Remy swung his slim pack over his shoulder and swung himself up onto the roof. The roof was a little slippery with early morning frost, but he nimbly clambered up to the top of the roof and peeked over. The courtyard was empty, except for the stable hand, who was cleaning out the stables. He slid down towards the edge, jammed his pack safely in a gap, and settled in, making sure that he didn't dangle a leg over the edge this time. The early morning sun wasn't exactly warm, but at least he was sheltered from the breeze. It was a good vantage point. As long as the rain held off anyway.

Athos strode into the courtyard, glanced around, and then settled himself down on a bench to one side. Porthos joined him a few moments later, yawning and stretching his arms way above his head. He handed a boule of bread to Athos and took a large bite out of his own. Athos broke his in half and looked up to the roof to where Remy was perched. Remy was somewhat startled as he hadn't realised Athos knew he was there.

Athos held half the boule up. "I'm not throwing it up there."

Remy thought for a second, but the grumbling from his stomach quelled any doubts. He slid to the edge and deftly swung himself over, before dropping the rest of the way to the floor, landing in a crouch. He scampered over to Athos. Porthos slid down the bench to make room for him and he sat down, taking the offered bread.

"Thanks."

They ate quietly. Only when they'd finished eating did Athos grab Remy firmly by the chin, tilting his head back to examine his black eye. Remy didn't make any attempt to pull away.

"Was that for being late," asked Athos.

Remy winced as Athos gently ran his fingers around his eye. "Something like that."

Porthos frowned. "You need a new job, boy."

Remy half grinned. "I know."

"So where do you work?"

"Here and there."

"Doing what?"

"This and that."

Athos and Porthos exchanged looks. Athos stood up and walked across the courtyard, ducking through a doorway. Remy rubbed his eye a little.

"Leave it alone," growled Porthos.

Athos was soon back with a cloth, a small jar and a bowl of water. "Aramis is away, so you'll have to settle for me patching you up." He chuckled at the look of doubt on Remy's face. "Or you could let Porthos take a look."

"I can do that. I have a sharp knife." He laughed as Remy edged slightly away from him. "Better let Athos do it then."

Athos tipped Remy's head back, poured some of the liquid from the small jar onto the cloth, and gently placed it on Remy's eye.

"Ow, that stings." Remy tried to pull away, but Porthos had a firm grip on him.

"Hold still," said Athos. "It will sting a bit, but it will help bring out the bruise and make it heal quicker."

Remy squirmed, but did his best to stay still and let Athos dab at his eye. He dipped the cloth in the bowl and placed it back on Remy's eye.

"Hold that there." Athos made sure Remy was holding the cloth in place, before he headed back across the courtyard.

Porthos released his tight grip on him and ruffled his hair. Remy managed to sit still for a few minutes before he began to fidget.

"How long do I have to hold this on my eye?"

Porthos chuckled. "Until Athos tells you to let go."

Remy sighed deeply, but kept the cloth held in place. Porthos ruffled his hair again as Athos returned.

"Alright. Let me see."

Remy let go of the cloth and Athos inspected his eye, before deftly wiping Remy's face clean with a fresh cloth. Remy grumbled a little, but didn't try to escape his ministrations.

"You'll live," proclaimed Athos.

Remy grinned. "Thanks."

"So, do you have to be at work at a certain time today?"

Remy shook his head. "No. No work today. Unless I go find some." He looked slightly thoughtful.

"Well, how about I find you some work here instead?" Athos settled back down onto the bench beside Remy, who swivelled to glare at him suspiciously.

"Here?"

Athos closed his eyes and leant back. "Yes. Here. Unless you have something better in mind."

"No. No, here's fine."

"Good. Jasper needs a hand. The stable boy failed to turn up. I assume you're alright working with horses."

"Yes. I like horses."

"Fine. Well, go help Jasper. Do what he tells you to do. I'll check on you later."

Remy eagerly ran across the courtyard to speak to the stable hand.

Porthos grinned as he watched him go. "That should keep him out of trouble for a while."

"That was the idea."

