Upon entering the courtyard, the smile from Juliette's face at D'Artagnan's blind acceptance quickly faded when she saw a shadowed figure hovering outside her door.
She was cautiously approaching the figure when it turned around.
"Aramis?" she asked once she got close enough to see who it was.
Concern immediately washed over her as she thought that he would have been off doing things he knew he shouldn't with Adele.
She grew even more concerned when Aramis failed to answer.
Whatever brought him to her door at this time of night clearly wasn't good.
"Aramis?" she asked again, her eyes scanning him for any injuries. Thankfully she couldn't see any.
Her heart ached a little for him when he finally looked at her, the heartbreak he was feeling evident on his crestfallen face.
"How long have you been standing out here?" she had noticed him shiver, "Why didn't you just wait inside? You have a key,"
"Seemed improper," Aramis mumbled. Juliette was relieved to finally hear his voice, even if it was quiet.
"It's you Aramis. You're family. I would never consider it improper," Juliette spoke as she made her way inside, gesturing for Aramis to follow her.
Aramis took a seat on the edge of Juliette's bed, as she closed the door behind them.
"Care to tell me what happened?" Juliette asked as she took a seat next to him, "I thought you'd be with Adele,"
Juliette was sure she saw Aramis flinch at the mention of Adele.
Aramis' silence prompted Juliette to wrap her arms around him in an embrace. She recognised the look on his face, it was the same look she had when she sought him out after she kissed Porthos for the first time. Heartbreak.
"Aramis?" Juliette's voice was soft as she spoke to him, "You know I don't like silence Aramis, especially from you. Especially given our history,"
"She's gone," Aramis' resolve finally crumbled as he spoke, "She chose the Cardinal over me,"
Juliette said nothing, knowing there was nothing she could say. She simply continued hugging him as he cried.
"I thought she loved me," came Aramis' voice amongst silent sobs, "She told me she loved me,"
Juliette remained silent, simply letting Aramis say or do whatever he needed in the safety of her company.
After minutes had passed, Aramis' tears had finally stopped.
Patting Juliette's arm to signal that it was safe to let go, he turned to face her, "Thank you,"
"You've done the same for me plenty of times before," Juliette smiled at him in a silent thanks of her own, "Besides, we're family,"
"Indeed, we are," Aramis made to stand as he spoke.
"Going somewhere?" Juliette sighed. She was enjoying the company. It kept her from her own romantic thoughts.
"I was going to let you get some rest seeing as it is later than I realised," Aramis took one look at her face and spoke again, "Unless you want me to stay,"
"Can you?" Juliette suddenly became timid.
She began to fidget as Aramis sat back down. This told Aramis that there was something she clearly wanted to talk about but was embarrassed. A rare occurrence when it came to Juliette. Which meant only one thing…
"It's Porthos isn't it?" Aramis smirked a little as he spoke, pushing his own love woes aside.
Juliette's head snapped up at his name, confirming to Aramis what he already thought.
"It's happening again," Aramis' smile was genuine "Isn't it?"
Juliette's groan was all the response he needed.
"What am I going to do Aramis?" Juliette's voice was muffled as she held her face in her hands, "And don't think I can't hear you grinning,"
This made Aramis to laugh a little, causing Juliette to look up at him.
"It's not funny," Juliette attempted to sound serious but fell short.
"Juliette why must you try so hard to stop how you feel?" Aramis took her hand in his as he spoke, "Why are you denying yourself the chance to be happy? You know it is all we have ever wanted for you. Lord knows you deserve it,"
"It's too hard," Juliette's voice once again becoming timid.
"And denying yourself is easier?" Aramis asked, already knowing the answer.
"No," Juliette reluctantly admitted, "But it is safer,"
"I hate to break it to you my dear, but true love isn't meant to be safe. It's meant to be messy, and risky. It's meant to give you butterflies and send your heart racing each time you see the person you love. It's meant to have the potential to break your heart in ways you didn't think was possible. True love isn't safe. If it's safe, then it isn't love. Not real love," Aramis slung his arm around her and brought her in for a hug, kissing the top her head as he did so.
"I can't do it Aramis," Juliette sighed, relishing in the comfort Aramis offered, "I can't,"
"You won't," Aramis countered, "You can, you're simply choosing not to,"
"And what if I am?" Juliette tried to break away from the embrace, but Aramis simply tightened his grip.
"I won't survive if I lost him," Juliette giving Aramis an answer to a question he hadn't expected.
"Giving him up is going to feel the same," Aramis responded.
Juliette gave him silence in return, so Aramis continued, "Do you think it's going to feel any better seeing him with someone else? Pretending to love someone else?"
"Eventually it won't be pretend," Juliette finally breaking out of Aramis' embrace.
"You honestly believe that?" Aramis couldn't believe what he was hearing.
Juliette simply looked at him, "Time can change things,"
"If that were true for you and Porthos then you wouldn't be feeling the way you are now. The way you have been feeling for years," Aramis snorted in disbelief.
"Porthos' feelings have changed," Juliette said dryly, "Why should mine be any different given enough time?"
"Are you being serious right now?" Aramis couldn't hide the exasperation in his voice.
"Why are you looking at me like I'm being ridiculous?" Juliette huffed, hands on her hips as she stood up.
"Because you are being ridiculous!" Aramis stood as well, "Did you know he was actually jealous when he saw you with the Gascon?"
"What? He sent me with the Gascon. Who do you think walked me home?" Juliette looked at Aramis with disbelief and confusion.
"Not this evening," Aramis shook his head, "Earlier. At the Bastille. You were gripping D'Artagnan's arm tight. Porthos was jealous,"
"There was no need for jealously, not that I believe he was jealous," she said, defiance almost in her voice.
Now it was Aramis' turn to look with disbelief.
They stood in a silent standoff before Aramis finally spoke.
"He still loves you," Aramis said softly.
"You can't know that," She looked away as she spoke but Juliette's tone told Aramis that not even she believed that.
"I do, and so do you," Aramis sighed. He hated seeing Juliette in turmoil.
"Aramis," Juliette pleaded with him.
Sighing Aramis agreed and changed the subject, "What happened at the Bastille?"
It was not the subject change Juliette necessarily wanted, but she took it, "I had a panic attack,"
Aramis raised an eyebrow in concern, "How bad?"
"Not the worst," Juliette once again taking a seat on her bed, "But not the smallest either,"
Aramis didn't say anything. He just waited patiently for Juliette to answer all the questions he didn't need to ask.
"Athos wasn't in his cell. He had been moved to the yard by the time we got there. I began to panic," Juliette offered, "Would have been a lot worse if D'Artagnan wasn't there. He did well for someone who clearly had no idea what they were dealing with,"
"That's why you still had a hold of him when we got there. You were using him as an anchor, weren't you?" Realisation was clear in Aramis' voice.
"And he kindly let me, without me even needing to ask," Juliette smiled softly as she yawned.
Seeing that Juliette was beginning to fall asleep, Aramis kissed her on the cheek and started to leave.
He stopped at the doorway and turned back to Juliette.
She had fallen asleep already, worry no longer etched on her face.
"Don't fight this Juliette," Aramis said softly so as not to wake her, "You both need this. More than either of you realise,"
He left, quietly shutting the door behind him.
