Author's Notes: Ugh … I am so sorry it took me so long to get this up. We just unrolled out a new process at work, and I was the point of the spear, so to speak. It's been a rough few weeks, and while things are still … erm… interesting, it's a dull roar. At least at the moment. Next week, I submit the spreadsheet for the spring 2016 graduates to get their diplomas. My head has been full of transcripts and diplomas, but I finally managed to get the time, energy, and inspiration to get this done. So … in this chapter, Anne and Athos exchange truths; Rochefort overhears something he finds extremely interesting; while Tommy still doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut. I've been informed that there will likely be another story added to the series, and Treville will be taking center stage for that (with Athos as a very strong support). Title to be announced once I figure it out.

Reviewer Responses:

A reader: Methos … oh, my that's a good question! Would they be allies or enemies? Hmm. That could go sooo many different ways! Yeah, the bathing suit story came up again at the birthday/farewell party held last Tuesday (disinfectant was mentioned, if that assists at all). Here's a new chapter, hope you enjoy it (late as it is).

Chapter Thirteen

While We Were Apart

San Antonio Memorial Hospital

A few hours later

It was time for more truths to be spoken, and to say that she was a nervous wreck would have something of an understatement. Ever since her conversation with Athos about why he'd avoided her before she left the estate, she'd been haunted by memories. Not just about the nightmare he'd experienced that night, but the actions which led to that nightmare. She and Tommy had argued again … the last, explosive confrontation between two people who may not have cared for each other, but loved Athos. It was ironic, really … Anne hated Tommy for telling Athos the truth about her entrance in their lives and ruining her dream come to life; while Tommy hated her for lying to his brother and breaking his heart. They hated each other because in some ways, they were too much alike.

She'd been alone, stewing over Athos' most recent withdrawal from her. She'd been so frustrated, because she'd seen the desire in his eyes, the desire and the love, warring with the hurt, and the hurt had won out. In those last few days before she finally left the de la Fere estate, the hurt always won out. She couldn't bear to look at Tommy, and so she withdrew completely to her own sanctuary … where Tommy found her. They'd argued and this time, Athos heard them. This time, enraged by Tommy calling her out on her lies while glossing over his own, Anne had picked up one of her hairpins … weapons in and of themselves … fully intending to make Tommy bleed. And it was then that Athos entered the room.

That night, he'd had the nightmare that she'd killed his brother, a dream so realistic, he'd been able to smell blood. There were other triggers, of course, but that was the strongest one. She hadn't understood at the time … hadn't understood why he chose his brother over her, but as the years passed and she came to know people she came to love as siblings, she began to understand. She also came to understand that if he had walked in on Tommy trying to hurt Anne, he would have intervened as well.

But, like Athos, letting go of the hurt was no easy task … hurt and betrayal had overshadowed her love for him for so long, and the day he'd failed to meet her … That was the end of her attempt at reconciliation with him, or so she told herself. But her journey to San Francisco, and her encounter with the shade of the woman from whom she'd taken her code name changed all of that. She'd left Montreal, wanting to put the vicious woman she'd become behind her. She left San Francisco, swearing that she would become a protector, rather than a predator.

She could never leave Milady behind … she knew that now. But she could use Milady to protect, rather than harm. While in San Francisco, she'd watched not only Avengers with Kat and Alex, but Iron Man, and the Black Widow had struck a chord with her. She and Natasha Romanov weren't that different, really … and if the auburn-haired girl could choose a new path, then so could Anne. She had red in her ledger as well, and she could never wipe it out. Never. But she could make new choices. And that was what she was doing now. If she and Athos were to have a chance together, they had to learn to trust one another again, and for that to happen, they had to be honest with one another. No matter how much it hurt.

The American Inseparables were leaving Athos' room as she approached, and Hector Ramirez inclined his head with a small smile, a smile that she returned. She liked Hector, and from what she'd seen of his wife Naomi, she would fit right in with Josie, Constance, and the rest of the ladies of the Musketeers. Hector murmured as they passed one another, "He won't be awake much longer … the pain and the worry is taking a lot out of him." Yes, she could imagine. When he wasn't worrying about taking out Rochefort, he was worrying about Josie and Tristan. Still, her husband was sitting up in bed, looking tired but alert. He smiled as she entered and held out his hand to her. She accepted it, sitting on the bed beside him and kissing his knuckles.

