AN: Hey guys many thanks to my beta Raven. I know Jac/D'Art get a little out of character, but I do have a reason. The bantering will be back, I am just going by the general nature of men, and though most are easy going, after a while they DO get frustrated if there efforts appear to be in vain. Raven suggested using some dialogue from 'secret's towards the end that I don't own, etc...Etc... Also, I am participating in the Star Trek: Kirk vs. Picard contest and my beta has a special project at work so it will be after the fourth before Chap. 4 will be up probably. R&R as always. Meg

Jacqueline tossed and turned, her mind repeating the Captain's words. A faint light peeked through her window; she sighed and sat up. It is dawn, she thought miserably. She had not slept a wink and it was already morning. She got up and dressed in her uniform, aware that the only musketeers up at this crazy hour were on patrol duty. She made her way to D'Artagnan's room and stood outside debating on her course of action. She knocked and waited, receiving no answer; she quietly walked in and shut the door behind her. He was asleep, so she took the time to inspect his quarters. It was surprisingly neat, probably something he inherited from his mother. A book on a small desk caught her eye and she carefully stepped around the bed to look at it, when a voice startled her.

"Jacqueline? What are you doing in here?" He asked half asleep. "Not that I mind you being here"; She straightens her shoulders and held up her head in a show of strength she did not really feel.

"Get up! It is time to practice." D'Artagnan blinked several times, as if trying to decide if this was a weird dream or reality.

"Jacqueline! It is our day off, and you want to practice at…" He paused and looked out the window, "dawn? Are you serious?" She pointed her rapier at his chin, which answered the last question without any doubts.

"Up! Now!" She ordered the now awake man. He stood as requested and let the covers fall, it was then that she realized her mistake. D'Artagnan, a very naked D'Artagnan, stood in front of her. Her eyes fell below his waist briefly, of their own accord, before she brought them back up and blushed.

"See anything you like?" He asked her, brows raised inquisitively at her.

"I…I will meet you out front." She managed to spit out and she practically lunged for the door. His arm came around her, trapping her inside and making her turn back around to look at him, now thankfully wrapped in a blanket from his bed. .

"Why?" He asked, as she shook her head to clear it of the naked images of him.

"I let my skills suffer, you heard the captain…" He gave her a sympathetic look, "we'll work on it, and before long I will be buying you breakfast again." She needed a new tactic.

"No, we start now." She paused, "besides, we can use that wager you like so much, loser does the winner's bidding." She was baiting him now, and he knew it. He threw up his hands in surrender, realizing arguing with a woman would get him nowhere, and he was awake now.

"Alright, give me ten minutes."

"Louie, darling, you must decide what color soon." The Queen Mother said. Louis looked at the two samples for a moment.

"Mazarin, which one do you like?" The Cardinal looked up from where he stood, not showing any of the irritation he felt.

"The purple would look magnificent on your majesty." He replied with practiced diplomacy. Louis turned back to the samples and declared. "The red will do for my coronation robe!" He exchanged a knowing look with his mother.

"Very good, your majesty, it will be ready in time." The royal dressmaker bowed and exited, flanked by Mazarin's guards.

"Your majesty, in four months you will officially be the King of France, we need to go over protocol and documents…"

"Protocol? Documents? Uh! I have to do guest lists, pick the entertainment and the music! I do not care about protocol and documents! You deal with it!" The future King waved his hand dismissively at the Cardinal and turned to his mother, who was looking at several of her necklaces. "Mother, do I have to learn all that?" The whining was starting to give Mazarin a severe headache. Ann turned to her son and dramatically rolled her eyes.

"Louie, you will be king, of course not for another four months, but you must learn these things." She stopped and turned to Mazarin. "Surely it will not hurt to let him get used to the idea first?" Mazarin bowed gracefully and exited the room. Devonshire glided up beside him when they had exited the room, and without turning, Mazarin addressed him.

"Well?" he asked, hoping someone could give him good news.

"I have developed a certain kinship with the Spanish one. D'Artagnan continues to not trust me and I have an idea about Siroc." Mazarin turned to stare coldly at his Captain.

"Yes, and Leponte?" that was the one he wanted.

Edward smiled now, "I'm working on him right now." Mazarin merely nodded, not showing any outward emotion.

"Very good Captain, keep me informed of your progress."

Jacqueline stood next her horse, glaring at the poor animal, as if losing, again to D'Artagnan was his fault. The horse munched contently on the oats she had given him and totally unaware of his master's foul mood.

"He cares for you." She could hear Siroc's words echo in her head. She roughly threw her bag from her shoulder to the ground, so she could saddle the horse.

"Jacqueline, just give him a chance." She struggled with her natural fight or flight mentality, as she waited. Her face flushed at the memory of his naked body. Of course, she had never thought of him in those terms, and she cursed the unruly thoughts in her head. She touched her cross, bent down, and said a quick prayer asking for forgiveness of her wicked thoughts.

"You ready to go" a voice asked behind her.

"Yes, let's get this over with." She stated gruffly and then winced when she saw his face briefly reveal his disappointment before his emotionless mask hid everything. He got on his horse and did not say a word to her as she followed him down the road.

"In a few miles, we will stop and you can change." She looked up, shocked that he had finally spoken to her.

"Change into what?" she asked a little confused. He reached into his bag and pulled out a dress at her.

"I got you a gift." He stated and threw it to her without looking her in the eye. She stared at his back and stuffed the dress into her bag.

"Jacqueline, you have been in a foul mood all day, what is wrong?" "I…" He threw her a look that showed how frustrated he was at her.

"Is it because I beat you again? Come on, you win most of the time!" She silently took the bread he offered her. D'Artagnan was tired of this stalemate. He pulled her to her feet, so she was inches from him. "Why Jacqueline? I express my feelings for you only to be put down repeatedly by your insinuations of what you presume I am. I have endured your insults and mood swings for months, and you still show me no gratitude for anything I have done for you. You refuse to even try to give me a chance." He wanted to shout his frustration, but refrained in respect of the good manners his mother taught him. She swallowed hard and looked guilty finally, giving him the courage to continue. "You think I am this man who runs after every woman, and you have not seen that in months, and yet you act like I'm the man your mother warned you about, yet at other times you think there's not a nobler man in Franc!" He turned angrily and started to pack the remainder of their meal, when he felt her hand touch his. His heart pounded at the small contact and his breath stuck in his throat.

"I'm sorry!, I am grateful for everything. This dress, the time away, and all the things you have done for me." She bit her lip, and he could see that she was nervous. "Siroc said you waited by my side for two days when, when you were not sure I would live." He knew she was asking and only nodded, as he did not want to speak yet. She leaned in and looked straight into his eyes, granting him permission. He leaned down and captured her mouth with his briefly, savoring the feel of her close to him, before he backed away and looked at her.

"I will try," she replied delivering the only words needed to make his heart rejoice, that not all the months had been in vain. He took her hand and kissed it lightly.

"We should be getting back now." They finished packing in silence, each relishing the moment, their fears being set aside, and the excitement of admitting the feelings that had been bottled up for different reasons. They rode towards the garrison as Jacques and D'Artagnan, neither seeing the shadow behind them. The figure inwardly cursed himself for not knowing the two were going off earlier, he had missed a great opportunity, but hopefully, not the last one. Next time, he would not miss them, five days hence, they would embark again his sources said, he would be waiting…

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