A/N: This chapter is longer than any one of the chapters I've written. This is due to the fact that I want to work on other projects, so, enjoy this long chapter (because most of my chapters are at least 1.5k wordsd, this one is at least 3600 words.

Cosette did not sleep that night. She had to figure out how the hell she and the King were going to escape. Louis needed to get to his father. And Cosette remembered, the Dauphin's christening was the day after tomorrow. The King's presence was mandatory, for he couldn't miss something that was bound to tradition

As she lay down, thinking, Cosette heard the crock of a pistol and felt a boot on her stomach.

"Milady De Winter," Cosette sneered. She glared at the woman she hoped they would never have to deal with again. I see neither one of us have gone up in the world."

"I'm not the one destined for a Spanish galley," said Milady.

"Your new friends will tire of you soon, then what? A miserable life plying your trade in some low-life brothel?"

"I thought you liked me, Cosette," said Milady.

"I did when I met you but now, I pity you, Anne" she corrected. " And knowing that you've stooped so low as to sell innocent people, well, the thought of it makes me sick. I'd rather sleep with a polecat"

Cosette took her feet and chains she wrapped around Milady's ankles and quickly snatched her gun and pointed it at the pistol's former owner.

"You won't shoot me. It would simply ensure your own death and that of the King. Give me the gun and I'll set you free," said Milady as she held out a set of keys. Warily, Cosette handed Milady her pistol back. She ignored Milady's smirk as the older woman unlocked her shackles and towards the stake in the ground.

"I saved your life. Remember that."

"What's going on?" the king asked as he jolted awake.

"You must go," said Milady as Cosette and Louis got up. "Your friend will help."

Cosette feared something would happen and she was right, because the King was looking at Milady. like in the romantic kind of way.

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself?" asked the King as both he and Cosette got to their feet. The young woman couldn't help but scowl.

"Think of me as a Good Samaritan," said Milady.

"An angel, more like," said Louis. Cosette ignored him and Milady.

"The leg irons," Said Cosette.

"No time, just go!" Milady snapped.

"How much further must we walk?" Louis asked. Cosette understood him. They had been running for hours. She was getting tired too but she had to get the king to safety.

"Until we are certain we are safe, Sire," said Cosette.

"When I was a boy and I was tired... my valet would carry me." Cosette could tell he was trying to pass the time, but it really wasn't helping. However, she could not help but

"My father carried me. Sometimes I'd pretend I couldn't walk another step," said Cosette she smiled. Her father always did carry her. "Just to be in his arms."

"That's only because you didn't have a valet," said Louis. The corners of Cosette's mouth tugged at her lips to form a smile.

Just as they were slowing down, the two heard the sound of horses. Their captors knew they had escaped and they began running. However, what they did not see was a drop-off point, as they fell on their backs from the small cliff.

"Your Majesty. You all right?" Cosette asked.

She was relieved when he grunted. At least they were far, far away. However, when Cosette looked up, she saw they were surrounded. Despite their wounded legs, the men forced Cosette and Louis back to camp. Of course, she could feel Milady scowling at them just because Cosette could not get Louis out to safety. But Cosette felt that woman was having a hidden agenda. Now the captor was getting very, very anxious.

"Who are you?" shouted the captor. "Tell me!" He pointed a gun at Cosette. "Or he dies."

Cosette shook her head, numerous times. However, Louis was not having any of it, especially if the blood of Captain Treville's godson be on the King's hand. And besides, their escape attempt didn't work.

"Don't," she begged, but the king would not listen.

"I am Louis, son of Henry IV, of the House of Bourbon and Marie de Medici. I am your King. You cannot treat me like this."

Cosette watched the man shaking his hands. This was possibly not what he was expecting. Louis did something Cosette never thought he did: the king punched their captor in the face. Normally, she'd expect Porthos or Aramis to do it but they were not there, where they? Things only got worse for them. They would have died in a hail of musket balls when more men came into their camp and began fighting every man in the camp. However, Cosette had pulled the king away from the danger.

A man landed right next to Cosette and Louis. Cosette took two of the loaded pistols and the keys. She threw them towards the prisoners' way. She picked up a pistol and handed it to Pepin. She took another shot. She took his sword and pistol.

She handed the pistol to Louis.

"Save your shot until you absolutely have to use it," Said Cosette.

She knew he was a good shot; she'd seen him hunt before.

"If we are to die," began Pepin, "this is how I want it to be - by my King's side, fighting to give us our freedom, not in the belly of some ship."

"Sh. We're not going to die. We just need to get to the trees. All right?" Cosette asked. "Right, get ready? Go! Go! Go!"

