A/N: Ninon's and Cosette's conversation has been changed up fairly slightly, as were Aramis teasing Cosette about Ninon. I improved Porthos' and Aramis' conversation by adding Athos in a little because I realized I completely forgot he was in the scene, which is why his scenes were moved to this chapter. Ninon's and Cosette's conversation remained.

Special Thanks to:

Hon

Two unnamed guests. One for giving me ideas and the other for saying it was not bad so far

Cy, who likes the twist in the relationships.

Also, to those who followed and favored it and to those who continue writing this.

Chapter 16: A Woman's Privilege

After the matter was settled, she left faster out the door and of course, the struggling, long stairs. Cosette stopped midway when she saw Ninon standing at the garrison. Honestly, what was that woman doing here? Ninon did not do anything suspicious to indicate Cosette's real form. She reached the end of the stairs.

"Careful D'Artagnan. You're really starting to show," said Ninon. Cosette made sure no one heard that.

"Are you trying to reveal who I am?" Cosette snapped. Everyone including her brothers were looking at her.

"Well I could have shouted it across the courtyard but I didn't," Ninon said. Cosette was lucky she was a girl, because it's she wasn't, Ninon was going to pummel her into dust.

"I apologize, Madame," Cosette apologized, her eyes closing temporarily. "May I ask how did you know?"

"my dear girl, knew what you were the minute you walked into that room, Mademoiselle..."

" D'Artagnan," Cosette added. "That is my real surname, still."

"Of course. It's just you didn't look... Masculine enough," Ninon said.

"If only some men saw," said Cosette.

Ninon looked at Athos, Aramis, and Porthos.

"Do your comrades know?"

Cosette shook her head. Ninon sighed.

"Shame," Ninon said. She put a hand on Cosette's shoulder sympathetically. "None would have ever gotten as far as you have, my dear girl. You are very special."

"With all due respect, Comtesse, I am just a woman who dressed this way to Avenge her father's death. I am many things but special is not one of them."

"Yes, but you kept it a secret this long, for you to not get caught."

"It's hard being surrounded by my comrades and they will never know who I am."

"Maybe one day, Mademoiselle d'Artagnan, one day they'll know who you are."

"Athos is not good at secrets being revealed," Cosette admitted. "He will be furious that someone, mainly me, he trusts has lied to him this entire time. He will never forgive me."

"Only if he is truly your friend, then he'll understand." Ninon offered a smile and grabbed onto her hand. "It may sound strange for a woman to be dressed among men, treasure your moments together, mademoiselle d'Artagnan, no matter how short they are."

Cosette took Ninon's words at heart. She thanked Ninon, watching the noblewoman walking away.

"Well, someone is in the good graces with Comtesse Ninon," Aramis teased her.

She shook her head.

"No Aramis," said Cosette. "Not like that. She's a friend."

Aramis continued teasing her. Cosette hoped Athos was going to rescue her from their teasing. However, he did not.

"And what about Constance Bonacieux?"

"And so is she," Cosette responded.

"D'Artagnan, as I recall, Constance has feelings for you too." Aramis added.

"And I told you before, Aramis, she is married and a friend," Cosette snapped. "And speaking of Constance I got to go to the Bonacieux house and wait in case Fleur returns."

"You sure it's not to spend more time with her," asked Aramis.

"Aramis, that's enough," Athos snapped. He did not know why but Aramis teasing the young woman was just getting annoying. "D'Artagnan, go home in case Fleur Baudin shows up like Treville wants you to."

"Okay," Cosette said. She looked at Aramis before she left. Cosette rolled her eyes, with a groan of annoyance as she led herself out of the garrison. They took it that she was angry with Porthos looking at his best friend.

"I think you over did it again, Aramis," Porthos said.

"Perhaps I did," Aramis admitted. "Maybe I should go apologize to our Gascon brother."

"Later," Athos said. "You and Porthos go find Fleur Baudin before something bad happens to her."

Within the hour, Cosette returned to the Bonacieux house, where she saw that Constance was in need of female accompaniment. Actually, her best friend was surprised to see her there.

"Cosette, what are you doing here?"

"I thought you could use a friend," Cosette answered. "Come here."

Constance, because no one else was here, desperately grasped onto her best friend. They sat like that for a few minutes. Cosette wished she knew what to do to help Constance. They had the strongest bond of all Cosette's friends. That's why after a few minutes, Cosette finally discovered what to do. Since her best friend was there to help her get through with losing her own father Cosette was going to help Constance get through this mess.

