A/N: Thank you Undertheoaktrees, beeblegirl, SnidgetHex, and pallysAramisRios for reviewing the last episode! I can't believe we're on the finale! And we're kicking off with something I know a lot of you have been waiting a long time for. ;)

Chapter 1

Anne walked behind her husband's ornate coffin as the four musketeers bore it down the aisle of Notre Dame's cathedral, the bells pealing overhead in recognition of the King's passing. They set it down in front of the altar where the bishop stood ready to deliver the service. Anne was numb throughout most of it, barely registering the intoned words that praised Louis's reign and mourned his premature passing. None of them had seen it coming. Except Louis. He'd known he was sick…dying. And he hadn't told her. She had only found out during the extenuating circumstances of the Dauphin's attempted kidnapping, and that very same day, the stress and trauma of it all had pushed Louis's weakened body past its breaking point. Anne and their son had returned safely to the palace, only for her husband to die in her arms.

Why hadn't he told her? Was it because he hadn't trusted her? Granted, he hadn't told anyone else, but she was his wife, the mother of their son. He should have told her before anyone else.

But he had been keeping her at arm's length for so long. She had tried so hard to be his loving wife all these years, or at least his friend and his Queen. And now he was suddenly gone, leaving her with a son and a kingdom to manage all on her own. She didn't know how she was going to do it.

Beside her, Constance subtly reached out to squeeze her hand supportively. The grounding contact brought her back from those tumultuous thoughts and into the moment. The moment where the bishop concluded the funeral service and everyone rose to their feet and bowed their heads in prayer. Anne somehow found the wherewithal to remain stoic throughout it all, to hold her head high and bear herself solemnly yet gracefully from the church, befitting her role as Queen.

The Musketeers escorted her back to the palace afterward, and she continued to hold herself together until she was through the foyer. Then she broke her regal bearing and quickened her pace through the halls to see her son. After Marguerite's betrayal, Anne could barely stand to leave him alone in anyone else's care. She had wanted to carry him through the funeral herself but had been advised against its propriety. He was too young, and if he had started crying, it would have disrupted the service.

Anne pushed the doors open to the nursery and found her son safe and well, his new governess sitting by the window reading as he slept. She quickly got to her feet and curtsied. Anne ignored her and went to pick up her son, not caring that she woke him from his nap. He made a gurgling sound and she held him tightly. It broke her heart suddenly to realize that this child, not even old enough to walk, was King now. And that knowledge filled her with renewed terror for his safety. After all, the ones responsible for his attempted kidnapping were still out there somewhere, perhaps even plotting their next attack.

Someone cleared their throat, and Anne looked toward the door where one of the Council members was standing.

"Apologies for disturbing you, Your Majesty, but we have important affairs of state to discuss."

It was the last thing Anne wanted to do, but she understood. She noticed Constance had followed her upstairs and slipped into the room to wait in the corner. Still acting as Anne's personal bodyguard, it seemed. And dear friend.

"Would you stay with the Dauphin- King," Anne quickly corrected. "While I attend the Council?"

"Of course," Constance replied.

Anne gave her a look of immense gratitude and laid her son back down in his crib. Then she took a steadying breath and donned her regal demeanor again before turning to head to the council chambers.

The room was full when she entered, and there was a wave of swift bows. The Council member who had come to fetch her went to the table and picked up a piece of rolled up parchment.

"Normally First Minister Treville would be overseeing this," he said. "But he is still recovering."

Anne nodded. Another friend she had almost lost because of these terrible attacks on the French Crown. She knew she'd have Treville's support when he was well enough to resume his duties, but in this moment, she dearly missed his bolstering presence.

"Continue," she said stately.

The Council member unrolled the document and proceeded to read the prior King's last will and testament. When he came to the named regent, Anne didn't know whether to be relieved or worried that it was her. The people of France didn't currently have much love for her, and her enemies had done their best to stoke that hatred. With her son vulnerable, she could only hope the Musketeers would continue to be able to protect them.

.o.0.o.

Athos and d'Artagnan stood in the City Guard garrison, facing off with Captain Lahaye.

"If you have any information on Governor Magnier's whereabouts, you are duty bound to report it," Athos said sternly. "He's wanted for treason."

"As I already told you," Lahaye said snidely, "I have no idea where he is." He turned slightly, angling himself toward the street, and raised his voice so the people passing by could hear. "The Spanish Queen is unlawfully persecuting true stewards of France."

