A little more about Aramis and Annabella's back story. Hope you like it!

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The room was large and bright with two walls made up of windows, giving an almost unobstructed view of the pavilion outside and the incline that led down to the sea beyond. Exotic plants grew everywhere with boughs of ivy and wisteria hanging from the vaulted glass ceiling. The room was warm and the faint sound of water from the small fishpond could be heard harmonizing with the steady crash of sea waves scarcely heard through the glass partition. Athos and Porthos looked around in wonder. Even Athos, himself of noble lineage, had never been in a room quite like this.

"Some of my father's trophies. He would bring home plants from many of the lands he travelled to," said Annabella as she entered with her father.

"All for you, my treasure," purred the General. Annabella looked embarrassed.

"For my mother," she corrected. "She commissioned this entire room be built."

"A visionary," he murmured, the smouldering fire in his eyes dimming fractionally.

"Will you join us for lunch, father?" Annabella asked kindly.

"No, unfortunately not," said the General, the brief flicker of humanity once again replaced by the cold fire of command. "The tidings you bring from the King are long and complex. I shall need time to consider my response...I trust you will enjoy what time you have left with us." With that he bowed to the musketeers, kissed his daughter's hand and abruptly left the room.

"Please sit," she said recovering from the sudden and odd departure and gesturing to the table that had been set for four. "Come Porthos," she said, taking him by the arm. "Sit by me and tell me about my brother and what trouble he's gotten you into." Porthos grinned as he was led by the lady and began chatting animatedly with the beautiful young woman. Athos raised his eyebrow to Aramis who shook his head and grinned, seemingly happy for the first time in days.

"Well, not happy, but calmer, more content," Athos thought as they followed the pair to the table, Annabella's laughter like the tinkling of bells, Porthos' like the booming of a drum.

After a fine repast, the quartet sat there, Annabella listening intently to the stories of their adventures as musketeers.

"…and because of that Athos will never eat vichyssoise again!" roared Porthos.

"Yes," said Athos dryly. "How was it that when you two pick a fight with a nobleman's cook, I am the one covered in cold soup?"

"Or feathers," said Porthos.

"Or powdered sugar," added Aramis as he and Porthos burst out laughing once more. Athos took another drink from his glass, but Annabella knew it was to hide the smirk and drown the laughter that had almost escaped his lips.

"It is good to hear you laughing," said Annabella to Aramis with a fond smile.

"Typically it's harder to keep him quiet," said Athos affectionately gesturing towards Aramis.

"Insufferably cheerful, that one is," Porthos added, refilling their glasses.

Aramis stood and doffing his hat performed a dramatic, flourishing bow, to the laughter and applause of the others.

Settling himself back in his seat, Aramis looked across the table at Annabella. "I have missed you, sister," he said, hesitantly tasting the word. He smiled sadly, pausing.

"Why…why did you never write to me after you left…you have no idea what it was like…" he trailed off.

Annabella looked shocked, then all at once she began to cry, softly and sadly. The most beautiful tragic tears Porthos had ever seen. "Damn!" he thought. "She even makes misery beautiful."

"How can you say that?" she said, her voice trembling, and hardly more than a whisper. "I wrote you every day!" A silence fell, thick and heavy.

"I never...no one..." Aramis stammered.

"Did you think I could have forgotten you? That I didn't know what I was leaving you with? It's been 12 years since I last heard anything about you – Father wrote me when you left," she said, the large tears continuing to fall from her bright green eyes. "I tried finding out what had happened to you! But you had changed your name. There was no trace of Rene D'Herblay, and father refused to help. He said you had made your decision and I should forget you. How could I?" she said, through the tears flowing steadily down her cheeks.

"I have thought of you every day. Wondering if you were alive, if you were well. If you were loved. Wondering what it was, what he did, what had happened to have finally driven you away," she whispered, dropping her head to gaze at her hands folded in her lap. "Wondering if I'd ever see you again – if you'd even want to see me after this place. When I saw you yesterday, it was like seeing a ghost."

