Hey guys! Long time no see. I'm so sorry about the delay- things hit the fan pretty hard, and admittedly I've just been whistlin' Dixie instead of working on this story and have been sucked into my Walking Dead muse. It's...terrible, honestly. But I saw the finale for season two and OH MY GOD LIKE? CAN WE TALK ABOUT IT? CAN WE HAVE DETAILED CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT HUG? ABOUT HE AND CONSTANCE? CAN WE?

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little tag to S2 E7, when we learn that Bonacieux has kicked the can.

"Whose blood is this?"

There something pounding in her ears- her heartbeat, maybe. Something erratic and panicked and desperate, something that makes her think- but she doesn't want to think-

She doesn't want him to, doesn't want him to take her and tell her everything will be alright, doesn't want him to take her hands and draw her close and kiss her forehead and whisper things to her that are meant to make her feel better, but she knows he will, and she knows she needs it.

"Constance...I'm so sorry."

She knows, she knows- she knows who he's talking about, knows he's sorry even if he threatened to do it himself, knows that he's too kind for his own good and feels her pain but it hurts so much-

She doesn't want this to happen here, not at the Musketeer Garrison, not in such a public place- she can't have it happen here, she can't break down and show weakness in front of such men-

But when she turns, the courtyard is clear. There isn't a Musketeer in sight.

"Constance-"

"Whose blood?" She needs to hear it- she doesn't want to, but, but-

"Con-"

"D'Artagnan!" It's shrill, it's- it's. She doesn't want to. Don't tell me, she wants to say, but the words are caught in her throat. Don't tell me, please. Don't say that-

"It's your h- Bonacieux's."

She can see it, how it physically pains him to call Bonacieux her husband, and it makes something evil and angry swell inside her, even though she doesn't know why. Maybe because Bonacieux was her husband and d'Artagnan- no.

"What's happened?" There's a tremble to her lips, her hands. There are tears. She chooses not to notice them. "What's happened? Tell me!"

"Constance, I'm so sorry." There's such anguish in his big brown eyes, doe eyes, innocent eyes. Anguish for her. She doesn't want pity.

She's being cradled against his chest and his heartbeat is under her ear. Oh- how she loves his heart. She loves the way it thrums, the way it sounds, the way it loves. The way it beats for life and love and justice. How it clutches things dear to him close enough that she can hear it with every beat.

Ara-mis. Por-thos. Ath-os. Tre-ville. Con-stance. Con-stance. Con-stance.

And then she's crying, and he's holding her, and his lips are on her forehead. She loves him- she loves him so desperately and so wholly that sometimes it scares her. But then it consumes her and he consumes her and he's so addicting, and she was never good enough for Bonacieux and for that she feels guilty, but she's good enough for d'Artagnan, even when she isn't. She isn't. But he and his heart seem to think she is.

"Come on," he whispers, and pulls her to his apartments, guides her gently through the streets. His hand in hers is innocent, guileless. He is guileless.

"Was he alone?" She finds herself sobbing, unable to fathom it though he was such a terrible man to her, struck her the last time she saw him, professing her love to d'Artagnan and spitting her lack of it in Bonacieux's face. She's ashamed.

"No," d'Artagnan answers at length. "I was there with him."

She's relieved- d'Artagnan is not cruel. D'Artagnan is not cruel. He did not leave Bonacieux alone.

"Thank you," she sobs, and he kisses her forehead.

"You shouldn't be alone right now. I'll take you to my-"

"I just want to go home," she admits tearfully, and he rubs up and down her arms. They're cold. He shrugs off his jacket and pulls it around her shoulders, but she doesn't move to acknowledge it's there. "Please, d'Artagnan- I just want to go home." Her breath hitches.

"Okay," he says quietly, takes her hand and leads her further. "Okay, we'll go home. Come on. It's okay, it's alright...sh…" She doesn't want to sh, but hushes her breath.

Her lip throbs.

He unlocks the door for her, leads her inside. Sits her down and makes her some tea. Makes her drink it.

The next thing she knows she's being tucked into bed, the covers being pulled up gently around her, a gentle kiss to her forehead as d'Artagnan withdraws. "Don't go," she wobbles, and she needs him whether she likes it or not because she doesn't deserve him and Bonacieux doesn't deserve this in his bed, but she can't be alone. She's weak like that. "Don't go, please. I- I don't want to be alone."

"Alright," he whispers to her. His voice is always so soft. "Alright. Scoot over-" she shuffles to make room in bed and shivers at the cold sheets, but he climbs in after her and he's so warm, warm and soft and sweet, and she tucks into his side before she can rebuke herself. Tears slip out from under her eyes, and d'Artagnan kisses them away.

"This isn't fair to him," she tells him tearfully, breath hitching again in a sob. It isn't, and it's all her fault. "You shouldn't be here-"

"Shh," he tells her, soft as anything, and kisses her nose. "Close your eyes now, love. I'll keep you safe till morning."

She wants to tell him that she doesn't need to be kept safe, doesn't need for a man to protect her especially d'Artagnan, doesn't need any of these things that he's doing for her, but she does, and that's the worst feeling in the world.

He kisses the delicate crease between her brows until it eases, then kisses her eyelids until they stop letting tears leak. Kisses her raw nose and the cut on her lip, kisses her tear stained, stinging cheeks. Kisses her bruised chin and her sore jaw from clenching her teeth so hard. Does it all again.

She falls asleep under these caring ministrations, tucked close to his side, cold body pressed against his warm one, head cushioned on his chest, listening to his heart beat for her.

In the morning, she can't bear to look at him.

This was really fun to write, honestly, though it's short. Just finished it tonight actually **HIDES** but my D'Artagnan x Constance feels were buzzing like crazy.

Guest: Thank you so much for crying- I can't believe this story is worth some of your tears! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Almonx: Sounds good to me! Can't wait to write it. I do warn you that my prompt list is very, very long, and so it may be a while as I pick randomly from it, but it IS coming at some point and I can't wait either!

Katx: You're too kind, thank you so much!

Moniker: Holy moly macaroni this is a long one! Thank you so much! Happy Birthday, first off! Hope it was a festive celebration and that you're enjoying the account :) You can learn, and believe it or not I am only slightly older than you- younger than most think. I've been writing since I was six years old and it took me a while to get this good, and I'm still learning and growing and changing and ugh, I look back on writing and CRINGE. But you can learn and I have faith! You've certainly got the personality for it ;) Oh, be picky about spelling- me too! I hate it when they don't capitalize correctly and it just- it looks WRONG. I'm glad you like my chapter lengths- I try to go long but sometimes (this time, for example) they just don't get to where I need 'em. Ah well. Quality over quantity after all :) How in HELL did you know I'm planning a Musketeer Musical. How the- hell. Goddammit. It was meant to a SURPRISE, thank you very much. I could make marshmallows exist- I can do it. I can do it. It won't be historically accurate AT ALL, but I CAN DO IT! I just warn you my prompt list is very long, so either A) it won't come for a bit BUT IT WILL COME or B) it will be combined with some other prompts. If that's okay with you? (I hate reviewing on mobile- get what you mean.) Thank you so much for the lengthy review and I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well!Thank you so much! That fanart sounds AMAZING and I would be so flattered if you would draw it and share your talent with the world! Even if you do copy other people's styles the fact that you can do so at all is so amazing, and I hope to see it someday! Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Alright guys, finally back on track a bit. Again I'm sorry for late updates, life got out of control but eyy, that's life, innit? I hope you enjoyed despite the length, please leave me a comment/suggestion/prompt on your thoughts, and have a great day/night! See ya!