D'Artagnan took a menacing step toward him. "You're on the verge of sedition."

"I've done nothing of the sort," Lahaye responded nonchalantly. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a city to maintain. Just because the governor is absent doesn't mean I'm going to forsake my duty. What's yours now? Being the Spanish Queen's lapdogs?"

D'Artagnan started to lunge at him, but Athos threw his arm out across his chest to hold him back. Lahaye smirked and strode off. Athos waited a beat, then headed for the gate.

"I don't believe him," d'Artagnan hissed, catching up to match his stride. "Lahaye has done Magnier's dirty work enough times, there's no way he'd be left in the dark as to what the governor's planning."

"I agree, but we have no proof."

"Then let's go back there and find some."

Athos shook his head. "Ninon has gone to try to track down how Magnier acquired the alchemist's artifact that sent the beetles against the palace."

D'Artagnan visibly shuddered at the mention of them. "That's not going to help us find the man," he pointed out.

"No, but the more evidence we find could implicate others who were involved."

"And what about Captain Lahaye in the meantime?" d'Artagnan pressed.

"Magnier doesn't strike me as the type to fall on his sword to protect his minions. Once we have him in custody, he'll give us the names of his co-conspirators."

"I'd still feel better if he was in custody sooner rather than later."

Athos wholeheartedly agreed.

.o.0.o.

It had been a long day after Louis's funeral, and Aramis didn't get a chance to check on Anne until that evening, after all the Council meetings had concluded and the watches for the night had been set. He'd checked the nursery first and found Constance watching over the baby. She said the Queen had stopped in earlier but looked exhausted, so Constance had urged her to take some rest. Aramis went by her apartments next. The hall and foyer were empty, and he paused outside the inner door to her chambers and knocked tentatively. When there was no response, his worry spiked and he cautiously cracked the door open. Anne was sitting on the divan at the end of her bed, gaze downcast and forlorn.

"I said I wasn't to be disturbed," she said tartly without looking up.

"My apologies for the intrusion," he said. "No one was outside and I just wanted to make sure you were all right."

She jerked her head up, her expression instantly softening. "Aramis. My apologies for that rude reception. Please, come in." She shifted over on the divan, making room for him in clear invitation.

He eased the door shut behind him and walked over, gingerly taking a seat beside her. His heart ached at the open distress on her face.

"I don't know what I'm going to do now," she said. "I'm all alone."

Aramis immediately took her hand. "You are not alone," he said earnestly.

She smiled gratefully at that, and there was a beat of silence between them before she stood up. "I have something for you."

She walked over to the armoire and opened one of its drawers, then brought back his blue sash, clean and folded neatly. She held it out to him as she took a seat again.

"Thank you for the use of it. For everything you have done for me."

"Whatever you need, I'm here for you," he replied.

Anne hesitated, her voice dropping tentatively. "What if what I need is to be held?" she whispered.

Aramis faltered for a moment, but of course he couldn't deny her the comfort she clearly desperately needed. So he brought an arm up around her back and let her lean her head against his shoulder.

"I wish I weren't a queen," she said. "I wish I could just be Anne, free to love whomever I wished."

Aramis squeezed her arm and tucked his chin over her hair. "Any man would be fortunate to be loved by you," he said softly.

She turned her head up, meeting his gaze for a moment before she leaned up to brush her lips against his. Aramis stiffened. He knew she was in a vulnerable state right now and he didn't want to take advantage of her.

"Your Majesty…"

She sat up straighter and scooted closer, forestalling his protest. "Please," she said quietly. "Just for now, let me be a woman and not a queen." She lowered her voice even further to barely above a whisper. "Let this be more than a dream."

She kissed him again, and Aramis kissed her back, reaching his other hand up to cup her face. It had been so long since he'd given himself to a woman, and the heady rush was intoxicating.

Anne slowly pulled him to his feet, breaking the kiss long enough to lock gazes with him, questioning, as she reached to unbuckle his belt. Aramis met her gaze with unveiled openness and let her.

They moved slowly, taking their time, savoring each step, each brush, as they discarded their clothes and sank onto the bed. Aramis could feel Anne's loneliness, her yearning for a tender touch. And so he gave it to her with gentle kisses and soft caresses. They molded into each other without effort, two heavenly bodies in synchronous orbit.

The world and all its troubles faded away. It was just the two of them and these four walls, and a tide of love that had been a long time in coming.