2

Firstly thank you for the lovely reviews. Thank you to all who left suggestions on AO3, I have merged a suggestion made by Snow Glory with the initial idea I had for this one:

Aramis takes a page out of Athos' book in dealing with the death of Adele.

Warnings for this one: Alcohol abuse and so much cuteness I actually don't even know.

…

Aramis banged his empty mug on the table and looked at Athos expectantly. Athos raised an eyebrow and gave him one of his deepest frowns.

"Athos…" Aramis said softly, "You said you would help me forget."

"Indeed," Athos agreed politely, "I did not, however, say I would help you turn yourself into a useless alcohol-soaked blob on the floor."

Aramis, in his intoxicated state, managed to look insulted. He recovered quickly however, when he made his eyes as big as saucers and Athos hoped that that was not the look that sent the women of Paris into such a craze.

"Athos…" Aramis whined in a slightly more high pitched tone, "please."

Athos rolled his eyes as far as he could but filled up his brother's mug none the less. If only they had brought Porthos along. He would have simply hoisted Aramis over his shoulder and carried him kicking and screaming back to the garrison. And there was a reason that such dramatic tactics would have been needed.

Aramis, for all his nonchalance, was an incredibly needy drunk. He turned into an absolute child and would sit and mope and sulk if he didn't get his way. This was the reason the man never did drink much. But if this was what it took to help Aramis through dealing with Adele's death then this is what he would do. He watched as Aramis downed his new mug of wine and sighed. Aramis would be rather difficult to handle after this but if Athos was honest he didn't mind being needed. He just wished he sometimes had Porthos' tact when it came to dealing with their brother.

Aramis placed his empty mug back down and Athos caught it as it nearly toppled off the table. He watched worriedly as his brother shoved his face in his hands and rubbed at his eyes.

"She was so… different." Aramis mumbled past his hands, "She made me happy. We made each other happy and now she is gone. It's all my fault. I should have been more careful. I should have ended it."

Athos felt his heart sink. Aramis always carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. He reached out and pulled his brothers hands away from his face.

"Aramis, look at me please," he said.

And Aramis did, with such heartbroken eyes that he looked more like a boy than a man. Athos sighed knowing that the words he was about to say would probably never sink in.

"This is not your fault. Yes, perhaps you and her should never have snuck around behind the Cardinal's back, but this murder was his fault and his alone. The Cardinal was a cruel man, Aramis. And he envied what you two had. You have your youth and your handsome face… women always turn around to stare at you. In fact it's rather annoying. The Cardinal didn't have that, so the only way for him to feel satisfied was to do what he did. You cannot blame yourself for this Aramis, I won't allow it."

He watched as his words slowly sunk in and Aramis looked down at the table. His brother truly looked stricken and Athos poured him another glass.

"There, that's your last one," Athos said as he pushed Aramis' mug closer, "then it's time for bed."

Aramis looked up at him as if Athos had just taken his favourite toy.

"Don't give me that look," Athos said sternly, "You're only two cups behind me and that is quite an achievement my friend."

Aramis looked at him in what was clearly a sad attempt at being threatening but gulped down the wine in his cup.

"Come on," Athos said as he stood up and stepped to Aramis' side of the table, "let's get you back."

He stretched an arm out and almost laughed at the repulsed look Aramis gave him.

"I can walk," Aramis said as he stood up and swayed backwards.

Athos grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him back up.

"I believe you think you can walk but from what I am witnessing I wonder if you can even stand."

He pulled one of Aramis' arms around his neck and helped him walk out of the bar. The cold wind that hit them outside was like ice and Aramis sobbed, actually sobbed, and pushed himself closer to Athos' side.

"Don't worry," Athos said, "we'll be out of the cold soon enough."

As they made their slow and unstable walk Athos decided they should just head straight to his apartment as it was closer. Aramis, for all his instability was doing alright and if he slowly started to lean more and more on his brother, Athos said nothing about it. They were about a block away from Athos' apartment when Aramis groaned and stumbled. Athos, in a manoeuvre that would have made Porthos proud, stepped in front of his brother and hoisted him over his left shoulder.

Aramis only sighed in response, having clearly given up any pretence of arguing about being carried. Somehow, probably because he had been drinking, Athos managed to unlock the door of his apartment and light a few candles all whilst holding a giggling Aramis over his shoulder. Why Aramis was giggling, he had no idea. Eventually he made it up the stairs to his bedroom and plonked Aramis unceremoniously on the bed.

