Your son, Sire.

His heart had been lighter in the morning. The reality of the Cardinal being dead sinking in when they had departed for this mystery meeting, knowing that his funeral would be taking place in a few hours. The Cardinal was a man who almost had Ninon de Larroque burned at the stake under false charges and then banished her from Paris. A man who had recruited Labarge in the hopes of winning a bet. A man who probably would have had Agnes and Henry killed if they hadn't gotten away. A man who did try to have the Queen killed. And he had allowed the Duke of Savoy to believe Aramis and his fellow musketeers had been sent to kill him. Aramis could not lie, he was happy the Cardinal was no longer a threat to the world.

Now that they had started making their way back to Paris, Rochefort in tow, his heart began to feel heavier and heavier the closer they got to the city.

His son was being born, or might have already been welcomed into the world, and he was off in the countryside and nowhere near them.

Tréville had told the four of them before they set off early this morning. The captain had gone over their instructions for what they now knew was a meeting with Rochefort and then stopped them as they were about to leave his office saying, "One more thing, there was a message from the palace late last night; the Queen's labor pains have started. France might have an heir by the time you get back."

Aramis remembered Athos giving him a nudge to follow him out of the office, for he had frozen in place, his mind whirling with the information. Then, stepping aside to let Aramis descend the stairs ahead of him, Athos had told him in a low murmur, "There's nothing you can do for them."

Aramis knew that the best midwives and physicians in France would be tending to them. A rotation of musketeers to guard the room, and then the child, had already been assigned and sent off. Anne's ladies would be there to support her. Perhaps even the King would be there too.

The only thing he would bring was danger. And he had promised Anne to stay away.

Athos was wrong though, Aramis thought as they made their way through the forest. There was something he could do for them. Pray. He looked up toward the sky and prayed for a safe delivery, for Anne and the child to be well.

And if Tréville was right and his son had already been born by the time they got back? Aramis' gaze fell. Not his son, the King's son. The boy will be the heir to the throne of France and he will only be able to celebrate the birth as a loyal soldier, not a father.

"I demand you release me!" Rochefort shouted behind him, pulling on his ropes and Aramis out of his thoughts.

MMMMMMMMMM

Anne wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and hold her son, to take in every inch of him while also letting her weary body rest, but these first few days, hours, minutes even, were more important. No matter how much she wanted Aramis to be here with her, to show him their beautiful son, there could be no doubt to her loyalties, that Louis was the father of her child. She could rest later, and more peacefully too, if she went out there and performed a few duties first. So while her son was fed and attended to by his nurses, she had her ladies change into black and then help her into her own mourning dress.

Louis had told her that he planned on asking Tréville to join his council and she had to be there. Louis hoped that Tréville could eventually take the Cardinal's place as First Minister and she hoped so too; she knew Tréville, he was like a father to her and the King, and he was a good, honest man who would not abuse his power. She feared that he would need some convincing to take the offer though, and she wanted to be there to assure both him and Louis that Tréville would be a wise addition to the King's council.

She also wanted to meet Constance Bonacieux, so she had a summons sent to her home as well. Now that she had finally given him an heir, Louis was more pleased with her than ever, and he was so preoccupied with the Cardinal's vacancy that he would be less concerned about her hiring a commoner to such a high position in her household.

Constance had been recommended by Aramis and d'Artagnan, with the latter of the two surely being in love with her by the way he talked about the woman. But, she was Madame Bonacieux, and was married to another. Anne frowned in the mirror as the final pins were put into her hair, remembering how despondent d'Artagnan's expression became when this fact was brought up and she could tell he was trying to restrain himself from letting his frustration boil over when he was describing Monsieur Bonacieux and his relationship with his wife.

Madame Bonacieux sounded like a good, honest woman though, and if Anne could help a friend of the musketeers, she would. Anne also hoped to find a friend in Constance. Although she had no intention of burdening Constance with her dangerous secret, she understood very well what it was like to be trapped in a marriage while in love with a musketeer. Perhaps though, once Anne got to know her better, or if ever necessary, Anne would be able to reveal some of her deeper feelings and secrets. Maybe that's why Aramis first suggested Constance be her confidant.

