Remy was perched on one of his favorite spots, on the wall near the fruit stand at the east market square. He was high enough up to see any trouble heading his way, and to spot any job opportunities. Moving crates, filling sacks, running errands, Remy wasn't too fussy. He couldn't afford to be fussy. And he often managed to get free food as well. More often than not, it was only bruised fruit, or a pie that had rolled on the floor, but it was still edible.

He saw the Musketeers hats above the crowd at the far side on the square and watched them weave their way through the crowd. He frowned, wondering what they were doing in this square. It wasn't a direct route from the barracks to the palace or any of the town gates. He shrugged to himself. None of his concern.

Athos stopped his horse alongside Remy. Well, both horses, as he was riding Thunder and leading a second, smaller horse, with three white socks. Lightning. Remy grinned. Lightning was proving to be a better horse than they'd initially suspected. He might have been small, but he was fast and nimble, and had much more stamina than his size may have suggested. Porthos and Aramis waited a little way behind, with Porthos keeping a wary eye on the crowd. All four horses were carrying full saddlebags.

Remy grinned at Athos. "Lost?"

Athos raised an eyebrow. "No, I'm not lost. I'm heading out of town for a few days, for work. Speaking of which, are you currently working?"

Remy shook his head. "Not right this minute, no. Maybe later, when the stalls need clearing." He glanced over at a small throng of boys, a few stalls away, who were throwing pebbles at a target. "Lots of competition today, though."

Athos followed his gaze. "Hmm. How about for the next few days. Anything planned?"

"Nothing definite."

"So, how would you like to help me for the next few days?"

"You? But you just said you were going out of town."

"Exactly. It's been a long week, we're all tired, and a long trip is not something we're looking forward to. We'd appreciate some help with the horses. Especially this one." He nodded at Lightning. "He's still a little wary around strangers. Should be a fairly safe trip, but I can't guarantee it. I can guarantee we'll make sure you get fed."

Remy looked from Athos to Aramis, and then to Porthos, who was trying to hide a yawn.

Aramis just shrugged. "Do us all a favor and say yes, quickly, before Porthos yawns so much he swallows someone."

Remy grinned. "Ok. I'm in."

"Good." Athos pulled Lightning forwards, until it was level with Remy. Remy looked at him blankly. Athos sighed. "Unless you're intending to walk the whole way, you'd better get on the horse."

Remy's eyes lit up, and he quickly mounted the horse, adjusting his pack. The small group set off. Aramis nudged his horse forwards to join Athos, and Remy dropped back alongside Porthos. Remy glanced sideways at the big man, who was still yawning, and fervently hoped he wasn't going to fall asleep and fall off the horse.

It was early evening when they arrived at the tavern and already falling dark quickly. The tavern owner was standing outside, talking to a customer, who was just leaving. Athos greeted him.

"We need rooms for the night, and stabling for the horses."

"Not a problem, gentlemen, except I have no stable boy."

Athos indicated Remy with his head. "That's alright, we brought our own."

"Well, in that case, come on in. The boy can sleep in the hay loft. It's dry, and there are blankets up there. I'll send some food out for him. Let's see if we can find you some rooms."

The Musketeers dismounted, removed the saddlebags from all four horses, and headed off into the tavern, leaving Remy to stable the horses. He unsaddled them all and gave them a rub down, before making sure they were all securely in a stall with food and water. He was just closing the stall door on the last one when Athos appeared.

"Need a hand?"

"Just finished, thanks."

Athos cast a quick, appraising eye over the horses and nodded his approval. "Good. Brought you some food out."

"Thanks." Remy eyed the bowl of stew hungrily.

"Got enough blankets?"

"No idea. I haven't checked. I'll be fine."

"Alright, well eat your food before it goes cold. Take your dish round the back to the kitchen door when you're done, and then get some sleep. We'll be inside if you need anything."

Remy was awake early, as usual. He busied himself, feeding and watering the horses, and giving them a quick brush down. He was just starting to saddle them up when he heard a whistle from behind him. He turned around to see Aramis, leaning on the half open door.

"Someone's up early."

Remy grinned. "The horses don't saddle themselves."

Aramis rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's true. And I suppose you haven't eaten yet?"

Remy shook his head and went back to work. "Horses first, eat later."

Aramis watched him for a moment, then opened the door and grabbed a saddle. "Well, if I help, we both get to eat sooner. Preferably before Porthos works his way through the entire contents of the kitchen."

