AN: I read in an interview that it was planned to bring Milady back for the whole of season 3 and continue her story arc with Athos. Due to the actress' pregnancy, Milady's story arc in season 3 was overturned at the last moment and Sylvie came in, while Milady's appearance was limited to a few scenes at the end. I wondered what it would have looked like if they had decided to include the pregnancy in the scripts. This story is the result. I'm sticking as closely as possible to the events of season 3 - even Sylvie experiences most of her adventures as shown in the series, except for her romance with Athos for obvious reasons (sorry Sylvie).

The chapter names indicate the episode a chapter belongs to. At the beginning of each chapter, you will find a short summary of the respective episode, but I think that this story is only fun if you have watched the third season. Maybe some of the dialogue in the last chapters will sound very familiar to you, that' s because I took them directly from the series.

4 months before "Spoils of War".

Athos didn't know much anymore. He did not know how he had come here. He didn't know how long he had been stuck in this hole of a Spanish prison. He didn't know how many times his jailers had tortured him and how many times he hurled at them that he had nothing to say. He didn't know how many times he had begged God to put him out of his misery.

All he knew was that God had not heard him.

It must have been days since they had last taken him. As he assessed the situation, they had realised that they would not get any useful information out of him and now simply left him to rot. In this dark and mouldy cell, he would meet a pathetic end. Before his time? Judging by his age, perhaps. Judging by the many times he had narrowly escaped death, it was probably fair that the reaper should finally come into his own. Besides, the blame was entirely his. He had made the daring plan to venture far into the heartland of Spain to sabotage the supply lines for the front. He had wanted to establish equality. He could no longer stand by and watch comrade after comrade perish around him, mown down by Spanish cannons, while they themselves had little more than their swords.

He had gone off alone. Porthos and d'Artagnan would have accompanied him, of course, but he knew how absurdly risky his venture was and had not wanted to involve his brothers. For the same reason he covered all tracks. They should never know where he had disappeared to. Therefore, they would not come to rescue him. Just as he had intended.

He hoped they would live. Somehow. He hoped they wouldn't be blown apart by a cannonball. He hoped Constance would get her husband back.

At least Aramis was safe. Even if Queen Anne would certainly never get her beloved back.

Anne. The name turned his thoughts in an unwelcome direction. Why was he thinking of his wife now, of all times? Eleven years ago, he had hanged her, six years ago, she returned to his life. How much he had detested her. Four years ago, she asked him to come with her and he almost did. He still didn't know if it had been bad luck or purpose that he had been late for their meeting place. He wondered where he would be now if he had been on time then. In England? In Antwerp? In her arms?

He laughed bitterly. He knew his wife, what made him imagine a paradisiacal future with her now? And yet, for a moment, there was again this vision of flowering meadows, laughter, forget-me-nots, love, and hope.

Then this bright vision turned into a dark picture of betrayal, loss, loneliness, drunkenness, and death.

The chains on his joints rattled as Athos straightened against the damp wall of his cell. He could not allow himself to think such thoughts. Carelessness and musings could be fatal in this environment. And even though he was sure he would meet his end here; he certainly wasn't going to make it easy for the Spaniards.

He listened again to his surroundings. Footsteps. Were they coming for him again? No, something was off. He knew the sounds in this prison well by now. Something had subtly changed.

Someone was tampering with the door of his cell.