Author's Note: This chapter is a bit sad, so beware. Also, I had a couple people at other site's tell me Jacqueline is a little to 'docile' or 'submissive'. I have her understanding D'artagnan in this chapter, nothing more... Chap 6 will be back to 'tease and glare' for them. Meg

Jacqueline sat eating as she waited for D'artagnan to speak. D'artagnan took a long sip of wine and sighed. "Father was always on missions for the king or France. Most of the time it was just mom and me. She raised me." He stopped for a second and then continued. "We had every comfort, but she always taught me that riches and titles were not happiness. Love and family were…" His eyes turned back as if remembering some sad event and Jacqueline stopped eating, patiently waiting.

The day was pretty and sunny. D'artagnan waited patiently to be able to see his mom. She had been in bed for a fortnight with some fever.

"Edmund? I want my son." Marquette's voice was heard. A servant pushed him inside the room finally and she grabbed him, her strength failing.

"Mom, what is wrong?" 11-year-old Edmund D'artagnan asked.

"My precious son. I am…not well. Remember the things I taught you?"

Edmund nodded tears in his eyes. "Yes, momma. I will have a nice cottage and a nice family when I grow up."

Marquette sat up slightly from her bed. "My son, love is more important that titles or riches or big estates. Your father, though a good man, has always provided us with the biggest and the best, but has never understood this. All we ever wanted was time with him." She faltered tears of her own spilling. "My son, promise me you will be different. Promise you will find a nice girl, no matter her social standing, one who is strong and you will love her and live with her as a husband should." Edmund nodded unable to speak. "Get adventure out of your blood, join the musketeers for a time, and you will no doubt meet her there." Her eyes started to roll and her breathing stopped for a minute, then started back, slower and lighter.

Edmund grabbed her hand, tears streaming down his face. "MOM. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ME! I PROMISE YOU, MOM. I PROMISE!" Edmund screamed hysterically as the servants rushed in and dragged him away. He looked back and saw her body slump over the bed, her dark hair stuck to her face.

The next two days were a blur. Charles D'artagnan came home to find his wife dead. Marquette Louise D'artagnan lay in the flower-draped coffin. Her hair was curly and down. She wore a dress, the one she meet Charles in. It was deep purple trimmed in white lace and embodied with pearl beads all over. Edmund would only remember seeing her dead body through the service.

As they lowered the coffin, tears streamed once again from his young eyes and down his face. Charles took his son in his arms. "Edmund, I must leave again tonight for Rome."

Edmund sniffed, "please don't go, father."

Charles shook his head sadly. "Sorry son, I must do this mission."

Edmund wiped his face. "The cottage outside Paris. I want if for my use. I made a promise to mom…" he stopped as more tears rolled down his face. "I promised her I would find a nice girl and settle down one day."

Charles thought a minute. "The Rogue home is what I had planned to leave you or the Paris one, they are nicer."

Edmund shook his small head. "No, the cottage and I want it before I join the musketeers so I can stay there. I join in a few years you know."

Charles turned to his horse. "Alright, I'll make the arrangements, it is yours son." He rode off and Edmund was left to Athos, Aramis, and Porthos who had come to give comfort to the family. He would see his father less after that.

Jacqueline looked at D'artagnan with tears in her eyes. "I am sorry. I did not realize…" She couldn't continue, and she looked at the ring on her hand. "Your mother, sounds like she was a wise and wonderful woman."

D'artagnan turned and looked at her with a sort of smile on his face. "She would have loved you." They stared at one another in silence.

Jacqueline broke it first. "D'artagnan…"

He cut her off, "Please, Jacqueline, call me Edmund."

She looked down, "Edmund, we should leave. We have a long way yet to go." He sighed and nodded knowing she was right. He left her to pack up what clothes he would need. He opened a small case of a few clothes he saved that were his mother's and put them with his things as well.

The rain poured and poured. Jacqueline was wet all over. D'artagnan had moved her hair out of her face and she did not stop him. She stayed in his arms; a new respect for this man had taken her over. She no longer resisted his help getting on and off the horse. She let him do what he felt was necessary. She shivered and he pulled her closer. "Edmund, I am hungry," she said quietly.

"There's a tavern not far away, we will stop there and then continue to King Louis cottage for a few hours rest." She nodded and closed her eyes. He rode on and picked up the pace a little and in no time, they were at the tavern.

He ordered them food and they ate. "We are only two hours from the cottage and then we are an hour from the dock," he informed her. "It is late, we will get there and rest but for only a few hours. The ship leaves midmorning." Jacqueline nodded, neither one saw the owner as he watched them and listened to their conversation. They paid and left. Jacqueline was glad this part of the journey was almost over.