The second day was much the same as the first, except Porthos yawned less. They stopped for the night at another tavern. This time, Porthos came out to help him with the horses, and took him into the tavern to eat with them. This hay loft had fewer blankets, but plenty hay, so he was still warm and dry. Aramis was up early in the morning to help him see to the horses. Remy stared up at the sky. The blue of the last two days had gone, and grey clouds drifted across instead. Aramis looked up as well.

"Looks like it might rain a little today."

Mid morning, it started to rain. And rain. And rain. Water literally poured from the sky. They stopped to shelter from the heaviest of the rain in a small copse of trees. They were all soaked through. Water dripped from the Musketeers hats. The sound of the rain hitting the floor was almost deafening. Porthos tugged his cloak around him and growled at the sky.

"Stop raining!"

Aramis chuckled. "If only it was that simple."

"Well, it damn well should be."

Athos leant back against the tree and closed his eyes. "No point moving until this eases a little."

Remy shivered as a trickle of rain ran down his back. He tugged the horses closer to him, partly to keep them calm, and partly to shelter him from the worst of the weather.

After about an hour, the rain thankfully bated a little, although it didn't stop. Remy dried the saddles with a cloth, and they set off once more. They were all wet, miserable, and quiet. Remy's throat itched, but he ignored it. It was almost dark when they reached the tavern. Remy unsaddled the horses and started to dry them off. All three of the Musketeers returned to help him get the horses fed, watered and settled for the night.

In the tavern, they chose the closest table to the fire, with Aramis and Porthos vying for the prime position to dry off. Remy grinned watching them bicker good naturedly, while Athos just rolled his eyes. The tavern owner brought their food over, and the Musketeers ate hungrily. Remy picked at his half heartedly.

Athos frowned. "Not hungry, Remy?"

Remy shrugged. "Just really tired. It was a long day."

"Well, go get some sleep then. Tomorrow will be a better day. It can't rain that much again."

Remy nodded and headed back to the stables, shedding his damp clothes, and draping them over the beams to dry off, before burrowing under the blankets he'd arranged in the hay loft. He was so tired, he was sure he'd be asleep in seconds, but sleep just wouldn't come. His head ached, his feet were cold, and his throat hurt. He tossed and turned for a while, then got up, wrapped a blanket around him, and went down to sit with the horses for a while. He was so tired, he could barely keep his eyes open, so he headed back up to the loft and tried to sleep again. When dawn broke and the early morning light started to force its way through the cracks in the stable walls, Remy finally abandoned all hope of sleep, and got dressed.

The horses seemed to sense that he wasn't feeling too good, and they all stood perfectly still for him. Thunder even nuzzled his hair. Even though he was working slower than normal, he'd still nearly finished when Porthos appeared. With the final horse saddled and ready, Porthos led the way back to the tavern. Remy sat quietly, picking at his breakfast, and wishing that his head would stop aching. Athos frowned at him and glanced at Aramis, who was also frowning.

"Cheer up, Remy. At least it's not raining today."

Aramis spoke too soon. By mid morning, water was once more pouring from a grey sky. They took shelter in an old barn. Remy tied the horses to a rail under a dry section of roof, and perched on an old barrel nearby. He felt thoroughly miserable. His head hurt, his throat hurt, and he was beyond tired. He'd also developed a slight cough, which didn't hurt as much as it was annoying, and it wasn't helping his throat. He stared out into the rain and hoped for drier weather. The Musketeers were huddled in a group to one side. Athos cast a few worried looks Remys way.

"Is it me, or is he developing a cough?"

"I was thinking the same thing," said Aramis.

"He looks a little pale too," remarked Porthos.

"Hey, Remy, come here a minute."

Remy wandered slowly over to Athos, trying not to cough. He couldn't hide the shiver though. Athos frowned, took his gloves off, and pulled Remy closer, feeling his forehead.

"You're burning up, boy."

"I'm ok." Remy's voice sounded fairly strong, but Aramis detected a slight raspiness to it. He reached out and checked Remy's forehead as well, then grabbed his chin and tilted his head back, looking into his eyes.

"No, Remy. I don't think you are ok. I think you're feeling pretty bad right now. Are you cold?"

Remy shook his head. "I'm fine. Just fed up of the rain." He shivered and coughed. "Well, maybe a little cold."

Athos shook his head and tugged Remy close to him, wrapping his cloak around Remy. "You should have said you were cold, boy. Is that why you weren't hungry last night? Were you cold then as well?"

Remy mumbled something, grateful for the sudden warmth. He never noticed the worried looks the three men exchanged. He stifled a yawn, which turned into a cough, and ended back in a yawn.

"Tired?" asked Athos.

"Mmm."