It was too fast. Cosette stopped and she watched Pepin fall.

"Pepin! Get up! come on! Pepin, come on. Pepin, get up!" she shouted. One more shot, and Pepin was dead.

"No! No!" Cosette yelled. Cosette would have run, she would have run right back. However, King Louis was stronger than her, holding her back by her shoulders.

"NO D'ARTAGNAN!" Louis shouted. "You can't do anything to help him any more he's gone!"

Cosette cried as Louis pushed her in front of him and caused her to run. Run fast. When they were far away, Cosette made sure the king was in front of her. She thought back on that man. Now Pepin would never return to his wife and daughter. But she had a duty to go through. She and Louis ran away from the battlefield when Milady appeared with two other horses.

"I thought you'd never stop running," said Milady. Cosette glared at the woman. "Quickly, we must hurry."

Cosette hated Milady, but she hated the men who killed Pepin even more. So, she and Louis got back up on the horses and rode away.

"Wait right here, I'll see if anyone's following," said Cosette. She turned her horse around the way they came, rode ahead. However, she could have sworn she heard someone coming up towards them. She quickly rode all the way back up to Milady and Louis. She saw something happened between the two but she was too busy with saving their butts. "There's someone coming, get back. Give me a pistol. Give me a pistol now! Unless you want us all dead!"

Milady rolled her eyes but she gave the young Musketeer her pistol.

"I keep this only to protect myself," said Milady. Cosette rolled her eyes.

She aimed her pistol at the men who were coming towards them.

"D'Artagnan don't shoot!" shouted one of the men. Cosette waited for a minute when she saw that it was them. It was her brothers. Athos, Aramis and Porthos.

She saw it was Aramis who yelled at her to stop. She could have sworn she saw Porthos and Aramis nearly tear up. She put her pistol away, but she also saw that one of the men who helped lure her and the King out were with them.

"Am I glad to see you!" said Cosette. Athos wordlessly looked her over, and saw he didn't need to ask. She was alright.

"Is the King safe?" Athos asked. Cosette nodded and pointed towards Louis and Milady. The King showed himself, causing more sighs of relief from Porthos and Aramis

"Allow me to introduce our savior. We owe this lady our lives." the King pointed to Anne.

Cosette looked and saw Athos' eyes go cold like a cobra, the same way she looked at Milady.

"Your Majesty, she was part of the criminal band that kidnapped us in the first place," Cosette reminded him.

"She should be held for questioning."

"With respect, Your Majesty," Aramis got down from his horse. Obviously, he was adding just so Cosette wouldn't look like the bad guy. "We don't know what other crimes she's committed."

"This humble woman has shown true nobility of character," said Louis. "Her crimes are hereby pardoned."

"You have made a new woman of me, Your Majesty."

Athos glared at Milady but he whispered in Cosette's ear.

"Did she really save your life?"

"For her own reasons, but, yes," said Cosette as she watched Athos dip his head. "Look, Athos, I've got to tell you something."

Athos looked up at her.

"What?" he asked. Before she said anything, Aramis shouted.

"Athos!" shouted Aramis.

"Come," said Athos. He looked at Cosette and saw that she had been to exhausted. Athos decided that Cosette had done enough. "Porthos, D'Artagnan, ride with the King to Paris. We'll hold them here as long as we can."

"What just the two of you?"

"Three," Cosette said. She came up as she drew her pistol from Milady. She saw that Porthos wanted to object but she gave him the 'don't you dare' look. "I'm staying."

Athos considered this and nodded. She and Aramis took positions, with Bruno also assisting them. Cosette saw the man who had tried to kill her, the king and had killed Pepin. She took Athos' scarf without waiting for his permission. She covered his scarf with her hand as she gave her pistol to Aramis, who trailed after her. He obviously didn't want the man to kidnap her again or try to kill her, which was why he was following her. As she wound Athos scarf around her hand, she grabbed the blade that her former captor was pointing at her. She grabbed his arm and brought him down with all her strength.

"For Pepin," Cosette muttered and she took the sword and buried it deep into the captor's chest.

Her brothers gave her looks of surprise but she chose to ignore them. When Cosette, the Musketeers and King Louis walked through those doors, finally reunited with his son at last. She saw that Constance and Henry were smiling. Apparently, they must have been comforting each other because of Cosette's disappearance.

After the Dauphin's christening, the Inseparables and Treville walked through the doors into the throne room.

"D'Artagnan," said King Louis. She nodded. "Your bravery and loyalty during our ordeal deserve recognition. I have a special gift for you. You have the honour of executing this traitor."

He pointed to Bruno, who was knocked down to the floor.

