Good morning everyone. This is my first story containing the beloved characters we know as the Musketeers. They are not mine, unfortunately. I am just borrowing them from the BBC. This is a modern AU where our boys meet each other for the first time while serving in the Military. This is only the first chapter. If Y'all like it, and I get enough requests for another chapter I will definitely post more.

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Chapter 1

New Beginnings

The sound of the alarm going off for the millionth time reminded him he had to be at roll call in 15 minutes. He closed his eyes and wished not for the last time that he had chosen a different profession.

He laughed to himself as he finally got out of bed and stretched his muscles. He had always wanted to become a priest, but after he discovered the opposite sex he didn't think joining the church would be a good idea.

He grabbed his watch to check the time, 0500 Great, the Sergeant was going to be here in ten minutes, and he hadn't even shaved yet.

He grabbed his pillow and tossed it at his bunk mate. "Hey, Porthos! Wake up Mon Ami; we have the roll call in ten minutes". Porthos sat straight up and looked at his watch, swearing under his breath. He turned and shot Aramis a withering glare, "Why didn't you wake me earlier ya bloody idiot! We barely have time to get ready for inspection!"

"Relax Porthos, my friend," Aramis replied, "I know how to get us out of trash duty this time".

"Uh huh, that's what you said last time Mis, we had trash duty for a week," Porthos replied with a growl.

"Well, this time will be different my friend, because I have some rather interesting information about our dear sergeant that I'm sure he won't want to get out."

"interesting information?" Porthos mumbled, "How may I ask did you acquire this information Aramis?"

"Well," Aramis grinned, "if you must know I got this information from his wife."

"ARE YOU CRAZY!" Porthos screamed, "You're sleeping with the sergeant's wife?!"

"Well, the sergeant doesn't have to know WHERE I got the information," Aramis replied with a sly smile.

"Well, don't tell me what this information is, I don't want to be caught up in your web of lies," Porthos said with a sigh. Porthos moved to get out of bed just as the barracks door screeched open and their sergeant entered with his trademark scowl and bad temper, "Alright ladies, bedtime is over!" At the sound of their sergeant entering the room, Porthos, in a hurry to get out of bed, got tangled up in his sheets. He ended up in a crumpled mess on the floor, with Aramis doubled over in laughter.

At the sound of Aramis' laughter, the sergeant marched over to stand in front of the two men, "What's so funny gentlemen? Are you laughing at the fact that both of you are neither dressed, or shaved this morning?"

"No sir!" Aramis replied, with a twinkle in his eye, "I'm laughing at the fact that we're not doing trash duty ever again."

The sergeant crossed his arms and laughed, "Oh? How do you figure that corporal?"

"It's easy sir," Aramis replied with a grin, "all I have to say is one word."

The sergeant laughed, "Oh yeah? And what word is that?"

"Mulligans" Aramis said, with a smirk on his lips.

The sergeant's face went pale, the expression on his face turned from a glare to a look of panic.

"You're not gonna tell my wife, or the captain, are you?" The sergeant asked, a hopeful tone in his voice.

"Well, I suppose I could be persuaded to keep this very important secret if Porthos and I say, never have to do any trash duty, or KP again," Aramis said with an innocent smile. The Sergeant's face turned beet red. "Is that all?" he replied.

"Is that all?" he replied.

"For now, unless I think of more later," Aramis laughed. The sergeant turned on his heel and left the barracks, slamming the door behind him.

"You know that's gonna come back to bite you in the ass, don't ya?" Porthos replied.

"Not if we play our cards right, my friend," Aramis laughed.

"I gotta know now Mis, what kinda dirt did ya dig up on the sergeant?"

"Well," Aramis replied, "as you know I am well acquainted with the sergeant's wife."

"Yeah yeah," Porthos moaned.

"Well," Aramis continued, "She's known for a while now that our dear Sergeant has been cheating on her with the employees who work at Mulligans. And Mulligans, as I'm sure you know, is a rather seedy Gentleman's Club. Anyway, the sergeant doesn't know his wife knows, and she was kind enough to impart to me this important information."