"Did you get any sleep last night?" Aramis was rummaging in one of his saddle bags.

"Not much," admitted Remy.

"You should have said something, Remy. Here, drink this." Aramis handed him a beaker with some liquid in it. Remy took a sip and wrinkled up his nose, trying to hand the beaker back. Aramis shook his head and smiled. "No, Remy, drink it."

Remy frowned, but drank it. It didn't taste all that good, but it did soothe his throat. He yawned again and leant a little more on Athos.

Aramis frowned. "I think we ought to make a move before he falls asleep on you."

Athos looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure I trust him on a horse on his own right now. I don't want him falling off. Alright, Remy, you're riding with me."

Remy was half asleep on the front of Athos's horse, with Athos holding the reins around him, his cloak wrapped around them both. It was still raining, though not as heavily, and Remy felt warmer and drier now, thanks to the cloak and the fact he was so close to Athos.

"I should have realised he wasn't well." Athos was obviously concerned for the boy.

Aramis tried to assuage his friend's guilt. "We all should have, but we didn't and he said nothing. I assumed he was just tired, which was only natural after two long days of riding."

"It was all that rain that did it," mused Athos. "We all have a cloak, Remy doesn't."

Porthos muttered under his breath. "He should have said he was feeling ill."

"Well, I'm sure a good nights sleep, and he'll feel much better." Aramis tried to sound confident.

Athos carried Remy into the tavern, with Aramis close on his heels. The tavern owner looked over at them. Apart from him, the place was deserted. "I suppose you'll be wanting a room, will you?"

Aramis raised an eyebrow at the man. "We'll be wanting four beds, the number of rooms is irrelevant."

The man nodded. "I got two rooms free, two beds in each. The boy tired, is he?"

Athos favored him with a withering glare. "No. I always carry him around."

The man frowned, and scratched his unruly grey hair, trying to work out if Athos was being serious.

A small, grey haired woman bustled past him. "Mind your back, Edmund." She caught sight of Remy. "Oh, my, poor thing. He looks frozen. Bring him over here to the fire. I'll fetch some broth, that should warm him up. Just the three of you? Edmund, move those chairs and bank the fire up." She bustled around, gently manoeuvring Aramis and Athos over to the fire. Athos managed to deposit Remy into a chair. He shivered and opened his eyes fully, looking around, trying to work out where he was.

Aramis finally managed to get a word in edgeways. "There are four of us. Our friend is just seeing to the horses."

"You should have a stable boy for that," remarked Edmund, as he put more logs on the fire.

His wife thumped him firmly in the arm. "Edmund! Honestly. This little one probably is their stable boy. Poor thing. Did he get soaked through in all that rain? Never mind, we'll soon dry him out. Edmund, go air the rooms, and put some extra blankets out. We haven't had anyone through here for a few days. It's this terrible weather, puts off most travellers. Going far are you?" She bustled off without waiting for an answer.

Athos scratched his head. "One of us should go help Porthos."

Aramis nodded and reached for his saddlebags. "And since I'm the one with the medicine, that would be you."

Athos rolled his eyes. "I knew you were going to say that. Remy, do what Aramis tells you. I'll be back in a bit."

Remy nodded. He was feeling a little better. The tavern was dry and the fire was warm. His throat was dry, and he coughed and rubbed it without really realising what he was doing. Aramis noticed and produced the beaker, pouring a couple of liquids into it.

"Here, drink this. It will ease your throat."

Remy drank it gratefully. Aramis took his cloak off and draped it round Remy's shoulders.

The woman came bustling back, with a big bowl of steaming broth and some smaller dishes and spoons. "This should warm you all up. Is he cold? I'll go and get a blanket to wrap him in." She bustled off again.

By the time Athos returned with Porthos, Aramis had managed to get some broth into Remy, and Irene had wrapped a couple of blankets around him and one around Aramis as well, despite his protestations. Both men shook water from their hats and cloaks as she looked up from fussing over Remy.

"Oh, my, is it raining again? Sit down near the fire and get some broth inside you. It really is terrible weather, but we'll soon get you all dried out. Here, wrap a blanket around you to warm you up."

She tried to wrap Athos into a blanket, but he just smiled at her, a little bemused, and gently took the blanket from her, draping it over his shoulders. "Thank you, Madam, I'm sure we'll be just fine."

"Irene. Call me Irene, dear. I'm not sure what sent you out in such weather, really I'm not. I wouldn't even send Edmund out in this."

Edmund grunted something from behind the bar. He might have been agreeing with her, or it could have been a derisive grunt. Irene didn't seem to notice.

