Mary found herself on a boat, staring at the horizon that was behind her. She recognized the beautiful scenery. She turned around and saw a very familiar face.

"Francis?"

"Yes, my love?" He asked.

"What are you doing here?" Mary asked her late husband, confused.

"I am teaching you to sail, why else would I be here, Mary?" Francis looked at his wife and smiled.

"No, you're … you're dead, Francis." Mary said slowly as Francis' smile started to fade.

"I know, Mary." Francis paused. "I wanted to see you again, and tell you that it is okay."

"What?"

"I pray to God everyday that you will find happiness once more." Francis sighed. "I've been watching over you every single day, and all I've seen is your pain, and I'm sorry I can't be there to help you mend it."

"Francis-"

"Mary, please. Let me continue. I've watched you mourn for weeks, and not even attempt to look for another suitor. But, you're a queen, my love. Life goes on." Francis looked at Mary. "Please, do not cry for me. I am well. But you're not, Mary. You need to find love again."

"I can't-I won't find another. I won't love another the way I love you." Mary cried.

"I pray to God everyday that you do, and I know that God has listened to my prayers."

"How do you know?" Mary asked.

"Because Conde is back in your life."

"Francis-no." Mary said.

"Mary. My mother is right, he would make a good alliance for you, and you'd still hold a good alliance with France because is he a French subject. Plus, he loves you-"

"But I can't betray you again, Francis."

"You won't be, because I am not there." Francis said coldly.

Mary remained silent and stared at her husband.

"I'm sorry for being so cold. But I need you to realize that I cannot be around anymore. I wish I could. I wish I could be there to take care of you, I wish we had children so you would be protected. But Mary, that wasn't in the books for us. So you need to find another way to protect yourself, and your country."

"But Francis, Conde may not feel the same for me anymore because I chose you over him." Mary said.

Francis looked at his wife and smiled. "Mary, I may not have trusted him when I was alive, but I trust that his love for you remains true and pure. He left court not because he didn't love you, but because he couldn't bare to see you in pain anymore having to choose between him and I. He left because he did not see it going anywhere. He left because he wanted you to be happy, and knew that your love for me ran deeper." Francis sighed. "I bet, in an alternative life, he would've even tried to take my throne in order to be with you."

Mary laughed at Francis' comment.

"I love it when you smile. Please continue to smile, and live happily, my love." Francis said. "Promise me you will try."

"I promise." Mary said as she took his hand. "I miss you so much Francis."

"I miss you, too." Francis looked up into the sky. "I must be going now."

"No, Francis, please." Mary pleaded.

"I'm sorry, Mary." He kissed her. "I love you, I always have and always will. I will continue to watch over you, and I hope you will heal soon. Goodbye, my love."

"I love you too, Francis." Mary cried as she held him.

She noticed that he began to fade, and he tried to hold her for as long as he could but in the blink of an eye, he was gone.

"Francis!" Mary yelled as she woke up.

"Mary? Are you alright?" Conde looked at her.

"I-I'm sorry. Did I fall asleep?" Mary asked.

"Yes. I didn't want to move because I didn't want to wake you." Conde said. "Are you okay?"

"I saw Francis. We were sailing, and he had so much to tell me." Mary smiled sadly. "He told me to be happy, but how can I be when I feel as though my heart has been torn out of my chest?"

"Time, Mary." Conde said. "Time will heal your wounds."

"Thank you, Louis."

"Mary, I will retire to my chambers. I don't want to hurt your reputation by staying in your chambers." Conde said. "I will take my leave."

"Louis, wait." Mary called out. "Thank you for letting me sleep even if it were for a moment. Would you like to go riding tomorrow?"

"Of course." Conde smiled.

"Perfect, I will have a messenger get you when I am ready."

Conde nodded and walked out of her chambers.

When Conde left Mary couldn't fall back asleep. Instead, she stayed up trying to figure out if she actually spoke to Francis in her dreams or if she only dreamt of it because that is what she wanted to hear Francis say.

Mary got up and walked to the door. "Guard?"

"Yes, your grace?"

"Can you please get the King's Deputy for me? It's urgent."

The guard nodded and walked off.

Moments later Bash came through the door with a worried look on his face. "Mary?"

"Bash, I'm sorry I know it's late, I just needed your opinion on something."

