"I'm sorry, Athos. I should have said something before. But when I saw you again, a forced marriage to that........that.......man, was the last thing on my mind. In fact, I have been trying to block out the notion of it, ever since I received word from the king. I have only met Rochefort, once. And believe me, that was enough. I was only in his company for a few moments, and that was all it took for me to realise what kind of man he is." (Y/n) explained, as she got to her feet and began to pace the room.

"Rochefort is an arrogant sadist. He is ruthless, and I am sure that he will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. I hate to think about what he must have done or said, to get the king to agree to our match. When he came down to my home, he was doing his best to be kind and sweet. Yet I knew that he was the furthest thing from it. I hate to think what he will do to me if we marry. That when he has the wealth. My father's titles. I have a terrible feeling that I will meet with some awful accident. Either that, or I will be forced to spend the rest of my life with him. Watching as he parades a string of mistresses and whores through my ancestral home. And to be brutally honest, I don't know which of the scenarios is worse. Part of me hoped that I would die in that fight today. That one of the Cardinal's men would be good enough to best me. That he would put me out of my misery. Yet here I am. Still faced with the horror of having to marry........to marry that man." (Y/n) continued. Doing her best to fight back the tears that threatened to fall, as she saw the look on Athos' face out of the corner of her eye.

"He will come looking for me, Athos. If he discovers that I am in Paris. That.......that I am with you. He will come looking. He made it quite clear that I am his. His possession. And he will not allow anyone else to have me. Especially not you." The countess added with a heavy sigh, as she reluctant retook her seat.

"When we met, I mentioned the Musketeers. Mentioned your name. And as soon as I did, his demeanour changed. He asked me all manner of questions. Questions about us. About what we meant to one another. And when I told him that I had loved you. That I would always loved you. He wasn't what I would call, pleased." (Y/n) finished. The countess dropping her head into her heads. Not sure what the Musketeer would say to her confession.

(Y/n) had hoped that her letters of appeal to the king, would have persuaded him to rethink his decision about the marriage. That her appeals to the queen, from one woman to another, regarding the dubious character of Rochefort, may have helped. Yet nothing seemed to have worked. The king had said that she had to marry. So, marry she must. And that was one of the reasons that (Y/n) had travelled to the capital a day early. She had known that Athos was a Musketeer, and she had hoped that if she made her way to the garrison, then she might possibly be able to find him. Hoped that her childhood friend, her love, would still have some feelings for her. Would be able to come to her rescue. But she had not planned on getting in a fight. Not planned on her husband to be, possibly finding out about her being in Paris a day before she should be. (Y/n) now sure that she had brought nothing but trouble Athos' way.

"(Y/n)." Athos said softly, as he crouched down before her. The Musketeer taking her hands in his.

"The king has said that you have to marry, yes?" Athos asked. (Y/n) nodding her head slowly in reply.

"If that is the case, then one husband should be as good as another. One suitor, as good as another, no?" Athos added, as he placed his hand under (Y/n)'s chin, raising her head so that he could look into her glistening tear soaked eyes.

"I.........I suppose so." (Y/n) sniffed. Athos carefully brushing the tears from her cheeks.

"Then marry me, (Y/n). We will face the king together, tomorrow. Face Rochefort. We will tell them that you cannot be wed. And we will face the consequences together."

"But.......how...........how can we tell them that..........?"

"Because we are going to find a priest, and we are going to be wed now. If you will have me." Athos explained. A small smile pulling at his lips as he stood and pulled her into his arms.

"(Y/n), Countess de Joinville. Would you do a humble Musketeer the honour of being his wife?" Athos asked more formally, as he continued to hold her close. The Musketeer sure, that his loves heart was pounding as violently as his.

"Are you.......are you sure that you want this, Athos? Really sure." (Y/n) replied, as she looked up at him. Hoping that he really did mean every word.

"I have never been more sure of anything in my life, (Y/n). I should have done this all those years ago. I should never have let your father come between us. And now that fate has brought you back to me, I am not going to let you go again. I love you (Y/n). I always have done. And seeing you again, has made me realise that even after all this time, I don't love you any less. So, marry me." Athos answered. A feeling of joy, more wonderful than any he had ever known before, surging through his body as (Y/n) slowly nodded again.

"Yes, Athos. I will marry you." (Y/n) agreed. Athos' fingers entangling themselves in (Y/n)'s hair, as he pulled her closer. Their lips meeting once again, as the Musketeer promised to never let her go.

"I think that perhaps we should go and tell the others, then find a priest." Athos smiled, as he offered (Y/n) his arm. The pair making their way back into Captain Treville's office, so that they could give the others the happy news.

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

Rochefort stormed past the Red Guard. To say he was irate would be an understatement. The thought that (Y/n) had travelled to the capital without his knowledge. The thought that she had been with him. Had been with Athos, was eating him up inside. He had worked too hard to get to this moment. Been through too much to ensure that the king would finally agree to the match, for it to all fail now. (Y/n) was one of the most eligible and wealthy women in France. She was pure and beautiful. Perfect beyond belief. And Rochefort had wanted her since he had first seen her image. The Man from Meung determined that not only would he have her wealth, and position. He would also be the only one to know what it was to have her. The Conte ready to do anything he had to do, to stop Athos from taking all that away from him.

"Captain Duvall!" Rochefort barked as he burst into the room. The Red Guard jumping to his feet, as Cardinal's agent stormed in.

"I want five of your best men to accompany me to the Musketeers garrison." Rochefort growled as he looked at the captain.

"The........the Musketeer's garrison? But........but my lord. We............"

"I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses, captain. The Musketeers have something that belongs to me. And I want it back. Unspoiled and unsullied." The Conte replied. His fist banging down on the desk in front of him. Rochefort not caring whether this was a good idea or not. Not caring whether the Cardinal would approve or not. The écurie only concerned with not losing his prize.

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

(Y/n) made her way out to the courtyard. Her arms linked with those of Porthos and d'Artagnan. Aramis and Athos close behind. The two smiling as they watched the trio in front of them.

"I must admit that I didn't expect you to act on my words so quickly, Athos. But I can't say I blame you for this decision. If fate had given me a second chance to be with her, I would take it too. She is truly wonderful. And I am sure that she will make you a much better wife than your last one." Aramis chuckled. Slapping his friend on the back.

"I am sure of it, Aramis. And I know that it is sudden, but it is the only way. I cannot allow Rochefort to marry her. I would not see the woman I love, have to surrender herself to a man like him. I know that she will make me happy. And everyday I will do make best to show her that I love her." Athos replied. The two friends smiling at one another, as they followed Porthos, d'Artagnan and (Y/n) to the stables.

"Good! Now let's go find you two a priest, and then we can celebrate." Aramis said. Athos laughing to himself, sure that the other three were only joining he and (Y/n), for the wine that would follow the marriage.

Athos wrapped his arms around (Y/n), as Porthos helped her up onto his horse. The lady and the Musketeers making their way out of the garrison to the closest church in hopes of finding a priest that would perform the ceremony.

"I believe that you have something that belongs to me. Musketeer!" A voice called out. Athos and the others pulling on the reins to halt their mounts as before them appeared Rochefort and five of the Red Guard.

"And I am not leaving without her."