Remy woke slowly, and stared blearily up at a pristine white ceiling. For a moment, he thought he was dead. Then he moved, and the searing pain in his side convinced him that he was alive. He was in too much pain to be dead. Athos's face swam into view, looking concerned.

"Try and lie still, Remy. Aramis took a long time to put those stitches in you. Disturbing them would not be popular."

Remy groaned, but keeping still hurt less than moving. Athos brushed his hair from his face and felt his forehead.

"No fever. That's good." He raised Remy's head slightly and managed to get him to drink some water, before gently tucking him back under the cool, clean sheets. "Go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake up." He threaded his fingers through Remy's hair a few times, smiling as the boy leaned into the warmth of the touch in his sleep. Athos leaned back in his chair and closed his own eyes.

Captain Treville adjusted his jacket and removed his hat, nervously running his fingers through his hair, before knocking on the door. A manservant opened the door, and Captain Treville requested an audience with the Duke d'Auvergne. He was shown through to a large room, with several pieces of large, ornate furniture, several portraits of glum looking people, and a couple of rather gaudy tapestries. The Duke was standing in front of the French windows, looking out to the gardens.

"Ah, Captain Treville." He strode forwards with his hand outstretched in greeting. Treville was a little taken aback, but shook hands and smiled. "Your men told me you'd be paying me a visit."

Trveille tried not to frown. "Yes, Sir, I've come to thank you for your help in caring for my injured men yesterday, and to arrange to get Remy transported back to our barracks."

The Duke waved his hand dismissively. "Don't give it a second thought, Captain. After all you and your men have done in preventing this treacherous plot, it was the least I could do. And you are not moving that boy until he's well enough to travel."

The Captain frowned. "Sir, I appreciate the intent, but ..."

"No buts. My daughter would be extremely upset if she thought I'd allowed Remy to leave before he's had a chance to recover sufficiently, and I do not want to upset her anymore than she is already."

The Captain tried a slightly different tact. "I don't want to impose on your hospitality for any longer than is necessary."

The Duke smiled. "Technically, I'm the one imposing on the King's hospitality. Besides, I doubt you'd manage to persuade your men to move the boy until they're satisfied that he can be moved without causing him further pain."

Athos woke with a start and looked around. Remy was still asleep, his breathing a little labored, but peaceful enough. Aramis was asleep in the chair on one side of the bed. Porthos was snoring in the chair on the other side. Treville was stood at the bottom of Remy's bed with a resigned expression on his face. Athos yawned and stretched carefully so as not to disturb Remy, who was snuggled against him.

"Comfortable," asked Treville, with a hint of amusement in his eyes. This was a side of Athos that few people had seen. The man was a bit of an enigma, keeping his own counsel, impassive, and in some respects, somewhat aloof. Respected by the regiment, certainly, but not the first choice for most to turn to if they needed a comforting word. And here he was, propped on a bed with Remy curled up against his chest, his arm draped protectively round the boy's shoulders.

Athos twisted his head and winced slightly. "I believe I'm going to have a stiff neck if he doesn't move soon, but this was the only way we could get him to lie still. I think he was having nightmares, and Aramis was afraid he'd burst his stitches."

"The way he was trying to sit bolt upright, he would have done," muttered Aramis, without even bothering to open his eyes. "Morning, Sir. I think I may be a little late reporting for duty today."

Treville rolled his eyes, but smiled. "I think you all might, but I'll let it go. Extenuating circumstances. The Duke is happy for you to stay here to look after Remy. Please, try and behave yourselves, and could one of you at least try and report to me on a daily basis to let me know how Remy is progressing?"

Athos smiled. "Of course, Sir."

Remy was sat up in bed, feeling much better. Aramis had just rebandaged his wounds and pronounced him well enough to travel the following day. Athos smiled as Porthos strode through the door.

"How do always manage to time your entrance right before food is due to arrive?"

Porthos grinned. "Years of practise."

There was a quiet knock at the door behind him. Porthos turned and opened the door. Elisabeth smiled up at him.

"I was wondering if it would be alright if I visited with Remy for a few minutes."