The three men sat there in shock and overcome by emotion as Annabella cried silently. Porthos took her small hand in his and gave it a slight squeeze, lost for words, but wanting to comfort the woman. She looked at it and smiled slightly.

"Annabella…" Aramis started. "I'm…I'm sorry… I didn't know...When you left…"

Aramis paused, searching for words that usually came so easily to him. "When you left, it was terrible here. I was a child. No one would tell me where you went or how I could reach you. I was only told you were sent north to be married and that you were well rid of a disgrace like me...I never knew…then, when I never heard from you and the things that were said…I just thought…I was wrong. They used you, your memory, to hurt me. They said it was weakness. So I learned to…live without...I thought I was wrong. I thought you were ashamed of me…"

"Never," she said fiercely, eyes on fire through the tears.

They were interrupted suddenly by a squeal of laughter and a young voice calling "Mamma!"

"Here my darling! We're here!" she called back, brushing away her tears and composing herself quickly. "Hello my little warrior! What are you up to?"

A little boy bounced into their midst, no more than 6, a toy sword at his side, a mop of curls and dark eyes, wide in wonder at seeing the three men in uniform at the table with his mother. The three men rose as he cautiously approached and stood beside his mother, protectively grasping her arm.

"Come now!" she said, scooping him into her arms. "No kiss for your Mamma?" The boy dutifully placed a kiss on her cheek, eyes still trained on the Musketeers.

"Come, love, there is someone very special I want you to meet," she said rising and leading her son before Aramis. "This is your uncle Aramis," she said, "and these are his friends, Athos and Porthos. They're Musketeers! The best soldiers in all of France!" she whispered into his ear. His eyes widened to the size of dinner plates looking again at the men. Aramis knelt before the bow, removing his hat. Athos and Porthos also made slight bows towards the boy from behind Aramis.

Said Aramis, extending his hand to the boy, "It is a pleasure to meet you…"

"Rene," said Annabella. "His name is Rene. Rene Jean. Jean, for his father."

The boy took his hand and shook it, his face grinning and eager. "Are you really my uncle? And a Musketeer?" he gushed.

"I am," said Aramis with a chuckle. "As are my friends. Athos is a lieutenant and the best swordsman in France. And Porthos, Porthos is the strongest man in the world!" he said

The boy's eyes widened again as they focused on Porthos. "You're big!" he said in awe. "I want to be that big when I grow up!" he said.

The adults all laughed.

"Well," said Porthos, "you might be, one day," he said with a wink which had the boy squeal with delight.

"Rene," said Athos, looking over at Aramis who was staring incredulously at the boy. "I think your mother and uncle need to talk. I think I hear the sounds of a fishpond. Could you show it to me? Then Porthos and I can tell you stories about being a musketeer," he said. The boy sprang forward and grabbing the hilt of his sword and Porthos by the wrist he began dragging the laughing musketeer towards the pond.

Athos nodded at Aramis before following the giant and the boy towards the pond.

"He's beautiful," breathed Aramis.

"You would say that," said Annabella with a slight laugh. "He looks like you!"

Aramis grinned, "Lucky boy then," he said with a wink as they retreated back to the table. Annabella collapsed into a chair, bringing her hand to her head to cover her eyes for a moment. Aramis poured her some more wine.

They sat in silence for a moment, peacefully staring out at the sea in the distance.

"I'm sorry Aramis," Annabella began. "I'm sorry that I left you here."

Aramis shook his head. "You were a child. There was nothing either of us could do. You couldn't have known what my education was like. Father always kept you separate from it."

"But I knew you weren't being treated well. I saw the way he isolated you. I begged him to stop, but he said it would make you strong," she said sadly. "When he saw how much and how quickly we loved each other, that's when he sent me away. For whatever Charles may have said, Aramis, father was proud to have a son. Father never did anything recklessly, so he must have loved your mother. He wanted to train you to be like him."

"He was wrong," said Aramis.