"It's our job, Madam." Athos sat down next to Remy and peered at his face. "Feeling a bit better, boy?"

Remy nodded and sneezed. Irene bustled over to Porthos and tried to wrap a blanket around him as well, despite the fact that she couldn't reach. "Come along, dear, get yourself dry. You don't want to catch a chill like this little one. What's his name?"

Porthos peered down at her, mildly annoyed at being fussed over, yet grateful to be out of the rain. He took the blanket from her and draped it over his shoulders, before heading over to join the others, and helping himself to some broth.

"His name is Remy," said Aramis.

"Well, he's too thin. Look at him. All skin and bones. He needs feeding up. You all do. I'll get more broth." Irene bustled off towards the kitchen.

Porthos scratched his head. "What was that?"

Athos chuckled. "That was Irene. A force of nature if ever I met one. But she is right. Remy does need feeding up. However, right now it looks like he needs some sleep. Time you were in bed, boy."

Remy mumbled something incoherent and sneezed.

Remy woke up in a sweat and sat bolt upright in bed, coughing. He had no idea where he was, and in a blind panic he tried to get out of bed, but strong hands pushed him back down. He was about to try and fight his way free, but a calming, low voice told him that it was alright and just to rest. Rest sounded good. He was very tired, but he was too warm. He lay down, but pushed the blanket off. It took three attempts before Athos finally managed to tuck him under the blanket.

Remy woke up, coughing and shivering. His head felt like it was on fire, yet his feet were frozen. He felt so tired, he could barely open his eyes. He just wanted to sleep. Or to stop coughing. If he stopped coughing, he'd be able to sleep. Someone raised him up and tilted his head back slightly, holding a cup to his lips.

"Drink this, Remy."

Remy managed a couple of mouthfuls. The urge to cough faded. He sighed, and lay back down. He was tucked in gently.

"Warm enough, boy?"

"Cold feet," was all he managed to mumble.

Athos placed another blanket over the foot of Remy's bed. "Better?"

Remy mumbled something and was asleep.

"What the hell is in that, Aramis?"

Aramis sniffed the cup. "Honey, wine, water, and some poppy juice. He should sleep for a while, as long as doesn't wake up coughing."

"Well, one of us is going to have to stay with him. He's not going to be fit enough to ride, and we have to get those supplies and orders to the fort."

"Porthos is the only one getting any sleep, so he's definitely going to the fort." Aramis grinned and Athos chuckled.

"Alright, well since you have the medicine, you'd better stay with Remy, and I'll go with Porthos."

Aramis nodded. "In that case, you'd better go and try to get some sleep. Always supposing Porthos isn't already snoring loud enough to rattle the windows."

Remy coughed and sneezed and grumbled. His head hurt, his eyes felt heavy, he was tired, but his throat wasn't hurting as much as before. It just felt scratchy.

"Well, you look a bit better this morning." Aramis checked his forehead. "Not burning up anymore either. Does your head hurt?"

"Yes."

"Throat hurt?"

"Not as bad." He coughed and grumbled. "Until I cough."

"Warm enough?"

"Yes, thanks." He sneezed and groaned.

"Can you sit up?"

Remy managed to sit up, and grimaced as Aramis handed him a cup.

"Just try and drink it. It will help, Remy, I promise."

Remy muttered but drank it. He hated to admit it, but it was soothing. He just didn't like the taste.

"Alright, time to get some more sleep, young man."

"I'm not tired," protested Remy, yawning.

Athos was tired. He hadn't got much sleep last night, Irene had fussed over them all through breakfast, and Porthos had been unusually cheerful and talkative all day. The rain hadn't really let up, although, thankfully, it was wasn't as heavy as it had been for the last couple of days. Everything was just grey, damp, dour and miserable. Everything except Porthos, who was actually whistling. Athos glared at him, but Porthos was completely oblivious. Porthos finally stopped whistling as the fort came into view, just as dusk fell.

"Finally! I thought we were going to have to swim here."

Athos grunted a response.

Porthos looked at him. "Worried about Remy? He'll be fine. He's warm and dry, and Aramis will be fussing over him. By the time we get back, he'll be fit and ready to go."

"I hope so."

They handed their documents over to the guard on duty, and were ushered in to see the fort commander.

"Come in, gentlemen. You made good time. With all the rain we've had in the last few days, I thought you'd be delayed. You'll be staying the night, I assume."

Athos nodded. "If we could, yes Sir. We'll set off back in the morning. If you have any documents to return, we'll take them with us."

The commander nodded. "I'll have them ready for you. One of my men will show you to your quarters. Is there anything else you require?"

