AN : Here we go for chapter two… hihi. Hope you'll like it.

Disclaimer : I own nothing.

Chapter 2 :

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Soon after nurturing their new born, Catherine fell asleep from exhaustion. Henry was left sitting beside his sleeping wife with his perfect girl in his arms.

« It seems that it's just us now ? Hum... » The baby girl moved her chubby arm as an answer causing Henry to smile.

As soon as the baby was asleep, the father was ushered out from the room by the nurse who said she had to verify that all was well with the mother and baby. The nurse also saw that Henry could need a moment to process this situation. After all he had just been told that his wife was pregnant less than an hour ago.

When he descended the stairs to return to the hall and be able to go outside get some fresh air, a woman from the reception told him that a bag has been left for him by a taxi driver.

Suddenly remembering that in his haste to see his wife he had left his things in the car, he thanked the woman and took his bag.

In fact he was relieved to have some clean clothes. He was drenched in sweat after fearing so much for his wife and child's safety. So the general went to the bathroom and changed from his military parade uniform to civil clothes. He was dressed rather simply for him. He was wearing a t-shirt and jeans while usually he was always in suit. As co-owner of one of the most prosperous bank he had to look classy and well-dressed. And it was no secret that he liked to be dressed in suits.

After coming out of the bathroom he went outside and breathed fresh air while walking along the hospital's parking lot.

He had a new born baby girl, he thought. Now he understood why his wife wasn't at the airport but a more important question entered his mind. Why hasn't she told me ? He knew they were in rather bad terms when he left but he didn't expect Catherine to hide such an important thing from him.

During the birth he also rediscovered how deep his feelings ran for his Caterina. Well... if he was completely honest with himself, he acknowledged that before returning and secretly knew it from the beginning. He had always loved his wife, from the first time he saw her on that beach to now. Alas, he had allowed a hedge to be driven between them... he regretted that now. All those years they could have had together instead of against each other... but maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe he could try to be better. That is if he managed to learn what she held against him since all these years. Even before he returned, he had planned to make an attempt to regain his wife but seeing her so desperate had sealed his decision. Now he had to think of a plan to get her back... He knew Catherine hated when he went away on mission. Fortunately this situation could be arranged... in the reunion he had in Paris before landing in Toulouse, his superiors had announced to him that, if he wished, he would be appointed responsible for the entire military zone of southern France, including the Mediterranean basin. As such, he would be in direct contact with the president of the French Republic and he wouldn't need to go on mission. He now knew he was definitely going to accept this. Honestly... who would refuse ? One of the highest position in army, it was the dream of every soldier when they engaged themselves in the army an now, he was going to be one of them. Plus, that played perfectly in his hand. It was perfect for his plan. Yes... that would do, he thought. It was going to be the first step of them coming back to each other, because he had no intention of not succeeding to win back her heart. After all, she said she loved him. She loved him, he repeated himself with a smile on his face.

Hoping that now the nurse would be finished with his wife and daughter, the general and soon to be made responsible of a considerable part of France's military forces, made his way back to the hospital.

When he arrived, he found Catherine with their baby in her arms, smiling despite her tiredness.

« Hello » Henry said.

« Hello » Catherine answered.

« How are you ? » he asked.

« We're fine. » She replied more coldly than intended.

« I'm glad » He ignored her harshness on purpose. In fact he didn't even know why on earth she would be harsh or angered with him. It's true, for their previous children, when he was on mission and he learned she was pregnant, as general he could arrange to come back earlier and be with his wife. But this time he hadn't even known she was expecting. Fortunately, God saw fit for him to return the exact day of his daughter's birth. He had another girl… another princess, he didn't even begin to realise it.

« How will we name this little girl ? » asked Henry while getting closer and kissing his daughter's very little foot. She was such a tiny baby.

Looking at him with eyes that could kill she answered « That's a decision I would have taken with her father, had he been there. » She did not look at him while finishing to talk. It hurt too much. She was glad that he supported her during the birth but nothing could excuse him this time... he hadn't even answered her letters when she told him she was pregnant.

« Well, the father would have gladly corresponded with the mother to decide the name of his own child had he been informed she was pregnant. » He said, beginning to be offended. Honestly, she hadn't even sent him a letter to tell him she was expecting. Did she think that he was a magician, who could guess such things ?

« WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY ? HOW DARE YOU ! I sent you COUNTLESS letters and you didn't answer even just one of them ! I was pregnant, Henry ! Couldn't you set you pride and ego aside and send a letter back ? Do you know how hard it has been during these past months ? Handling the bank, four children, being pregnant and ALONE ! No one to share your fears with, no one to cuddle with, no one to kiss you good morning and goodnight, no one to speak to your belly but yourself. No one to love you and no one to love. » She said with a pained voice and hurt shining in her eyes.

Henry was stunned, she wrote letters to him ?

« I never received your letters, Catherine. Or you imagine that I would have answered. I sent you letters but you never wrote back. » He answered truthfully but Catherine didn't see his words as truth...

« DON'T ! » she warned. « Don't even begin trying to win me back with your lies. It won't work. I've been hurt enough. I don't need your pretty words. Ah ! You even told me you loved me ! If there was any love for me in your heart you would have answered. But you didn't... » Seeing he was going to respond, she told him « and don't even try to say it again. »

« But it's true, Catherine. I love you. Even after our fight before I left, I wrote to you but didn't receive any of your letters. » He defended himself.

« No ! I don't believe you ! I HATE YOU ! » She screamed with shiny eyes full of pain and disapproval. Not writing back was one thing but having the nerve to tell her otherwise was another. She did not really hate him. In fact she loved him more than anyone along with their children but what he did hurt her more than anything before and she hated him for that. Even more than the man who took her against her will back when she was a little girl in Florence. Not that Henry knew of the entire story, he knew of her rape but she never told nobody that nightmares were still plaguing her every time she was alone in her bed.

Henry on the other hand, ducked his head upon feeling the pain in his chest upon hearing her words. He never thought the woman he loved more than anything could pain him like that.

Looking up at her after a few seconds, he tried « Catherine I... »

But before he could finish, without even looking at him and with a perfectly emotionless voice, his wife said « Leave, Henry. »

He didn't move for a few seconds and then he got up and silently went to the door. After casting a last glance towards his wife and their little girl who still had no name, he got out of the room.

After getting out, Henry sat on a nearby bench in the corridor. His elbows on his thighs and his head between his hands, he asked himself how this could have gone so wrong. But the question that occupied his mind was : « Why hasn't she received my letters and why haven't I received hers ? » He knew he needed to find an explanation and proofs of his saying otherwise Catherine would never believe him.

He sighed... as if he needed this added complication...

Seeing him, the nurse sat next to him and spoke : « Don't give up, she loves you. »

Surprised by hearing a voice so close to him he looked up in the eyes of the nurse. « I won't but she isn't the easiest to deal with... »

« Don't the most difficult challenges bring the best rewards ? » She added.

He smiled at the simple truth that it was. Catherine was the most stubborn, complicated and hot-tempered person he knew but he also knew that she was so worth it... Looking back at the nurse he said with a grateful expression « Thank you ».

He wouldn't give up, never. He would find proof of his saying and find the reason why the hell did all their letters didn't reach their destination. In the time being, he needed to be there for his wife, she would never say it but he knew she was not yet fine, contrarily to what she had told him before. First, he would go and buy her flowers and a push gift, as he had done for every other pregnancy, then he would come back and actually talk with his wife without her screaming. Yes, that would do. If she was as stubborn as a rock he was too.

Upon this thought, the general got up, left the hospital and took a taxi to the nearest mall.

Walking down the large corridors with various shops on each side, Henry thought about what he would buy her when he noticed a small jewellery shop. He stopped and went inside. When he entered he found the shop empty but soon enough, an old man came through the back hidden door of the boutique. He looked at Henry with kind eyes, he had very few white hair and a white long beard.

"Hello sir, how can I help you ?" Asked the seller.

"Good evening, well I don't really know what I'm looking for… I was hoping you could help me." Said Henry, unsure of what he should choose for his wife. Normally he would have had several months of preparation to think about her gift but now he was a little pressed by time.

"Of course, on what occasion would you want to make a gift to your wife ?" Asked the man with inquisitive eyes.

The general was surprised, "How do you know I want to make a gift to my wife ?" He asked curious.

"Oh, just an intuition." The old man smiled.

"Well, my wife just gave birth and I'm looking for a special gift for her."

"Oh, Congratulations are in order then. Is it a girl or a boy ?" The jeweller asked happily.

"Thank you. It's a girl." Answered Henry with a smile while thinking of his little princess.