Athos rose from his chair. "Of course it is, Mademoiselle. I need to speak to your father anyway. Come on, Porthos." He glanced at Aramis, who nodded and settled down on a chair in the corner of the room, away from the bed. Porthos looked a little confused, but he followed Athos.

Elisabeth crossed to the bed and sat on the edge of it. "You're looking better than the last time I saw you."

Remy grinned a little ruefully. "I should hope so. Not sure I was even conscious."

She smiled, her eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun that was drifting through the windows. "Well, no, you weren't particularly conscious, and you were very pale as well. We were all worried about you."

Remy frowned. "You were?"

"Yes, of course we were. You fought really well."

He grinned, suddenly remembering how she had wielded that branch. "You were pretty good yourself. Is that man able to walk straight yet?"

She blushed a little at the memory. "I didn't mean to hit him there." Remy raised an eyebrow, and Elisabeth giggled. "Alright, so I did mean it, but he deserved it."

"And the blow to the head?" asked Remy with a grin.

She grinned back at him. "Well, I had to make sure he wasn't getting back up again in a hurry."

"Trust me, the way you hit him the first time, he wasn't getting up in a hurry."

She giggled, but not a silly, girly, forced giggle, done for effect. This had a musical quality to it, and sounded truly genuine. Remy felt himself smile, without being too sure why. He also wasn't sure why he was suddenly noticing the curve of her lips and the way the light was falling on her hair.

She glanced over to Aramis, who was studiously staring out of a window, and lowered her voice. "I really was worried about you when you were hurt. You saved me from those people. I will always be grateful for what you did. You were very brave."

Remy hung his head a little. "More like, very stupid. Taking on Killian was a bad plan."

She placed her finger under his chin and raised his head until he was looking her in the eye. "It was the only plan we had, and without you, I dread to think what might have happened." She smiled at him for what seemed like an age, but was probably only a few fleeting seconds. Without warning, she leaned in and kissed him gently on the forehead. Remy blinked, and blushed. Her hand found his and he felt something cold and smooth being placed in his hand, before she wrapped her fingers around his hand and closed it over the item. He frowned, a little confused. She leant in again and whispered in his ear. "Just so you don't forget about me."

The door opened and she sat back, smiled at him, and then kissed him again, this time on the cheek. "Thank you."

He blushed again. "You're welcome."

She smiled brightly at him, and then skipped across the room to Aramis, kissing him gently on the cheek as well, much to his surprise. Athos smiled as he dropped himself back into the chair by the bed, placing a dark wooden box on the bed. Elisabeth turned around and came back to him with a smile on her face. He tilted his head to the side, and she kissed him on the cheek as well, before almost dancing across the room to Porthos, who was standing in the doorway, still looking a little confused. She looked up at him, and waited. It took him a moment to realise what she wanted him to do. He grinned and dropped down on one knee. She giggled and kissed him on the cheek, before turning back to face Athos.

"Thank you, all of you." And then she was gone.

Remy scratched his head, feeling his cheek tingle where she'd kissed him, and wondering what had just happened.

Aramis chuckled. "I think you have an admirer, Remy."

He frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, she likes you."

"How can you tell?"

"Well, the fact she kissed you for a start."

"She kissed all of you as well," protested Remy.

Aramis shook his head with a smile. "Not in quite the same way. Do I have to draw you a diagram?"

Porthos chuckled and Athos shook his head. "Now there's a conversation we're going to have to have soon, young man." He frowned and rubbed his temples. "Not sure I know where to start with that. Perhaps it would help if you did draw that diagram."

Aramis chuckled as Remy looked at them both, with a very confused expression on his face.

"What's in the box?" asked Aramis.

Athos smiled. "It's a gift for Remy, from the Duke, as a thank you for protecting his daughter. He thought it may prove useful." He opened the box, revealing a pair of silver barrelled pistols with black handles.

"Looks like I'll have to teach you how to shoot," grinned Aramis.

"What's in your hand?" asked Athos.

Remy blinked at him, and then looked at his clenched fist. He'd forgotten that Elisabeth had pressed something into his hand. He unclenched his fingers to reveal a small lozenge shaped locket on a silver chain. He grinned as he held it up. Porthos whistled, Aramis smiled, and Athos shook his head.

"Definitely got an admirer, boy. Better start work on that diagram, Aramis."