"But you promised me clemency!" Bruno cried.

"Which I am granting. A quick death, more than you deserve."

"No, no, sire, please, please! This man fought to protect you," said Cosette.

"He did it to save his own neck. Which you will now sever."

"You gave him your word! Are you taking sides with a traitor against your King?"

Cosette fumed in anger.

"No sir," Cosette answered. She took the sword that the guards were offering her. However, she looked at Treville, and Athos, and Porthos and Aramis, the four men who taught her to become a Musketeer. She felt Treville was telling her that her father would be very disappointed in her if she went through. Athos' would be telling her, "Head over heart." Aramis and Porthos would be telling her that this was not right. Just as they did to Athos when he nearly killed Milady. Cosette looked at the king.

"I am a soldier..." said Cosette. She put the sword down, "not an executioner."

She bowed her head and looked away from the King. Cosette could feel Treville telling her she was doing the right thing as she walked right back next to Aramis.

Rochefort, meanwhile, was more than glad to kill that man. She would have been sick if Cosette looked.

"Thank you, Rochefort. That was well done," said the King. He scowled at Cosette. "At least I have one loyal soldier."

Cosette kept beating herself up about Pepin. It wasn't helping her. Henry and her would spend the whole afternoon catching up. However, today, she wanted to be alone. She wanted to take a break from everything and everybody. She had stood there for five minutes, listening to Louis lecture her. She chose to ignore him. Cosette had gone down to give Pepin's wife and daughter money for recompense for Pepin's death.

She remembered Porthos and Aramis relieved that she was okay, even getting her into bone crushing hugs. However, Cosette felt that Athos did not feel their relief. He didn't know the dangers that Cosette put herself into. Now, she was tired of keeping it secret. This was it. This was her time. She was going to tell Athos everything about her. No one, not even Porthos or Aramis would stop her from telling Athos everything.

Of course, as she made her way to the tavern, she heard someone talking to Athos: Milady de Winter.

"What are you talking about?"

"What you don't know is that our young friend, d'Artagnan, ...

"What did you do to him, Anne?" Athos asked, worrying for the young woman.

"Oh, he has a secret, and worse," milady said, an evil grin on her face. She looked at Cosette, was approaching. "He can tell you himself. Milady didn't look at Cosette who was without words. "Just like you wanted, Cosette," she whispered, but the young woman said nothing.

"D'Artagnan, what is she talking about?" Athos asked, calm as could be. Cosette gasped in a breath. This was NOT how she wanted to tell Athos.

"Athos, I am not who I say I am," Cosette said. "My name is not Charles d'Artagnan

"Wh... what?" Athos glared at Millay.

"My name… I am Cosette Marie de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan, daughter of Françoise de Montesquiou and Alexandre de Batz de Castelmore d'Artagnan. The youngest of three, and the daughter that went missing a year ago"

Athos was at a loss for words.

D'Artagnan...the man who was his "brother" was a woman…

He knew there was something off about d'Artagnan and his-no, her-real age. But it wasn't just her age, nor was it was her gender. It was the secret. He was infuriated, and not just because he was flaring in anger. It was because Cosette didn't even bother to tell him. It must have been WHAT she was trying to tell him the past couple of days.

"Well," milady said, delighted at Athos' painful and anger gaze at Cosette.

"Get out!" Athos screamed at Milady. "But you…" He glared at Cosette and pointed a finger at her. "You stay!"

Milady smirked. "I'll leave you to your sorrows" and with that she left. Cosette turned around and looked at Athos, who shook his head and still, he pointed an accusing finger at her.

"You were lying?" Athos asked as Cosette nodded shamefully. "you've all been lying to me this whole time?"

"I'm sorry, Athos, I wanted to tell you many times but ..."

"But what?"

"I couldn't, the first few times, but today, we kept getting interrupted," said Cosette.

"Why?"

"You wouldn't have understood."

"Try me," Athos hissed.

"My father," she began, "He thought it was safer that I travelled with him if I was a boy. So, after he died, I kept the charade up. I never meant for it to go this far, Athos, only until I challenged you, but then, we hunted for my father's killer. And I... I couldn't. I'm sorry."

She hoped he considered her explanation.

"You should have told me earlier instead of keeping it from me, d'Artagnan. And you've been lying to me, Aramis and Porthos this whole time! We trusted you! I trusted you."

"Porthos and Aramis actually figured it out nine months ago. And they didn't want to tell you. They were just protecting me."

"Yes, from me!" Athos shouted.

"No, from the Cardinal," said Cosette. "From the King."

"We're supposed to be a team, Cosette. A family. And families don't lie to reach other. I trusted you!"