"He was," agreed Annabella. "He never understood you," she continued, a slight bitter laugh escaping her. "Your heart he saw as weakness, and tried to tear that away from you. But your heart, your compassion, your ability to love…all the things that make you the man that you are, Aramis, those are your greatest strength. I knew that even then. I spent so many nights weeping over you, and what they might be doing to mold you into the soldier father wanted."

Aramis was quiet. "His father…Jean…"

"He died," said Annabella. "Over two years ago now. Infection from a wound he had taken in battle. Rene doesn't remember him much, but I'm trying…"

"I'm sorry," said Aramis after a beat. "Was he a good man?"

"He was. I loved him," she said softly. "He was the son of a nobleman, but he insisted on serving his King and country. He was clever. He used to make me laugh." She paused again, remembering.

She sighed and continued her explanation, "He took a musket ball to the thigh while protecting part of the northern border. The infection spread quickly. I buried him in his family plot. We came back here only six months ago. The north is so cold and full of ghosts when you're alone."

"I am sorry to have never met him," said Aramis softly. "To thank him…He sounds like a good man."

"Thank you," she said sighing. "I am sorry that Rene should grow up without him."

"He has his mother," replied Aramis, taking her hands in his, "and a stronger, smarter, more caring woman I doubt there has ever been."

"Aramis! Aramis!" Rene came running through the foliage towards them. "Is it true? Athos says that you're the finest marksman in France and that you could hit an acorn from 100 paces!"

"200, I'd say," said Porthos as he and Athos pulled into view behind the boy. "and blindfolded!"

"Really?!" squealed the child. "Can you teach me to do that?"

Aramis laughed heartily, eyes shining as brightly as the boy's and pulling the lad onto his knee he said, "Well maybe when you're older I can teach you," he said, adding mischievously, a glance at Annabella who smiled at the pair. "But first I should teach you not to listen to all the wild stories from Porthos. What else did he and Athos tell you?"

The rest of the afternoon passed in laughter and happy chatter as Aramis and Porthos outdid each other telling wildly exaggerated tales to the lad. Annabella laughed along, watching her son and her brother with tears, this time of joy, shining in her eyes.

"I can't wait to be a musketeer!" cried Rene as another story came to an end.

"I thought you wanted to be a general," said the General coolly, entering their gathering place.

"Well of course Grandpere," replied the boy rising from his place on the bench next to Aramis to go and greet his grandfather. The General swept the boy up into his arms. "There can be Musketeer generals, right Athos?" Athos nodded.

"You will grow to be a fine military general," said the General to his grandson. "The fiercest warrior in France!"

"If he wants to be," said Aramis rising, taking a step towards the two, a slight edge to his voice.

From behind him, Annabella also stood. A coldness in her eyes that had not previously been present when looking at her father. Her conversation with Aramis and their father's deception had greatly affected her.

"Yes," replied the General. "if he wants to be," he said looking at his children. The ghost of something flashed across his face, but what that emotion could have been was hard for Athos to pinpoint.

"I think it's best if we disburse for the time being and return to our quarters," said Athos, bowing slightly to the General.

"Yes,' said Annabella. Stepping forward, she brushed her hand lightly on Aramis bicep and took her son from her father's arms, then stood to face the musketeers. "Everything is fine," she communicated to Aramis with that light touch.

"Yes, Athos," she repeated, looking to the swordsman to help defuse the situation. "I think that's a wonderful idea. I was having such a good time I had not realized how much time has passed. It is time for Rene's music lesson, and I should like to rest a bit before we meet for dinner."

"Of course," said Athos with a bow, grateful for Annabella's poise and grace. "Thank you for your hospitality. We shall return later this evening, as you wish." Athos and Porthos bowed deeply to Annabella and the General. Aramis too gave a curt bow, as was his wont, his eyes on his sister and nephew. He winked at the boy who giggled and hid his face in his mother's shoulder. The General's eyes narrowed but he made no comment.

oOo