5.
Athos sat down next to Sylvie where she sat outside their house on a bench holding their five month old daughter Renee in her arms. He could hear the squeals of laughter several feet from them where there son and their friends' children were playing.
"Did you ever think your life would become so domesticated?" Sylvie asked leaning into Athos' side.
Athos smiled, watching Porthos and d'Artagnan playing with the children; Aramis trying to keep up. The first minister had suffered through a fever a few months earlier leaving lingering effects.
Before Athos had a chance to respond to Sylvie's question, Elodie hobbled heavy with child and sat down on Sylvie's other side. She had been resting inside out of the heat.
"Mama, look, there's a kitty," Sophie, d'Artagnan and Constance's seven year old adopted daughter yelled across the yard.
Athos looked up groaning inwardly. He had no interest in any cat. He watched as the children walked over to Sophie with Constance.
"You can have it if you want," Athos said to d'Artagnan.
d'Artagnan shrugged. "We could use it to get rid of the mice at the garrison."
Constance walked over to them with the children and the rest of their group. She was carrying the cat in her arms.
Sylvie turned towards Athos putting Renee into his arms before turning back to coo over the cat with the rest of them.
Athos sighed bringing his daughter up against his chest kissing the top of her head and whispering into her ear. "You'll still side with me won't you, ma petite?"
