Disclaimer: still no owning of Reign whatsoever ~

AN: HAPPY NEW YEAR LOVELIES! Myfairwendybird and I wanted to wish you a happy new year and so we're giving you this! aka I just finally got around to editing it lol. As always, enjoy the read!

"Ooooh, Maman, Papa's kissing you again." Little Henry cooed at her elbow as she leant back and away from her husband's kiss.

Surprised and flustered by the sudden kiss, Catherine didn't have time to form a reply before Francis stepped in to save her. "That's what papas do with their wives, little brother."

"But Lady Diane isn't his wife, is she?"

It was such an innocent question. He'd only asked to clarify, to understand, but how did one explain to a five year old what it was to have a mistress? Her smile easily slipping into place from years of pain and practice, Catherine tousled her boy's curls and brought him into her lap to keep him from asking more questions. Taking a pastry from one of the nearby servants, she lifted it up to her son's mouth and was thankful when he bit in and started munching. She caught Francis' apologetic look above the heads of his siblings and she nodded. It wasn't his fault, he hadn't expected his brother to ask such a question - who would? Five year olds were infamous for their unpredictability. Still, that age old doubt began to well in her chest that maybe, just maybe Henry would return his attentions to his mistress. He'd sent her away just that morning, but Anet was not so far that she couldn't be recalled at any moment. Diane was most likely still getting her things together to bring back to her chateau. How many times had they been through this? Yes, Henry had confessed his love and a want for change between them, but he'd been at the front, his life on the line – had it all just been a soldier's desperate wish to ease things between himself and his wife should he pass in the next battle?

Henry had been nothing but attentive since he'd been back, but could that all be an act to lull her into another bout of openness only to have him turn his back once more when he felt she had lost her luster once again? He'd made declarations of love, had proven that he wanted her body at least – but was he true? She'd turned that question over in her mind so many times over the years it had worn its way down into the very deepest parts of herself. Catherine had known hurt and loss and pain, grief for what was both hers and not hers. Her scarred heart beat to the rhythm of her name on his lips – what was one more scar? She hated herself for allowing him to make her feel this way, so out of control for a man whose love she could never be sure of. Sometimes she thought that perhaps, in a small kind of way, Henry did love her, always had retained a shred of affection for her. Those thoughts were tossed away when she remembered all the reasons why he couldn't love her and how, if he did, that love would only stem from duty and not of his own true feeling for her. Love was elusive, as the poets would agree, and understanding love was even more difficult. For everything else, she knew exactly what it was that ran through his mind. She knew everything about him – save for where his heart truly lie. Giving her husband a beaming smile that spoke of new hopes and all her love, Catherine hoped he wouldn't press the issue as the children led by their two eldest began once more to chatter around them.

Visualising bashing his own head into a wall, Henry reprimanded himself silently for allowing himself to get too caught up in the moment. It was too new, all of it. They hadn't even spoken to the children about their agreement to try again — they hadn't even spoken of it themselves yet. It was far too early to be kissing her so freely in public. Pretending to be caught up with his girls, the King pretended not to hear the question from his son as he had no answer for it. Shooting Francis a grateful smile for his attempt in lightening the situation, however unsuccessful it was, Henry hoped Catherine wouldn't be too upset. He knew Diane never failed to strike a chord in her and the mere suggestion, however well-meaning it was, couldn't have gone without damage. Making a mental note to ensure his former mistress was out of the castle and well on her way to Anet as soon as their picnic was over, he would have a letter sent after her informing her that she not return to Court for the foreseeable future else she incur his wrath. There would never be a day he didn't bare some semblance of love in his heart for Diane after all that she'd been to him – mother, teacher, lover, friend, confidant – but their time had passed and he no longer felt for her what he once did. Part of him wondered if he'd ever felt it truly or if he'd merely been confused about what their love was. If making Catherine happy meant saying goodbye to Diane, the King was finally ready to let her go. He never wanted to see her use that fake smile again, especially in front of his children. He didn't want to see her mask her pain. When her smile turned to him, Henry couldn't help but return it, though his eyes spoke of apology as his hand reached out for hers subtly, out of view of curious bright eyes. Thinking about all the times he'd seen her smile not reach her eyes, the King wondered if banishing Diane was too little too late. Sure that he would never be quite through apologising, Henry wondered if it wouldn't be easier to forget with all his mistakes out of sight. Making another mental note, he resolved that he would have one of his advisors compile a list of his conquests here at Court with the intent that they all be banished from his home.

Weaving their fingers together with the excess yards of her skirt as their camouflage from the children, Catherine let the heat of his hand sink into hers even as the warm sun sent its golden rays to rest upon them. The apology in his eyes was one she'd seen so many times before and she hoped that she could believe it for once. That he would be true. So many promises had been made over the course of their marriage and Diane had been chief among the reasons she hid her heart from her own husband. The few times she'd been ready to tell him of her true feelings, that she wanted to be with him completely, she'd been too late. He'd made his choice. She'd known that her continued silence was off putting to him, but how else was she to act with the ever present promise that Diane de Poitiers could be found just down the hall or around the corner? Madame was a woman who Henry could be with with little effort – any woman would be in all honesty. The thoughts she kept close to her were ones that Henry deserved to know, but the longer she put off telling him and risking herself, the longer her marriage was strained. Laying a gentle kiss into their son's hair who still sat and snacked in her lap, she had to wonder if there was enough of them, enough love left to save.