Porthos sighed and hung his head, "You're gonna get us both killed some day with your shenanigans Mis."

Aramis laughed as he reached down to grab his boots hidden beneath his bed, "Don't worry my friend, I have the whole situation under control. Now hurry up, we're going to be late for muster."

Aramis and Porthos were the last to arrive. As they got into position the Sergeant started calling out the names of the men in the unit while glaring at Aramis. Porthos leaned over and whispered into Aramis' ear, "Do you see the look on his face? You better steer clear of him for a few days Mis."

"Don't worry my friend," Aramis replied with a laugh, "Like I said, I have the whole thing under control."

Porthos huffed under his breath and turned back to face the front.

As the Sergeant finished roll call, his face turned into a serious frown. He looked down at his feet and took a deep breath before facing his men. "Gentlemen, I heard from command this morning that our unit has been called to active duty. We're being sent to Afghanistan to aid the humanitarian efforts, and to give the guys over there some relief," he stated grimly. A hush fell over the unit, each of them lost in thought, wondering if this was the last time they would see their families again. Aramis and Porthos glanced at each other silently, both knowing, they would always look out for each other, no matter what.

The soldiers were pulled from their dark thoughts by the commanding voice of their Sergeant, "We ship out in three days men!" The Sergeant turned on his heel and looked over his shoulder. "One more thing," he stated, "You're all meeting your new Lieutenant tomorrow at muster. So, I suggest you all be on time!" He glared at Porthos and Aramis as he said the last sentence. With that, he turned to leave.

As the unit started to disperse, Aramis and Porthos headed for the mess hall, hoping their favorite cook was on duty this morning. Serge, an old Army vet, who never failed to regale Aramis and Porthos with his wild exploits from his time serving in Vietnam, was also the base gossip. He knew anyone and anything that was going on at the base, and hopefully, Aramis thought to himself, He would know the identity of their new Lieutenant.

As they entered the mess hall, they were happy to see Serge standing behind the counter. Serge saw them come in and grabbed two trays from behind the counter and placed one in front of each man as he sat down in a chair at the head of the table. "Well, what say you, boys? How's the day treating you?" Serge asked with a smile.

"Great, now that I have my breakfast" Porthos replied as he dug into the meal in front of him. Aramis laughed and patted Porthos on the shoulder.

"Forgive him, Serge, he's not himself until he has his morning meal," Aramis said with a laugh. Porthos gave Aramis a dirty look but returned to his breakfast. Aramis took a drink of his coffee and turned to look at Serge with a playful smile on his lips. "My dear Serge," Aramis cooed, "I was wondering if you could give us any information on the new Lieutenant we'll be meeting tomorrow."

"Yeah," Porthos replied with his mouth still full of breakfast, "What have you heard?"

"To be honest," Serge replied. "Not much". "All I know is his name, and that he graduated top of his class at West Point". "I only found out that bit from eavesdropping on the captain." "

Really?" Aramis asked with a look of surprise on his face. "You usually have way more info than that Serge."

"Yeah," "You're losing your touch old man." Porthos joked, wiping his mouth on his sleeve, and pushing his now empty tray towards the center of the table.

"Hey now boys, I tried," Serge complained. "If there is anything on him, it must be good, cause his record is sealed up tighter than Fort Knocks."

Aramis rubbed his chin and stared off into space. "Interesting," he replied. Refocusing his gaze on Serge he asked, "Well, what is his name then?"

"Olivier, I think," Serge replied, "Yeah, that's it. Olivier d'Athos, that's his name. But everyone just calls him Athos," the cook replied. Aramis and Porthos looked at each other, then back at the old cook.

"Are you sure that's all you have?" Aramis asked, "You're not giving me much to go on."

"Sorry boy, that's all I got, guess you'll have to find out tomorrow like the rest of the men."

Aramis shrunk back in his seat with an annoyed huff. Porthos laughed and slapped him on the shoulder. "Poor Mis", he laughed, "Not used to disappointment are ya?" Aramis shot Porthos a withering glare then went back to staring off into space.

"Athos", he whispered under his breath, "Who are you?"