In honour of this marvellous news,

the Queen has asked me to grant Count Mellendorf a full amnesty for his crimes.

In fact, she was quite adamant on the matter.

Anne gave her husband a faint smile when he walked into her bedroom.

Louis grinned in return as he approached her bedside, passing the rays of sunlight that came through her windows. "Good morning, my dear. Did you sleep well?"

"I'm afraid not, Sire," Anne answered, signaling her ladies to take her breakfast tray away and then leaning further back into her pillows. She'd recently started getting bouts of nausea in the morning and afternoon, and was spending as much time as possible lying down to try and keep it at bay.

Louis took a seat on the bed and briefly looked down towards her abdomen before meeting her eyes, concern shadowing his features. "Oh?" he prompted in a small voice.

"This situation with the Mellendorfs, it kept me up for some time." Anne took a deep breath before explaining, "I just cannot help but think that this trip to the waters was blessed. That we should show our thanks to God and extend our blessing by showing mercy and forgiving Count Mellendorf, whether or not he is truly guilty."

It was not a complete lie. She did think her trip to the waters was blessed. It had allowed her to have that one night with Aramis and gave her the child she had so longed for. It was just not the king's child that she carried. She also knew for sure now that Count Mellendorf was not behind the attack.

Louis relaxed his shoulders and let out a sigh, the scent of sausages being quickly picked up by her now sensitive nose. He must have had some for breakfast.

"But you were almost killed," he said, as if she needed to be reminded of how close she came to death. "Why don't we wait for the investigation?"

"And wait how long for a conclusion? The man has already been imprisoned for months, and Charlotte said that if he is executed, his allies may act against France." Anne reached out and placed her hand on top of Louis'. "I don't want to worry about such things and be reminded of how I was hunted. It distresses me." She placed her other hand on her stomach. "I only want to be concerned with our son and the joy he will bring us."

This was not a total lie either. The Mellendorfs being held here against their will even though they were innocent did distress her to an extent. She had managed to convince Louis not to rush into an execution and wait for more evidence, but after hearing the Cardinal's confession yesterday, she wanted Count Mellendorf to be cleared of the charges as soon as possible and avoid inciting trouble with his allies.

Louis drummed on the bed with his fingers and Anne worried he might want to consult the Cardinal before making a decision. She truly did not want to have to reveal the Cardinal's betrayal and bring chaos to the court, but she would if he continued to unjustly frame the Count. Louis' recent reaction to the Cardinal overstepping his place gave her hope though, hope that impending fatherhood was making Louis more mature and more likely to listen to her than the Cardinal.

"Perhaps it would be better to simply grant absolution and be done with it," he conceded.

"I think it would be very wise to show such benevolence, Sire." Anne smiled at him, adding, "And if he wasn't in fact involved in the plot, then we will have avoided sentencing an innocent man to death and taking Charlotte's father away from her."

Louis nodded and then looked at her, his eyebrows slightly raised, "And if he is guilty?"

"He will be far away from here and, if he is half as wise as Your Majesty is, he will avoid interfering in France's affairs for the rest of his life. The plot failed under the best of circumstances. Anyone who wishes to harm me now would have to be mad to attempt such a thing. I will be staying here within the palace walls these next several months and under even more watchful eyes, making sure our son is safe and growing strong."

"Quite right. It's settled then, he shall be sent home," Louis lifted his chin, "in the name of my son." He grinned widely and Anne wondered if she would ever stop feeling the pang in her heart whenever Louis said "my son."

Anne squeezed her husband's hand in thanks. "Let us summon here the Cardinal, Tréville, and the musketeers who protected me from the assassins, to witness the end of the matter, and to tell them about the baby. We'll wait until the child quickens to announce it to the people of course, but as your first minister, the Cardinal should know sooner, Tréville and the musketeers too."

"Absolutely." Louis reached over and put his other hand on top of hers. "They should know of the precious life you carry and be sure to take extra care with your protection."

Anne looked down and smiled to herself. Even though her secret and all she was doing to keep it weighed heavily on her, it continued to amaze her that she was with child. Just when she was starting to lose hope, her salvation had come in the most unexpected of ways. It almost seemed like a dream sometimes, that this couldn't really be happening, but it was becoming more real the more people she told.

"Everyone will be so surprised, won't they?"

Louis chuckled lightly. "Mhm, but also very pleased." He paused and his tone became slightly more somber when he spoke again, "We've all been waiting for this for a long time now."

Leaning forward, Louis gently pressed a kiss to her forehead and she reveled in the affection he had been showing her ever since she returned from the convent. She still yearned for Aramis and never wanted to forget the time they shared, but she knew they could not be. It would be easier to let him go if Louis was going to be so caring and attentive to her as he was now.

Letting go of her hand, he stood up. "When you're ready we can send out the summons for the announcement."

"I'm looking forward to it. Thank you, Sire," Anne said with a bow of her head and then watched him leave.

Closing her eyes, Anne breathed a sigh of relief that Louis would be doing what she wanted. A part of her would have liked to wait longer to tell more people about the baby, the part of her that stored the memories of her lost child, but she pushed those dangerous thoughts away. This time was going to be different. She was going to get to watch this child grow and teach him to be a great king; a man both his fathers would be proud of. She was sure of it. And she had the Cardinal's reaction to the news to look forward to.

She could have laughed when she had heard the Cardinal say she was barren, that it was her failure to produce an heir that had prompted him to send out assasins for her. It had crossed her mind to tell him exactly how wrong he was there in that church, and that he was partly responsible for it, but then she had thought of Aramis…

She had forced herself not to look at him, not with the Cardinal watching and likely looking for anything to use against her. She had been wanting to tell Aramis about the baby for weeks, ever since she realized she was pregnant really, but she could not figure out a way to safely get a message to him and meet him alone without attracting suspicion.

Having Aramis there when the announcement was made would still be risky, but this way he would not be standing right next to her as he was in the church. Instead, the musketeers should be to the side and Aramis should have his guard up in such a formal setting. Everyone's attention should be directed towards her and Louis, and then the Mellendorfs. As long as Aramis did not react too obviously, no one should have reason to look at him, except for Athos perhaps, but he could stand as still and impassive as statue, so she was not worried about him either.

Maybe afterwards she would be able to get Aramis alone somehow, before he left the palace. The Cardinal will probably want to talk about Mellendorf's release, but she could leave Louis to that while she went over to the musketeers to thank them again. But then they'd still be in the room with everyone...No, what she needed to do was leave first and get Aramis to follow. When she left, everyone apart from Louis would bow. They would all be looking down...but Aramis would be looking up. That would be her chance to catch his eye and convey that she wanted to talk to him, to tell him that the baby she already loved so much is his.

A/N: Wasn't planning on doing another chapter for this fic and was just going to skip to the gap between seasons, but, alas, here we are.