Evening My Lovelies :)

Notes On Reviews:

Deana: Thanks for the review - Glad you're enjoying the story so far, we're getting a hint of drama today so hopefully you'll like that too :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

FierGascon: Thanks for the review - D'Art as a mother-hen is quite fun to write... I think it's because he's the youngest. There's going to be quite a bit of Aramis/D'Art moments in this story, or at least in the first part. You'll be getting a glimpse into the letter today so hopefully it'll answer some questions. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Debbie (Guest): Thanks for the review - Haha that's very true but if he was smart and did that we'd have no story so we'll let him off for now :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

criminally charmed: Thanks for the review - Oh trust me I wont :D I just figure the others have been getting off fairly light in comparison... Though knowing me and how much I LOVE to whump D'Art... he'll probably end up quite hurt as well. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Tidia: Thanks for the review - Just can't resist a bit of puppy D'Art :D You're very right to be worried with regards to the letter. We'll be seeing a bit more regarding that today so hopefully it'll clear up a few questions. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Issai: Thanks for the reviews - Didnt have the heart to leave poor Aramis all on his lonesome. I was tempted to have Porthos there instead but figured Treville could probably only keep them off duty for a certain amount of time so D'Art it was :) As for if they informed anyone you'll find out tomorrow. I hadnt even thought about using Kara so no it's not her (though that would have been a good idea) Let's face it when does anything go right for the boys when I'm involved :D *laughs evilly* Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jasperslittlesister: Thanks for the review - Ooooh great mental image there lol :D I was SOOO very tempted to have it be Porthos who goes all mother-henny on our medic but I figured Treville wouldnt be able to keep them off of duty for too long... that and I quite like the idea of a fretting mother-hen style D'Art lol :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Helensg: Thanks for the review - Yep, pretty much lol :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Jmp (Guest): Thanks for the review - Yay I'm glad you think so, we're in for a little bit of drama today, should keep you all entertained :) Enjoy the new chapter! x

Zoe (Guest): Thanks for the review - Oh they definitely should have waited for Athos and Porthos, but if they did that we'd have no story so oh well :D I have a feeling D'Art may have used puppy-dog eyes on our Spaniard, no musketeer can say no to them lol. Enjoy the new chapter! x

Lilac Lavender: Thanks for the review - Things will start going wrong for our boys today so expect a bit of drama :) the real whumpage wont start for a few more chapters but I'll promise it'll be evil and totally worth it :D... Oh the things I have planned :D Them not knowing each other for very long is quite interesting to write. I've written one comfortyish moment in a later chapter as well as some whumpage and keep having to think how they would react given they're not as close as they are in my other stories... Though saying that they do get quite close quite quickly in the show so that'll help. D'Art's going to be quite unsure where he stands with regards to comfort moments and so is going to be thoroughly embarrassed when they happen to him (though he's very happy on the inside). I agree with your assessment with Athos being a bit more reserved. He's probably more likely to stand guard whilst the others do a puppy pile (I'm not losing my cute puppy pile even if it doesnt completely fit! It's too cute lol) I think with Aramis being quite tactile and Porthos seems fairly easy going and protective they'd both be happy to snuggle up to the boy and include him in their snuggles if they thought it would help. I'm thinking though that by the end of this story Athos will be relaxed enough around D'Art to join in the snuggles. After all I can't end without at least one complete puppy pile (though we've got a while till we get there) Right enough of my rambling about puppy piles lol Enjoy the new chapter! x

As always many thanks and much love to everyone who follows/favourites/reviews/reads.

Enjoy!

xxx

Chapter Three: Meeting

"So" D'Artagnan said hesitantly as he watched his friend from the corner of his eyes. The grief that had haunted him for the last week had been replaced by a burning anger and a worry that had D'Artagnan worried. The Gascon was not happy they had left without even informing Treville but Aramis had been insistent and he knew that had he not followed then the medic would have gone without him and that was something he could not allow.

