D'Artagnan and Adélie spent the day exploring the streets of Paris together. The young musketer was careful which streets he took the child down. His time spent on patrol had shown him the streets that were safe, and the ones that it would be best not to expose Adélie to.
Not just for the things she would see, but also Athos would probably end up killing him if he found out.
It was late in the afternoon when the pair finally returned to the musketeers lodgings. Athos was there, though there was no sign of Aramis or Porthos. Athos sat, staring at the fireplace, a dark expression on his face.
Spotting the look on his friend's face, D'Artagnan hesitated. Before he could steer Adélie in a different direction, the girl bounced across the room. "Look what D'Artagnan bought me," she said, holding up a dark blue ribbon.
Holding his breath, D'Artagnan waited, tensely, for the usual snap that came when anyone disturbed Athos in a dark mood like this. But it didn't come.
"D'Artagnan will spoil you," Athos said, sitting up. He reached out and turned Adélie around. He glanced over at D'Artagnan with a raised eyebrow. "And why did he let you out looking like you've been dragged through a forest?"
"But I haven't been dragged through a forest!"
"It wasn't that long ago that you were," Athos responded, attempting, rather poorly, to untangle her hair. Yawning, Adélie leaned back against him. "I suppose its to much to hope that Planchet would have thought of this while he was out getting things?"
Letting his breath out slowly, D'Artagnan shrugged. "All we asked was that he get clothes," he said, grateful that, while Athos still looked like he would rather be out drinking himself into oblivion, the older musketeer was making an effort not to let Adélie feel the effects of it.
"Master Athos," Planchet said, creeping from the kitchen carefully. He set a medium sized bundle on the table. "I believe I acquired everything needed for Mademoiselle Adélie."
Hearing her name, Adélie lifted her head, all traces of fatigue gone. "For me!" she exclaimed, lunging away from Athos. She reached up and snatched the bundle. "What's in it?"
"Open it and see," Athos instructed.
Sitting on the floor, Adélie tore into the wrapping, her small fingers working at the string. D'Artagnan took the moment to go to Athos' side. "What did Monsieur de Treville say?" he asked in a low voice.
With Adélie distracted, Athos allowed his brooding look to return full force. "Treville was in conference with the king all day," he answered. "I have to return tomorrow. You're going to have to look after Adélie again."
"Again?" D'Artagnan asked, mildly disappointed. As much as he was fond of the girl, there were things he wanted to do that would only get interrupted by Adélie's presence. "I was going to go see Constance and let her know where I've been..."
"There's no reason Adélie can't go with you," Athos said harshly. He closed his eyes and breathed in. "D'Artagnan. Please. I can hardly leave her with Planchet, can I?"
Sighing, D'Artagnan nodded, seeing the truth in that. "All right." He only hoped Constance would understand.
"Look!" Adélie exclaimed, holding up a light blue dress. "My ribbon will match it!"
"What else do you have there?" D'Artagnan asked, crouching down beside her.
Eagerly, Adélie spread out the contents of the bundle. Several articles of clothes, a simple hairbrush and comb, and a small, cloth doll. "Its soo clean," Adélie said, her eyes wide with wonder.
"And you are not," Athos said, eyeing her carefully. "That's something we're going to have to change."
Flushing red, D'Artagnan scrambled to his feet and backed up. "I'm going to...go out," he said swiftly. He darted for the door, not giving anyone a chance to respond.
"Where's D'Artagnan going?" Adélie asked in puzzlement.
"Out," Athos answered. "Planchet, fill up a tub for Adélie."
When he returned that night, Aramis found Athos asleep in front of the fire, Adélie likewise fast asleep on his lap. An empty goblet was on the floor next to the chair. Shaking his head, Aramis took the time to check the stitches on Adélie's forehead. What he saw made him grimace and he drew back with a frown.
"What's wrong?" Athos asked in a gravelly voice. He gazed at his friend and brother in arms, his eyes only half open.
"I'll have to remove the stitches tomorrow," Aramis announced quietly.
He noticed that Athos' arms tightened slightly. Adélie murmured something unintelligible in her sleep, nuzzling her head against Athos' shoulder. Athos waited until she was settled before he spoke again, "It can't wait?"
"Any longer and it will be even more painful for her," Aramis informed him, knowing that as it was, it was not going to be pleasant for any of them. Athos nodded once in acknowledgment. "Have you decided what you will do?"
"What would you do?" Athos demanded, his tone sharp.
Sighing, Aramis looked at the fire. "If I were in your place, Athos, things wouldn't be the same," he answered. "We've led very different lives." He hesitated. He wasn't sure if Athos had heard the plan he, Porthos, and D'Artagnan had formed. "But, there is an option we had thought of."
Quietly, he outlined the plan of taking Adélie to Gascony, to D'Artagnan's parents. Athos listened, but then didn't say anything. "Athos, she will draw unwanted attention if she stays here much longer," Aramis pointed out in exasperation. "After all she's been through, do you really want to put her through that?"
"You really want me to abandon her like Mi...her mother did?"
Aramis hesitated. "Is it abandoning her if your doing what would be best for her to grow up without the fear that someone will come after her again?"
"I have to speak to Treville tomorrow," Athos said abruptly. "I'll decide after that."
Carefully, he stood up and carried his sleeping daughter to bed. Aramis shook his head.
The next morning, Porthos glared at his friends when he was the only one who knew how to braid Adélie's dark hair. He tied the braid off with the ribbon D'Artagnan had gotten for her the day before. Clean and clothed in her new dress, Adélie spun in a circle in front of them.
"Very pretty, Adélie," Aramis complimented. "You will make all the ladies of court jealous when they see you."
"I'm really going to the palace?" Adélie asked for the tenth time.
"Yes," all four men said at the same time. Adélie just grinned at them and ate the porridge Planchet set in front of her.
Leaving at the same time, Porthos, Aramis and Athos headed for the Musketeers headquarters, and D'Artagnan went towards the palace. It took longer to get to the palace than it normally did since D'Artagnan was once again careful to avoid the shadier parts of Pairs. He was well known, so there was no problem getting past the gates. He made for the gardens, knowing exactly where Constance would be.
"D'Artagnan!" the young lady exclaimed, springing to her feet when she saw him. She placed her book on the garden bench. "What are you doing here? Where have you been?"
"I came to see you," D'Artagnan told her. He put his hand on Adélie's shoulder. "And may I introduce you to Athos's daughter, Adélie. Adélie, this is Mademoiselle Constance Bonacieux."
Surprised, Constance smiled at the girl. "I'm pleased to meet you, Adélie," she said. She glanced at D'Artagnan. "Since when does Athos have a daughter?"
"You're the lady D'Artagnan rescued from the airship!" Adélie exclaimed.
"Yes, she is, Adélie," D'Artagnan told her. "It's a long story, Constance. Sit down and I'll tell you all about it."
As the couple sat down, Adélie began to explore the garden path and the spring flowers that were coming up. D'Artagnan was just getting to how he'd helped rescue Adélie from the Englishman when Constance stopped him. "D'Artagnan, where's Adélie?" she asked, looking around.
Jumping up, D'Artagnan searched the path. There was no sign of the girl. "Athos is going to kill me!"