Aramis grunted and his eyebrows shot up.

"Please tell me that is not how you get a woman onto your bed Athos." He said.

Athos rolled his eyes for the second time that night but couldn't help the small smile that grew on his face. For all Aramis' drunken neediness the man was funny, but Athos would never tell him that. He watched as his brother tried to sit up and pry his boots off his feet.

"Leave it before you knock yourself out," Athos said, using his most authoritative voice.

He leaned down to undo the lacing on Aramis' boots and looked up as his brother watched him sleepily.

"Go to sleep, Aramis." Athos said gently, "I will sort everything out."

He watched as Aramis' expression sobered and he looked down, suddenly engrossed in a loose piece of thread on the sheets.

"What is wrong?" Athos asked as gently as he could, as if trying not to startle a small child.

Aramis lifted his eyes to him and huffed, "I haven't been sleeping very well lately."

Athos could barely decipher the mumble but eventually he clicked.

"Nightmares?" He asked.

Aramis nodded, "But now they include her."

Athos sighed and sat next to Aramis on the bed. He was never very good in these situations and for the second time that night he wished Porthos were here to help. He felt a twinge of anger towards Anne for turning him into an emotionally awkward mess as he slowly lifted a hand and placed it on his brother's shoulder.

Aramis turned his face away a little. Clearly a hand on a shoulder was the wrong thing because his brother felt very tense under his touch. What would Porthos do? Athos thought back to the many times he had walked into one of his brother's lodgings and found them asleep beside one another. He knew that Aramis slept better beside someone but would he even feel comfortable sleeping next to Athos himself?

"Stop thinking so much you're making my head hurt." Aramis mumbled and wriggled out of his jacket.

He would have probably suffocated himself had Athos not helped him and Athos actually gave out a soft chuckle at the state of Aramis' hair after the ordeal.

"Stand up," Athos ordered, "let me pull the sheets back."

Aramis did as he was told, though rather shakily.

"Athos," He started, "I can sleep in a chair."

Athos looked at him sharply, "Don't be ridiculous, this bed is large enough for both of us."

Athos pulled the sheets down and looked at his brother expectantly, but Aramis just stood.

"Shall I fluff the pillows too?" He asked sarcastically.

Aramis gave him such a forlorn look that Athos found himself relaying all the last few minutes in his head to see if he had done anything wrong.

"Aramis," He begun, "I am an educated man but unfortunately when it comes to matters of… emotion… I find I am rather constipated. You will have to tell me what it is you need."

Aramis stared blankly at him for a moment and suddenly burst out laughing. It was a full, hearty laugh that made Athos start laughing too. Aramis shook his head and suddenly frowned and looked down to the floor. Athos stared at him and decided he ought to really not be so afraid of human contact. He stepped forward until he was close to Aramis and wrapped his arms around him. Aramis startled at first but eventually wrapped his arms around Athos in turn. Aramis felt as cold as ice and Athos squeezed him tighter. He felt Aramis rest his chin on his shoulder and Athos pulled him in as close as he could. Aramis turned his face to Athos' neck and huffed out some air through his nose. Athos rubbed his hands up and down Aramis' back in an attempt to make him warmer.

"She was different." Aramis mumbled into Athos' neck.

"I know." Athos replied and kept his grip firm.

Athos lost track of time as he realised that hugging Aramis was actually just as soothing for him as he hoped it was for Aramis. Eventually Aramis started to lean on him a little more and then quite a lot more until Athos stumbled under the weight. He pulled away and looked into a pair of apologetic eyes.

"Sorry," Aramis said, "Think I fell asleep."

Athos smiled at him and Aramis gave a very deep frown in response.

"Stop doing that with your face, it's scaring me."

Athos rolled his eyes for the third time that night and pushed Aramis to the bed. Aramis chuckled and slipped under the covers, giving a long yawn as he snuggled into the bed. Athos took off his own boots and jacket before climbing in after his brother. He looked over to Aramis on his right once his head was on a pillow. His brother was staring at the ceiling, seeming to be waging war on his eyelids as they fluttered closed only to be forced open again.

"Sleep, brother, it will do you good." Athos said.

Aramis frowned and without looking away from the ceiling said, "You know the reason I spend my time with so many women? I can't stand to be alone. Most of the time we don't even… Anyway what I'm trying to tell you is why I seek their company. If I wake up in bed beside a warm, breathing person, that is exactly where I wake up and I know where I am… when I am. But if I wake up alone in a cold bed, I wake up amongst the dead."

