The next morning, Athos woke with a groan, rubbing his hand over his face in a failed attempt to lock the little light coming from the window. "Rise and shine sleeping beauty." Aramis' voice rang upon seeing the older boy move. Athos groaned, turning over and burying his face in the cushion. His head hurt too much to have to deal with Aramis.

He could vaguely hear voices in the corner of his hearing and all of a sudden two bodies jumped on the bed. "Piss off." He mumbled as D'artagnan and Aramis sat triumphantly on his back.

"Language around the pups'." Porthos chastised from somewhere else in the room, getting shouts of annoyance from D'artagnan and Aramis while Athos just buried his head further in the bed. Then he remembered what happened last night.

He'd let his memories of what happened to his brother boil over upon seeing Anne and then he'd gotten drunk. Not only had his brothers had to see him that state, he'd hurt Aramis and then he'd told them. The two bodies on top of him noticed Athos' silence as they moved off of him, allowing Athos to sit up. Their concerned looks were enough to sober him up completely. "You okay?" D'artagnan asked, concern in his brown eyes as he looked between the three. He hadn't seen Athos in the bathroom and for that Athos was grateful. No need to scare the youngest too much.

"I'm fine."

Porthos snorted at that. "Yeah, 'cause you can be fine after drinking your body weight in wine."

"I'm fine. And I'm really sorry." Athos said, not meeting their gazes. Aramis climbed in next to Athos in the bed, quickly followed by D'artagnan on the other side while Porthos settled down by Athos' legs.

"You have nothing to apologise for." Aramis replied and Athos found his eyes going to the bandage around Aramis' arm. The younger boy frowned then.

"It was an accident."

"It shouldn't have happened. You all shouldn't have had to see me like that." He added, turning to them all.

"You're our brother and you're always there for us so let us be there for you." Porthos said as Aramis and D'artagnan snuggled up to his side. Athos struggled a little to get more comfortable being surrounded by the weights of his youngest brothers but gave up, knowing the two were like leeches when it came to cuddles.

"I'm gonna get food, you can help." Porthos said, sending a glare Aramis' way who sighed dramatically but nodded, leaving D'artagnan in the bed alone. The two settled into a comfortable silence for the time it took Aramis and Porthos to come back.

"Serge said if we spill anything, we clean it up." Aramis stated as Porthos dropped a jug of orange juice on the bedside table with four glasses and Aramis handed D'artagnan and Athos a plate of toast each.

They sat in silence for a little while before Athos found himself talking again. "Anne's in our school."

"You don't have to tell us if you don't want to." Porthos said, though it was obvious the three wanted to know what was wrong.

"I know, but I think I need to say something to someone." Athos took a deep breath and continued. "We were the best of friends since we were children and we decided to date. We were just kids at the time and didn't really know what it meant but with Anne it just felt right."

"So what happened?" D'artagnan prompted when Athos fell silent for a few minutes.

"My little brother, Thomas saw us kissing and said he was going to tell Mother. I begged him not to because our Mother wasn't fond of Anne but Thomas wanted to. Except, when I went home that night Thomas was dead. Someone had pushed him down the stairs at school. It wasn't until a few days later that I found out it was Anne. The police arrested her but she said it was an accident."

"She got off." Porthos said, incredulous as Athos fought back tears.

"Yeah. He was my little brother and I was meant to protect him." Athos swallowed, thankful now for the warmth off of Aramis and D'artagnan as it grounded him a little. "My parents didn't take it well. Mother started drinking and Father left us. Mother tried but she couldn't look after me so she brought me here. I haven't seen her since, or Father."

"I thought your parents were dead?" Aramis mumbled as Athos shrugged.

"They might as well be. They left me some money but they don't want to know me. They hate me because Thomas' death is my fault." Athos said, finally letting the tears fall.

"It isn't your fault Athos. None of this is your fault." Aramis murmured as D'artagnan stroked his hair and let the older boy cry.

"We're your family now, anyway." Porthos replied a grin on his lips as he shared a glance with his two younger brothers.

"Yeah, so you don't need them. You've got us." D'artagnan added and Athos found himself smiling. His parents might not have wanted him but Aramis, Porthos and D'artagnan did. And they were a better family than he could have ever hoped for.

Short and soppy but I wanted to finish off the other chapter. Anyway, hope you enjoy and please review :)