Sure enough, Aramis' method of escape was highly amusing. Seeing him dangling from the window ledge was a sight that brought a smile to even Athos' face, a small smile though as he was still displeased at the foolishness.
Walking back to the garrison, Aramis had his arm around Juliette's shoulders. He was enjoying the stability she brought him.
It was not an uncommon sight. There had been many rumours surrounding the interactions between Aramis and Juliette, not that they paid them any mind. They both found them rather amusing.
Treville hadn't been pleased in the beginning. Hearing rumours about his ward and the garrison's resident womaniser was enough to send him to an early grave, but he only had to take one look at them to know that there would never be anything romantic between them. It had always been and would always be strictly platonic. Juliette seemingly bringing a sense of peace to the man, and Aramis teaching Juliette things beyond the norm for your average woman in 1630.
Aramis could feel Juliette tensing a little under his arm each time Porthos turned around to tease him. He also noticed the sad acknowledgement in Athos' eye when he had turned to scold him. Something had happened with Juliette in the early hours of the morning. He didn't pry though. She would come to him when she was ready to talk. This he was sure of. She always did.
Turning his attention back to the conversation at hand, no one said anything as he starting rubbing his hand up and down Juliette's arm, trying to comfort her. The soft sigh that escaped her lips giving him the encouragement he needed.
"Why not Adele?" Aramis asked as they reached the courtyard of the garrison. Juliette hadn't even realised they had made it, or that they were still on this topic.
"Oh, I don't know. Let's think. Because she's the mistress of the most powerful man in France?" Porthos' tone had changed from amusement to one of seriousness.
"Gentleman I love her," Aramis proclaimed, letting go of Juliette, but not before placing a quick kiss to the top of her head.
"You love her, or you love stealing what belongs to the cardinal?" Juliette asked, taking a seat at their table.
Just as the trio were about to sit down with her, Treville appeared on his balcony.
"You three, my office. Now," He commanded, his face serious.
"He looks happy," Aramis quipped.
"Does he ever when the three of you are involved?" Juliette asked, giving Treville a smile and a wave before he headed back into his office.
"Touché," was the only reply she got as her boys made their way upstairs.
Now alone, Juliette's thoughts began to wonder about Porthos.
She groaned to herself as she thought about all the lies she had told herself over the last couple of years.
She knew she wanted Porthos, he had told her he wanted her too.
She told herself she wouldn't go there.
It took a little while but they had finally become comfortable around each other once more. Not friends, but not something more. Just them.
Undefined, just like Treville had told. They had an undefined relationship.
Now she found herself wondering if maybe she wanted to define it.
Before she could muse any further, she heard the boys coming down the stairs.
"Was it about the duel?" She asked, looking anywhere but at Porthos.
"Yes, and no," Aramis answered, Juliette missing the raised eyebrows between Athos and himself at Juliette's sudden aversion to Porthos.
"He's sending you, somewhere isn't he?" She should have known.
"Yeah, but don't worry. We'll be back before you know it," Porthos spoke as he leaned over to grab an apple from the bowl behind her, his hand brushing her shoulder as he did so.
Juliette's breath hitched at the contact, but Porthos didn't seem to notice as he soon walked off to stables.
Aramis did though, the kiss on the head he gave her before following Porthos, evidence of that.
Athos grasped her hand and gave it a quick squeeze. It was his version of a hug.
"We'll talk when we get back," was all he said before letting go and walking off to meet the boys.
"Be careful," she shouted after them. The mock bows she got in response told her that they would try their best.
She sighed as she made her way up to Treville's office.
"How dangerous is this mission?" she asked as she took the seat opposite the desk.
Treville looked up, dropping all traces of captaincy when he saw it was her.
"What makes you ask?" he sounded tired.
"Athos showed me affection. That's usually the first clue," she looked at him, waiting.
"I don't know," was what she got in return.
She reached across the desk and grabbed his hand, "Who's missing?"
He didn't even get to ask how she knew that before she answered.
"I know captaining the Musketeers takes its toll, but you only look this tired when someone is hurt or missing. And seeing as how I am in here with you instead of helping the physician…," she trailed off, knowing he would understand what she was implying.
"Cornet. He was supposed to return yesterday, but there's been no word," he sighed, relishing in the comfort Juliette was offering him.
They just sat there in silence, each taking a moment to think about the situation at hand.
Treville hoping his gut feeling was wrong, and that Cornet and his men had simply been delayed somewhere.
All Juliette could think about was Porthos. And how she missed him already. Her newly realised feelings were becoming a real inconvenience for her.
"Where were you this morning?" Treville broke the silence with a change of topic.
"Out for breakfast," was what he got in return.
"You were with Porthos weren't you?" He already knew the answer.
"Porthos was already there when I arrived," Juliette countered.
"Do I need to be worried?" He asked, letting go of Juliette's hand.
"Of what? Of Porthos?" she asked, surprised.
"I've seen the way you two look at each other. I've seen the way you are with him," Treville pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to stave off the oncoming headache he could feel, "It's beginning to feel like it was beforem"
"I love all of them equally," she spoke as she moved around the desk, closer to him.
"Yes, but you love him, more, don't you?" he knew she wouldn't answer him.
As expected, she said nothing. She simply placed her arms around him, giving him the hug he clearly needed, and placed a kiss to his cheek before heading out into the courtyard below.
He thought that was the end of it, but a few minutes later she had reappeared, plate of food and goblet of wine in hand.
"You haven't been eating properly. That's why you have a headache," she said placing the food and drink in front of him, "I don't think it would benefit the cadets if their captain was out of commission because of his own foolishness,"
And no sooner had she arrived, she was gone again.