Warning this chapter contains brief scene of a couple of kittens found that died at birth.

6. Or +1

Athos sat down on the sofa holding a book in one hand ready to do some reading. It was late afternoon and Sylvie was gone with the children to visit some friends.

He had the window open since it had been such a nice late summer day.

He had just settled in when he started hearing something familiar. Athos frowned knowing that sound. He thought that had been taken care of almost a month ago when d'Artagnan took the cat off their hands.

For the next several minutes Athos tried his best to ignore the meowing coming from outside the open window. But it was of no use, he realized he wasn't hearing just one cat. It seemed to be a chorus of multiple mewling sounds. If he had to guess they were kittens.

Sighing, Athos gave up on his book and walked outside to where the noise was coming from. Finally finding the source of his irritation, Athos kneeled down and looked at the pile of mother cat and her four kittens.

Upon further inspection Athos realized two of the kittens hadn't survived. He realized he had to do something; he didn't want Sylvie returning home with the children to this sight. Although Renee was too young death was not a subject they had had to talk to Raoul about yet.

It was a difficult process as the mother cat was not happy allowing him to remove any of her babies. But he took care of them as quickly and efficiently as he could.

Once he completed his task he thought about how late in the season it was and that it was likely going to be chilly overnight. And then he asked himself what Sylvie would do.

Athos shook his head ruefully.

TM

Athos woke up hearing noises across the hall from his and Sylvie's bedroom where he lay. He moved to sit up.

"Better not move," Sylvie peered inside their room looking amused.

Athos's brow furled in confusion before a slight weight on his chest and stomach registered.

Sylvie came over with her lantern and he wondered how late it was, but he would ask her later. At the moment he was wondering what was on his chest. So he looked down where Sylvie had shown the light.

The two kittens, one grey and one orange like its mother, were sleeping on his chest with their mother snuggled up to his side.

"I made them a bed over there," he pointed towards the floor where a short wooden box sat with a couple of blankets. It sat a few feet from the fireplace not too close so as not to be too warm.

Sylvie set the lantern down on the table on Athos' side of the bed and joined him on her side.

"I knew you'd finally give in," she teased.

"You would have insisted anyway," he simply said.

"So, why is it you don't like cats?" Sylvie lay back letting her fingers glide down the mother cat's back.

Athos sighed trying to get comfortable without disturbing the felines. "My brother Thomas had a cat when we were children; he hated me."

"Your brother or the cat?" She asked.

He huffed a laugh. "The cat, but you could probably say the same about Thomas."

Athos brushed a hand through Sylvie's hair at her sad frown. "It's all right; I've learned to accept that my brother and I would never be close. I've found a family with you, the children and my brothers here."

The mother cat stood up then and picked up one of her kittens by its scruff carrying it back to the box Athos had put together and then came back for the second one.

"I have a feeling they're staying," Sylvie said.

"Raoul will like that," Athos said.

"You're okay with that?" She asked.

"I have finally surrendered," he said pulling her close to him and kissing her.

"Good," she snuggled up to his side as they drifted off to sleep.

The End