A/N Hey everyone! Thank you so much for all the reviews, follows and favs. I'm so glad you like this story so much.
Rosey Malone: Thank you very much. I will defenitely try to go all the way to their adult life too.
Tidia: I'm glad you think that. It actually means quite a lot to me, since I've read some of your fics and I really liked them. In fact, one of them inspired me to write this fanfic.
Yuka: Thank you! I am certainly not planning on stopping anytime soon.
I realise I haven't answered everyone's review so I hope you forgive me for that. As for this chapter, translations are in the bottom A/N. I hope you all enjoy this new chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own and probably never will.
Chapter 3
Aramis sighed and turned onto his other side. According to the alarm clock, he had been trying to fall asleep for 30 minutes now. There was something bothering him but he couldn't figure out what it was. Outside, he could hear the thunder and he smiled. He used to be afraid of the thunder, but not anymore. No, that wasn't what bothered him, he was certain of that.
At some point, he had to use the bathroom, so he got out of bed. Just as he had finished washing his hands, he could hear the thunder booming extremely loud, making him flinch. Suddenly, he heard a small whimper. Aramis opened the door and looked inside Athos' and d'Artagnan's room. He saw d'Artagnan curled up under the blankets, shaking with fear. He quickly ran over to his little brother's bed.
'Hey pup. What's wrong?'
D'Artagnan poked his head out from under the blankets, his eyes wide with fear and tears streaming down his face. Another thunder could be heard and he dove back under the blankets. Understanding dawned on Aramis. His little brother was scared of thunderstorms. For a moment he wondered if he should get Athos but when he heard d'Artagnan sobbing, he crawled next to the toddler.
'It's okay, pup. I'm here.'
Aramis wriggled under the blankets and wrapped his arms around his brother. When a flash of lightning lit up the room, d'Artagnan buried his head in Aramis' chest, shaking with fear. Aramis stroke the boy's hair, thinking of something to distract his brother. Suddenly, he remembered the night he overcame his fear of thunderstorms. He had crawled into Porthos' bed and the older boy had tried everything he could to calm down Aramis. Finally, Porthos had resorted to singing a song. Though Porthos wasn't a great singer, the song had soothed Aramis.
Aramis decided that he would try the same approach. But not an English song. Athos had told him a few weeks ago that for some reason, foreign languages calmed d'Artagnan down. Nobody knew why, not even d'Artagnan himself but it worked. Aramis smiled when he remembered a song Porthos had asked him to translate for his Spanish homework.
'Tengo la camisa negra. Hoy mi amor esta de luto. Hoy tengo en alma una pena. Y es por culpa de tu embrujo.'
He noticed d'Artagnan stopped shaking and was focusing on him. Good, that meant it was working.
'Hoy sé que tú ya no me quieres. Y eso es lo que más me hiere. Que tengo la camisa negra. Y una pena que me duele.'
Aramis smiled down at d'Artagnan, who had relaxed in his embrace. He rubbed the boy's back and hugged him close.
'Thank you,' d'Artagnan whispered.
'No need to thank me, pup. Your my little brother, it's my job to look after you. But why didn't you come to me or Athos and Porthos?'
D'Artagnan snivelled a little.
'I thought you wouldn't want me if you knew I was scared. In my old home I got punished when I was scared.'
'Oh pup. We don't care if you're scared. I used to be scared of the thunder too, you know. But Porthos helped me not to be, just like I did with you.'
Expressive brown eyes looked up at him.
'Really?'
Aramis smiled encouragingly.
'Really. I promise.'
Suddenly, the door opened and Athos and Porthos stormed in.
'Aramis? Are you here?'
Aramis poked his head out and grinned at his older brothers.
'I'm here. What's wrong?'
Porthos glared at him.
'You scared the crap out of us, that's what's wrong. Why aren't you in bed?'
'Because I had to comfort the pup. He was scared of the thunder.'
Porthos' gaze softened. He and Athos walked over to the bed. D'Artagnan peeked out from under the blankets and his older brothers sighed when they saw the tear tracks.
'Hey d'Art?' Athos asked. 'Why are you scared of the thunder?'
Fresh tears pooled in the boy's eyes and suddenly his body was trembling with sobs. Aramis hugged d'Artagnan and rubbed his back again but it didn't help. The little boy kept crying inconsolably. Eventually, Athos took d'Artagnan from Aramis and held him tightly.
'Sssh, d'Artagnan, tu es en sécurité. Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?'
'Mon papa,' The little boy cried. 'Je veux mon papa.'
Athos winced. That explained why the boy was so scared of thunderstorms. He had lost his father during a thunderstorm. Out of nowhere, Aramis appeared behind d'Artagnan, rubbing the boy's back.
'We're here, hermanito. Your brothers are here.'
Porthos sat down next to Athos, laying an arm on d'Artagnan's shoulder.
'And we're not going anywhere. You're safe with us.'
Finally, d'Artagnan stopped crying. His eyes were incredibly sad. Aramis noticed and pulled them all in a group hug. When they let go, d'Artagnan leaned against Athos.
'Can I sleep with you tonight?'
TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM-TM
When Treville got home, he went upstairs to check on his sons. He checked Porthos' and Aramis' room first, becoming worried when he found the room to be empty. He quickly walked to Athos' and d'Artagnan's room and smiled at the sight that met him.
Athos' and d'Artagnan's beds had been pushed together, with his four boys sharing the big bed they had created. Athos and Porthos were on the outer sides, with Aramis and d'Artagnan sleeping in the middle. Aramis had curled himself around his little brother, with Porthos wrapped around him and Athos wrapped around d'Artagnan from the other side. All of them looked warm and content.
Treville nodded to himself and closed the door again. He knew his sons would always look after each other. They truly were the definition of brotherhood.
A/N Sssh, d'Artagnan, tu es en sécurité. Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas?: Ssssh, d'Artagnan, you're safe. What's wrong?
Mon papa. Je veux mon papa.: My daddy. I want my daddy.
hermanito: little brother (this one is Spanish by the way)
I didn't translate the song because that isn't necessary for this story. It's in italic (or whatever it's called) because it's an actual song and I do not own it. The song is called La camisa negra and it's from Juanes. I heard it in Spanish class and I liked it.
