Work Text:
1.
"I know what you're doing." Anne said, snickering. Catherine blinked.
"What?"
"You do that sometimes." Anne told her, pointing an accusatory pen at the Spanish queen. "You hover."
"I most definitely do not."
"You do." Her friend insisted. "You watch everything I do, you refill my drink when it's gone, you bring me snacks everytime you notice I haven't been eating for a few hours. You're constantly checking in on me. I see your face practically every hour, Catherine - even in dreams, now."
Instead of answering, a smile quirked up on Catherine's lips. "You dream about me?"
"Only because I see your face too often." Face suddenly reddening, Anne hastily turned back to her song-writing. "You do hover though. You can't deny it."
She didn't.
2.
"You alright, love?"
Jane was looking at her, her greyish-sky blue eyes gentle and comforting as it rested on Catherine's frown.
"Yeah." Catherine murmured, reaching over to take Jane's hand and carefully examined the small burn on her wrist. "When did this happen?"
"Oh, this morning." Jane said nonchalantly, shrugging it off and tried, with very little effort, to pull her hand away. Catherine held on. "I was putting the kettle on boil and didn't realize it was already hot."
"And you ignored it?"
"I'm sorry." She replied, actually sounding sorry. Her face, however, appeared slightly amused at the concern.
"You should put something on it. Come on." Catherine took Jane's other hand, taking the lead as she called for Boleyn to grab the first aid kit. Jane didn't protest.
3.
"You've got your phone with you? And call when you need getting picked up? Did you bring a snack? You didn't have breakfast this morning." Catherine was stood by the doorway, watching the fourth queen pull her hooded sweatshirt over her head. Anna didn't respond as she took out a pair of shades.
"You'll be back before lunch, right?"
Anna rolled her eyes, fixing her shoes as she prepared to leave for her walk. When she took the first few steps off the pathway up the door, she turned around and waved, somewhat half-heartedly.
"I'm a full grown adult. I'll be fine."
4.
The door creaked open, revealing a pink head as Kit peeked into the dimly lit room. At the sound of the door opening, Catherine sat up in her bed, blinking sleepily at the unexpected interruption. Upon seeing the youngest queen standing awkwardly by the door, she pushed the blanket off off her body and swung her legs over to the side of the bed.
"Mija? Are you alright?"
Kit hesitated, looking unsure. Then she shook her head.
"I... I had a bad dream yesterday. Tonight I'm a little scared to go to sleep and I don't want to bother Jane or Anne again..." Eyes suddenly widening, she held her hands up anxiously. "And now here I am bothering you! Oh I'm so sorry!"
Catherine was quick to stand by her side and lead her to the bed, lifting the covers up once both girls were right next to the elder's comfy looking sleeping space.
"There's always room for more." She told Kit, gesturing for the girl to get in first. After Kit was settled, she slid in right next to her, tucking the younger girl in before leaving her arms open in invitation. Kit accepted the hug, her breathing steadier than it was mere seconds ago.
"I'll keep the nightmares away."
True to her words, Catherine did.
That morning, she woke up first. Catherine watched the fifth queen sleep for a while, glad to see her calm in her slumber, hindered from any unpleasantness brought fourth by the unconscious mind.
5.
Cathy hadn't been sleeping. This was normal. She often never slept. That was what she liked to think, of course - she, in fact, slept everywhere. Cathy could sleep the entire time she held hands on the dinner table while Catherine said grace, she could sleep during movie nights and she could sleep for a few seconds while standing up. She could sleep anywhere and everywhere.
Of course, she denied it.
Catherine confronted her one day, when she was practically chugging down the fifth mug of coffee for the day. It was only 9 in the morning.
"I've been watching you for a while." She said. "You can't go on like this. You need to sleep properly, have a consistent and healthy sleep schedule."
"Sure, mom." She mumbled, drinking in another mouthful.
To her surprise, the mug was yanked right out of her hands, causing a small spill on the table. It didn't get on any of the women, fortunately. The coffee was steaming hot.
"You have to take better care of yourself."
Grumpy, Cathy simply said what she could think of to get Catherine off her back. "You're not my mom, Catherine."
So Catherine stopped trying to be.
+1
"Come in."
Cathy twisted the knob and pushed the door open, only walking in when she saw Catherine sitting up and welcoming her with a slightly lopsided smile. She didn't notice the small lump next to her godmother until she was standing right next to the bed.
"Oh hi, Cat." Kit mumbled, yawning. "Here to share my mom? Catherine's warm."
Cathy watched the youngest snuggle up to Catherine's side, and felt a slight twinge of envy.
"But I thought Jane's your mom?"
Kit simply shrugged. "I can have more than one." She grinned, earning a light chuckle from Catherine.
Looking anxious now, Cathy picked at her sleeve a bit. She didn't expect Kit to be there, and she wasn't sure she wanted the younger queen to see the vulnerable side of her.
"Why don't you join us?" Catherine said, shifting further to one side with Kit under her arm, leaving more space open for Cathy. The bed was huge. Cathy was sure Catherine wouldn't mind the extra company, yet she felt nervous at the idea of sleeping in her mother-figure's bed. The fact that the youngest queen was also there didn't help matters.
"She helps keep the nightmares away." Kit said honestly. "You'll sleep better."
"I don't have nightmares." Cathy said defensively.
Kit just shrugged. "You'll sleep better? You'll sleep better." She amended.
"It's alright if you wish to return to your own room." Catherine told her. She smoothed down the space she'd left for Cathy, silently letting the sixth queen know that she was still welcome.
Cathy didn't answer immediately. Kit blinked once at her before rolling over to her front and promptly fell asleep. Perhaps she was right about sleeping better.
"Okay."
She slid in, fitting in perfectly to Catherine's side. Comforting arms wrapped around her torso and a warm blanket was pulled over her tiny form.
"Buenas noches, hija mía."
She did sleep better.