Hello everybody! So I'll just start by saying that this last episode was AMAZING! I can't get over that end scene, where Bash pulls Mary out of the tub. So alas, this chapter follows that scene and then extends it, because I needed more. =)

I don't own Reign.

Enjoy!

Chapter 8

Once Bash heard the commotion down the hall, coming from the direction of Mary's room, he bolted out of his own chambers and headed towards all the noise. He paused in the doorway, eyes taking in the scene before him: guards, Catherine on the floor, coughing, and Mary—

"Mary," he called out, panic easing its way into his voice as he saw her struggling to pull herself out of the tub. Fear gripped his heart like steel, fear for the girl he loved.

Ignoring the guards warning that she might be covered in poison, Bash spared no time in rushing over to Mary, lifting her from the tub of steaming water. He hitched an arm under her legs, pulling her to his chest, shielding her from the guards still perched by the door. The front of his clothes was soaked through in seconds, but his fancy tunic was the last thing on his mind. He quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped it around Mary's body, pulling her close to him. He cradled her to him, burying his face in the crook of her neck, the possibility of losing her too much to bear for a moment. She trembled in his arms, her heart pounding. He made soothing sounds, trying to calm her just as much as himself. He breathed in a sigh of relief that she was here, she was safe.

"Catherine tried to kill me," she murmured, her voice slightly hoarse from whatever poisonous fumes she had breathed in. Worry set like a stone in his stomach as he thought about whatever concoction Catherine had made making its way through Mary's system.

He paused in his worrying, though, to glare at Catherine. "Take her away," he ordered the guards loudly, the venom in his voice directed at the once-regal queen lying on the floor. "Chain her up like the animal she is!"

Catherine struggled as two of the three guards hoisted her to her feet. Once upright, Catherine turned her gaze to Mary, barely controlled rage defining her features.

"You should have left France while you had the chance!" the queen spat. "He is a man with secrets. You have made a choice that will be your ruin!"

"I know who he is. And I have made the perfect choice," Mary shot back in defense, if possible, pulling herself closer to Bash's body, and he tightened his hold on her in response. "Because together, we have killed you!"

Catherine didn't get a chance to retaliate, but instead cried out in anger as the guards dragged her out of the room. Bash watched until Catherine disappeared from view, his own anger fading away. He cradled Mary's head in his hand, closing his eyes to just breathe in her presence. She leaned her head against his chest, body still shaking the slightest. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked towards the remaining guard.

"Go to the dungeons and retrieve Nostradamus. He is our best healer. Go, now," Bash insisted.

"Yes, Your Majesty." The guard bowed respectfully, then left the room, his cloak whipping out behind him as he turned.

"Mary, come here," Bash murmured once the guard was gone, lifting her gently into his arms.

He carried her into her bedroom, setting her down on the bench by the fire. He would have put her in the comfort of her own bed, but if poison truly covered her skin, the last thing he wanted to do was transfer it to the place she slept.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear.

Her eyes refused to meet his, and instead wandered to his wet clothing. She brushed her fingers over the saturated fabric. "Your clothes are wet,"

"Mary," Bash put a finger under her chin to ease her head up so she looked at him. "Don't worry about me. It's just a little water. How are you?"

She opened her mouth to reply, but no sound came out. A tear slipped down her cheek, followed by another. She shook her head, breaths coming out uneven. He put his forehead against her own, cradling her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs.

"Shh, Mary, it's alright," he murmured. "You're safe. You're safe,"

"I thought I was going to die," she admitted, voice barely audible. "I thought I was never going to see you again. That's all I could think about. Not Scotland or my family or friends…I could only think of you."

Bash's heart fluttered, her words warming him from head to toe. "I thought for a moment there that I had lost you. My life would mean nothing without you in it, Mary."

"That's not true. You had a life before me."

"Maybe. But it wasn't much of a life." he told her, wrapping the towel tighter around her. "I was leading a rather unremarkable life before you came here. I knew I was living a good life, compared to some bastard children, but I knew that one day I would die and be forgotten soon after my death. But then you came along, and ever since…well, my life has been rather extraordinary indeed."