Porthos sat in the glow of the fading winter afternoon sun, watching Remy carry buckets of water from the well to fill the water troughs around the courtyard. Athos dropped onto the bench beside him, polishing his sword.

"Has he stopped at all today?"

Porthos nodded. "Jasper made him stop for lunch. How does a boy that size, carry so much?"

Athos chuckled. "Sheer determination, probably. He's a feisty little one."

"Little is right. How old do you think he is?"

"Twelve." He laughed as Porthos shot him a suspicious look. "Yes, alright, I asked him. He says he's twelve, nearly thirteen. I thought younger from the size of him as well. I think he's done for the day. He's definitely tiring."

Remy had stopped to get his breath back. Carrying all that water was more tiring than it might seem, but he wasn't complaining. He liked horses, and Jasper was patient, easy going and friendly. He squeaked in surprise as Porthos grabbed him from behind and swung him easily over his shoulder.

"Hey. Gerrof. What the ..."

"Oh, stop squirming will you." Porthos adjusted his grip a little as Remy stopped squirming and looked pleadingly at Athos. Well, tried to look pleadingly at Athos, but it was a little tricky considering he was upside down over Porthos's shoulder.

"You're done for the day, boy." Athos nodded to Jasper, who smiled and carried on with his work.

Athos sauntered back to the bench and sat down, watching Porthos spin round, while Remy tried to squirm free. He looked round as Aramis and three other Musketeers rode into the courtyard. Aramis half clambered, half fell off his horse, and handed the reins to Jasper. He ambled wearily across the courtyard and dropped on the bench beside Athos with a heartfelt groan and rubbed his leg.

"Bad trip?" Athos regarded the younger man appraisingly, taking in the unusually dishevelled appearance and the newly repaired tear in his pants leg.

Aramis merely yawned and leant back against the wall. "A little more eventful than I'd have preferred."

"I take it you saw to your leg injury yourself."

Aramis shot him a sideways glance. "Yes. And it's fine, thank you. If it causes me a problem, I'll let you know, or see a physician."

Athos nodded and handed him a beaker of wine, which Aramis gratefully took. "How long has Remy had a black eye?"

"Turned up with it this morning. It's a couple of days old though."

"Ah. Late for work?"

"Apparently. Something like that."

"He needs a new job."

"Yes, he does. Porthos, put him down. Gently."

Porthos stopped mid spin and jokingly threatened to tip Remy from his precarious position across his shoulders. Remy was quick though, and swiftly wriggled around, squirming from Porthos's grasp and sliding to the floor. Aramis laughed as Porthos made a grab for Remy, only for Remy to dodge and twist and dance out of his reach. Porthos made another grab, and again Remy danced clear of his grasp. Athos whistled, and Remy risked a quick glance towards him, keeping out of Porthos's reach. Athos smiled and pointed to the seat beside him. Remy scampered over and sat down with a grin.

"You best grab your pack, boy." Athos looked pointedly up at the roof, where Remy had stored his pack at the start of the day.

Remy frowned, wondering how Athos had spotted it. "Harder to climb up from this side."

"Get Porthos to give you a lift up, if he's got his breath back yet."

Athos watched with a look of mild amusement as Porthos gave Remy a boost up onto the roof. Remy grabbed his pack, slung it over his shoulder, and then dropped back down off the roof, ignoring Porthos's offer of help.

"Determined, isn't he." Aramis smiled. "And very independent."

Remy sat down on the bench between Athos and Aramis. Porthos stood in front of them, shaking his head with a grin. "I wouldn't have dropped you, you know. Well, not on your head. Not on purpose."

Remy just grinned.

Athos held his hand up in a clenched fist and shook it. "I think you've earned this, Remy."

Remy held his hand out, though not too eagerly. Athos dropped the coin into it. Remy closed his hand around the coin with a grin.

"Thanks."

Athos ruffled his hair. "Come back tomorrow. We might have more work for you. No promises though. Lucas might be back."

Remy nodded. "Ok, I will."

He'd nearly reached the courtyard exit when Athos belatedly added, "And use the entrance, not the roof."