"Time for more truths, my love?" he asked and she nodded, trying not to let her own hesitation and anxiety show … however, she wasn't nearly as successful at keeping her surprise from showing when he next inquired, "Will you permit me to go first?" Her mouth fell open, and he added a bit shyly, "I fear you will not forgive me for this truth." Anne's heart dropped to her feet, but she straightened her shoulders and bobbed her head, allowing him to unburden himself. Was she ready to hear this? What would she hear?

"I have a daughter," Athos told her hoarsely as she held his hand. Anne wasn't given a chance to react as he went on, "That day, I fully intended to meet you at the church. I'm still not sure if I would have gone with you, but I did want to see you. But Rochefort had left us one last … gift. A bomb was planted at the Musketeer Garrison, and it detonated not long after he was taken into custody. I was briefly knocked unconscious by the force of the blast, and when I came to …" He bowed his head, fingers twitching in her own, and Anne fought the desire to pull him into her arms. He needed to say this, she realized. After it was said, then she could hold him.

"When I woke, there was so much … I had brother Musketeers who were dead or dying. They needed me, Anne, and I couldn't leave them. I couldn't. And so, as soon as things were under control, I left to find you. But you'd already gone, and … what I didn't know was that a lady friend of Aramis' had followed me, at his request. She took me to her apartment … truly, I don't remember how I even got there. She found me near the bench, and the next thing I remember, I was in her shower," Athos explained hoarsely. He kept his eyes on their joined hands, because he could not bear to look in her eyes. She swallowed hard, because she knew her Athos.

Anne murmured, "She looked after you." Athos' head reared up, and Anne repeated hoarsely, "She looked after you, took care of you. You probably were in shock … between trying to save your brothers and trying to meet me." Anne heard about the explosion as she was leaving Montreal, but it never occurred to her that Athos might have been affected. Anne murmured, "She did my job for me, which was to take care of you. There's nothing to forgive, Athos … unless you plan on telling me that you've turned your back on your child?" Not likely.

Athos immediately shook his head, choking out, "NO! No, even though Aimee lives in Quebec City, I was there as often as I could before we were reassigned to San Antonio. I am not a good father, Anne … I've only held my child twice. But I support my Sabine and her mother in any way I can. Oh, Anne, please don't cry … I know I've not been a good husband, but I've never stopped loving you!" Anne wiped at her tears before cupping her husband's jaw tenderly.

"I'm not crying because you've hurt me or because I'm angry, you idiot," she told him with the same fond exasperation she heard from him whilst addressing his brothers (especially Aramis), "I'm crying because while we were apart … I have a child as well. But unlike Aimee, I've kept my son away from his father. I've kept myself away from my son as well. In the beginning, it was because I couldn't bear to be a mother, much less to this child … and I wanted to punish his father. But I've come to realize that while I've been punishing my little boy's father, I've been punishing him as well. Our son, Athos … I've been punishing our son for things he had no control over." And now, the truth was out … and they would learn if he could forgive her.

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He honestly wasn't surprised when tears started rolling down Anne's face. After all, he had cheated on her … how was he any better than Rob Maddox? No, they weren't married any more in the eyes of the law, but in his heart, he was still hers, and always would be. He had cheated on her, and that afternoon had created a beautiful little girl. He couldn't regret Sabine's existence … the times he was able to FaceTime with his angel were often highlights of his week.

However, he could and did regret hurting his wife. Nor could he truly be angry with her for keeping his son from him … especially given his downward spiral after he left Pinon Deux. He would not have made a good father for the child … and it wasn't so hard to imagine that he could have hurt the little one. And that's when it caught up with him … he had a son. He had a son! He asked, struggling to keep his voice from cracking, "What's his name … how old is he?" Anne gasped and Athos wiped away her tears with his thumbs, murmuring, "I want to know all about him, including who's been taking care of him. Are they good people?" Anne tried and failed several times to speak, and he worried that he'd not been accepting enough.

But then she whispered, "Justinian." Athos looked at his wife in astonishment, and the corners of Anne's mouth tilted upward as she asked wryly, "I did pay attention when you and Tommy talked about your lessons at dinner. I was so … so very angry with you, Athos, but when I looked into our son's eyes, I kept seeing yours. I couldn't bring myself to name him after you, or your illustrious ancestor, but naming him after the Byzantine Emperor who has long fascinated you? That's something else entirely."

