This is a re-write of the end of Season 3 episode 6. I always felt that Louis forgave Aramis too quickly (I was glad he did, obviously). This is just my idea of how the conversation could have been different and the likely feelings of both men. It also explores how Louis came to know the truth.

As always all mistakes are mine and I don't own anything. I hope you enjoy it. :)

A Change of Heart

Louis stared at his half-brother's corpse laid against the tree. Phillipe had fired his gun to warn Louis of the danger apparent of Grimaud and his men. Louis did not know that Phillipe had always resented him for being the man he couldn't be but Phillipe had truly found the love of his brother inside the family tomb. Finally Phillipe knew he was loved and that had meant the world to him.

Louis had finally found the courage to confront Aramis in the tomb. The musketeer who had taken his wife to bed without a second thought. He was angry and felt betrayed by a man who was supposed to protect him!

'Majesty, we must go,' came the voice of the disgusting musketeer. Louis looked up to see Aramis ready to protect him on the journey back to the Louvre. The man was already atop of his horse and Louis wondered why he was waiting. He had told Aramis he would hang for his treason and in the chaos nobody would notice his escape. 'Majesty' Aramis called again.

Marcheaux appeared and Louis commanded him to return his brother to the Louvre where he belonged and quickly mounted the horse that was held still by Aramis. Together they rode back to the Louvre in silence but Louis noticed Aramis keeping a lookout. Why?

They dismounted quickly in front of the palace and Aramis chose to escort Louis to his rooms. Aramis knew what was to come but he had to accept the consequences of his actions. They entered the King's chambers and Aramis stood silently while Louis wondered why the musketeer was still there.

'Why are you still here?' Louis asked quietly as he turned his back on the musketeer.

'You have not yet dismissed me, Majesty,' was Aramis' quiet reply. Aramis' voice was calm and steady but inside he was a mess. He knew that his life was in the fickle King's hands and that death may be racing towards him at an alarming rate.

Louis remained silent for a while as he unbuttoned his doublet and suddenly he knew why Aramis was still there.

'You're waiting for me to have you arrested, aren't you?' Louis finally turned to face the musketeer who shifted his weight between his feet slightly but did not answer.

'Strange tonic isn't it...knowing that your death approaches,' Louis started to move towards Aramis who stood his ground.

'How many times did you sleep with my wife?' Louis' tone was conversational rather than angry and that surprised Aramis.

'Just the once,' Aramis dared not look Louis in the face. Unlike the tomb this was Louis' home ground and he couldn't fight back here.

'Only the once!' Louis laughed coldly. 'Was she really that bad?' Louis turned to see the anger flash across Aramis' eyes at the taunt of the Queen. There was a caring that Louis hadn't expected to see.

'Is there anything you want to say before I call the guards? Louis asked now sitting on his bed staring at the marksman.

'Please, only punish me,' Aramis pleaded quietly and he looked to Louis who seemed confused. 'I mean, charge me with treason but do not reveal the circumstances. Don't bring Her Majesty into it.'

'You continue to protect her,' Louis' sounded surprised but Aramis could tell his anger was rising.

'And you,' Aramis responded. 'You don't want Gaston to take the throne so you know the truth cannot be revealed. Do what you like with me but don't risk the future.'

'And your friends?' Louis was well aware that the other musketeers and most likely Tréville must also know the truth.

'Leave them be, please. They should not pay for my actions.'

'But they lied to me too!' Louis shouted angrily.

'To protect you!' Aramis shouted back. 'Does knowing the truth make everything better? Rochefort would have destroyed you. They are your finest soldiers, please don't make them pay for what I did.'

Louis turned away and moved to stand by the window. Those men had fought for him on many occasions and he knew that executing them would turn Tréville against him and Tréville was a man he trusted even though he had failed to tell him this.

Louis turned and walked closer to Aramis but stopped as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to cough. Aramis saw the spots of blood and Louis knew that he had seen.

'Tell me Aramis,' Louis moved close to the musketeer. 'Would you fight if I asked the guards to arrest you?'

Aramis slowly moved his hands down to his sword belt and undid it. He held out his prized musketeer sword for the King to take. 'No,' he said quietly. Louis took the sword as Aramis bowed his head.

'You wouldn't try to escape?' Aramis shook his head. Aramis could feel his heart beating wildly as he waited for Louis to call the Red Guards. How they would love to arrest a musketeer and he would no doubt suffer a beating and taunts before his death. He thought of the Queen and his son and how he would never see them again and worst of all he would never speak to his brothers again. He didn't want them to watch his execution but he knew they would and that was a sight he didn't wish to cause them.

Louis stood considering the musketeer whose eyes had become hazy. He wondered what was running through the man's mind.

