This story is AU to the backstory given to Aramis in Season 3. Quite frankly I have no idea where the writer's got that idea from as it was never previously mentioned that Aramis had a difficult upbringing and I always got the sense he had a good family. So, this is a different take on Aramis' family who are alive and well but haven't seen him for a few years.

Set in Season 2 between episodes 3 and 4. Milady is the King's mistress and Captain Tréville hasn't been demoted yet. Set completely outside of the palace with our Musketeers, Queen Anne and Constance.

Usual disclaimers that I don't own the characters etc.

All mistakes are mine and any whoppers that you see please let me know. :)

Chapter One

Queen Anne was looking at her son thoughtfully. She was going to be away from him for a week and he was still so small. She knew he would be well cared for but she couldn't help but worry. She fixed her travelling cloak and made her way down to the less obvious carriage she had chosen for transport. She was leaving Paris and heading for Bordeaux with a small guard and did not want to attract attention. As such her dress was plainer than usual but was still the mark of a noblewoman. She looked around at her escort which she had chosen personally. The musketeers that would accompany her were Captain Tréville, Athos, Porthos, D'Artagnan and, her own personal favourite, Aramis. Constance was also with her and though they had not known each other long the young woman had become a confident and friend. Porthos was to drive the carriage out of Paris and the musketeers were to take turns. They had thought it best not to have an extra driver.

Anne took Aramis' offered hand and sat down in the carriage and soon Constance was alongside her. Anne was travelling to Bordeaux to see Jacqueline who was a former lady of hers. Jacqueline had been the closest of Anne's ladies until she was married to the Duke of Bordeaux. Their stay would only be one night but she wanted to see her friend who had just given birth to a girl before Anne herself had given birth. Apparently, the Duke had not been happy with a daughter and Anne was hoping she may be able soothe him with her own fussing over the child and that would help Jacqueline in turn. She was also slightly excited at the adventure to come. They would, of course, be sleeping in inns and the path had been scouted by Captain Tréville. Although she was loathe to admit it, she had somewhat enjoyed her time with the musketeers when her life was under threat but she had never told anyone that. She also felt that she should have time away from Louis and that horrible mistress of his, Milady. The fact she would be spending more time with Aramis was also a bonus but she had to make sure she conducted herself properly. It would not do for her to be obvious in her affection for him.

The trip to Bordeaux was relatively uneventful except for the moment Porthos pushed D'Artagnan into a nearby river just for a laugh. The younger man had come out soaked and his scowl had been adorable. Anne had also noticed how Constance and D'Artagnan made eye-contact often and was hoping the others hadn't noticed her exchanging glances with Aramis.

Soon they had arrived in Bordeaux and they entered the Duke of Bordeaux's mansion. He was a stern looking man with rather pointed features but Anne didn't really care about him as it was Jacqueline that she had come to see.

The Queen was ushered through to the nursey where Jacqueline was rocking her daughter's crib.

'Your Majesty,' she beamed and curtsied. 'This is Marie,' she indicated the crib. The little girl was awake and calm and thoroughly adorable. Currently she had her fist in her mouth and was drooling slightly.

'May I?' Anne asked hopefully as Jacqueline nodded.

Anne took little Marie in her arms and the baby giggled back at her. 'She's gorgeous,' Anne said but heard a 'Hmf' from behind her. She turned to see the Duke who was thoroughly unimpressed with his daughter.

Anne did her best not to scowl but she wasn't quite sure she managed it. A clap of thunder startled everybody as rain started thundering down outside.

'May I show to your room, Majesty?' Jacqueline smiled ignoring her husband and placing Marie back in her crib. Anne and Jacqueline arrived at Anne's room for the night and Anne shut the door behind her so that they were alone.

'Tell me,' was all she said calmly.

'My husband hates me,' Jacqueline wailed. 'I have failed to give him a son and he hates our daughter. He will barely go near her. I don't think he has even held her.'

'I'm sure he will warm to her,' Anne said as she moved Jacqueline over to the bed. 'Just because you have had a girl does not mean you cannot have a boy.'

Jacqueline looked up and looked confused.

'My mother had me and then my younger brothers. Phillip is King of Spain,' Anne said quietly. 'Having a girl this time does not mean you will never have a boy.'

'Tell my husband that,' Jacqueline retorted before looking shocked by her manner, only to find Anne looking at her sympathetically and without annoyance at the outburst.

The Duke of Bordeaux made it quite clear in his mannerisms that the Queen's visit was a hindrance that he would rather not have to endure. He eyed the musketeers with suspicion and would be truly glad to be rid of them all.

His daughter started crying when he decided to show them the baby. A part of him wished one of them would take her away.

The governess was struggling to quieten the child and the Duke snapped, 'Shut her up will you?' The governess did her best but couldn't stop the crying. Constance offered to help but the child didn't want to soothe.

'Not only is it a girl but it makes so much noise!' the Duke exclaimed.

'With all respect, Your Grace, all babies cry,' Aramis couldn't stand the man's rebuke of his daughter anymore. He took the infant from Constance and walked towards the Duke.

'Hold your daughter,' Aramis said as he offered the baby who was starting to calm in the musketeer's arms. 'You haven't held her yet, have you?'

'You can't order me about!' the Duke scowled. Tréville looked to Athos and could see that both men had thought about interfering but both wanted to wait just a bit longer.