"I cannot help but worry for Fleur," said Constance. "Cold, lost, and alone in Paris. It's a large city, Cos. She could get hurt."

"I know what it's like to feel that way, Constance," said Cosette. Cosette thought for a while, she tried thinking of what to say until remembering something from her Childhood. "You know, Constance, I got lost once. My sisters were in charge of me once when we visited our mother's parents Grand-père Charles and Grandmére Josette for a few days a couple of months after my mother died. We left for the marketplace for our pleasure with ten livres. However, I wandered away from the stall we were at. I got lost in the city. I wasn't sure where I was going. All I wanted to find was my sisters. Luckily, Amélie and Isabelle found me. I was nine at the time. See Amélie was nineteen and Isabelle was fifteen. I thought I was the only one who was scared. However, they said they couldn't live with themselves if anything bad happened to me. I know what it's like to worry about family because I got lost in an entire city. However, it must be harder on you than it was on my sisters."

Constance nodded. She grasped one of Cosette's hand and squeezed it.

"Thank you, Cosette," she said a small, sad smile on her face. "You're a really good friend."

"We're best friends, it's what we do for each other," Cosette said.

The girls sat together for hours when at night Fleur Baudin was returned to the Bonacieuxs' house. By the Red Guards nonetheless. Constance, no matter what her thoughts were, immediately rushed to Fleur and hugged her in relief. The Guards looked at Cosette, who was instead wearing a dress. A nightgown that way she could sleep better. Cosette always wore a night gown, as it was the only time when she wasn't working. Constance was in the middle of taking her corset off when Red Guards came. Cosette was looking down and her shoulder-length hair was put up in a bun. Red Guards honestly did not care for what the woman looked like. Instead, they revealed where Fleur had been: In Ninon's house and that she had been arrested for kidnapping. Despite this, Fleur protested that she was at Ninon's of her own free will. Cosette could not help but agree with her. Ninon was a pacifist woman who fought for women equality. The Guards took their leaves, giving all of them a goodnight.

Constance went over for ten minutes telling Fleur she had been worried sick about her. Now, Constance didn't need to ask where Fleur had been all this time because the Guards answered for her.

"There is one thing that I find suspicious. Ninon knew who I was when I walked through her doors. Fleur, please tell me you did not tell Ninon about my secret."

"I did," Fleur answered.

"Why?" Constance asked.

"Because, you are ashamed of being a woman, which is why you disguised yourself as a man," Fleur answered. "I thought she could-"

"What? Help me? I don't need help right now. I needed a promise to be kept. That was my secret, Fleur. I am not ashamed of me being a woman. I am ashamed that I told you my life's secret to someone else."

"I'm sorry Cosette," Fleur said. Cosette cried.

"Look, I'm just relieved you're home okay," Cosette told the older woman. "But I cannot forgive you for what you have done."

Fleur did not respond to Cosette. The young woman, when she was satisfied, went back upstairs, not thinking this week could get any worse.

"There is to be a trial in a couple of hours," revealed Treville.

Why did Cosette have to be ironic? She was in Treville's office, where she had been shocked to learn this from the Captain just this morning.

"A trial for the Comtesse?" Cosette snapped. "What has she done that is so wrong?"

"Cosette, she was seen having Fleur Baudin and other young women in a locked room. Aramis and Athos attempted to stop the Red Guards' raid when the room and the ladies were found."

"It's ridiculous! This is a trial of mockery!"

"Cosette..."

"Are you not the least bit suspicious?"

"The girls did say they were not coerced. But Cosette, I cannot do anything to change it. "

"I know you cannot, Captain," said Cosette. "But Ninon is innocent. She is a tool in the Cardinal's game. That much I do know, and I won't give up on her."

After Treville dismissed her, Cosette knew this conversation was over. She went to go join Athos, Porthos, and Aramis in going to where Ninon's trial was.

"Cosette," Treville called her. She looked back on him. "You have a good, young heart. you are so high-spirited, stubborn and with your image, you remind me of your mother. Françoise would be proud of you."

Cosette never could have imagined Treville calling her to be just like her mother. Usually, people compared her sister Amelie to Francoise. Her father told her once that she reminded him of her mother, and it felt like he said that an eternity ago. Athos, Porthos and Aramis looked up when they saw her exit out of Treville's office. Whatever happened to her, Cosette did not want to talk about it.