He didn't mention the fact that Justin Marchand had been the only member of Tommy's circle who had ever treated Anne with anything approaching respect. She went on, "He's getting ready to turn seven years old, and in some ways, he's a pint-sized version of you. He's smart and curious, and whenever Tamsyn … that's his foster mother … whenever she's sad, he crawls up into her lap and hugs her. And there's a little of me in him, too … I recognize the wicked grin when he's just about to do something he probably shouldn't, but can't quite help himself. And Tamsyn … Tamsyn is the mother I wish I had. Not that she's old enough to be my mother. She's in her forties, single, and until I came to her with Justinian, she'd given up on ever being a mother. She's kind and loyal and loving, and Justinian adores her. To him, I'm Miss Anne, who sometimes comes to visit him and brings all manner of gifts."

Athos wondered if Anne heard the love in her own voice when she spoke of their son. She stopped suddenly and looked at him, murmuring, "You truly do forgive me. I kept your son from you, and you still forgive me." That … was a little more complicated than just forgiveness. However, Athos plowed ahead, because it seemed that she had forgiven him for failing to be the husband he should have been.

"I … I would have been a very bad father. In those first weeks, I was a … I wasn't a fit brother, how could I have been a fit husband or father? Forgive … I'm not angry, I understand why you did it," Athos explained, growing more and more sure that he was screwing this up six ways from Sunday. A gentle hand against his cheek brought his attention back to the beautiful woman he'd never stopped loving, no matter how much he'd hated to admit it. There was … he didn't understand what he was seeing. Or maybe it would have been better to say, he didn't understand what he wasn't seeing … namely hatred, or anger, or bitterness.

"I have a picture of him … would you like to see our Justinian?" Anne asked very softly. Athos could only nod, and Anne pulled her cell from her blouse, brushing her finger over the display, a small smile playing about her lips as she paused. She turned around the phone, and Athos blinked. It was like staring into a mirror to the past. Justinian looked almost exactly as he did at seven … except, Justinian wasn't as solemn as he was. Instead, his smile was pure mischief, and Athos felt his breath catch in his throat.

But Anne wasn't finished surprising him. She said, "As soon as I leave here, I'll be contacting a … well, an ally who lives in Quebec City, and ask her to watch over Aimee and Sabine. Sabine may not be my daughter, but she is yours … and she's Justinian's sister. Whatever I can do to protect her, I will. I swear this to you, Athos." Her green eyes were filled with determination, and Athos started to speak, but much to his mortification, he found himself yawning instead. Anne laughed, adding, "But for now, my love … sleep. I'll be here when you wake up. I promise." As Athos' eyes drifted shut, he knew that she would be nowhere else.

14AA41

Digeridoo Bar

San Antonio, TX

An hour and a half later

"So, you're telling me that Athos has a daughter with this Aimee woman in Quebec City … who was one of Aramis' conquests … and a son with Milady? I admit, I never would have seen Milady as particularly maternal, and what is it that Aramis has that draws women in like flies to honey? I don't get it," Louis Roy observed, sounding as annoying as ever. And Gilles Rochefort didn't get how he could have possibly gotten so lucky. He'd come to this bar because it was directly across the street from the hospital, and he was hoping to hear about something regarding Maddox or de la Fere. He could have never imagined hitting the mother lode.

He'd been tempted to order something hard when he entered the bar about three hours earlier, but his head was still aching from being hit with the shovel. Instead, he'd ordered a gin and tonic that he'd been nursing for the better part of an hour when Louis Roy and his equally annoying half-brother, Thomas de la Fere, entered the bar and chose the booth right behind his. He really didn't know what he'd done to deserve that run of luck, but he wasn't about to argue with it. Especially since it was providing him with such wonderful details that he could use to hurt de la Fere. It was even better since it was coming from his younger brother.

Said younger brother now observed, "I couldn't tell you, big bro … but that's the way it works. Anyhow, by all rights, I shouldn't know about my nephew, but my dear sister-in-law decided that given what happened the last time she kept something big from Athos, she should probably tell me first. I can't wait to meet him … Anne says that his adoptive mother lives in Utah, but she's working on getting Justinian here so he can meet his father." Rochefort's eyebrows shot up straight into his hairline. Oh, this was most interesting! He withdrew his cell phone from his jacket pocket. If memory served, Utah was one of the smaller states, but he needed a lot more information … such as a city and the bitch's name. On the other hand, he did have the brat's name … Justinian … and if he was de la Fere's kid, then he was no more than six or seven. How many children of that age named 'Justinian' could there be in Utah? He should be able to narrow it down if he knew the nearest city, but this was already plenty to go on.