"If you could point me in the right direction for the town. There is something I need to get tomorrow, before we return."

It was late afternoon when Athos and Porthos made it back to the tavern. The rain had held off, and they'd made good time. Aramis was standing in the doorway. He came out to help them with the horses.

"Is he any better?" asked Athos.

Aramis smiled. "Much. He slept most of yesterday, with a little help. I'm going to have to restock on poppy juice. He's still got a cough, but his fever has gone now."

Porthos grinned. "Has Irene been looking after you both?"

Aramis rolled his eyes. "I'll be glad to get back to Paris for a rest."

Remy was laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He had been downstairs, but Irene's fussing had eventually got too much for him, and much to Aramis's amusement, he'd actually asked if he could go and lie down. His head only ached a little, his throat was only a little bit sore and scratchy, and he was coughing a lot less. But now he was feeling guilty, as Athos and Porthos had had to leave Aramis behind, and deliver the supplies alone, all because he got sick. The door opened and Athos's head appeared around it. He smiled and came over to sit on the bed, as Remy sat up.

"You look a lot better."

"I feel a lot better. Sorry I got sick, I didn't mean to." He sneezed and grumbled. "I hate being sick."

Athos rolled his eyes and ruffled Remy's hair. "I know you didn't mean to get sick, boy. It's not your fault. We should have noticed sooner that you were feeling sick."

Remy frowned. "Wasn't your fault."

Athos grinned a little thoughtfully. "Well, how about, we agree that it was no-ones fault."

Remy thought for a minute, then nodded. "Ok. Sounds fair to me."

"Come on then, time to eat. I have it on good authority that we need to feed you up. Apparently, you're all skin and bones."

Remy woke early and got dressed quietly, intending to sneak out to see to the horses. However, one creak from a floorboard, and Athos's eyes opened. He yawned and stared at Remy.

"Give me a minute, I'll help you with the horses."

They'd almost finished saddling the last horse when Aramis appeared, looking concerned.

"The pair of you should still be sleeping. I am not picking either of you up if you fall off your horse."

Athos looked at Remy and shrugged. "Worse than a mother hen, this one. As if we'd need to be picked up by him. That's why we have Porthos."

Remy giggled.

After a quick breakfast, they were ready to go. Aramis and Porthos mounted their horses, while Athos rummaged in his saddle bags.

"Looks like rain again. You're going to need this, Remy."

Athos handed a bundle to Remy, who frowned and looked at Aramis and Porthos.

"No idea, Remy." Aramis shifted in his saddle for a better look.

"Me either, although I can hazard a guess," grinned Porthos.

Remy unfastened the bundle and looked in stunned amazement at a cloak. He looked to Athos, confused.

"Should keep you drier and warm," grinned Athos.

Remy was dumbstruck. "Thanks," was all he managed.

Athos ruffled his hair and helped him fasten the cloak on. "Perfect fit."

Remy beamed.

It was getting dark when they made it back to Paris. Without the extra weight from the supplies they'd carried out, they'd made much better time on the way back, saving a full day of travelling. They were all tired and hungry and happy to see the city. They picked up the pace and cantered through the streets, back to the barracks. Remy dismounted before his horse had stopped moving, and took the reins of all four horses, leading them over to the stables.

The Captain stood watching, in disbelief. "You took the boy with you?"

Athos inclined his head. "I told you, we were all tired, especially Porthos. You told me to improvise, so I hired some help."

"And he was helpful," chipped in Aramis.

"Very helpful," agreed Porthos.

The Captain shook his head in wonderment. "And I suppose I'm going to be paying for this."

Athos smiled and shook his head. "We fed him, so yes, you'll be paying for that, but it was my idea, so my responsibility."

The Captain sighed. "He was helpful?"

"Very."

"Definitely."

"Despite getting sick."

Athos and Aramis glared at Porthos, who shrugged. "What? He did get sick, but he was still helpful. Kept that woman from fussing over us and driving us mad. She fussed over Remy instead. He was too tired to care."

"He got sick?" queried the Captain.

Athos tried to look nonchalant. "It was all the rain. He got soaked through and ended up with a fever. It didn't delay us."

"And that's why he's suddenly acquired a cloak?"

Aramis and Porthos both looked at Athos. The Captain rolled his eyes. "Well, at least you took care of him. Alright, get Jasper to finish off seeing to those horses, and get Remy fed. It's nearly dark, so he'd better sleep in our hay loft tonight. And by the time he's ready to leave in the morning, you'll have a full report on my desk so I can pay him for his time. Correct?"

Athos groaned, but agreed.