Tied.

A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews and kindness. Y'all are incredible and I really appreciate the encouragement and criticism. (Any reviews are better than no reviews) I know that this is a slow burn and that may not be everyone's taste but that's ok.

Disclaimer: I own no rights to Reign.. just a fan here.

Chapter 12

Back In Orbit

The fabric of Mary's dress was clinging to her hips as she struggled with the clasp of her left shoe. It wasn't a long dress and it was drifting upward as she moved. A glance in the mirror made her wonder if she should have picked a more conservative ensemble. Its spaghetti straps and neckline covered plenty but the back plunged lower than what she would have normally chosen for herself and the fabric tightly followed the curves of her body.

Mary was still pondering her choice and tugging at her hemline so that it fell closer to the knee when she heard a throat clear behind her. Startled she turned to find Francis in the door way watching her. Her face colored quickly wondering how long he had been there but she tried to ignore her embarrassment.

"Francis! I didn't hear you come in!" She smiled cordially. "I'm almost ready." The truth was she was nowhere near ready. She would have preferred to stroll in front of a speeding bus rather than attend Sebastian's engagement party. There was not much that she wouldn't rather do than to give up her every last hope of ever being with Bash.

It wasn't going to end well for her that night, and she knew that, but it didn't stop her from strapping on her sexiest of heels and walking out the door.

By the time they walked into the DeMedici home Mary was completely on edge. Francis caught her by the elbow while they were still in the foyer and she paused to look at him. "Mary, I know this isn't the easiest for you but I hope that this will be the beginning of some closure for all of us," Francis offered. She was grateful for his acknowledgement but she wasn't about to admit her stress to him. Instead she just smiled sweetly and slipped her hand through his arm.

Catherine DeMedici was in her full hostess glory when she greeted them in the parlor. She embraced Mary, kissing her cheek and giving her a warm smile that only the most trained eye would recognize as counterfeit. Mary returned her affection with barely the least interest.

Within minutes of arrival Francis had led her face to face with the nightmare that she had been dreading.

Bash heard his brother's greeting from across the room and immediately spun to receive his tackle head on. When they had finished greeting each other in barbarian half-wrestle, half-hug style he realized that Mary was standing there as well.

Bash hadn't changed immensely in the years since she had seen him. He was scruffier at the moment and she couldn't help but notice that he was a little more muscular under his well fitted suit. His hair was short, but just as messy as ever. He was running his fingers through it as he had always done when he was nervous, and when she landed her eyes on his she realized that there was a dark glow to the seas of blue.

Her heart paused from where it was beating and she hoped that her breasts weren't visibly heaving while she gasped for air. He was beautiful. He was beautiful, and so was the girl whose hand he held tight to.

"Mary, it's good to see you. It's been a long time." Bash took the lead of the conversation and as he squeezed the palm of his fiancée he nodded to her. "I'd like you to meet Rowan. Sweetheart, this is Mary, Francis' longtime love. She's been family to us for a long time."

His words stung but she ignored them. Rowan was stunning, with pale green eyes and porcelain skin scattered with freckles. Her long curls were tied back but they were an auburn color. She was imperfect and lovely. She smiled at Mary.

"It's so good to finally meet you," she said as she reached for the other girl's hand. "This family seems to adore you so I'm sure that I will as well."

Mary managed to smile back and give her hand a quick squeeze before mumbling "Likewise. Congratulations on your engagement." And excusing herself.

As she feigned a trip to the rest room Mary snatched two glasses of wine off of a waiter's tray and drank them with vigor before slipping out the side door and through the garage that held the Senator's ostentatious collection of cars. Her escape had been speedy and as she leaned against a windowless outside wall she finally felt her anxiety start to quell.

"Was all that stealth an attempt to avoid me?"

She knew Bash's voice immediately and she cursed herself for not looking over her shoulder to be sure she hadn't been followed. She turned slowly to face him.

"Not entirely." She tried not to meet his gaze in the dim light of the moon but his eyes seem to draw her in. He walked closer until they were just inches apart and he leaned back against the wall next to her.

"I know we haven't talked since that phone call." He paused to clear his throat. "I don't know if you're angry because of what I told Francis but if so then you must understand that I just wanted to fix things and I felt like if he knew what my feelings for you were then we could go forward. We could all rebuild our relationships."

"How does that benefit me? You will have a relationship with him, yes, but I will still be apart from you." She choked on her words. "It's obvious that you never shared those same feelings but my entire life was tied to you. To just pretend that I don't exist.. it isn't an option for me."

She glared at him through tears as she spoke. He shook his head slowly, and seemed to sigh.

"I'm not asking you to pretend Mary. I'm just asking that you forgive my part in this as Francis has done. I'm asking that you try to get to know Rowan. Maybe even get to know me again, but this time as a brother." His voice was low and whispered and he was so calm. Mary couldn't stand how calm he was.

"I don't know if I can. I.. I don't know if that's a possibility for me." She stammered over her words and she felt him reach out and touch her arm ever so slightly.