The old man smiled in response. "So are you looking for something made of silver or gold ?"

"Gold, definitely. It has to be special. Something she can keep all her life." And his Catherine was such a solar person, gold suited her best.

"I see. So we are looking for something of personal and of value."

"Yes." Answered the general, seeing that the jeweller had completely understood what he was looking for.

The old man went back through his secret door and came back with a few jewels settled delicately on deep red velvet.

"I have taken the liberty of making a selection amongst the most beautiful bracelets I have in the boutique." Said the man while presenting the first to the general.

"We have this sapphire and yellow gold bracelet. Sapphire is the symbol of honesty, truth and fidelity." He saw the general observing the jewel and decided to present him the others.

"We also have this rubies and gold piece. Rubies symbolise courage, victory, love and happiness."

The new father was deep in thoughts but when the jeweller finished he gave his answer "These are very beautiful jewels but this our fifth child and my wife already possesses a sapphire and a rubies bracelet. I'm looking for something more special, out of the ordinary."

The old man smiled and answered "In that case, I have the perfect thing for you." He took delicately in his hands a magnificent diamond and white gold tiny bracelet. It was made of several diamonds all around the length of the bracelet that were held with white gold.

Henry smiled, that was the one.

"This is one of the best pieces I sell. It's absolutely unique. The diamond is the precious stone attached to the month of birth of April. It is obviously a great symbol of purity and a symbol of eternal love."

When the man pronounced the last sentence, Henry tore his eyes from the jewel to catch the gaze of the jeweller. The old man already held a smile on his face, this made Henry laugh.

"You seem to read through me." Said Henry.

"I see when a man loves his wife. You love your wife." Said the jeweller seriously.

Henry gapped, he didn't know what to say and wasn't aware that his emotions were so obvious. "I… I do."

The old man smirked. "How do you find this ?" He asked, speaking of the jewel.

"This is perfect. Exactly what I was looking for." Henry answered.

"I knew you would say that." The man began to wrap the very expensive piece in a box with ribbons.

Henry paid the man and when he was about to take the bag which contained the diamond bracelet, the jeweller gave his last words to Henry.

"Good luck and don't give up, she loves you."

Henry thought his eyes would leave his orbs upon hearing the old man's words. "How do you.."

"You know, when someone reaches my age, he has seen nearly all types of people that exists. You love your wife and I'm sure she loves you. A man that chooses a jewel as thoughtfully as you loves his woman. Sooner or later, she'll realize it." Finished the jeweller while handing him the bag which contained the bracelet.

Henry smiled, the two men bid each other goodbye and the general left.

Bag in hand, Henry was now searching for a flower shop when he came in front of a toy shop.

Upon seeing the shop, he decided to enter and to buy a thing for his girl. He was roaming the boutique for the perfect gift when he came across the softest teddy bear he had ever seen. The stuffed bear was holding a heart between his legs. This was perfect ! A soft bear for his delicate girl. Taking it in hand, he went to the register and paid.

Now was the time for flowers…

Soon, he arrived at a little flower merchant and went inside.

"Hello ? Is there someone ?" He asked tentatively.

"Yes ! I'm coming" Answered an old lady with grey hair and nearly closed eyes.

"Hello, I'm looking for a rose bouquet please."

"Of course sir, what type of rose do you want ?" She asked with a soft smile.

"Red, definitely. The most beautiful you have please." He answered politely.

"Oh ! Of course. I'm sure the new mother will be more than pleased."

Again Henry was surprised, how did all these people know so much about him with him saying a word ? He supposed it came with experience.

"How don't look at me like that. I'm not a witch. It's just that a man who comes to buy a bouquet of red roses and who is already carrying a teddy bear and a jewellery bag is usually a new made father." She answer his silent question with a laugh.

He laughed back, realising that he would have had the same thought as her, had he seen a man carrying these two items. "I suppose, yes."

When the lady was done arranging the red blossoms in order to make it look good, Henry went to pay her but she interrupted him : "No, no. It's my pleasure to make you and your family this gift. Go and find her." She encouraged him.

"Humm, I don't know what to say…" Said Henry unsure of what to do.

"Don't say anything, take it and go find your wife." She smiled.

He smiled back and said "Thank you, people of your kindness are rare in this world. Have good day, madam."

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Now that he had all he needed, the general directed himself towards the exit of the mall.

AN : Next chapter coming soon ! Let me know what you think !

Love you,

Laura D.