"Scorn and Neglect."

Authors Note: I do NOT own "Reign." The content of this story strays from normal story lines and is not historically accurate. This is my FIRST fanfiction, be kind!

Summary: After banishing the twins and Henry's ghost from her mind, the Queen thinks back down memory lane at the day they were born and feels even more resentment for her husband because of what she went through, all because of her love for him.

Rating: T-mainly for language and minimal adult content.

Chapter 1:

The 'cracks' and 'pops' from the fire echoed against the concrete walls of the room. Candlelight flooded every corner to give the Queen's private chambers an eerie glow.

She rubbed the cool contents of the heavy, metal, goblet across her forehead; closing her eyes against the onslaught of memories past.

She reached for the wine decanter and poured the blood-red contents into her glass, emptying her second visage of the night. She was drunk. She didn't care. She needed to escape the confines of her mind, or what was left of it.

Over the past week she had seriously questioned her sanity. Her husband's ghost, her dead children, he made love to her and it felt real, her dead children tried to make her kill her very-much-alive daughter; it was all too much. However, it was over. She breathed a sigh of relief for that small comfort of a thought.

A knock at the door caused her mind to race to the present and her body to jump involuntarily,

"Enter!" She said it with pure exasperation.

As she turned her head she saw Sebastian walking back into her chambers. What now?

"Sebastian? What is wrong now?"

He shrugged. He didn't know why he was there, really. Catherine had him worried. Her actions lately had been anything but normal for her. The always composed, always in control, Queen of France was very much not herself as of late.

"I simply came to check on you before I retired for the evening. I know you've had a trying day."

"That's very thoughtful of you. Would you like to join me for a drink?" Her words slurred slightly. She was most definitely drunk.

He walked over to the chair across from her , "It sounds as if you've had enough of that for one night." On his way to her, he grasped the small water pitcher and filled her glass with its contents instead.

She cut her hazel eyes at him in that way that only Catherine De Medici could do. He handed her her water glass as she eyed him suspiciously. She took it from him and he moved to sit across from her on the divan.

"Bash…why are you here?"

"I thought you might want to talk. You have not been acting yourself lately, and I just wanted to know what might be plaguing you."

She gave him a small smile and took a sip of water,

"Did I ever tell you about the twins?"

Sebastian handed her a throw to cover up with. Her room was freezing despite the roaring fire. She took it gratefully,

"Twins? Twin girls..Immone and Henriette right? They died as infants didn't they?"

Catherine's face fell as she nodded,

"Oh…they were so beautiful. They were the last children I thought I'd ever have. When they died…I lost part of myself. Then five years after their deaths, unexpectedly came Charles then Henry. Physicians were amazed..as was I. Especially since they had strongly urged the King to stop visiting my chambers. The twins were nearly the cause of my death, so anymore children past that point were out of the question." She chuckled to herself, her eyes alight with memories, "Imagine everyone's shock. Especially your dear mother." The last bit she said with complete disdain.

Sebastian simply listened, but stared at her as if to say, why are you telling me all of this? He never pretended to be proud of his mothers actions. Lord knew there were times when he wished he hadn't been born. Life had been no easy task being the bastard son of a King, and his mother being known as the "great whore of France."

"I love my children Bash…ALL of them. Even the ones who didn't make it, they still have my unending love. You will understand how deep that love goes when you have children of your own someday. My love for them is what drives me."

"Catherine, I know that. All of France could agree on that one point; that if nothing you are at your very core an incredible mother."

He stood and walked to her liquor cabinet, found a good Brandy and poured himself a glass full. He felt the need to always force himself to relax in her presence. Catherine had never been unkind to him, but she did set him on edge more than anyone else in this household. He sat back down in his place in front of her,

"Catherine why are you making a point to tell me this?"

She shrugged as she snuggled deeper under her throw,

"Just thinking of the past, I suppose."