In so many ways her own pride had sabotaged what could have been between them. It was obvious that Henry was a man who needed demonstration to prove to him what was true and what was not. She was one of the most highly educated women of her time and yet – she could not find a way around her pride to speak to him. Perhaps it had been the teachings of her family that had burned such thoughts into her, but nevertheless, here they were more than two decades later and she had yet to be the wife he needed. She'd reconciled that she could prove she loved him in other ways. Diane had his heart and his head, she lay beside him at night, but Catherine had done everything she could to provide for him what Diane did not, or in what she did, do it better. His wardrobe and stables were never lacking, she'd even managed to buy fifty Arabian horses for him on one birthday. His meals were perfect and his wine was superb. There was never a lack of entertainment, and above all, Catherine provided herself as a resource whenever she could.

The last remaining true born heir of Il Magnifico's blood, Catherine had money and connections that circled the globe twice over. Her wit and charm ensured alliances and made new ones, even managing at times to break France free of some relationships that were less than advantageous. No, she had no armies, but she gave herself in every way she could – just in every way that hadn't mattered to her husband. Chancing a glance at him out of the corner of her eye, she was glad to see that he seemed to be enjoying himself at least. With rest and treatment he would be good as new. Well enough to return to the front. Wanting a distraction and something to dispel the atmosphere that still lingered in the air, the Queen of France clapped her hands for a servant and after some whispering and the servant hurrying off, Catherine announced that a boat ride was being arranged as she spoke. With the sun high and the waters serene, fitting their family onto one of the boats wouldn't be too much of a problem. Gathering the children to walk down to the docks, her hand had to slip from his, a temporary and needed break.

Henry couldn't help the regret he felt that this was the first picnic they'd ever had as a true family, feeling guilty that his older children missed out on a childhood where their parents were happy and together. The little ones might know him better with Diane for now, but at least in a few years they might be able to forget her for the most part and replace what they had come to see as normal with the image of their parents acting as a man and wife should. Francis, Elisabeth, and Claude would never be so lucky, they'd seen too many of his mistakes and dealt with too many years of the way things were.

His worries had been calmed when she had taken his hand, sure that she mustn't be too upset if she were still willing to let him hold on to her. The King sat listening to his angels tell him all sorts of stories from his time away, nodding along and giving the little ones enthusiastic reactions when they were called for, all whilst running his thumb along the back of his wife's hand. His brother would certainly have something to say about his performance as a husband thus far as he'd left most his lessons in the dust in favour of Diane, but he planned to fulfil them now to the best of his ability. He would protect her and be sure she wanted for nothing that was within his power to give her and hope that was enough to make up for all the years he hadn't.

Smiling at the new adventure his wife had come up with to entertain the children, he only felt the slightest loss of her hand as he helped load the children into the boat one by one before finally extending his hand to his Catherine to help her aboard.

"My Queen."

Feet cold and her hair a mess, Catherine accepted the blanket from her lady and did her best to compose herself after having fallen into the lake. They'd spent a day out on the water and it had been the most fun she'd had in what felt like ages. All her children were smiling, her husband had been there, and she'd even laughed. With the sun warming them, her youngest sons had jumped into the lake, clothes and all, a great splash wetting Elisabeth's skirts as Francis held Margot back from jumping in too. Claude was already fussing about trying to get her heavy outer dress off and with a nod from their mother, Elisabeth set about helping her little sisters from their dresses.

Left in their lighter under dresses, Elisabeth helped Claude into the water while Francis sat Margot onto his shoulders before slipping in himself. Charles and little Henry were burbling around in the water pretending to be fish and on the boat, Catherine was arranging the blankets and furs for when her babies came out of the water. Seeing her older children play in the water, she hoped that when Hercule was old enough, he, too, would be able to enjoy days like this with their family. Elisabeth and Francis hadn't had the pleasure, but perhaps the younger children would. Brought from her musings on what a happy future would look like, Catherine heard Francis call out to her.

It seemed that Margot didn't quite like the water as much as she thought she would and now was reaching back for her mother. The Queen stretched out for her girl, but so far was she that her balance overtook her and down she went into the lake. The noise of her children muffled as she was enveloped by the water, she was more than thankful her strong legs from horseback riding could handle bringing her up to the surface even in her heavy garments. Soon enough, she was brought back on board and Margot was sat in her lap with a little blanket of her own around her. Catherine wasn't quite sure what her husband thought of her watery escapade, but unfortunately, she'd lost her crown to the lake.

"Henry, p – perhaps you should join the children in the water." The Queen said, sputtering with lake water in her eyes.

He'd been the one to pull her back into the boat after she'd fallen, trying his best not to chuckle as her lady wrapped her in a blanket. Kissing his soaked little princess on the nose then moving to do the same to his wife, Henry did as he was bid, jumping into the water he dived straight down to first retrieve her crown before swimming out toward the children. After a minute or two searching under water he saw the shimmering of jewels in the corner of his eye. Resurfacing with a grin as he panted to regain his breath, the King reached out to give it to her.

"Your crown, my Queen," he teased, hoping she wouldn't be upset with his antics as he made his way towards the others.

Teaching his children to play the same water games he'd played with Francis and the Guise brothers when he was a boy, he divided them into teams, keeping Claude and Little Henry with him as he sent Charles to even out Francis and Elisabeth's team. Once the word was given to begin they all broke out into squeals and giggles as they splashed at each other, the King of France acting the biggest child of them all.

AN: So that's it for this chapter, but hopefully you all enjoyed it! Let us know what you thought!

After some fiddling around, Myfairwendybird and I have a new organizational plan for how this story is going to go as it's our resolution to get you more chapters more frequently than we have these past few months. Thank you all for sticking with us and being so kind and supportive. We hope you have an incredible new year. Have fun, stay safe, and be kind!