After putting her rings on, Anne turned to her ladies and nodded that she was ready. She wanted to surround her family with people she could trust and there was no time to waste.

Leading the way, she walked down the hallway to a room Anne thought might never hear the cries of a child of hers. Entering the nursery, Anne saw Lady Marguerite holding the Dauphin, waiting to follow her out. Earlier, Anne had arranged for her son's crib to be brought out so that the members of court would be able to see the new dauphin for themselves.

"Is he ready?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Marguerite replied as she gave a small curtsey.

Approaching the bundle of blankets in Marguerite's arms, Anne could feel her anxiety growing with every step. Was she strong enough for this? Was she doing right by her son? Would she be able to protect him from her great sin if it were ever found out?

Stopping in front of Marguerite, she looked over and into the face of her son. She couldn't help but take a breath. He really was perfect. Truly a gift from God. She stroked one of his tiny hands, finding solace when he grasped her finger in response.

What Anne did know was that she loved her son with all her heart and that she would do anything to keep him safe. And as long as Louis loved and accepted him as his own, he would protect him as well.

And Aramis...Aramis had vowed to protect him with his life.

Watching her son, she noticed that he could barely keep his eyes open. "Are you falling asleep?" she asked aloud.

"The wet nurse said he fed well," Marguerite informed her.

"Oh, good." Anne smiled, giving his hand a little shake before letting go. "That's very good."

Anne stepped back and then swept her gaze over everyone in the room as she turned towards the doorway, making sure everyone was ready. Taking a deep breath and hoping that her legs would stop shaking, Anne prepared herself for her entrance into court.

MMMMMMMMMM

Tréville nodded his head. "Cut him loose."

While Porthos freed Rochefort's hands from their bindings, Tréville stood up and went over to where he had laid down his cape and black sash to put them on for their visit to the palace.

Aramis was glad he and Athos were standing at opposite ends of the desk, because he knew Athos would be upset about it and would probably like to give him a good kick for asking, but he had to know. "Any news of the Queen?"

"Has something happened to the Queen?" Rochefort asked next to him, probably ready to chide them for allowing the Queen to come to some harm.

Tréville paused before tying a knot for his cape. Ignoring Rochefort, he answered Aramis. "There's some good news there at least. The Queen has given birth to a son. France has an heir."

Aramis heard Porthos cheer in response to the news but he could not add his voice to it because his breath had caught in his throat. He could hardly believe it. His son was really here.

"And how are mother and child?" Aramis heard Athos ask, once again bringing him out of his stupor. He looked over and found Athos watching him out of the corner of his eye.

"Very well. The Queen is already back on her feet and she and the King have been proudly showing off the new dauphin, though major celebrations have been postponed out of respect for the Cardinal."

Relief flooded through Aramis and the grip on his heart eased at the confirmation that they were both all right. His fingers rubbed at where his crucifix rested against his chest under his clothes and he sent a brief prayer to God, thanking Him that they were well.

As Tréville walked around his desk toward Rochefort, Aramis briefly thought of coming up with some excuse so that he could go to his room and release the emotions building up inside him, but they were taking Rochefort to the palace and Tréville had said that Anne was no longer resting, maybe he could see her and his son when they brought Rochefort to the King.

Inspired by Anne's strength and unable to quell the increasing desire to see them, Aramis straightened up and blinked away the tears that had started to form in his eyes. He had to compose himself. He could cry and drink and possibly throw up later. He had to assure Athos that he was fit to go and once they were there, he had to make sure to give anything away.

"Come on, let's go." Tréville grabbed Rochefort's upper arm and led him out, asking him questions about De Foix as they went through the doorway.

After letting Tréville and Rochefort leave first, d'Artagnan started to follow them out but then stopped in the doorway and turned to his brothers, a grin on his face. "It's too bad the Cardinal didn't live to see how wrong he was about the Queen."

Porthos chuckled. "Yeah, but Her Majesty is probably having the best week of her life."

Historical background/inspiration: "late on the evening of Saturday 4 September, Anne felt the first pains, and shortly after eleven the next morning, she gave birth to a son" -Ruth Kleinman, Anne of Austria