The fire was almost at its embers as Athos finished his story, draining the last of his wine as he did so. D'Artagnan sat back, staring into the dying fire as he tried to process what he had just been told.

'You would never have thought it, to look at him...' he muttered after a few minutes, more to himself than to Athos. Aramis always seemed so carefree, so happy; he never would have guessed this was in his past.

'He's a strong man.' Athos replied quietly with a shrug. 'We all are, have to be. We would not be able to do our jobs otherwise.' He added, voice low as he too looked into the fire, as if in a trance.

'But to go through so much...' the younger man said, shaking his head, before looking up. 'And you?'

'Me, what?' Athos looked over at the Gascon, confused.

'You're not over it, though, are you?' He replied, looking across at his friend with a pointed look. He hadn't known Athos or any of the others very long, but he was already started to get accustomed to their mannerisms.

Athos gave a minute shrug and sat back again with a sigh, eyes on the Gascon. 'I don't speak about it to anyone, not even to Aramis when we are alone. I prefer to wait until he brings it up, but he never does. I let it lie dormant.' Athos looked back into the fire, before letting out another long sigh. 'Problem is, sometimes the things that lay dormant tend to fester.'

The younger man nodded, a sad smile on his face. 'You know where to find me if you want to talk about it.' He said softly.

'What's the point, I've just told you all about it!' Athos retorted, making d'Artagnan snort and nod in agreement.

'I mean, anything else. Saves you bottling it all up.'

'Oh. I see...' Athos sighed deeply again, wishing he had more wine. They both looked up as they heard Aramis call out from somewhere in the courtyard of the Garrison behind them.

'Listen- Porthos and Treville do not know the extent of what Aramis went through; they cannot know.' Athos hissed urgently, grabbing hold of d'Artagnan by his arm, eyes narrowed.

'Alright, I won't tell them...' the younger man muttered with a frown, wincing slightly at the firm grip as Athos' fingers curled around his forearm.

'Aramis must also not know you know- he would be embarrassed that I have told you without him,' the older man added, voice still urgent.

'I understand- Athos you're crushing my arm.'

'Sorry lad...' Athos muttered, before they both looked round as Aramis knocked on the door.

'You can come in, 'Mis.' Athos called, kicking the bottles out of sight as the medic approached.

'Evening lads. Sorry to interrupt, but I saw a light on in here and guessed it was you- Constance was asking over this one,' Aramis grinned as he drew level with them, nodding down at d'Artagnan with a smile before ruffling his hair in the way he hated.

'Oh, and Emilie is beginning to wake up; Constance wondered if you might like to see her, Athos?' he said lightly, before looking across at Athos and repressing a smile. 'Although probably not, considering you've obviously drunk the contents of an entire grape harvest by the look of you.' he chuckled as the younger man between them snorted and stood up.

'He knows you so well!' he shot back at Athos, who nodded ruefully and stretched, wiping bleary eyes.

'That he does, lad,' he yawned, standing up and trying not to sway as his head swam. 'That he does.'

'Come on- d'Artagnan, tell Constance he'll be along in the morning to check up on her. I'll get this one home safe.' he grinned, chuckling as Athos shot him a long-suffering look and began to walk out the room.

'Will do.' d'Artagnan said with a smile as he continued to watch the two men bicker as they went outside-if he could have half the friendship and comradeship that these two men shared he would be a lucky man, he thought to himself.

'Remember to shut the door behind us!' both men suddenly called out in perfect unison as they walked out of the gate.

'I won't!' the Gascon laughed as he too crossed the threshold, shutting the Garrison door with a thud.

The End

Thank you so much for reading this little story- sorry its taken a long 4 years to get it all finished, I know you all probably had to go back and read from the beginning as its been so long!

I really enjoyed this story; it might even be my favourite story I have written for the Musketeers.

I cannot promise I will be back with a brand-new fic for this fandom, but I am going to go through my WIPs and see if I can get a few of them completed! I won't start posting until I have completed the fic first; its not fair for you guys to keep stopping a story after a chapter or two.

Thank you, as ever, for reading- please can you review one last time? Good, bad, suggestions, anything!

Thank you x