"You are joking, are you not?"

I shake my head. I take a seat on the other end of the Sofa. We sit in silence for a few minutes.

"Where will you go?" He asks softly.

"I don't know."

"And Charles?"

"I love my big brother, but he's figuring out his life here. He loves Paris. He'll be just fine without me."

"Right, of course."

I stand.

"I'm going to send off a message to the Garrison for Aramis and Porthos. Then fetch some fire wood. We'll camp here and then head home in the morning. Give your leg some time to rest."

He just nods absent minded.

Later...

I have a fire going. Athos has been semi stoic and sipping on what's left in his flask. We haven't spoke since earlier.

I roast some meat and vegetables I'd purchased from town.

When I'm finished, I hand him his food and sit on a chair on the other side of the room. We eat in silence and  it stays that way for another hour.

As time ticks on, the quite cosumes my mind.

"Enough of this!" I storm over to him.

"Why are you here? Who was that woman? Why have you kept all of this to yourself?" I rub my aching temple and turn away from him. "Why did you have to kiss me?" Is the finally question, but this one I mumble.

I turn back to him.

"Please, sit Daria." He moves his leg down from the sofa.

I plop onto the spot beside him. The room grows darker as the sun sets outside.

He turns his body towards mine, though he stilll doesn't meet my eyes.

"Yesterday, before I came to see you. I received a letter."

He pauses, rubbing his head.

"Who sent you the letter?"

His eyebrows knit together, he's practically shaking when he speaks "My dead wife."

"What?"

"A few years ago, before The Musketeers, before I left this house. I was Married. Her name was Anne. That's the name she lived by at the time anyways. Milady de Winter is what she goes by now. She was beautiful, adventurous and strong. We got married quickly, and endulged ourselves in marital bliss. We were so in love, I didn't realize just how little I knew of her. One day, while we were walking, she fell and cut her ankle. I tried to help her but she pushed me away, but I saw what she was trying to hide. She was branded with the fleur-de-lis. I was angry. She tried to explain but I wouldn't hear it. I was mad at her for not disclosing it before we wed. But more so I was conflicted, I had always been a law abiding man. I left the house for a few days, needing to clear my head, to decide what to do. When I returned, I was informed Anne was being held in the basement cellar. She had killed my brother. My brother was my only other family besides Anne, and to think she took her anger out of him because of me? I was hardened. She pleaded to me, saying he had raped her. I didn't believe it. I couldn't believe her. So I did what was expected of me, the "right thing" to do. She was hung by the towns executioner the next day."

I don't say anything. I couldn't think of what would be a reasonable response.

He continues.

"I felt so guilty. I watched her walk to the tree from afar, but I couldn't bring myself to stay and watch, so I fled to Paris and drank my way through every Tavern I could find. I lost count of the days, just wanting to numb myself. One night I got into a brawl with a couple of men. I won, and then was approached by Captain Treville. He helped me sober up, and use my fighting skills to do good. Do better."

"If your Wife is supposed to be dead. Why are you sure it's her who sent the letter?"

He grabs something from his pocket, and hold out his fist. I put out my hand and he presses something cold into my hand.

A silver locket.

I open it. A photo sits on each side of the small necklace.

One of a younger, clean shaved Athos. His face was smoother, more alive. The other photo was of a young woman. She had blonde curly locks and a sweet smile. She was ethereal

He points to the object in my hand.

"That was in closed with the note. She wore it that day at the tree."

"How did she survive?"

"That's exactly what I asked her. She said she was able to seduce the man, and when they heard I left the town, she ran off."

"So she wanted revenge?"

He nods.

I close the locket and hand it back to him.

Something dawns on me and I scoff.

"The kiss. You were kissing me goodbye. You were ready to die.You wanted her to kill you."

He still keeps his head down. I move closer to him on the sofa, and grab his chin, forcing him to look at me.

"That's why you came here, isn't it?"

"Yes."

"So she shot you and ran?"

"She had the gun pointed at me yes, but she hesitated. She threw a candle at our wedding portrait and was yelling so many questions. I was in shock, seeing the woman I've been grieving for years, standing before me in the flesh. I couldn't find the right words, nor give her answers that would satisfy her. Then I began with my own questions. I was angered by her involvement in the Cardinals dirty business. She said she did what she was paid to do. I tried to get her to surrender, but she said she would not go back to prison. So she shot me, and fled when she heard you come in through the door. I don't know what she might have done, had you not. But I made my peace either way."

"What good is you being dead, Athos? Do you honestly think it would undue all the Evil she has committed? The innocent lives she's taken? She has a thirst for blood now, no matter how much resentment she holds against you, your death will not satisfy it. We would be down one of the best Musketeers, and it would make her and the Cardinals power grow even more."

He nods as I speak, taking it all in.

I look over at the gallery wall, the paintings were mostly burned but one in the middle, still has the bottom half attacked to the frame. I can make out the partial face of the woman in white, but Athos's painted head is completely burned through.

As the night grows colder, so does the house. I tug the thin blanket on my lap, tighter to me.

Athos gets up from the couch, and stumbles.

"Here, let me." I place his arm over my shoulder and help him to the floor near the fire. I refuse to look at him. I refuse to enjoy the warmness his arm around me brings. I refuse to let myself feel, the feeling I had decided to push away.

I go back to my spot on the Sofa.

He turns to me "You are clearly cold, Daria. Come sit by the Fire."

I hesitate for moment, but another shiver runs down my spine. I gather my blanket and grab a pillow before sitting as far from Athos as possible, while still feeling the warmth for the fire. It helps fight the cold mostly, but there is still a chilly hair about the room.

I lay down on the floor, trying to make myself as comfortable as the situation will allow. I lay with my back to Athos.

A hand touches my arm. I turn over slightly, and am met with Athos face, soflty lit by the light of the fire. He looked different in this light. Years younger.

"Please don't be angry with me. I will do whatever it takes to win back your good opinion, for however long it takes." He grabs my hand.

I sit up, meeting his eyes. I thought Athos was handsome, since the first day I ran into him. But when he looked at me, eyes full of sincerity. He was beautiful.

I use my free hand to pull on his collar, closer to me. He seems suprised when my lips touch his, but it only takes him a moment to return it. My hands find their place, running through his hair. He cradles the back of my neck with one hand and the other rests on my checking, guiding my lips perfectly against his. I pull away, but keep myself firmly in his arms.

He's smiling "Not that I'm complaining. But what was that for?"

I hold his face to mine.

"Because, you gave me a goodbye kiss. I thought it only fair I give you one."

His smile falters, but he doesn't let me go. Reaches over and grabs his pillow and blanket. He puts his pillow beside mine, and pulls the blanket over us.

I raise an eyebrow at him.

"If this is truly are last night together, I don't want to let you go until I have to." He explains.

I smile softly as he lays on his back, arms open. I settle in them, and he envelopes me with them and the blanket. With my Head on his chest, I could hear the beat of his heart. He plays with my hair.

"You and I are very similar Daria." His voice is very soft.

"Yeah?" My eyes are growing heavy.

"We have both lost ones we love, would do anything to protect the few we have left."

I let him continue.

"I will protect you. You know that? Always. Wherever you go, all you need is ask, and I will come."

I smile to myself. Then lean up and kiss his gently.

"And I you. Always."

I snuggle back into his embrace, and the warmth of it all settles into my body. Lulling me into sleep.

I haven't felt this calm since before my Father died.