"I once asked you to stay away from me so that I could heal. You respected my wishes. I will respect yours now if you want to stay away but just know that it's not what I want. I miss having you in my life and if this is the capacity in which that can happen, as sister-in-law, then this is what I want." He stopped for a minute and took a deep breath. "Just try to remember that it was you who sent me away Mary. You broke things off between us. I was willing to give up everything in my life so that we could try to be together. So please don't act like my moving on is a betrayal to you." He stepped forward and walked towards the door before looking back. "I hope that you and Francis will be happy together and I would like to think that you would hope the same for Rowan and I. I have to get back to the celebration."

And with that he disappeared into the dark.

She collapsed back against the building. He was so right. She had completely sent him away, and even though it had been against her desires she had done so by choice. She couldn't blame him for moving forward. If he had pursued her out of jealousy toward Francis, that was no reason for him not to find happiness now.

She breathed in the night air and admonished herself. She had mourned over the loss of their relationship for so long. Simon came to mind and she realized that she had rejected a great guy because of her attachment to a memory. A childhood crush. An infant relationship that really had not even blossomed. She missed Bash for his friendship more than any romantic reasons.

She stood taller and adjusted her dress. Maybe it was time to consider herself, and consider new possibilities. The possibility that Sebastian could be her friend, or even her family. If she couldn't have him in her life as a lover then she wasn't about to give him up as a friend as well. The hope of having Bash in her life was enough to keep her close with the DeMedici's. The hope of having Bash in her life was enough to persuade her to give Francis a chance.

She walked back into the house and after checking her makeup in a hall mirror she found Francis and joined him as he mingled. He smiled at her curiously but didn't ask where she'd been, or why her hand was chilled from the night air as she slipped it into his. He simply introduced her to the people he had been speaking with.

"This is Mary Stuart, the sun that my world has long been revolving around." He smiled at her proudly before wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Mary, this is Mr. and Mrs. Brinkerhoff. They are old acquaintances of our family."

As Mrs. Brinkerhoff shook her hand she smiled slyly. "It's nice to finally meet you Mary. And when will you and Francis be joining the ranks of the engaged?"

Mary laughed genuinely and she felt Francis' eyes on her as she answered. "Oh it may be sooner than one would think." She gave him a sweet smile and for the first time in a long time she considered the idea that they might actually be a real couple again.

By the time the party slowed it was the wee hours of the morning and Mary had managed to have a very nice conversation with Rowan. She could see why Bash was fond of her. Rowan had a quick wit and seemed very real, unlike most of the fake people who had surrounded him for so long. They actually exchanged numbers before she left and she really pondered the idea of keeping in touch.

As Francis drove her home she was quiet but not unhappy. The night had started on an awful note but she was resigned to this new idea of Bash's marriage now. She still didn't like it but she wasn't grieving. There had been something strangely comforting about being in the same room with him. She had managed to laugh in his company and even though things obviously weren't like their candid friendship of old, it was almost like a part of the hole in her being had been refilled simply by laying eyes on him.

She was thinking about the evening when Francis cleared his throat to speak. "You know that I have to ask. How bad was tonight for you?"

She looked at him as he watched the road and she spoke carefully. "It wasn't easy at first. I missed him Francis. Whether you'll ever believe me or not, I'm not sure, but he was a good friend to me. Because of that I think it softened the hurt for me to see him. I also like Rowan. She seems kind and genuine."

"I'm glad. I was worried about this. It was important to me that we rebuild some of these bridges." He took her hand and squeezed it as they pulled into the drive way.

Francis opened the door for her and walked her to the door as usual. He waited for her to enter her security code and as she turned to say goodbye and go inside he caught her arm.

"Mary.. I just want to say that I'm grateful for you. I know that I don't always show it but I'm so proud of who you've become. I never understood why you wanted to go to college so badly, why you wanted you're independence. I do appreciate it now. I just.. I don't know I just want you to know that I'm sorry that I ever tried to hold you back from becoming this woman that stands before me. You amaze me." He stopped as if he was trying to decide if he should say more and Mary didn't really know how to receive his compliment so she just leaned in, at first to kiss his cheek but instead brushing her lips against his briefly before disappearing into the house to leave him standing outside.

Moments later she was at her window watching him pull out of her driveway. She had never kissed him. Never initiated affection herself. It had always been Francis, and always accompanied by unspoken pressures. Part of her was exhilarated by the fact that she had taken control of their relationship, whatever that relationship may be. She had felt a bit excited over the quick kiss. She wondered if that brief physical attraction would ever be enough to make her stop reminiscing over her connection with Bash. Or if she could bring herself to be married to Francis just so that she could have Sebastian in her life again. It seemed to actually be worth trying.

Her life had stood still again that night for the first time since it had spun out of orbit the moment Bash had walked out of her room years ago.

A/N: Whew. Well I don't know how long I could be with Francis for any reason but tv Mary seems to pull it off for the sake of her country so maybe my Mary can manage it in order to be near Bash. We'll see.