"…A friend," Aramis answered quietly knowing what his young friend had been trying to ask. In all honesty the sharpshooter was surprised the boy had held in his curiosity for as long as he had. They had left Paris behind hours ago and he had expected to be hounded with questions as soon as they were away from the garrison, though he was grateful the Gascon had allowed him the time to process the information now swimming in his mind. "S…She's very dear to me," admitted the medic, closing his eyes and sending up a prayer that his friend wasn't suffering.

D'Artagnan nodded, already able to tell, just from the pain in his eyes and the way he spoke, that the woman mentioned in the letter was important to the man beside him and for that alone D'Artagnan vowed to do whatever he could to help rescue her.

"Athos isn't going to be happy with us, you know that right?" asked Aramis, knowing just how much D'Artagnan wanted the senior swordsman's approval and praise. The last thing the medic wanted was to cause tension between the two and their developing mentor – student relationship, since D'Artagnan had joined their little group both himself and Porthos had noticed a change in their typically morose friend and Aramis would hate himself if this mission did anything to upset that change.

To the medic's surprise D'Artagnan snorted, "He'll get over it," he shrugged, understanding that Aramis was giving him one last out before they reached the rendezvous point. "He didn't like the whole Vadim thing but he got over that… might try and kill me with training but he'll understand."

D'Artagnan's words brought a small smile to Aramis's face and the medic couldn't resist the urge to lean over and ruffle the boy's hair. "In all fairness none of us liked or agreed with the Vadim situation."

D'Artagnan shrugged in response and bit back the urge to stick his tongue out at his friend.

The pair continued in silence for a short while until they hit a crossroads, at which Aramis pulled his horse to a stop, a small uneasy frown marring his face.

"Aramis?"

"Her home is that way," stated the medic, gesturing to the opposite path that they needed to take to reach the rendezvous point.

"Do we have time?" D'Artagnan asked, knowing that it would help the musketeer to see proof of the woman's capture before the meeting. "It might help us figure out who took her," he added when he saw the uncertainty lining Aramis's face.

"…It's… not far."

D'Artagnan nodded and turned his horse back so they were set to follow the other path, "Lead the way."

It was another hour or so until Aramis pulled his horse to a stop in front of a small house on the edge of what appeared to be a tiny farming hamlet. The medic was about to open the door when a voice caught his attention.

"Aramis? Is that you?"

Aramis spun on his heels at the soft voice of the old man approaching him.

"Monsieur Albert" nodded Aramis, a small half smile coming to his face, "It has been a long time."

"Aye," nodded the old man sadly as he took in the grief stricken man before him. "With good reason though," he added, letting the Spaniard know he held no animosity at his long absence.

"I take it she's the cause of your return?" Albert asked, his voice betraying his worry for the woman.

Aramis nodded grimly, "I… received word she was in trouble," gesturing to D'Artagnan he added, "We came to confirm the truth in that before setting out to help her."

D'Artagnan watched with growing sadness as the old man before them practically sagged under the weight of his worry over the woman and the relief at seeing Aramis again.

"No one's seen her in days," Albert informed them, "A messenger arrived just over a week ago and the next thing we know she's preparing to leave for Paris."

Neither Albert nor D'Artagnan missed Aramis's flinch at the mention of the messenger and the Gascon realized that maybe this mystery woman had some history with Marsac… It was not an absurd a thought he realized, if Marsac's and Aramis's friendship was anything like the one he had with Porthos and Aramis then the now deceased musketeer would most likely have visited this place with him and so would also know the missing woman.

The pair then spent the next several minutes questioning the old man before realizing they needed to leave if they were to make it to the rendezvous point with enough time to scout a position for D'Artagnan before the meeting was to take place.

"J-Just bring her back Aramis," pleaded Albert as he took the musketeer's hands in his own and Aramis couldn't help but nod, he knew the old man and his wife looked out for the woman, treated her like their own and knowing she was in trouble wasn't doing them any good.