"Utah? She put him where no one could find him. Then again, that was probably the point. And Aimee lives in Quebec City with … what was her name? Sabrina?" Roy asked and Rochefort smirked to himself, because this just kept getting better and better all the time. He wasn't sure about contacts in Utah, but he had quite a few old … 'friends' in Quebec City, people who owed him a favor or ten. While Quebec City was large, he was sure his contacts could locate the woman.

"Not Sabrina, but you're close … Sabine. She named her after a woman who helped her once. She's just a baby … and honestly, I'm not even sure if Aimee actually likes my brother, or just felt sorry for him. He was … he was in a bad way at the time. They'd just put that prick Rochefort away, but he left them a little farewell gift in the form of a bomb at the Musketeer Garrison. Yeah, that was him … anyhow, Aramis called this friend of his, Aimee, a widow … she found my brother wandering around the square where he was supposed to meet Anne, and took him back to her apartment. Sabine was born nine months later," de la Fere number three commented. Rochefort ignored the insult to him, because right now, it was hardly important. However, the information that the smug little asshole kindly provided was extremely important.

"I remember that … and I remember the look Captain Treville gave me not long after it happened. I was being a bigger prick than usual … stop laughing, Tommy … and he just gave me this look like I was something he'd scraped off the bottom of his shoe after I'd whined about something foolish. Around that time, Porthos came around the corner with Constance, his arm in a cast, and I felt about two inches tall. I'd forgotten about it, you see … it didn't directly impact me, and so I forgot about it. Porthos broke his shoulder while protecting Constance from debris … Aramis had broken ribs when the blast knocked him across the room. Your brother had a concussion and really had no business wandering around Montreal, which is probably why Aramis had his friend track him down," Roy answered.

"Probably. You realize what this means … I actually have a nephew and niece to spoil. Yeah, I could spoil Henry, but he's in Montreal. Tristan … she is Uncle Athos' girl, and I have a sneaking suspicion that she still hasn't forgiven me for telling all and sundry that Aude was molested by her foster family's son after she got kicked out of the house. I suppose I really can't blame her. She wasn't ready for anyone else to know about it … even if I found out by accident, I should have talked to her first, make sure that she was okay with other people knowing. 'Sides, she's twelve years old … it's harder to spoil a kid that age," de la Fere observed.

"I'll take your word for it," was Roy's rather dry remark, "All of my nephews and nieces are under the age of ten, and they're notoriously easy … and fun … to spoil. Don't give me that look, if Sabine or Justinian are as cute as Henry is, you'll thoroughly enjoy spoiling them. I've noticed that your brother loves spoiling Tristan … I think she has him wrapped around her little pinky finger, not that I blame him. She's still young enough to spoil, really. I might have some nieces and nephews from Feron, but I'm willing to bet they're as tedious as he is." Rochefort's eyebrows again arched at the new information he was receiving tonight, but opted to put that on the backburner. At least for now. He had to deal with de la Fere and Maddox, and once those two were out of the way, d'Herblay would be that much easier to get to … and once he was out of the way, Anne was his for the taking.

"I wouldn't know about that. I'm still wrapping around the idea of Treville being attracted to my older sister. I've always thought she was beautiful, but for some reason, it just never occurred to me that my brother's captain would agree," de la Fere observed. The romantic life of the eldest de la Fere child held no interest for him, and so Rochefort pushed himself to his feet. His gin and tonic was already paid for, and he had a great deal of planning to do, including making calls to his people in Montreal. He didn't know anyone in Utah, but he was sure that his contacts did. That would work well as a distraction for de la Fere, and allow Rochefort to kill Maddox.

A matter of hours, a matter of minutes, a matter of seconds can make all the difference in the world. People who were running even a little bit late for work found their lives spared on September 11th, 2001. Seconds could make the difference between being caught in an accident and escaping harm. On that night, had Rochefort stayed only a few minutes more in the booth, his own life might have been spared. Still intent on their conversation, and paying no attention to the man who had just left, Louis Roy asked his younger brother, "So, ideas for taking out Rochefort? Because I know he hasn't given up on Anne." Hours, minutes, seconds … they could truly mean the difference between life and death.

TBC

Additional Author's Notes: The chapter title comes from the Human League song, Only Human (and why oh why do I keep coming back to their songs for this story? I really don't know, they just seem to fit with this story). The exact line is, 'while we were apart, I was human, too.' And in case you're wondering, yes ... the names of both children are important to the story, especially Justinian.