Chapter 27

Cosette wished she could Now be happy, but she wasn't working yet, because, all they needed was a plan to get Milady. Treville sent out a messenger for her. Meanwhile, things were not so good for the three members of les Inséparables. Cosette saw how her comrades were acting strange around her. . Aramis and Porthos were the ones about to face her wrath. When the two told Cosette that Constance had gone missing, she hit the roof and began pacing around the Garrison.

"Perhaps we're worrying about nothing," said Aramis. Cosette sighed in frustration. Didn't they know there were more things at stake rather than Milady's capture?

"Constance would not just disappear, Mis," said Cosette. " Something's happened to her."

"She might be home already, safe and sound."

"And what if she isn't?" Cosette tried to refrain from yelling. She really did. "Please, guys, she is my best friend."

" Look, I'm sure she's fine, Cosette, alright" Porthos said. The young woman was slightly taken aback. She'd have to get used to them calling her by her first name. Her real first name. "She came to the garrison when she heard you were injured. You could see she was upset."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Cosette asked. She glared at the boys.

"You were sleeping," said Aramis.

"Besides," said Porthos. "You told us to send her away if she tried to contact you.

"Yes, but that isn't what I meant anymore," said Cosette. "Now, in scared about her. I don't ...just because we had an argument doesn't mean I didn't care about her anymore."

"You only have to look at her face to see she cared about you, 'Sette," said Aramis. Cosette was surprised at the nickname.

"Please don't call me that," said Cosette. "One man called need that and he was my father. I prefer it if you call me by my full name."

Aramis never got the chance to respond because the captain walk through the gates with news.

"Milady is on her way. She's taken the bait." said the captain.

Cosette refrained from going to the stables when Aramis stopped in front of her. He placed an arm around the girl's shoulders.

"We'll deal with Milady and then we'll find Constance." Aramis said. Cosette smiled. It was like having an older brother again.

Treville, Aramis, Porthos and Cosette entered a hasty speed on the dirt road, meeting Milady Anne de Winter, who was watching as the musketeers dismount from the horses.

"The Cardinal was unavoidably detained," said Treville. Cosette watched Milady's jaw clench.

"So, he has finally betrayed me?"However, Milady didn't care. She smiled victoriously to the Musketeers." Well, it changes nothing. I've already won. Athos is dead."

Cosette, Porthos, Aramis and Treville stopped themselves from smiling as Athos came behind from Milady. She shut her eyes, knowing it was true: her ex-husband was still alive.

"I should have guessed." said Milady. She turned around.

"It seems we are both prone to resurrection. "said Athos. Cosette was surprised at how calm he was considered being "Dead" for a few moments.

"It's amazing what you can do with a bit of play-acting and a pig's bladder full of blood," Porthos fired At Milady, who glared at Cosette. It was quite clear that girl tricked her all to well. Cosette ignored her.

"Did your revenge taste sweet?" Athos asked Milady, who turned her attention back to her former husband.

"For a moment... and then something strange happened. The world seemed diminished without you." Milady answered. She began walking away. Athos coolly took out his pistol and pointed it at his ex-wife's head.

"Shoot me and you will never see Constance Bonacieux alive again." Milady said.

Cosette couldn't believe her ears. She approached milady, dangerously glaring at her.

"Where is she?!" Cosette asked. "If you hurt my best friend I'll..." Athos held out an arm to stop Cosette from going any closer to Milady to prevent the young woman causing more harm to her wound. "If you've hurt her..."

"Kill me? Not if you care for that girl, you won't," Milady de Winter asked, smiling as Cosette glared at her. Milady also noticed Athos' behavior around the girl in disguise as he pushed Cosette behind him further. Aramis puta covering have on her shoulder. "And you've got Athos and your friends protecting you as well? So touching."

Aramis silently told Cosette to calm down as he glared at Milady. He wasn't about to lose two female friends of his today.

"I warned you there would be a final reckoning between us, Athos. Treville! I'll be waiting with Constance in the Rue Saint-Jacques in one hour's time. Send them. No-one else."

"She has no intention of letting us live," Athos noted to his friends and they knew he was right.

Together, the Musketeers strapped on their pauldrons and then their leathers. Cosette was sure that they would get Milady and the Cardinal. But now, she had to save Constance. Her best friend. She didn't hate Constance as she thought. There was something else that happened, and Cosette knew Constance was coerced to break her friendship with her. She just knew that was the only explanation.

Porthos and Aramis knew that they had to tell Athos about Cosette, but for now, they had to worry about saving their friend.

