drunk I would have shut his mouth for him."

Mary lay back on her pillow. "I would hope that he wouldn't have said it had he not been drunk. Are you going to get in trouble for calling me?"

Bash laughed. "Mary, I'm a grown man, they certainly can't tell me I'm not allowed to use the phone that I pay for myself. In actuality I have half a mind to go back to my own place but I knew they would gossip horribly and assume I had gone to see you. Instead I'm lying in this bed to avoid the rest of the party."

"To be honest I wish you were here. This house is terribly empty tonight. I know the staff is here but they are in their quarters and it seems silly to bother them just for my company." She was fidgeting and it would have been nice to have some distraction and conversation.

"Trust me; the idea of coming to you did cross my mind. You know we didn't even exchange gifts? How sad." He sounded so disappointed.

"We can both leave tomorrow and exchange. Maybe even ride together?" She was hopeful.

"I would be honored to be your escort, and intend on being a complete gentleman. Even if you aren't my sister-in-law after all." She could almost see him saying it, bowing his head slightly at her.

She couldn't resist. "Oh how disappointing. Alone in the car with the infamous Sebastian DeMedici and he decides to be a gentleman."

"Behave yourself young lady." He growled at her. "Merry Christmas Mary. I'll call you in the morning."

"Merry Christmas Bash!"

A/N: Hope you like this one! I appreciate reviews!