Evening My Lovelies

Hmmm not really liking this chapter. I had no idea what to do with it. Although saying that there is a bit near the end I quite like.

Notes On Reviews:

Katie (Guest): Thanks for the review - We're seeing a bit more of the cute couple today :) I hated how heartbreaking that last chapter was to write. The scene with Corinne and her father was probably the worst. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - I'm hoping the fact D'Art refused to go and see him made sense but yeah all together it was a hard day for our guys. D'Art was never going to forgive him about the whole stabbing Maria thing. Pretty sure there was nothing Antoine could have said that would have gotten him out of that. Enjoy the new chapter! x

pallysdeeks: Thanks for the review - Its slightly odd to be rid of all our baddies now but I am looking forward to focusing on D'Arts hand. Athos is going to be furious when he learns the truth. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, I didn't want Antoine to go out a coward in front of Corinne... I think he might have tried something if she hadn't been there but he wanted to look strong in her eyes. I'm loving the whole Corinne/Corbett thing so I'm glad you liked it too. Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Nah we're free of baddies now... which is slightly odd for me as usually the story ends with the death of the last baddie. Oh D'Art will be hurt in the next story I can promise that :D Enjoy the new chapter! x

Maryg (Guest): Thanks for the review - I hated putting Corinne through that but Antoine needed to go. I'm loving the whole Corinne/Corbett thing, its very cute to write :D We're seeing a bit of our D'Arty today and I'm thinking a brotherly moment or two tomorrow. Enjoy the new chapter! x

f1gymnast: Thanks for the review - Same, definitely didn't blame Kingy for being a bit testy. Corinne and Corbett as so freaking adorable together I'm loving the two of them together. Enjoy the new chapter! x

WelshEssex (Guest): Thanks for the review - I think the only one who might miss him would be Corinne and that's something that will be slightly hard for her to accept. Enjoy the new chapter! x

MicheeO: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Glad you liked it, it was hard to write, especially for Corinne. She'll be okay, D'Art'll look after her and maybe so will Corbett ;) We're beginning to address the whole arm thing but more that to come later. Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always much love and many thanks for following/favouriting/reviewing/reading

Love you all!

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Grieving

As soon as the execution was over D'Artagnan wasted no time in getting Corinne out of the plaza, sending his brothers significant looks as he all but dragged his cousin out of there.

"You know we're going to have to talk to him at some point," stated Porthos with a small sad sigh as they watched their youngest leave. Part of him wanted to follow and watch over him but he recognized that such an action would not be welcome right at that moment.

"He's grieving," protested Aramis as he leaned against a pillar, his fingers absent-mindedly ghosting over the many bruises littering his skin. "I don't care what you think is going on, we can at least give him time to come to terms with what's just happened.

"We may not have a choice," said Athos, a frown marring his features as he thought back to what Porthos had explained to them earlier that day. He had no desire to push the boy to open up if he wasn't ready but at the same time he needed to know what was going on with his protégé.

"'Sides," shrugged Porthos as he turned his gaze back to the brother's beside him. "Not like the whelp liked him any."

"Corinne didn't like him after finding out what he did and yet she still mourns him," stated Aramis as he shook his head. "He needs time to mourn… even if he doesn't realize it yet."

"What do I do now Charlie," whimpered Corinne as she pressed herself into D'Artagnan's chest, her fingers gripping his shirt so hard they had turned white.

D'Artagnan, who had been watching the sky for the last several minutes while waiting for his cousin to stop crying looked down at the sound of her voice. "What do you mean?"

Corinne wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her dress, her hands visibly shaking. "Lupiac's gone… Maria and you are both hurt and… and father's dead."

"You've still got me Rinny," offered D'Artagnan lightly, his voice full of all the love and fondness he felt for her when he spoke the nickname he had started calling her as children. "Maria's recovering as… as am I. You have us, you're not alone."

Corinne's lips twitched upward then until her mind caught on to the odd pause in his words as he spoke "What was that about?"

D'Artagnan's head tilted to one side as confusion filled his features, "What are you talking about?"

"You hesitated."

"No I didn't," retorted D'Artagnan, cursing as he noticed her glaring up at him, the same glare she always unused when she new he was hiding something from her.

"Yes you did," snapped the woman as she sat back, eyeing him while she waited for him to open up to her.

For several long minutes the pair did nothing but stare at each other, but eventually D'Artagnan accepted defeat and with a loud sigh nodded weakly to his cousin.

"What's wrong Charlie?"

D'Artagnan struggled to find the words to explain what was happening. So far he had managed to shrug off or ignore any questions about his arm that came up. He was afraid that as soon as he vocalized it to someone that it would become real. In his mind he reasoned that if he didn't mention it then it was nothing more than the untrue worries of a tired doctor… but if he said it out loud…

What he didn't realize was that during his struggle he had subconsciously moved his good arm to lightly cradle his burned one to his chest and that was the only thing she needed to understand what was causing him such pain.

