Authors note: Hi. Its been a while but I'm still here. I'm posting the next 2 chapters here and there will probably be about 8 in total. Enjoy.

Day four of the Musketeers and the young Vicomte started as though Athos was a fully grown musketeer. They were called up to Treville's office to receive the day's mission. Aramis, Porthos and D'artagon were to deliver a letter to some count who lived a few hours out of Paris. Athos, much to the young Vitcomte's displeasure, was to stay at the garrison.

'Why can I not go with them? You saw that I could defend myself if needed.' Athos pouted after the others had left

'Athos You are not a musketeer. This, all though a simple mission, has its dangers and I would not want you to be hurt if I can avoid it.' Treville tried to explain

Athos was still clearly upset so Treville told him to go and find Sergue in the kitchens. Athos seemed to light up at the idea, but Treville knew it was not the ideas of food exciting him. It was the idea of going into the kitchens itself. Athos had never been in a kitchen, his father forbade him from going near them, so the idea of going near one excited Athos. With a nod of his head he ran towards the door before releasing something.

'Where are the kitchens?' Athos asked Treville

Treville let out a small chuckle as he walked towards athos 'I'll show you'

—-

'Surge! You have a new assistant today!' Treville announced as Athos followed him into the Garrison kitchen.

The kitchen, Athos realised, was so much bigger than he thought it was. It had cupboards of various sizes lining the back walls, shelves full of jars and boxes with the names of various root vegetables and herbs in and around them and a massive stove top in the middle of the room. There was also a man here. This must be Serge, Athos thought to himself. He was a big man, though not as big as Porthos. He was definitely older than Treville and he was quite simply dressed in a simple tunic, trousers and an apron on top.

Surge turned around and knelt down to Athos' level.

'Well who do we have here?' Surge asked rhetorically

'Athos is on kitchen duty with you today.' Treville stated

Treville turned to Athos 'You be good for surge ok, do what he says. He is in charge until I come back to get you.' Treville instructed Athos in a firm but kind way.

Surge, already knowing what Treville was doing, smiled at Athos and waved off Treville 'Don't worry you little pants off! I'll look after your kid. It's not the first time and it won't be the last.'

Treville smiled in relief 'Thank you surge- wait what did you just say! He's not my-'

Surge grinned as he continued to show Treville out of the kitchen.

Athos looked back at him 'What was that about'

'Adult stuff' Surge answered 'have you ever made Fish stew?'

'I like fish' Athos responded

—-

As it turns out, Athos' talents with a blade did not extend to the kitchen. For Athos, it seems that cutting potatoes was a lot more difficult than fencing. After a little incident in which Athos cut his finger, Surge banaged him up and put him on diffrent tasks.

'I'm sorry I am not able to help more, Surge.' Athos apologised, 'I'm not good in the kitchen'

'It's alright kid, Everyone has different talents.' Surge responded

'I'm not sure I know what my talents are.' Athos muttered 'I cant even cut a potato without injuring myself!'

'I'm sure You got something Athos' Surge replied

'That's just it, I don't have anything!' Athos stated as if it were obvious fact

'You were pretty good at fencing yesterday.' Sergue commented

Athos didn't seem to know how to respond.

'There's a Musketeer who is very melancholy. Like you, he was the eldest son of a comte. He thinks that too.' Surge told Athos 'thing is, He never sees in himself what everyone else sees in him.'

'What do they see?' Athos asked

Surge smiled knowing he was talking about the boy in front of him. 'They see a man who is strong, brave and kind. Who would always put others before himself and would not ask them to do anything he wasn't ready and able to do himself.'

'Is this the friend of Aramis, Porthos and D'artagnan?' Athos asked 'they seem to get on well'

Sergue laughed under his breath 'they are brothers. They can go from loving each other to being at each other's throats to being best friends again as fast as the wind can change direction.'

Surge was not lying in the slightest. They were brothers in all but blood, but they also bleed on eachother concerningly frequently. The men did not always get along but they grew to love each other.

'The important thing is that if one was in danger, the others would abandon anything and everything to rescue the other.' Surge commented

'I wish I had that' Athos sighed

'Home's lonely?' surge asked

'Yes very. Because I am to succeed my father I am often secluded from everyone but him. Particularly since my mother died. He gets angry,' Athos explained.