Athos thought it would be the end too, but now, they had a duty to rescue Constance. Together, the quartet of friends had put their hands together.

"All for one," said Aramis.

The four of them looked at each other, and all would say the next thing.

"And one for all…" said all four. Now they were ready to save Constance.

"Constance, get down" shouted Cosette. She and her friends began shooting at the bad guys. Cosette saw the man that was holding her best friend hostage. So without another word, she shot the man.

"Constance, run!" Cosette yelled. Constance looked at her former best friend, but Cosette told her to run for it no matter what. She took out her sword and began fighting. She fought most of the mercenaries. However, things were not alright. Athos, Porthos, Aramis and Cosette began chasing afterwards.

However, the entire group stopped. Milady was holding Constance at gunpoint.

"One more step and she dies," snapped Milady. She glared at Cosette and then at Athos, who approached cautiously. He had to save Constance without endangering her life.

"Stop this Anne," said Athos. "You've hurt enough people."

"You dare to talk to me about hurt?" asked Milady. Constance nodded at Cosette, who nodded back. Using the trick Cosette taught her, Constance managed to knock the pistol out of Milady's hand. Without another word, Constance quickly rushed to Cosette.

"I'm sorry, what I said!" Constance said. She hugged Cosette and began whispering. "II didn't mean any of it! None of it! None of it was true!"

"I forgive you," said Cosette. "I forgive you, sister."

Constance protectively shielded Cosette.

"Do you have anything to say?" said Milady. Athos had a gun pointed at her."Go ahead. Finish what you started."

Athos crocked his gun.

"You don't have to do this." Aramis reasoned. However Athos didn't look his best friend in the eye.

"Leave this to the proper authorities, Athos." Porthos agreed.

"I made her what she is," said Athos. His voice breaking. "Her murders are on my head."

"It is you who should be on your knees," said Milady. She removed her choker. "Now kill me... and do a better job of it than last time."

Athos sighed. "Go to Spain. England. Anywhere. I don't care. But if you ever show your face in Paris again... I will kill you, without hesitation."

Milady grabbed both sides of Athos' cheeks tenderly and she brushed her thumb on his left cheek.

"You know there can be no peace for either of us, until we are both dead," said Milady. The entire group watched as Milady fled the scene. Cosette was relieved as she grabbed Constance's hand.

"I'm glad you saved her," Cosette said. Athos looked at his younger sister and then at Constance.

"Perhaps I was saving myself," said Athos. He dropped Milady's locket on the floor, and they left it on Paris' streets for good.

"If you didn't mean it, "then why did you say it?" Cosette asked as she and Constance walked away from the crime scene.

Constance sighed. "Well, I had to Cosette. My husband threatened to reveal your secret to the Cardinal."

"Well, he can't use that to his advantage any more," said Cosette. "Because the Cardinal already knows. She looked at Porthos and Aramis. "And Porthos and Aramis know as well."

"And Athos?" Constance asked.

"He doesn't know," Cosette said.

"But you will tell him eventually, right?" Cosette did not know what to say, but she could never respond because one of Constance's servants saw her.

"Madame Bonacieux! Come quickly! The master has tried to kill himself!"

"What have you done?" Constance asked as she and Cosette entered the Bonacieux house. Cosette could not believe at how gentle Constance was being with Monsieur Bonacieux. The man did this on purpose. He didn't want to be labeled as the man whose wife possibly became a whore. He was more worried on how it would affect him.

"I won't reproach you, ask you where you've been. And I won't let your friendship with Cosette be ruined," said Bonacieux. "Only know this. If you ever leave me again, my worthless life will be on your conscience. I beg you, don't leave."

Cosette snapped and left the room. How could he do this to Constance? He could have left her alone and live her own life.

"He's bluffing," said Cosette, she wasn't even looking at Constance.

"We can't know that."

"What if he really did it?"

"Later, perhaps," said Constance. "And my friend, I hope you understand, that no matter waht, you are still my best friend."

"Yes, my friend," Cosette said. "But don't shut me out completely, Constance, because I'll be watching you from time to time."

"I won't," said Constance. She wanted to hug D'Artagnan. Instead, she held out a hand. "Goodbye, Cosette d'Artagnan."

"Until we meet again," said Cosette. "Constance Bonacieux."

Without another word, Cosette left and then began contemplating.

Maybe, there would be a way for Cosette to get Constance away from her husband. Well, she couldn't think of it right now. She just wanted to go home.