Aramis didn't budge. Thankfully Marie had stopped crying in Aramis' arms and the Duke was looking at her curiously. 'This is your daughter, Marie. She beautiful and fun.' Marie giggled as Aramis tickled her tummy. 'Hold her.'

'But she's so fragile,' the Duke spoke quietly and with fear.

'She's a baby but she's not as fragile as you think,' Aramis replied quietly while everyone watched on. Marie reached her hand out to her father as Aramis got close. 'She wants to say hello to her father. Don't you?' Aramis said looking directly at the smiling baby.

'It's been too long,' the Duke stepped back. 'Six months and I've hated her the whole time. She knows that.'

Aramis again stood closer. 'Hold your arms out,' he said and was surprised to see the Duke comply. Aramis slowly and carefully rested Marie in his arms. Marie for her part did not start crying again. 'I don't think she hates you,' he smiled. 'She just wants to know her father.'

'What do I do?' he said looking helplessly at Aramis.

'Talk to her,' Aramis smiled warmly in return.

'About what?' the Duke said incredulously.

'Anything,' the musketeer shrugged. 'The weather, taxes, the flowers in the garden. You know, whatever you want. She won't understand but she'll hear your voice. We'll leave you to it.'

The musketeers left as the Duke started with a very tentative, 'Hello, Marie. I'm your father.'

'That could have backfired Aramis,' Tréville said warningly but his smile suggested he wasn't annoyed.

'When did you realise he hadn't held her?' Constance asked sounding amazed.

'He was terrified to go near her,' Aramis said matter-of-factly. 'I hope he sees that he has a beautiful daughter and stops resenting her for not being a son.'

A moment later the Queen and Jacqueline descended the stairs gracefully. Jacqueline had obviously been crying and was about to enter the nursey but Aramis gently held her back. She looked at him with a confused expression.

'Father and daughter are bonding,' Aramis smiled. 'May be best to leave them for a moment.' Jacqueline looked surprised at this revelation. A moment later the door opened with the Duke holding his daughter who was currently happily kicking her legs. Everyone stood back and tried to give them privacy but the Duke spoke.

'I'm sorry, Jacqueline,' he said remorsefully. 'She's beautiful,' he had a goofy grin that didn't really fit him. 'She is not a disappointment and neither are you.' Jacqueline moved closer to him so he could kiss her forehead. Only then did the Duke seem to realise that they had an audience.

'Thank you...' he looked to Aramis.

'Aramis,' the marksman replied.

'Thank you, Aramis,' he smiled before taking his daughter back into the nursery with his goofy grin intact.

'You're lucky that didn't backfire,' Athos said dryly. 'If anyone else had tried it probably would have.'

'He's always lucky,' Porthos growled while Aramis looked smug.

'What did you do?' Anne asked as they all suddenly realised she was there.

'I got him to hold his daughter,' Aramis said quietly. 'I could see he wanted to but was afraid to.'

'Let's hope that was the inspiration he needed,' Anne replied smiling at her favourite musketeer.

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly as the Duke and Jacqueline seemed far happier than when the Queen and musketeers had arrived. In fact the Duke was now becoming difficult to remove from the nursery.

The mood was much lighter as they ate a feast for dinner as the Queen had insisted that her musketeers were present at the dinner table. Some nobles didn't treat soldiers as guests and as mere servants but the Queen made it very clear that the musketeers were to eat with them. The Duke had no objection and started quizzing Tréville about his duties as Captain and commenting how difficult it must be to keep so many men in check. Anne did not miss the looks Captain Tréville sent toward his men at the table who all adverted their eyes when this was mentioned. Anne got the distinct impression that her musketeers were the naughty ones.

Nobody slept well that night as the storm blew in. Rain hammered on the roof and windows while the wind howled as loudly as it could. By morning it hadn't lessened and the Duke who originally hated the idea of their visit invited them to stay another day. He seemed to have warmed to Aramis and the musketeer was more than happy to hold the baby when asked. Marie liked her musketeer and Anne felt her emotions getting on top of her. He could not be like this with his own son and that must hurt.

The next day passed as the storm blew itself out. The household finally got the much needed sleep that they had missed the night before. Soon they were leaving but Anne was happy that she had managed to reconcile the Duke and Jacqueline, well Aramis managed it and he was here at her request.

Soon they were on the road and the roads were somewhat slow as the mud clung to the wheels of the carriage, which was currently being steered by Athos. Tréville had mentioned sending word of their delay when they arrived in the first major town that they came across as he was reluctant to send one of his musketeers. Soon they came across a clutch of fallen trees that were blocking the road. Nearby farmers had already started to clear the debris but it was surely going to take a while.

The musketeers offered to help but the farmers suggested that it would best if they found a different route. With difficulty the carriage was turned around and the convoy took the right hand fork in the road that they had seen earlier.

Aramis realised with a grimace that they were going in the direction he had been hoping to avoid.

A/N: If you're wondering what the heck that chapter had to do with with Aramis' family, well, me too. I wrote this first and liked it and felt it set the scene of where we are and who is about. Hopefully, that has wetted your appetite for things to come.

As for updates, I'm hoping to update every Sunday, sooner if I can, but as you all know real life can get in the way a lot so I hope you can forgive me if updates do become delayed.

Please let me know what you think. :)