Tied.
A/N: The last chapter was rough. Like so rough that I wrote it and I hated myself, so I feel your pain. Thank you to those of you who reviewed because you were so much kinder than I was to myself, haha!
Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Reign, but I do adore it.
Chapter 6: Ultimatums
Everyone has heard stories about people who experience real heartache, the kind of heartache that causes physical illness. Mary had never even considered that she'd be one of those people. She certainly never would have thought that she would be responsible for the heartache herself.
The night that she had broken off her fledgling relationship with Bash she had felt her heart splinter into thousands of pieces. He had left shortly after their conversation, with awkward goodbyes mumbled through tears. She lay on her bed and sobbed until she fell into a fitful slumber.
Morning had brought no real comfort but she rose and tried to go about her day in spite of her achy eyes and swollen face. After a shower, some facial products, and some fresh makeup she was starting to feel presentable at least. She couldn't bring herself to eat anything but she did have some orange juice.
When she made the call to her parents' house to ask for the driver's assistance she was silently cursing her inability to drive. Francis had always promised to teach her but it just was never a priority. She made a mental note to pay someone to give her some lessons.
She made arrangements for the car to come and pick her up and within a couple hours she was sitting in the back seat watching the snowy world pass by. She didn't know exactly what she was going to say to Francis but she had an idea. She just didn't know if it would work.
When the car finally pulled up in front of the DeMedici estate a knot developed in her stomach. She stepped out of the car and sucked in a breath of the icy air before walking to the house.
A housekeeper answered the door with a smile and as Mary waited in the foyer she almost laughed at the ridiculousness of it all. She was there to beg for reconciliation from the man who had been dishonest and unfaithful. This wasn't the way it was supposed to work.
"Hello Mary." Francis greeted her in a tone that was neither surprised to see her nor pleased.
"Francis. Thank you for seeing me on such short notice." She was suddenly was self-conscious of the distance between them. He made no effort to cross the hall to her but he stepped aside and gestured for her to come into the parlor.
"To what do I owe this visit?" He asked as she sat down on the edge of a chair. He perched himself uneasily on the arm of the sofa opposite of her and ran one hand through his messy blonde curls. His face was scruffy with the beginnings of a beard.
"I wanted to talk to you. I know that things ended badly the other night." Mary took a deep breath. "I just wanted to say that if you are at all interested in working things out with me then I am willing to try."
Francis chuckled. "Working things out? I was assuming you had moved on."
Mary's eyes narrowed a bit. "I'm assuming that you're referring to Sebastian. I always thought that you understood my friendship with Bash. He was good to me. He was family to me. I know that you don't understand any of this because not only do you have a family but you see them regularly. They are more than just occasional visitors." She paused for a brief breath and saw him shake his head slightly.
"Bash and I have always been very cautious. We care for each other deeply, I'll admit that. He is a fixture in my life now. I owe you that; when I started dating you I gained a brother myself. I consider myself very fortunate." She blinked back burning tears.
Francis stood and rubbed the back of his head. "So you're telling me that it would never cross your mind to be romantic with him? That no small part of you wants that to happen?"
Mary started to speak, but not without a second of hesitation and Francis saw it. "That's what I thought."
"No! Don't do that, please don't make assumptions. I can't say that there never has been an attraction between us but it's not anything that we plan on pursuing." She stammered a bit and stood up out of frustration.
"Francis I would like to give you a second chance, if you'll give one to me. Your parents want to see us together, as do my own. I know that your mother would like to see us married very soon but I honestly want to finish my studies. I just want to know, is there any hope for us?" She stopped and waited. There really was no easy way to read his expression.
Francis looked down at the floor for a minute. Finally he stood and stepped forward towards her. "They've been pressuring me as well. I am going to be honest with you. I don't think I want to be with you right now. I'm not sure I ever will, but I know that it's wise for our families."
Mary reached for his arm but he pulled away slightly. "Could we at least try? We could delay marriage, and even give each other some space for a while." She made the suggestion in a hopeful tone but she had a feeling he was not going to agree.
He stepped away and paced for a minute, then returned to face her. "I am willing to tell my parents that we are in a relationship. I'm willing to see you on holidays and to keep in touch. Until we come to a secure decision on how to proceed with our relationship then I suggest we see other people."
"Is this because you want to see Olivia?" Mary questioned him, raising an eyebrow.
"This is because I think it's wise. I think it best if we pursue other options. As far as anyone here knows we'll be together, and it will remain that way, but you are free to see other people. But not my brother." He added the last qualification with bitterness in his voice. "You can say what you want but I see the way he looks at you. He thinks that he cares for you more than I do. He disapproves of us. Be it brotherly love or something else, I don't want him near you. Do you understand?"
Mary's hands were shaking but she clasped them together tightly in hope to mask it. "I understand. We rarely see each other anyway."
"That includes phone calls. I know Bash has been transferred so you obviously won't be running into one another but I don't want you calling him either." His eyes flashed with what Mary would have assumed was jealousy but in context it looked more like some sort of rush from the power he was exerting over her.
