Author's Note: This is, the last chapter...enjoy...more on 'The Chosen Ones' later...Many thanks to Jessica for being my Beta. I sorta tied this into 'Secrets' there at the end...and I left in the 'kiss' because Dumas told d'Artagnan that it was out of character for Jacqueline to KISS HIM...not him kiss her... so... anyways...enjoy and feeback. Meg

Jacqueline turned to d'Artagnan as she finished with the story. She stopped at the point where they went to the king, the part where she had killed him. He stared at her a minute, and she felt the dread returning. He hates me She thought. D'Artagnan stood and looked down at her.

"That is not you, that is not my Jacqueline." My seemed to echo throughout the room. She stared at him with sad pleading eyes, begging him to understand she would never do that.

"The sword, did things to me…made me do things." Jacqueline responded, tears forming again. He came to her wrapping his arms around her, and for a moment, both let their pretenses go. He held her and let her cry, and she held on to him, letting him be the hero for once. She needed to feel safe, protected, secure, and loved. It only lasted a moment though, then predictably, Jacqueline pushed him back, not hard, but enough to let him know, she was all right now. He looked at her, her story still going through his mind, and he broke into a teasing smile.

"I always thought about what it would be like to kiss you, but I always saw it as me, not you." He raised his eyebrows at her mockingly. Jacqueline's face flushed again, and it hit him, there was still more. He again took her hand and looked in her eyes. "Jacqueline…what else happened?" She burst into fresh tears and he waited patiently for her to calm down.

"When we went to the king, Mazarin revealed my secret and you begged me to surrender, and asked the king for exile." He looked at her confused. For her? Surely, he would not have said for her, he would not leave her alone.

"For you?" He prompted her. She looked down briefly as if she did not want to answer, but then she seemed to get the courage.

"You said we, would ask for exile." Her voice was low and soft. D'Artagnan nodded, that sounded more right, but he looked at her and her face was growing pale. "What happened next?"

"I did not listen. I fought you…and…" She could not say it. She just could not. He waited and when she did not continue he sighed.

"Jacqueline, it was not real. You can tell me." She shook her head, tears misting up. He nodded. "Yes, you can. You are the bravest, strongest woman I know." She gave him a small smile for his compliment.

"I killed you." She finally managed to get out. There! I said it, now if he turns and leaves. He did not leave though, but he was silent for several minutes. She felt like she should say more. "I realized what I did and rushed to you, but it was too late. You spoke to me and then died." He looked up at her now suspicion in his eyes. If he were dying, there would be only one thing, he would say. The one thing, he refused to say to her because of her secret and how unfair it would be to utter those words.

"What did I say?" He asked her quietly. She turned away and did not look at him.

"You said you loved me." She took several moments to turn back around, and when she did, he did not look disgusted or surprised for that matter. He did not deny it either. She cried again. "D'Artagnan, I am sorry." He went to her and held her again, letting her cry. He wanted to tell her he did love her, but he could not. He was bound by his promise to keep her secret, and those words would break that. He wanted her to know, had not that been the point of all the bantering and teasing? He might not be able to say it, but he could imply it with his actions. He leaned down and gave her a kiss. It was not long, nor one he would normally had given, but it was one of understanding and love. He willed her to understand the meaning behind it, and when she did not slap him or resist, he thought perhaps she understood. They broke apart and he smiled down at her.

"Better?" She nodded at him grateful. They were never speak of this to anyone or to each other, but they would each know and remember.

"Captain Duval gave us an assignment while we are here." D'Artagnan told her.

"What does he want us to do?" D'Artagnan cocked his head to the side. He was going to enjoy this.

"He wants us to find out about this new thief going around." She looked a bit confused he noted.

"It would be best for you to look like your self in order to gather information." Jacqueline's face went slightly pale as it hit her what he was trying to say making it more fun for him.

"And you?" She asked suspiciously.

"Milady, I am here to 'protect' you." He smiled wickedly at her now. Her face paled more and he knew this would be rough on her. He went over to her things and took her rapier. "You will not be needing this, milady." He said as he held it up.

Jacqueline turned now toward the door, gesturing for him to leave. He stopped at the door and turned as she started to speak. Her face showed a slight, smile before she gave him her famous glare.

"Do not think for minute you are going to enjoy this as much as you think you are." He smiled as he left. He could not contain his happiness. His Jacqueline was back all right.