"It's okay, Mary." Bash said. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I- I don't even know where to begin." Mary said.

"Does it have anything to do with Conde's return?" Bash asked.

"Yes." Mary sighed. "Catherine has suggested that I consider Conde as a suitor. But I don't know what Francis would think of that. I don't want to betray him again. I just can't-"

"Mary." Bash interrupted. "Francis would want you to be safe and happy. I know Conde can keep you safe, and if he makes you happy; I know Francis will be alright with it."

"Are you sure, Bash?" Mary asked. "How would you feel about it?"

"If you're happy, I'm happy. Mary, I care about you. I want you to be happy." Bash said. "Francis asked me to take care of you and make sure you're happy and safe, and I intend on keeping that promise."

"Thank you, Bash." Mary smiled. "And how are you?"

"Not having Francis around has been hard, but I've been adjusting."

"And how have you been feeling about the Kenna situation?" Mary asked knowing he was still hurt over Kenna.

"I don't want to talk about her, Mary. I only wish her the best." Bash sighed. "I love her, but I don't think I can ever trust her again, so I hope she will find her own happiness."

"I understand, I am sorry." Mary said.

"It's okay, Mary. Try to get some sleep. I will check on you in the morning." Bash smiled.

"I'm actually going to go riding with Conde." Mary said shyly.

"Oh." Mary had caught Bash off guard. "Well then, have fun." He smirked. "Goodnight, Mary."

"Goodnight, Bash."

Conde was walking through the garden in the court, and he heard a bunch of giggles and laughter. He went to go investigate where the noise was coming from when he saw Mary dressed in all white, smiling and dancing with the court ladies. She looked so peaceful, so happy. Her smile was radiant, and contagious that it made him smile seeing her at the distant.

"She looks so happy, doesn't she?"

When Conde heard this, he instantly turned around. He recognized the voice of the man, the man that was once his cousin, the late King of France. "Francis?"

"Hello, cousin." He smiled.

"How are you-am I dreaming?" Conde asked.

"Yes, I've come to you in your dream for a reason." Francis said. "We've had our differences, but we also have one thing in common - our love for a certain Queen."

"What are you saying, Francis?"

"I suppose Mary never told you what I told her." Francis looked sad, Conde thought. "When I died, the only thing I could think of is Mary's future happiness. I prayed to God everyday that she will find happiness and love once again, I prayed even before I died. The thought of Mary being with another man was unbearable at the time, but I remembered that she has been with other people… And I remembered that I was dying. I couldn't be selfish anymore. I had to think of her future. I was hoping she would bear a child to help her stay in France, but that wasn't a part of God's plans for us. So I guess he gave her the next best thing, you."

"Francis-"

"Please, cousin. Do not interrupt. Let me speak." Francis eyed Conde. "I love Mary, and so do you. The difference is, I am no longer there. I cannot be with her. I know your intentions weren't to get her back at the mere thought of me being gone. I know you came out of your concern for her. I also know that you were not planning on returning to court." He paused and looked towards Mary who was still dancing and smiling. "She deserves to be happy, Conde. I believe that you can protect and love her. I believe you can make her happy. So I give you my blessing to pursue Mary." Francis focused his attention back to his cousin who stood right before him.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Conde asked.

Francis laughed. "Of course it isn't. I would rather be alive and with my wife, but since that cannot happen. I would rather entrust her life and happiness to someone who would protect it at all cost. And you are that person."

"Thank you, Francis." Conde smiled. "Thank you so much."

"Please, take care of her, cousin. I cannot bear to see her in pain any longer." Francis pleaded.

"I promise I will take care of her. I promise I will protect her, even if it costs me my life." Conde reassured Francis.

"Thank you, Conde." Francis smiled. "I will be taking my leave now. Thank you, cousin. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Francis." Conde said as he watched Francis disappear.

Moments later the Bourbon Prince woke up. He walked over to the window and looked up into the sky and whispered into the stars, "thank you, Francis."

Not sure if many will agree with me here - but I believe that Francis would have been okay with this ; he wanted her to find love again, and he wanted her protected. In Season 2, Conde's love for Mary was so real ; he waged war on his home country for her & even Francis recognized it ; Francis admitted that he would have given his life if he knew that Conde could save Mary. So I believe this would have been perfect, and I really hope you guys like this chapter. - S