Shout outs…

Mercury Gray… I love the Musketeers, too. Aramis is my favorite. I hope you enjoy the story and I'm looking forward – as always – to getting your reviews & feedback!

Chapter 2: The Butterfly Emerges

Three years later…

For Natalie's tenth birthday, Athos surprised his daughter with several gifts. A new dress from Paris for one, and Raoul brought her a gold bracelet.

"Have you had a good birthday, butterfly?" asked Athos, using the nickname he'd bestowed upon her when she was just a toddler.

"Oh, yes, Papa!" Natalie was happiest that her father was home. His duties with the Musketeers often kept him away for months at a time, and now that Raoul was in the army – and hoping for a commission in the Musketeers – he was not home much either. She missed them both when they were away.

"Come," Athos said, offering his hand. "I have one other gift for you, and a special friend has brought it."

"Another gift?" Natalie squealed with the enthusiasm only a young girl can muster. Athos brought his daughter to the courtyard where Aramis was waiting. He was holding a grey pony.

"Aramis!" cried Natalie. "Oh, Papa! You have brought me Aramis as a birthday present!" Both men laughed out loud.

"No," chucked Athos. "Aramis is not your gift…"

"But I am truly flattered that you would think so highly of me, mademoiselle Natalie," said Aramis, "but it is the pony that is for you."

After Natalie had squealed again and smothered the very tolerant pony with hugs and several kisses, she turned to Aramis with a smile. "Having you visit for my birthday is a present, too," she said as she planted a girlish kiss on his cheek. Aramis looked slightly confounded but shook off the gesture of affection as Athos laughed at him.

"Well, Natalie," her father said, "I think that is all the gifts…"

"Not quite," said Aramis. "What sort of gentleman would I be if I didn't bring the lady a gift on her birthday?" He held out a small velvet pouch for Natalie. She quickly undid the knot and emptied the contents into her hand. Out of the heart of the bag tumbled a gold chain.

"Oh! A necklace. A real lady's necklace! Thank you, Aramis. Papa, look!"

"But what is a necklace without a charm?" said Aramis. On his left hand, he wore a gold ring embossed with a fleur-de-lis symbol. He handed it to Natalie.

"It will be too big for you to wear right now, so until you grow into it, you can wear it around your neck. The daughter of a Musketeer ought to have a fleur-de-lis, don't you think?" Aramis looked up at Athos with a grin.

Another four years have passed…

Aramis reached a critical crossroads in his life. He had spent many years as a loyal Musketeer, but his strong spiritual streak had always called him to the priesthood. Several years earlier, he had taken priestly vows and had struggled to be both priest and Musketeer. After a great deal of soul searching, Aramis realized that he could not be both and would have to relinquish one. It was one of the most difficult decisions of his life for he had always sought to do God's work, but to abandon the Musketeers was akin to abandoning France.

While he struggled with the decision he confided in his closest friends, Athos, Porthos, and D'Artagnan. Athos didn't like seeing his good friend in such pain so he offered Aramis the use of his country house and the chapel that resided on its grounds. Aramis, on other visits, had often mentioned his fondness for the chapel, and the serenity he found there. At first, Aramis refused, but finally Athos convinced him that the chapel would give Aramis the solitude he needed to pray, contemplate, and make his final decision.

Athos' daughter Natalie, who had recently turned 14, had gone to visit her mother's family, and so Aramis spent nearly two weeks in complete solitude. His only real company was the cook who brought him one simple meal each day along with a large pitcher of water. Finally, Aramis came to the decision that the best way to serve God would to be by serving France. He dispatched a letter to the Cardinal with his resignation and prepared to return to Versailles and the Musketeers.

As he pulled on his riding gloves and watched the stable boy bring his horse out into the courtyard, several riders and a carriage pulled up. He heard a woman's voice cry out as Natalie clambered out before the vehicle had even fully stopped.

Aramis did a double-take when he saw her. Gone was the little girl from his last visit. Natalie was now she was tall and coltish, and looked more like a young lady than a little girl. Athos' wife had been a lovely woman, and Natalie was growing up to look just like her. She hurried over and Aramis was a little befuddled by her hug and kiss, and even more so by the stern look leveled at him by Natalie's nurse, Benedetta.

"Oh, but Aramis, you're leaving? I just got home… I've been asking Papa when you were going to come back and visit us."

