By the time they got back to Paris it had grown dark. Aramis had spent the ride back to Paris in near silence and knew from the looks Porthos and Athos where giving him that they hadn't believed what he had said about Angelica. D'artagnan had tried to broach the subject a few times on their ride back but Athos had stopped him. For whatever reason that might be, Aramis knew his friends well enough to know they hadn't dropped it. Nor, Aramis imagined, would they.

"We'll talk to Treville tomorrow." Athos stated as they put the horses in the stables.

"The tavern?" Porthos asked, looking at Aramis.

"Not tonight." Aramis said, though he knew his voice lacked the usual enthusiasm in it. Porthos noted it to as he gave a concerned look. Smiling, Aramis said "Just tired."

Athos shared a look with Porthos and D'artagnan but none said anything. "We'll talk tomorrow." Athos said, making Aramis groan. It wasn't that Angelica was someone he wanted to hide but the thought of her in Paris after so long not seeing or even hearing from her. It had Aramis on edge.

Making his way through the streets to his apartment, Aramis hoped his head would be clearer for tomorrow. He knew Treville would want them to look for Angelica, she was a pirate and pirates where hung. Aramis also knew that Athos would expect answers tomorrow. For whatever reason they had stayed quiet about it on the way back to Paris but it wouldn't last long. Hopefully by then, however, Aramis would have been able to think of a reasonable explanation without having to explain the whole truth. But he knew that was as likely as Angelica having left France.

Next Day

Treville wasn't happy. "What do you mean she escaped?" Yes, Aramis thought, the Captain wasn't happy.

"We underestimated her, it won't happen next time." Athos reassured the Captain. Treville wasn't one to get mad at his men but right now he wasn't at all pleased.

"Did you find out why she was here?" Shakes of the head answered him and the Captain sighed in frustration. "A pirate is on the loose in France and we have no idea why she is here or what she is planning." Aramis couldn't help but wonder if Treville was overreacting about this but then again he also knew what some of these pirates where like. He silently hoped Angelica had left France while she had had the chance. "The King wants this pirate found and hanged." Treville was saying now and Aramis was having difficulty saying something about this. D'artagnan sent him a frown, seeing his clenched fists.

"We'll find her." Athos said once more. Treville nodded and motioned them to leave his office.

D'artagnan was still watching Aramis as they walked down the stairs to the garrison. When they reached their usual table and took seats, Athos and Porthos also turned to face Aramis, questioning looks on their faces. "So, yesterday?" Porthos asked

It was a question but Aramis pretended not to have noticed. "What happened?" Athos stated.

"Nothing happened." Aramis said, sending them a smile that he knew wouldn't have reached his eyes. The thought of Angelica being hanged was playing at the edges of his mind's eye and it wasn't a vision he wanted to see. Real or not.

"Maybe not but you are hiding something." Athos said. Aramis only shrugged in answer.

"So what is it?" D'artagnan asked, not one for subtlety at all.

"Aramis?" Porthos said, not so gently prompting him to speak. Aramis sighed, unsure of what to say. His friends knew him well enough to know when he was lying; the problem was how they would react if they knew the truth of the matter.

At that moment a shout came from the garrison. Turning around Aramis sighed as Angelica rode through the front door. She looked the same as ever, though a little more ragged than the last time he'd seen her. Porthos, Athos and D'artagnan had already drawn their swords and stood up as she jumped from the horse and walked towards them.

LINE BREAK

Angelica had been planning to go to Tortuga so she could find a ship and a crew but the ship that had passed her by on the island had been heading to France. While she could have taken her chances and waited for a second ship the thought of spending any more time on the island wasn't something she liked. Anyway, it had been so long since she'd seen Aramis.

The problem was she hadn't expected to be attacked by Musketeers the minute she set foot on dry land. Least of all for Aramis to be with them, though it hardly surprised him he'd always been too righteous for his own good.

She had taken the horse from one of the stables at the little village, planning to head to another village and get a ship so she could travel o Tortuga and get a crew. And then find Jack of course. He had left her stranded on an island and let her Father die. Yet here she was, asking for directions to the Musketeer garrison. If she had any sense she wouldn't go near the place, knowing exactly what would happen if she should but it had been nearly 7 years since she'd last seen Aramis and she was curious.

Riding into the garrison, she was met with curious looks from the Musketeers. None of them knew her but sitting at a table near the stairs was the four that did. When they recognised her the three that weren't Aramis stood up and drew their swords. Seeing the reactions of their fellow Musketeers the other men followed suit and Angelica couldn't help but smile at the look that passed Aramis' face. It seemed to be deciding what to do with himself, obviously not wanting to hurt her but he had always wanted to do what was right.

Deciding to save him the trouble of deciding, Angelica jumped from the horse and ignored the other Musketeers. Walking over to Aramis, she took out her pistol. Aiming at his chest, she could see the familiar look of annoyance cross his face and she couldn't help but smile at the familiar look as she said, "I told you I'd be back little brother."

Shorter chapter but I wanted to end it here. Also, I have no idea of the actual ages of any of the musketeers or Angelica so have decided to make Aramis younger as it better fits with the storyline. As always thanks for reading and please review :)