She simply nodded her head. He didn't need to vocalize the implied threat. If she wanted to protect Bash then she had to be in a relationship with Francis. He would only agree to pretend to be in a relationship with her if she cut Bash out of her life. What a tangled web Catherine DeMedici forced them to weave.
"I understand Francis. I do hope that you and I will have the chance to get to know each other better at some point, but for now I think you're right. This way is best." Mary forced a small smile and she turned toward the door.
"Good, it's settled then. I'll be sure to be in touch." Francis nodded his head officially and walked with her down the hall into the foyer. He suddenly looked rather awkward, as if he wasn't sure how to close this new business deal. Mary felt momentarily sorry for him, but it didn't last for long.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek gently. "I'm sorry all this has happened Mary but you knew the risks when we decided to attend separate colleges. People like us tend to draw more attention and desires than a typical student on campus. We must be aware of such things and this may be the easiest way to handle it."
Her blood boiled silently as she considered all the possible retorts but settled on simply saying goodbye.
x
When Mary had returned to campus she was surprised to find her roommate lying across her bed flipping through a magazine. "Hello Mary! How was your Christmas?" Greer jumped up to give her a hug.
"Oh Greer. I'd love to say that it was wonderful but it ended up being quite dramatic instead." She sighed and slipped out of her shoes to settle onto her own bed in frustration.
"How so?" The blonde looked at her in dismay.
"Well first of all, Francis brought a girl home. A girl that he has reconnected with after a romance with her years ago. Then he accused me of being unfaithful with Bash." She blushed a little at the mention of his name. "I left the Christmas celebration after making a bit of a scene and breaking the relationship off. Catherine, however, came to me and made several threats to Sebastian's future if I didn't reconcile with Francis."
"Mary! You didn't let her bully you like that did you? Please tell me you resisted."
Mary groaned in frustration. "It wasn't simply bullying Greer; she actually pulled strings to have Bash transferred away from me. He was demoted and is working on a project in Miami now. As far away from me as she could manage." She propped herself up on her elbow to look at her friend. "You would be amazed at how much influence she has. She could ruin Bash's life. She could easily destroy his career with a wave of a hand, and even if he managed to push on in a different firm she could still reach him there. Bash is illegitimate so it would please Catherine to have him cut off out of his father's life and fortune."
Greer's jaw was dropped. "I guess I didn't realize that there was so much at stake with you and Francis. Why does Catherine want the two of you together so badly?"
"It's complicated. I've never said much about it but my family is wealthy; you were aware of that?" she continued after Greer nodded. "Well that family wealth is only a part of a bigger inheritance. When my grandparents died they left the majority of their fortune to their only grandchild, which is where I enter in. I wasn't entitled to it until after I turned eighteen but now that I have I am very well off. The DeMedici family is well off but not anything compared to my family. By marrying their son to me they would not only be securing much more influence for themselves but also much more money. And money wins elections."
Greer was by now sitting on the edge of her bed. "I honestly hate all of this Mary! How could you possibly considering marrying into this family? Do you love Francis? Can you really imagine marrying someone for the reasons you're giving me?"
"Unfortunately my parents also desire the union. They covet the idea of having a senator in their pocket and what better way than to make him family." Mary sighed with frustration.
"It seems like they would be more afraid you would take leave with your fortune. You realize you could do that right?" There was skepticism in her voice.
"It really isn't my only reason, although my parents' pressure is a good part of it. I realize I could walk away from them and it wouldn't be an impossible feat. They truly don't fear it much though; they have money of their own. They risk little that they care for by pressuring me." She stood and walked to the window in frustration. "It's more that I would lose my only family by walking away from them. I'm really not sure I want to do that yet."
Greer cleared her throat. "I have to say Mary, I don't know Sebastian as well as you do but I'm willing to wager that he would never stand for you marrying Francis just to save his career and lousy family ties."
Mary knew she was right. "Bash wouldn't want it, you're right. But I can't allow him to sacrifice himself for me. There are so many ways that he already sacrifices. So many ways that Catherine has ruined his life already, that to allow him to bring a breach between he and his father would be unthinkable to me."
She turned to look at Greer. "It isn't a rush for marriage thankfully. Francis doesn't want that. He requested that we both see other people without our families knowing. In the mean time I have to put aside those feelings I have for Bash and work on my own independence. It is best. If I ever do decide to slip out of the noose Catherine and my parents have placed around my neck I need to know that I can stand on my own."
Greer nodded thoughtfully. "I know the perfect place to start. Tomorrow I will teach you to drive my car." She said it firmly.
Mary's eyes widened. "Really? You'd do that for me?"
"Of course! That's what friends are for Mary, it's truly nothing impressive."
Mary hugged her, thinking to herself that she really hadn't had enough friends over the course of her young life to know what they were all about.
Later that night she tossed and turned listening to Greer sleep. She wished that she could talk to Bash, pining for the sound of his voice or a glimpse of his smile. Finally she gave in and reached for her phone. She sent him a text, with simple words.
I hope your travels went well. I will miss you so much.
She didn't receive a reply and she fell asleep with eyes swollen from sad tears that had seeped out onto her pillow.
A/N: Poor Bash, never gets to control his own life it seems.