"The King's service keeps us all quite busy," said Aramis with a small laugh.

She held up the chain around her neck, on it dangled the fleur-de-lis ring. "It almost fits," she told Aramis. "I don't want to lose it so I keep it on the chain, but one of these days, I'm going to be able to wear your ring."

An odd feeling passed through Aramis, as if he'd just heard something very profound but he wasn't certain why. He shook the sensation off, thinking it only to be the results of his sabbatical in the chapel.

Nearly four more years later…

Emotion caught in Athos' throat as he thought of his son Raoul. Raoul had loved the orchards when the apples came in. When he was a boy he would often make himself nearly sick from eating so much. When word had come that Raoul had been killed in battle, it had nearly destroyed Athos. It had put him in on the path that ended with Athos and his closest Musketeer companions – Aramis, D'Artagnan, and Porthos – replacing the wretched King Louis with his twin brother Philippe, the mysterious Man in the Iron Mask.

After the "new" King was on the throne, Athos had asked for a short leave from court to return to his country estate, to spend some time in mourning and to comfort his daughter, who had been devastated by word of her brother's death. Being with Natalie and in his beloved orchards had brought some solace to Athos, as had the knowledge that the real Louis would spend the rest of his days in prison while his twin brother ruled France.

"Monsieur Athos," said one of the servants. "Monsieurs Aramis and Porthos have arrived."

"Thank you," he said. "Let them come up here and enjoy the view. And bring a bottle of wine for us to share."

"Yes, Monsieur," said the servant and he disappeared down the hallway.

Aramis and Porthos came up the stairs and embraced their friend, grateful that the rift among the Musketeers had been healed. They chatted amiably for a minute. Aramis glanced around a little as if he were looking for someone.

Finally, Porthos asked, "And where is le petite Natalie? She is such a sweet girl."

Athos chuckled. "My Natalie is not so little any more."

"Compared to you, Monsieur Porthos, I will always be petite!" laughed Natalie. Porthos and Aramis gaped. The last time they'd seen Natalie she'd been coltish fourteen-year-old girl, just barely on the edge of womanhood. Now Natalie was truly a young woman. She was wearing a deep blue dress that showed off her eyes. The waist was cinched in the popular manner and the straight, low neck showed off a quite attractive and ample bosom.

Aramis felt some color run to his cheeks and he tore his eyes off of Natalie and looked out over the garden while she greeted Porthos. Then she was before him.

"What, no kind greeting from you, Aramis? You break my heart."

She smiled and lowered her eyes when he turned to look at her. But rather than a hug as he would have done in the past, Aramis picked up her hand.

"But it is you who will break hearts, mademoiselle, and I believe this is the proper way to greet a lovely young woman…" He kissed her hand, fully intending a chaste and courtly gesture, but his lips lingered a fraction too long as did his hold on her hand. Natalie giggled and blushed, but no one else seemed to notice.

"Thank you for the wine," said Athos. "Now we must discuss issues of the court."

"But Papa, they have just arrived!"

"I promise I will not keep our guests busy all night, Natalie, and there will be plenty of time for you to learn of all the court gossip over dinner."

"As you wish, Papa, but I will hold you to your promise." She dipped in a curtsy but looked up at them through her dark eyelashes and smiled. The she withdrew and disappeared down the stairs.

"She has gone from a little girl to a lovely butterfly," said Athos to no one in particular. Then he added, "I am having Natalie join me at court."

"You will have to watch the young rogues, and not too few of the old ones," warned Porthos playfully.

Athos smiled at his friend. "It is time to find Natalie a suitable husband, and I finally trust that the King is finished with his penchant for mistresses."

The three men looked at each other, knowing exactly what Athos meant. The real Louis would have seduced and bedded Natalie the moment he saw her, no matter what she or her father wanted. And he would have discarded her like a rag at the end. Philippe, who was the "new" Louis, was far more respectful and Athos was confident the young King would not dishonor his daughter.

They turned to walk back into the house but Aramis lingered on the balcony, looking down at the garden where Natalie was walking among the flowers.

Well, there we go with chapter 2… Please read/review! I really like hearing from readers…! Please?

Disclaimer: As always, only Natalie and Luc (who you have not met yet) are my creations. Everything else is borrowed for inspiration with much gratitude and respect.