"How bad?" she asked softly, her sympathetic gaze lifting to reach his eyes, letting him know that there was no judgment on her part for the glistening of tears now building up in his eyes.

With a shaky sigh D'Artagnan lowered his head, hiding his expression behind his hair.

"Bad enough that my days as a musketeer are numbered," he admitted with a bitter chuckle. He didn't really know what he was feeling right at that point but he hated it.

Part of his was angry, another was sad and another was bitter and all the negative emotions were really messing with his head.

He desperately wanted to confide in his brothers, for them to tell him that this wouldn't be the end, that his arm would heal despite the doctor's examination and, most importantly, that they would still be brothers if the doctor ended up being correct and he lost his commission.

No matter how much he wanted that though there was always something preventing him from speaking up, whether it be his fear of their reactions or the developing plan in his mind, he simply hadn't gotten around to actually admitting to them how bad his situation was, though he wouldn't be surprised if they had already guessed.

"So what are you going to do?" Corinne asked, her worried eyes watching her cousin as she tried to think of something she could do to help.

D'Artagnan sighed, "I have a plan of sorts," he admitted before explaining what he had planned to her.

"Are you sure about this Charlie?" she asked at the end of his explanation and despite her attempts to stop it, a small smile was curling her lips.

D'Artagnan mirrored her smile, although his came across slightly strained as he nodded. "I don't see any other option. I have to do this."

"And your friends?"

This made the Gascon pause. He knew that when he put his plan in motion and his brothers learned of it, it would devastate them, which was by far the last thing he wanted, but he had very few options left open to him. He could only hope that they would forgive him in the end.

"If I know them as well as I think I do then they already suspect something's up." Stated the Gascon with a pained smile, he really hated keeping things from his friends but he couldn't bring himself to admit the truth… not to them at least.

"But what about –"

"They'll understand," grimaced D'Artagnan as he interrupted her, making her glare at him, to which he could only chuckle mirthlessly and smile apologetically at her. "They're sure to hate me for a bit but hopefully they'll come to understand by the end."

"Or you could just explain it to them now… give them time to process everything."

D'Artagnan snorted, "Yeah that wont be happening. I know those men well enough to know exactly what they would do if I opened up to them about my plan before actually putting it in effect."

"We should probably head back," sighed Corinne a few hours later when it started to get dark

Unable to help himself, despite the mood that had enveloped them for the last several hours, D'Artagnan smirked, a teasing glint entering his eyes. "Yes I imagine Corbett's getting quite worried about you."

Her reaction was better than he had been hoping for and the Gascon wasn't able to contain his burst of laughter at how shocked his cousin appeared and how deep a blush flushed across her cheeks.

"I… I-I … What?" she stammered, barely able to get the words out as she stared, wide-eyed, at her cousin, her blush deepening at his hearty laughter.

"Please," scoffed D'Artagnan lightheartedly as he ruffled her hair with his good arm. "I saw how quick he was to escort you earlier, and I have seen how he acts around you and you're quite obvious yourself."

"Obvious about what?" said a voice startling the pair, who quickly turned to see who had approached them only to find the remaining inseparables as well as Corbett watching them with varying expressions of worry, concern and amusement.

D'Artagnan tried to answer, he really did but as soon as he saw Corbett's face it brought back the sight of his cousin only moments earlier and within seconds he was bursting out laughing once again.

His brothers looked thoroughly lost as to what was going on but each of the three men was simply overjoyed to hear laughter coming from their brother to really question it too much further.

"What's so funny?" asked Corbett, his eyes drifting from the laughing Gascon to the woman behind him who was sporting an adorable blush, the sight of which made him smile softly at her unknowingly.

"Oh nothing," shrugged D'Artagnan with exaggerated nonchalance and a knowing look in his eyes. "Just teasing my dear cousin about her reaction to her 'secret' admirer."

At his words it was now Corbett's turn to blush as he realized the younger musketeer was all to aware of his growing fondness for the young woman and his stomach twisted at the way the Gascon had stressed the word cousin. It was like he was trying to remind him who she was to him and what would happen should anything hurt her.

"Oh," smirked Aramis as he inserted himself in between D'Artagnan and Corinne. "Do tell, I love a bit of gossip."

Porthos snorted at his brother's eagerness and turned to Athos, who was shaking his head at the situation.

"Talk on the way back," instructed Athos as he nodded in the direction of the city and garrison. "It's getting late and Treville wants us back. No doubt Reynard and Pascal will have lectures planned for us having been out as long as we have as well."