Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

Chapter One

D'Artagnan could not believe this was happening. He looked to his left as he pressed his back against the door. He reached quickly pulling the wardrobe over. He didn't hesitate to dash across the room and launch himself out of the window landing roughly on the cold ground below. D'Artagnan laid where he landed winded unable to move.

"There he is," the women who had accused him of murder shouted from the window. "Get him!"

D'Artagnan dragged himself to his feet and set off running as fast as could holding his side. "He's a murderer!" a man shouted behind him. "Stop him." D'Artagnan looked behind him to see they were still following as he passed through an archway and into the market place. He realised even in the crowded market he wasn't going to be able to lose them. D'Artagnan ducked behind a pillar and peaked out to see he had been right. They were heading right for where he was.

Thinking on his feet he reached forward and grabbed the arm of the woman in front of him unaware her friend was only a stall away. "I'll give you five livres to kiss me," he told the woman. He looked sideways and realized he didn't have time to wait for her to answer. He pulled her to him, kissing her. Constance made a noise of protest her eyes wide. Isabella moved quickly approaching her friend.

"That actually worked," D'Artagnan said impressed. His relief was short lived when Constance brought her knee up in between his legs.

"Oh, you degenerate," Constance said just as Isabella reached them. She grabbed a knife as she reached Constance and the stranger holding it up.

"Touch her again and I'll gut you like a fish," Isabella told him. D'Artagnan looked from Constance to Isabella surprised.

"My apologies, Mademoiselle," he said.

"It's Madame," Constance said.

"I won't trouble you any further," D'Artagnan told her and bowed slightly to both women before he began to walk away wincing in pain as he did.

"Are you alright?" Constance questioned as Isabella put down the knife she had been holding.

"Do you know the way to the Musketeer's Garrison?" he asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Isabella asked.

"I have some business to settle on my father's behalf," D'Artagnan said.

"You really don't look well," Constance said. Constance and Isabella watched as D'Artagnan collapsed to the ground. Constance let out a sigh and stepped forward. "Come on. We'd best get him to my husband's house. We can't leave him here in the street." Isabella rolled her eyes unhappily but stepped forward to help her friend lift the stranger each of them taking one of his arms.

D'Artagnan woke up slowly feeling groggy. He grabbed Constance's hand suddenly stopping her running the damp cloth over his head as he looked at her alarmed. "Where am I?"

"My husband's house," Constance told him wrenching her hand from his grasp. He sat but his head swam so he laid back down for a moment.

"No," he groaned. "I can't stay here." He sat up before tossing his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up hitting his head on the light. "I have an appointment with the musketeer, Athos."

Constance watched him confused. "I know him. Is he a friend of yours?" she asked.

"Not exactly," D'Artagnan said as he slid his arms into his shirt.

"You can barely walk," Constance observed.

"That's my problem," D'Artagnan told her. "Now are you going to tell me the way to the Musketeer's garrison or not?"

"You're in no shape to fight," Constance said, standing up and walking round the bed. "If that's what you're thinking of." D'Artagnan stopped in the middle of pulling his boots on to look at her. "I have three older brothers. I know that look in a man's eye."

D'Artagnan looked away from her and continued to fight with his boots. "With respect that's none of your business."

"You made it my business when you fell at my feet," Constance said.

"You're a beautiful woman. I'm sure you are used to it," D'Artagnan said.

"I should have just left you in the gutter," Constance told him.

"My apologies," D'Artagnan said. "I'm not always so ill mannered. Might I enquire the name of my saviour?"

"Bonacieux," she answered. "Constance Bonacieux."

"Athos killed my father, Constance," D'Artagnan told her. "That's why I must face him. I'm D'Artagnan. Please think kindly of my name if you think of it at all."

Constance watched D'Artagnan leave then went straight to the window to see which way he was going. Isabella stepped into the room when he was gone. "I think you have yourself an admirer there, Constance," her friend said. Constance looked back at Isabella with a blush.

"We need to stop him before he does something idiotic," Constance said.

"How do you propose we do that?"

"He's heading for the Musketeer Garrison. No one will stop us going in if you are with me."

"Constance," Isabella groaned. "I've only been in Paris three weeks. I didn't want to have to go there yet."

"D'Artagnan is going to get himself killed if we don't stop him."

"Fine, come on," Isabella said. Her friend followed her from the house towards the garrison.

Athos, Aramis and Porthos directed their horses into the garrison and dismounted handing the reigns over to the stable hands. Athos looked up to Treville's office he was at the bottom of the steps when he stopped at the voice behind him.

"I'm looking for Athos," D'Artagnan said as he passed under the archway that made up the entrance to the garrison.

"You found him," Athos said turning. D'Artagnan cocked his gun and pointed it at Athos. Both Porthos and Aramis stopped curious now.

"My name is D'Artagnan, of Lupiac in Gascony," he told them. He lowered his gun and prepared to draw his sword. "Prepare to fight. One of us dies here."

"Now, that's the way to make an entrance," Aramis said, with a smirk in Porthos' direction. The large Musketeer smiled in response. Athos stepped forward and drew his sword.

"Can I ask why?" Athos questioned, his tone mildly curious.

"You murdered my father."

"You're mistaken," Athos told him. "I'm not the man you're looking for."

"Murderer!" D'Artagnan bellowed, running towards him. Athos raised his sword easily, deflecting D'Artagnan blow. "Do you deny you shot Alexandre D'Artagnan two days ago in cold blood?"