Both men startled at the knocking on the door.

'Come,' Louis responded curtly and Captain Marcheaux entered and bowed looking surprised to see Aramis there and Louis holding Aramis' sword. 'What is it?'

'The Marquis' body has been returned, Your Majesty,' Marcheaux informed Louis.

'Thank you for bringing him back, Captain,' Louis responded. 'My brother is very important to me.' Aramis noted the use of present tense instead of past tense.

Marcheaux bowed and moved to leave but Louis called him back, 'Ah Captain, one more thing,' Louis made sure he made eye contact with Aramis. 'Make sure my brother's body is displayed in the throne room. I want everyone to pay their respects.' Marcheaux nodded and left while Aramis released the breath he was holding.

'Do you know how I knew about you and my wife?' Louis tuned to Aramis who shook his head. 'Rochefort's accusations were one thing and although he was a traitor,' Louis spat the last words, 'he was also right about you. For years I had tried to get Anne pregnant but our marriage was never a love story.' Louis sat back down on the bed. 'I assume you know about the lost child?'

'Yes,' Aramis responded quietly.

'There were more than you know,' Louis continued. 'Each loss was painful. I don't suppose you would understand.'

'I understand better than you think,' Aramis thought back to the loss of his child with Isabelle. Louis raised his eyebrows at Aramis' statement. 'When I was sixteen I also lost a child. It doesn't leave you.' Louis nodded.

'Do you have any idea how it makes me feel to know that you slept with my wife once and fathered a child?!' Louis stormed from the bed to stand in front of Aramis. The King's eyes were full of hurt and frustration, but Aramis could see the hurt was from within. 'I failed! I FAILED! The King is supposed to protect the future of France!' Louis started pacing and Aramis couldn't think of anything to say.

'I dismissed Rochefort's accusations although I never completely shook the idea but when his office was cleared a letter was found addressed to me from Cardinal Richelieu,' Louis continued. 'He never sent it because he did not wish to upset me. It said he suspected that Anne had slept with you at the convent in Bourbon-les-Eaux. He said why he suspected you and not Athos,' Louis again sat down on his bed and Aramis could see his breathing was heavy. 'You had slept with his mistress!'

'Yes, her name was Adèle,' was all Aramis could think to say.

'I don't know what unnerves me more,' Louis looked to Aramis to gauge the man's reaction. 'The fact that my wife slept with a man who doesn't care who a woman belongs to or the fact the Cardinal had a mistress?' The eyes of the two men met and Louis cracked a smile first and Aramis couldn't help but follow. For a moment the icy air between them melted as they both laughed quietly.

'You know, seeing one's own mortality makes me less eager to rush others to theirs,' Louis' words were rather reminiscent of Richelieu's when he was nearly killed by poison. 'I know that you are a good man Aramis and a good soldier. You could have run but you chose to face me. There is courage in that. You will continue to serve as a musketeer,' Louis held Aramis' sword out but did not move from the bed. Aramis approached calmly and took his sword from the King's grasp.

'Thank you, Majesty,' the musketeer responded as he took the sword back.

'Be warned Aramis, you will do your duty to the highest level,' Louis' eyes were full of warning and his tone was cold. 'You will never be in the presence of my wife or my son alone. He is my son not yours. When he is scared or hurt it is me he comes to. I am his father. Not you. You will watch over them from afar but never will you be close to them unless it is to stop an attack. I will be watching you. Disobey me and I will not hesitate to have you executed. Is that clear?'

'Yes, Majesty.'

'Now get out of my sight before I change my mind,' Louis turned to lie on his bed as Aramis bowed and left quickly. He walked along the corridors numb at what had just happened. He finally stopped to take some deep breaths. He had just faced his own mortality and could only be thankful that the King had shown him mercy.

Aramis slowed his pace and sauntered towards Tréville's office.

'Excuse me, monsieur,' Aramis turned to see a young maid before him. 'Do you know of the musketeer Aramis?'

'I am he,' Aramis responded and took the piece of paper held out by the young maid who curtseyed and left.

Aramis moved towards a deserted corridor to read it. He opened it and Anne's writing glared back at him.

Aramis.

Please, meet me at midnight in the tunnels under the south-side of the Louvre.

A.

Aramis sighed as he realised he was about to break one of the conditions on which Louis had kept him alive. He read the note again and realised how terrified Anne must be as she must have correctly assumed Louis' reason for taking Aramis with him. He leant back against the wall knowing that he shouldn't go but he couldn't deny her anything. He pocketed the note and continued towards Tréville's office to tell the others what he knew.

A/N: I hope you liked my idea of how the conversation could have gone. I did truly enjoy this episode and but my head liked this idea.

Please review to let me know what you thought. Thanks. :)