Disclaimer: I neither own Reign, nor profit from this story.

The ceremony was simple and the guests few. It was perfect for the two of them.

Normally their every move was so public, so much like a performance that it was nice to have this moment to themselves.

There would be a celebration later for all of Court, but not now. Now was for the people behind the mask who became invisible in the public light thanks to their position. The price of ruling the Kingdom was that their individuality and privacy became moot, it was one of the reasons that Catherine and Henry had grown apart over the years. Their own feelings forced into the background, a casualty of the job as they soldiered on. Of willing killing off a little more of themselves each day.

Catherine had not been wrong in her assessment all those weeks ago.

After sharing a light meal with the attending guests before joining the main festivities, Henry gently gathered Catherine around the waist and led her aside for a moment alone.

"You look beautiful Catherine."

"This was very thoughtful Henry, thank you for all of this."

Circling his other arm around her waist, Henry gently turned her so that she was fully facing him. "I promise that I will do everything in my power to make up for the last twenty years Catherine. I know that neither of us are under any illusions of what our life as ruling monarchs may bring but I will do better. I will be the husband I should be."

Placing her her hand over his heart she answered. "Your intentions are admirable Henry, but I don't need promises, I only need you. Show my heart is safe in your hands, be by my side and I will forever be yours."

Cupping her cheek with one hand, Henry smiled down at her before leaning down and capturing her lips in a sweet kiss. She was so caught up in the moment that she responded, forgetting that their children were just a few paces away. Francis and Claude had tried to divert them but the moment the younger ones saw their parents' embrace they argued insistently with their older sibling and eventually rushed over to the couple.

Feeling their children surround them broke the moment but the King and Queen only smiled, eyes still locked as their family was in so many ways finally whole again.

Henry and Catherine disentangled themselves from the grasping hands of their children and reminded them that it was time to join the main celebrations.

Claude came over first to assist Catherine with removing her veil, to which Catherine nodded and allowed Claude to remove the piece herself. Soon after Francis came over to gather them all and set them in order as the family would be walking in together, paired off in age order with Francis and Claude coming in directly behind their parents.

Once settled, Henry took Catherine by the hand and led her out through the door.

The Valois Dynasty would not be conquered by time, unrest, or family discord. They were unified and whole.

Catherine and Henry could not have been happier.

-/-/-/-/-

The celebration was in full swing. Although a majority of the attendees had no idea what had taken place to truly set the festivities into motion, they were enjoying themselves all the same.

Henry had excused himself to dance with little Madeline so Catherine was on her own for the moment. She took the opportunity to take everything in and decided that the night had gone well enough that she could consider the possibility that for once in her life, she could be, perhaps for just a short time, happy.

Nostradamus made his way over and stood next to her for a moment without saying a word. Her dear friend had been a constant despite her short temper and the hills and valleys of their friendship, well partial friendship anyway. She probably threatened his beheading a few too many times for him to truly consider her a friend, but he was as close as she usually got to a companion of any sort.

"Your Majesty," he began finally, "I have something important to tell you, although I fear that you may not be pleased with me for it."

Humming, she answered him. "Could any threat I make be any worse than others I have already made?"

Instead of answering, he continued. "The visions that I had been getting indicating Mary's connection with Francis's death. Since Clarissa's passing, they have stopped. As your life was no longer in imminent danger I wanted to be sure, but now I am. I now believe that Mary and Francis can be wed, and still lead long and happy lives far beyond their union.

Catherine didn't move.

Running through what Nostradamus had said in her mind once more, she wanted to assure herself that she had heard what she thought she had.

If the prophesy had reversed then Francis and Mary could be wed, she and Henry were already back on better terms but the future of France was still in question. This would remove the question.

Was it possible that she could have everything she wanted?

A husband that was both attentive and loved her.

A son, several in fact, who were being groomed for the throne.

A daughter-in-law who may be able to unite not two, but three countries in Europe.

"Are you sure," she finally said, her jaw working to lightly grid her teeth in an attempt to keep herself calm.

"As I have said in the past it is not a science, but I am as sure as I can be Majesty."

Happiness to her always seemed nothing more than a fantasy. One whose possibility only brought more pain, more sorrow in the possibility of attainment. But for the first time she saw just a glimmer of hope, of one day that soon even she might be given the possibility of happiness.

She looked over at Henry, who had been caught up by a Noble seeking his 'advice.' He smiled at her then, a genuine smile of affection and of longing all rolled into one. Her heart skipped a beat and for a moment, just a moment, she could believe.

"Thank you Nostradamus," she spoke, distracted by her current train of thought, her eyes never leaving her husband's.

Walking over to him, Henry received her into his embrace and placed his arm possessively around her waist. Regardless of what the future held, Catherine could be content with what she had now.

Wishing never got anyone anywhere except to the bottom of a wine bottle.

Perhaps happiness was possible, or more specifically the happiness that came with some sort of long term commitment. In the meantime she would be content with where she was, and keep an open heart to the possibility of a future that did not exclusively carry hurt and pain.

Perhaps that for her was happiness.

Perhaps happiness had found her after all.