"I'm sorry," she apologized through hot tears.

"You should have come to me the minute I was released. Or the moment I shot you. But now I realize you are just like Anne!"

"No, I'm not like her Athos. I never wanted to hurt you," she said. The young woman attempted to reach out for his hand, but Athos quickly snatched it away.

"I'd like you to leave now," said Athos as he pointing at the door.

Athos and Cosette hadn't spoken to each other since the incident at the inn. She left him at the Wren to drink his life away and he never returned the next day or the day after that. When Athos did return, he was ignoring her as a whole. Cosette and Henry exchanged kisses between each other. However, she quickly departed from him when Athos came into the room. But she knew he was growing suspicious. Cosette returned to her home when Aramis and Porthos looked for her, both concerned when she came through.

"This wasn't the way I wanted things to happen," Cosette said to no one in particular.

"Cos, are you okay?" Aramis asked. They walked around the corner. She shook her head.

"What's been going on with you and Athos?" Porthos asked. Cosette looked up from her lap.

"Why do you want to know?" Cosette cried. She didn't want to tell them what Athos knew of her secret. Her outburst didn't cause them to flinch.

"Because, we are just worried about you," Aramis answered.

Cosette sighs.

"Athos knows I'm a girl," she answered. "Milady made me tell him two night ago."

Aramis and Porthos hated that woman.

"I'm going to kill her," said Aramis.

Cosette looked up at him.

"It was going to happen sooner or later, Aramis," Cosette said. "You two were right. I should have told him when i had the chance, when he shot me." Tears began flowing down her cheek and no matter how much Cosette could hide it, Aramis and Porthos saw her tears.

"Please, don't cry, little sister," Aramis begged. He sat down and gave her a hug as Porthos laid a hand on her shoulder. "You've been through enough this week." It was true. Cosette had been kidnapped, knocked out, and worse, she revealed the big lie to Athos an it was affecting them deeply. Porthos and Aramis had to find a way to get them to make up but for now, they would be there for both of them. Until everything worked out.

Meanwhile, Athos couldn't take what he could see any more. He came across Henry, Cosette's boyfriend. Athos glared at the boy, who looked concern

"Athos, what ...?" Henry began. But he never got to ask because Athos grabbed him by the arm. "Okay, where are you taking me?"

"You and D'Artagnan are in a romantic relationship." Athos said. He glared at the seventeen years old. They entered Athos' room.

"Well yes, but we're discrete about it," Henry said.

"So, you knew d'Artagnan was a girl?" Athos asked.

"Of course, I did. We were friends growing up, me and her."

"Did everyone but me KNOW ABOUT THIS!?" Athos shouted. Usually, he was calm and stern, Seriously, was he the only one who knew about this? "First, d'Artagnan turns out to be a woman and then my brothers and Treville tell me that she is under their Protection and that she remains under their care as a Musketeer!"

"Athos!" shouted Henry. His scream caused the older Musketeer to look. "You need to calm down."

Athos sighed, knowing the boy was right.

"Look, it doesn't matter. Being a Musketeer is not a woman's job. But seeing as I cannot do anything about it, Cosette d'Artagnan remains a Musketeer. Because of this, Henry, you and d'Artagnan cannot just go around and share your romance. In that case, you two shouldn't even be in one at all."

"And why is that?" Henry asked.

"Because of your attachments to each other. What if you were on, mission with her? You'd never set your personal feelings aside for her. And someone might get hurt, maybe one of you two."

"Well we've been together for four months now," said Henry. "I think we're okay, Athos."

"Look," Athos said. "I just don't want you both jeopardizing each other. And I don't want to see D'Artagnan get hurt."

"Wait, you're lecturing be about hurting Cosette? She's already hurting, Athos," said Henry. "Can't you see that? Right now, she needs you to be there for her."

Athos' eyes grew cold like a Cobra.

"You don't think I want to? She shouldn't be a Musketeer. And with Aramis and Porthos and you protecting her, it will lead to her own destruction."

"You think you know everything about Cosette D'Artagnan, Athos, but you don't. So, maybe it's time you got to know who this new Cosette is."

"I do not want to know her," Athos snarled. "But I don't want her dead either. Why do you think I didn't go to the King about this?"

"She told me about your … um ordeal that you faced with six years ago."

"Do not mention that to me again. The difference is that she kept a secret identity and impersonated a man and didn't murder any one. And know this, she gets wounded, or if she endangers one of the men, then she's done. No matter what Treville said."

Athos left Henry's room. However, he was also sure that if Rochefort were to ever found out then Cosette d'Artagnan would never be safe.