"Let's go," Aramis declared with more strength then he felt. The sickening feeling he had when he first received the letter had now increased dramatically and the musketeer couldn't help but berate himself for how poorly he had taken care of himself since Marsac's death. The guilt of his friend dying by his hand had left him with little desire to eat or train and so he had settled for drinking and sleeping, or attempting to at any rate. Because of this the medic could tell he would not be up to his usual standard should a fight occur and he couldn't rid himself of the thought that a fight was going to happen.

"I don't like this Aramis," muttered D'Artagnan as he observed the meeting point. The area was fairly open and lacked decent hiding spots for the Gascon so he had been forced to wait on a hill, further from the meeting point then either of them would have liked.

"Don't have much of a choice," grumbled the medic as he prepared to head down. He was not comfortable letting the Gascon out of his sight, especially when they had no idea how many people would be coming to this meeting. Too many things could go wrong and the fact that their mysterious letter sender had insisted on meeting at dusk only made matter worse.

"If I see anything," stressed the Gascon, his worry making his whole frame tense.

Aramis sighed and smiled softly at the young man, "I would expect nothing less," and with that he turned to make his way to the field where the meeting would be taking place.

As time passed with no sign of anyone Aramis's nerves became increasingly frayed and he couldn't stop his hands from fiddling with his pistol holder and sword hilt.

"Come on," groaned the medic under his breath as he turned to do a visual sweep of the area, and to discretely check on D'Artagnan.

"Apologies musketeer," boomed an unfamiliar voice that had the sharpshooter spinning on his heels to glare at the man who had just emerged from the trees. "I was delayed," he added, his tone so nonchalant he could've easily been talking about the weather rather than being late to a ransom meeting.

"Where is she?" growled Aramis as he fought the urge to punch the smug looking man before him. From the man's clothes Aramis was able to deduce that he was some sort of noble, or at least from a well off family but it was the way the man held himself that worried Aramis. The man had been a musketeer for long enough to register the stance of a fellow military man when he saw it.

"You didn't think I would be stupid enough to bring her here did you?" scoffed the man as he eyed the musketeer with visible distaste.

"The how do I even know she is in your possession?"

The grin that grew on the man's face sent shivers down Aramis's spine but before he could think on it the man was throwing something to him.

Catching the small object with one hand Aramis felt his blood go cold as he instantly recognized the bloodstained locket he now held in his grasp.

"You bastard!" snarled the musketeer as he forced himself to remember that without the man in front of him he had no way of finding his missing friend.

"Ah, ah, ah," chided the man with a knowing smirk that should have been enough of a warning sign for the musketeer had he not been struggling to think through the rage brewing within him. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," stated the man in an annoyingly patronizing singsong voice.

"And why not?" snarled Aramis as he drew his blade and pointed it at the man.

"Because," stated the man with a knowing smirk as he sat on a large boulder, leaning back slightly as he grinned smugly at the now thoroughly confused musketeer before him, "I know you did not come here alone."

It was only from his years of training and experience that allowed the marksman to keep his emotions in check as the man spoke. Internally his heart was beating a mile a minute and he could feel the fear for his young friend growing within him.

"You're mistaken," scoffed Aramis, hoping he could bluff his way through this encounter, "I came alone as instructed… Now where is she?"

At his words the man sighed and Aramis felt his internal fear reach all new heights. "I had hoped you would be honest, I do so detest liars."

"Yeah?" spat Aramis with no small amount of venom in his voice, "Well I do so detest people who kidnap and hurt my friends."

"I would watch your tone if I were you," growled the man, his anger at being mocked clear on his face. "Especially as how the girl's life is in my hand… as is the life of the young man on the hill."

D'ARTAGNAN!

"Where is he! What have you done with him!" screamed Aramis as he launched himself at the smug looking man who stopped his attempt by pulling a pistol out from his jacket and pointing it and the musketeer.

"Whatever has befallen the brat," snarled the man as he moved towards the now stationary musketeer, not missing the way Aramis tensed at the slur, "is your own doing. My orders were perfectly clear. You were to come alone"

Before Aramis could say anything back his head exploded in pain and darkness rushed to greet him.