For RavenCrystal22

Another normal day in Paris. An old man leading his donkey down the small lane, that cut between the houses. The sounds of the clinking wine bottles that were held in the baskets that fell on either side of the beast's back, filling the air, along with his soft whistle. Both sounds quickly stopping, as a figure dressed in dark clothes and hooded cape, suddenly appeared from one of the shadowy niches.

"Do you know of the musketeers, Athos, Aramis and Porthos........?" A husky voice enquired from under the cowl. The pale haired man gripping tighter to the simple halter around the grey donkey's head, as the mysterious figure, stepped a little closer.

"Yes.........yes sir. Not many that don't know of em........"

"And which one of these homes do they room in.........?" The figure continued. Producing a bright, shiny coin, when the man appeared to hesitate. Pulling back the payment, as his hand went to grab at the coin.

"Which house..........?"

"The street behind us. Second house on the left as ya come out of the lane." The man explained. Almost dropping the coin, as the dark clad person flipped it at him, before starting to move towards the street.

"Your wine.......Is it any good.............?"

"The best in Paris, sir............."

"I'll take two bottles..........." The figure grabbing for the bottles before pushing more coins into the old man's hands. The man's eyes growing wide, as he saw that he had just been paid enough for every bottle that he had with him. The figure not hearing a thing, as the man called out his thanks. The bottles being placed in a bag concealed underneath the person's cloak, as they blended in with the crowd that filled the rather busy street.

                                                         >>--------------------------------<<

All day they had been watching the home. The person not moving, as Paris went about its day. Only when they saw three men make their way into the house, did a small smile come to their face. Yet they knew that they still had to wait. Wait until not only was the street as quiet as it could be, but for the men inside the house to settled down for the evening; hopefully hanging their sword up, far out of reach. The dark form pulling the cloak a little closer, as a sudden cool wind blew up from the river. Their eyes focusing on the darkening sky, glad to see that a heavy cloud would be covering the moon; it meaning that when they did move, there would be no light to give away their presence to those inside the house.

                                                      >>-----------------------------------<<

"Anything interesting.........?" Porthos asked, as he looked over to where Aramis sat next to the fire; his eyes moving over the words in the book, that he held in his hand.

"Yes........exceptionally. You should try it some time, Porthos. Reading would open up a whole new world for you........."

"I am fine with my world as it is, thank you. Though I like it even better when there is wine in it." The big man replied, as he raised his glass. Athos joining him in the salute before they both downed what was left of their wine.

"Planchet!" Porthos shouted, as he turned his now empty cup upside down, and the last drop fell onto the top of the table.

"Planchet!" Porthos getting to his feet and making his way to the door of the room, ready to give the servant a piece of his mind for there being no more wine. Yet as his hand reached for the handle, the doors to the balcony burst open and in the dimly lit opening, stood a figure with two muskets, pointed at him.

"I wouldn't if I were you, Porthos........." The figure said, as the men in front of them attempted to reach for a sword.

"Aramis, perhaps you should join your friend; and Athos, why don't you come out from your hiding place so that I can see you too. And leave you swords where they are. You all should know that these two muskets aren't the only weapons I have..........." A smile coming to their lips, as Aramis placed down his book and joined Porthos, and Athos slowly moved out of the shadows.

"(Y/n)..........what are you doing here.......?" Athos enquired. It obvious that he wasn't too happy about their visitor.

"Is that anyway to greet and old friend, Athos.........?"

"Well, to be fair, friends don't normally hold muskets on one another......"

"True Aramis. But I leant long ago, to never underestimate any of you. After all, each of you have tried to kill me at one point or another.........."

"What else would you do with an assassin. An assassin that will work for anyone, that can pay their price. Someone that has no loyalty to any one or anything.........." Athos scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Ah, yes. loyalty. And where has loyalty got you........got any of you?" (Y/n) asked, as she pushed the muskets back under her belt, and slowly pulled down her hood.

"Not exactly living in the lap of luxury, are you? All these years of fighting, of putting your life on the line for king and country, and what do you have to show for it........? Not even a bottle of wine in the place." She continued, reaching into the bag under her cloak and bringing out the two bottles she had bought earlier that day: handing one to Porthos, and the other the Aramis. All of them turning, as the door to the room flew open, and their stood Planchet with a frying pan in his hand.

"And what is this.........?" The assassin asked. As the portly blonde took a step forward.

"That is Planchet............"

"I didn't ask who, I asked, what........." (Y/n) interrupted Aramis. All the men shaking their head, as their servant dropped the pan to his side upon seeing her.

"Nothing to worry about........" Porthos explained, as he made his way back to the table and took his seat, pulling the cork from the bottle with his teeth.

"Well, 'nothing to worry about'; is there any food around here..........?"

"Ah, well, you see madam, finances are not as they were.........."

"You mean these boys are without a franc to their name, again." (Y/n) sighed, before producing some coins and handing them to the shocked servant.

"Food, 'nothing to worry about'. As much as my coin will buy." (Y/n) waving him away, as he began to babble on about something. The assassin turning her attention back to the musketeers.

"Now, why don't you all tell me what I've been missing since we were together last........"

                                                                >>---------------------------------<<

"Why are you really here......?" Athos asked, as he looked into the fire; ignoring Porthos who was snoring with his head on the table. Aramis already having excused himself for the night.

"Don't worry, Athos. I am not here to hurt your boy king. I have a job elsewhere and as I had to pass through Paris, I thought I would come and see my favourite musketeers............That, and I found myself.........strangely missing you........"

"Missing me.........? I thought you had to have a heart to care about someone enough to miss them.........."

"Please, Athos. Just because I kill for money, and you kill for king and country, does not make you better than me. Does not give you the right to judge. And if we are going to talk about having a heart, then you have nothing but a black hole where one should be. I wasn't the one that left you alone in Madrid to deal with King Philip's personal guard. I barely got out of there alive." (Y/n) retorted, before finishing the last of her wine. The room falling silent, as the pair continuing to look into the fire.

It had always been complicated between the two of them. Athos always finding it hard to come to terms with what (Y/n) did. Often urging her to come and join him and the others; to stay in France and serve the king. But (Y/n) would always be (Y/n), Aramis often telling his friend that she was too wild to be caged in Paris. Yet one way or another, through one disagreement or another, she and Athos would always find their way back to one another, eventually. The assassin appearing in one way or another, with muskets or swords drawn, ready to kill them.

"Stay..........." Athos suddenly said, as he reached over and took her hand.

"You know I can't, Athos. Even if I was with you, I would end up being miserable. I would end up hating you, and I never want to do that. I love you too much.........." (Y/n) replied, as she felt him squeeze her hand.

"Then at least stay the night. I.........I've missed you too." Athos confessed. (Y/n) turning to look at him, her hand gently being placed on his cheek.

"I thought you'd never ask. So, why don't you take me to your room, and we can see just how much we have missed one another?" The assassin said, smiling as Athos slowly got to his feet and pulled her up with him. His lips meeting hers in a kiss, before his picked her up and carried her to his bed.