Chapter 23 Family?

D'Artagnan looked at the woman who sat by his side. "You are the answer to my prayer. Because of you I know love deep within my heart because you have shown me your love. With out your love in my life I would be lost in this maze of life."

Jacqueline gave D'Artagnan a smirk. "I have already said I would marry you. You do not need to keep trying to talk me into it."

He shot her a puzzled glance. "I just wanted you to know how much I love you." As she started to giggle. "I know my love, I am just teasing you."

Just at that moment Ramon and Jacques walked into the room. "What are you two talking about?"

D'Artagnan and Jacqueline exchanged a loving glance as Ramon and Jacques got puzzled looks upon their faces.

"We were just talking!" D'Artagnan was trying to be as serious as possible. Suddenly Jacqueline let out a little laugh and shook her head.

"They are going to find out soon my love. We should tell them first they are OUR friends!"

Ramon looked at Jacqueline with a look of complete confusion upon his face. "What exactly is going on? What is my niece talking about?"

D'Artagnan looked at his two friends and let out a deep sigh. "You two should set down. We have something to tell you!"

Ramon had a look of fury upon his face "If you did anything to my niece!"

Jacques put his hand on Ramon's shoulder to calm him. "Let us hear what they have to say before we jump to any conclusions."

"I know, Jacques it is just with his reputation…"

Jacqueline now had a puzzled look upon her glowing face. "Niece? Jacques? I must have missed something!"

D'Artagnan laughed and placed his arm lovingly around Jacqueline. "Don't worry Ramon; it is nothing to worry about."

Then he faced Jacqueline and put his hands gently upon hers. "My love a lot has happened and has been reveled to us in the last few days. Yes you are Ramon's niece and Siroc's real name is Jacques Leponte. You had us all very worried about you."

Jacqueline looked down at the ground. D'Artagnan picked her head up gently with his tender touch as he gazed lovingly into her eyes.

"But you did what you thought what you had to in order to protect us. We all love you very much and don't want to be away from you. We would travel to the farthest lands if that is where you would be just to near you."

Jacqueline looked at her love and gave him a smirk. "I love you too, my love."

Ramon cleared his throat to let the two lovers known of their presence. D'Artagnan looked at Jacqueline with adoring eyes as he picked up her hand to revile a ruby and emerald gold ring.

Ramon and Jacques exchanged a look "I told you he would ask her before sunset today."

Jacques shook his head in disbelief and handed Ramon a few coins.

D'Artagnan laughed at his friends. "You two bet on how long it would take me to ask her to be my wife.

Jacques shook his head. "No not for you to ask her. We bet on how long it would take for her to accept your proposal."

Jacqueline looked up at her friends. "I got some inspirational advice from someone."

All the men had a confused look upon there faces. "I might tell you someday but right now I am hungry and would like to get something to eat.

She started to get up, d'Artagnan and the other men exchanged a glance. "We can bring you some food you should stay in bed."

Jacqueline looked up at d'Artagnan with a determined look upon her face. "I have been in bed far too long already. I want to get dressed and get out of this room for awhile."

D'Artagnan knew he was not going to change her mind. "Do you need any help? I mean I can ask Celestiel to help."

She shook her head with determination. ""I want to try myself. Thank you my love!"

D'Artagnan placed a kissed delicately upon her hand and left the room with Ramon and Jacques.

Once the door was closed she awkwardly got to her feet and clumsily changed her clothes.

She sat back down upon her bed she still felt quite weak and did not have the energy to move quickly yet.

Outside her door the three friends stood waiting anxiously for Jacqueline to come out.

Celestiel walked by the room with a puzzled look. "What are you three doing?"

D'artagnan had a look of relief when he saw the kind woman. "Jacqueline wanted to get dressed and get some food. We were just waiting for her."

Celestiel gave a little laugh at worried men in front of her. "She should not be up already. But I do understand her wanting to move around a bit. I will go and see if I can help her, you boys stay here."

D'Artagnan gave her a grateful smile as she quickly entered the room.

Once inside she walked over to the raven haired beauty and helped her tie her corset. "How are you feeling Jacqueline?"

Jacqueline looked into the eyes of the gentle woman who had cared for her since she had arrived. "I am just a bit weak, Thank you."

Celestiel knew that Jacqueline had experienced something while she was sleeping. The young woman seemed to embrace life not to be running from it. It gave her a relief to know that this woman's heart would be healed by love.

Celestiel smiled at the young woman and opened the door and she looked at d'Artagnan. "Would you help her to the table? I will go and get her some food."

D'Artagnan quickly agreed and as he touched Jacqueline they seemed to give off a radiant glow of love. He gently guided her to the table with graceful movements.

Ramon and Jacques went to tell the others that she was up.

As soon as she was finished eating two men walked into the inn. One of the men was caring the sword she was attacked with the other day.

Her heart began to pound as she looked at D'Artagnan with fear engulfing her eyes. He saw the fear and placed his hand gently upon her hand. "It is ok he will not harm you I swear to you that you are safe.

The other man was covered in scars and his eyes were filled with fury and pain as he looked at Jacqueline. "I thought you said she was dead!"

The man with the sword looked down upon the ground. "No my friend I said she is no longer a threat she is my granddaughter. I have brought you here to fulfill my promise to you."

Jacques and Ramon just entered the room with the other men that cared a great deal for Jacqueline.

The man covered in scars looked at Jacques with tears in his eyes. "My son you are alive. I have never given up hope of finding you. I have been searching for you." He stood there admiring his son. "How did you survive the fire? Your uncle told me you died in the fire!"

The thought of his uncle brought a look of fury to the face of Jacques that Jacqueline had never seen before.

"THAT MAN gave me to the Cardinal as a GIFT! He is no Uncle he is…" The pain that filled Jacques seemed to spill out of his eyes.

His father placed his arms around his son to offer comfort. Thankful within his heart that his son was back in his life.

The Duke looked at the Spanish Count with a look of gratitude for the promise he had kept.

Jacqueline looked at all that had happened with an expression of shock. She turned back and faced d'Artagnan. "I have a grandfather? And Siroc I mean Jacques father is alive? This has been a very strange day!"

D'Artagnan looked back at his love and laughed. "It has been a strange week!" As he delicately kissed her hand.