Disclaimer: I still do not own Reign

AN: Here it is. The second installment of the Those Eyes Trilogy. We're picking up where we left off in the first part aka Henry and Catherine now have a working understanding of their feelings for each other. As always, Richard never had a thing with Catherine because let's be real - she never would have had an affair ever. She loves this punk too much. Enjoy the read.

The autumn was upon them, the sunset on Nature's summer glory and as it was, the King and Queen of France were out amongst her golds enjoying the sights of the day. Her Majesty wrapped up in a gorgeously embroidered cloak, she'd tutted over her husband's lack of one, but the ever so stubborn Henry had chosen to forego the covering lest he lose any time he had with his wife in this lazy time during the afternoon. The comfortable silence they strolled in allowed him time to think and form his question. He'd been having many thoughts recently, but there was one among their number that stood out, one that he needed to know her answer to as soon as he could wrestle up the nerve to say it.

"Did you never wonder, Catherine?" The question was posed in the crisp air, the rustle of the trees a natural background to his voice.

"Wonder what?" She asked, turning up hazel eyes that matched their surroundings so well.

Although he knew how it would sound, he did his best to clarify. "How it would be to be loved by another."

"A few did try to win my affections." The easy flow of her words let him believe that he was being honest, but he felt it was far from the complete truth.

"And?" He pressed, wanting to know what it was he'd missed in their estrangement.

A light chuckle bubbling past her lips, she turned away to hide her smile. "Please don't play the jealous husband, Henry. It doesn't suit you."

"But it's so easy to be jealous of the men who had the sight to see you for who you are." He sounded so remorseful that she just had to turn back to him.

"Hardly." At his continued look of confusion, she went on to explain, "They didn't want me, they wanted what I could give them." Huffing in her feigned exasperation, she rolled her eyes for show. "Oh, for goodness' sake - position, Henry."

The King had the grace to at least duck his head in apology before continuing on with his line of questioning. "Were there really no contenders vying for your heart?"

"Even if there were do you really think I'd entertain them?" She countered, a brow arched in challenge that he should ask such a thing of her.

"No, no I don't." His smile would have been infectious had he not taken her hand and pulled her behind a hedge out of the sight of the walkway that lined the garden before bringing her in close to his chest to whisper into her ear. "I love you, Catherine."

"Henry - " In many ways she didn't want to reprimand him, but she had to.

They were going to learn about each other again. It was something they'd agreed upon easily in those first days after they'd had their understanding. They would learn before they loved, that was the key rule to their plan. Surprisingly, Henry had put forth that idea. Not so surprisingly, he'd been the first to break it. With his demeanor, she should have known he would have wanted to skip a few steps in their process, but thankfully they were in public where she was all too aware of how exposed they were - even behind thick hedges. A hand sliding up to rest between their bodies, the Queen pushed him away gently only to have her husband bring her hand to his lips, lavishing her delicate knuckles with kisses. Surely she couldn't begrudge him such a thing when in all technicality, it was perfectly acceptable behavior. The duration and magnitude of ardor could be questionable, but with the highest ruling judge in the land rather occupied raining kisses on his beloved's soft palm, such decisions would have to be put on hold. Drawing her hand to rest against his cheek, he entangled his free hand with hers, intent on having her by his side for as long as possible.

"I know we said we wouldn't say the words for a while yet, but I couldn't help myself. I love you." He finished earnestly in complete adoration of how soft her hand was against the rough of his cheek.

"And I love you, but you must really adhere to the rules sometime." The usual bite in her voice was strangely absent although the look in her eyes gave him gentle warning.

"Do we have to start today?" He asked with a charming smile, hoping to warm her to his way of thinking. "I think next week might be better for me - how's your schedule looking?"

The corner of Catherine's mouth curled up in the hint of a smile. "You're incorrigible."

"You've always brought out the best in me." He whispered, once more leaning down with a single destination in mind.

"Oh, really now?" She tilted her head back to keep contact with his deep brown eyes.

"I only ever make the wrong decision when you're not by my side." His eyes fell shut in anticipation with his words only a deep rumble in his chest.

The King's hands now slack, she easily slipped out of his hold only to stand beside him in preparation of the continuation of their walk. "Seems it would be best if you kept me then."

"I intend to - you also happen to be an incredibly pretty piece for my arm, you know." With a final kiss to her jeweled hand, Henry wrapped her arm around his as they went about their walk in the autumn sun.

"Funny, I was about to say the same about you."

AN: TA - DA! This one is really going to be about them learning about each other, Henry having patience and Catherine opening up. It'll also be a developing of their physical intimacies with one another - DON'T GET ANY IDEAS, YOU! I mean in the sweet ways, like holding hands and hugging and leaning against one another, because really, they don't do that. They stand alone, the both of them, but with them coming together once again, it'll be a bit more of learning how to be together, physically and emotionally. Leave reactions and requests in a review! Xo Lina loves you!