"I usually remember the men I kill," Athos commented. "That name means nothing to me."

"Then you are a liar as well," D'Artagnan said. D'Artagnan launched himself at Athos again, the Musketeer engaged him this time. The two men circling the garrison as they fought.

"Remarkable," Aramis said. "He's keeping up with Athos."

"Rubbish," Porthos shot back. "He just doesn't want to hurt the lunatic." Aramis and Porthos both looked at each other before they laughed. Athos finally backed D'Artagnan against a pillar, he drove his dagger into the wood beside the boy's head with his sword as his neck.

"That's enough," Athos told him. "That could have been your throat. Don't make me kill you over a mistake." Athos turned, releasing him and walking away. "I didn't kill your father and I don't want to kill you."

D'Artagnan threw his sword to the ground and retrieved Athos' dagger. "Athos," Porthos called out as D'Artagnan threw the dagger. Athos turned to see the dagger sail passed his head and imbedded itself into the wood beside Aramis'. Athos and Aramis both eyed the dagger before looking at D'Artagnan.

"And that could have been your back," D'Artagnan told him, retrieving his sword and pointing it at Athos again. "Now, fight me or die on your knees. I don't care which." Athos just remained staring at him. "No?" D'Artagnan dashed forward with a cry but Aramis raised his sword stopping him.

"He said enough," Aramis stated.

"Very well," D'Artagnan said a little out of breath. "I'll fight both of you." D'Artagnan was only fighting with Aramis for a moment before all three Musketeers had his sword pinned down under theirs on the table.

"Three of us," Porthos corrected him. "Now, for God's sake put up your sword."

"You'll have to kill me first," D'Artagnan told him. He yanked his sword free and set about all three of them.

"Lively little bugger, aren't you?" Porthos observed. It didn't take long before the three of them had him backed against the stairs with all their swords pointing at him.

Constance and Isabella approached the garrison to the sound of fighting. They shared a look and Isabella dashed round the corner ahead of her friend. "Stop fighting all of you!" Isabella shouted when she saw D'Artagnan pinned down. The three men turned at the unexpected intrusion. None of them recognised the first women but Constance appeared a moment later and her they knew. "Is three against one fair?"

"We weren't going to kill him," Athos said.

"Weren't we?" Porthos asked, turning completely for the first time. He stopped dead when his eyes landed on Isabella.

"Next time let us know," Aramis said. They all stepped away stowing their swords. Porthos risked a glance at Isabella again. Pale skin, almost black hair and the brightest blue eyes he had ever seen. She was beautiful.

"Madame Bonacieux," Athos greeted. "Mademoiselle." He bowed to Isabella. "May I ask what you are doing here."

"We followed him because Constance knew he was going to do something stupid," Isabella said, stepping forward with Constance beside her.

"I don't need women to protect me," D'Artagnan said, standing up.

"Don't say another word!" Isabella ordered. "If only men would think instead of fight, there might be more good ones left."

"Who are you anyway?" D'Artagnan asked. "First you threaten to gut me now you're helping me."

"Constance talked me into it. Don't mistake my loyalty to her for any kind of regard for you."

"Him I'm not sure about, her I like," Aramis said. "You threatened to gut him?"

"That I did."

"And may we enquire as to your name?" Porthos asked, finally finding his voice.

Isabella looked at him and her eyes widened. He was by far one of the most attractive men she had laid eyes on since she had arrived in Paris. Aramis and Athos shared an amused look as the two stared at each other. "Isabella Delauncey," Isabella finally said.

"A pleasure to meet you, Mademoiselle Delauncey," Aramis said.

"Comtesse Delauncey," Constance said.

"Constance," Isabella whined.

"You're a Comtesse?" Portos questioned. Any hope he's had seemed to disappear. What could he ever offer a Comtesse?

"I'm afraid so," she murmured.

"What's going on?" Treville asked as entered the garrison. His eyes landed on Isabella. "Isabella? What are you doing here?" Isabella stepped forward and embraced her God father.

"You two know each other?" Aramis questioned.

"Yes," Treville said. "I was going to introduce her to the four of you once we had solved the issue of Corney but now is as good a time as any. Isabella is my ward now. Her parents passed away recently and as she has no living family left, her father left her to my care."

"You're the Captains ward?" Porthos asked.

Isabella moved to where Porthos was stood. "Is that a problem?" she asked him quietly. Porthos grinned down at him and the two began a conversation lost in their own world for a few moments.

"Do I want to know what is going on there?" Treville asked as he looked at Porthos and Isabella.

"Probably not," Aramis said with his trademark smirk. Treville thought he should have a word with Porthos but that would have to wait until later.

"Did you find Corney?" he asked.

"He never made it to the monastery," Athos said. "Give us twenty men and we'll search the road to Chartres."

"Athos, I'm sorry," Treville said as he waved two members of the Red Guard forward. "These men have come to arrest you. You're to appear before the King immediately." Porthos and Aramis stepped forward with their hands on the hilts of their swords. "Charged with robbery and murder. I promised them there'd be no trouble."

Aramis and Porthos released their holds on their sword and Athos handed his over to Treville before turning to D'Artagnan. "I'm not the man you're looking for," Athos told him.

"Why did my father name you before he died?" D'Artagnan demanded stepping forward.

"I don't know," Athos answered as the Red Guard escorted him from the garrison. They all watched him go, unsure of what to do.

A/N: Posted on 11/06/2016. All outfits are on my profile. Violet x.