The words sent an ice cold chill down Athos' spine. If he was honest he was not expecting that to be the reason behind Aramis' adventures with women. He really thought it just came down to a little overindulgence. And he was sure the rest of the regiment thought so too. He felt, in this moment, like he finally understood Aramis. All of Aramis.

"René," Athos said, using Aramis' first name to get his attention, "you need only to knock on my door or Porthos' and it will always be opened for you. No matter the time or the day. No matter our mood. You know that, do you not? Or have we truly neglected you as friends that you would rather seek comfort from strangers?"

Aramis pulled his eyes from the ceiling and Athos noticed some unshed tears sitting in his brother's eyes.

"I know…" Aramis said, "But I never want to be a burden. I never want to overstay my welcome and I certainly don't want to abuse our friendship."

Athos shook his head, "You will never be a burden Aramis. Never. And I know Porthos would say the same thing. Porthos would actually agree with me for a change. And you will never overstay your welcome either."

Aramis gave a very weak smile and Athos frowned. Why was his brother so very insecure when it came to their friendship?

"Come here," Athos said softly.

He lifted his right arm and Aramis looked at him a little confused.

"Before the sun rises Aramis, please. My arm is starting to grow tired."

Aramis gave a more genuine smile and wriggled closer to Athos, resting his head on Athos' chest as the older musketeer rested his raised arm on Aramis' back and gave a squeeze. With his other hand he patted Aramis' hair back in place. When he was rewarded with a pleased sigh he started running his fingers through Aramis' hair more purposefully. With all his strength he pulled Aramis a little higher so that he could stick his face in Aramis' hair. He thought he heard Aramis purr.

"Aramis?" Athos said, checking if he was still awake.

"Hmm?" Was all the response he got.

"No one hears of this." Athos teased.

Aramis chuckled softly, "Not even Porthos? But he would be so proud."

"Especially not Porthos." Athos stated.

"Athos?" Aramis mumbled through the fabric of Athos' shirt.

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me, Aramis."

Aramis relaxed fully after a moment and his breathing began to even out. Athos allowed his eyes to drift shut and fell asleep with a slight smile on his face.

…

When Athos awoke again he realised that neither he nor Aramis had moved much in the night, except for the fact that Aramis was half on top of him and had his hands fisted in Athos' shirt. Athos blinked his eyes several times to allow them to adjust to the morning light. When he finally could register the room around them he startled ever so slightly at the sight of someone sitting in a chair near the end of the bed. Porthos was sitting there watching them with the biggest, smuggest, stupidest smile on his face that Athos had ever seen.

"If you say a word I will throw a candlestick at your face." Athos said calmly.

"First of all," Porthos replied, still grinning, "you left the door unlocked so the fact that I'm sitting here after I came looking for you two is really your fault. Second of all, you wouldn't dare throw anything at me because it will wake him up. And thirdly, your aim is terrible, especially with your left hand."

"Shut up and wipe that stupid look off you face." Athos snapped at him.

Aramis groaned softly and somehow managed to wriggle his body so that he was more on top of Athos than before.

Porthos chuckled softly, "Adorable, the two of you. Truly, you remind me of a pair of sleeping puppies."

Athos threw Porthos the most scathing look he could muster. He would have thrown back a retort were it not for how suddenly Porthos' face became worried.

"He alright?" Porthos asked.

Athos sighed, "I believe he will be, yes."

Porthos nodded and suddenly that boyish smile made a reappearance.

"What?" Athos asked.

He watched with narrowed eyes as Porthos started removing his boots and jacket.

"Porthos," Athos began, "I swear if you…"

But it was too late. Porthos was chuckling and climbing in the bed on the other side of Aramis. He threw an arm over both of them and pulled them flush against him.

His face near inches from Porthos', Athos made a sound of frustration and whispered, "I was doing quite fine keeping him asleep on my own, thank you."

"Oh I know," Porthos replied, "I just couldn't sit idly by and watch Aramis have all the fun."

"Fun?" Athos asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Porthos replied, "If you're offering hugs I'm taking. Besides, I knew the day would come when Aramis melts your frosty heart."

"I don't have a fro-" Athos begun but was cut off by a sound from Aramis.

Aramis had let out a long sigh of such sheer bliss both Athos and Porthos stopped talking at once. Porthos gave a soft chuckle next to his ear and tightened his hold on the both of them.

"This doesn't leave this room." Athos mumbled.