Mary smiled, her brown eyes meeting his. "I love you,"

"And I love you," he said, a smile of his own spreading across his face. "I would do anything for you; I want you to know that. I would travel to the ends of the earth for you. I am utterly and completely yours."

"Bash," she whispered his name, nothing more, putting a hand to his face much like she had earlier, before she'd kissed him and said that her heart was open.

Just then, the doors opened and the guard he'd sent off appeared with Nostradamus, unchained, at his side. Nostradamus, in his usual quiet, pensive way, made his way over to Mary, seemingly unaffected by the fact that she was covered in nothing but a towel. Bash gave Nostradamus room to examine Mary while still hovering protectively over her, their fingers intertwined. It didn't take long.

"Did you ingest any of the poison, Mary? Not inhale, but swallow any of it?" Nostradamus asked.

"No," Mary shook her head.

The seer nodded. "She'll be alright," he said, directed towards Bash. "She just needs to rest. And plenty of water, Mary."

"Thank you," Bash said.

Nostradamus nodded, then took Mary's other hand in between his own. "I am deeply sorry about this. If I had known Catherine would attempt such a thing, I would have done more to stop it."

"Thank you, Nostradamus," Mary said wearily.

Bash nodded at the guard and he led Nostradamus out of the room, shutting the door behind them with a soft click.

"You heard him, let's get you ready for bed." Bash said, pulling Mary gently to her feet.

He sat down on the edge of her bed and watched as she rummaged through her drawers, looking for a nightgown. Seeing her in her towel, he couldn't help but think of the other day when he'd accidentally walked in on her while she was taking a bath. He'd only caught a glimpse of her naked body then, but he had seen her, despite what he'd told her. And now her soft curves, the smoothness of her bare skin, the curve of her breasts, it was seared into his mind and there was no way he could scratch that image out.

"You know, this is twice now that I've caught you naked," he teased.

Mary, despite being exhausted form the day she'd had, had enough energy to turn around and shake her head at him, though she was smiling as she did so.

"I thought you hadn't seen anything last time?" she retorted, raising a single brow at him.

"I didn't," he smirked.

"You are such a liar," she laughed. "And I don't think you exactly caught me tonight. It was more like a rescue. And I was much happier that it was you and not one of the guards," she admitted, blushing and ducking her head.

She pulled out a nightgown and looked at him pointedly. He turned away without her even having to ask. He heard the towel drop to the ground and slide of silk and lace over skin as she pulled on her nightgown, but nothing more. He didn't even know she was done till she came up behind him and kissed him briefly on the cheek. His intake of breath was slightly sharper than usual due to surprise. He knew that as long as he lived—which with all these new enemies he'd suddenly acquired might not be very long—that he would never get used to the feeling of being kissed by her. It sent his pulse racing every time, his heart hammered in his chest and he never could get enough. He wanted to touch her for eternity.

"What was that for?" he asked quietly, turning back around so he was facing her and she was standing in between his legs.

"For saving me,"

Bash leaned up and kissed her softly, his hands resting at her waist, the silk of her nightgown smooth beneath his fingertips.

"You're welcome," he murmured, pulling back just enough so he could say the words. "Come on, you've had a long day. You should get some rest."

Without a word, Bash stood, and they traded positions. Mary crawled to the middle of her bed, pulling the covers over her body. He lay down on top of the blankets bedside her.

"Will you stay with me till I fall asleep?" she asked, voice thick with sleepiness.

"Of course,"

Bash lifted her hand, brushing his lips across her knuckles. He let her hand drop then turned over onto his back, hands folded across his stomach as he watched her slowly drift into the oblivion of sleep.

So there's chapter 8! Hope you guys enjoyed it! I just had to write something on that moment because it was absolutely perfect!

Please review, it really means a lot! Your support is always so wonderful!

Thanks for reading!

-DaughterOfPoseidon333