That explanation was more than sufficient for Sergue.

'Don't worry kid, old surge won't tell a soul' Surge vowed. Sergue himself had more than his fair share of experience to know what this meant and not to tell anyone.

'There must be something good at home, yeah?' Surge asked

The fact that Athos was not able to respond immediately was somewhat troubling to Surge. He had met many children over the years both as the garrison cook and as a musketeer before this. All of them were able to give a response faster than Athos. Surge knew that Athos did not find his life as a comte the most enjoyable, but surge always thought it was because Athos found politics and court life to be unpleasant. He had never really considered the idea that a comte, or viscount in Athos' case, could be so sad and lonely.

'Do ya have a friend to play with? Maybe a sibling?' Surge suggested in vain hope that he at least had one person he had connected with

'VIscounts and commoners are not supposed to communicate with each other' Athos began to explain, 'It is improper. My father says that Comtes are only permitted to do so under 'special circumstances' but he has not told me what these are.'

Athos paused for a moment

'I do have one friend though' Athos continued 'Her name is Marie-florence, but Thomas and I call her Marine after her love of water. She is the youngest of 3 sisters from a nearby estate which gained standing through their ancestors military accomplishments and became quite wealthy through trade.' Athos now had a smirk as he admitted to Surge ' Her parents and my parents think we are courting. According to them, our marriage would make both estates quite wealthy and prosperous. I have never disputed this claim as I think this is the only way we are able to remain friends and remain in contact'

Surge grinned at athos. Both for his craftiness as well as the fact he had at least one friend.

'Do you see them much? Marine and her sisters?' Surge asked

Athos nodded 'Since our estate has more pleasant weather in the spring, they come to visit around then each year. Every spring, they stay at our estate for 2 months. Outside of this marine and I write letters to each other. In addition to this, because of our family's social status we often attend the same events with the King and Prince in Paris.'

At least that comment about the king and prince gave surge a timeframe for when he was working with.

'He's king now, you know, Prince Louis became King about 5 years ago.' Surge commented

'Really?' Athos asked 'I shall have to visit him again, It has been a while since I have last visited the palace.'

And with that Athos was out the door to write to the palace, presumably to inform the king of his presence in Paris and his intentions to visit. Sometimes, Surge could admit, He was a bit of an idiot and this was one of those times. Telling Athos about the king may not have been the smartest thing to do.

—-

Porthos, Aramis and D'artagnan were riding into the garrison having successfully completed their mission to deliver the letter. After taking their horses to the stables, the assumed their seats at their bench. Athos was already there.

However, it was not long before Treville yelled down from the porch outside his office, his seemingly signature statement

'You four! My office! Now!'

'Seriously we just got back, what could we have possibly done!' Aramis muttered as they walked up the stairs.

'Does he always greet you in this manner?' Athos asked

'It seems to be his favourite way of getting our attention.' Porthos answered

When they arrived at Treville's office, Treville was sitting at his desk as usual.

'Report on the mission' Treville ordered

'Uneventful sir, we delivered the letter with no issues.' Aramis answered

'Well that's a first.' Treville muttered

'I fear that the mission is not the only thing you wish to discuss' D'artagon commented.

Treville looked towards the door, indicating that one of them should close it. Once the door was closed, Treville started with the true topic of conversation.

'Why have I heard rumours about our little guest amongst the staff and members of the palace?' Treville asked in a quiet yet menacing tone.

'I have no idea sir. Athos has been here the whole time' Aramis responded

'Yeah right, you musta yapped about it to one of your ladies' Porthos accused Aramis

'Me? What about you! You must have let it slip!' Aramis accused porthos

'What about D'artagnan! The kid dont have a poker face so therefore he must have done it' Porthos retorted back

'Me! But this is Paris! Gossip spreads faster than fleas around here-' D'artagnan started to reply back in his defence

Treville, sensing the conversation getting out of hand, regained control of the situation.

'Well however it happened, The king now wants to see Athos. So you three will make him ready. Understood.' Treville instructed

The bobbing nods of three heads and the scowling of the fourth made it clear the message was received

'The king wants to see Athos for lunch tomorrow.' Treville continued, looking towards Athos' mud and dirt stained leathers, he added 'And make him presentable.'

And with that they were dismissed.