A/N: I'm having fun writing this and I really appreciate your reviews. I find them very helpful and great incentive to power through the parts that aren't as easy for me to write.. and trust me when I say that this chapter was not at all easy for me to write.

Disclaimer: Reign does not belong to me.

Chapter 5 – When the Devil Comes Knocking

Mary woke that morning after Christmas with a song in her heart. Her pulse raced at the thought that she would be with Bash; she would belong to him. She went about her day browsing through the little shops in town, simply killing time until after his work day was over.

She sat at lunch in a café by herself with a book and quietly enjoyed her time. It was nice to have a peace, if only temporarily. It did cross her mind to call her mother but it was simply more pleasant to delay that conversation.

While walking back in to her building she came to a stop when in front of her she saw Catherine sitting in the lobby, looking sorely out of place. She started again with barely any more than a nod of recognition.

"I won't talk here." Mary uttered in disgust.

Catherine followed behind her in silent agreement and after Mary's dorm room door closed behind her she declared "Oh isn't this just quaint in a pauper sort of fashion!"

Mary spun on her heel. "Do you have something more to say or are you simply here to insult me?"

Her eyes narrowing slightly Catherine took a step forward. "I don't pretend to think that you are in the wrong in leaving Francis, or making a scene at our family's Christmas celebration. He deserved it. I understand what it's like to be betrayed by an unfaithful heart."

Mary could hardly imagine that the cold hearted woman would have paid her a visit in friendship. It was no secret that the senator had a wandering eye of his own, although their marriage had sustained any rumors that the media could carry as a banner against him. She waited silently for her to continue.

"That said. I am assuming that you will find it in your heart to forgive Francis." Catherine said it in the same manner that she addressed her husband. With an underlying authority that was accustomed to being acquiesced to.

"And why would you assume such a ridiculous thing?" Mary asked incredulously. "What could possibly make you think that I haven't washed my hands entirely of your family?"

Catherine smiled and there was something in the way she did it that chilled Mary to her core.

"Well we both know that's not entirely true. I may not call him family but Sebastian claims the DeMedici name. He benefits from it greatly in fact. I think it's fair to say that you don't intend to wash your hands of him. If anything the two of you have probably grown closer over the last day or two." She paused for effect. "I'm aware that you travelled together. Surely you must be quite affectionate towards him indeed."

"If you are implying that I've been unfaithful to Francis, you are quite mistaken. Bash and I have become close friends, but he is loyal to his brother as was I." Mary heard her own voice as if it was coming from a third party, clear and strong. For a brief second she was proud of herself. "If you came here to accuse me then please know that it falls upon deaf ears."

Catherine laughed coldly. "Oh my dear, that's not at all why I came. I came to assure you that if you don't mend things with Francis I intend to ruin Sebastian's life. I will cut him down, piece by piece, until all that he has worked so hard for will fall apart. In fact I've already started, just to show you that I am serious in this threat. There is no place he can go where he will be out of the reach of my influence." She turned to walk out but stopped in the doorway.

"Just so you know, I hope you come to your senses soon. Marry him forthwith. I may not consider Bash my own but I certainly don't relish the pain that I will cause him. Or rather that you will cause him." Her eyes flashed with emphasis as she spoke and she slammed the door behind her.

Mary collapsed onto her bed as soon as she knew for sure that Catherine was out of range. Her sobs fell into the pillow as she shook with helplessness over it all. She wasn't even sure that Francis wanted her, but somehow she was supposed to return to the courtship that had all but crushed her faith in him. What trust could she ever have in him?

All for what? For Bash. For the man who deserved so much more in life. He was the one who had worked so hard for what he'd achieved. The man that she knew would never stand for letting Catherine threaten her in his name.

Sebastian would never have it. He would never let her just walk away from him and sacrifice herself. He hadn't even liked the idea of her transferring to a different school for Francis, let alone marrying him before she was ready.

Mary knew the feelings in his eyes. She had for months now. She understood how closely the two of them were tied. The irony was that they hadn't been intimate, not really, yet somehow he knew her so well. It hadn't been that way with Francis. She had loved him but what she had seen burning in Francis' eyes was a shade of lust rather than love.

Bash's eyes told a different story. One of relationship, of struggle, of friendship, passion, and more importantly love. When he looked at her she felt it. Just hearing his voice she knew it. It was in the way he was always there for her. Always doing what was right for her.

And there was her answer. She knew she had to do what was right for him. To give him a chance to succeed without his cruel stepmother spoiling it for him. To let him build a life for himself beyond the DeMedici shadows.

She cried herself to sleep while she thought about how to explain it to him.

X X X xx xxx

When Bash knocked on her door that night she was waiting nervously, but grateful that Greer wasn't back from holiday yet. She knew instantly that something was very wrong.

He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek and a hug that felt like that of a man who had just had a bad day. He confirmed it with his grumbling.

"Well I might as well come out with it. I received some bad news today. The firm has decided to replace me as junior architect and instead has transferred me to a job site in Miami of all places. I leave tomorrow." He sat on her bed like a man defeated with his back leaned against her wall.

"I'm tempted to simply hand them my resignation. I am well qualified and have done great work for them. They have no reason to transfer me. It's a simple question of politics. Apparently someone pulled some strings to get their cousin a job, so they gave him mine." He sighed.

"Oh Bash. I'm so sorry. Miami is so very far.. do you think that it will be long term?" Mary's heart was sinking as she realized how easily Catherine had reached into Bash's life and twisted off a limb of it.

"There's no way to tell really. I am trying to stay positive Mary, but to be honest I'm faltering." He reached for her hands. "Yes, I wanted a career, but what I want more is you Mary. I never wanted position or success or anything as much I want to make you smile."

He laid her down onto her pillow and they stayed wrapped in each other's arms for some time before she finally was brave enough to say it. "Take the job Bash." It was a whisper at first, but then she uttered it louder. "You need to take the transfer. We've always promised to do what's best for each other and right now that is your career."

She felt his body stiffen in protest but before he could say anything she continued. "We are so new at this and we don't even know for sure where it would lead. Your brother is still very real and very confusing to me. I don't know for sure where my heart is. You said yourself that we can't move too fast. I do know for sure that you can be a great architect, and that our friendship can survive the distance."

She was speaking but the tears were flowing down her face as she said the words. Before she knew it they were kissing passionately, as if their lives depended upon that last night together. When they came up for air he wiped the tears from her face gently.

She could barely look him in the eye when he asked her the question she had been dreading. "You're still not over Francis are you?"

She swallowed the sob in her throat and she lied.

"I'm sorry but I'm not."

A/N: Well it's a short one, but I just couldn't bear to cram any more heartache into one chapter. Please don't hate me for this misery!